Document qawJRmgooDrnaaVamjrN6BNYk

FILE NAME: Union Carbide (UC) DATE: 1962 July 20 DOC#: UC020 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Internal Memo - Insulation Block Dust Survey Construction Insulation Shop Plant 511  // CORRSSPONDSNCii UNION C A R B ID E C H EM IC A LS COM PANY instituts plant p.o.box mi, CHAKUSTQN, M U VIRGIKI Hr. 0. J. Ratcliffs ao July 1962 CDt ( Industrial Relations ' Otigkoiing oP<. Amw/kg mit Department - Plant 512 Mr. L. N. Dickinson Mr. G. H. Daniels Mr. N. S. Eastman Mr. R. A. Huber Mr. B. F. King Mr. F. B. Snyder Dr C. U. Dernehl Dr. E. M. Best * * * Mr. E. G. Heins Mr. P. E. Henry Mr. R. A. Meal Mr. D. R. Matheny Mr. N. S. Ketcbas Insulation Block Dust Survey Construction Insulation Shop Plant 511_________ Enclosed is an industrial hygiene report by Mr. R. E. Peele on the potential hazardousness of "new and improved" "Thermobestos" insulation blocks submitted by the manufacturer for evaluation by band saw processing in the Construction Department's Insulation Shop. The report points out that the three "new and improved" sample blocks, subjected to test conditions identical with those in use and reported upon in March of this year, are an improvement somewhat, but these blocks too, release quantities of asbestos dust particle! into th working environment considerably above the acceptable safe limits (i.., th T.L.V.). Therefore, definitely, the processing of "new and improved" blocks also constitute hazard to Mr. Peele recommends that "Thermobestos" blocks not be processed, in the Construction Department Insulation Shop until they meet acceptable standards and I concur fully. , ' , . ? Very truly yours, RJS:gl Enclosure R. (k Sexton, M.D. Plant Medical Director * INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE SURVEY CONSTRUCTION INSULATION SHOP - BUILDING 511-2016 REPORT 62-IH-2-0-1 SUMMARY! In March of this year, following an industrial hygiene survey, it was * recommended that band saw fabrication of "Thermobestos" insulation blocks in the Construction Department Insulation Shop at Plant 12 should cease completely and permanently unless the blocks, or the dust control techniques used in fabricating the blocks, are improved so that atmospheric dust concentrations are found to be within acceptable safe limits. In the following month of April, three new "Thermobestos" insulation blocks were submitted to Plant 11 for evaluation under environmental conditions identical with those experienced heretofore* Critical analysis of the data obtained on this more recent survey revealed the existence of some degree of improvement in the dust contamination associated with the fabrication of these particular "Thermobestos" Insulation blocks. However, the magnitude of the improvement did not reduce the atmospheric dust concentrations to within the recommended safe acceptable limits of 20 mppcf (million particles per cubic foot) of air. Therefore, the recommendations remain exactly* as those stated in the report of the survey of March, 19&*. INTRODUCTION; It was established unquestionably, in an industrial hygiene report submitted in March of this year, l.e., Report 62-IH-l-G-l, that an inhalation hazard to health is produced within the Construction Insulation Shop whenever "Thermobestos" insulation blocks are fabricated. Furthermore, it was recommended also that the fabrication of "Thermobestos" insulation blocks . should cease until at least one of the following two conditions are met: First, that the atmospheric dust problem is reduced to below 20 mppcf of air through the use of ventilation, etc., or, second, that, if new insulation block should be manufactured by the producer of "Thermobestos" blocks that, it would be subjected to testing under Identical conditions as before thereby * establishing the fact that it will not release, upon fabrication with a band saw, dust concentrations in excess of 20 mppcf of air. " The Industrial Hygiene Department's recommendations met exact compliance by those responsible persons in the Construction Insulation Shop, in that no "Thermobestos" insulation blocks have been fabricated with band saws for use in this plant since the date of the Issuance of these recommendations. However, some change in procedure was indicated when, on 2 April 1962, this. :department was contacted by Mr. D. R. Matheny, General Foreman of the Insulation Shop. At that time, Mr. Matheny requested an valuation of a new "Thermobestos" insulation block which had been developed by the manufacturer, in an effort to comply with the specifications as stated in the second part of the above listed recommendations. Insulation Block Dust Survey, Construction Insulation Shop, Plant 11, Report 62-32-1-0-1. ' ' 2. 'DISCUSSION: Mr. Mathew' request for ervlcca iraa ta^^ately acted^P^ ^ ' -- time two haeic decielon. vereoei.: " ^ ^ ^ t a f o r m t l o n heeded la the . would he the moat opportune tlme for obtalotha duet .ample performance of taken W Identical of each condition should bo o****"*liability. These sampling locations so as to provide greater reliability discovered that l o he altered eomeubat, `i ^ u ^ h l " k. each of vhlch the manufacturer had provlded only produced*, differed in the precise manner in which it nan oeeu ** Thin shortage of mterlal. 1th U.ntlcal = h a TM c t . r U t U . , ^ o . P U - ^ the sampling and evaluation procedure. J S ^ o f atmospheric duat being produced therefore, to obtain more than one ^ three atmospheric dust by any one material (in actuality, \ However, this complication samples were collected during the tesjp * g ig revealed in ^ s not so severe as to render the sample da TM 0g ^ ted on this date the condensed explanation of the sampling procedure seiec ^ which is as follows* First; The data contained 00 tioMRo?atnspteric dust were SliSrly that the greatest ccncentrationao moapae band saw produced at the band saws, while sawing, definitely hard t5 health, consideration in this a * s s .ir j22 ^ "" ^ ^ u n o S d m o n . perfornmnce of this second survey. dupu.^ * > . ana, *> as nearly identical with those ia . d ,cate, i.e., position periods of evaluation as were possible to dupliwt ^ ^ the * of the block with respect to the i^Stor* hSwith block into the saw blade, position of the operator s heaa i ^ respect to the black, etc Fourth i Each of the duat a^plea obtaUod durlog th^tlmo & -r V * & 62^ 0-i- techniques as referred to and fLlnPanything more than a knowledge 5 stSitStS - rjtTth. air ^ e'1r *25!: XSK- ~ **ottwo*""wtte la eccordauce with liiformation received from ch 1.*. of identically the same materials a n d j j ln production differed from here on by the "Pan Method". However, the.iiUrity i p al the gxact description and with the manufacturer being the only one in possesej thespecific alterations incorporated in eacfc method. 3. chemical m ke up of these materials was reported as being identical with the "Thermobestos" materials reported on in the prior survey and, (2) the saving techniques utilised on both occasions were identical in nature. PROCEDURES: Both sampling and analytical methods were Identical in detail with those described in the earlier report, with sampling being accomplished through the use of the Mine Safety Appliance Company's Midget Impinger Pump and Apparatus and the analysis taking place in accordance with light field . microscopic counting techniques. RESULTS t Analysis of the physical data contained on page 5 reveals that the "'' ~ atmospheric dust concentration in mppcf (million particles per cubic foot) of air for each of the three new materials was (a) 36.8 mppcf of air for J.M. #21, (b) U8.1 mppcf of air for J.M.#22, and * (c) U4.1 mppcf of air for J.M. #23. CONCLUSIONS: (1) None of these three samples revealed a concentration as high as that ' recorded in the previous report for "Thermobestos" exposures in this position, i.e., 101.L mppcf of air for Location #3. However, by the same token, none of the present three samples revealed a concentration as low as that recorded for "Kaylo" exposures in this position, i.e., 17.1 mppcf of air for Location #3*. ' (2) Each of the three values exceeded the established T.L.V. (Threshold Limit Value) of SO mppcf of air by a substantial amount. ' (3) None of the three insulation materials, i.e., J.M.#21, J.M.#22, and. J.M.#23, as submitted by the manufacturer of "Thrmobestos", should be fabricated vlth band saws in the Insulatlpn Shop by our employees unless the manufacturer complies exactly with th following conditions: The physical and/or chemical characteristics and composition of these materials are improved to the degree that 00 further future evaluation might reveal them to be incapable of releasing concentrations of dust into the atmosphere that are in excess of th T.L.V. RECOMMENDATIONS: . Do not fabricate the 18" x 36" x k" "Thermobestos" insulation blocks (J.m T#21, J.M.#22, J.M.#23) vlth existing equipment unless -(l) (l) The producer of this material can further improve his product to thu point that it will not release, upon fabrication with our ventilated band saws, dust concentrations in excess of 20 mppcf of air, or,  u. (2} The atmospheric dust problem can be reduced to below 20 mppcf of air through the use of Improved ventilation techniques, or other safeguarding measures ' REP:gl IS July 1962 Submitted by: Robert Peels ' Industrial Hygienist % i INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE SURVEY EVALUATION OF ATMOSPHERIC DUST CONCENTRATIONS AT THE CONSTRUCTION INSULATION SHOP Atmospheric Duat Concentration Data on Three "Thermobestos" Materials As Collected with the Midget Implnger Pump and Apparatus TYPE OP DUST MATERIAL JM #21 JM #22 JM #23 : LOCATION Rate in cita #2 Band Saw, Breathing 0.1 Level of Operator Same as Above 0.1 Same as Above 0.1 Time in 10 10 10 SAMPLE ' Voi. in C;F. Blank # Dilution Particles Factor 1.0 8.3 100 1.0 8.3 250 1.0 8.3 200 Count # Particles $4.8 57.8 65.O : -, Cone, in mppcf of Air 36.8 48.1 44.1 - .