Document 2jn1kMD3QjEKgKa034D9Q4b97

MR. R. F. NELSON AUGUST 22, 1975 DBPAKBOff CP OCXX1PATICNAL SAFEST AND HEAUEH - STAFF gd this subject. There is no question that many of the concerns expressed by Shall engineers are the direct result of occupational safety and health considerations. Xh fact, virtually the entire search far non-asbestos insulating Materials was precipitated by the revelation that insulating workers suffered frank diseases as a result of exposure to asbestos. This in torn lead to the current OSHA standard on asbestos. Since insulation is an important technical aspect of our business, representation on ths ANSI C-16 oneiaittee should be supported. ns will be happy to provide toe tppointee with input on health and safety Betters. In reading over the minutes of the Engineering Ihaulation Materials Standards and Osage meeting, there are several paints tost should be raised and eephasixed in relation to toe health aspects of insulating arterials. First, asbestos, even though it can be a serious health hazard, has not been banned. Arbitrarily excluding asbestos from consideration as an inMtrtdwg Material may not be in everyone's brat interests. If, in a given situation, there is a ccapetitive substitute for asbestos that has bean reasonably proven not to be hazardous, toon it should be used. How ever, unless there is a clear-cut advantage to non-asbestos materials, asbestos materials toould not be automatically excluded from consideration. If we are willing to expand the resources necessary to insure toe safe handling, application and removal? the eoplcyee relations and public relations; asbestos insulation can be used safely, once this is tndarstood, than the decision to use asbestos can be baaed on economic factors. Secondly, to substitute a --i providing marginal insulating characteristics, and for wiich we know very little about from a health standpoint, is also fraught with potential problems. There is no doubt that as now insulating materials come onto the market we are going to go through a protracted learning period concerning their technical and health characteristics. A fact, for our purposes, it nay be that a benefit/dak analysis would indicate acne of the non-asbestos insulating materials ulti mately sey be worse than asbestos insulation. Scrad insulating decisions should be based on toe current facts, and reasonable predictions of future health truncations. Mb should not make decisions baaed solely on the fear of future wknowos. Original Signed By F. M. Parker F. M. Parker HI LAM 025829 oc: Mr. B. W. Dunbar ABS-016967