Document 06yrZLz0pqQa3Jrkg2MnG4Rkk

AflCPP * (07/15/86) OPTS 62036 Asbestos Ban J/ ____________File TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH C. JACKSON AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON ITS ASBESTOS BAN AND PHASEOUT PROPOSAL July 15, 1986 My name is Joseph C. Jackson and I am the President of ! the Association of Asbestos Cement Pipe Producers ("AACPP"). AACPP is the international trade association representing the three U.S. companies that produce asbestos-cement ("A/C") pipe, as well as twenty-five other companies manu facturing or marketing A/C pipe throughout the world. I have been President of the AACPP since 1973. Previously, I was Vice President of Research and Development for CertainTeed Products Corporation, a manufacturer of A/C pipe. I have been involved in the A/C pipe industry for 24 years. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engi neering from Drexel University. I am a member and past Secretary of the American Society of Testing and Materials k ("ASTM") Committee C-17, Fiber-Cement Products. In addi tion, I sit on the American Water Works Association ("AWWA") Standards Committee on Asbestos-Cement Pressure Pipe and serve on the AWWA Committee on the Use of Asbestos in Water WV-04630 9- curing process, the asbestos remains bound in wet mortar while the pipe is hardened by heat and saturated stream. In the finishing process, pipe is cut and machined into various lengths and fittings- The use of custom-engineered hooding, local exhaust systems, wet sawing, and special cut ting tools has reduced exposure levels at this stage. A/C PIPE INSTALLATION PROCEDURES A/C pipe is installed by laying standard or special lengths in trenches and then connecting the lengths with couplings or fittings. Sometimes pipe must be cut or ma chined during installation or repair, which may expose work ers to airborne asbestos fibers. However, over recent years the need to make such field adjustments has declined marked ly because contractors have demanded, and manufacturers have supplied, a wide variety of shorter lengths of pipe and factory-tapped couplings that accommodate construction spec ifications without cutting, machining or tapping. Indeed, CertairsTeed introduced at the AWWA convention last month new closure lengths and couplings that will eliminate field cut ting of the pipe altogether. Many fools are available for A/C pipe field operations. Until use of the new couplings is widespread, manual and snap cutting equipment, which enable a worker to quickly cut an A/C pipe while standing ten to fifteen feet away, are 10 - commonly-used alternatives to the recently banned abrasive disc saw. Other hand and power tools are available to ma chine, bevel or tap A/C pipe. Because a variety of pipe lengths and fittings are produced, field cutting, machining and tapping currently are infrequent operations. And the new closure ^lengths and couplings, proprietary, will end field cutting. which are not To reduce asbestos exposure levels in A/C pipe instal lation, AACPP published in 1977 a worker education and training manual entitled "Recommended Work practices for A/C Pipe." Its recommended work practices cover the shipping, ' handling, assembling, cutting, machining, hole cutting, tap ping and coupling removal for all asbestos-cement pipe prod ucts. The manual also discusses appropriate procedures for good housekeeping and waste disposal at the work site. Approximately 85,000 copies of this booklet have been distributed to pipeline contractors, municipalities and cus tomers using A/C pipe, and distributors. Availability of the booklet was announced to 65 trade magazines serving the utility construction, contracting and consulting engineering professions. Press releases also were sent to 55 municipal league publications, whose readership includes officials overseeing construction worker safety and health. U.S. manufacturers place warning labels printed in English and Spanish on A/C pipe. These warning labels r - 11 - encourage use of recommended work practices and caution that abrasive disc saws should not be used to dry cut A/C pipe. All U. S. manufacturers incorporated the work practices booklet into their respective installation manuals. .One AACPP member sponsored demonstration/training seminars for contractors and municipalities. AACPP also works closely with state occupational safety and health authorities to promote acceptance and use of-rec ommended work practices. In California, where A/C pipe is used extensively, bulk quantities of the booklet have been made available, at no cost, to CAL/OSHA's worker education program and consultation service. The California State Com pensation Insurance Fund, which insures a large number of municipal accounts (including water utilities), routinely uses these booklets to educate selected accounts about work practices for A/C pipe. Major workers' compensation carri ers also have used AACPP's publication for the same purpose. AACPP also produced a ten minute audio/visual presenta tion suitable for "tailgate safety talks." This presenta tion is available to contractors, unions, and municipalities at no cost. The Association also sponsors an ongoing series of technical education seminars for water utilities and con sulting engineers. A substantial portion of the seminar program discusses asbestos exposures during A/C pipe instal lation and emphasizes the importance of worker adherence to