Document moxyGed2K1gnxvb9y17kwy0d

THEASSOCIATED ETHYL COMPANYLIMITED {leyOffice: THE ADELPHI, LONDON,W.C.2 . ~4ddressall communications untilJiitilicr notice to:THAMES HOUSE, MILLBANK, LONDON, S.W.l Delcphotic: VICTORIA 1802 [4 LINES) JetC<frams:ETHYLPOHT, SOWEST. LONDON *>XZ * J directors: . W. BOYLE U. B. AUG. KESSLER (NETHERLANDS) B.KEATH EVES R.W.SELLERS .A. GASS A. J . SINGLETON . N. GRUBB (U.S.a) E.E.SOUBRV . K. HAMILTON (f.S.,\) E.W. v/EBB (U.S.a ) T. R. A. SEVAN , MANAGING DIRECTOR OUR REF. HF/MB. YOUR RCF. 23rd February, 1940. Dr. R.A. Kehoe. Memorandum: Cleaning of Storage Tanks. I much appreciate your remarks dealing with this question in general and in particular your views on the Royal Air Force situation. The case raised by Thenault was a peculiar one. The men were cleaning the walls of a floating roof storage tank, the roof being at the bottom. The management assured Thenault that there was plenty of fresh air in the area in which the men were working, and further that the use of air-line masks would have been very difficult owing to the necessity of carrying a pipeline over the top of the tank and then inside the internal area. The question which requires a positive answer in my mind - that is if it can be given - is the following. If one can be certain that no gasoline vapour is present can the walls of a tank be scraped in a wet condition in safety if a canister mask is used? Of course, the mask would be of the full face-piece type and the canister itself would contain a particulate filter in addition to an activated charcoal bed. Please do not think that I am trying to tie you down to an expression of opinion. I fully realise that the question I am setting out depends on the certainty that no gasoline vapour is present. This must necessarily be a doubtful point since it is extremely difficult to determine whether gasoline vapour is present in a dangerous quantity. With regard to the Royal Air Force situation, I have written to the appropriate authorities enquiring as to whether any definite regulations are in force regarding the cleaning of tanks. I have sent them our standard regulations, and have not suggested any reservations until I have received a true picture as to the procedure that is being adopted at the present moment.