Document ymka3vpKx3xQQkpwqVKORb9YV

/, * /* &X$vVBuilding B-101 - *- * r i, Jfi: . DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. &w TEXAS OPERATIONS FREEPORT, TEXAS 77541 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SUMMARY REPORT LOCATION: PERIOD COVERED: UNIT I (VINYL CHLORIDE PRODUCTION) February 14 - April 19, 1991 MEDICAL: C. K, Browdy, M.D. Occupational Health Associate -SW-f/ Date INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE: M. Blue Industrial Hygienist Date APPROVED: Launders, M.D. , Occupational Health Da REVIEWED: L. J. Bujjmeier Superintendent xc: D. Cragar R. Egedahl, M.D. J. H. Lippman Summary File s/fs/ti Date R&S151056 AN OPERATING UNIT OF THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY =Ouajity=. Performance Means More At Dov, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SUMMARY REPORT This is a voluntary participation program. The group population is 84. Nineteen ^individuals have current information and were not examined, at this time. Sixty-three individuals were examined between February 14; 1991, and April 19, 1991, for a 97% participation rate. The Chemical and Physical Agent Inventory (C PA I) for Unit I, the vinyl chloride monomer production plant, shows that the chemical and physical agents of greatest concern are vinyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, ethylene dichloride, sodium hydroxide, and noise. At present the Process and Unit Technician job classifications are followed on the Vinyl Chloride Medical Surveillance Requirement (MSR). This MSR conforms with the OSHA Vinyl Chloride Standard. All Process Technicians are followed on the Noise MSR. 0 z The 1989 Industrial Hygiene monitoring data is summarized in I. H. Report 2 No. 0C-3138-89C. Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) and short-tem z monitoring for vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, ethyl chloride, 1,1,1* trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, and carbon tetrachloride was d 0 conducted. All eight-hour TWA potential exposures to vinyl chloride were below the action level of 0.5 ppm except for the Loading Technician which was 0.94 ppm. The OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit is 1.0 ppm. Short-term monitoring for the Loading Technician showed potential exposures ranging from 0.17 to 11 ppm. The higher concentrations occurred during tank car \ sampling. In addition, the Process Technicians in the vinyl distillation area exceeded the Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) for vinyl chloride. Process Technicians in the direct chlorination and repair areas exceeded the STEL for ethylene dichloride. New sampling systems have been implemented in the loading and direct chlorination areas to reduce exposures. Employees wear full face airline respirators whenever there is a significant potential for exposure. Exposures to the other five chemicals listed above were less than 5% of their respective Industrial Hygiene Guides. Noise monitoring was done for eight different job tasks. Exposures for Process Technicians in oxychlorination and vinyl distillation as well as Contractor/Pipefitters and Contractor/Utility Men exceeded 85 decibels on the A-scale as an eight-hour TWA. These job classifications must be included in the Hearing Conservation Program. Because of job rotation all Process Technicians are included in the Hearing Conservation Program. There are fourteen TSCA 8(d) chemicals present. They are: ethylene dichloride, asbestos, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane, chloroform, perchloroethylene, pyridine, methylene chloride, ethyl chloride, hexachlorobutadiene, 1,1,2trichloroethane, chloroprene, and 1,1-dichloroethane. There is monitoring R&S151057 data as described above for ethylene dichloride, ethyl chloride, 1,1,1trichloroethane, and 1,1,2-trichloroethane. Hexachlorobutadiene, 1^1,2,2tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane, chloroprene, and lrldichloroethane are by-products. Perchloroethylene, chloroform, methylene chloride, and pyridine are used as laboratory chemicals. Asbestos is used as a miscellaneous chemical. There were sixty-two audiograms done. There was one standard threshold shift as defined by the OSHA Noise Standard. This individual is in the Hearing Conservation Program and has been reported to Safety for appropriate documentation. Eight individuals have limitation of respirator usage based on initial screening of the medical examination data. Please see the attached list for medical limitation of respirator usage. , If these medical restrictions interfere with an employee's job requirements, further evaluation at the Occupational Health Department should be arranged to fully assess the need for medical limitation of respirator usage. The liver is considered the main target organ for vinyl chloride. Nine individuals of the 67 tested had minimal elevations of one of the five liver enzymes we test. Four additional individuals have moderate elevations of two of their liver enzymes. These four individuals have been restricted from exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbons pending further medical evaluation. Individuals with life-style factors amenable to medical or dietary intervention include the following: fourteen smokers, 52 individuals who are overweight, six individuals with uncontrolled hypertension, and 33 individuals with elevated cholesterol levels. Please contact the Up-WithLife Program (238-4334) for assistance in modification of these life-style risk factors. Attachment CONFIDENTIAL 393 CO o 00 vs ,L `^pjATTACHMENT May 1, 1991 MEDICAL LIMITATION OF RESPIRATOR USAGE -> Viv- ' V ;' The following seven individuals may wear respirators for escape only: , - >( may wear a positive-pressure supplied air respirator or a negative-pressure respirator. He may not use a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for other than escape, '-V The following 76 individuals have no medical limitation of respirator usage: REDACTED C O N F ID E N T IA L JO C CD O CtnD ooz Tl O Wz HH>rH O 33 03 tn oOO)