Document 06vEab75Z0GKj9OGqyoy2Z2wk

FILE NAME Quebec Asbestos Mining Association QAMA DATE 1980 Nov DOC QAMA163 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION QAMA Bulletin Vol 4 No. 5 Proposed regulatory action unjustified In a brief submitted to the Ontario Ministry Labour the Association des mines d'amiante du Qu^'beccontends that there is neither a scientific basis nor any medical social or economic justification for a regulation proposed by the Ministry that would lower the permissible average exposure to asbestos in the work environment Basing itself on the 1978 Occupational Health and Safety Act the Ministry is proposing that the permissible level of airborne dust emissions in the asbestos mining and manufacturing industry be reduced to one fibre per cubic centimeter Unwarranted haste The Association is unable to find any justification for the suggested stan- dard which seems to have been largely precipitated by recent media coverage that has been more sensationalist than informative Moreover the proposal comes at time when a Royal Commis- sion of inquiry into all aspects of the asbestos health issue has barely begun its work in Toronto This contradiction is underlined in the brief which has been documented from a scientific and medical as well as technological economic and social point of view Pointless reduction medical research studies including the results of the latest and most important epidemiological study on the effects of asbestos exposure The AMAQ brief points out that at an exposure level of roughly 20 fibres per CC a level which has not been found for many years an increase in risk is practically undetectable At 2 fibres per cc - the current standard - it is scientifically impossible to prove any increased risk Tightening the standard any further would thus be utterly pointless and would provide no addi- tional guarantees with respect to workers health In view of the fact that the present standard should be considered safe as acknowledged by both the Canadian and Qu^'bec governments and since a reduction of the norm to 1 fibre per cc would not increase safety the only effect likely to arise from enforc- ing such a needlessly severe standard would be to hamper the asbestos industry's ability to function effectively Technologically unfeasible The AMAQ brief also establishes that existing technology does not per- mit a constant average exposure level of 1 fibre per cc to be maintained in the mining sector The Association supports its poi- tion with numerous scientific and Based on the results of dust monitor- ing and control measures and statisti- cal data compiled by the Association and its member companies the brief shows that even with the utmost effort and using all means available including the very latest technology it proved impossible even the cleanest and most modern mine facilities operating under optimum conditions to reduce average airborne dust concentrations below the level which is now obtainable on a continuous basis and which varies between 1.5 and 2 fibres per cc Planned standard unjust However the fact that it is neither feasible nor possible at present to reduce the norm should not be a cause for concern As the report emphasizes it has been medically proven that aside from those exposed to the higher dust levels of more than twenty years ago the health of asbestos workers is comparable to that of the general population It is hoped that the Association's brief which also puts in perspective the importance of the asbestos industry's economic contribution to Canada will convince Ontario Ministry of Labour authorities that the proposed standard is indeed unfair since it is scientifically and medically unjustified technologically unfeasible and potentially very damaging in economic terms L | Bulletin Information centreand three research projects funded by IRDA When the Institut de Recherche et de D^'veloppement de l'Amiante IRDA was founded it was decided that not all research work or projects would necessarily be done within the IRDA Itself in order to take advantage of all available resources that could help the Institute to fulfill its objectives Within the framework aof Research Support Program it was anticipated that certain projects would be entrusted to the groups best able to produce good results such as public perapublic or private research centres or organizations in the academic or industrial sectors In keeping with this policy IRDA's Board of Directors has recently acled on the recommendations of the Scien- tific Committee to authorize 224 476 in grants aimed at financing an asbestos documentation centre and At the Universit^'de Sherbrooke's asbestos documentation centre electronics facilitate reference work three research projects and G Poirier Ph D. from the Univer- invaluable information on the biologi- cal effects of various materials proposed as asbestos substitutes This project is a follow on recent studies which reveal that when pure chrysotite fibres are incorporated in mixtures chemical changes occur in the fibres that can modify their biological effects Applied research In accordance with another IRDA objective to improve existing products and develop new asbestos applications a 52 650 grant was awarded to R. Gauvin an engineer and professor at the Universit^' de Montr^'al's ^ cole polytechnique to evaluate the applications of asbestos mixtures As the use of plastics for machine parts has been increasing considerably Professor Gauvin's research will Documentation centre The documentalion centre which received a 116 000 IRDA grant for the 1981 fiscal year was founded in 1977 as part of the Universit^' de Sherbrooke asbestos research sit^'de Sherbrooke Science Faculty a Scientific research concentrate on the possible development of asbestos mixtures to In their project the two Qu^'bec researchers hope to develop an in vitro test conducted in an artificial medium as opposed to in vivo tests program It is already considered the most importan 'of ils kind in the world By providing this funding IRDA is assuming financial responsibilities by the held until now the university Mi- nist^rede l'^ ducationand the Bureau de l'amiante using guinea pigs which would permit rapid evaluation of the possible biological changes in pulmonary cells resulting from contact with fibrous par- ticles IRDA's two grants totaling about 62 000 will cover the first year of research The study is especially Furthermore in full accordance with Important because it should allow one of RDA's fundamental objectives rapid differentiation between the Tabune which is to provide a more accurate definition of the characteristics of biological effects of pure chrysotile fibres and those of chrysotile fibres asbestos products in terms of chemically altered as a result of their Le safety the Board of Directors gave the green light to a research project submitted by professors D Nadeau Ph Incorporation in finished products Since this research concerns fibrous particles in general it will also provide i Phot Professor D Nadaan in his lebat lebat the Universit^'de Sherbrooke 2 be used in manufacturing gears for the automobile pulp and paper textile prinling and other industries To date asbestos has been used essentially as a filling agent in asbestos mixtures The innovative aspect of Professor Gauvin's project is that he will determining to what extent asbestos fibre contributes qualities of friction and mechanical resistance lo asbestosplastic mixtures To study the performance of new mixtures Professor Gauvin will be using a test bed he personnally per- fected In keeping with the constant goal of expanding the many ways in which asbestos is used a 23 000 grant was awarded to Professor Kinh Ha an engineer at Concordia University's Centre for Building Studles to conduct design studies on asbestos roofing attachments Asbestpoanesls currently serve as roofing but do not contribute to a building's structural strength Professor Kinh Ha will attempt to find a solution to this deficiency by designing attachments that would allow asbestos not only to be used as roofing cover but also to serve a structural function This research project slated for completion in eight months would have particular Importance for buildings in regions susceptible to earth tremors where roofing resistance must conform to more stringent specifications A Gauvin engineer and professor at the Universit^'de Montr^'al's^ colepolytechnique Study finds asbestos pipes safer The US Environmental Protection Agency has published the results of a study concluding that asbestoscement pipes used in aqueduct systems are less hazardous to health than vinyl polychloride or plastic pipes This study was conducted last summer at the request of the municipality of Lakeland Florida which wanted to know the risk to health involved in using various materials before starting work on expanding Is aqueduct system According to the EPA asbestoscement pipes present the least risk when neutral water low in acidity is involved The risk Increases with pipes made of vinyl polychloride vinyl epoxy Asbestos pipes offer several advantages for the construction of aqueduct systems and plastic in that order with lined pipes carrying the most risk EPA experts arrived at this conclusion after analyzing various water samples taken from Lakeland's existing aqueduct system which uses asbestos pipes The agency's sole reservation concerns the quality of the water flowing through the asbestos pipes Researchers noted that if the water is too high in acid content it risks damaging the pipes is easy to get around this problem however in that municipalities only have to control the acidity of their waler YL Bullatin Rolling stock in the asbestos mines from the wheelbarrow to the 200 ton truck From the very beginning the asbestos mining industry has been on dependent the technological means at its disposal A century ago the amount of ore extracted was largely determined by the number of picks sledge hammers borers cobbing hammers wheelbarrows sleds and the occasional dump cart that could be put inlo use But the most important factor was the number of men used since elbow grease was that era's main energy source The labour compensated for the missing technology which only developed as the industry's new needs made themselves felt Steam power Due to the rudimentary equipment available in those days earth and waste material could not be transported very far They were damped near the mine preventing exploration of new sites and requiring deeper excavation to reach the ore Indeed the first boom derricks were used for this latter purpose Initially the boom derricks were powered by horses then later around 1890 by wood steam boilers which also operaled the borers jocomotives made their appearance in the mine Around the beginning of this century an important milestone was reached The introduction of return cableway derricks henceforth made it possible to transport wooden skips containing up to two tons of are War technology On the eve of World War II more mobile equipment replaced the rail haulage system Companies were quictko recognize the advantages that could be derived from the use of equipment that was more adaptable but no However as mining excavation grew less tough and resistant Shortly in size transportation by cableway before 1940 bulldozers and tractors derrick became less efficient and were introduced which not only fed the haulageways had to be added to -- --- ore chutes but also towed the mine's cars handled by electric hoists to circulate Later cable cars were replaced by mobile steam cranes Installed in the pit itself first trucks which had diesel engines and rolled on wheels and caterpillar treads features borrowed from both the lank and passenger car Soon the development of a new technique was to change mining methods With the introduction of spiral benches underground haulage tracks carried the ore cars from the pit floor to the crusher through 20 graded galleries The amount of track increased rapidly car capacity rose from 4 to 10 tons and powerful Until as recently as 1972 truck haulage was complemented in some mines with a system of cableway derricks skips moving on rail from the mine pit to the surface powered by electrical cables Until 1945 industrial production and technical research were mobilized for the war effort and equipment was scarce behind the lines On the other hand the technology developed during the war enabled the mines to benefit from new equipment which was hitherto unequalled in capacity toughness and adaplability and could be considered the basis for the rolling stock on which today's asbestos mining operations depend shovel and truck is designated by a number Trucks are dispatched to the shovels by radio and then on to their destination when loaded about 400 permanent Jobs in the asbestos region Research An impressive fleet Since the 1950's the number of vehicles used in asbestos mining has steadily increased and their power and capacity have been continually continualy in response to specific the needs of mining opera- tions Thus the mines both contribute * Economic Impact At present the value of the asbestos mines fleet totals some 130 million Spare parts alone represent a market of more than 25 million a year In the mines of the AMAQ membercompanies 60 000 tons of asbestos to the advancement of industrial tech- ore are transported to the surface nology and benefit from the resulting progress Today in both underground and open pit mining haulage of ore every 24 hours by 130 trucks ranging from 35 to 200 tons 9 locomotives 80 rast cars and nearly 400 men overburden and tailings is no longer a challenge to mechanical ingenuity Due to the wide range of vehicles in the mining fleet the Industry's garage Mammoth vehicles weighing tens of tons and even 200 tons seem to move like toys in a mining playground so gigantic that electronic communication systems are needed to steer these metallic monsters safely and efficiently In a small cabin overlooking the mine dispatchers control and direct operations from a panel on which each specialists employe s rank among the top in the heavy equipment field They check adjust and repair engines as well as differentials and brake fuel hydraulic pneumatic or electrical systems To attain this degree of specialization some mechanics have benefited from technical training programs provided by the manufacturers themselves This sec- tor of activities which guarantees that extraction and transportation equipment is in good running order ensures Mining companies are continuing their research in an attempt to improve equipment from the efficiency worker safety and environmental prolection standpoints and are making inhouse improvements which will later be useful to manufacturers Thus company research has tailored vehicles to the special needs of asbestos mining For example trucks hauling tailings have been equipped with a enclosed dipper to prevent dust from escaping during loading on the trip to the dump and even during unloading thanks to a built watering system As another environmental protection measure water spreaders have been installed to reduce dust raised on the haulage routes and a hydraulic tank truck was recently developed to sow the dump sites To counteract winter conditions graders and scoops have been equiwpitph sehadrp points which dig grooves in the frozen ground to prevent skidding on slippery haulage routes A low truck has also been designed to come to the aid of any haulage truck in difficulty and allow it to empty its load through hydraulic and air hoses connecting the two vehicles Such research will no doubt con- tinue in collaboration with the heavy equipment industry to meet the specific production needs of the asbestos mining industry At left one of the first haulageways with wooden curs and wooden rail ties right cableway in derrick the foregrouanndd crano in the background 4 equiped change with- Attoft gigantic 200 truck dwaris man right special vehicleequipped with a boom has been designed the mines to out causing damage loaded truck tires Le letin| Bell's new test room now in operation Sculptures made of asbestos and water As part of its overall modernization program Les Mines d'amiante Bell Lt^'ehas just completed installation of a 225 000 test room which accord- ing to its designer Bob Smith is the most modern facility of its king in move towards greater centralization of operations the room will serve as the communications and contral centre for the entire processing plant The equipment installed in the new test room a month ago permits increased operating efficiency and better fibre quality control during bagging the final phase About every 45 minutes samples ofdifferent grades of fibre taken before and during bagging are sent to the test room Within minutes control technicians are able to detect report and correct any production defects such as imperfect or excessively long or short fibres Air quality A special vacuum system then returns the analyzed fibre directly to the production circult with minimal handling or dust emission In keeping with the Company's policy to provide healthy working conditions the test room is equipped with continuous tem- perature control and a ventilation system that filters sterilizes and replenishes 5 000 cubic feet or air per minute Hygiene was also a major consideration in constructing all counters walls equipment and furnishings - even the telephone - out of stainless steel which has the advantage of being highly resistant while not retaining dust Central control The central control system for the mill is now being installed in the room A huge control panel with hundreds of luminous indicators has already been wired with some 700 connections linking it to the various work stations The slightest defect regardless of the cause is immediately registered on the control panel and the production circuit is adjusted automatically mak- ing work easier and a great deal safer From central control a single person operating a few buttons can start up all of the mill's machines in sequence Expected to cost total of about $ a million the project should be entering its final phase within the next few months Shuttle leader used to carry are from the drew points to the chutes 6 New mechanized method of ore extraction Bell has recently implemented a new method of ore extraction designed by Company engineers to increase productivity while improving safety and comfort for workers in underground operations The current project brings Bell one step closer to the block caving system which the Company intends to implement in two years primarily for ore extraction at subterranean levels below 10 1000 feet The present phase of the operation involves mining a 160 x 500 ft orebody located west of the old drifts and containing two million tons of ore that represent a year asbestos reserve Environmental control The orebody is crossed by two 500foot parallel drifts connected by a foot drift and 35 draw points Under the new system mechanized diesel shuttle loaders with a capacity of 3 cubic yards per trip will carry ore from the draw points to the chutes Formerly each draw point was linked to a chute equipped with a grizzly Dust emissions were thus multiplied whereas today the shuttle loaders feed one larger chute from 20 draw points allowing control over dust emissions at a single site Dust control is facilitated further through regular use of water k jets to dampen the are The new mechanized extraction method offers immense advantages over the former system Costs are equal but productivity is greater and the more streamlined operation will make the miners work easier reduce the use of explosives and lower dust levels Some sculptors like to work with hard materials such as stone wood or marble carving or chipping out the forms they want to reveal Others turn welder or blacksmith to produce fascinating metallic creations And still others prefer to shape and mould malleable materials like clay or wax Mrs Helga Lone Rodsman a Cana- dian artisan who has dedicated herself to sculpture for the past eleven years has opted for the latter method with a difference Her works are created from a unique asbestos material undoubtedly because she has lived in Qu^'bec's asbestos region for more than thirty years She does not work with asbestos which has been used by many renowned sculptors Rather she uses paste made of short fibres grade 7 and water and is probably the only sculptor in the world to do so An unusual art career Mrs Hodsman did some drawing and painting in her youth but only returned to art at the age of fifty after raising eight children This time around she was attracted to sculpture and at the suggestion of some friends decided to experiment with asbestos fibres which her husband a designer in the engineering department of JohnsManville Canada would bring home After six months of experimentation Mrs Hodsman finally produced a paste mixture to her satisfaction All she had to do was add water to the fibre until the mixture attained the desired conaistency Similar to clay though less Viscous and sticky this material can be worked more easily and also has the advantage of not needing to be fired Mrs Hodsman's sculptures range between 6 and 24 inches in height or Larger more complicated pieces are bullt around a frame For small staiu- ettes she moulds the paste with her fingers and for the finer details she uses various items from her manicure kit having found these to be the most practical tools for her purpose During the modelling stage she has to make allowances for the fact that the Mrs Hodsman with some of her sculptures sculptures have a tendency to shrink as they drdyry > 7 Worldwide clientele The finished sculptures are almost white with a very pale gray tint Mrs A particularly elaborate prece St. George and the dragon Hodsman usually leaves them in this natural colour simply applying several coats of silicone to provide protection and a semi finish At the request of some clients however she does colour some of her sculptures At the beginning of her career Mrs Hodsman displayed her works at various handicraft exhibitions notably in the Eastern Townships region where Qu^'bec'sasbestos mines are located She has frequently participated in the important annual Salon des M^'tiers d'Art du Qu^'bec in Montr^'al and there is also a permanent exhibition of her works the Manville Manoir in Asbestos Many visitors who have stayed at this company guest house have subsequently placed orders with Mrs Hodsman and as a result her sculptures are now found in many parts of the world These days Mrs Hodsman is a little regretful that she has no time to work on sculptures of her own choice since she is completely occupied with filling a growing number of orders The subjects of her works are highly varied inspired by her imagination or by pictures from books Her sculptures include animals typical of Canadian fauna bears beavers otters seals dogs and cats History mythology folklore and folk tales are other frequent sources inspiration But in the final analysis the subjects Mrs Hodsman like best of all are people ordinary people engaged in their daily activities Best Wishes for a Very Happy New Year from L'Association des mines d'amiante du Qu^'bec Les Mines d'amiante Bell Lt^'e@ Manville Canada Inc. C anada Inc. Lac d'amiante du Qu^'becLt^'e Bulleti_ n& This BULLETIN is published by l'Association des mines d'amiante du Qu^'bec 1130 Sherbrooke Street West Suite 410 Montr^'alH3A 2M8 The Post Office Department in Ottawa has authorized postage paid in cash and forwarding of the publication by third class mail +1 = Canada Post Postes Canada Postage paid Port paye Bulk third class En nombre troisi^me classe 264 Montr^'alP.Q. ' MR BARRY I. CASTLEMAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT P.O. BOX 230A VALLEY ROAD KNOXVILLE MARYLAND 21758 U.S.A. a) or