Document rBkMxKoj6xY98Qy5qMM12BM3E

P PARK AVENUE NSW YORK 17, NEW YORK August 16, 1955 /" ` Letter No. CSE-56-55 Subject: Air Line Mask Hose TO CHIEF SAFETY ENGINEERS Mk.COPY FOR Gentlemen: On sevieral occasions over the past year, it was noted that air coming through s ome air line mask hoses was contaminated with significant quantities of le.ad. Several sections of hose were sent to Kettering Laboratory for further tests. The results of these tests did not produce sufficient infor nation to completely evaluate the nature of this problem. Dr. Ke hoe has requested that this matter be p&rsued further, It is obvious that we should not do anything which would alarm our field staff, customer companies and tank cleaning contractors who engage in cleaning leaded gasoline tanks. It is for this reason that the following program is sugge sted for testing our air line mask hoses. In or^er that a very few be engaged in this work, it is suggested that a schedule be determined at each regional office for the return of air line mask hoses from the men in the field. When these hoses have been re ceived at the regional office, only one or two men should be used to make the necessary lead-in-air determinations. In this manner, only a few men will be involved and they can be thoroughly instructed not to discuss this subject until all of the facts have been determined. Also this would have the advantage of more uniform testing. The test work on the hoses should consist of: 1. Take four cubic foot sample from each section just as the hose is received; re ctord the results. 2. Connecpt each section of hose to an air line mask blower and operate the blower s this would be done in the field to clear the lines. With the blower in n<t>rmal operation, take another four cubic foot sample and de termine the lead content of the air so sampled. Record the results. 3. Connect all of the sections of hose from each individual field air line hose rnhsk and with the blower operating as though the equipment was supplying a man with a mask, collect another four cubic foot sample. Record the results. By tak:ing an air sample from each section of hose as received (Sample No. l), the air velocity will be quite small and not likely to pick up particulate inatter which may be distributed along the interior surfaces of the hose. The results of this test provide one type of information. X a vl CSE-56-55 - 2 August l6, 1955 By taking a sample from each section with the "blower in operation (Sample No. 2), after the hose had "been "blown out as is normally done in the field, a. measure of possible lead contamination of the air from one section of hose is determined. The te$t with all sections, from each air line hose mask set, connected togethb:r (Sample No. 3), would determine the accumulated amount of lead, if pres snt, which would issue into a mask under normal operating conditions where all lengths of hose are required. After the above test work has been done, any section of hose which shows a le ad content in excess of b mg. per cubic foot with the blower in normal operation (Sample No. 2), should be sent to Kettering Laboratory. Will yiou please inform us by letter, and two carbon copies, of the hose sent to Cincinnati, and of the results of all three (3) lead tests made on each sec-tion of hose. Each section of hose should be identified by region and a nunjlber, followed by the initials of the man who had the hose in his possession Sections sent to Cincinnati should be identified by this same number on a tag. We, in turn, will pass the information on to Dr. Kehoe, We wouId also like to have as much history as possible on the sections of hose se nt to Cincinnati. This history should include the date the hose was purchabed, the amount of use the hose received and the date when the hose was use d last. Any unusual cleaning techniques or other information which might affect the lead contamination of this hose should also be noted. We reali. ze this will entail a considerable amount of work for some of your men. However, we are sure its importance is obvious to you Very truly yours, Af. L. R. Fleck LRF:ems ccs Regional Managers KB 001047 5