Document xVNnOqM2yQ3dNMOpEgmVRrzy

AMERICAN SMELTING AND REFINING COMPANY Department or Environmental Sciences Salt Lake City, Utah Plant: CAPCO Ragland, Alabama Field Work: Michael 0- Varner Survey Date: March-6, 1972 Report Date: March 29, 1972 REPORT ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 1. Operating Conditions: Operations were normal during the survey. 2. Sampling: Airborne asbestos fiber concentrations were measured at varxous work areas throughout the plant. The samples were collected in the breathing zone by means of M.S.A. personal' monitor pumps using membrane filters. Counts were made by the U.S. Public Health Service Laboratory with a phase contrast microscope at 400 X. Particles longer than 5 microns with a length to width ratio equal to or larger than 3:1 were counted as fibers. y. Sampling Results: The airborne asbestos' fiber concentrations are shown in the table below: Sample No. Location Sampling Asbestos Time Concentration (minutes) (fibers/cc) 'l Asbestos Fiber Charger (a.m.) (Power floor sweeper made one . 48 pass in area during sampling) 3.1 2 Reclaim Crusher (a.m.) 49 . 2.6 3 Batch Operation (sampler located on frame 15 ft. north 44 of control panel) 1.0 4 Pipe Machine (located at Calendar Operator position) 71 0.8 CAPCO KIN 0001709 Sample No. Location Sa?imenS Concentration (J|uteel JiSSES^l- Located' on column between Coupling Cut-Off Machine and 70 4 Coupling Cutting and Finish $ ing Machine 1.2 6 Located on column between Short Lathes 67 1.2 1 Tray Loading 8 Located on column next toTap Coupling Machine 55 03 VO 0.0 0.7 9 Pipe Lathe Area - north end 10 Middle of Shop Area 11 Next to west door of Plant Office 52 46 44 1.7 0.0 1.4 12 Located on light next to Cut-Off Saw .44 0.2 13 Reclaim Crusher (p.m.) (shut down) 57 0.1 14- Asbestos Fiber Charger (p.m.) 52 2.5 15 This sample deliberately con Assumed taminated with shavings and Sampling . dust from the Short Lathes Time 1.5 50 min. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 8-hour time weighted average standard ............................ 5.0 Comments: Airborne asbestos fiber concentrations at all work locations were well below the OSHA 8-hour time`weighted average stan dard of 5 fibers/bc greater than 5 microns in length. All potential dust producing sources are controlled with local exhaust ventilation. The industrial exhaust systems are discharged through baghouses or combination baghousecyclone air cleaners. It is apparent from the acceptably low asbestos fiber counts that the local exhaust systems are providing effective dust control throughout the'plant. { CAPCO KIN 0001710 Respirators are supplied to all workers. Employees involved in baghouse cleaning operations are required to wear respira tory protective equipment on a mandatory basis. Housekeeping conditions in most work areas should be improved. The installation of a central vacuum cleaner system would simplify housekeeping and help to further reduce atmospheric asbestos fiber concentrations, particularly near the asbestos fiber charger and the reclaim crusher. Because OSHA's asbestos advisory committee has recommended that the exposure limit for industrial workers be lowered from 5 fibers/cc down to 2 fibers/ cc, it is of particular importance to improve housekeeping near the asbestos fiber charger and the reclaim crusher, where air borne concentrations of asbestos fibers ex'ceeded 2 fibers/cc. During the survey it was observed that employees occasionally use compressed air guns to blow dust off of parts and clothes; this practice should be discontinued. Plant management personnel are well informed in matters con cerning asbestos related industrial hygiene. They are keeping well abreast of the potential problems. 5* -Recommendations; A. Management personnel should consider the installation of a central vacuum cleaning system. This would help improve housekeeping conditions and further reduce atmospheric concentrations of asbestos fibers. MOV/bbc Enel. cc: WHBeasley, CAPCO (3) MJMessel EAEarrell DHSoutar ROBeckstead EHHaug KWNelson/ Michael 0. Varner Environmental Scientist . 1 CAPCO KIN 0001711 { Exhaust Hood for Pipe Lathe I ,Local Exhaust Pick-up for Short Lathe C 3APCO KIN 0001712 ft ( Asbestos Fiber Charger with Exhaust Hooding. Note air sampler hanging from conduit. CAPCO KIN 0001713 Exhaust Pick-up while \ CAPCO KIN 0001714