Document zo4rzJ11x3375YzO65wwx7z20

UNION CARBIDE INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE R. L. FRANTZ U4 UC 149- 2 CHEMICALS AND PLASTICS TO (NAME) COMPANY ' LOCATION Plant Letter List B1 B2, B3, and B4 TEXAS CITY PLANT DATE P. O. BOX 471, TEXAS CITY, TEXAS 77590 October 6, 1977 COPY TO Plant Letter List A Mr. D. E. Deese Dr. D. L. Glenn Mr. T. Harrison Dr. E. Q. Hull - 511 Mr. J. D. Martin - 510 Mr. A. E. Montagna - 501 (21) Mr. R. E. Peele SUBJECT Ref: Placement of Fertile Females Within the Work Place Interim Guidance Attached Procedure, Placement of Fertile Females in the Work Force Gentlemen: In response to action plans as developed in the first meeting of the Plant Committee for Placement of Fertile Females held September 16, 1977 and follow-up meetings on September 27 and October 5, teratogens, transplacental carcinogens, and anoxia agents have been reviewed by Dr. D. H. Glenn, Plant Medical Director, Mr. D. E. Deese, Plant Industrial Hygiene Director and other members of the committee. The review consisted of categorizing the chemicals relative to plant impact based upon present knowledge of exposure potential in affected areas of the plant. Priorities were then set. Interim guidelines were developed based upon . present knowledge, and action plans established to procure needed additional Ay* exposure data. Sumnaries of these items are as follows: . " ** Priorities: *i Teratogenic chemicals that could significantly impact upon JLjt fertile female job placements within the Texas City Plant "TV have been categorized as follows: ^ Jpp \ * Zero Exposure Permitted Ucon 22 Limited Exposure Permitted Lead Limited Exposure Permitted But of Equal Concern to _______ Males -invl Chloride Benzene DMAC DES The above lists will likely change as additional knowledge of other chemicals is developed. *3 fr Ucc 094818 Plant Letter List Bl, B2, B3 and B4 October 6, 1977 Page 2 Interim Guidelines; Based upon present knowledge, fertile females should not be allowed to work in the: (1) Air Conditioning Craft/Shop (2) Lead Craft/Shop (3) Spray Painting Craft/Shop (4) Welding Craft/Shop Action Plans for Development of Additional Data: (1) Methods for monitoring of DES and Ucon 22 will be developed. D. E. Deese to coordinate. (2) Periodic monitoring of tasks involving DMAC at No. 3 Olefins will be initiated by D. E. Deese. (3) Monitoring of Lab Analysts handling DMAC will be initiated by D. E. Deese. (4) Lead monitoring plan (initiated) to be completed by D. E. Deese. 4-1-78. A procedure Placement of Fertile Females in the Work Force developed by the Medical Department based upon corporate SHARE guidelines is attached. A plant procedure will be issued by the Safety Department at a later date. Plant Department Heads are invited to attend a meeting: DATE: Thursday, November 10, 1977 TIME: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon PLACE: Nos. 1 and 2 Conference Rooms At this time Medical, Industrial Hygiene and other committee representatives will be available to clarify the procedure and answer any questions you may have. Yours very truly JBL:ir Attachment d. B. LEVERT0N UCC 094819 ~I-X? -<--a <~ --- C/c^ nJ ^ 3- (W3P T \J C-t'A fvU- | <J^r^ i rr*" Des i <rr^ b^fr-C" |ofr^ ? UCC 094820 PLANT PROCEDURE RE: PLACEMENT OF FERTILE FEMALES IN THE WORK FORCE Female employees of reproductive capability are entering the work force in increasing numbers and are being assigned jobs in the plant which subject them to a variety of potential chemical exposures. It is recognized that certain chemicals (teratogens, transplacental carcinogens, and anoxia agents) may have adverse effects on an unborn child if the expectant mother is exposed to unsafe levels during pregnancy. To eliminate the risk to an unborn child, line management, with the advice and counsel of the Medical Department, must exercise prudent judgment in the placement of female employees with reproduc tive capabilities; and once placed, ensure that all practical steps are taken to prevent them being exposed above Union Carbide Corpora tion recommended levels. The responsibilities of line management and the Medical Department under this procedure are specified below: A. Responsibilities of Line Management 1) By use of industrial hygiene monitoring and other available means, line management will determine those units/areas, or portions thereof, which may potentially pose a hazard. In making this deter mination management should be guided by the UCC 094821 2 recommended limits of exposure which have been established by the Corporation. Such limits are available from the Medical Department. 2) If exposure levels are presently in excess of the limits established by the Corporation, line manage ment will be responsible to develop action plans to ensure that recommended levels are achieved. In the event this is not economically and/or techni cally feasible, continuing efforts to achieve these levels will be documented. In the Interim, line management will ensure that the appropriate protective equipment and/or clothing is used in those instances when a specific job assignment does not protect the fertile female from exposure. 3) Line management will always consult with the Medical Director on the advisability of subjecting a female employee to levels of exposure above the Union Carbide Corporation recommended limits. 4) Although all females at time of hire or transfer will be briefed by the Medical Department, line man agement has the responsibility of advising female employees working in a unit/area of the risk involved and of the safeguards available. A detailed record UCC 094822 3 will be kept documenting that such advice has been given. A copy of such documentation will be forwarded to the Medical Department. 5) Line management, upon being informed of the preg nancy of an employee, win Inmediately inform the Medical Department. 6) The appropriate Assistant Plant Manager or designee will review all restrictions suggested by the Medical Department and render a decision as to whether the employee should be reassigned, remain in place, etc. Cases which cannot satisfactorily be resolved should be referred to the Corporate Health, Safety, and Environmental Affairs Committee. Responsibilities of the Medical Department 1) The Medical Department will be responsible for obtaining and keeping current a list of suspect teratogenic chemicals with their maximum exposure levels as reconmended by the Corporate Health, Safety, and Environmental Affairs Department. 2) The Medical Department will be a resource to line management for consultation and recommendation XJCC 094823