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TO J. W. Gressler FIELD POINT OR DEPT. & BLDG. NO. Avon Lake G.C * rrOM field point or dept. & bldg. no. E. B. Katzenmeyer, Jr Akron - D/0020, ^-2JcCT OSKA Progress Report - May 1981 5-H DATE YOUR LETTER date this letter 9-2-81 This report describes a case where a maintenance mechanic was restricted from working in Estane for six months because of possible MDI sensitization. I think there are two things which should be considered here: 1. In view of the employee's past experience, he should probably be restricted permanently from working in Estane and on equip ment which could be contaminated with MDI. 2. The job of maintenance mechanic should be scrutinized as it relates to the potential for exposure to isocyanate vapors. This probably won't be easy, but it is worthwhile to identify potentially high exposure situations in excess of the 0.2 ppm ceiling limit for MDI so that appropriate preventive steps can be taken. The ceiling limit is set to prevent sensitization in most individuals. I'm not sure of the complete history of this case, but if the entire employment of this worker has been that of maintenance mechanic, then perhaps the review is in order so that future episodes might be prevented. Let roe know your thoughts on this. v cc: T.S. Bialke 26139001 11/90LITWOINU.S.A. BFG46568 J. W. Gressler R. C. Lockemer ALGC ALGC Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs 7-13-81 OSHA Progress Report - May, 1981 JUL 20 1981 1. The results of personnel and area monitoring conducted during the month are presented in the attached table. A maintenance mechanic was restricted from working in Estane for 6 months because of possible MDI sensitization. The individual evidenced symptoms of MDI exposure for the Mhiia working in B/433. Geon West has stopped ue"ing DOA, a suspect carcinogen, ai switched to Sanicizer 97. C y*t*>+**^ 4. We met with representatives of Robert Ross and Sons, BFI, and Norton Construction to obtain their approval to stop monitoring their employees for VCM and acrylonitrile. With the exception of a few VCM readings at Robert Ross,exposure to VCM and AN has been below the OSHA action levels. Robert Ross has agreed to cessation of our AN monitoring. We will continue VCM monitoring until the exposure levels remain below the action level. BFI and Norton Construction are reviewing our proposal. 5 Four employees in Hydrophilics, including a supervisor, experienced nausea and diarrhea while working in B/437. The only common denominator we could find was their work on a plugged extruder line. The men were working around the extruder for several hours in the presence of acrylate fumes. This is the first time anyone in Hydrophilics has reported these effects, even though similar situations have occurred in the past. Neither Cleveland nor Akron were able to provide much help in identifying the cause of the nausea and diarrhea. Hydrophilics has modified their extruder line to prevent plugging in the future. 6 Personnel monitoring of weighman in B/4^8 indicates that lead exposures are above the OSHA allowable of 50 rag/m , In the past, weighman exposure to lead has been very low. Similarly, lead levels in the blood have also been low. The exact cause of the recent high readings is unknown. Compound West has begun routine cleaning of the screens at the weigh station and has closed off unused sections of the evacuation system to increase suction in the immediate vicinity of the scales. Hopefully, these measures will alleviate the problem. If not, additional employee protection, such as the ventilated helmets used at Pedricktown, may be needed. 26139002 Distribution: B. R. Welch W. E. Horton C. Bayard J. R. Shellenberger D. D. Quester J. C. Meek E. C. Gilbert D. J. McDonald K. J. Kaminski S. Bialke H. Waltemate J. A. Kiel - Ped. D. J. Gargas BFG46569 To: J. W. Gressler 2 7-13-81 7. Noise levels in ex posted at all entr in the building. ^---- 0 dBA exist uiring heari -------------- gns have been when working 8. Our lab and ALTC are working to resolve discrepancies between their respective MDI analytical techniques. Our lab's method has been modified and a series of experiments are being conducted to verify its accuracy. RCL/bp R. C. Lockemer v* cho* ca co BFG46570 SUMMARY OF PERSONNEL MONITORING MAY____________, 1981 Parameter Allowable Cone. 8 hr. TWA VCM* Plant B/432 B/438 B/449 151 B/452 B/454 B/455 B/457 B/458 3/459 B/461 B/463 B/464 B/465 B/466 3/468 a/471 1 ppm 1 No. Of Samples Month Avg. Cone. 186 - 1 26 31 3 8 3 7 29 15 28 2 33 - - 1.00 - - 0.50 1.38 0.25 0.14 0.16 0.13 0.62 1.64 0.27 2.89 0.08 0.09 - - No. Above jAllowable -.1 27 - Year-To-Date No. of Avg. Samples Cone. 761 - 0.63 No. Above Allowable 80 } ! i j i - 1 0.44 !1 i !- 5 0.82 3 114 0.75 2 j 130 0.20 21 1 I 2i - | 22 0.29 1 39 - 0.22 - 21 0.16 1 iotr. 1 cS 1 - 7 0.02 , i1 19 0.42 i i 9 110 1.45 j 29 1 73 0,30 5 196 146 1.00 ! - 3 0.20 - 69 0.09 t - 1 0.05 j i -- - I * Includes all long term monitoring with and without tasks- Envir. 4-a bfG4657_1_ a-L-81 SUMMARY OF PERSONNEL MONITORING 23a__________' 198_1 Parameter Allowable Cone. 8 hr. TWA No. of Samples Dust Total 10 mg/m3 Respirable 5 mg/m'* Noise 90 dBA 0 12 9 Month Avg. Cone. No. Above Allowable - Year-To-Date No. of Avg. Samples Cone. No. Above Allowable 0 2.43 81 0 00 0 2 27 1.85 2 0 40 69 1 Metals Sb Cd Cr ?b 500 /ig/m'* j 200 yug/m3 500 /^g/m3 ,,3 50 /^g/m 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 999.0 cn0 36 46.2 2 0 36 0.34 0 CJ 0 15 1.22 0 1 38 63.55 4 Other HP A TOP AN 0.5 ppm 5. mg/m^ 1 ppm 0 0 0 0 0 6 0.03 0 0 0 2 0.01 0 0 0 7 <2. 0 Envir. - 4-b BFG46572 -i-81 114 | 110 73 146 9006CT9Z u> col O' a cj z c o CJ --49 Jj fl a I o 4J J /3 -- D X0 z 49 00 <n r- cn ar-s 49 49 49 as <n on co lO vO cn p- zo cO cn CN CN CO CN flj --* 3 49 C -- S < 03 o in r r- O' CO !w o JJ 121 02 ~ 49 CO <o ifl SO JS r- r- 01 CO e 4J T M z J fzc2 zW so 4J o* -- 49 co as m 'S' M c- T3 r- r-* ci CO 1-1 0 J <0 a 1^ 2* i i-i a> >> i--( CN vO rCO CD cn co eo. V 249 I =C m r- p- p co r- o CO W z <0 3 49 C < 0 o o -* 01 cn cn so Ot ~ 9 T3 --' cs co in CO p- r- ai e' * U 0* 49 il -- cn en co 1/1 i/l r- r- Cl p- cn in SO v \Q <T vr NP *T \ *N, \ ffi CO a m PI Vf i/I 10 \D >o *T \N\\ A 0 a BFG46573