Document v185poBgrxzEjJKxQDE03Xj7q

From MARCH 2, 1964 INTERNAL. CORRESPONDENCE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE COMMITTEE To MR. W. F. KNEELAND DAVENPORT WORKS Mr. T. B. Bonney, Pittsburgh Dr. L. V. Cralley, Pittsburgh Mr. W. C. Harvey, Davenport Mr. J. H. Lowry, Davenport Dr. A. W. Shafer, Davenport Mr. B. D. Kent, Davenport Mr. Ron Small, Davenport Mr. G. J. Myers, Davenport Mr. C. L. Huey, Davenport Mr. B. T. Evans, Davenport Mr. J. 0. Vanest, Davenport Mr. G. H. Walter, Davenport CONFIDENTIAL INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE COMMITTEE MEETING The February meeting of the Davenport Industrial Hygiene Committee was held at 12:30 p.m. February 25, 1964, in the small dining room of the main cafeteria. Attending were the following members: Messrs: B. D. Kent, Ron Small, G. J. Myers, B. T. Evans, C. L. Huey, J. H. Lowry, Joe Vanest, and Dr. A. W. Shafer. Mr. Evans presided in the absence of Mr. W. C. Harvey, who was away on business. The new blade for the 100,000 CFM skim house fan has arrived and is scheduled to be installed this week end. After installation the skim house is to be washed down and it is maintained that the skim house will be in excellent condition. Noise level readings are to continue as time permits and a write-up will be issued by Mr. Myers. Work on the high pressure blower, which is hoped will reduce the level obtained by compressed 0 air, is scheduled for completion on the No. 7 Mill this week end. r 4SS3 ARD 044157 to__ HR-W_..P.._..KNEELAND. - Date.____MAROT._2,..J9.64_ . SHEET No. 2- A similar blower will be installed on the No. 5 Mill if this is successful. A small audio level meter has been purchased at a cost of $185. Preliminary trials of this instrument indicated that it is sufficient for plant investigation. The necessary ducts and hoods are being installed to the present dust collection system in the Carpenter Shop to provide relief from marinite dust. The induced air exhauster has been received for use as a fresh air supply when cleaning morgoil tanks. The unit has been turned over to Land & Building Department for use and they will report on its performance. No appreciable headway has been made in alleviating the fume problem in the Coater House. Mr. hfyers will consult with Mr. John Harris for prompt action on this problem. During a recent visit by Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing represents tors, a comment was made to Mr. Evans that their company has similar equipment but have the problem under control. A visit to their installation might give our Engineering Department some lead as to what could be done here. Sampling of the R181 unit indicates more work must be done to provide better conditions while skimming. Mr. Vanest and Dr. Shafer visited John Deere's Medical Department January 28'to observe their audio metric equipment. A copy of Dr. Shafer's i report is attached. . r. )ei.iaoM^.eT ARD 044158 E~KHEELAHD------------ ______Date MARCH 2, 1964_____ .Sheet no. 3 A copy of Mr. Kent's report on the Iowa compensation lav with reference to hearing loss is also attached. A RFA has been approved to install an aeroator on the sanitary water system. This installation should considerably reduce the frequent complaints of foul tasting water. A shop order has been issued for a fume collection hood over the welding area in the Machine Shop. An investigation is under way to estimate any CO problem arising from the use of butane gas driven trucks inside transport truck vans. A report of this will be made at the next meeting. WCH/JHL:kk W. C. HARVEY J. H. LOWRY 0. F. ISI6> I SOM.4>07 PMINTCD IN U. S. A. ARD 044159 From .INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE A. W. SHAFER, M.D. To W. G. HARVEY February 19, 1964 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT METALLURGICAL RE; INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE COMMITTEE REPORT On Tuesday, January 28, Joe Vanest and I visited the John Deere Medical Department, and met with Dr. O'Halloran, Company Medical Director. It was found that no active audiometric pro** gram was in progress for their hourly employees. Audiometries was reserved for selected management people as part of the '`executive" physical examination program. The equipment used for audiometry was located in an isolated basement room where noise levels were low. An actual test was run on Joe Vanest. It was his feeling following the test that a sound proof booth was essential for accurate audiometry, for low level noise not normally apparent become obviously distracting when taking such a test. The equipment at John Deere is a sophisticated model audiometer by Maico, and it was mentioned that a less complex apparatus would adequately serve their needs. We were also introduced to their resident Industrial Hygienist who demonstrated some of their noise survey and measuring equipment. Ear protection is required in areas where noise levels are excessive. Dr. O'Halloran indicated that so far Illinois compensation law recognized hearing loss from direct trauma, as from a blow, or explosion, but noise exposure had not been considered up until now--as producing compensible hearing loss. He has some reservations as to the future in this matter. 9 0OOM*lt.1 PRINTED IN U.0.A. ARD 044160 2 On Wednesday, February 5, Byron Kent had a telephone conference vith C. H. Greenley, Deputy Industrial Conmissloner, for the State of Iowa. A copy of Mr. Kent's memorandum Is enclosed. On Thursday, February 6, a committee meeting was held. Those present were R. Wardrop, Joe Vanest, George Meyers and myself. The visit to John Deere fit Company and various types of equipment were dis cussed. Data on the Bausch and Lomb Audio-rater was considered. Oif February 11th, the Bausch and Lomb representative called on the Medical Department and demonstrated the Audio-Rater. This $350.00 instrument appears simple to operate and perhaps well suited to our needs. Their representative is to get further information regarding maintenance, calibration, training of technicians, etc. to me at his earliest opportunity. On February 12th, a letter was received from T. Bonney, Pittsburgh, who had suggestions regarding audiometric equipment. On February 14th, a letter was received from E. Larson, local representative for Maico, informing us that two new audiometers will be released by that company on April 10th of this year. A. V- shavfb m t>_ AWS:ep Enc. cc: Joe Vanest. ARD 044161 B. D. KEIJT SAFETY rCP/ffiTMERT DAVEHPQET WORKS RE: HSARIKG LOSS - IOWA COMH3B/gXOH LAW February 9, 1964 MSWORAEDUM The following axe notes taken In connection with my telephone conference today with Mr. C. E. Greenley, Deputy Industrial Camissioner, on above: 1. There are no other references in the lav an 'Hearing" except that noted under Sub-Section R, Page 29 of the Code. 2. Th"? far Iowa has had very few compensation cases involving hearing loss. The fev that have taken place have been settled amicably vithout a hearing other than the one case noted In the Code. Unfortunately, Mr. Greenley did not have the details of this case at his finger tips. . iK/dtS-neiAL. 3. The Commission considers the burden of proof as to^ hearing loss to rest on the plaintiff. 4. The decisions on hearing losses thus far have been arrived at by a mutual agreement of tvo or cere opposing specialists (doctors). 9. A man's ability to recover for a hearing loss in lova would not be limited to his having been exposed to a single traumatic Incident such as an explosion, blow on the head, etc. 6. Older the present lav Mr. Greenley could not conceive, even though an employee vas able to prove and sustain Ms for total loss of bearing In both ears thereby rendering him further unemployable by the employer causing such loss, that Ms condition then could move over to the major member (total disability) category. In other words, the mavimm loss of hearing that one conceivably could incur still vould entitle him ARD 044162 KEMCRAHDUM February 5, 1964 2 to but a TwtHT-nrm 275 weeks compensation ($6,500.00) rather than a permanent total disability rating of $00 weeks ($18,500.00). 7. If on employer were faced with what be believed to be a fraudulent as to bearing loss due to an alleged exposure in the man's work environment, the Industrial Commission very likely would honor the employer's request to postpone any final decision for a period of one year providing , the employer was proposing to employ this man during this waiting period * in a work area obviously within acceptable noise limits. 8. Uls Commission believes that Waivers On people with significant, bearing losses would certainly be advisable both from the employer and employee standpoint. They refuse to suggest any degree of bearing loss which they believe would be a practical starting point to institute a Waiver. They indicated that it was their opinion that our Medical people and we would be In a better position to decide at what point we felt practical to ask for a Waiver. 9. When asked what their interpretation is of the tens "loss," they advised they were -fcb-tnlHng in terms of functional loss to a In other words, to what degree is his bearing impaired for the sounds that he is normally surrounded by in hia everyday work environment; i.e., if he hod a total loss of hearing for violin music, it would not necessarily be construed os a functional loss if in his every day work environment he did not erqperience noises levels. B. ARD 044163