Document zd9myZ2VQ3y9px9nr9yw4O200

UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION Chemicals & Plastics 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York lt/017 To: (See Attached Distribution List) Date : June 20, 1975 From: Dr. A, B. Steele Subject: Vinyl Resin Operations Flash Report Vinyl Chloride Monomer OSHA Matters The Steering Committee of the VCM/PVC Producers group (SPI) is attempting to evaluate strategies to deal with the OSHA. Standard as of April 1, 1976 when the limit of exposure will be 1 ppm (8-hour TWA) and respirators will be sanc tioned only on a temporary basis while engineering controls are implemented by plan to bring operations into compliance. We have recommended to the Steering Committee that Ammendments to the OSHA Standard be proposed to the Secretary of Labor who has agreed in Court actions that the present limits is beyond the tech nical capability of the industry. Review leading to a more workable Standard could be centered on the following issues: a) Whether any significant risk remains once exposures are reduced to the 1-10 ppm range, b) Whether any quantifiable reduction of risk can occur within this range by a reduction of VCM levels from 10 ppm to 1 ppm. c) Whether the use of respirators to achieve the lower of these levels introduces greater risk of injury or death from fire or explosion. Non-Solvent Resins Operations are proceeding satisfactorily with rates slowly increasing. Aim is to have three reacting autoclaves on the line equal to about 70 M lbs. per day of production, capacity operation. Suspension Resins VSJE continues on the North Line and QSQH is now back on the South Line after producing 2.0 million pounds of QSAL. Vacuum stripping conditions have been moderated somewhat to reduce color development. Consideration is now being given to stabilier addition to the blowdown tank to retard degradation. Plans also call for a recheck of the Klucel recipe which produced a more porous, easier to strip particle. With the exception of the above mentioned color problems, quality has been excellent with no evidence of glass beads in the homopolymer. Specialty Resins Resin manufacturing shut down due to high inventory. Resin Solution sales continue to grow. An order for AU-30 was received from Borden. UCC 095396 A. B. Steele DISTRIBUTION LIST -- WEEKLY FLASH REPORT VINYL OPERATIONS TO: Mr. L. M. Baker Mr. E. Bell Mr. G. P. Bigelow Mr. L. D. Burne C t Mr. J. L. Carvajal Mr. G. H. Coppala Mr, R. G. Davis Mr. C. R. Davall Mr. M. E. Eisenhour Mr. D. Engle Mr. C. R. Field Mr. R. L. Frantz Mr. J. E. Giffin Mr. R. J. Hanna Mr. J. M. Herbert Mr. J. G. Kucsma Dr. W. R. Manning Mr. G. J. Norberg Mr. J. R. Peterson Mr. R. W. Sesler Mr. G. T. Scott Mr. G. C. Shipston Dr. A. B. Steele Dr. T. T. Szabo Mr. G. F. Tacquard Mr. R. N. Wheeler Dr. V. Z. Williams 312 312 32 28 514 511 312 28 515 515 28 515 514 511 28 31 511 28 28 515 28 28 28 32 515 514 28 Bound Brook (Bldg. 200' Bound Brook (Bldg. 72) New York Office New York Office South Charleston (Plant) South Charleston (Tech Center) Bound Brook (Bldg, 72) New York Office Texas City Texas City New York Office Texas City South Charleston (Plant) South Charleston (Tech Center) New York Office New York Office South Charleston (Tech Center) New York Office New York Office Texas City New York Office New York Office New York Office New York Office Texas City South Charleston (Plant) New York Office UCC 095397