Document v1pKg5ELXgD7LYkrGekbXRJZY

PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT Intsr Office A. V. Alexandrovioz, Manager Sterling Axle Plant ee R. D. Byron M. S. Leehner, M.D. J. N. Post J. F. Tragle R. A. Xoung Personnel and Organization Staff January 19, 1981 ' Subject * Industrial Hygiene Study, Driveabaft Assembly and Spindle Heat Treat Department - Sterling Axle Plant As a result of a request by the Sterling Axle Plant District UAV, an industrial hygiene study was conducted at Departments 33 and 24 of the Sterling Plant. The purpose of the study was to evaluate employe exposure to asbestos during driveshaft balancing and employe exposure to sodium hydroxide contained in the caustic soda added during spindle heat treatment. Drive shafts are balanced using a rotational machine similar to a lathe. The braking of the driveshaft rotation is provided by s brake using asbestos impreg nated friction material. Partioles that are ooated with oil and grease are present on the brake enclosure, but there are no visible airborne partioles. Ventilation for the balancing operation is provided by ceiling mounted exhaust fans. As can be seen from Attachment I, the results of the air samples taken in the breathing zones of the Driveshaft Balancers are veil within the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 2.0 fibers per co of air for asbestos. Additionally, the air samples results were also below the medical monitoring action level of 0.1 fiber per cc. Caustic soda, containing mostly sodium hydroxide, is one of several compounds added during spindle heat treatment. The oauBtic solution is contained in basement tanks below the various furnaces. Access to the basements is re stricted and, therefore, the basements are not normal work areas. Ventilation for this heat treating department consists of local and general exhaust. It should be noted that steam can be seen escaping from many of the local exhaust systems and the sheet metal for the ventilation systems is generally in only a fair Btate of repair. Also general housekeeping and maintenance in this department is not at a high level. A review of Attachment II indicates the results of air samples taken in De partment 24 for sodium hydroxide were within the PEL of 2.0 mg/M^ for sodium hydroxide. These air samples were general area samples placed at locations identified by UAV representatives and maintenance workers assigned to Depart ment 24. The samples represent exposures greater than those that would normal ly be incurred by employes assigned to Department 24. Attachments d* H. B. Lick, Senior Industrial Hygienist Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology Dept. Employe Health Servioes 8006 1770 SCF-FORD-3023 PRODUCED BY FORD INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE SERVICES SECTION INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYE HEALTH SERVICES STERLING AXLE PLANT Department No. 33 - Driveshaft Assembly Plant November 19. 1980 Attachment I PERMISSIBLE OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS: Contaminant Permissible Exposure Limit in f/cc * Asbestos 2.0 * f/cc - fibers per cubic centimeter of air RESULTS Enrelove / Location Airborne Asbestos Concentration in f/cc 1. Driveshafi Balancer, M. R. Franklin, S.S. 365-30-4453, Employe Breathing Zone Air Sample (B.Z.), Balancer Machine No. 8 near P-38 2. Driveshaft Balancer, E. Prucnell, S.S. 386-26-1442, B.Z., Balancer Machines Nos. 9 & 11 near P-38 0.008 0.006 3. Drills shaft Balancer, A. J. Fields, S.S. 370-40-2979, B.Z., Balancer Machine No. 13 near P-39 0.006 4. Driveshaft Balancer, H. E. Cameron, S.S. 374-32-1599, B.Z., Balancer Machine No. 17 near P-40 0.006 IRS: HBL 1094 - 1097 _ .. ju.. s->b ANALYSIS: Bendix BDX pumps with Milipore Type AA Membrane Filters. Fibers counted using 430X Phase Con tract Microscopy. . ... La Vo. re, Seniar Industrial Hygienist fCRD 'MOTOR COMPANY Industrial Hyfirr.t S T.x v.Ujy laboratory Accrodi' l-x C- s A By. 8005 0648 PRODUCED BY FORD INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE SERVICES SECTION INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYE HEALTH SERVICES_____________ STERLING AXLE PLANT Department No. 2L - Spindle Heat Treat November 19. 1980 AWWOWUWCi*V AA PERMISSIBLE OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS: Contaminant Permissible Exposure Limit in mg/M^ *___________ Sodium Hydroxide 2.0 g/M3 = milligrams of sodium hydroxide per cubic meter of air. RESULTS Condition/Location Concentration Sodium Hydroxide ____________in mg/M' 1. General Area Air Sample, Bay D-31* at wall on top of instrument cabinet. 2. General Area Air Sample, Bay F-3^ at control panel between columns E-31^ and F-31*. 0.1 0.05 3. General Area Air Sample, Bay -32 at control panel for No. 5 Hardening Furnace. 0.3 . . 'IVAL NUMBERS: KBL 1098 - 1100 ___ 11 Bendix BDX pumps with Milipore Type AA Membrane Filters. _ _ :. . . j/trow, Industrial Hygiene Chemist ford Motor cov.paW Industry K-jjieri* 6 Tex:,! -y l.-.bwtt ^ccrcJitwJ C C '.,v. 8005 0649 PRODUCED BY FORD