Document npZndjK9j9bX5gO5Eg74EX4VG

Hr. Lucas Smith - Conoco Plastics - Aberdeen, Mississippi Ponca City, Oklahoma November 2, 1971 APPRAISAL OF PLANT CONDITIONS (. . The following is to be my honest appraisal of the plant conditions when viewed from the position of a Federal Inspector. OUTSIDE APPEARANCE 'k When approaching the entrance of the grounds to the Aberdeen Conoco Plastics plant, one gets an impression of a very clean, neat plant where there is substantially no air pollutants either visible or by sense of smell. The grounds are veil kept and the parking space la veil arranged and adequate. The office space is adequate and clean^end again, no odor could be detected. INSPECTION OF THE WAREHOUSE In general, the warehouse appeared neat with adequate ventilation, but there were a number of split bags with same spillage on the floor and general house keeping could be improved in this area. LABORATORY AREA The lab seemed to be well vented and arranged in an adequate manner. There were some malodorous air contaminants of a mild nature, which could be detected in the laboratory. INSPECTION OF THE COKE AND EATING ROOM This area seemed to be adequate in space, but was, at the time of inspection, littered with paper, tables were dirty and floor needed cleaning. A clean and neat lunch and lounge roam is essential. TOP FLOOR In general, this area was not too bad other than specific situations which, I feel, need to be corrected some and may not need large capital expenditures. A. The floor spillage is base than desirable and floor cleaning could be Improved. Improve ventilatory capacity and enclosures * to reduce the axzouat of dust which occurs during this operation. B. At the dry blender, the detergent is added by hand and a con* siderable amount of spillage is happening. Although this spillage is not necessarily harmful to employees it leaves a lot to ba de sired in an esthetic sense. C. In the area of blending and adding plastixers in finalizing the plastic compound, there are affluents both of odor (which seams to come from the Stax valve) and visible duet and odor from the SAL 000107- f -2 jsm blenders when Che lids are open (notlcably these remain open most of the time). Also, samples from the blenders are taken by hand either by a bucket or a pitcher which exposes the employee to possible accidents from the blades. The open hand dump contributes much dust^naid--spHls and should be better enclosed and more venti- air auctions to reduce the dust. COMPOUNDS WEIGHER At the time of ny inspection, this man was wearing an air filter mask. He was weighing the lead Sr by hand with a scoop and there was considerable .visible dust in the at This procedure would be,no doubt, a serious point ofSccjLtlclsm when by a Federal Inspector. Some thought should be given to chug] re either by automatic weighing machines or a hooded weighing scale. FIRST FLOOR A considerable amount of clean-up should*be attempted in this area because ox the severe amount of spillage and also in this area we have e noise problem from the dicers and the fqaaa fippi the F.C.M. and mill. HOSE DEPARTMENT * The hose department and area was very dean and la a pleasant working area other than there needs to be more ventilation at the mixer area and a noise problem salats at the dicar and some improvement in the hand-mixing ia advised. LIHES 1 & 2 From-a Federal Inspector's viewpoint, I would probably order this area to be shut down. The dust and fumes here are far in excess of the standard, tloise la also a problem in this area. Some simple changes In maintenance would im prove this area considerably. The blender (plastiscrs being added) vat lids should remain closed. The ceiling vent fans should be put in order by your maintenance crew. Two ceiling fans were not working at all and the others vere operating inefficiently because of the accumulation of dust on the fan blades and vents. Here again, hand sampling from the blenders waa observed. The spillage around the blenders was grossly out of reason. In general, I think we are dealing with a very serious problem with lines 1 and 2 when viewed from an Inspector's viewpoint. REACTOR BUILDING The building with small reactors seemed to be in order. I inspected a reactor which had just been cleaned and water was running in the reactor for beginning another series. The fumes cooing from this reactor were exceedingly strong and the possibilities of vinyl chloride being in excess of minimal standards would have to be considered. The procedure indicated to me which occurred just prior to ny arrival was that a large rubber hose was placed in the reactor and forded air was passed through this hose while the reactor cleaner was ia the reactor. Hare, a real problem exists. The following questions need to be SAL 000107630 3 considered: Bow much cine Is given for washing and aeration before the reactor cleaner begins hi3 work in this vessel? How long a period is this man exposed in the reactor? Is the amount of air volume going into -the reactor, while the reactor cleaner is working, adequate enough to reduce the effects of vinyl chloride inhalation? Does this man have symptoms of vinyl chloride inhalation, i.e., sleepiness, dizziness, numbness of fingers (this will be discussed with you at length very soon.) At this time, acceptable vinyl chloride limits (taken from 1970 ACG1H Cuide) ia not to exceed 500 pp/m. v The first floor was covered with water to the shoe sole level. Other than this, no criticism could be made. While inspecting the grounds surrounding this reactor building, it was noticed that considerable amount of water was running in the drainage ditches. As Z understand it, there is a stilling pond dose which collects this spillage before it..ls allovdd to enter the creeks in tha surrounding areas. ' This.vfii course,"is an absolute necessity and one which a Federal Inspector would caljb an obvious default, if it was not present. The next area to be inspected was the drying and sifting area which. In general, was dean and heat. There was a noise problem there which could possibly be criticized, but at this point, X see no way of eliminating this noise and ear muffs or plugs could be offered to the employees who work here. However, there was dust which I feel could be eliminated by simple maintenance. URGE REACTOR We entered the building close to the large reactor area and noticed a pipe which comes through the wall. When followed backwards, this pipe was attached to the bottom of this large reactor. From the pipe, fluid, which appeared to be water, was running into a floor drain next to the men's urinal. A spewing of gas came through the pipe frequently which smelled very strongly of what seemed to be vinji, chloride. I think this is an area of contamination and danger. Zt should receive immediate attention from your safety people. The large room next to the men's urinal area housed a number of sifters which ware not in operation at the time I was inspecting. I appreciate the opportunity of having been able to visit with you and Hike Raley and other menbers of your plant. I apologize to you and other members of your staff if I interrupted -the normal workday. I hope the above remarks will be ta!u:a as they have been intended, as constructive criticism, in preparing you and your staff fox a visit from a -Federal Inspector. Some of the nomenclature used in this report may be confusing to you since I * have not had time to learn the correct names of the procedures and receptlcals used. I might add that considerable thought should be given when correcting the inside dust affluents in order not to risk having more outside affluents visible. Woodrow W. Massed, M.D. Assistant Medical Director Bje A~b& " -M . ' , - 000107631 .