Document x5eR3Gwke17X307a3kY2zrmg1

A __ k s. DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. =. `V 3uly 27, 1982 Arnold Seidule Plastics Administration Building 2306 cc: 3. S. Biggs C. W. Brannan Terry Campbell LOUISIANA DIVISION P. O. BOX ISO PLAQUEMINE. LOUISIANA 70764*0160 604 386-80 0 Larry Devillier 3. A. Granier "^Charlie Halphen 3. P. Heaslip B. G. Shamburger S. D. Stain G. C. Wheeler ENVIROItiENTAL HEALTH SURVEY FOR TIC PLASTICS DEPARTMENT APRIL 19, 1982 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1982 In the future, reports will be issued quarterly to summarize industrial hygiene data generated during the quarter. The purpos the report is as follows: f 1. Present sampling data compiled on exposures during the quarter. 2. Review any problem areas detected during the quarter. 3. Review any changes in regulations, limitations or reporting requirements initiated by Dow or regulatory agencies. 4. Summarize the status of all special project work. 3. Review the status of the program and compare to annual regulatory requirements. I. POLY A A. Noise Exposure Survey The threshold limit value (TLV) for noise is 83db(A). This limit is for a job where no ear protection is worn. The samples listed below are time weighted average (TWA) samples. 3ob Classification Duration of Sample Exposure (% of TLV) Shift Supervisor #5 Compressor #5 Compressor Extrusion SOT Extrusion SOT #1 Compressor 313 minutes 413 minutes 433 minutes 390 minutes 373 minutes 310 minutes 19 83 43 103 100 48 The annual schedule requirement is 24 samples. AN OPERATING UNIT OF THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY DO 107814 CONFIDE NTIAl A. 3. Scldule -2- 3uly 27, 1982 B. Chemical Exposure Survey * The chemicals that are being monitored this year are lsopar C and lsopar M. The threshold limit value (TLV) for lsopar C is 400 ppm. The threshold limit value (TLV) for lsopar H is 300 ppm. The samples listed below are excursiosn type samples, where the exposure was monltoreed for the duration of a particular job. Bob Performed Duration of Sample lsopar C Exposure (| Catalyst Mixing Catalyst Mixing Catalyst Mixing 80 minutes 65 minutes 45 minutes < .1 < .1 < .1 The annual schedule requirement is 12 samples. One lsopar M excursion sample was caught on the millwright job, but no analysis has yet been made. The annual schedule requirement for lsopar M is 3 samples. C. Dust Exposure Survey The dust that is being monitored this year is Superfloss (Si02>. The threshold limit value (TLV) is .1 mg/m3 responsible dust and .3 mg/m3 non-respirable dust. Dob Performed Duration of Respirable Exposure Non-Respirable Sample _______ (mq/m^)_______ Exposure (mg /m^) Additive Mix 8 minutes 10 20 The annual schedule requirement is 3 samples. (1) Testing Procedure Problem - While evaluating the dust exposure data for the second quarter, errors were discovered in the testing procedure that the Plastics Department has always used for dust excursion sampling. The Industrial Hygiene Department is currently revising the testing procedure. II. POLY B A. Noise Exposure Survey The threshold limit value (TLV) for noise is 85 db(A). This limit is for a job where no ear protection is worn. The samples listed below are time weighted average (TWA) sampl s: Dob Classification Duration of Sample Exposure <% of TLV) Shift Supervls r O.S. (B Boardman) Tr. I & II SOT Tr. 1 & 11 SOT 320 minutes 300 minutes 310 minutes 360 minutes 11 00 102815 5 CpNFTDENTT 52 45 A. 0. Seidule -3- Ouly 27, 1982 % POLY B (Continued) Oob Classification Duration of Sample Exposure (% of TLV) Tr. Ill & IV SOT Day OT Extrusion OT Extrusion SOT Extrusion OS Process Analyzer OS 310 minutes 310 minutes 335 minutes 460 minutes 335 minutes 300 minutes 70 43 54 28 45 3 The annual schedule requirement is 36 samples. B. Chemical Exposure Survey The chemical being monitored this year is hexane. The threshold limit value (TLV) for hexane has been changed from 100 ppm to 50 ppm. The samples listed below are excursion type samples, where the exposure was monitored for the duration of a particular job. Oob Performed Duration of Sample Cleaning FL 202 E & F Cleaning FL 202 E & F Cleaning FL 202 E & F 25 minutes 30 minutes 70 minutes Exposure (ppm) .5 < .1 .3 The annual schedule requirement is 32 samples. C. Dust Exposure Survey The threshold limit value (TLV) for the nuisance dust (CaSt, HDPE, Irganox) found in Poly B Is 10 mg/m13 *total dust. The samples listed below are excursion samples. Oob Performed Duration of Sample Exposure (mq/m3) Adding CaSt Tr. 11 w m ft n tl II 19 19 " " Tr. Ill .i , Tr> IV Emptying dump hopper 19 19 VI Filtering polymer in lab II II ' It 19 3 min. 2 min. 2 min. 5 min. 4 min. 40 min. 40 min. 60 min. 45 min. The annual requirement is 32 samples. 50 210 < 10 20 60 20 10 < 10 < 10 DO 102816 OONFIDFNTTAL (1) Testing Procedure Problem - While valuatlng the dust exposure data for the second quarter, errors were discovered in th testing procedure that the Plastics Department has always us d for dust excursion sampling. The Industrial Hygiene Department is currently revising the testing procedure. A. 3. Seidule -4- Ouly 27, 1982 ^ III. POLY C A. Noise Exposure Survey The threshold limit value for noise Is 85 db(A). This limit Is for a job where no ear protection is worn. These are the results of the time weighted average sampling. Dob Classification OT Reaction Area II II 1 n It ii Mn SOT Reaction Area It 11 II It II II It fl SOT Outside Lab II II II It II II II II II II SOT Inside Lab 11 II It 11 OS Boardman II II II I OS 1Extra II 11 Shift Supervisor II 1 Technical Duration of Sample 350 min. 360 min. 330 min. 320 min. 400 min. 365 min. 330 min. 383 min. 345 min. 390 min. 370 min. 400 min. 325 min. 300 min. 340 min. 410 min. 355 min. 300 min. 315 min. 330 min. 295 min. 320 min. 400 min. 315 min. 315 min. 320 min. 355 min. Exposure (X of TLV) 69 80 35 37 21 42 44 51 18 32 23 19 3 10 20 29 1 1 2 4 1 3 10 16 8 14 3 The annual schedule requirement is 108 samples B. Chemical Exposure Survey Isopar E and Dowtherm* A are the chemicals being monitored this year. The threshold limit value (TLV) for Isopar E is 400 ppm. These are the results of the time weighted average (TWA) sampling for Isopar E: 3ob Duration of Classification Sample 0T Reaction Area SOT " II 11 11 380 min. 300 min. 315 min. OS Extra 365 min. Technical 322 min. Cleaning FL 611 (excursion) 35 min. Exposure (ppm) < .1 .3 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 The annual schedule requirement is 10 Isopar E TWA samples. DO 107817 CONFIDENTIAL A. 3, Seidule -5- 3uly 27, 1982 ^ 111. POLY C (Contlnu d) B. Chemical Exposure Survey These are the results of the Isopar E excursion sampling, where the exposure was monitored for the duration of a particular Job: 3ob Performed Cleaning FL 611 Duration of Sample 35 minutes Exposure (ppm) .1 The annual schedule requirement Is 5 excursion samples. The five Dowtherm* A excursion samples that were required for this year have been changed to TWA samples. This`was done because of the Infrequent handling of Dowtherm* A outside of a closed system. The TLV for Dowtherm* A Is 1 ppm. None of the samples have yet been caught. C. Dust Exposure Survey The threshold limit value (TLV) for the nuisance dust found at Poly C Is 10 mg/m^ total dust. The samples listed below are excursion samples. 3ob Performed Mixing CaSt Mixing CaSt Duration of Sample 90 Minutes 25 Minutes Exposure (mg/m^) 90 10 The annual schedule requirement is 10 excursion samples. (1) Testing Procedure Problems - While evaluating the dust exposure data for the second quarter, errors were discovered In the testing procedure that the Plastics Department has always used for dust excursion sampling. The Industrial Hygiene Department is currently revising the testing procedure. IV. CPE A. Noise Exposure Survey The threshold limit value (TLV) for noise Is 85 dbA. This limit is for a job where no ear protection is worn. The sample listed below are time weighted average (TWA) samples Gob Classification SOT Boardman nn n ii SOT Outside OS Extra H 19 Duration of Sample 330 min. 315 min. 330 min. 295 min. 355 min. 340 min. Exposure (% of TLV) 11 5 8 43 21 3 The annual schedul requirement is 24 TWA samples. DO 1,02818 CONFIDENTIAL A. 3. Scldul -6- Ouly 27, 1982 IV. CPE. (Continued) B. Sampling Schedule Change When the sampling schedule was originally made, CPE operators were adding talc in the warehouse. PMS laborers have now taken over this job. Therefore, the 10 excursion samples that were scheduled for CPE have been added to the PMS schedule. C. Illumination Study An Illumination study, which was conducted before daylight, showed that approximately 25% of the lights in the operating area were inoperative. Another study will be made when the lights are repaired. V. PMS A. Noise Exposure Survey The threshold limit value (TLV) for noise is 85 dbA. This limit is for a job where no ear protection is worn. The samples listed below are time weighted average samples. 1. Poly A Warehouse Oob Classification Duration of Sample OT OT Laborer SOT Shift Supervisor 300 min. 325 min. 315 min. 320 min. 320 min. Exposure (% of TLV) 30 36 46 18 24 2 . CPE Warehouse Oob Classification Duration of Sample Exposure (% of TLV) OT Laborer 340 min. 135 min. 88 18 3. Poly C Warehouse Oob Classification Duration of Sample Exposure (% of TLV) OT Packaging Specialist 310 min. 300 min. 55 18 The annual schedule requirements is 30 TWA samples. 00 CONFIDENTIAL * A. 3. Seidule -7- 3uly 27, 1982 V. PHS (Continued) B. Dust Exposure Survey The threshold limit value (TLV) for the nuisance dust found in CPE f'.nd Poly A warehouses is 10 mg/m^ total dust. The TLV.f r talc, which 1$ handled at the CPE warehouse, 1$ 3 mg/m^ respirable dust and 6 mg/m3 non-resplrable dust. The sampl s listed below are excursion samples. 1. Poly A Warehouse 3ob Performed Duration of Sample Cleaning Sock Filters n M ft it tl II 6 min. 12 min. 12 min. 2. CPE Warehouse 3ob Performed Duration of Sample Respirable Exposure(mq/m3) Adding talc thru bag slitter Adding Talc thru bag slitter Adding Talc thru bag slitter Reblending thru Grinder Reblendlng thru Grinder 5 Min. 5 Min. 7 Min. 65 Min. 270 Min. 10 20 20 30 < 10 Exposure Mq/M3 20 180 120 Non-Respirable Exposure(mg/m^) < 10 < 10 < 10 30 10 The annual schedule requirement is 22 excursion samples. (1) Testing Procedure Problem - While evaluating the dust exposure data for the second quarter, errors were discovered in the testing procedure that the Plastics Department has always used for dust excursion sampling. The Industrial Hygiene Department is currently revising the testing procedure. AIfltoJl Hark D. Ryland Plastics Department Industrial Hygiene Building 807 ltb no 102870 CONFIDENTIAL