Document wgZJopdqVz2eM0kZwZLbRMjLo

JAMES E. PEAVY. M-Z3-. M.P.M. commissioner of mealy** AUSTIN, TEXAS BOARD OF HEAL HAMPTON C. ROBINSON, M.O., CHAIRMAN ROBERT D. MORETON, M.D., VIC E-CH AIRMAN W. KENNETH THURMOND, O.O.S., SECRETARY N. L. BARKER JR., M.D. CHARLES MAX COLE. M. D. MICK IE G. HOLCOMB. O. O. JOHN M. SMITH JR,, M. D. JESS WAYNE WEST, R, PH, ROVCE Ei WHEN BAKER, Mi B, ENfli Gypsum Division - Acme Plant Box 330 Quanah, Texas 79252 Attention: Mr. Bill Howard Safety Superintendent Dear Kr. Brown: An industrial hygiene survey was conducted at your plant on September 8, 1972 by Kr. Jerry F. Lauderdale, Assistant Engineer for our Industrial Hygiene Program, fcr the purpose of evaluating workers' exposure to asbestos in the Joint Systems Department. A copy of the report covering the observations and recommendations made as a result of the survey is enclosed. We appreciate the cordial assistance given to Mr. Lauderdale by Mr. Bill Howard and the plant management during the survey. Please do sot hesitate to contact us if we may be of further assistance. Your8 very truly. Martin'C. Vukasch, P.E., Director division of Occupational Health and Radiation Control 0c-f2l 1981 ' SGP 0006499 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE SURVEY Georgia Pacific Corporation Gypsum Division - Acme Plant Quanahf Texas On September 8, 1972, an industrial hygiene survey was performed by Jerry F. Lauderdale, Assistant Engineer, Industrial Hygiene Program, Texas State Department of Health, for the purpose of detecting the exposure levels of employees in the Joint System Department to airborne asbestos fibers. The survey was requested by Mr. Bill Howard, Safety Superintendent, through the Texas Health Department, Air Pollution Control Program. Mr. Sterling Clark, Supervisor of the Joint System Department, and other employees gave cordial assistance in conducting the survey. The Joint System Department mixes and packages a compound, GP Triple Duty Joint Compound, which is used in construction to smooth joints between wall boards. This compound contains about 7% asbestos fibers, which help s give the compound the desired texture. The asbestos is received in sacks; the sacks are opened and poured into a hopper for automatic mixing. The product is put in sacks and stacked on pallets for shipping. Asbestos has recently been recognized as one of the more dangerous pneumoconiosis producing substances, with undisputable evidence connecting asbestos exposure to increased probability of lung cancers and mesothelioma, especially among workers who smoke cigarettes. The current federal and state standard adopted in the Federal Register, Volume 37, No. 110, pp. 11320-11322, Wednesday, June 7, 1972, a copy of which is included, calls for an average of no more than five fibers, greater than five micrometer, per cubic centimeter of air, with a maximum of no more than ten fibers, greater than micrometers, per cubic centimeter of air. This standard calls for a reduction on July 1, 1976, to two fibers, greater than 5 micrometers, per cubic centi meter of air. Further information on asbestos is contained in Occupational Exposure to Asbestos . . . criteria for a recommended standard. National Institute of Occupa tional Safety and Health, 1014 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio. In order to evaluate workers' exposure to asbestos in this area, personal air samplers were placed on workers. Airborne asbestos fibers were collected in the workers' breathing zone on a 0.8 micrometer pore size membrane filter held in an open-face holder. The samples were then counted, using accepted procedures. Sample results are shown in Table 1. The first operation sampled was the joint compound mixer. This worker took sacks of asbestos and other materials and dumped the desired amount into a hopper, which had an exhaust hood with three sides closed and a velocity of about 200 ft./min. through the open face. The mixer frequently put his head Inside the hopper when dumping in asbestos. Also, the mixer frequently had to dump half sacks and save the other half for the next batch, or weigh out the desired amount on a nearby scale. These work procedures undoubtedly exposed the worker to higher asbestos levels than would be encountered if all asbestos bag openings were done under the exhaust hood. The mixer and the other two workers in this area wore MSA Dustfore '66 respirators, BM 21B-113. Workers wore gloves and aprons. Table 1 shows samples 1-4 taken from the breathing zone of SGP 0006500 Georgia Pacific Corporation September 22, 1972 Page 2 the mixer. Oz the basis of these samples, it appears that the mixer is exposed to an average concentration of 7 fibers, greater than five micrometers, per cubic centimeter of air. Also, the sample #2 indicates an average of 10 fibers per cubic centimeter for a 74-minute time period; therefore, the worker must have been subjected to concentrations greater than the allowable maximum of 10 fibers per cubic centimeter. Three samples were taken at the sack fillers breathing zone, (Nos. 5, 6, and 7, Table 1). Unfortunately, sample #7 was too loaded to count accurately. This indicates, however, that there is a good probability that the worker is exposed to greater than the allowable concentration of asbestos fibers. There was a local exhaust system over the sack filling spout, but dust was visibly escaping this system, especially when the sack was automatically kicked off the spout when it was full, and when it landed on the conveyor belt. An effective system should be designed to limit or capture this cast. One sample was taken at the operation of joint compound sack stacking. A level of 13.7 fibers per cubic centimeter was recorded. This high level is probably due to dust escaping from the sacks as they are put on the stack and from dispersion of dust already cn the outside of the sacks. Control of the excessive asbestos concentrations by engineering methods is required by state and federal law, a copy of which is enclosed. Isolation, enclosure, exhaust ventilation ard dust collection must be used to meet the exposure limits. Substitution of another substance might be the best solution to the asbestos problem. In the time required to complete engineering controls, a respiratory protection pro gram or shift rotation is required. It appears that the airborne concentration will not exceed tec times the legal limits; so a reusable or single use air purifying respirator approved for protection from airborne contaminants by the Bureau of Hines or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health may be used. A respirator program shall be established in accordance with the requirements of the American National Standards Practices for Respiratory Protection, ANSI, Z88.2-1969. Provisions of the standard for protective clothing and change rooms shall be complied with. The general areas of asbestos handling should be cleaned by vacuum sweeping, if possible. This vill limit the asbestos dispersed into the air. Every method possible should be used to control asbestos containing dust. Plastic liners may be used to cover incoming shipments of bulk asbestos. All opening and weighing of the asbestos sacks must be done under local exhaust ventilation. Some handling changes or venti lation improvement is needed at the sack filling and stacking areas to limit of control dust. Better housekeeping in these areas is needed to prevent dust from accumulating and being restrained into the air. Other products packaged include a paint filter containing no asbestos. Efforts should also be made to control dust from these operations. Since these products do contain a fungicide, Yancide, the operators should wear reusable or single use respirators, approved for protection from toxic dusts by the U. S. Bureau of Mines or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It may be desirable to allow the workers to choose froc several approved respirators. Reputable safety equipment suppliers can provide information on approved respirators. SGP 0006501 Georgia Pacific Corporation September 22, 1972 Page 3 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Provide working procedures to best utilize dust control equipment, especially in the mixing operations. 2. Provide adequate dust limiting and control equipment in the bag filling and stacking areas. 3. Keep all work areas free from asbestos dust accumulations. 4. Provide a respirator program until engineering controls lower the concen tration to acceptable limits. 5. Cover incoming bulk shipments of asbestos to limit spread of the fibers. Respectfully submitted. -Jerry F. Lauderdale, Assistant Engineer Industrial Hygiene Program Division of Occupational Health and Radiation Control SGP 0006502 Georgia Pacific Corporation September 22, 1972 Page 3 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Provide working procedures to best utilize dust control equipment, especially in the mixing operations. 2. Provide adequate dust limiting and control equipment in the bag filling and tacking areas. 3. Keep all work areas free from asbestos dust accusulations. 4. 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