Document 13ZLEn8VVw8w0zd9m8v1rr6X

LOUISIANA DIVISIOH INDUSTRIAL HIGIENE REPORT AN OPERATING UNIT OP THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANT DEPARTMENT Cell Service TITLE FILE NUMBER LAD-CS-36.Q1 DATE 2/12/87 ST0175615 Industrial Hygiene Summary Report, 1986____________ AUTHORCS) SIGNATURE(S) Dean Walters _____hJn pza^, s//*-/#? REVIEWER *S SIGNATURE 77 W.E. Ledford t' V/aA7 SUMMARY/RECOMMENDATIONS The employees with a potential exposure to. asbestos were monitored using an approved sampling and analytical method.. One hundred fiftysix (1561 personnel samples were collected representing all jobs in the plant. Ih addition thirty-seven C37L area samples were collected The highest potential exposure (3.08 f/ccL occured during hand brush ing of copper cathodes to remove residual asbestos.. This procedure was changed to eliminate dry brushing and subsequent "exposures were reduced to <0.01 - 0.02 f/cc. After the revised asbestos standard became effective only three (3) personnel samples were above the action limit and none were above th Permissable Exposure Limit. Analysis of two samples by scanning elec ron microscopy determined that none of the fibers present were asbes- The block respirator program was changed to require use of high efficiency filters for Jobs involving asbestos. All personnel have bee fit tested and trained with the new respirators. An area noise survey was conducted throughout the plant. DISTRIBUTION Louisiana Division Midland R. Peebles 5601 *!arr y Rampy -1303 L.J. Sins 5601 *G.W. Engdahi-1803 *R. Gaska 3701 *S.K. Norwood-1803 *R. Gallant 2308 *J.E. LeBeau -1803 *M.F. Currier 2303 *A.W. Shaffer-2030 *M.E. Nevill 3502E *S.M. Gorgacc--474 Henry Bell 470.1T M.G. Swank -1803 Other *D.E. Crager, Freeport, B-101 F.D. Axe, Western Div. 471 *G.L. Meier, Eastern Div. Strongville, Ohio RESTRICTED; for use with The Dow Chemical Company only. * Cover Letter Only I CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION </> cn cn <T* 1. FIFTY TWO (52) PERSONNEL SAMPLES FOR POTENTIAL ASBESTOS EXPOSURE WERE COLLECTED DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 1986. THE HIGHEST POTEN- ' - TIAL EXPOSURE OCCURRED DURING HAND BRUSHING OF COPPER CATHODES. THE PROCEDURE WAS MODIFIED TO ELIMINATE DRY BRUSHING. THIS RE3- - ULTED IN POTENTIAL EXPQSUREE3 BEING REDUCED TO LESS THAN 0.01 0.02 FIBERS/CC. 2. ONE INDIVIDUAL WAS FOUND TO CONSISTENTLY HAVE THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL ASBESTOS EXPOSURE DURING PULP MIXING. THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR THI JOB WERE REVIEWED WITH THIS PERSON WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PROPER WET TING TECHNIQUE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROPER PROCEDURE FOR MIXING FULP BE REVIEWED SEVERAL TIMES PER YEAR WITH THE PEOPLE PERFORMING THIS JOB. 3. ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR (104) PERSONNEL SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED DURING THE "INITIAL MONITORING" REQUIRED BY THE REVISED ASBESTOS STANDARD. THREE SAMFLE3 WERE ABOVE THE ACTION LEVEL BUT NONE WERE ABOVE THE PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT. TWO SAMPLES WERE FURTHER ANALYZED BY SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. ONE SAMPLE CONTAINED INORGANIC AND ORGANIC "FIBERS" AND THE OTHER CONTAINED CELLULOSE FIBERS. NEITHER CONTAINED ANY ASBESTOS FIBERS. IN THE FUTURE WHEN ANY RESULTS ARE ABOVE THE ACTION LEVEL OR PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HAVING AN SEM ANALYSIS PERFORMED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE "FIBERS" ARE ASBESTOS. 4. EFFORT SHOULD CONTINUE TOWARD THE USE OF ENGINEERING CONTROLS OR PROCEDURE MODIFICATIONS TO FURTHER ELIMINATE POTENTIAL EXPOSURES T-J ASBESTOS. 5. AREA NOISE MONITORING DATA INDICATED THERE WERE NO CHANGES IN-THE NOISE LEVELS IN THE CELL SERVICE BLOCK. ALL HIGH NOISE LEVEL AREAS ARE PROPERLY POSTED WITH THE REQUIRED WARNING SIGNS. 5. THE PROCEDURE USED FOR MIXING THE DERAKANE SOLUTION AND VARIOUS ADDITIVES WAS REVIEWED AND IT WAS JUDGED THAT NO EXPOSURE SAMPLING WAS REQUIRED'. ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS OF THE CHEMICALS ARE USED AND ONLY ON AN INFREQUENT BASIS. THE MIXING IS CARRIED OUT IN A VENTILATED ENCLOSURE. EDUCATION ON THE HAZARDS OF THE CHEMICALS AND USE.OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS DONE cn a routine basis. STO 17 5 6 17 I SAMFLING PLANS FOR 1987 ALL JOBS IN THE CELL SERVICE BLOCK WILL BE SAMPLED AT LEAST ONE TIME DURING THE YEAR FOR ASBESTOS EXPOSURE. JOES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL EXPOSURE WILL BE SAMPLED SEMI-ANNUALLY. THESE JOES INCLUDE: MIXING PULP HOOKING UP CATHODES AND DUMPING ASBESTOS CLEANING COPPER CATHODES DRAWING CATHODES OPEATING CATHODE WASHER AND RECOVERY SYSTEM CLEANING ANODES JANITORIAL OPERATIONS JOES INVOLVING WORK IN HIGH NOISE AREAS WILL BE MONITORED USING PERSONNEL AUDIODOSIMEIZRS. GOALS FOR 1987 1. INSTALITION OF HEPA VACUUM STATIONS AND BOOT WASHERS TO OFGEAEZ DECONTAMINATION FACILITIES. 2. ' UPGRADE ASBESTOS DEBAGGING EQUIPMENT: WORK IS UNDERWAY TO MODERNISE THE BELTYNE DE3AGGZR 50 IT WILL OPERATE WITHOUT OPERATOR ASSISTANCE. 3. REDUCE POTENTIAL ASBESTOS EXPOSURE DURING PUL? MIXING OPERATION: INVESTIGATE USE OF AN AUTOMATIC DE3AGGER TO OPEN ASBESTOS BAGS FOR THIS OPERATION. CONSIDER USE OF A CLOSED AGITATED VESSEL TO MIX ASBESTOS PULP SLURRY. 4. INSTALL A SCREW CONVEYOR SYSTEM TO REMOVE ACCUMULATED ASBESTOS OUT OF THE CATHODE WASHER SUMF. ST0I756I8