Walk-through survey: Stackpole Corporation, St. Mary's, Pennsylvania

A walk through survey was conducted at Stackpole Corporation (SIC-3624), Saint Mary's, Pennsylvania in March 1982 to gather data concerning the feasibility of including the facility in an industrywide survey of the carbon products industry. The company produced a variety of products utilizing petroleum coke, coal-tar-pitch, and petroleum pitch. Engineering controls and employee records were inspected. The engineering controls consisted of a ventilation system installed over the tunnel furnaces, dust collection systems in the machining areas, and the use of car bottom kilns on some furnaces. Personnel records were available dating back for about 80 years. The company had a limited industrial hygiene and safety program that included review of all accidents, the issuance of recommendations for improved safe work practices, and maintenance of fire fighting equipment. The authors recommend that employee exposure to polyaromatic hydrocarbons be evaluated in the impregnation operation and around the rotary mixers. Ventilation equipment on all tunnel furnaces should be maintained in good working order. The facility meets the criteria for inclusion in the industrywide survey; however, the survey will not be conducted at the present time due to the small cohort size.