Document x15zM4KJBeXL4E4Nb8ma3vGBg

ETHYL CORPORATION INTER-OFFICE TO: FROM: Messrs. R. E. Conrad J. L. Guillot W. Q. Hall J. F. Hamilton H. V. Hobgood B. E. Hodge R. B. Hollaway D. M. Kirk S. B, Lowe T. M. Mixon L. R. Parker E. 0. Ponti J. E, Rogers H. G. Smith S. A. D'Armond January 5, 1972 On December 10, 1971, I sent you a letter with an attached memorandum regarding respiratory protection. This memorandum has since been changed due to comments from Mr. Hobgood and the revised memorandum is attached. Please void the previous one. SAD:mmj Attachment cc: Messrs. H. 0. Bourque L. G. Cliver J. C. Klock W. C. Strader VC3757 REVISED 1/5/72 ETHYL CORPORATION - BATON ROUGE PLANT MEMORANDUM RESPIRATORY PROTECTION EQUIPMENT Hie following devices are available for respiratory protection. AIR MASK Hie face piece of this device covers the nose and mouth. Air, under pressure, is fed to the device through reducing valves and a small diameter hose. It is applicable to any situation from which the wearer could escape without serious exposure in the event of air supply failure. Air supply must be free of contaminants. Advantage: Slight air pressure in the face piece prevents inward leakage of contaminated air in the event of poor fit. There is no breathing resist- ance. Disadvantage: The limited mobility and nuisance resulting from the air hose. Distribution: Virtually Plant wide. Portable manifold-filters are available for use where a permanent manifold-filter system is not provided. RESPIRATOR Respirators are of three types; double cartridge and single cartridge that fit over the nose and mouth and the single cartridge mouth piece type. Advantage: Broad application to most organic vapors and chlorine in con centrations up to 1/lOth of 1 volume percent and/or to most dusts. Disadvantage: Since the breathing air must be drawn in through the car tridge, any leakage due to poor fit or valve malfunction will result in some degree of exposure. Respirators must not be used in oxygen deficient atmospheres. Double Cartridge: When equipped with the R-55 cartridge and properly worn, is efficient against organic vapors and against dusts not more toxic than lead. Provides only "escape" protection against methyl chloride, chlorine and HC1 and none to methane or carbon monoxide. On occasion it is used with other specific cartridges for protection against other exposures. Distribution: In all areas except Sodi\m. Single Cartridge - Pace Type: Similar to above except for the single cartridge arrangement. The R-31 cartridge is efficient protection against organic vapor (l/lOth of 1 volume percent) but does not have an integral toxic dust filter. A clip-on paper pre-filter is added for spray painting protection. Without the cartridge but with an R-90 "Red Devil" filter pad, protection is provided against dusts not more toxic than lead but not against non-particulateB. Distribution: Available but use is decreasing in favor of the double cartridge. Mainly used by non-operating personnel. Some usa^e in other areas by painters. When equipped with only the filter pad R-90, can be used in all areas for dusty clean up work having no organic exposure potential. VC3758 RESPIRATORY PROTECTION -2- Single Cartridge - Mouth Piece Type: Specific for use as an "escape" a6k and nuisance chlorine protection at Sodlua Plant locations. Does protect against organics (l/lOth of 1 volume percent) but seldom used vhere the mouth piece could become contaminated vlth oral toxics. Must be used with nose clip unless the user is 100^6 efficient in mouth breath ing. Distribution: Only in the Sodium Area. All persons going into Sodium Areas must carry this respirator. CANISTER TYPE GAS MASKS Two canister types are available. The yellov canister which protects against concentrations of organic vapors and acid gases up to 2 volume per cent (methyl chloride, carbon monoxide and methane excepted) and the red Mall-service" canister which protects against carbon monoxide and anaonia plus the materials for which the yellov canister is specific and certain materials employed at CR&D. Canister masks must not be used in oxygen deficient atmospheres. Advantage: Broad application to many exposure situations. Disadvantage: Air must be drawn through the canister. Any inward leakage due to mask condition or fit will result in some degree of exposure. Continuous use imposes a fatigue factor after an hour or so. The red canister is always fitted with a full face piece covering the mouth, nose and eyes. The yellow canister is fitted with a full face piece for use in most areas -- with a mouth piece arrangement for Sodium cell room applications and with a respirator type face piece for use limited to work on the lead area sludge cranes and during ditch dragging. OXYGEN BREATHING APPARATUS Thirty-five of these self-contained units are distributed in and around operating areas for use in the event of an emergency wherein oxygen is lack ing or contaminant proportion is high. Each has a spare cylinder of oxygen. APPLICATION Respiratory protection practices are outlined following. TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION The need for following good respiratory protection practices is an impor tant part of new employee indoctrination. Reviews on the subject are given in group safety meetings but not on a scheduled basis. The person in charge of the area or Job instructs the employee that respiratory protec tion of a particular type is needed for a portion or all of the work at hand. DISTRIBUTION If the respiratory protection needed for the Job or situation is not a personal issue item, it is obtained from nearby storage located in keeping with the degree of the hazard potential. Approximately 600 canister equip ped masks are distributed throughout operating areas. Seldom is a person more than 100 feet from an appropriate canister mask for use in the event VC3759 RESPIRATORY PROTECTION -3" of an emergency. In general, Maintenance employees withdraw appropriate devices from tool room stocks for routine work. Additionally, slightly more than 200 canister type masks are distributed at or near Plant gates or estimated hazard limits for easy availability in the event of an emer gency. There is no indication that the distribution of respiratory pro tective devices is inadequate. MAINTENANCE After use of non-personal issue protective devices, the device is sent to Fire Inspection for cleaning, sterilization and inspection. Respirator cartridges are changed as scheduled. Canisters are discarded after two years service if not damaged or reported as faulty in the interim. Can isters of the 200 masks kept in the emergency boxes are replaced when one year old and these canisters see an additional year of normal service. Cartridges of respirators issued employees are replaced on a routine sched ule. The area schedules vary with usage and exposure, in keeping with the established need. Foremen.maintain stocks of cartridges and/or respirators should there be any indication of need for a change in the interim. VC3760 rr