Document mbrVR611jgDbKxNeyMGR1zoOZ

f * 'fX .'fi ^_LJ_=_^uu ^ < :' W, /dU-, T'VOA-v^ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 550 Main Street, Room 7033 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 November 16, 1971 u tf-JV ^s. '.' ^Vr * k- ^v James E. Peavy, M.D. Commissioner of Health Texas State Department of Health 1100 West 49th Street Austin, Texas 78756 ~ "*- ,, A \j\ q" rk,;'i',- ., : rw'V-'/ V V"`*-3 .t V . -. ; ;/ y Dear Dr. Peavy: A recent N.I.O.S.H. survey demonstrated an extremely serious and-., critical occupational health situation at the Pittsburgh Coming; > Corporation Amosite Asbestos Thermal Pipe Insulation Plant in Tyler, Texas. N.I.O.S.H. industrial hygiene surveys in 1967 and 1970 yielded grossly ... excessive fiber concentrations compared to current and proposed standards, and those" results were forwarded to the company for appropriate action. "> Following requests for evaluation, and assistance from the Texas State 1 r 1 jj'f Health Department and the local membership of the Oil, Chemical, and '. v.. Atomic Workers International Union, N.I.O.S.H. conducted a comprehensive industrial hygiene and medical survey during the week of October 26 to 29, 1971. . The survey pointed out major industrial hygiene deficiencies which' included a grossly inadequate ventilation syBtem and poor housekeeping practices. In August 1971, respirators were made mandatory in all areas concomitant with application or variance from the current asbestos standard; however, our survey personnel observed many employees with /loose or unconnected straps. Also, there was no program for the fitting and maintenance of respirators. Again personal air samples yielded ; grossly excessive fiber concentrations in all production, finishing, and shipping areas. ,'/Vyi ^ rv N.I.O.S.H. medical questionnaires and examinations for rales and finger clubbing wero conducted by our survey team on 63 employees in order to complement the X-rays and pulmonary function tests performed by s ) t , -* I , ' 4 y* * 4 THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT A RECORD Of r cji\ # . , rt vm A 1* 1 PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. DID NOjT COM&f IT'S FILES AND CANNOT BE AUTHENTICATED BY PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. J bb 0007856 | 7 * > * ; .vi Dr. James E. Peavey - 11/16/71 NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT Div NOT COME FROM PPG FjLES Dr. George Hurst of the East Texas Chest Hospital In August 1971 at the request of the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation. One film was read aa a pulmonary neoplasm by Dr. Hurst, and thin diagnosis was confirmed following hospitalization. In addition, several films were read as possible pulmonary fibrosis. However, Dr. Lee Grant, Medical Consultant to the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, has delayed release of these films to N.I.O.S.H, and its expert panel of radiologists pend ing his personal review of the films. Even without benefit of the X-rays, 7 of 18 workers with greater than ten years employment at the Tyler Plant meet at least three of four criteria for asbestosis. These criteria include: (1) forced vital capacity below 80% of predicted, (2) dyspnea, (3) finger clubbing, and (4) rales. Positive X-ray results could increase further the number of cases of asbestosis. Re duced pulmonary function was also observed in a few workers with less than five years employment. n. ' V* ?> c Therefore, medical follow-up of current and past employees is indicated.1 Immediate corrective action is necessary to reduce asbestos exposure >. levels to conform to existing standards, .... V Sincerely yours, t William M. Johnson, M.D. Acting Deputy Director, Division of Field Studies and ' Clinical Investigations . _-1, V ,. Bobby F. Craft, Ph.D. Acting Director, Division of Technical Services Enel. (Air Sampling Results: October, 1971) cc: Marcus M. Key, M.D. MR. Charles Van Horne Mr. J. B. Stokes :cm o -'; (. Mr. George Pettigrew, Region VI, N.I.O.S.H. Mr. John K. Barto, Region VI, O.S.H.A. Joseph K. Wagoner, S.D.Hyg. i vi: -CHIVED, pbVooojIsI-- w,i,'/ 1 ^ >y/i M UlritCTQR THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT A RECORD OF PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. DID NOT COME FROM IT'S FILES AND pANNOT BE AUTHENTICATED BY PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. Analysis of personal samplvi5/s PITTSBURGH-CORNING ASBESTOS PLANT, TYLER. TEXAS ASBESTOS PIPE-INSULATORS OPERATION Mixing Feeder Feeder Feeder Feeder 1^1 Scrap Feeder Feeder Feeder J i Feeder Feeder Feeder Feeder Forming Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder , Builder Relief Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Relief Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Relief Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder SAMPLE CONC. (FIBERS >Su/cc) 45 139 117* 99* 106 CO* 12* 57 82 132 29 18 91 103 88 119 83 85 105 89 121 54 25 71 90 92 120* 110 107* 111 16* 20 14 17 53 O GO TMf LUCLA.VL* 1 2 u_ i'n CD CL. r :5 Q- ^S oO CO L0L. 5-Ci uj 'X- :" o X \ CJ> oo " 13Vh (J iQr.V^ 54.04 105.83 101.71 169.7 9.58 188.91 92.77 26.4 9.14 22.5 37.6 40.93 26.11 14.61 7.45 9.42 25.79 42.77 22.33 6.67 25.53 12.28 57.72 35.24 17. 37.54 90.9 70.36 103.97 30.43 134.41 53.23 44.31 59.53 4 99 | BB 0007853 | . ,y av Vf-vw' ' 'J 1 Page 2 - Pittsburgh-Corn^ Asbestos Plant Relief Builder 27 Builder 74 Builder 15 Builder 24* Builder 131 Builder 136 Builder 122 1 I Builder Builder 101 124 Builder 65 Builder 95 Builder 58 Relief Builder 56 Builder 102 Labor 52 72.12 9.74 64.35 111.15 13.8 9.9 14.8 26.9 8.44 56.45 36.41 14.75 24.27 31.2 11.26 Curing Oven Tender Oven Tender Oven Tender Oven Tender Oven Tender 47 G CO ~ LU 140 CJ __ | 112 *-- Ll. iS93 84 Zp SOP- cxl r> 23.5 5.08 6.89 19.87 16.40 Finishing Super visor Wrapper Wrapper Finishing Laborer Utility-Finishing Utility-Finishing Wrapper Utility-Finishing Finishing Laborer Saw Operator Saw Operator Saw Helper Saw Operator Saw Operator SRL Saw Cutting Saw SRL Cutting Saw Saw Feeder . Pine Machine Opcr. Saw Labor Saw Labor 68 130 98 1 3 60 8 4 22 30 126 78 76 94 118 51 55 35 006* 007 116 THIS OOCUME oCo3 o or LL. CO LU S O CJ> o 20.38 11.43 37.45 30.43 48.53 12.03 94.81 55.11 22.83 27.36 19.38 14.18 31.23 21.9 1.73 91.76 40.28 2.30 208.42 97.26 6.59 OF -4 t >, PF*G INDUSTRIES, INC. DID NOT COME FRROAf IT'S FltES AND CANNOT BE AUTHENTICATED) BY PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. I r, c I BB 0007359 | Pago 3 - Pittsburgh-Corrtrfg Asbestos Plant SRL Saw SRL Saw Saw Labor SRL Labor 1 I1 Inspection Box Marker Weigher Fork Lill Operator Packer Packer Shipping Supervisor Packer Fork Lilt Operator Labeler - 1 Inspector Weigher Inspector Packer Packer Weigher Miscellaneous TVTi Utility Utility Maintenance Utility Maintenance I Maintenance Maintenance Maintenance Sweeper Maintenance Maintenance Janitor Shipping Guard Guard Guard Supervisor Supervisor Supervisor Supervisor 134 25.97 141 1.9G 109 11. G2 2G 91.52 8G 20.71 59 34.49 2 11.71 21 9.5 42 1.84 43 2.18 10 13.08 G2 d c/y ~r LU 20.42 G3 O __ | 20.72 G9 i > - 92. 26 5 29.45 23 o_ Ou 73.62 9 :ro 3.83 44 o _ 125 P O .71 G.8 CO UJ 135 o 133 CJ> 108 39 o 11 13 50 64 97 123 127 129 40 73 113 72 128 080 X19vJ ;7flOCUUEGT WAS NOT A RECOfcfi'jCjr INDUSTRIES, INC. DID NOT COME FROM FILES AND CANNOT BE AUTHENTICATED --im/*w p^ | r j BB 0007360 |