Document 37b9d1yrnLQKjkqZYyXvZ0LEa

FILE NAME: AT&T and other Phone Companies (ATT) DATE: 1973 and 1974 DOC#: ATT055 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Transite Cable Hole Covers HOTELS W O R LD W ID E L- -S r^ S T Sanie Cemnwi IniU llallon Engineering W estern Electric 3800 Golf Hogs Rolling Meadow*, in . 60006 312 658-2000 JUN05 1973 MR. W. PFERD, Head Telephone Buildings Planning Department Whippany Re: Transite Cable Hole Covers File: I.E. 30 This is in reference to a phone conversation on May 10, 1973 be tween Hr. C. Bendersky of your organisation and Mr. A. Skirpstunss of CIE, concerning airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers in Central Offices generated from cutting of transite cable hole covers. In order to minimize any adverse affects upon the Installer when working with asbestos, installation practices require that the In staller handling asbestos, mineral wool or rock wool wear plastic safety goggles, leather palmed canvas globes and a respirator to protect the nose and mouth. The airborne concentration in a Central Office of asbestos fibers generated from the transite cutting process is presently unknown. However, we have been advised that we may be in violation of OSHA, when working with transite cable hole covers in new Central Offices or on additions. > We have requested Western Electric Headquarters to clarify the cor J, porate stand In regard to a periodic physical examination for persons being exposed to airborne asbestos particles. We have also requested them to assist us in evaluating what the airborne asbestos particle concentration level is while the Installer cuts asbestos. In view of the fact that your organization is actively engaged in testing and evaluation of the present cable hole concept, we feel that this condition has an impact on your studies end requires im mediate attention. C O N FID E N TIA L 03 66.5_ A T T - S C - M C D A N I EL-0011146 Revised Minutes Changes Underlined Attachment 1 Minutes of the Bell System Occupational Health Working Group July 5, 1973 In attendance: Dr. R. W. Stone, Director of Medical Research - AT&T - Co-Chairman J. L. Shumaker, Plant Operations Manager - AT&T - Co-Chairman Dr, R, S. Ayerle, Medical Director - Bell of Pennsylvania ' Dr. Dunn, Assistant General Medical Director - Western Electric Dr. M. Hanley, General Director, Medical and Environmental Health - Bell Laboratories Dr. J. Kroll, Assistant Medical Director - AT&T - Long Lines W. J. Schreiheis, Industrial Hygiene Engineer - Bell Laboratories J. W. Bishop, Plant Operations Director - AT&T R. J. Callahan, Plant Operations Supervisor-OSHA - AT&T-Secretary This was the first meeting of the Occupation Health Working group. The purpose was to focus on appropriate future actions in the field of occupational health. After introductory remarks by Mr. Shumaker and Dr. Stone, a discussion lead to an agreement that there is a need for Bell System coordinated action on Federally proposed occupation health standards. The broad goals of this working group are to: 1. Increase the awareness of known and potential health hazards in the Bell System and bring about a safer and more healthful work environment for its employees. 2. Contribute such information to the Government, or its standard advisory committees, so that standards promulgated represent the best scientific and medical evidence available, marshalled into practical and usable standards. 3. Make recommendations to appropriate system departments regarding conclusions on proposed standards and other health issues that come to the committee's attention. The conferees concluded that the general responsibility of this group would include: 1. Evaluation of proposed OSHA standards and NIOSH criteria documents related to health for their scientific soundness and potential impact in the Bell System. 2. Preparation of suitable inventories necessary to determine the extent of applicability and impact on the System, (Statistical sampling techniques will be used where appropriate.) 3. Determination of which subjects the committee wishes to irake input to the Government on and coordination of this input through AT&T Federal Relations and Legal. ATT-FL-DOR-0401595 ATT-FL-BUR-0019138 September 10, 1973 AT&T American Telephone and Telegraph Company 195 Broadway New York, N. Y. 10007 Phone (212) 393-9800 M Cl* To All Operating Vice Presidents (except Bell Canada): To All Medical Directors (except Bell Canada): As many of you are aware, the potential impact of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in the area of occupational health is very great. Recently a group was organized at AT&T which consists of safety and health speciali from Bell laboratories, Western Electric, AT&T and some Operating Companie The group is called the Bell System Occupational Health Working Group and is co-chaired by Dr. R. W. Stone, AT&T Medical Director - Research and J. L. Shumaker, Plant Operations Manager - Safety. . The purpose of the working group is outlined in an attached set of minutes. One of the first outputs of the group, which deals with the subject of noise, is also attached for your review. This working gro\p is now evaluating the NI0SH criteria documents concerning heat stress and carbon monoxide and will soon be looking at other important health issues. If your Company has any input you wish to make to this group, please send your correspondence either through the Safety Group or through Medical, as appropriate. IJO ^4 H11,1* mHuinbt Assistant Vice President - Plant M. B. Bond, M.D. Corporate Medical Director Attachments c.c.: To All 0SHA Coordinators nr >}[ '"LL 9 7974 MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD Re: Status Report - Airborne Asbestos Dust Particles Produced by Cutting Transite Cable Hole Covers & CIE's Activity with BTL Regarding the Rvaluation of the Cable Hole File: IE 600.4 Airborne Asbestos Fiber Produced by Cutting Transite Cable Hole Covers: In June 1973, the Personnel way, N . Y . , requested CIE to asbestos dust produced from offices. and Labor Relations Organization of 222 Broad assist them in air sampling field trial of cutting transite cable hole covers in central This sampling was to determine if the airborne fiber concentration ex ceeded the permissible OSHA levels as covered under T.H.H.P. , (Target Health A Hazards Program). On October 29, 1973, a field trial in Columbus, Ohio was arranged to obtain samples of asbestos particle size and concentration for all standard con ditions (tools, etc.) that the Installer is exposed to when cutting transite (asbestos cement) cable hole covers. The sample collecting was per formed by Mr. J. E. Dennison and Mr. R. Menichelli from the Engineering Research Center, Princeton, N.J. Also present at this trial were Mr. F. X. Worden, Corporate Hygiene Coordinator, and Mr. A. Skirpstunas of CIE. Per phone conversation between Mr. F. X. Worden and Mr. A. Skirpstunas on December 27, 1973, the following subjects of importance were brought to light. Test results obtained by Engineering Research Center at Princeton indicate that in certain instances the airborne fiber count was in excess of the OSHA requirement. A full report is being prepared. Nicollete Co. in Pa. which is the'supplier of transite for W.E., is under investigation by the State Hygiene Commision as possible air poluter because of large piles of asbestos being stored in the open. 3) Further investigation revealed that Nicollete Co. is constantly cutting down the number of employees. Presently, they are employ ing only 100 people. 4) In December 1973, Hawthorne Mfg. requested AT&T to replace transite with a different material, in order to meet OSHA requirements in manufacturing. 5) Mr. F. X. Worden was asked to discuss this problem with AT&T and arrange a meeting between AT&T, BTL and CIE to arrive at a solution for an immediate change-over in cable hole cover material. ATT-FL-BUR-0000651 Occupational Health. V/orking Group Minutes March 3, 1971 In attendance : Dr. Stone', AT&T, Co-chairman J. L. Shumaker, AT&T, Co-Chairman Dr. Hanley, Bell Telephone Laboratories .O. Vilkening, Bell Telephone Laboratories J- Crimp, AT&T F. Warden, Western Electric H- Callahan, AT&T, Secretary Future meetings; Saia Locaiion Time Subject Discussion Leader April 17` ` '195' Km. 1923 9:30 a.m. Asbestos G. Wlikening, J. Crisp Asbestos Historical!y, there have been a small number of situations where Bell System companies have used products that contained asbestos. These situations in volve asbestos spray on building steel (discontinued in recent years')-, asbestos as insulation on building pipes, asbestos cable opening coversbetween floors of central offices, and central office power backboards. It is the initial opinion of the group that we should attempt to find sub stitutes for all uses of asbestos that create any concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers. In order to evaluate this subject more completely, Mr. Wlikening and Mr. Crimp will prepare a paper on asbestos for the group's preview on April 17, 1974. Consideration will be given in that meeting to. communicating our views on this subject to Engineering, Plant, and Me.diea.1 in the Operating Companies. \ ATT-SC-MCDANI EL-0004178 Transite Cable Hole Cover fiate3 - Case 20233-3 Bell Laboratories Whlppjny Ro<3 Whippany, Naw Jersty 07961 Phon (201) 3SS-3000 BAR 2 1 RECO March 18, 1974 Mr. J. G-lowacki Assistant Manager Common Installation Engineering and Services WE - Rolling Meadows . . i* . ' Re: Letter of June 5, 1973, concerning use of hole covers. transits cable Ihe health problems associated with the generation of asbestos particles in the field use of transite cable hole cover plates are fully understood by the Buildings and Power Laboratory. My department has completed a test program evaluating the fire resistance o f cable holes packed with KS-5048 bags and is near ing completion of a similar evaluation program on the cable hole closure filled to 25 percent by volume with communication cable. A report is currently being issued on tne first program and the report on the second group of tests will be issued shortly thereafter. Based on the results from these two programs, it is our opinion that a steel cover plate, comparable to the present ceiling plate, should be used as an interim measure to replace the transite cover plate. It should be cut and handled identically to the ceiling plate. Several alternative materials are being considered x'cr possible future use but will require test evaluation to determine their compatibility with closure design requirements. We shall kaep you Informed as to progress in this area. WH-2D31-C5-bfg W. P f T d Head Telephone 3uilding Planning Department Copy to Messrs. R. J. Rinnerry - AT&T - 195 Broadway R. :!. J. 5 ir. Rft.. J.. a.: CONFIDENTIAL 003664 SWB-00007344 ATT_Of\-IVA^r\AMici Occupational Health Working Group Minutes May 23, 1974 In attendance : R. J. Callahan, AT&T Customer Facilities G. Crimp, AT&T Engineering Dr. Dunn, Western Electric Dr. MeCahan, Long Lines Dr. Stone, AT&T Medical O. M. Wilkening, Bell Tel. Labs Future meeting : ! i Date Location Time Sub.iect Discussi on Trader July 9 '195' P-T7:. 1923 9:30 a.m. Asbestos Funding Report Surveys for 1974 Noise Dr. Dunn, G. W12cenng G . Crimn D r . S-tone , R . J . Callahan3 C-. Wilicening G. Wilkening, Dr. Dunn Note: The June 25 meeting was cancelled due to scheduling problems. Agenda - I/av 23. 1974 The agenda for the May 23 meeting is listed as Attachment 1. Dr. MeCahan discussed a recent chemical industry seminar that reported that manufacturers of VC using the latest technology available could not run their plants at a level lower than 15 ppm VC exposure. They predicted that if the 1 ppm proposed standard goes into" effect, there would be extensive layoffs in their industry. As a result of a letter we sent to WE-PPE asking to survey catalogue products for use of V C as a propellant, it was learned that purchases of B insulation spray did contain VC as a propellant until January, 1974. A technical evaluation o f the spray and the OSHA emergency standards is incorporated in Attachment 2. Effective 5/29/74 all B Insulation Spray containing V C was recalled. (Recall TWX is Attachment 3). DA - 20523.0 Page # 1 of 3 Pages ATT-SC-MCDANI EL-0004180 3 L - O / A K-j[. - R. J Callahan ! Secretary Atta chinent s DA - 20523.0 Page # 3 of 3 Pages ATT-SC-MCDANIEL-0004182 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH WORKING GROUP MINUTES' JULY 9, 1974 In Attendance : Dr. Bisgeier, N. J. Bell - Medical R. J. Callahan, AT&T -- Customer Facilities G. Crimp, AT&T - Engineering Dr. Dunn, W.E. - Medical Dr. Hanley, Bell Labs. - Medical Dr. McChan, Tong Lines -- Medical Dr. Stone, AT&T - Medical (Co-Chairman) G. Willtening, Bell Lahs Future Meeting : Date Sept. 12,1974 Location '195' Room 1923 Time 9:30 A.K. Subject Noise Sulihric Acid Asbestos V.C. Funding Update Surveys Discussion Leader Wilkendng, Dr.- Dunn Worden, Schribeis D r . "Dunn , Callahan Dr. Dunn, Wlikening Crimp, D r . Stone Dr. Stone , Scanlan Funding Mr. Crimp reported that he expects the letter requesting funds for Occupational Health Surveys to be ready for Mr. Baird's review by the end of August. Noise The Working Group agreed to take the following three steps in preparation for the proposal of a new noise standard: 1. The Bell Labs (Environmental Safety and Health Department) will review all existing noise study data and the Companies responses to the proposed noise standard. This review is intended to complement Step 2. 2. After the Labs reviews existing noise data, they will prepare (with AT&T help) a list of typical situations in Bell System operations' that may be impacted by the proposed noise standard. After develop ing this list the Lahs will conduct a representative survey in the Operating Companies of these potential noisy environments. This survey will be made available to all Companies to reduce number of measurements that ultimately will be required. The will also be utilized to determine which situation requires engineering or administrative controls or personal protective equipment. the list DA - 20998.0 Page # 1 of 3 Pages TAY0000001 ATT-SC-MCDANI EL-0004183 3 Health Standard Surveys The OHBTG has agreed to recommend that at least two Occupational Health Surveys toe conducted during 1974. Noise Cartoon Monoxide The form of this recommendation will toe proposed after the funding question is settled. Vinyl Chloride (VC') A TWX (Attachment No. 1) was issued July 8, 1974 recalling Touch-up SprayEnamel that contains VC as a propellant. Mr. Wilkening will "begin the testing of Bell System fabricated FVC product to determine any VC level emitted around the first of August. This testing will be done in Operating Company garages, trucks, supply centers, distribution centers, central offices, and cable vaults. (See attachment jf'2). The Bell Labs has prepared a paper on the lack of a substitute for FVC in cable and wire production. This paper (attachment #3) will be submitted to OSHA prior to August 23, 1974 when the record on VC hearings will be closed. Attachment No. 4 is a" copy of a Bell Lebs bibliography on VC Operating Company GHWG. It was agreed that our working group would not request the Companies to form OHWG until after the funding question was settled. R. J. Callahan Secretary Attachment s DA - 20998.0 Page # 3 of 3 Pages TAY0000003 ATT-SC-MCDANI EL-0004185