Document zb63ErXVD1RoOmr3xQJKvyx7

TASK CLE/tfiEG CCIDIST CAFE FEAR TETsKIHAL KXLMIKGTGS. HOKTH CABOUM The following is a suaa&jy of the factual information obtain*** . to cate in connection with the heath (colored), an eaplcyee of Tank Cleaners Incorporateci of Jacksonville, Florida, as the result of load exposure* so diagnosed after the cleaning of tanks at the Cepe Fear Terminale in Wilmington, Kortb Carolina, This ini'oraatica is determined from reperto received in the Safety Department up till noon* July 6, but does not include eny ^Titter, report fresi Dr, Kehoe or Dr, Kitssviller. During the course of the investigation I)r, Klisxillor made a trip to Jacksonville, Forila and made certain examinations, Se can expect a written report x'rc-u the Modica! Depcrtisont v1;^en certain clinical examinations have been com pleted. 6/16/4?. At Cape Fear Terminal, Wilmington, Borth Paroline Tank #211* a 40,000 barrel tank, was cleaned by Tank Cleaners Incorporated of Jacksonville, Florida! both colored* in the tank a total of eight hoursj tank cleaning miner the supervision of L, H. iciois (white)* foreman employed by Tank Cleaners Incorporated, Tank cleaning observed by Fritz Mercer, Ethyl representative* Eastern Region, Clean.g in accordance with Ethyl precautions. 6/ 18/48 A.::. Tank cleaning completed} visual inspection by Mercer ho pronounced tank clean from the standpoint of a lead hazard, and satisfactory for entry without protective equipment. Tank was a floating roof type and required work on the roof. Work subsequently performed by Chicago '-p either by the sien who cleaned this tank or by the men who did the repair work. 6/18/48 P.M. Tank cleaning ere*? moved its equipment to the Carolina Terminals, approximately one-eighth of a mile away and made preparations for the cleaning of a group of 12,000 barrel tanka* Under the observation of M-rcer, eater teas withdrawn from Tank #1 of this group in the la.. afternoon. There trere.no tank entries. Mr. L. VTilliame, a partner in Tank Cleaners Incorporated, me on hand. He and Mercer discussed the precautions to be taken during the cleaning of tanks at Carolina Terminal. Since the tanks hud been out of service for five years, and the history war Lniknovn, it was assumed that they may have been in leaded service and therefore Mercer recosamendec. that, full tunic cleaning precautions be followed Williams agreed. 6/19/48) 6/21/48) Tanks 1, 2 and A rere cleaned hnc. Lavis under the direction of 'eichol. These cleanings were not observed by an Ethyl represeate- tive. 6/22/4S complained of illness, was sent -to a local coctor (also colored - name not known) who diagnosed the illness as acute appendi citis and recommended an immediate operation. ^ | H reused to be op erated uvoa in Wilmington and was sent to Jacksonville (his home) by bus. ercer arrived on the job late that afternoon, m s informed by Sicbols of the illness and. agreed to meet hichols at the j.-.b tiie following morning. 6/23/46 Hichole left the job nrly in the morning, without- seeing Mereer, presumably to return to Jacksonville. George Smith, vho had arrived by air from Jacksonville the night before, replaced Richols. Tank #3 -3 ts&g cleaner'; during the day with entries mace by George Smith and m H f observed by Mercer. On the night of June 23 Bob Jordan wets informed. by Mr. L. Lillians was in the hospital with an alleged case of lead poisoning. Jordan reported this information to Lou Shank who in turn reported it to Mat Taylor at approximately 10 o'clock in the evening. Jim Baldwin left that night by air for Wilmington, Worth Carolina. 6/kL/iS A.Ss. Dr* kehoc- vac informed by Mat Taylor of all pertinent information. A doctor not disp&tehec at once, but i>r. titsisilltr was alerted. Rauser &* sent to Jacksonville after reporting sick. 6/2 5 /4S Baldwin arui Mercer made r* general inspection of Caroline Terminals* They noted th_r the ure& within fire banks where the tank asking had been pumped had a strong odor. They also noted & bad. break in one / length of a hose-line (pert of the airline mask equipment) about five feat-frou tne sask. The break appeared to be recent. Merc r had in spected tiie cams hose during the cleaning of Tank #211 and hud reported it in good condition at th,,t time. Samples of sludge and scale were taken fros Tank #3 (cleaned on 6/23/48) and Tank 1 (cleaned on 6/19/48. and 6/21/B). 6/26/48 Lead-in-air analyser tests we e made on Tank #1. There was no reading higher than 4 sicrograas per cubic foot cf air obtained either in the tank or above the sludge taken from the tanks* nuabered 1, and A} (atmospheres at, or below, A Aerograms per cubic foot of air are con sidered safe for men -without protective equipment.) Baldwin reportsthat Ritzsiller told Baldwin end Mercer by phone that he 00G6757 7/2/48 7/ 3/48 - 4- _ had examined had in his opinion the nan war; hysterical did not have lead poisoning. Dr* Kitsaillcr had also examined / and nothing wen wrong with him. Later it was reported that died at approximately 3130 A.M, In a phone conversation, Dr. Kehoe reported the following? There appears to be some disagreement as to nether an air line mask should have been \vcrn during the cleaning of Tanks #1, 2 and A. Sfiehols stated to Kitzmiilsr that Mercer had had. said teat tkgp were not necessary} however, Mercer had told L. liiHiaids (Nichols* boss) that it was necessary to wear this equipment. See discussion under date of June IS - P.M. Dr. Kehoe gives, as his opinion, t h a t ^ d ^ died as the result of lead exposure. Full proof must jvw&lt^he- results of clinical examina tion. He also stated that^HHH^beh&vior was typical of mild exposure. It was likely that the exposure occurred on Monday, June 21. It was evident from Dr. Xitzmiliar1e talk with Nichols that airline Basks were not worn during `tee tank entries on June 19 and 21. Later in the ay it via? reported that flHV is said to nave slept in one or more cl a group of tanks that were cleaned beginning June 11 one ending , June 17. These tasks were owned, by the Belch or Oil Company, located on Fishere Islrnd off tee ghor: of Miami, Florida. Five tanks were clean:-;;;, four of which were the 10,OCX) barrel si* sue the fifth wus e 25,000 barrel size. It was reported teat the foreman, J. F. Sove (white) returned to the mainland each night, but that the tank cleaners, and Williams (bothoolorbd) slept on tee island. is sold to have slept in the tank (or tanks) to escape mosquitoes. Since these tanks wnre being cleaned end immtKtiately returned to leaded gasoline service, no attempt was made to clean then so as to sake them safe for entry without protective equipment. Shank reported to Taylor that in tee hospital in a straight jacket. Ktz 0 0 0 6 7 8 8 - 5- T T .- i ^ Hot lori- Sf* ill keep in toad, *ith Lr. Kelloe ,ith ni:ermc9 t0 the ne, development in connection *Lth a*.*. Also, con,,1,to re port eil- to prepnrei rhea all cat, ic ceppiate. K 0067S9