Document 06g9nxBxxpkJYnBqmnJkn41zV

Environmental Science* laboratory -puNTj'% a mm\ of The City University of New York INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Program Director Vol. 4. No. 1 . Spring 1972 Labor Department Sets Asbestos Standard Mr. Howard Forrest cutting pipe covering in test of new, economical dust collector (far left.) Now Available: An Effective Economical Dust Collector An effective, economical dust col lector is now available for use with band saws, other powered equipment, and for general cleanup. Environmental tests made on it at the Howard Forrest Co. factory, Houston, Texas, demonstrated the effi ciency of the system. In these tests, made during the cutting of five-inch diameter pipe covering, airborne as bestos levels remained well below the new emergency standard for airborne asbestos dust. High-Velocity Collector The measurements were made in an enclosed area designed to repre sent a typical fabrication shop. All measurements, taken at various locations in the room and in the breathing zone of the saw operator, showed dust levels to be less than 1 fiher/milliliter (longer than. 5 mk crona) during 50 cuts on the material "over 10-minute period of time! The collector developed by Howard Forrest is of the high-velocity type. It gains its effectiveness by establish ing an air stream along the saw blade having a velocity several times that of the blade. As this air stream is di rected to the collector, virtually all asbestos debris is carried along. To Sell For Less Than $400 For the past two years, following earlier tests that showed this collec tion method to be especially effective (reported in Vol. 1, No. 4 of Insula tion Hygiene Progress Reports), all Forrest saws have been equipped with an inlet pipe to which a high-volume collector could be attached. What is unique about the Forrest collector is the low cost. It is designed to sell for less than $400, a fraction of the cost of a small band saw. From three separate tests made by IIHRP staff members, and from the results of similar tests supplied by contractors, it is clear that power band saws can be effectively venti lated. In all cases where efficient col lection systems have been installed airborne asbestos levels have remained below 2 fibers/ milliliter during oper- An emergency standard for con trolling occupational exposures to as bestos was announced by the Depart ment of Labor on Dec. 7, 1971. Acting under the provisions of the . Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the Labor Department established a limit of 5 fibers (longer than 5 microns) per milliliter of air for the time weighted average concentration of airborne as bestos to which a worker may be exposed. (See page 4 for details). Certain' provisions of the emergency standard are of particular importance to insulation workmen and contrac tors. It is now mandatory that as bestos cements and mortar be mixed in closed bags, that all waste be dis posed of in sealed containers, and that vacuum cleaners be used for cleanup. Standards Long Urged Tests by the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program of the use of plastic bags for the mixing of ce ment have demonstrated their feasi bility. In-bag mixing can reduce at mospheric dust levels to 1/10 that found when the cement is dumped in a trough or tub for mixing. It is expected that such procedural requirements will be expanded in the permanent standard which must be issued before June 7, 1972. Procedural standards have long been urged for adoption by the IIHRP. The use of plastic mixing bags, dust collectors on powered tools, adequate cleanup, down-draft cutting tables, and coated asbestos block all reduce workers' dust exposure On Jan. 12, 1972, the Department of Labor published in the Federal register a proposed permanent stand ard for asbestos dust. This publication is the first step in the process of adopt ing a final standard. Written and oral comments have been solicited by the (Continued on fourth page) PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT MON-2211 LAM022234 Describe their Various Respirators MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING TV MMM No. 87JO is a low-cost \ i 50: tingle-use valveless respirator has been tested extensively in uN'ratory and in the field. ! *n field-tested by insulation . vers at the Puget Sound Naval v.^eJ in Bremerton, Washington; i : -e Todd Shipyards in Seattle, * ii.\ egton; at the World Trade a.. in New York City; and at i . other construction locations. .b /.so being used in the ApprenLe I raining School of Local 17 in * Jvjr.v All field tests have shown it-*-riming acceptance from a . ...ion standpoint. "e MMM No. 8710 is currently * .--ir-'e on a test basis, only, but fi.'tucnon is being expanded as ir J,\ as possible and it should soon a * i.labtc in must parts of the coun ts It will be distributed through Supply Dislributors. C:,rtis A. Thorpe \'r.rksl Supervisor h c-jp,uiona! Protection Products >M Center St Patti, Minnesota 550101 fi - J - 'itrm SAFELINE PRODUCTS CORPORATION The new single-use valveless dust respirator to be marketed by Safeline Products will be identified as the Safe line 5350 Single-Use Dust Respirator. It will be equipped with a fibrous filter unit of exceptionally large area, so that it will have a very low breath ing resistance and will not be plugged rapidly by retained dust particles. It will contain a formable metal frame attached to the outer edge of the filter unit which will allow the user to shape the filter unit to fit his face. A soft gasket made of a closedcell plastic foam attached to the outer edge of the filter unit will seal it to the face. The respirator will be equipped with a simple head harness composed of two loops of elastic strap. Lengths of the straps are such that they will insure the respirator is properly sealed to the face and yet comfortable to wear, whether the user has a small or large head. The ends of the elastic straps of each of the two head harness loops are attached at separate points of the respirator to insure that the respirator is properly balanced on the user's face. This respirator will be marketed after it has been approved. George L. Cochrane Sales Manager Safeline Products Box 550 Putnam, Connecticut 06260 THE WELSH MFG. COMPANY The Welsh 7165 is a compact, easybreathing, disposable respirator for dusts. It is unusually compact, and yet has a large filter area for out standing efficiency and ease of breath ing. Economical: The 7165 is inexpen sive enough to throw away daily. Bureau of Mines approved: Meets the stringent Schedule 2IB. Company and worker acceptance: Extensive field testing has brought ap proval from major U.S. companies and from workers. Easy fit: The 7165 is soft, nonirritating, and conforms readily to the face. A soft aluminum band may be formed to nose and cheek contours for a positive seal. In addition, fully adjustable bead bands provide good respirator-to-face contact without un due pressure. Compatible with safety glasses: The compactness, light weight (less than 2 oz.), and the contoured fit allow safety glasses and goggles to be worn comfortably. Day-long comfort: The targe, wrap around filter, and low inhalation and exhalation resistance give a constant circulation of air. Cleaned, cool air comes in through the filter. Hot moist air goes out through the exhalation valve. Welsh Manufacturing Co. 9 Magnolia Street Providence, R. I. 02909 Phone: 401-351-3400 c 000325 LAM022235 TliTifS it -' iWrrn iliii iVn ii oA lA f r " < ir r d W ftr V * pExcerpts from The New U.S.- Asbestos Dust Standard The S'ew Emergency Asbestos Dust Standard published in The Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Labor includes the following: (a) The 8-hour time-weighted average airborne concentration of as bestos dust to which employees are exposed shall not exceed 5 fibers per milliliter greater than 5 microns in length, as determined by the mem brane filter method at 400-450X magnification (4 millimeter objective) phase contrast illumination. Concentrations above 5 fibers per milliliter, but not to exceed 10 fibers per milliliter, may be permitted up to a total of 15 minutes in an hour for up to 5 hours in an 8-hour day. (b) Engineering methods, such as but not limited to, enclosure, va cuum sweeping, and local exhaust ventilation shall be used to meet the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section. Where such engineering methods are not feasible, or do not otherwise reduce the concentrations below those prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section, respiratory protective devices shall be provided and used in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section. [Paragraph (c) deals with respiratory protection, respiratory maintenance programs and conditions under which specified types of respirators must be used. The main impact of the section for asbestos workers is made clear in the story on page 2, column 2, of this issue.] (d) (1) When an employer has employees who are exposed to asbestos dust exceeding the limits prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section and the exposure results from the operations described in the remafning subparagraphs of this paragraph (d), the employer shall comply with the requirements of these subparagraphs relating to the operations involved. The requirements of this paragraph are in addition to those prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section. (2) All hand- or power-operated tools which produce asbestos dust such as, but not limited to, saws, scorers, abrasive wheels, and drills shall be provided with local exhaust ventilation and dust collectors in accordance with the American National Standard Fundamentals Govern ing the Design and Operation of Local Exhaust Systems: ANSI Z9.21971. (3) Employees exposed to the spraying of asbestos or the demolition of pipes, structures, or equipment covered or insulated with asbestos shall be provided with respiratory protective devices in accordance with paragraph (c) (4) of this section. (e) Asbestos cement, mortar, coatings, grout, and plaster shall be mixed in closed bags or other containers. (f) Asbestos waste and scrap shall be collected and disposed of in sealed bags or other containers. (g) All cleanup of asbestos dust and blowing shall be performed by vacuum cleaners. No dry sweeping shall be performed. Labor Department Consults Both Labor and Industry (Continued from first page) Labor Department and the final stand ard will take notice of these. To this end, hearings will be held on March 14, 1972, in Washington, D.C., at which labor, industry and other interested parties can supply information relevant to the final standard. Commenting on the new emergency standard, Dr. Irving J. Selikoft, Direc tor of the IIHRP, praised the Depart ment of Labor for promptly acting on the request of labor unions and establishing an emergency standard for asbestos dust. "The recognition of the occupa tional hazard of asbestos and the spec ification of safe means for its use is extremely important," he said. "We have here a good beginning, but much more must be done to establish a safe environment for asbestos workers." Workers Played a Major Role in New Standard The Asbestos Workers Union, the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program, and industry played impor tant roles in the promulgation of the new emergency asbestos standard and in demonstrating the need and feasi bility of some of its provisions. The effectiveness of plastic bags for mixing cement was first published in Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports (Vol. 2, No. 1). Adequate cleanup and housekeeping have long been advocated. The need for an effective single-use respirator was first emphasized by President Hutchinson of the Asbestos Workers Union to the U.S. Public Health Service as long ago as 1968. Tests Made by Various Locals ' The current availability of these respirators and their acceptability for use in the new emergency standard has followed extensive work by- the I) H RP, respirator manufacturers, and the Johns-Manville Corp., which developed the first prototype of a disposable respirator. Field testing of different respirators by a number of locals of the Asbestos Workers Union was especially use ful in achieving suitable respirator de sign. Of particular importance has been the cooperation of Local 12, in New York, and Local 32, in New Jersey, in participating in a health study of asbestos workers by Dr. Irving J. Sclikoff of Mount Sinai School of Medicine. This research, along with a related industrial hygiene study of the work environment of Asbestos workers in the New York and New Jersey area has indicated that a serious health hazard exists in the insulation indus try at dust levels of 12 fibers/milli liter, the Threshold Limit Value effec tive before publication of the emerg ency standard. Drive for a Permanent Standard In fact, there is question whether the currently proposed emergency standard of 5 fibers/milliliter is ade quate. (See Vol. 3, No. 2 for a dis cussion of this question.) In a continuing drive to assure a safe permanent standard, both the staff of IIHRP and President Hutchin son of the Union will appear to testify in the bearings required before pro mulgation of a final standard, to pre sent data pointing to an appropriate standard. c 000326 i 1 4 it ! {J|| -----ly..-1 lfnr:|r l^i; - - 1.,|',^ ^ i , . - .......<** ' v . ^" LAM022236 Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports VL 4. No. I from the Sprlnc 1972 Four Single-Use Respirators to Choose From How Makers In alphabetical order, here are.de scriptions of available respirators, as sent to us by their manufacturers: Insulation Industry Hygiene Re In this issue of Insulation Hygiene search Program Progress Reports disposable respira tors from four companies are de AMERICAN OPTICAL CORPORATION scribed. Each of these will provide Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., useful respiratory protection for as Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikofl. M.D.. Director), Mount Sinai bestos workers during virtually all in sulation work. Spraying of asbestos, however, or removal of old insulation will require air-supplied respirators. I S bool of Medicine of the City Uni The emergency standard promul versity of New York, New York, gated by the Department of Labor N.Y. 1002*? requires respiratory protection when certain airborne dust concentrations bbisory Council of IIHRP are exceeded. See Section (a) of the Standard (page 4 of this issue). t ! Irving J. Selikoff, M.D. Program When to use a Half-Mask Type Director and Chairman For atmospheres containing not * more than 25 fibers per milliliter E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice (greater than 5 microns in length) over an 8-hour average, or more than President. American Cancer Society, 50 fibers per milliliter over a period of New York, N.Y. 15 minutes, a half-mask respirator ap I proved under Schedule 21B of the Albert Hutchinson, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Bureau of Mines or a valveless respi rator providing equivalent protection shall be used. The four respirators shown here Workers, Washington, D,C. satisfy the criteria of the emergeny Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice Presi dent, Research and Development, Johns-Maoville Corporation, New York, N.Y. asbestos standard. In addition, a Bureau of Mines Schedule for valve less respirators will soon be published. In preliminary tests, each of these respirators met the standards of that schedule or of Schedule 2IB. The AO R1050 respirator will util ize a fibrous filter element of large area to insure both a low resistance to breathing and a large storage capacity for retained dust particulate. A malleable metal frame attached t These Require No Maintenance to the periphery of the fibrous filter To obtain the respirator informa element will permit the respirator PURPOSES OF THE INSULATION tion shown here, all respiratory equip ment manufacturers were invited to submit descriptions of their single-use respirators for this issue. Four re wearer to shape the element to fit his face. A soft gasket composed of a closed cell plastic foam attached to the per INDUSTRY HYGIENE sponded and we print their replies. iphery of the filter element will seal RESEARCH PROGRAM Single-use respirators were devel the respirator to the wearer's face. oped for the specific purpose of mak The respirator's head harness con 1. To develop improved ing available protective devices which sists of two loops of elastic strapping methods for minimizing ex posure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encoun tered in their work. do not require maintenance. They are intended for use during one shift or one day and are then to be dis carded. To be effective, however, they must attached to the respirator's periphery at four separate points (two points on each side of the respirator). One loop of the head harness is positioned around the back of the 2. To disseminate knowl edge of these improved methods of dust control be properly fitted and worn in accord ance with the manufacturer's instruc tions. The variety of respirators shown here will allow a workman to respirator wearer's head, above his ears, while the other loop is positioned below his ears. The respirator will be introduced wherever they may be ap plied advantageously and choose the type that is most accept to the market as soon as it has been able to him and best fits his face. approved. to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption. Initially, local safety equipment supply houses may not have these respirators in stock. However, pur chasing arrangements can be made by M. A. Bousquet Product Manager Respiratory Protection American Optical Corp. writing directly to the manufacturers. Southbridge, Mass. 01550 C 000327 LAM022237