Document 2JNvZ7nG6G21VVGpJ86O0nLGN

Subjact: Central Office Cable Penetration Closures GL: 7*4-10-033 daw: October 8, 1971 hit no V othtf 71-10-033 Amarlean TalapAona tots Tatagraph Company 1W Broadway Naw York, N.Y. 10007 Phont (212) 393*800 : Chief Engineers, General Plant Managers, Medical Directors and OSHA Coordinators PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT from: .vnowi.: Director - Outside Plant, Safety and Supplies Engineering Director - Equipment and Buildings and Medical Director I L TM provides interim Instructions for replacing transite wall and floor covers with steel plates. *** Attached to this letter is a Temporary Instruction being issued by Western Electric Company to replace existing instructions regarding transite floor and wall coverings. These interim measures e adopted after a series of meetings between Western Electri ,ell Telephone Laboratories, and A.T.& T. P^nt, Engineering ana Medical Departments. Effective September 1, 1974 all orders shipped from Western that require material to close new cable holes will have steel plates substituted for transite. In addition, all jobs engineered after October 1, 1974 which require cutting of existing coders to add cable or equipment will receive steel covers to replace the transite covers that would normally be cut in the field. The cost of the steel replacement covers will be borne by the associated companies and should be included in all future engineering. This interim change <s being implemented to provide Western Electric Installers and Telephone Company Operating Personnel with a better health environment. Transite board contains asbestos and cannot be cut, drilled or filed without releasing low levels of airborne asbestos dust particles, which over a long period of time can create a health problem. Existing floor and wall coverings do not present any source of airborne particles and are to be left in place. Effec tive with this letter, however, there is to be no further cutting or 002389 -2shaping of existing transite covers - a substitute steel cover should be obtained from Western Electric if any changes in configuration become necessary. The Bell Telephone Laboratories are continuing their investigation of fire and smoke penetration through floor and wait (able openings. Pending the final results of their testing program, the interim be followed. and Supplies Engineering Director - Equipment and Buildings Medical Director Attachment 002390 FIRST CLASS HAIL COMPANY PRIVATE Installation Englnjferiog Handbook 30 Weetern Elaccric Js fern m m Servlca Division's mil i V /I /? 'T'1 ^jgtDCTIOt CABLE PENETRATION - CLoP ! .f\ " 4- TI Saction 15D 1. GENERAL 1.1 Tbs purpose of this Temporary Instruction is to provide Installation vith the history and to explain the reason why the floor and wall cable hole cover material is being changed from transits to steel. 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The Bell System cable hole assemblies have been accepted throughout the country for over fifty years. However, there are no records of BTL tests establishing their fire resistance capabilities. Accord ingly, in 1970. CIE requested AT&T to approve the replacement of tran sits with steel in order to reduce the Installer's effort in fabri cating cable hole penetration closures. Ip August, 1971, AT&T re quested BTL-Whippany to undertake an analytical and experimental program to upgrade the fire policy described in EL 1343. As a re sult, a group ac Whippany was formed and a full scale test facility, equivalent to a Central Office building bay two stories high, was constructed at Chester Laboratories, N.J. Over the past several years, numerous tests have been conducted to establish minimum standard time requirements for smoko and fire pene tration through cable hole assemblies. Tests at Bell Telephone Laboratory are still in progress to determine if any further improve ments to the cable hole concept can be made. The substitution of steel for trensite floor covers will reduce ma teriel cost end fabrication time; but more important, it will improve the Installer's environment. When trsnsite material is cut, it pro duces low levels of airborne asbestos dust particles. Accordingly, the Installer is required to wear a respirator and gloves as proeaction. Cutting of steel will eliminate this potential health problem end the need for these personnel protection requirements. * Because of the importance of improving the Installer's environment, a program to replace the trensite materiel used as cable penetration closures with steel plates has been initiated. All orders (requirlng material for closing new cable holes) which arc shipped after 9/1/74 will be provided with steel floor and wall plates. All orders engineered after 10/1/74 which require the opening of an existing cable hole to add additional cables, will receive steel plates to replace the existing trensite covers. Printed in U.S.A. 002391 TI LSD T3STKDCTI0N 2.1 Disregard all figures in Series 15 of Handbook 30 depicting transits asteris1 whan steel floor and sail closure plates ere received on job site. Install steel floor and well closures in meaner stellar to transits covers. 2.2 Gut floor end veil steel pistes with the R-4355 Hfbblar similar to the ceiling steel pistes. ' 2.3 The replaced transits veil and floor covere-eps sot to be cut-up or in any way reduced in site prior -Steel scavangsr service. ' 002392 January 3, 1979 Anwrtccn TaMphora and T*J*gph Company 295 North Mapia Avtnu* BatUng Ridge, N. J. 07920 Phone (201) 221 -2000 TO ALL SAFETY COORDINATORS Attached for your information is a copy of the long awaited System Letter dealing with the problem of asbestos gloves in Central Office locations. The letter recommends a systematic replacement of KS-8463 asbestos gloves with the new KS-22240 gloves over a three year period. Disposal instructions are included within the System Letter. Until such time that a complete changeout of gloves is completed, it is recommended that the KS-8463 asbestos gloves not be removed from the canisters for periodic inspection. Sincerely, R.L. Beach Manager - Safety Attachment 002393 Introduces the New ICS-22240 Heat end Fire Retardent Glove SL: RL 78-12-071 (ve*itr: Recommendation m: December 8, 1978 RL 78-12-071 American Telephone end Telegraph Company 1M Broadway New York. N. Y. 10007 Phone (312) 3S3-U800 : Building Operating Staff Heads ram: Director - Real Estate Manageaent, Automotive Operations, Energy and Environment dmariptien: Introduces the new KS-22240 Heat and Fire Retardant Gloves and exile for the removal of all KS-8463 Asbestos Gloves. *** Federal regulations have placed limits on the use of products or materials which contain or are made of asbestos, but more specifically, where the use of this product or material will introduce free asbestos fibers into the atmosphere. Since this ruling, Western Electric Purchased Product Engineering has been searching for an acceptable replacement for the KS-8463 asbestos gloves. Presently, each portable fire extinguisher station in central office equipment areas has a canister (KS-8434) mounted with, or adjacent to, the extinguisher station and containing a pair of KS-8463 asbestos gloves. These gloves were intended to be used after extinguishment of a fire, to separate bundles of vires in order to put out any burning embers. It is recommended that all existing KS-8463 asbestos gloves be replaced with the hew KS-22240 Heat and Fire Retardant Gloves. These new gloves can be ordered through Weetern Electric supply as: Gloves (Fire Retardant), KS-22240 The coet of each pair of KS-22240 gloves is approximately $5.25 to the 0TC, and will b* available during the second quarter of 1979. These gloves are constructed of two layers of material, with the outer layer being of fire retardant cotton twist terrieord and the liner being of 6 ounce cotton material. The overall length of each glove is approximately 19 inches and is made for use on either hand. Tests indicate that these gloves will not support combustion and have a high resistance to the transfer of heat. When rolled in pairs, they can be stored in the existing KS-8434 canisters. NOTICE Not for urn or disclosure outside the Beil System except under written agreement 002394 - 2- Ac che present time, spacing of Che existing asbestos gloves is at each extinguisher station in central office equipment areas. The new gloves, scored in a ICS-3434 csnlstar, should be located at the main entrance to each central office equipment area, not at each extinguisher location. The programed repLaceaant of the KS-8463 asbestos gloves should ba over a threa ysar pariod. The existing KS-8463 asbestos gloves should be disposed, of by placing then in s plastic bag and tying the end. The individuals performing this task should ba equipped with a aea mask to psdseat the inhalation of fram aabastos fibers* These plastic bags, containing tha KS-8463 gloves with the open end tied, should be moved to an approved sanitary land fill operation sultiblt for disposal Of tills material. Any questions ragarding chess gloves should be addressed to V. J. Session (201)221-4986. J. W. Williamson Director - Reel Estate Management, Automotive Operations, Energy and Environment 002395 y.r. u. C. Aarhyn 17-1239K3 Chuck: The instructions provided to the BOCs regarding modification of C Manhole Heaters should contain sufficient detail to ensure compliance with both OSHA and EFA requirements. Based on my perception of the construction of the heater and the friable nature of the asbestos tape, I would recommend the following, precautionary measures: 1. "et the asbestos tape prior to removing the rivets and tape. 2. If any of the asbestos cape sticks to the heater, wet the stuck residue prior to scraping. 3. All removed tape, scrapings, and any contaminated rags or debris should be placed in sealed impermeable bags or containers labelled as fellows: CAUTION ^Contains Asbestos Avoid Breathing Dust Breathing Asbestos May Cause Serious Bodily Harm Personnel performing the modifications should wash their hands prior to eating, drinking, or smoking. ' The sealed bags must be disposed of in accordance with stare ar.o local regulations for asbestos containing waste. terform their own vehicle maintenance, it should be e :ats and labels from the garage forces, as similar 002396 requirements exist for the handling of dust removed from brake drums and clutch assemblies. Disposal of the filled bags could also be consolidated with the same garage forces. Please advise if additional assistance is required. When the final product is ready for distribution, 1 would like to include the Company Safety Coordinators. . James M. Degen District Manager - Occupational and Environmental Safety 002397 Cares 48106-3 Bell Laboratories 60Q Mountain Avanua Murray Hill, N*w Jersey 07974 Phone (201) 882-3000 January 28, 1882 Mr. L. Bennett Southwestern Bell Telephone Rn 459, 1111 W Capitol Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 Dear Larry: This is in response to yonr inquiry whether heat shield pads contain asbestos. The Bell SystemPrsctice "B Sheet Repair Sleeving" (BSP-644-200-005) recommends that heat shield pads (AD-1460) be used to protect workers who apply heat shrink sleeves. Saychea Corporation, the manufacturer of the heat shield pad, claims their pad contains an asbestos substitute, thermoglasa, Which replaced their former asbestos containing pads over two years ago. A problem may arise, however, in the operating telephone companies where some asbestos heat shield pads (older than two years) are still used. To identify the older asbestos pads vs. the newer non-asbestos pads, a few differences exist. The new pads are smaller in size with these dimensions: (12" x 40" x 0.125"), shinier, and less fibrous than the older heat shrink pads. The other method to identify whether a pad contains asbestos is to analyze it, but this method is time-consuming and more expensive. If you locate any asbestos heat shrink pads, they should be properly disposed of in accordance with state and federal regulations. A replacement pad may he purchased from Raychem Corporation at a cost of $48. 40. If-you have any other questions, please call me. Sincerely KH-78691-PCP-jjc Copy to L. C. Smith - SWBT R. E. Eberhart J. W. Berry, M.D. J. M. Degen - AT&T. R. W. Stone, M. D. W. J. Schreibeis G. M. Wilkening Patricia C. Payne 002398