CHEM TEXTS

Page 2 | Vol. 1 No. 3

FROM THE FACTORY MANAGER

Dear fellow employee:

When we were children it seemed like an eternity waiting for Christmas to arrive with its many joys. Now, too often, we find Christmas upon us too soon to appreciate its many meanings to all of us. We complain when Christmas decorations start to appear before Thanksgiving that Christmas is becoming too commercial. But possibly in our complex and “perpetually busy” society we need the extra lead time, yes the advertising, to set our minds for the approach of Christmas.

Who, but the most bitter “Scrooge” will for one moment deny the warm glow of fellowship with family and friends that descends upon all of us as the spirit of Christmas comes into our lives. Yet, the very hope and promise of Christmas too frequently comes as a false spring day in February only to be followed by a return to the dreariness of winter. Perhaps we aren’t yet too old not to continue to wish that Christmas could last the year around?

This, then, is my Christmas Wish for you and your family; a wish for all the good things of life and a hope for a New Year with its full measure of health and happiness.

[Signature: John Harwood]

John Lawton Wins Top Suggestion Award

John Lawton of the Synthetic Processing department was awarded $100 during a recent meeting of the award committee at the Synthetic Plant. John’s idea to install additional riser valves on the front lines of certain reactors resulted in productivity savings and elimination of some contamination. During the meeting, a total of 16 awards were made – 9 cash awards totaling $250 and 7 honorable mention. Other winners were: Fred Surmanek and Robert Lockwood, Processing, Honorable Mention; Joe Wojtczak, Processing, Honorable Mention; Charles Harris, Laboratory,

$15.00; Joe Gallucci, Mechanical, $25.00; Fred Surmanek, Processing, $15.00; Charles Harris, Laboratory, Honorable Mention; Frank Phillips, Chem. Mix, Honorable Mention; Leon Raskauskas, Processing, Honorable Mention; Dan Donato, Mechanical, $15.00; Earle Root, Processing, $30.00; Earle Root, Processing, $15.00; Alan Happy, Processing, Honorable Mention; Alan Happy, Processing, Honorable Mention and Frank Phillips, Chem. Mix, $20.00. Note: This does not include Chemical and Reclaim plants. Meetings incomplete at press time.

[Photo caption:] John Lawton, Processing Department, Synthetic Plant, above right is shown receiving a Suggestion Award check for $100 from B.R. Leach, Synthetic Production superintendent, for his recent suggestion. Over the past years, John has received five cash awards for a total of $145 and three Honorable Mentions. Put your imagination to work. In our highly competitive industry, UNIROYAL CHEMICAL needs your ideas. A cash award may be waiting for you.

Did You Know?

… That our society hurls more than 130 million tons of pollutants skyward each year and approximately 2/3 of this waste comes from motor vehicles. The major causes of pollution that make up this total are:

Motor vehicles
85 million tons
Manufacturing
22 million tons
Electric Power Generation
15 million tons
Heating of buildings and homes
8 million tons
Total
130 million tons

… Research has shown that pollution caused by exhaust gases and crank case emission from automobiles may be controlled by what is called Positive Crankcase ventilation. Postive crankcase ventilation draws unburned pollutants out before they enter the exhaust system of the car and reroutes them back into the carbureted fuel intake where they are burned off. As a result of this there is an estimated 30% reduction in pollutants. The entire system was made possible through the use of a hose connection made of Paracril Nitrile rubber which has a high resistance to heat and oil. Positive crackcase ventilation is now standard on all cars being manufactured in the United States. Thus UNIROYAL CHEMICAL through its production of Nitrile rubber at our Painesville, Baton Rouge plants is making a major contribution in the battle against air pollution.

… That we have received our order from the state to install the water abatement facilities in the plant by February 1971. The first step in the timetable for this equipment has been complied with when we submitted our initial engineering report prior to November 30, 1967.

First Aid . . Think Ice

One of the most effective and safe medicinal aids is an ice cube. Ice is safe because it refrigerates, rather than freezes, tissue.

So to relieve pain, think about ice:
1. Before removing a splinter with a sterilized needle, put your finger on an ice cube until it feels numb.
2. If you should burn your fingers, put your hand under a faucet of cold water, then into a bucket of ice and water until the pain is gone. This will prevent blisters. Later, you can use an ointment.
3. To prevent being overcome with heat, hold an ice cube in your fist. A heat stroke victim can be restored to consciousness if ice is rubbed over his arms, legs, and back.
4. To reduce and eliminate bleeding, place ice atop the cut, for it will constrict the blood vessels.
5. To get rid of headache or backache pains, try ice for almost instant relief.

[Photo of E.M.I.C. building with caption:]
The original oil painting of the above picture of the E.M.I.C. building was done by Luella Anderson of our Research and Development Department. Luella has been painting as a hobby for about 10 years. She says she started with five lessons but confesses she probably should have had additional lessons in basics. From what we can see she does pretty well without them.

Luella has had one exhibition in Vermont this past summer and an earlier exhibit in G. Fox and Company in Hartford. She states that the E.M.I.C. painting took about 12 hours to complete. She worked on it over several week-ends.

Luella recommends art as an interesting (and sometimes profitable) hobby – it is also very relaxing on the nervous system she says.

Safety Hats In Greater Use

The Safety Department has continued to expand the safety hat program throughout the plant. Since it was started last August, a total of 962 hats have been ordered. When the program is complete everyone will be assigned a safety hat. Various departments have been given individual colors as follows:

Fire Department – Red
Production – Blue
Mechanical and Engineering – Orange
Materials – Green
Pilot Plants – Grey
Offices and Visitors – White

Curalon Production To Start Soon

Approval of funds for CURALON production facilities was granted in October. These facilities will be installed in Bldg. 17 at the Synthetic plant. This building, formerly used for Flexzone production, will be completely reconditioned and rehabilitated to provide a suitable area for production of quality chemicals. CURALON is a curing agent for polyurethane elastomers.

Expanding markets for these urethanes indicate a promising future for this curative.

THE LAND AROUND US… by ThOMEron

[Comic strip panel 1:]
THE LARGEST APPETITE IN THE U.S., ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES, BELONGS TO A 17-TO 19-YEAR-OLD BOY! TO CHECK ON THE AMOUNT OF PESTICIDE CHEMICAL RESIDUES IN THE FOOD YOU EAT, THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION MAKES A “MARKET BASKET” STUDY BASED ON THIS FACT.

[Comic strip panel 2:]
THE FDA PURCHASES IN RETAIL FOOD STORES, AS WOULD ANY CONSUMER, A DIET LIST OF 82 FOODS IN A QUANTITY SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY THE NATION’S LARGEST APPETITE FOR TWO WEEKS. THESE FOODS ARE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THE INCIDENCE AND LEVELS OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES.

[Image shows produce]

[Comic strip panel 3:]
WHAT DID THE GOVERNMENT FIND?
AMERICAN CONSUMERS OF ALL AGES MAY BE CONFIDENT THAT THEIR FOODS ARE FREE FROM HARMFUL AMOUNTS OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES, DUE TO EPA’S TOLERANCE-SETTING AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES. ANALYSES OF RAW AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AS WELL AS TOTAL DIET SURVEYS SHOW THAT PESTICIDE RESIDUES ARE MUCH LOWER THAN THE AMOUNTS JUDGED TO BE SAFE BY EPA AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.