Cal/OSHA Report
Below you will find a text version of the letter from CAL/OSHA Consultation Service. A scanned image is also available.
March 7, 1990
Reel EFX, Inc.
Attn: Mr. Martin Becker, President
5300 Melrose Avenue, 201-D
Hollywood, CA 90038
Dear Mr. Becker:
This letter confirms the Cal/OSHA Consultation of January 4 and March 6, 1990. I met with Martin J. Becker, James Gill, and Michael Colvin of Reel EFX, Inc. The evaluation was performed in a closed sound stage, Stage 7, at Releigh Studios. The dimensions of the sound stage are 90 feet by 75 feet by 30 feet high. The volume enclosed by the sound stage was approximately 19,000 cubic meters.
The concern of Reel EFX was the utilization of a Reel EFX, Inc., Diffusion Foffer (TM) with a food-grade mineral oil and the possibility of causing the level of an airborne contaminant in the workplace to exceed regulatory standards promulgated to conserve employee health. See table I for the sampling results.
The Diffusion Fogger was operated for 3 minutes and the attached fan dispersed an aerosol mist that was sampled for almost an hour. During this time the visible concentration in the air remianed almost constant.
The diffusion fogger was then turned again for 7 more minutes, for a total operating time of 10 minutes. The resulting mist was sampled over the next two hours. An oscillating fan atop the fogger ws operated during the entire test period to ensure even dispersion of the generated aerosol. All samples were taken at floor level and twenty feet from all walls. The report from the laboratory is attached. In no instance were the OSHA permissible exposure limits (PEL) exceeded. Should instances occur that a denser mist is required, you will have to ensure that the airborne mist levels do not exceed exposure excursion limits or the 8-hour time weighted average limits. Examples of these limits are shown in Table II.
Employees working under the conditions evaluated for 40 hour per week for 50 years would not suffer adverse helath effects related to the mineral oil mist generated by the diffusion fogger. For employee exposures greater than the regulatory standards, precautions detailed in your material safety data sheet should be followed.
On March 6, 1990, a further evaluation was performed under similar conditions to determine whether a direct reading instrument using a piezobalance could provide the required information instantaneously. Again the results confirmed the findings of the January 4 test.
A compliance officer is not legally bound by the advice I have given you. Any failure on my part to point out specific hazards does not relieve you of the responsibilty to provide a safe and heallthful workplace. You may, but are not required to, furnish a copy of this report to a compliance officer. Although a decision not to furnish the report will not be interpreted as a lack of good faith, a decision to do so may demonstrate you good faith safety and health efforts and could result in a reduction of any monetary penalties that may be proposed.
The record of this and all other exposure measurements must be kept in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.20 and T8 CCR, Section 3204. These regulations also require you to make the exposure and medical records available so that each employee may see his/her own record.
The recommendations of this consultation are not enough to keep your workplace free from safety and health hazards. An effective accident and illness prevention program depends on your continued efforts to meet the requirements to T8 CCR, Section 3203. Cal/OSHA regulations require you to provide training and conduct periodic inspections to locate and correct safety and health hazards. You and your employees must continue to work together to maintain a safe workplace.
Thank you for your courtesy. If I can be of further assistance, of if you need additional information, please call our office at (213) 861-9993.
Sincerely,
/s/Robert A. Rennicks
Industrial Hygiene Consultant
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TABLE I
SAMPLING RESULTS |
||||
| AREA | SAMPLE LOCATION | FOGGER TIME (minutes) | SAMPLE DURATION (minutes) | CONCENTRATION (mg/m3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 Sound Stage | 1. Left S/W corner rear | 3 | 59 | 1.2 |
| 2. Right S/E corner rear | 3 | 57 | 0.2 | |
| 3. Center North front | 3 | 55 | 0.3 | |
| 4. Left S/W corner rear | 10 | 110 | 4.6 | |
| 5. Right S/E corner rear | 10 | 108 | 2.7 | |
| 6. Center North front | 10 | 108 | 4.6 |
TABLE II
EXPOSURE GUIDELINES
 | USDOL/OSHA
| ||||
| CAL/OSHA
| ||||
| American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist (ACGIH)
|
NOTES:
(a) The 8-hour time weighted average exposure is extrapolated from the period measured to the duration of the exposure during one shift.
(b) The permissible exposure limits (PEL) are publised in T8 CCR, Section 5155, Table AC-1.
