Document k95NQD5n4bV51aqBJQ3pO7nEy

i Recomm nded Standard -for Occupational Exposure To Vinyl Chloride On January 22, 1974, representatives from the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company informed NIOSH that the deaths of several employees of their Louisville, Kentucky, plant might have been related to occupa tional exposures. An immediate industrial hygiene walk-through survey of the facility was conducted by NIOSH and resulted in developing and transmitting to affected companies recommendations for precau tionary monitoring and control procedures for polym erization processes involving vinyl chloride. On Feb ruary 1, 1974, NIOSH/CDC conducted a briefing for however, that appropriate standards should not be developed for other exposures to the basic chemical. NIOSH is implementing further evaluation of the data, coupled with field observations, to determine exposure potentials in pre- and post-polymerization operations .. | . Consultants from industry who worked with NIOSH proposed that .the recommended standard contain the concept of an allowable "working level" for vinyl chloride gas in the atmosphere, which they identified other Federal agencies with health research responsi as a time weighted average of 50 ppm. They recom- bilities at which it was disclosed that four employees of the plant in question had died of angiosarcoma of the liver. Because of the extremely low incidence of this disease, estimated to be on the order of 20 to 30 mended that where workers were exposed to concen trations in excess of this level they should wear airsupplied respirators. This concept of an allowable "working level" might seem justifiable in that Pro .deaths per year in the United States, the history of four cases in a five-year period in one plant was con sidered of great importance. It was concluded at the briefing that a new occupational cancer had been discovered: angiosarcoma of the liver. It was further concluded that this disease was associated with the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride and that vinyl chloride was the prime etiological candidate in pro ducing the disease. fessor Maltoni found no liver tumors at-50 ppm, but there is the possibility that tumors might have been produced if a larger number of animals had been ex posed at that concentration. Based on theoretical considerations, there is probably no threshold for carcinogenesis although it is possible that with very low concentrations, the latency period might be ex tended beyond the life expectancy. In view of. these considerations and NIOSH's inability to describe a NIOSH, with the assistance of expert consultants from both industry and organized labor, began de velopment of a recommended occupational health standard. These and other activities were discussed safe exposure level as required in section 20(a)(3) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the concept of a threshold limit for vinyl chloride gas in the atmosphere was rejected. - .. in more detail at the QSHA Informal Fact-Finding Hearing on Possible Hazards of Vinyl Chloride Manu facture and Use on February 15, 1974. It was also during this Hearing that Professor Cesare Maltoni of '' Bologna, Italy, presented the preliminary results of his research which showed induction of angiosarcoma of the liver and other organs, as well as the produc tion of other cancers in rats exposed to vinyl chloride. The results of these studies identify vinyl chloride as a carcinogen and further confirm its role in in ducing the cancers observed in the B. F. Goodrich workers ... ............... Consequently, the recommendations are such that where any employee is exposed to measurable con centrations of vinyl chloride, as determined by the recommended sampling and analytical method, he shall .wear an air supplied respirator. This recom mendation is based on some preliminary information that the standard chemical cartridge respirators are inefficient in protecting against vinyl chloride. NIOSH is implementing a study to evaluate the degree of protection afforded by different types of respirators using vinyl chloride as the test gas. As information becomes available, it will be forwarded to OSHA as Although vinyl chloride must be considered as a car cinogenic agent, the immediate problem appeared to be concentrated in polymerization facilities. Conse quently, the attached NIOSH recommended standard recommendations for alternative respirator usage. The employer is also required to develop a Control Plan to reduce airborne concentrations of vinyl chlo ride to levels not detachable by the recommended only applies to such operations. This is not to say. method... ft-, r - ' V-'-Jr---- . 1 s -T (Excerpts from it March 11, 1974, memorandum from Marcus M. Key, Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to John H. Slender, Assistant Secretary of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration transmitting the NIOSH recommendations.) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Public Health Service .Center for Disease Control National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Additional copiea are available fromi NIOSH Division of Technical. Services Publication* Dlssninatlee Htn CoUabia Parfcvtp Cincinnati, Ohio *SI26 Please Include self-eddressed mill ing label to assist In answering your UCC 085800 Recommended 'tandard RECOMMENDED OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH STANDARD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC POLYMER FROM VINYL CHLORIDE 1. SCOPE AND APPLICATION This standard regulates the manufacture of synthetic polymer from vinyl chloride (chloroethene, Chemical Abstracts Registry No. 75014), in order to protect the health and safety of workers. Vinyl chloride also know as vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), chloroethylene and chloroethene, is a colorless sweet smelling gas at ordinary temperature and pressure and has a boiling and melting point at one atmosphere of --13.8'C, and --153.71C, respectively. Its chemical formula is CH.CHCI and it has a molecular weight of 62.50. Although noncorrosive at normal atmospheric temperatures, in contact with water and at elevated temper atures it accelerates the corrosion of iron and steel. Of considerable concern is the fact that vinyl chloride is easily ignited and has a lower and upper explosive limit of 3.6% and 26.4%, respectively. 2. DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this standard: a. "Assistant Secretary" means the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, U. S. Department of Labor or any person di rected by him. b. "Director1* means the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or any person directed by him or the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to act for the Director. c. ."Authorized employee" means an employee whose duties require him to be in the regu lated area and who has been specifically as signed by the employer. d. "Detectable levels" means the determina tion that airborne concentrations of vinyl chlo ride are in excess of the limit of sensitivity of the sampling and analytical method recom mended by the Director. e. "Clean change room" means a room where employees put on clean clothing; clean change room shall be contiguous to and have an entry from a shower room, when the shower room fa cilities are otherwise required in this standard. f. "Closed container" is any container which is used to prevent the physical contact of em-" ployees with material containing vinyl chloride- monomer. > g. "Closed system" means an operation in-" volving vinyl chloride where containment pre vents the release of vinyl chloride into regu lated areas, nonregulated areas, or the external - environment. h. "Contaminated" refers to detectable levels' of vinyl chloride monomer. -2^ i. "Decontamination" means the inactivation- of vinyl chloride to less than detectable levels; or its safe disposaL ` - \th j. "Disposal" means the safe removal of vinyl chloride from the work environment. `K k. "Emergency" means an unforeseen circum-. stance or set of circumstances, such as a rup tured transfer line, resulting in the release of" vinyl chloride sufficient to produce acute; symptoms among workers exposed or having, contact with the vinyl chloride. l. "External environment" means any environ ment external to regulated and nonregulated areas. m; "Regulated area" means an area where entry to and exit from a vinyl chloride work place is restricted and controlled. n. "Nonregulated area" means any area under"* the control of the employer where entry and exit is neither restricted nor controlled. o. "Protective clothing" means clothing de signed to protect an employee against contact ^ with or exposure to vinyl chloride. " 1^ p. "Waste resin" means any resin or other ^ vinyl chloride reaction product which has been ^ removed from vessels during clean-up opera-' tions, or which has been collected as a result of in-plant housekeeping operations. 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR REGULATED AREAS A regulated area shall be established where synthetic resins containing vinyl chloride are UCC 085801 NIOIM R comm nded\jtandard manufactured. These regulated areas shall in* elude but are not limited to vinyl chloride loading or unloading operations, storage, and transfer facilities; synthetic resin polymeriza- tion processes and operations; and resin handling, compounding, packaging and storage areas. Access shall be restricted to authorized employees only. All such regulated areas shall be controlled in accordance with the following requirements. a. Routine Operations (i) Initial concentration of vinyl chloride in all regulated areas shall be determined by per forming air measurements at strategic sam pling points under normal operating conditions. These initial sampling points must be selected by a professional industrial hygienist and will serve as monitoring locations for future en vironmental measurements. The sampling pat tern shall be adequate to represent the en vironment of the controlled area. . (ii) Where detectable levels of vinyl chlo ride are measured, a Control Plan to reduce such levels shall be developed and imple mented. The Plan shall consist not only of establishing goals for reducing vinyl chloride levels by designing and introducing engineer ing and process controls, but shall also identify plans for developing additional (healthful) work practices. Target dates shall be established for ail goals and the Plan must be updated at least on an annual basis. Copies of the Control Plan shall be posted in all regulated areas and be provided to all authorized employees. (iii) There shall be periodic tests for proc ess or equipment leaks and for emission of vinyl chloride which may result from work practices. The frequency of these tests shall be such as to insure the integrity of equipment, adherence to proper work practices, and to de termine achievement of the goals of the Con trol Plan. Tests shall be performed at each sampling point at least daily or more frequently if concentrations of vinyl chloride are in excess of those established in the Plan. When such levels are exceeded, additional samples to identify sources of contamination shall be taken. Results of all such tests shall be made available to authorized employees in such a manner as to evaluate achievement of goals contained in the Control Plan. (iv) Until exposures to vinyl chloride are reduced below detectable levels, employees entering any regulated area shall be provided with and required to wear and use a full-face, supplied air respirator, of the continuous flow or pressure demand type in accordance with 1910.134. (v) In operations involving loading or un loading vinyl chloride monomer from tank cars, .trucks, barges, or other conveyance equipment, each transfer line and each vapor-equalizing line shall be equipped with vent connections permitting, at the completion of the transfer, pressure to be vented and the hose purged with an inert gas in such a manner to preclude any employee exposure. Specific and detailed transfer procedures shall be developed and provided to involved employees in written form: (vi) Employees shall be provided with and required to wear, clean, full-body protective clothing (smocks, coveralls, or long-sleeved shirt and pants), and gloves prior to entering the regulated area. 1 v-, . (vii) Prior to each exit from a regulated area, employees shall be required to remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the point of exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit for. purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers shall be identified as required under paragraph e(2)(i) of this standard. b. Reactor and Vessel Entry (i) A reactor and vessel entry procedure shall be developed and provided to involved employees in written form. Employees shall be familiarized with the procedure and shall be trained and rehearsed in the techniques pro vided for in the procedure. Emphasis shall not only be placed on concern for potential expos ure to vinyl chloride but shall also include appropriate precautions for entry into confined spaces. . (ii) Techniques shall be developed and ap plied to minimize to the maximal practicable extent employee exposure to vinyl chloride when opening any closed vessel. Examples of effective methods are the application of heat or suction to the vessel prior to opening, or use of sufficient exhaust ventilation around the UCC 085802 NSOSU R comm nd d landard vessel. Where operations such as cleaning or at normal temperatures, waste materials, maintenance conducted inside an open vessel equipment, and other sources of the monomer could result in the liberation of vinyl chloride, in closed containers, shall not be placed in suitable procedures such as exhaust ventila* areas of excessive temperature or sunlight tion shall be.developed and implemented to - since build-up of internal pressure may result insure that vinyl chloride is not released into in rupture of the container, fire or explosion. the general work environment. (ii) Waste resins or other materials con (iii) Exhaust air shall not be discharged to taminated with vinyl chloride shall be placed regulated areas, nonregulated areas, or the ex in closed containers identified as required ternal environment unless decontaminated. under paragraphs e(2)(i) or (ii) of this standard-- (iv) All piping to and from the vessel shall (iii) Appropriate procedures shall be de-~ " be blanked or otherwise isolated prior to entry. veloped and implemented for the decontam (v) Employees entering the reactor or ination and/or disposal of all such waste vessel shall be provided with and required to material. wear and use a full-face, supplied air respira (iv) In clean-up of leaks or spills, mainte-*' * tor, of the continuous flow or pressure demand nance or repair operations on contaminated type in accordance with 1910.134. systems or equipment, or any operation in (vi) Employees entering the reactor or volving work where direct contact with vinyl vessel where levels of vinyl chloride are mon chloride monomer could result, each autho- ' itored and are found to not exceed ambient rized empolyee involved in such operations levels external to the vessel shall be provided shall be provided with and required to wear, ' with and required to wear clean, full body pro clean, impervious garments, including gloves, ` tective clothing (coveralls or long-sleeved shirt boots and continuous air supplied hoods in'; ; and pants), gloves, footwear or foot coverings, accordance with 1910.134, be decontam*.. - and head covering. Where vessel levels are in inated before removing the protective garments v r excess of ambient levels, employees shall in and hood; and be required to shower upon re- T ; " stead be provided with and required to wear moving the protective garments and hood. -V impervious clothing to prevent skin contact of vinyl chloride or other materials containing d. General Regulated Area Requirements vinyl chloride. 1. Employee identification. ;, (vii) After each exit from the reactor or vessel, employees shall be required to remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at a designated point in the regulated area, and at the end of each work shift to place used clothing and equipment in impervious but vented containers for the purpose of decon tamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers shall be identified as re quired under paragraph e(2)(i) of this standard. (viii) Employees engaged in reactor clean A daily roster of employees entering regu- ' lated areas shall be established and main- tained. The rosters or a summary of the roster shall be retained for a minimum period of 20 years by the employer or successors thereto. The rosters and/or summaries shall be pro vided upon request to authorized represent- .. atives of the Assistant Secretary and the Director. In the event that the employer ceases j business without a successor, rosters shall be ' forwarded by registered mail to the Director. ing or other operations involving vessel entry shall shower at the end of the work shift. 2. Emergencies. . -V ' In an emergency, immediate measures in- ; c. Maintenance and Decontamination Activities eluding but not limited to the requirements of subdivisions (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) of this (i) Emphasis shall be placed upon imme subparagraph shall be implemented. diate clean up of spills, periodic inspection, (i) The potentially affected area shall be prompt repair of equipment and leaks, and evacuated as soon as the existence of the proper handling, storage and disposal or de emergency has been determined. 1' contamination of materials to prevent airborne (ii) Hazardous conditions created by the contamination and accidental skin contact with emergency shall be eliminated and the poten vinyl chloride. Because vinyl chloride is a gas tially affected area shall be decontaminated UCC 085803 R comm nd d andard prior to the resumption of normal operations. (iii) Special medical surveillance by a phy sician shall be instituted within 24-hours for employees present in the potentially affected area at the time of the emergency. A report of the medical surveillance and any treatment shall be included in the incident report, in ac cordance with paragraph (g)(3) of this standard. (iv) Where an employee has a known con tact with liquid vinyl chloride such employee shall be required to shower as soon as possible, unless contraindicated by physical injuries. (v) An incident report on the emergency shall be reported as provided in paragraph (g)(3) of this standard. 3. Hygiene facilities and practices. (i) Storage or consumption of food, storage or use of containers of beverages, storage or application of cosmetics, smoking, storage of smoking materials, tobacco products or other products for chewing, or the chewing of such products, are prohibited in regulated areas. (ii) Where employees wear protective clothing and equipment clean change rooms shall be provided, in accordance with 1910.141(e)(3). (iii) Where employees are required by this standard to wash, washing facilities shall be provided in accordance with 1910.141(d)(l) and (2)(ii) through (vii). (iv) Where employees are required by this standard to shower, shower facilities shall be provided in accordance with 1910.141(d)(3). 4. Contamination control. (i) Regulated areas, except for outdoor sys tems, shall be maintained under negative pres sure with respect to nonregulated areas. Local exhaust ventilation may be used to satisfy this requirement Clean tempered makeup air shalt replace air removed. Exhaust air shall not be discharged to regulated areas, nonregulated areas, or the external environment unless de contaminated. -- (ii) Any equipment material, or other item taken into or removed from a regulated area shall be done so in a manner that does not cause contamination in nonregulated areas or the external environment (iii) Decontamination procedures shall be established and implemented to remove vinyl chloride from the surfaces of materials, equip ment and the decontamination facility. e. Signs, Information, and Training 1. Signs. (i) Entrances to regulated areas shall be- posted with signs bearing the legend: ! ^ ------- CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT AREA ,7 . ' AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY __ (ii) Entrances to regulated areas .contain ing operations covered in paragraph 3(c) otr'7 this standard shall be posted with signs bear-77 ing the legend: . . ; 777 CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT IN THIS AREA* IMPERVIOUS SUIT INCLUDING GLOVES^ 7 BOOTS, AND AIR-SUPPLIED HOOD REQUIRED./ " AT ALL TIMES. AUTHORIZED PERSONNElf ONLY. '. 2. Container contents identification. ,:7?7 (i) Containers of waste or other materials:/ contaminated with vinyl chloride shall bp. labelled as follows: . 7,,.,; VINYL CHLORIDE CONTAMINTED MATERIAL CANCER SUSPECT AGENT /7^5. DISPOSE OF OR DECONTAMINATE USING' 7 APPROVED PROCEDURES (ii) Containers of synthetic polymers made' from vinyl chloride shall be labelled as follows:- SYNTHETIC VINYL CHLORIDE POLYMER * VINYL CHLORIDE IS A CANCER SUSPECT ' " AGENT -'7- POLYMER CONTAINS _*% BY WEIGHT 7 UNREACTED -7 VINYL CHLORIDE *(To be analytically determined by manufac* 7? turer and appropriate value entered on labels.) '' (iii) Containers of vinyl chloride shall, be labelled as follows: 7 ' '* 7 VINYL CHLORIDE DANGER! EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE LIQUID 7/ AND GAS UNDER PRESSURE ^ 7' CANCER SUSPECT AGENT ' . 1/ r"*i .jj . HARMFUL IF INHALED * 7/^7 MAY POLYMERIZE VIOLENTLY jk'r UNDER FIRE CONDITIONS OR / LOSS OR REMOVAL OF -^7 INHIBITOR ~- 7:77 UCC 085804 ~ftSS19lL J Recommend d Standard Keep away from heat, sparks, and open flame. be familiarized with their terms, and rehearsed Keep container closed. in their application. ; /;'*' Use with adequate ventilation. (iii) All materials relating to the program Avoid breathing vapor. shall be provided upon request to authorized Avoid contact with skin. Keep cylinder out of sun and away from heat. representatives of the Assistant Secretary and the Director. *Jhr ^ \ Container should be grounded when being emptied. Never drop cylinder. FIRST AID: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If f. Environmental Monitoring and Record keeping - >/|i o.. (i) Environmental concentrations of vinyl ' " not breathing give artificial respiration, pref erably mouth-to-mouth. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician. In case of: . Fire -- Use water spray, dry chemical, or CO.. Spill or Leak -- For small spills, evacuate area and permit to evaporate. For large spills or leaks, evacuate area. Dike or flush to ground and let evaporate. Do not flush to sewer because of explosion hazard. 3. Training and indoctrination. (i) Each employee, prior to being autho rized to enter a,regulated area, shall receive a of methods for sampling and analysis recom^J^ __. mended by the Director or by methods of :a^;vvT -- feast equal sensitivity. . (ii) Employees or their representatives shalj.^3^*?:. be provided with the opportunity to observe; ^;T:?jr? chloride shall be determined through the-usef ^;^;'1 environmental monitoring activities and shaltT'~` have access to the results. (iii) Complete and accurate records of ali^ '. ^ environmental measurements shall be main-y _. tained for at least 20 years by the employer or? L.;-.^ successors thereto and shall be provided upojv;- V request to authorized representatives Assistant Secretary or the Director. g. Reports training and indoctrination program including, but not necessarily limited to: Wi:ithOinpe6ra0tiodnasy.s the following informatto^T ^ (a) The nature of the carcinogenic haz ards of vinyl chloride monomer, including local and systemic toxicity; (b) The specific nature of the operation involving vinyl chloride monomer which could result in exposure,- (c) The purpose for and application of the medical surviellance program; (d) The purpose for and application of decontamination practices and purposes; (e) The purpose for and significance of emergency practices and procedures; (f) The employee's specific role under normal operating or emergency conditions; shall be reported in Occupational Safety awnrditinHgeatloththAedmapinpirsotpraritaioten,*.* 'v'rv:( Hr (OSHA) Area Director. Any change in such in- ,^*J.7,,. formation shall be similarly reported within 15?- ~v'v " 'calendar days of such change. ;* . (i) A brief description and in-plant location-, of the area(s) regulated and the address of';^ ; each regulated area. . ..(ii) The number of employees in each reg-^*|:Tr r ulated area, during normal operations, include,l r ing maintenance activity. . ` (iii) A copy of the Control Plan is developed;^ . under paragraph 3(a)(ii). .. v ' 2. Environmental Measurements. (g) Specific information to aid the em- . ployee in recognition and evaluation of condi tions and situations which may result in the release of vinyl chloride monomer; (h) The purpose for and application of specific first aid procedures and practices; (i) A review of this standard at the employee's first training and indoctrination program and annually thereafter. . ' On a semi-annual basis the results of mea*~^ surements taken at strategic sampling points;,^^,;.^ presented in such a manner as to identify;^ achievement of goals established in the Con-y trol Plan, shall be reported in writing to the.1* ^.. appropriate OSHA Area Director. 3- Incidents. Incidents vinyl chloride which result in monomer into the any arreelaeawsehevroefi (ii) Specific emergency procedures shall employees may be potentially exposed shall be;'... be prescribed, and posted, and employees shall reported in accordance with this subparagraph. - ^ '. UCC 0SS80S ) Recommended Jandard four (4) weeks. If no abnormalities are present upon rescreening, testing should be repeatedin three (3} months. ___ (vi) If abnormalities persist on. rescreen ing, the employee shall be removed from con tact with vinyl chloride monomer operations and an individualized medical workup shall be instituted. Suggested as initial steps in med ical workup are a complete physical examina tion and various special procedures such as hepatitis 6 antigen determination and liver scanning. - If liver function abnormalities are. deter mined to be unrelated to liver disease (e.g., elevated alkaline phosphates in a young, phys ically active man or elevated bilirubin in Gilbert's syndrome) or to be transient (e.g., due to recent hepatitis or recent alcohol intake), the employee may be permitted to return to vinyl chloride-related employment, subject to individual medical evaluation. (vii) In view of the preliminary results of animal toxicology studies, it is recommended that no woman who is pregnant or who expects to become pregnant should be employed di rectly in vinyl chloride monomer operations. RECOMMENDED OSHA SAMPLING DATA SHEET 1. Substance: Vinyl Chloride Gas 2. Scope of Method: Vinyl chloride is a gas boiling at -13.4 degree C-' ana having a vapor pressure of 2660 mm of mercury at 25 degree C. The lower limit of detection for the method ^.approximately 1 ppm. .. '2 Sampling -.Equipment: . ..p-; ' - ^. ^ a) Personal-sampling-pump b) 250 cc glass gas collecting tubes with teflon- T stopcocks ' Sample Size: 250 CC ; : - > Sampling Procedure: ' Glass Gas Collecting Tubes 4r.- a) The gas collecting tube is connected at one end - to the personal sampling pump. Both stopcocks - are opened and air pulled through at approx-imateiy one liter per minute. b) A sampling period of 15 minutes would allow collection of a representative sampling of theworker environment c) Stopcocks shall be. closed tightly, closing the stopcock nearest the pump first . .. 6. Analysls: J The gas collecting tube sample is analyzed directly by gas chromatography. .. .* 7. Shipping instructions: The gas collecting tube should be wrapped with . cushioning material, placed in the shipping case and shipped via Air Mail to the OSHA laboratory, Salt Lake City. ~ > , ^ V -it i -;V ' P* _i' i* --.i- ar. UCC 085806