University Park Finishes Phase One of Exhaust/Ventilation Installation

This article originally appeared in Standing Strong at Solvay: May 2018.

Solvay workers can breathe freely at the company’s University Park, Ill., plant now that management has completed phase one of the exhaust and ventilation system. 

The reactor room and inside flammable tank farm area now have an intake system to draw in air from the outside and exhaust fans to pull the indoor air to the outside environment. The plant makes chemical bases, like sulfates and sodium chloride, for personal care products.

Local 2011 President Michael Spicknall said the intake fans are on a variable drive so that operators can adjust them to bring in more air from the outside. He said the exhaust fans are in different zones to enable adequate airflow in all areas.

“The reactor room and tank farm area have air turnover now, and the system is above the industry standard,” Spicknall said.

He said the second phase, if needed, will be to install a heating system in the ductwork. Engineers are waiting for plant management to determine what the temperature should be inside the reactor room and tank farm.

“You can tell a difference in these areas,” Spicknall said. “The air used to be stale and hot. You had a fan blowing on you, but it was blowing hot, stale air. I think we’ll notice a difference on hot, sunny days.”

Previously, the local said that employees developed asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease allegedly because of the lack of a ventilation and exhaust system in the reactor room and tank farm. The company sampled the air and the local contacted OSHA. The agency toured the plant and advised how to remedy the fumes.

Spicknall credited the council for ensuring management followed through on the installation.

“If we didn’t have this Solvay council, we would just be a few people, like little fish in a big sea,” he said.

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