Document 06ZkVjM64yoaDqvoGzx0BaX7k
FILE NAME: Sprayed Asbestos (SPRA) DATE: 1968 DOC#: SPRA022
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Presentation to 1967 Conference, Published in 1968 Asbestos Hazard in Naval Dockyards
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IV'fM-Mon Ptcs I96H Primed in Great Britain
ASBESTOS HAZARDS IN NAVAL DOCKYARDS*
P. G . H arries
H.M. Dockyard, Devonporl
UiMract --\ brief descripiion is given of the types of asbestos materials, and their uses in ^upbuilding and ship repairing in Naval Dockyards. An outline of the problems to be faced .ad a description of preventive methods is followed by a series of questions intended to simulate practical solutions to the problems of using asbestos materials safely in the industry.
>t much has been written and spoken about asbestos in the last five years that it mdu seem irrelevant to add any more to the vast mountain of words, facts and ..cures already expounded.
1 know that there is a keen awareness in Newcastle of the problems associated vith asbestos in the shipbuilding industry and that a great deal of work has been, and i- being done, by the Department of Occupational Medicine to further knowledge of the disease and to suggest a suitable code of practice for the use of asbestos in the industry.
With this knowledge in mind it was with great trepidation that I approached the preparation of this paper. After some thought I came to the conclusion that it would not be very much good trying to tell you anything, but that here was a wonderful opportunity to see if you could answer some of the questions that we face in the Royal Navy as we search for the current solutions to the problems associated with the use of asbestos in building, repairing and refitting ships.
I have come to Newcastle hoping to learn, and I hope to put specific questions to you, the answers to which we must know if we are to deal effectively with the problems of using asbestos safely.
I think it fair to begin by outlining the problems as I see them, to describe what the Na\y is doing about them, and then to ask for your solutions to them.
THE INDUSTRY
There are four Royal Dockyards in this country, at Portsmouth, Devonport, Chatham and Rosyth, and a small amount of refitting work is done in Singapore and Gibraltar. These remarks are confined to the four home dockyards who between them employ some 50,000 civilians. About 17,000 men work afloat on the ships while the remainder work in the shops, factories and docksides. Less than 450 men are classed as asbestos workers and only the 50 men who work in the asbestos mattress '-'C are subject to the Asbestos Industry Regulations.
' ! PaPer was originally presented at the 22nd Conference of the British Occupational Hygiene ` '', Newcastle upon Tyne, September, 1967.
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Asbestos hazards in Naval Dockyards
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T able 1. Asbfsios materials usf.o in Naval Dockyards
Dusty
Non dusty
Asbestos:
Blankets Cement
Cloth (untreated) Cord Fibre Millboard Packing fibre Rope Soft sound insulation
Asbestos:
Cloth (treated)
Condenser packing
Sheets (compressed fibre)
Gaskets '
Oilproof jointing
*
Compressed fibre jointing
Graphited packing
Rings
Compressed sound insulation
Jointing strips
Tape
Tubing
Twine
Webbing
Washers
Coated electric wire
Calcium silicate sectional lagging (up to 15 per cent asbestos)
Amosite sectional lagging
(over 90 per cent asbestos)
Magnesia compound
(up to 15 per cent asbestos)
Lagging. The application and removal of heat insulating materials is mainly concentrated in the machinery spaces aboard ships and present practice is to lag all hot faces above 150F with calcium silicate sections covered with asbestos cloth. Cutting and fixing sections, rope and cloth does give rise to localized high dust concentrations, but the highest dust concentrations occur during removal of old lagging material.
Hot and cold water pipes and ventilation trunking throughout the ships have previously been covered with asbestos cloth, but this is now replaced by cork, felt and canvas.
Asbestos spraying. This process was extensively used for environmental insulation until 1963 when it was completely discontinued. The existing material is extensively removed during refits and is being replaced by glass fibre. The dust concentrations during removing the dry material are very high.
Application o f sound insulation. Asbestos boards of various types and thicknesses have been sawn and fitted for sound insulation and removed during subsequent refits This work is done by joiners, and again the highest dust concentrations occur during removal of the old material.
There are many other minor processes involving the fitting or removal of asbestos materials some of which do produce dust. Examples are the fitting and removal of asbestos in galley equipment; sawing and fitting friable asbestos board for ironing boards, cleaning with wire brushes, pipes and glands previously lagged with asbestos. Most of these procedures are carried out intermittently by men who are not consil. i .1 to be "asbestos workers".
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impressions of the problem would suggest that only those men continuously v-n - with asbestos me at risk. In the dockyards these men would be the mattress a