Document wq8gzpJzXMymDKYKdMroaKEDB

r INDUSTRIES TO FROM Distribution & B. W. Walker INTEROFFICE / LAKE CHARLES DATE January 28, 1976 SUBJECT Respiratory Protection For Vinyl Chloride Please review these attached rules for VC respiratory protection and return any comments to me as soon as possible. BWW/bc Attachments Distribution: 0. L. Cromeans SL 085313 1 RESPIRATORY PROTECTION FOR VINYL CHLORIDE A. Process Area, Process Storage and Process Lab Fifteen (15) air-line respirators (Survivair) with full facepiece will be maintained in the VC Control Room for use by operations personnel, Shift Mechanics and by log book maintenance personnel. They will be located in a box marked "Unused Masks", and after each shift, the used masks will be placed in an adjacent box marked "Used Masks". The used masks will be delivered to the Safety Office each morning and exchanged for unused masks. 1. Air-line respirators will be worn: a. When connecting or disconnecting sample bombs and a frost-line indicates a leak. b. When analysing a sample in the process lab if the warning light located in the lab indicates an alarm from the Arcus sample point #9. c. When draining the neutralizer more than once per shift. d. When operating any valve with a painted wheel, or which is listed on a valve list kept current in the control room. 2. If an alarm occurs from the combustible gas detector: a. Notify all personnel in the process or storage areas. b. Take necessary action and leave the area to obtain the proper protective equipment. Put on a 30-minute air pack or other appropriate respiratory protective equipment before re-entering the area. 3. Put on a 30-minute air pack before leaving the control room to investigate a problem if the Arcus Instrument indicates abnormal concentrations at two (2) or more sample points. (Notify all personnel in the process area and process lab after the first alarm sounds.) 085314 S'b r 2 4. The pocket respirator is still required for protection against chlorine and hydrogen chloride, however, it provides little or no protection against vinyl chloride. B. Shipping Department Loading Areas Air-line respirators will be used as stipulated below in all VC Shipping areas. The respiratory protective equipment will be obtained from the Safety Office and the masks will be exchanged after each shift. The hoses, air rigs, etc., will be returned to the Safety Office after loading has been completed. 1. Air-line respirators will be worn: a. When connecting or disconnecting loading lines to tank cars, barges or ships. b. When obtaining quality control samples. c. When adding stabilizer. d. At any other time as designated by supervision. C. Main Lab VC Hood Roan Two (2) MSA VCM Canister Respirators with full facepieces will be stored at the VC Hood Room for emergency purposes. The room must not be re-entered without appropriate respiratory protection. D. Service Department Maintenance Work Six air-line respirators will be kept in a box marked "Unused Masks" in the Area "R" Maintenance Foreman's office. Used respirators will be placed in an adjacent box marked "Used Masks". The delivery system driver will check the box each morning and will exchange the used masks for clean ones at the Safety Office. SL 085315 f - 3 1. Air-line respirators will be worn: a. When breaking flanges on pimps, vessels and piping. b. When cleaning filters. c. Or when vinyl chloride vapors are known to be present at the job. (It will be the responsibility of VC Plant Supervisors to determine if air-line respirators are required.) 1 SL 085316