Document 2j0NaBQDj8Bn2xXzQJEaggRda

FILE NAME: Raybestos-Manhattan (RBM) DATE: 1978 June 19 DOC#: RBM052 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter to RBM from Lake Asbestos of Quebec RE Obligation to Inform Customers of Dangers of Asbestos f _ (' Lake Asbestos c/ w Roland P. Gagnon Vice-President Ses June 19 ,-1978 Plant Manager Raybestos-Manhattan, 125 E. Stiegel St. Manheim, Pa. 17545 Inc. Dear .Sir*. It has been and continues to be the policy of Lake Asbestos to encourage and promote the safe use of our asbestos fiber. In recent years, as you know, the asbestos industry has faced increasingly serious problems from public concern about asbestos and from litigation involving worker exposure to asbestos. It is clear that if the industry is to survive and prosper, asbestos-associated disease must be eliminated among employees who are exposed on their jobs to airborne asbestos fiber. This is, we feel, an achievable goal. Lake Asbestos is fully prepared to do its part and your direct .and continuing efforts are equally essential in order to accomplish this objective. Epidemiological studies indicate that exposure to certain elevated concentrations of asbestos fiber is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing asbestosis and may cause fatal illness from cancer of the lung, mesothe lioma (a fatal cancer of the chest or abdominal cavity), and gastrointestinal cancer. On the other hand, mesothelioma has been observed in individuals exposed to low and to no known concentration of asbestos fiber. In addition, studies indicate that asbestos workers who smoke during work hours or at other times risk a significantly increased chance of contracting lung cancer. Decause of these studies and its general assessment of their health implications, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U. S. Department of Labor has proposed amending the standard for occupational exposure to asbestos. The reasons for this proposal are fully set forth in the OSHA proposal of October 9, 1975 (Federal Register, Vol. 40, No. 197, Pages 47652 et ceq.). We urge you to re view and consider the information and statements set forth in that proposal. Page 2 Lake Asbestos has been examining means of improving the pro tection of its own employees and its customers' employees. Concerning the latter, we urge that those of your employees who arc or may be exposed to asbestos, and especially these employees who smoke, be warned that inhaled asbestos fibers may cause or contribute to asbestosis and possibly to cer tain types of cancer. To help inform your employees of the health risks, Lake Asbestos is placing an expanded label on its bags of asbestos. This label, which takes the existing OSIIA warning a,nd adds some additional information, reads as follows. Danger Contains Asbestos Fibers Avoid Creating Dust Asbestosis, Lung Cancer and Other Fatal Diseases May Be Caused By Inhalation of Asbestos Smoking Greatly Increases Lung Cancer Risk It is possible that there may be employees (who may be potentially exposed) who will not see this label. Because of this, and because of the lack of space available on the asbestos bag, we have prepared a booklet (a copy of which is attached) which outlines the potential health hazards associated with asbestos and the precautions which it is felt should be taken by your employees. You are strongly urged to review the material set forth in the booklet and actively to organize'and support programs to train your em ployees in the proper handling and use of asbestos fiber. The attached booklet, in our opinion, forms an integral part of such a training program and we expect that, at a minimum, you will have the booklet distributed to your em ployees and will use your best efforts to assure that the booklet is read and that its advice is followed. WhileLake obviously cannot deal directly with your employees in this regard, you are being mailed, under separate cover, an estimated sufficient number of copies of the booklet to enable you to give one to each employee. There is no charge for those booklets and if additional copies are needed, please inform us. To-achieve the goal of eliminating asbestos-related dis ease requires that each workplace in which asbestos fiber is used conform to the hiyhest level of industrial hygiene which is feasible and that such additional personal pro tective devices as are necessary be employed. We feel that your compliance with applicable OSHA and ether governmental requirements is a necessary stop in this endeavor and we confidently expect that you will cause workplaces under your control to so comply. You should consider it your obligation to infora'persons who purchase your products of the above dangers and "handling instructions. Employees of your customers may be among the persons who are exposed to airborne asbestos fiber. You should promote, among your customers, information programs to educate all concerned as to the risks in working with as bestos products and the steps to be taken to insure elimin ating those risks. Also, a copy of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and promulgated and proposed OSHA regulations pertaining to as bestos should be obtained by you and carefully studied in order to determine your obligations thereunder. The reten tion of qualified industrial hygienists should also be con- sidered for assistance in complying with these regulations. If Lake Asbestos can be of further assistance in these im portant matters, please let us know. Sincerely yours, LAKE ASBESTOS OF QUEBEC, LTD. RPG/gs Rolbnd . Gagnon