Industrial Hygiene Walk-Through Survey Report of E.I. DuPont DeNemours and Company, Inc., Chocolate Bayou Plant, Alvin, Texas

摘要

A walkthrough survey of EI duPont deNemours and Company, Incorporated (SIC-2869), Alvin, Texas was conducted in November, 1984. The purpose of the survey was to obtain information on the 1,3-butadiene (106990) monomer manufacturing process and the potential for exposure. The facility manufactured a crude product stream containing 1,3-butadiene as a coproduct of its ethylene process. The crude was refined to a 99.5 percent 1,3-butadiene product. The refining process occurred in a closed system, tightly maintained for economic, fire, and health hazard reasons. The product was transferred by way of a pipeline to storage spheres for later transport off site. The facility used an open loop cylinder (bomb) technique for quality control sampling. All pumps were equipped with single mechanical seals, which were in the process of being replaced by tandem seals. Since 1962, the facility had experienced process changes and three changes of ownership. Because of these changes, records from previous owners of industrial hygiene monitoring were not available. Job titles identified as having potential exposure were processors, wage employee supervisors, production engineers, and laboratory technicians. The author concludes that a closed loop manual quality control sampling system should be installed to reduce exposure from this source.