Document mBr8KNvrg0D092wbN0Ljzm2KZ

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE REPORT SECOND HALF OF 1983 BI-ANNUAL ASBESTOS SURVEY IN THE CHLOR-ALKALI II AND CHLORINE PLANTS CRI NO FILE NO LAD-IH-84.03 DATE April 4, 1984 AUTHOR Terry Campbell DATE ~ SUMMARY The asbestos in air monitoring for second half of 1983 has been completed in the Chlor-Alkali II and Chlorine plants. Short term per sonnel excursion sampling was selected to depict peak concentrations of airborne asbestos. Survey results should be compared to the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) of two (2) fibers per cubic cen timeter greater than five (5) microns for eight-hour time weight averages and a ceiling limit of ten (10) fibers per cubic centimeter greater than five (5) microns. Survey results in the Chlor Alkali II, and Chlorine plants were below the PEL of two (2) fibers per cubic centimeter greater than five (5) microns in length for an eight-hour time weighted average. The short term exposure sampling results were well within the PEL ceiling limit. Good housekeeping, strict safe operating procedures, and a constant vigil for ^problem areas are the most important considerations for a successful abatement program. Employees must be informed of the sur vey results and must review the consequences of exposure to** toxic amounts of asbestos fibers. (See attachment)_____________________________ DISTRIBUTION LOUISIANA *J. R. Birdwell - 2306 *T. p. Rozas - 2306 H. M. Bell - 4701 Dr. Currier - 2303 G. W. Daigre - 3502-E C. E. Halphen - 3502-E J. Diamond - 2601 *R. A. Gaska - 3701 J. Medine - 2601 J. Bock - 3601 W. Clark - 3601 J. Paul - 3601 B. Heinze - 3701 MIDLAND L. W. Rampy - 1702 R. R. Langner - 2030 M. Swank, - 1803 *J, E. LeBeau - 1803 *R. M. Croyle - 474 OTHER .DIVISIONS *F. D. Axe, Pittsburg *S. A. Goode, OCD *Gary Meier, Strongsville *A. Pollock, Sarnia *F. H. Braunlich, Tulsa 2- - Introduction The required asbestos in air monitoring for the second half of 1983 has been completed. The survey serves to help protect the employees against over-exposure, pinpoint problem areas and fulfill the require ments of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act. Discussion In addition to everyday safety equipment, operators are required to wear disposable paper suits or work uniforms laundered on-site, rubber gloves and proper dust respirators when handling or working with friable asbestos. The safe procedure for handling asbestos should be discussed with each new employee before entering the work area and reviewed annually with the experienced operators as part of the ongoing Industrial Hygiene Education Program. Sampling Method - Personnel samples are collected from the operators' breathing zone with a mixed cellulose ester membrane filter (37 mm diameter; 0.8 micron pore size) mounted on an open-face filter holder and attached to the operators' lapels. These cassettes are connected to monitoring pumps calibrated with a soap bubble meter to operate at a rate of 1.5 to 2.0 liters per minute. Analytical - The asbestos samples are analyzed using the NIOSH-Approved Method, P & CAM 239. Results (See Attachment) Monitoring results of fifteen (15) samples indicated all samples were below the present exposure limit of 2 fibers > 5 microns in length per cubic centimeter for an eight-hour time weight average PEL. Fifteen (15) personnel samples were collected from the operators' breathing zones. A high of 0.15 fibers per cc was recorded. The highest personnel breathing zone sample was a short term excursion sample of 40 minutes during pulping procedure on a series of cells. This short term excursion sample should be compared to PEL ceiling of ten (10) fibers per cc > five (5) microns in length. DO 083^35 C0NFTD8NTTAI Conclusions The monitoring results were satisfactory and below the established permissible exposure limit of two (2) fibers per cubic centimeter eight-hour time-weighted average and for short term excursion sampling below the ten (10) fiber per cubic centimeter ceiling. The hazardous nature of asbestos necessitates housekeeping and safe operating proce dures remain the most important considerations for an abatement program. This must be a daily, job-by-job program to be successful and to offer the greatest protection to the employee. The Chlor-Alkali II and Chlorine plants employees must be informed of this survey's results and the consequences of exposure to toxic amounts of asbestos reviewed. (See Attachment.) TC: sb DO 083436 OOMFTDPNTIAl DATE SAMPLE # 11/8/83 4339 11/8/83 4340 11/10/83 4344 11/10/83 4345 11/10/83 4349 11/10/83 4354 11/14/83 4350 11/14/83 4351 CHLORINE BLOCK ATTACHMENT SAMPLE DESCRIPTION Personnel * SOT Pulping Series DURATION (MIN.) 45 Personnel - SOT Pulping Series Personnel - SOT Pulping Series 55 50 Personnel - SOT Pulping Series 40 Personnel - SOT Filled Pulp Wagon and Pulping Series 80 Personnel - SOT Pulping Series Personnel - OT Pulping Series 50 45 Personnel - OT Pulping Series 45 VOLUME (L. ) 94.5 FIBERS/CC >5 MICRONS IN LENGTH 0.01 110.0 0.01 140.0 0.04 84.0 0.1 5 160.0 <0.01 100.0 90.0 94,5 0.03 0.02 0.02 Respiratory Protection Worn CA II BLOCK ATTACHMENT DATE 7/6/83 SAMPLE # 3075 7/19/83 3074 7/20/83 3073 7/30/83 3072 9/9/83 3069 9/9/83 3068 9/16/83 3066 SAMPLE DESCRIPTION DURATION (MIN.) Personnel - OTT Pulping Series 84 Personnel - OTT Pulping Series 49 Personnel - OTT Pulping Series 70 Personnel - OTT Pulping Series 45 Personnel - OTT Pulping Series 132 Personnel - OT Filled Pulp Wagon and Pulping Series 132 Personnel - OT Pulping Series 63 VOLUME (L.) 142.8 FIBERS/CC >5 MICRONS IN LENGTH <0.01 83.3 0.04 85.0 0.08 90.0 0.05 144.0 <0.01 144.0 <0.01 126.0 0.01 RESPIRATORY PROTECTION WORN DO 083438 CONFIDENTIAL