Document n9pravxkgeg3GpKBdRO74rN9z

FILE NAME: Oil Industry and American Petroleum Institute (API) DATE: 1949 Apr 12 DOC#: API158 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Unpublished Report - Summit of the Plant Industrial Hygiene Problems - Standard Oil Co. 1 company coimiHirruL Wot F or P u b lic a tio n In P r o c tn t F o ra REFORT ON "soMiurr of the punt industrial EYGITNE PR03LEMS" C. E erry, Fh.D. J . V. E am ond, M.S. R. S . Bonoib, E.M. K. V, E o n d ric k a , M.S. A p r i l 12, I 9U9 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, RESEARCE SECTION ' STAIQARD OIL COMPANY (NEW JERSEY) 30 ROCKEFELLER PLXEA HEV YOF.E 20, IGW YORK EHO0 3 118 EUMX'JRT 0? n iZ XSSiT IKD3STRIAL ETGIZHE FROBLEKS DESERVED Ilf SEVERAL REFINERIES ______________ ESSO CWPATiY_____________ _ . C. K. B a rry , R i.D . In the tin e llo tte d to ne, I should lik e to discuss the in d u s tria l h ygiene problem s in th e Er.ro Company on th e b ao io o f brood group!nga In t* the type c f expo cu res. I b clio v e th a t th is approach, ra th e r than by o r o r t- t i o n , v i l l p o in t up moro c l e a r l y th e r e c p o n o i b i l i t i e s o f th e i n d u s t r i a l h y g i e n i s t . The" fo llo w in g i s a p a r t i a l l i o t : 1. Exposuro to to x ic g ases, vap o rs, and d o t e 2. Exposure to to x ic fuoec and dunto ` 3. In d u stria l dorm atitio a . Prim ary ir r ita n ts . . b. S e n sitiz in g agents k. Expocuro to carcinogens . 5. Excessive heat 6. Exccooivo r.oi6C 7. Inadequate illu m in atio n 8. Inadequate v e n tila tio n a. General b. Local exhaust 9 V ib r a tin g t o o l s 10. Atmospheric p o llu tio n . 11. Sanitary fa c ilitie s 12. S p ecial problems Tcf.ic .gooes, v ap o rs, and m ists occur q u ite g e n e ra lly throughout re fin e rie s ; frem hydrogen c u lfid J in tho p ro cessin g of aour crudes. to m crcuri' vapor in th e in stru m e n t sh o p s; from o u lf u r dioxicic i n ol t d go coohiny, EH003119 - 2 - to carbon monoxide in nynthaaiu & a { and from benzol vaporn in so lv e n t d~v tx ln g ,to th e m in ts a s s o c ia te d w ith drum p a in tin g . O thor p o te n tia l exp o sures ore to oxidon o f n itro g e n , m erceptona, ammonia, c h lu rin o , to lu o l, x y lo l and o th er a ra n n tic a , acetone, m sthyl e th y l kotonc, m ethyl propyl k e to n e , m ethyl c h lo rld o , carbon to tr a c h lo r id o , boron t r i f l u o r i d o , aluminum ch lo rid e, hydrogen ch lo rid o , o u lfu r trio x id e , lead te tra e th y l phenol, o u lfu r trio x id e , a lip h a tic hydrocarbona both sa tu ra te d and u naetureted, vaporized lube and grease ad d itiv eo , vnporizod and aublim d p la n t!c iz e rs , alcoholG from m ethyl to lo o -o c ty l, e th e ro , e s tc r a , and o th e rs. Fumes and duoto a r e en c o u n te re d c l a r e t aG w idely# T here are- vredcl in g fumon i n m aintenance o p e ra tio n o end o c c a s io n a l heevy oxpoeuren t o c i l iceouc cataly B t d ust a, coke dunt fre e equipment cleaning and lith a rg e dust in Doctor svcetonlng, nnoostoo dunt in In s u la tin g opcrc.tionr and tn lc dust In rubber m anufacture. C a taly st m anufacture offorn a vido v a rio ty c f auot expoouroo. Lube and g ro a c s m an u factu re o f f e r czpoourcc t o diatom nrcouo e e r t h , csver&l typec of c lc y c , g ra p h ite , m etal s te a r a te s , l i r e , aobootoo, mien, rad o th e rs. M e ta lliz in g o p eratio n c, lead b u rning, aand b le a tin g and pipe r e :a u d itio n in g -- a l l prceent p o te n tia l ir.d u n tria l hygiene problem s. Tho problem o f i n d u c t r i a l d e r m a titic io lik e th e poor -- alw ays w ith u s. The problem s v ary from thoce a a s o c ia te d w ith d e f a ttin g o f the akin, as would occur on in tic o te c o n ta c t w ith c e r ta in petroleum f r a c tio n s , to those accompanying tho use o f harsh ab ra siv e s end d ete rg e n ts in hand clesm ccrs. There bto p l a n t oxpoGuroo t o p rim ary s k i n I r r i t a n t s , ouch an th e m in e ra l r.rJdo and alloalio, end to mere ssrioun subetancec, aa tho chromites. C u ttin g e i t n , g a s o l l n o , l u t e , and g re ase a d d i t i v e o p rc o o n t o p p o r t u i l M m f o r c o n t a c t w! t . primary i r r i t a n o o , as w e ll an c c n r i t i z i n g agorstc. i EMO0312 0 - 3 - E rp a su re t c c e rc in o g c n o , known And o u sp o c to d , d ip s h o a v ily i n t o th e tim e azxl e n e rg y o f th e i n d u e t r i a l h y g lo n io t. A ll c f ur. a r e fa n : 11 n r w ith th e problem a c s c c ia to d w ith wax p r a a a in g . The c o n tr o l o f t h i o problem., however, nay n o t be s u ff ic ie n tly cocpleto aa a t a t i e t i c a l evidence In co u n t in g th a t th e incidsnco o f ayctem ic n a n ife a ta tio n a atong th io group o f c i j ir., cob io o u t o f lin o w ith th a t f o r th e g e n e ra l r e f i n e r y p o p u la tio n and the p o p u latio n a t la rg o . The c o n tro l pro g ran muct be c o n tin u a lly observed c n i revieued to incuro th a t maziBuc worker p ro te c tio n 1b provided. A ninal ex p erim en tatio n hac in d ic a te d t h a t c e rta in heavy fr.ee tic n r from c a ta ly tic crack in g a re p o te n tia lly ca rc in o g e n ic to ca n , no are th e t r rr fro n cteam crack in g and th erm al refo rm in g . Tho c o n tro l programs fo r thee: m a te ria ls have boon d iscu ssed in d e t a i l and need n o t be review ed a t th io time excep t to in d ic a to th a t th ey re p rc c c n t a o ig n ific a n t e f f o r t on th e r r i o f in d u s tr ia l hygiene p srso n n o l,' p a c t and p ro c e n t, and th e re io every rc u :c n to b e lie v e th a t oven g re a te r in d u s t r i a l hygiene e f f o r t w ill bo re q u ire d before a l l groups ccnccm od w ith the problem a re nurc th a t a o atiefaeto .-y c o n tro l progran hao toon ovolvcd, in au g u rated , and io running crtootkly. E x co e siv e h e a t c rp o su rc c can n o t bo oo lv ed fo r p la n t p c ro o n n e l ae CQSlly ac f e r o f f i c e enp lo y ect where th e l e t t e r can be r e n t homo in th e middle o f the aftern o o n i f i t gets too h o t. Such expoourcE, d ir e c tly a c o c riated v ith tho work, occur in such w idely v arie d a c tiv ltio o as pipe bonding and furnace therm ocouple c o rv lc in g , c e r ta in b o ile r house o .c tiv itic o , end w orking in co n fln o d aroao where tho equipm ent hao n o t co o led down e n t i r e l y . During c o rta in ooaaon*, any phyolcal la b o r o f a otrenuour typo, and cn p e cin lly i f i t 1b p erform ed i n d i r e c t B u n llg h t, moy r e p r e c e n t an o c c u p a tio n a l ex p o ru re of no noon o itjn lflc a n o e . EM003121 - k - A m ed ical o p in io n line boon czproaocd i n c o r ta iu o f th e r e f i n e r i e s t h a t h e a rin g im pairm ent i s r e l a t i v e l y casnnn among c e r t a i n groupo o f if e r k r r e , nuch as the b o ile ra a k o rn . Ecvovcr, high noiae levolo ore encountered In o th er p arte o f the re fin e ry ea v e il. P o te n tia lly undecim ble noice love lr m ight be en c o u n te re d i n th e v i c i n i t y o f h ig h -e p o e d pump3 ." i n com rrcocor rooma, in g e n e rn to r roams o f th e penrar h o u se s, t o m ention o n ly a fe u . Inadequate illu m in atio n ia a problem th a t a ffe c to c le r ic a l pcraonrcl as much and ea o f t e n ea p ro c e ss v o rk e ra . S c t i e f n c to r y i l lu m i n a t i o n m ust be c one i doro d i n clo x o c o n ju n c tio n u l t h th o Job t c bo perform ed and I s a c o n - r s i t e c f a number o f item s -- th e in te n B ity o f th e lig h t, i t s c o lo r, c o n tra c t, amount o f g la re , and angle o f in c id e n c e . P o te n tia l d i f f i c u l t i e s a r is in g from in ad e q u a te illu m in a tio n may bo e n c o u n te re d i n any a re a o f th e r e f i n e r y but is most lik e ly to a rlo c from c l e r ic a l a c ti v i t i o a . F o rtu n a te ly , the open type o f c o n stru c tio n employed in p e tro le m . re fin in g reduces tho number and v n rio ty o f gonoral v e n tila tio n p ro b le m w ith v h ic h tho i n d u s t r i a l h y g i e n i s t srurt c o n te n d . On tho o th e r h an d , th e r e tu o numerous in o tan ce s vhere e n c lc su rc s liavo been ccnoti-uctod f o r th e o h o ltc r o f men a n d /o r eq u ip m en t,en d th e v e n t i l a t i c n o f th e s e ep aese th e n b c c a ro r c. problem . Pun? houcco f r e q u e n tly e f f o r e rp o n u re s t o h y t'rc g rn o u l f i d c ; com p r e s s o r houoes may p ro v id e expoouros n o t o n ly t o h y d r o ^ r s u l f i d e , b u t a ls o to m ethyl c h l o r i d e , e r n e n ia , o r ocrno o th e r r e f r i g e r a n t . In many cen to l o c a l oxhauot v e n t i l a t i o n ic re q u ir e d f o r nTw if-J'o p eratio n s. Each of ua ic fa m ilia r v ith the cproy pain t booth and the la b o ra to ry hood, b u t tho neod fo r tb io typo o f v o n tllc tio n can bo dem snstra ted f o r E o t a l l i 2 i i ^ - o p o r c t l o n o , perm anent v o id in g l o c a t i o n s , d o e rv a o c ro , <r.'.d d rio ro , caiondi-ro, and d u stin g or.chlnco in rubber m anufacture. t PO 03 1^2 - 5- As i n th e car o f i l lu m i n a t i o n , each o p e r a tio n muct bo c o n s id e re d on on in d i n dual b a s ic . I f no v e n tila tio n i s p rovided, then th e coed fo r such c o n tro l must bo sconox rated and a so isto n c e provided to bo cure th n t th e system v i l l be o f the c o rre c t doclgn and o f au ita b lo c a p a c ity . Because v e n tila tio n fo r health p ro tectio n io so poorly understood, every In d u strie ! h y g ie n io t m ust bo co n v e rsan t w ith hoed and d u ct d e sig n ; f a n ty p e s , and th e p ro p o r c o l l e c t o r t o tics f o r th e s p e c i f i c co n ta mi na nt . The c a p i t a l o u t .Icy fo r a c a tis fa c to ry ro n tila tin g system is fo r too large to perm it unconcern ovor i i a fu tu re perform ance by the ir d u o tr ia l h y g io n lc t. V ibratin g tc o le are in use throughout tho p lan ts end th e ir e ffe c ts a re o f i n t e r e s t from an o ccu p atio n al sta n d p o in t. Ihooe ln s tru n c n to ra n g : from e l e c t r i c a l l y d riv en s t a r d riU o , to Jackhammers and pavement b roakero', r.nd from th o uoo o f c h ip p in g c h ie e la , t o r i v e t i n g o p o ra tlo n o . Tliooo noed t o be s c ru tin iz e d from the stan d p o in t of frequency and d u ra tio n o f ubc, tho number o f eyeloo p o r m in u te , and f e a t u r e s p c c u ll o r to tho a c t i v i t y t h n t may have o ig n ific a n t m edical iir.pllcationn. Since the onog incident r.t Donors, Pennoylvnnia, c u rre n tly being in v e stig a te d by the In d u n tria l Hygiene D lv iric n , U.S. P ublic H ealth S erv ice , the o p ectcr o f atm ospheric p o llu tio n has haunted th e i n d u s t r i a l h y g i o n i c t . Thin i n d i v id u a l i s t r a i n e d an-l e x p e rie n c e d on th e ev alu atio n and co n tro l of atnocphoric contam lncntc w ithin a p la n t and i t is o n ly a sm all s to p , and c v ery lo g ic a l one, fo r him to be c a lle d upon fo r sim ila r functions re la te d to tho diocharge of ur.docirahle contam inants in to th e atraosphore o f a community. A ll c f tho Hsso r e fin e rlo e nro lo c a te d in urban areao, and i t io n e t u n lik e ly th a t tho work lo ad o f th e in - lu r tr la l h y g ie n is t w i l l be augm ented by b o in g c a llo d upon i n Dome d eg ree to a s s i s t m enage"nt in th is fio ld of ondeavor. EM003 12 3 . *. X I - - - 6- With r e s p e c t t o o a n itc r y f a c i l i t i e s , i t would bo d e s i r a b le t o b< aosured th a t 11 governmental requirem ents arc met ana exceeded and th a t any c o n tr o l program , aa i n th o caco o f th e c a rc in o g e n s , v i l l n o t bo itrjxjdod by the lack of lav a to rie o end hcvert. In c o rta in c f our estab lish m en ts, tho lack o f su ita b le f a c i l i t i e s , tb o ir lo c a tio n , o r th e ir physical condi t i o n , io a r e r y r e a l problem . On th e o t h e r h an d , t h i r c o n d itio n i s b e in g o t e a d i l y a llo v la tc d ^ and tho n e r t few y e a rs sh o u ld f i n d th o c i t u a t l o n much im p ro v ed . . In a d d itio n to tho in d u s tr ia l hygiene problems end a c tiv itie s previously enuccrated, thcro are o th ers, re a l or alleg ed , th a t req u ire i n v e s t i g a t i o n . Y ootorday wo b o ard o f th o ca n c o r problem a s s o c ia te d v illi the m anufacture o f io o u ro n y l a lc o h o l a t tho Bayvuy R efin ery . T his problem , considered acuto by th e lo c a l managecent becauso of the employee re la tio n e aopoct, has e n ta ile d a tremendous amount o f e f f o r t and tho o a l i s n ot in s ig h t. Developing incidonco figurn fo r tho Chemical Iroducto aro a alone u t i li z e d a l l a v a iltb lo poreonnol from tho N odical Department o f tho Jerse y Company and o u r own f o r o c v e ra l v eo k c, ond in c id e n c e fig u r n f o r th e a lc o h o l p l a n t e re J u s t now b e in g cam p lo ted . Tho t i o l o g i e a g o c t i s n o t known t u t no o ffo rt lo being operod to id e n tify i t . Only a f te r the problem has been vo11 doflnod w i l l i t be p o s s ib le t o s o t up an i n t e l l i g e n t c o n tro l program . Tbs fa c to ev o lv e d a t Bayvay cruet th e n bo t r a n s l a t e d , in s o f a r ao th e y a re com parable, in to a program a t Baton Rsugo. ' _ S everal stu d io s of a s im ila r typo say be in ordor in o th er r e f in e r ie s , inasmuch ao o ta tc c o u to r o la tiv c to tho incidoncco of c e r ta in m edical e n t i t i o o have ,,boon made and ohould e i t h e r be s u b s ta n tia te d . o r d is p ro v e d . CKB A p ril 11, 1949 ' EM003124 narjSTfliAi. r r c - n : g i ^ o i i z .- s c is z n v s ft ik T ig p/.yTO.v- KiT?v tg v J . W. Bcm cm d, K .S. I n l ^ S a su rv e y o f th o Baytown B c fin n ry and `-he S p e c i a l t y f l a n . vc.c mado v i t h th e a o a io ta n c e o f H r. K, V. H e n d ric k s. TJio p u rp o se s o f t h i s survey ver to d e to ra in a th e m a te ria ls and c o n d itio n s o f h e a lth cignific:\nr..i and acquaint the In d u s tria l B ygionict w ith th e tech n ical o p eratio n s, ro te rin .'.r, and p ro d u c ts w hich art* h an d led ir. th o B o fin e ry and th e S p e c i a l t y r i m e . These operationo ard the n atu re c f the m a te ria ls vein in v eo tig ated fo r the Ferpose o f lo c a tin g any problem asso c ia te d w ith re fin e ry oporationc th a t n ig h t h iv e an a d v e rse e f f e c t on th e h e a l t h o f th e em ployees. Some c f th e quoetions th a t were stu d ie d vhich seem to bo th e most o u tsta n d in g are p re s e n te d i n th e o u m a ry a tta c b o d . The s u b j e c t s ahown o re by no moans c. ccor'-M o l i s t of observed in d u s tria l hygiene problems ac scclcte d w ith re fin e ry opera tio n s and tho m anufacture of petroleum s p c e ia ltic c . On page cno c f tho Cummry th e s a n i t a r y plic.ccr o f th e I n d u s t r i a l hygiene su rv ey a ro b r i e f l y prooer.t.ed. Tho q u c c tio n o f p ro c o c tio n c f tb s d rin k in g w a te r supply end the method c f b a c te r io lo g ic a lly cheeking t h i s fo r u n su cp ected eourcoe o f c o n tsm ir.a tlo r v e r e I n v e s t i g a t e d . Ac a r e s u l t o f th in in v o e tig a tio n o e v c rn l voainnc6co wore bro u g h t o u t. The me.hod o f c o lle c tin g oaaplec vn6 changed t c in clu d e cnmplcc evory th re o manthc from th o forem ost ends o f the w ater mains in a d d itio n to c o llo c tin g conplcc a t a p o in t very n e a r tho w e ll s l t o . T h is n : r p re g ra n h as d io c lo o o d , on on'* o r two o c c a n io n r, minor contam ination which hue rc c u lte d in a noro c a re fu l c o n tro l over the en t i r e system . I t vas observed d u rin g th ic survey th a t th e re wore oevoral1 fo u r- ta in o and o th e r-.p lc c c o w h e n e.-.-.ployoco o b ta in e d t h o i r tirin ':iu g w a te r tlvxt c'.tl n o t meet w ith tho ninim xi crandord fre.n th e sta n d p o in t of s a n ita tio n . p-o- gram i s novr underw ay w ith tho o rd o ro b e in g io s u e d from th e ca n ag o r o f th e r e f in e r y to re p la c e a l l ur.approvod typo o f f o u n ta in :, thus to o l i r .i r a t c cr.y . * E rO 0 3125  V J ' - 2 - cro co i n f e c t i o n o f th e p cro o n n o l by t h i o mso n e. The old ty p e o f d r i n '- i n r w a te r cor* a r c b a in s ro p la c e d by e. s a n i t a r y ty p e which keeps th e w a te r a r.i ic e s e p a ra te d . U n til th e nov typo c f com ccn bo su b rtlu u to d in every i n stan ce , chlorine ta b lo ts aro being ussd to o to r ilir e the drinking w ater m ixture in tho in s a n ita ry typo o f esno. The ro fu ae and sewage d io p o se l m ethods were stu d ie d . The good s a n ita ry program ouch ao, th e co n stru c tio n o f tho sovagn d isp o sa l p la n t, i n s t a l l a t i o n c f sewerage lin o s to c e p a ra te th e storm and in d u s t r i a l wnuto d rain s from th e s a n ita ry sow ars, and replacem ent o f a l l the open-typo p riv ie s , has been g re a tly a c c e le ra te d einco th is su rre y . T his ourvey po in ted cut through th e ro p e rt th a t communicable disoaoos vero o a s ily tra n s m itte d by various in se c ts under the e x istin g conditions In tho R efinery. Tho v a a h in e and s a n i t a r y f a c l l l t l o o t v c i l a b l o to th o em ployees were review ed. R eeonnacdaticns f o r tho in c re a se in tb s number o f thooe fr.c i l i t i o s wore mado and i n many caoos th e noodod changes o r a d d itio n s have been oecured. This procram has been w ell underway since before the conne?t i o n o f tho I n d u s t r i a l E y g le n is t w ith th e Compeny, b u t due to th e b rin g in g to l i g h t o f many i n d u s t r i a l hy g ien e nroblom s which would d i c t a t e tho noed fo r th e oxpansion o f th e f a c i l i t i e s , t h i n program hao now rocchod th e s ta g ? ti n t th e a p p ro v a l c f re q u o s te d f a c i l i t i e s from to p mrniifjemont I s a se u ro d i f th e y a r e e s c e n t l a l i n th e c o d i r a l program . By tho b e g in n in g c f th e yonr 1?50, th e f a c i l i t i e s which wore soon t o have boon nooded w i l l bo ccm ploted o r undor con s tru c tio n . In a few lo c a tio n s where to x ic m a te ria ls were being handled and th e n a tu re o f th e work mac'o i t no cesr.ary f o r th e em ployees t o g e t b a d ly s o i l e d , h o t w ator has. been added to tho p re eo n t vnohing f a c i l i t i e s . The precenco of to x ic m a te r ia ls was brought to th e a t te n tio n o f th e Menagecunt to J u s t if y the added expense of in s ta llin g hot w ater. E MO 0312 6 3 I t w i l l o n ly be pooci'ole In th n few n in u tn e t h a t have bocr. a? l e i "" i t o ma t o cover th e moot o u ts ta n d in g h a te r d a a a a o c ia to d w ith t o x i c E r.tc rie .lc . F lr o t, from tho a tan d p o in t o f th e number o f emxloycoo oxpooed and th e g e n e ra l preconce o f th o m a te r ia l th ro u h o u t th e R efir e r y , ono would have to l i s t hydrogen and o rg an ic e u lfid o o . P rio r to th ir ourvoy, re v e re ! caaoa o f c e rio u a oyo i r r i t a t i o n come t o th e a t t e n t i o n o f th e K edicc.! Dlv ie ion iro n & low grade erpnoure o f r a th e r long d u ra tio n t o o u lfid o a . At onothci l o c a tio n t h io ourvoy d io c lo c o d t h a t t h e r e wao a r a t h e r a e rio u c p o s o i b i l i t y o f eye i r r ita tio n fro n tho preocnco o f hydrogen c u lfid o . Before any nctior. -w tch ea on tho recom m endation, such ao in s tig a tin g a d o tc ile d atudy o f th ic lo c c tio n and roconnnending adequate v e n tila tio n , co v ern l eye caaco ro p e rto d to the h o s p ita l fo r treatm en t from tlila u n it. There s t i l l e x is ts the need f o r a d e t a i l e d and q u a n t i t a t i v e in v o n tig n tio n o f the-on e u lfid o o in many o th e r u n ite . Thic gno has boon ro e p o n o lb lo f o r v e ry s e r ic u c , a c u te p o iso n in g end oome enseo hove r e o u lte d i n f a t a l i t i o o . U nder th e e x i s t i n g c o n d itio n a , th~ p ro c a u tio n 3 u se d , end th e ce r.c o n v ratio n o c f o u lfld o th c c a rc now found., i t io the opinion th a t the danger lo n o t o n ly oyo i r r i t a t i o n , but p osciM y c h ro n ic sy stem ic p o ia o n in g from le v c o n c e n tr a tio n s . Tho c u r r e n t l y uoed culf i d e d e te c to r io n o t c e n s it i v o enough t o p ic k up c c r.c e n tra tlo n o o f th e re rp.noo which w i l l produce p h y s io lo g ic a l e f f e c t s . An ndoquate n p p ra io a l would depend upon usin g aboolute q u a n tita tiv e ch erd cal methods and in ts g ra te d caaploo. There aro a t le .-s t fiv e s k ille d c r a f ts where p o s s ib ility o f pluriMrm e x io to .. To date no in v e o tlg a tio n o f th is problem in tho n atu re o f e i t h e r atmoophoric saeploo o r lead e x c re tio n vnlueo of body flu id c baa been ccrricc. o u t. T his l o i t e r w i l l oocn bo u n d ertak en by th e a n a ly t i c a l la b o ra to ry . Mercury lo e x te n siv e ly used by the la b o ra to ry a n a ly tic a l group, tho re so a rc h e n g in e e r s , end h a n d lo i in la r g e q u a n t i t i e c by th e In c tru m o n t Men. EM003127 TtlB p o t e n t i a l F ro b lo n hoc r e c e iv e d u g r e a t d e a l o f c tv c n tlo n i n n -the M edical D iria ic n through having employees v ith th e g re a te s t erpocure r e p o r t t o th e h o s p i t a l bo t h a t u rin e p o cin en o co u ld be c o l l e c te d and cubmi t t e d t o th e a n a l y t i c a l l a b o r a t o r y f o r a n a ly n iB . More th a n 60 Kar.pLen have been c o lle c te d and chocked fo r m ercury no f a r . Thia study I d co n tin u in g . In sev eral lo c a tio n s m ercury vapor have been found by atm ospheric Tarnlin g . In eons o f thece lo c a tio n s vhore m ercury io ro g u le rly ueed ; a vock.iy check la being cado and a record kept by the op eratin g personnel or the a n a ly tic a l lab o ra to ry a t the requoat of tho departm ental cupcrvioor. Other heavy m e ta ls w hich have been lo c a te d and vo knot* p ro a e n t enough erp o cu ro th a t th ey nhould bo e tu d ie d aro s in e , ch ro m ate, cadmium, and to a l e c t o r d eg ree, b e ry lliu m . Up to th e p r e s e n t t i n e no q u a n t i t a t i v e v a lu e s a r c a v a i l ab le on th e s e m a te r ia ls . S ilic a and asb ectcn a re both e x te n s iv e ly usoe. in th e R cfin o ry by n lim ite d number o f employeoc. To d ate th e only q u a r t! tn tiv o etudy ve have made d e a lt v i t h th e ccm p o c itio n o f c o n ta c t c lo y . The f r e s a i l i c c c o n te n t o.'* theoo clays has been dotom ined by a c a re fu l chem ical a n a ly sis acrio te:! by x - r a y cp o cto g ro p h . I t ie f e l t t h a t a o tu d y or. th e atm o sp h eric c o n c e n tr a tio n s on s i l i c a and s i l i c a t e d u ct a c c o c ia tc d w ith r u n n i n g the fu rn acee I d c f imae d i e t s im p o rta n c e . S i l i c a b r ic k s a re commonly ucod in l i n i n g th e fu rn a c e s U6 0 d in th o R e f in e r y . Even where s i l i c a t e b r ic k s a r e u sed , i t ie known t h a t in high tom poratureo theoo s i l i c a t e s decorpoco to form very dangerouc forms of s ilic a , c r io to b a lita , end trld y m lte . Tho exposure' to aabootoo under norm al o p e ra tin g c o n d itio n s in thn R e fin e ry ie not* o x te n c iv c b u t fr e q u e n tly i t io nececeory f e r an ir .c u la to r to do work In s id e o f a c lo se d e ta c e w ith lim ite d v e n t i l a t i o n , nrnking i t p o o cib ra t h a t a h ig h c o n c e n tr a tio n o f a s b e s to c d u s t may be er.gondered, A lE o ,th o E *0 011 28 I ' - 5- QBboatoi in s u la tio n s art" saved by pomar savo which gift? o f f ra th e r ber^v /-jrnrip o f d u s t. T his problem should bo s tu d ie d . Tho a n n ly n io f o r fr o o a l l i e s I n . c o n ta c t lubo c in y s d ic c lo a -.e the average c o n c en tratio n lo about fiv e p e rc e n t. Thlc In valuable ir.fo rrr - tio n In viev o f tho fa c t th a t the P ublic H ealth S ervice ban on reco rd ea analynlo o f a s im ila r typo c la y which they claim to have contained 20i free a l l i e n . I t f u r t h e r toh eo v o s ud to make f a i r l y cexaploto ourveyo o f th e l o c r - tlo n s where s i l i c a t e lo a p p a re n tly b ein g handled, in c lu d in g tho Rubber Flnr.t vhero t a l c io a p p lie d tc th e fin is h e d ru b b e r. Such e d e ta ile d ntudy, w ith com plete d u a t count6 a t v a rio u s lo c a tio n s and erponurce, w i l l be in v a lu a b le f o r our re c o rd s chould trc l a t o r bo c o n fro n te d w ith c o m p la in ts and cleim r from form or em ployees who m ight have worked a t th e so l o c a t i o n s . Ho doubt tho duot counts v i l l diDClooo cat unnoceo o crily duBty o p eratio n o th a t can In c o n tro lle d by m echanical m-anc. A t th e A cid P le n t and a t th e SOp P la n t s , low c o n c e n tr a tio n s o f o u l- f u r d io x id o and tr io x id o c a ro p o t e n t i a l p ro b lem s. Many c o u p la in tc have h?cn received a t v trio u a tim ec from the Acid P lan t, and i t vac oboervod th a t vr.riouc o p e ra tio n a c a r r io d o u t th e r e in v o lv e i r r i t a t i n g c o n c e n tr a tio n s . As happy ro o u lt of an a c tiv o departm ent management*s attem p t to improve theoe condl- tio n D , th e c u r r e n t o i t u a t i o n io much im proved. The p ro o f o f th o s e im prove- monto was r e c e n tly brought to our a t t e n t i o n vhen i t was re p o rte d t h a t employeec a re now ro q u o o tin g t c be aco lg n o d to th e A cid P la n t r a th e r th an tr y i n r . in ev ery vay poaaible to got tra n a fe rre d away. Hot a l l o f the problems have been so lv ed , bu t much monoy f o r th o ixirpooo o f im proving t h i s a r e a hao boon sp en t and even moro- Hap been re q u e s te d . . In connection w ith tho s u lfu r oxide problem, not only in the R oflr'-ry proper but in the surrounding community, a stu d y has been In s tig a te d to teko E M 0 0 3 129 - i - 6 - atm ospheric tem ples a t vcrlouo distance iro n the R efinery to e s ta b lis h in fo rm a tio n p e r ta i n in g to th e co n cen t ra tio n t h a t may e n l e t under v a i-'io '; v e a th e r c o a d i t l e n r . I t 1* planned t h a t t h l o B tucy w i l l t e p ro lo n g ed ov<- a p eriod o f y ea rs, I f nscossory, to e s ta b lis h enoui fa c tu a l a n a ly tic a l i'a`i th a t a d eelo io n ecu be reached or to th e e x te n t o f the proa lea w.'th v n rt" gases. A prelim inary In v e stig atio n nr to the extent, of vegetation d m th e v i c i n i t y of th e R e fin e ry hao a lre a d y been o ta r t e d . I t vac oboerv<' d -i-- ln g th is survey th a t f a ir ly high co n een tietio n s of n itrogen dlcnide e::ir.ird In fo u r em ail tu l.ld lrg i: a c c o c la te d v i t a the. Ar.ld P .lnnl. A tm oorberlc r - d l6 c lo c e d t h a t th e n itr o g e n d io x id e ex p o su re wee a v ery c e rio u 6 profclr:.. t 5 anyone having to e n te r the b u ild in g even f o r a sh o rt p e rio d . W arning c.irir. havn been placed in tb io a re a ant. M iuagcnrnt has ordered f i a t th e e n g in ee rs decign adequate v e n tila tio n to reduce the co n cen traticn c o f nitrogen to thooe th a t are recognized as h ar;ileo e. Concentrations of benzol ere detected in thu atmoophcrc m the l>.l. Plant,, in same of the laboratories, and at the Bottle- Is unary vhich were t-*- llcvoti to be er.cccslv-c iVr prolonged expocurc-. Ac r. roicit o! the cc.ucr..*,[<n vorl--. accomplished through this ourvey, the KT.K Plant oujervleor hnc initiated the removal of benzene and the substitution of toluene In its stead. 7 M j substitution does not control the problem entirejy. but It dlainichcr thv Eeriousneas of it. O ther arom atic-", in c lu d in g to lu e n e aryl x y lo l, cu'reneo, a n i ot.h'r-r err nianuf zc tu re d In la rg e q u a n t i t i e s . These cxpoGurcr. r.re c o n s id e re d lr. i;r.n c.'?.s"-o to be w ith in .a e c c p c c c l i m i t s , b u t th e re i s no vcy o f b ein g oure i.-i tc- eh/'. .1 t h a t th e y nay produce on the h e a lth o f th e em ployees w ith o u t making r .iif - j i e r t atm ospheric ex am in atio n s tc e sta fc lic h th e range and d v ro tio n of e x p e s w r . EM003130 - 7- I t l a a c a tn c n p r a c t i c e t o use c h lo r in a te d h y d ro cerb o n o to c <cnu e l e c t r i c a l m otors and r a r l o u a in s tru m e n ts i n tv o o r more* d e p a rtm e n ts o f th e R efinery. This problem la b ein e c u rre n tly stu d ied in d e ta il w ith the assistan ce of the sa fe ty en g in ee rs. This etudy w ill include not only the R efin ery and th e S p e c ia lty P la n t, b u t a ls o th e P ro d u ctio n Department arrl Humble Pipe Line Company's o p e r a tio n s . V a rco l was feu n d b ein g unod f r e e l y w ith o u t ro p srd to th o 1*>^ a r o m atics I t c o n tain s. ' In a few u n its h o s t, which hes been the caune o f v a rio u s fa tig u e coses as w e ll as th e oource o f many c o m p la in ts , was o b s e rv -d , T ice In c not p e rm itte d eny d e t a i l e d s tu d y o f th e problem s a s s o c ia te d w ith b e e t and. nois*' , but i t is f e l t th a t i t is im portant enough th a t such e study is J u s tif ie d . In most casec, th ese otudles have been c a rrie d out by the operr.llng personnel in charge c f the vs.-ious departm ents w ith the aaain tan ce of the la b o ra to rie s which are a v a ila b le to th e n . The K edlciil D iv is io n has e c rv :d ao c o n s u lta n t on making a v a ila b le approved typo a n a ly tic a l method to be ueed in atm ospheric te c tln g , a n a ly e ls of u rin e c c c p lc s, and to In te r p re t the r e s u lts t h a t th e a n a ly s t r e p o r t s . In some d ep a rtm en ts th e s u p e r v is o r h es n et f e l t th a t they had q u a lifie d p e rso n n el, su p p llo s, equipm ent, c r tb s tim e tc trek" th e s e in d ic a te d su rv e y s. In th e se e o se o , when p o s s ib le , th e I n d u s t r i a l H y g ie n ic has c a r r i e d c u t th e chem ical and e n g in e e rin g s c r v ic e o . In come in s tn n e e r t h r> equipm ent sad time were n o t a v a ila b le to th e I n d u s tr ia l B y g ien io t and he has tu rn ed to the i n d u s t r i a l hyglone s e r v ic e s o f the Tex as S to te Dt-parlmeot o f H e a lth f o r a s s i s t a n c e en a q u a n t i t a t i v e a p p r c ic o l o f th e to x ic m a te r ia ls known to be p r e s e n t'in the atm osphere. These p u b lic o f f ic ia ls huve been very co o p e ra tiv e i n v e ry vey i n t r y i n g to f u r t h e r th e goncrc.1 v.-eU -belng o f theHumble em ployees. t E PO 03131 . bTime doe a n o t p e rm it ne to .touch on nnny o f t h r o tb o r p ro b '.o n r, eottc of which a re as m ajor t a th e s o , th c t have bean unco\crod, n or ic tlU c th e m eetin g to r e p o r t on th e e u n i t a r y e n g in e e r in g c rp e c t o:' th e work tm ic haa been c a rrie d out in clooo cooperation w ith the c iv il engineerr of the Company. I t i a a u f f i c i e a t t o ae y t h a t , ao a r e a u l t o f th e c e o c t i v i t l c - r , th various engineering standards and guidea have been re w ritte n v ith the viev in mind o f making i t p o s s ib le f o r th e u n in itie to d en g in eer to su p crv ic e co n e tru ctio n o f adequate w ater and sewage f n c i l i t l e e to p ro te c t em ployeec' h e a lth Thio phaoe o f tho problem poena t o h rv e n e t w ith cenpletc.- c.j>i rovi o f Monsgemoat. JVH A p r i l 12, I 9L9 1 EMO0313 2 APfTTOIX STO-rAPT OF PHZLIHTKABT INDUSTRIAL BYGICTE SURTCI AT BATTOWH C ondition and fo c ili tv D rin tin g W ater, Fountains and Cooler." Sewage Dlcpocal Washirg and S e n ita ry F acilitleo P otential D1 o e o a e o Twenty-one C osm ni cable Dlouanes Ten Comiu n ic a b le DlaooncB Sltin I r r i t a t i o n (d e n ta titio ) and Syatenic Poisonice D epartnont cr C raft A ffcctr ____ B;- R ccccittcr.datlen_______ Turnaround end lab o r Gang*, and Twenty or to re Unito A ll U nita end Peroorno! M orhanlcal, lab o r, Proceoolng ar.i OtherB I EM003133 - 2 - SHKiirr OP HtElIMIftAST ik pu st b ia i. KYG1EI.T SURVEY AT BiTTWN K ite r i c l or C ondition Hydrogen end Organic S ulfideo Lead Mercury Zinc, M etal Ptirn n Chrom tec end B eryllium (S lig h t Exp.) S ilic e and A cbcstoo P otential Dleaeo Eyo I r r i t a t i o n and U lc e ra tio n . Syotcmls Poiconinc P lum b!en M .ercuriclisn Fume F e v e r, end Syotemic Poiocning Lung Cancer and Sliin Tumor Department or C ra fts A ffected By B ocom nrndntlcnn________ D is tilla tio n , Light Indc, Cracking, T re atcro , Purpir.c. G auging, rxsch an icai S- C t'ir r r Labor, P a in tin g , Welding and B urning and Machine Chop Instrum ent, Laboratory, Warehouoe and P il o t P la n t M echanical P ain tin g , M echanical L lab o r S illco o ic, F iberooic, Erythema & Cencer e f Lungr B rick M.iacn L B c lp e ro , In e u la to rn , Laborerc and Pipe Eendero I E MO0 3 134 - 3- M aterial or C o n d itio n S il i e r te s und Coks l u s t S ulfui Dioxide and T rio n ide and Acid M ist N itrogen Dioxido SUMMARY OF KCLIItlN/lPT INDUSTRIAL g YGIing SURVEY AT BAYTOWN P otential E ffects ' r i t r o s i e / and Poeoibly lung Timore Irrita tio n , As tin ta , and P o iso n in g Eileen o f Lunge D epartnent or C raft A f f e c te d by Ree omBendationy: C ontact, S tra lc in e and B lending, C radling C olls and labor T re a te rs , Acid P la n t, B a tto r le s , and SC>2 P la n ts Acid P la n t and W elding l t EM003135 i - k - SUHP.A3Y OF PPXLIHIKABT IFirjSTIAl. HYGIENE SURVEY AT BAYTOWN (C o n tin u ed ) to terial or Condi tlo n Benzol T oluol, X ylol and Hoavy A ronstic o V arocl and High A ronntlc Naphtha C h lo rin ated Hydrocarbonn Beat and Noise P otential E ffects Blood Dicccoe one Cancer Blcod Dioococ D e n ra titia end Blcod Dioeano C irrhooic of L iv er General M alalco, Exhaustion and DecfDooc DepartncDt or C raft A ffe c te d by P e c omji.-nd.nt ,onn MEE P l a n t , L e b o m to ry and B o ttle Laundry MEN, SO? P la n t e , IEFU, NUU, and P t C U n ite G e n e ra lly Deed Throughout B efinery In a tru m e n t fit E l e c t r i c a l M aintenance Crcvo, Punpero, B ollor and Power Bcueoo F e ra o n n e l EH003136