Document 2RJoyG03beQp6go48VbnGk62a

10- td. V C(V\ APR 2 1973 MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS ASSOCIATION 1825 CONNECTICUT AVENUE. N.W. WASHINGTON, D. C. 20009 (202) 483-6126 March 30, 1973 TO: SAFETY AND FIRE PROTECTION COMMITTEE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH COMMITTEE Subject: NI0SH Criteria Documents - Formation of Research Analysis Committees Gentlemen: I am enclosing a copy of a letter from Dr. J, R. May of the U. S. Public Health Service requesting names of persons prepared to serve on NIOSH Research Analysis Committees which will be charged with determining the availability of adequate public information to prepare criteria documents for the materials listed. I heard about this activity through a phone call from Dr. May on March 27 and immediately wrote to members of the S&FPC and OHC Committees whose companies are manufacturers or distributors of MEK because the Research Analysis Committee for this commodity will meet on April 16. Persons who received my letter of March 27 please note I was in error in stating there will be a 3-day meeting. Participants are paid for a 1-day meeting and for 2 days of preparation. My purpose in writing at this time is to draw the attention of manufac turers and distributors of Chlorobenzene Tin and its compounds ([j/inyl chloridej) Acetone to the NIOSH request for names of persons possessing adequate expertise to par ticipate-^ any of the proposed committees. Please reply to me including background information on the person(s) you nominate. All nominations will be forwarded to NIOSH who will then select possibly two persons as employers representatives and advise them direct re garding details of the meeting. Thank you. Sincerely, AS I 000016832 FGS:ckm cc: Dr. K, D. Johnson F. G. Stephenson, Secretary Safety and Fire Protection Committee DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE HEALTH SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION I NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH Rockville, Maryland 20852 March 28, 1973 Mr, Gordon Stephenson MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS ASSOCIATION 1825 Connecticut Avenue Washington, D.C. 20009 Dear Mr. Stephenson: As I stated during our telephone conversation of March 27th, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is involved in a continuing research analysis effort in support of our criteria documentation program. As you are aware, NIOSH is responsible for the development of criteria documents recommending occupational exposure standards to chemicals, physical agents, and other sub stances found in the workplace. Documents have been completed to date on asbestos, beryllium, carbon monoxide, noise, hot environ ments, ultraviolet radiation, coke oven emissions, and inorganic lead. Criteria documentation is currently in progress for a number of other substances, including silica, fibrous glass, mercury, toluene, TDI, and parathion (to name a few). For a number of other workplace substances, adequate information on which to base occu pational standards may be lacking. For instance, an adequate means of air sampling may not be available or the analytical method(s) may be inadequate. In some cases, dose-response relationships are inadequate or unknown. These items represent critical gaps in our knowledge which should be "filled in." To make certain that such gaps do not exist at the time of selection for criteria documentation, we are constantly involved in research analysis whereby we are attempting to identify problems (i.e., gaps) very early in the process. This is accomplished by collecting and evaluating all available pertinent information and data on certain chemical compounds and physical agents encountered in the workplace. Identified gaps can then be filled through the results of directed research. AS I 000016833 Mr. Gordon Stephenson Page 2 March 28, 1973 To assist us in our research analysis efforts, we seek the assistance of individuals possessing expertise on the substance under con sideration. These individuals are appointed to our Research Analysis Committee. The committees are "balanced" in that they include rep resentatives of employers, employees, States, and the Federal govern ment. In addition, we seek nationally recognized experts from our Universities/Colleges. All available information, in the form of hard copy, considered pertinent to a research analysis effort on a particular compound is sent to each committee member several weeks prior to the committee meeting (one day) in Rockville, Maryland. We request each member to carefully review the information in preparation for the meeting. In addition, we solicit any information or data pertinent to the substance under consideration that the individual committee members, or the companies/organizations they represent, may have access to. However, all such information/data must be available to the public (i.e., not confidential). We are authorized to pay those individuals selected for membership on our committees on a fee-for-service basis. We compute the consultant fee at $300.00 for two days' preparation and the one-day meeting. In addition, we will pay travel expenses and provide a $25.00 per diem payment for the time involved in attending the committee meeting. All of the above information will be provided to individuals selected for research analysis committee membership. Research analysis committee meetings are scheduled for the remainder of FY 73 as shown below. We would greatly appreciate receiving, through the Manufacturing Chemists Association, the names of indi viduals for consideration for membership on these committees. Substance Methyl ethyl ketone Chlorobenzene Tin and its compounds Vinyl chloride Acetone Date of Meeting April 16 May 7 May 21 June 4 June 20 On behalf of the Office of Research and Standards Development, I wish to express our appreciation for your interest in our program and your willingness to assist us. Sincerely yours Senior Scientist U.S. Public Health Service AS I 00001683 4