Document xzjZVeXnpD50Yj7g5m3Ngbz7b

Et h y l Ga s o l in e Co r p o r a t io n Da y t o n Div is io n Mu t u a l Ho me Bu il d in g II. A.Ma c k DIVISION MANAGER S.T. Pr u it t ASSISTANT DIVISION MANAGER PERSONAL - CONFIDENTIAL Da y t o n , Oh io March 22, 1943. Dr. R. A. Kehoe. Dear Doc: This will confirm ay conversation with Dr. Karl Kitzmiller relative to our discussion on Monday, March 15th, regarding the cleaning of Tank No. 101 at the Gulf Refining Company terminal, Louisville, Kentucky, by L. M. Slack, Jr. At my request Bill Newman contacted Mr. 7/. P. Lynch, Gulf's Construction foreman on this particular tank cleaning, and Mr. J. G. Schang, Gulf's Terminal Super intendent, and obtained the following information. On February 4th and 5 th ^H|^HHB^.casual laborer, and*____ Gulf employee, entered tank 101 properlycjSfnecRnd wearing blower raask^nd removec approximately 20 bushels of sludge over a period of 10 to 12 hours. During the time these gentlemen were removing the sludge, Mr. VI. P. Lynch observed the men working in the tank very closely, and Mr. H. G. Southworth, Superintendent of Operations for Gulf, made constant checks with Mr. Lynch by actually visiting the tank and by calling him on the telephone. On February 5th our Mr. L. M. Slack, Jr. was present for the work and observed that the men were properly clothed and wearing masks. After the sludge was removed according to the men working in the tank, entered the tank without proper equipment for a short inspection. Finding that some sludge still re mained in the tank he immediately went out and asked that and again enter the tank and remove the remainder of the s^S^^These men were properly clothed and wore masks for this part of the work. After the remaining portion of the sludge had been removed the tank was then flushed with a high pressure fire hose for a number of hours from the out side of the tank, the water then pumped to a pit allowing the sludge to settle. At this point the Gulf Refining Company requested that the work be hurried as much as possible due to the fact that they had 40 alcohol tank cars on the siding waiting to be unloaded. The following men then entered the tank without any protection other than rubber boots: ana an oi~uuir ahn ,, our representative. These men spen^^^oua^or five hours in the tank"without proper clothing andmasks sweeping and brushing sawdust so as to dry up the tank. During this work Mr. and The majority of the sawdust was removed around Sunday noon, February 7th, and the Government alcohol inspector entered the tank without protection and approved the tank for the storage of alcohol. A* Kehoe Page Two March 22, 1943 masks. _ On Monday, February 8th, entered the remove^s^^^^Kese gentlemen did this work without proper clothing or blower During Mr. Newman's contact with Mr. Mr. on March 12th they advised him that flHMP had be^ffreH5ng nervous and had a loss of appetite a few days after the tank cleaning had been completed. They also stated that^^HpmiBh had been sent to a local doctor by the Gulf Refining Company asking that n^o^checked for lead poisoning. Thedoctor advised that he should be operated upon for appendicitis. Mr.informed the doctoi^hat he was not and _____ Jstarted taking cold medicine, and after a short while were feeling good again. These gentlemen believe they had bad colds due to the fact that they were working on the outside of the tank while it was raining and snowing. None of the other gentlemen mentioned above contracted a cold or had any nervous feeling. 7,hen Mr. Newman made this contact on March 12th all of the above gentle men who entered the tank were feeling good and were 'working, and there was no suspicion among them that they had been doing something dangerous or had broken any regulations. Mr. Nevrnan obtained the above information by stating that it was necessary to compile a detailed report for the cleaning of tanks in which alcohol would be stored, and this information was given willingly. Dr. Kitzmiller advised me that he was of the opinion that I should not contact Gulf's Division office in Louisville and discuss this subject until I receive a decision from you. Therefore, I will abide by his instructions and mil await word from you on the above subject. Doc, the reason we checked immediately on this tank cleaning at the Gulf terminal was due to the fact that in looking over ^HH^time from January 18th to February 18th, we found that he had spent 13 days xh observing tank cleaning. You ad vised me that ^HJfirst test was taken on February 11th and the second on February 23rd. The tanl^a^^ulf took three days starting February 5th and was the most logical place to make an immediate check which resulted in our finding what had happened. I did not check the tank cleaning of February 17th which was between the two examinations Louis had at your office because he stated to me that it was not necessary to enter the tanks whatsoever. I am giving you this information since there was no possible chance of Louis being exposed to lead after the tank cleaning for Gulf on the 5th. I am happy to hear that has improved and I certainly appreciate your cooperation in keeping this mattei^fflnfidential as I believe this experience has taughtfliM^ a lesson. On the other hand I think it would be a good idea for you to call and have a talk with him sometime in the very near future. Very truly yours. HAHsf 0007805 H. A. MACK.