Document 0qBV582EEkxJG2Mw0qpeOBBGO

FILE NAME: Abex (ABX) DATE: 1972 DOC#: ABX060 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo RE OSHA - Asbestos with Attachment from BNA Daily Labor Report NEW YORK OFFICE FEB 17 1972 ABEX CORPORATION MEDICAL DEPT. Messrs C. H. Borcherding, Jr. E. H. Feierabend J. J. Sheffield F. E. Tayler A. M. Unger RE: OSHA - Asbestos Attached hereto are pages A16 and A17 out of the BNA Daily Labor Report relative to an 'Asbestos Dump" of Pittsburgh-Corning Corp. This item is of particular interest when we consider the fact that Winchester has under investigation dry collectors which will possibly present some similar type of problem in disposal. DKR:do Attch. CC: Mr. F. B. Herlihy SPNY 003506 A - 16 (No. 30) CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS SECTION (DLR) 2-11-72 become conclusive and the court would issue an order; if there Were a challenge, the EEOC record would go to the court; the court could hold an oral argument or send the case back for 'urther findings; after the district court disposed of a case that had not been challenged in the district court, there could be only a "narrow appeal" on procedural points to a federal court of appeals; the order would go into effect when the district court entered it, unless a stay was obtained. The argument is made that with this procedure, "the only thing Dominick hasn't got is the district court holding the trial. " The Senate will have a chance to accept or reject that argument when it votes on the Williams-Javits amendment at some undetermined time, but probably next week. . - 0- OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, HEALTH BODY MOVING TO GET ASBESTOS DUST COMPLIANCE AT PLANT . The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is taking steps to require the Pittsburgh-Corning Corp. to correct possible excessive levels of asbestos dust in and around its Tyler, T ex., plant, according to Chain Robbins, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, in a news briefing on February 11. His comments are in response to telegrams sent by Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers President A. F. Grospirion to Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health George C. Guenther, and Director of the Environmental Protection Agency William Ruckelshaus. The telegrams alleged extremely hazardous working and living conditions resulting from alleged excessive levels of asbestos dust. The OCAW urged that the company be required to bury asbestos waste now dumped into open fields and pits near the installation, so that fibers would not blow around the countryside. Robbins said this was the first time the OSHA was aware that asbestos dust was spread in open fields, but that as a result of the plant inspection in November 1971, it had cited four alleged violations and proposed a fine of $210. A further inspection by the agency on January 13, 1972, resulted in further citations and recommended penalties of $6,990. The telegrams to Guenther and Ruckelshaus said, in part: "As long ago as March 1968 it was made known to the Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health of the U.S. Public Health Service that workmen in the Pittsburgh-Corning Corp. insulation factory at Tyler, Texas, were exposed to excessive concentrations of asbestos fiber. Various governmental agencies were aware of this situation during intervening years, but corrective actions were never taken. " Robbins told the briefing that such a situation "adds emphasis for the necessity of strong state programs. If Texas had had such a program, it could have taken action. " He had no comment on the charges by Grospirion that burlap bags heavily polluted with asbestos fibers are sold to rose nurseries and should be recalled from circulation because "of the health hazards they pose to nursery employees and possibly to gardeners who buy rose plants wrapped in the bags. Referring to a previous news briefing in which he commented on noise abatement programs and.suggested that employers hire outside consultants to conduct audiometric studies on whether noise abatement was necessary, (DLR 10 [1972]: A-12), Robbins said the OSHA has no legal obligation to cite employers when they do not do so. He explained that audiometric tests are a measurement of hearing ability at various sound levels. . Published by THE BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS, INC., WASHINGTON, D.C 20037 SPNY 003507 7-11-72 (DLR) CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS SECTION (No. 30) A - 17 Commenting on the OSHA Training Institute that began classes near Chicago on January 17, Robbins said the classes are already full, and that a contract training program will be in stituted. This is in response to the number of requests for employer and employee training in the field of occupational safety and health. Joseph Perzella, currently OSHA Region 3 ad m inistrator, will shortly begin to design curricula and, when these are established, have classes set up by outside contractors. David Rhone, deputy director of management services, will serve as acting regional administrator for the Philadelphia region. . The Deputy Assistant Secretary reported that the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is conducting' studies on pesticides and hopes to soon have standards on pesti cides exposures. He added that this will be under the aegis of a yet-to-be-formed Agricultural Safety Advisory Committee. Queried about non-payment to workers for the time they spend with OSHA inspectors conducting walk-around inspections, Robbins said this is being looked into. Generally, he said, employees are being paid for the time spent in walk-arounds and the workers are making contributions in assisting the inspectors to uncover violations. Another query concerned the number of employers who are in compliance with the Act, and he responded that it is still only about 2D percent. He commented that a lot more informa tion is needed to be provided to employers so that they can know what is needed for compliance. In meetings he has had with employers, he said, only 50 or 60 percent of those present are aware of the record-keeping requirements of the Williams-Steiger Occupational and Health Act. An OSHA information officer said the agency is trying to broaden information on all as pects of the Act's requirements through television and radio spots. . - 0- MARITIME TRADES DEPARTMENT DELIVERS REPORT ON MULTINATIONALS, SAYS THEY CREATE HAVOC The growing number of multinational firms -- which owe allegiance to no nation -- are creating havoc in the economy, especially in employment, of the U. S. and much of the world, according to a special report made to the Executive Board of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department, meeting at Bal Harbour, Fla. The report is one the continuing series of examinations of America's foreign trade policies and practices and is the product of a special committee chaired by George Baldanzi, president of the United Textile Worker of America, and Charles Feinstein, president of the International Leather Goods, Plastics and Novelty Workers Union. The report says that ''200 of America's largest 1,000 companies have more than half their assets outside of the U. S. at the end of 1970, American firm s had invested $78.1 billion overseas, more than 10 times the investment of $7.2 billion we had overseas at the end of World War II. U. S. companies produced about $200 billion in goods and services overseas in 1970, the report states, showing a trend which "is gradually but relentlessly changing from imports and exports toward direct investment in foreign lands. " These figures create a dis turbing prospect for American employment, the report states: "Thousands of jobs have been exported abroad. While the federal government has yet to develop estimates of the total number of jobs lost, we in the labor movement see U. S. production facilities shut down and moved abroad continually. Entire industries have suffered serious declines at home and as management goes abroad with the plant, the workers go to unemployment rolls and uncertain futures. '' Commenting on the loss of the entire radio production industry to foreign countries, the report asks these questions: ' Published by THE BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS, INC., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20037 R ight of rep ro d u ctio n and red istrib u tio n reserv ed SPNY 003508