Document 3QQ4DBX6EBaXDb0aZnjB2ey9x

December 15, 1953 / PLAINTIH-S exhibit WV-0313L ASBESTOS TtTn.E INSTITUTE Minutes of keetfnx of Air Hygiene Committee - 12/9/33 This nesting u attended by the following: Shoe. Schmidt of X & M Geo* Luttenberger of R fc k John Eeber of American Asbestos Co. , G. Novae* representing Union ^ Charlotte Plant Bend. Stanton of J-k >> Balph Smith of &-k, Charleston Plant John kcCormack a D. Fu Holmes of'Asten-Hill kfg. Eo. This meeting was comprised to two sessions. The morning ses sion was devoted to the stody of a survey of asbestos is incidence case histories complete with years of exposure submitted by member Companies. This survey showed the percentage of Incidence of asbestosis cases in relation to the number of employees exposed in each plant. This study shows percentage figures varying frcm five to eleven percent of those employees working in exposed areas af fected. A copy of this survey is enclosed and is to be part of the minutes. In our discussion It was brought out that perhaps the surrey did not delve far enough into the subject of exposure. Also, the following factors should have bean considered in order to make this survey more accurate. A study of the employeesr work record, the exposure of the departments in which he Had worked or works, his period of employment end the total time of exposure and dust counts recorded in these areas during periods of exposure. This information may be necessary la order to determine just where the disease was contacted and why. This survey showed one Company with a Stage 1 case with only three years of exposure and one other Company showed one Stage 1 case with only two years of exposure. We believe that if these cases were reported accurately they could have been avoided by the use of proper pre^hire physical and x-ray examinetions. Discussion of forced breathing therapy and its value tock place. It was agreed that this equipment is of some value in givin relief to Asbestoties in Stages 1,2*3. In many cases these people have shown remarkable improvement in their conditicn and it aids them in that they iaarn to breathe deeper all through their daily lives, both on and off the Job. This tends to give people a lift in their daily living in that they breathe easier, walk easier, have a better appetite and sleap more normally. There were three member Companies present using this apparatus and a ;",,-se reported good results. PLAINTIFPS v| /i/-i4K* 000176 LAQ WV 10/93 0'0CC25 WV-03170 -2- Minute a - Air Hygiene committee - 12/9/53 The next setter under discussion was the particle size end diameter study to be made by the traveler's Engineering laboratory in Hartford. Each neater Company is to forward samples, according to instructions received, to this laboratory within the next few weeks. As travelers1 have accepted this project it was agreed that we should all cooperate in this survey and, it say ta that we will have the results of this study possibly for the Spring meeting. It is hoped that this study will answer some of our questions con cerning the particle sizes and diameters of fibres and their rela tion to the contacting of asbestos!** The Committee was pleased to note that the U.S.P.H.S has agrees to Include dust sampling equipment in their current dust survey. The Committee feels that this operation is a major step toward the solving of some of the problems involved in standardizing dust count studies throughout the Industry. AFTSHNOON SESSION The afternoon session was devoted to the study of dust col lection equipment. Five member Companies reper tad their experiences. Three mem ber Companies made written reports of their dust collecting experi ences which are enclosed and are part of these minutes. Share are two reports from Raybestos-Manhattan; one from their U. 3. Asbestos Dlv. and the other from the General Asbestos Div. Mr, Benj. Stanton of Johns-aenville, Industrial Hygienist* read a complete report of their dust collection equipment experiences. It is their opinion that the American Wheelobraiter is the best type of dust collector on the market. It is Iohns-Jssnville,a experience that this type of unit shows the lowest maintenance cost, less cleaning necessary and the finest operating performance. kr*. Ralph Smith in his report for General Asbestos agreed that the American Wheelobraiter was also the best type of collector according to their experience. John McCormack of A3 ten-Hill Mfg, Co. reported on a Jangtcrr.e collector and its problems. All members of the Committee seemed to be of the opinion that Pangborne collectors to date are unsatisfactory. Mr, Luttenberger reported for Raybes tea-Manhattan. Asbestos on their experiences throughout the entire plant, Mr. Hovacit cf Union Asbestos, Charlotte, N C. reported a recent installation cf an American 7/heelobraiter which, so far, is giving them excellent performance. After a long discussion on dust collectors it was agreed by all that, according to the experiences of three of the xeeber Companies, there was no doubt by the Committee that the AT/ 0001762 LAQ-WV 10/93 00 CC28 -3- . MlautM - Air Hvei* - 12/VS3 American Wseelcbraiter ns by far the best type of collector on the market for the handling of asbestos duet. ??e then discussed many types of dust collection equipment and dust eliminating processes being used throughout plants in the en tire industry- This discussion covered spray systems, water-wetting systems, oil systems for mixes, dust systems for Cards, Pickers, T.eave Room, binders, etc. All member Companies are caking some progress in the elimination of dust. After some discussion the p rob lea of dry weaving came up and after a full discourse on this subject it was decided by the Committee that we cake recommenda tions to members at the General Meeting, December 10th, to this effect: RCQliWPKDATTflW Due to the fact that it is our 30b to eliminate dust in an ef fort to protect our plant personnel from this hazard,. we recommend that a study be made by the Technical Committee of the possibility of eliminating dry weaving in member Company plants. Ve ask that this recommendation be given consideration by the full committee. At the General keetlag, this recommendation was accepted. AGENDA FOR SPRING kEETING - 1954 SUBJECTS: 1* Twister Enclosure and Spinner Survey 2. Travelers1 Report of Dust Particle Survey 3. Report on S.S.P.H.G. Sampling Equipment Survey if available by this time. 4. The Study of the Possibility of Eliminating Dry T aving# LAQ-WV DUST COLLECTING EXPERIENCE OF GENERAL ASBESTOS * RUBBER DIVISION OF RA2BESTOS-kANHAT?AN, me. BY- RALPH B. SUITH Fans- From practically the beginning It was proven, to us, that the Type 115" Standard Industrial Fan was best suited to handle our dust. These fans are equipped with the "tons Shaving* standard Raddle Type Wheels in preference to the "Haiti-Vane." Type. This conclusion was drawn fro* the fact that the "Long Shaving' Ttheel is self-cleaning whereas the *Haiti-Vane* flheel had a tendency to clog up, since the fans handle the dust laden air directly. Y?e use several site fans, but the average has an inlet and out let diaaeter of 23". The wheel diaaeter being 40" and running approximately S50 R.P.a. with static pressures of 3.0* Inlet and 1.5'* Outlet, the speed of our dust laden air in our main pipes is from 3,000 ft. per ain. for the Card Room to 4,000 ft. per ain. for the Preparation Department. All of our fans are located in the departments in which they are serving. Therefore we consider our systeas as "Push Type", since we are actually pushing our dust laden air into the col lecting equipment. DUST COLLECTORS- Cur experience with dust collecting dates beefc scae 35 years and a lot of this time it has bean sad. The first half of this time was spent trying to make Cyclone Type Col lectors work. This type was effective In collecting the dust* but the top outlet would discharge very'fine particles of dust to the atmosphere. This would create a problem to the Plant Property and adjoining community. Kith this problem, much tiae was spent in the following sequence: 1- A fine water spray was pieced on top of the collectors (there were 8 large ones Involved approximately 14 ft. in dia meter) trying to vet the discharged air and make the dust set tle out. This did not prove too practical because of the mess and expense involved. 3- The collectors were discontinued. All of the fan discharge pipes were connected into one large duet. This duct was run into a room and the dust laden air discharged through an atmos phere of steam and water. This also involved a mess and was discontinued. 3- The discharge was left piped into one large duct, but was inserted in to tunnels that were constructed of burlap. This worked very well, however was not the final answer yet, as the amount of air was too great for the amount of burlap. LAQ-WV 10/93 00CC28 V- Afi r.A 01751 2- - ..*** * proper cleaning. *** uywe arts wex iignteu to aid In Production changes and improvement now require that the dust house be redesigned and we have divided the total dust house area in-o four sections depending upon the capacity of 3/4 of the filte- area to handle the exhausted air while 1/4 is shut down for cleaning. 7.here we formerly used a ten man crew for the week's cleaning of the total dust house area we expect one man working continuously on each successive shut down quarter will be able to keep the filter areas clean* At present the filter cloth area covers 45,000 square feet handling 90,000 cubic feet per slime* The cleaning and maintenance costs total ?16,C00 VJe expect the improvement will reduce this cost between 65 and 7C*, yearly. Through experience we have found that dust house filter cloth must be removed at tea year intervals* The material and labor costs of renewal at the last installation In 1949 was $14,000* The card room dust exhaust is divided into seven independent systems each having its independent fan exhausting Into the dust house at floor level, nanometer readings from the dust house Indicate the filters function best when 1 to lj* of water is recorded as the resistance across ths cloth* r;cven Asbestos Products The department in our aanville plant where we manufacture articles from woven asbestos is exhausted into an envelope bag collector furnished with an automatic timer which shakes the filters for three minute periods after each shut down* This is an American v;heelabrator Company dust collector handling 7,200 C7M and the cost of installation in 1951 was $10,000* This is a late Installation and its yearly maintenance is not in excess of $200. tte feel this type of Installation does a very sat isfactory ]oX) and would recommend such installation for similar operations * aiendlnm and Distribution In our fibre Department we have installed a Proctor k Swartz ceil ing condenser for bagging fibre and loading trucks for distribution to the Carding Department. This condensor is exhausted to a LAQ-WV 3- settling chamber ever our fibre bins but w propose to improve ?ms method of exhaust with the intention of eliminating fibre #scape to atmosphere due to excessive pressure, a cylindrical ba* type dust collector would best solve this problem. Installation cost in 1945 was $2,400. Our overall maintenance costs on this ceiline condenser do not exceed $200* yearly. * Spinning Department The dust control in our Spinning Department is by way of overhead hoods exhausting through an American Air filter Company's cycle operated paper filter. This is a new installation and should be called a part of our research and development work in dust collec tion. Estimates originally indicated that the maintenance costs of this equipment would total $1,000 yearly but its few months of operation has indicated this estimate will be doubled if we are unable to improve its operation. The installation cost of the American Air Filter collector, includ ing weather proof housing will, whan completed, amount to $10,500. Perhaps in the future we will be able to give a more satisfactory account of the operation of this equipment but at this time we are not ready to recommend this type of Installation to others. fr'eavin* Department. In our leaving Department we are using one old type CC tinzborn collector handling 20,000 cubic feet of air per minute and an en velope Sly collector handling 20,000 cubic feet of air per minute. The Kngborn collector has filter cloth envelopes mounted on woed frames and is hand cleaned into a dust house enclosure below the collector. The Sly collector has the filter cloth envelopes mounted on wire frames and has an automatic timing device shaking the fil ters through three minute intervals after each shut dowi. Fibre is bagged off below the hopper valves in each cleaning period. Both the P&ngborn and the Sly collector are cleaned cn an average of six times yearly depending upon production. These collectors have not required more than seven cleanings yearly. The yearly cost of maintaining both these collectors totals $200. Ee have applied exhausts at our cloth inspection tables In the Weave Scorn and this installation has helped greatly in controlling what would be a very dusty operation. If any members of the Institute are interested in drawings of this installation I would be glad to comply with a written request. Installation coats would be of no value at this time since these systems were installed over ten years ago. From our experience we believe ttat cylindrical bag collectors cf the Parsons type are more satisfactory tha* the envelope type for collecting asbestos fibres. This experience is based on the following: LAQ-WV 10/93 00CC30 An erotic? -4- 1. Fibrous materials arch easily between envelope bag type collectors and the type of shaking mechanism does not dislodge all the Fibre making it necessary to poke out Fibres and run the risk of puncturing the filters* 2* The cylindrical bag type of collector with a classifying * chamber below the filter begs permits the heavy particles to fall into the hoppers and tne light dust to rise into the filter bags* 3* The shaking aechanisa of most cylindrical beg collectors successfully shake out any fibres collected and permit the operation of this filter medium over a pericd four times that of the envelope beg collector* ?;e prefer the round bag to the oval bag due to the fact that a tail of fibre may fora in the upper section of a filter bag and not readily drop through an oval metal opening in the bottom where the tag is attached* 7 have given you our earlier experiences with dust collection equip ment in our Textile Department and have brought you up to date on cur recent installations including capacities, types, installation costs, maintenance coats and operating practices. Efficiency In evaluating the efficiency of any dust collecting systems, the cleaning and maintenance costs would be one of the selling factors but it is necessary to make regular duet counts in all .operating areas and prepare analysis of dust and fibre contents. Increased production, lack of proper maintenance or broken filters can change the efficient operation of any dust control system that may, under proper operating conditions, keep the working atmosphere below the maximum allowable concentration. It is important too to have employee periodical kedlcal Examination and also that reports of x-ray findings be made available. In the last analysis the efficiency of any dust control system is best indicated by the fact that s-ray indicate no progress in any indi cated case of pneumoaoconiosis. Because I believe it is the intention of the asbestos Textile Institute to convey to its members any information which will pre serve the health of employees I am willing, if I have the answer, to comply with requests for information beyond that which I have given you. BdnJ. ?. Stanton $up<r. of safety Johns -eanvi He Corp. kanville, H. J. LAQ-WV .10/93 ooc.f:si . aw - t\ * (\51767 &S>, KCC!suy/rs c? tus? coli::?:ch :ui?k3T - Asnv.^i-?b / ;..r v *s -A* The dust collection system can be divided into three phases for discussion: 1 fc'e can consider air supply 2. Air -renova1 from the aachines 3. The dust collector The Card Room includes the blenders, pickers, cards, spinning frames and twisters. The entire system was engineered in 1949 at which time we built an entirely new plant.. SUPPLY: Tie supply to the Card Room a total of 25,000 cfa of conditicned air. This air is cooled in the summer and heated la the winter and held to a maximum relative humidity of $0*. This air has been fil tered by a Sestinghouse electrostatic precipitron and an American blower spray type air washer. The Card Room is divided into three separate zones, each of which can be controlled by a thermostat. v:e supply to the Picicers a total of 2500 cfm of air through two 1400 cfa defusers. The Cards are supplied with 5700 cfm through 16 defusers and the Twisters are supplied with 15,500 cfm through 10 defusers. The defuser installation has been successful with the exception that the celling lights are surface mounted and sometimes we have difficulty with the blast of air striking the projecting lighting fixtures and blowing down on the operators. DUST REMOVAL FROM THE mACHIKSS: % remove from the Picite r section approximately 6900 cfm which is taken through two Picker condensers. Tie remove from each of six Cards approximately 1500 cfm each. All of this air is removed from the top of the Card through a wood and sheet metal hood system. The hoods over the main cylinders ere fairly successful. However, we are new experimenting with changing the shape of the hoods over the aprons, etc. to get better efficiency. ?.e now remove from 10 of cur 11 Twisters about 1000 cfm each through an 5* pipe under each machine. Tie are, at present, instal ling tho system originated by John Weber, lie are making a few modi fications to this system and we are pleased with the results as shown on one spinning frame. %e try to exhaust more air than we supply to this room so that we have a flow into the room from other areas. ftUDT eOlLICTTR: Cur dust collecter consists of three Pagborne f913 CB-1 cyjicr.es arranged in parallel and are fed by a 42* diameter pipe which collects the dust from all of the aforementioned machines. These cyclcr.es LAq-wv 10/93 003332 Art -0,76f 2- - Asten-Hill afg. Co. Carl Scoa discharge into a four section CJ-1 Pangbcrne bag collector. The bag collected discharges into a 30* x 30* square manifold which is * hausted by g #39? American blower. This is a backward curved, bladed Tan used or clean air. It is driven by a 75 hp actor and operates at 1330 rpa. Ee have had to replace the bearings in this blower every year since its installation. We have tried all kinds of bearings includ ing roller, ball, etc. without any iaproveaent. ?/e have had the rotor balanced and have Installed a new shaft. It is ay opinion that the bearing trouble is caused by the fan operating at a static pressure beyond its rating which causes hunting. This is further shown by the fact that we hear an occasional rumble in the fan and a decrease in the asperage lead. The 30* square duct has collapsed on several occasions due to high static pressures. The CJ-1 bag colleeter operates well from the standpoint cf re moving the dust froa the air but the resistance across the bags is excessively high as can be noted froa the table below. These bags are cleaned by periodic shaking at which tlaa the section being rap ped is closed off and reverse air Is introduced which is supposed to blow the dust froa the bags. This was originally supposed to be done by the operators every four hours and was a conplete failure because we could never get the operators to conscientiously perfora this duty, ^e have now installed an automatic screen rapping systea which operates each section for five minutes on an hour and a half cycle, ms bag collector is cleaned every other week but we have had trouble with the cleaning personnel tearing the begs while at tempting to blow off the dust with a compressed air hose end pipe. w are now awaiting the Fangborne Company's recommendation as to how the high resistance acress these bags can be reduced. ?.re fully expect that they will recommend replacing the bags at an ex pense of approxiaately $3,COO plus labor. The CB-1 cyclones operate rather well except when the bag col lector's excessive resistance has reduced tha velocity through the inlet pipe at which time we have settling of the heavier dust in the inlet pipe. We have made it a policy to clean these pipes once a r.eek. EAQ-WV 10/93 00CC33 a AT' C-^0176 -3- Astert-Kill ;*** zcca StJaitlAKY OF STATIC hZXZimt IN 2NCKS5 OF l.ATIS Min. Design Present Cond. Present Aver. cond. where Conditions frith Clean Bees Condition dust will be object ionable At 3?7 Blower Clean Air Side of Dirty* Air Side of wa* cm 1 enter At CvMi"r Vance# r.ar IQ.S 7* 4 SJ* IS. 4.5 i-4 2.4 IS. 4 2.5> 2-1 12. 1]__ 3.5--2 1-5/4 The reading referred to as the aanoaeter reading la this table is a reading where one of the oain duets goes through the floor and gives seme idea of the efficiency of the entire systea. This aanoaeter, because it is conveniently placed, can be read often and will give an indication of any difficulty before it becoaes serious enough to affect the efficiency of the systea seriously* John kcCoraaek Plant Engineer LAQ-WV 30/93 oo r.p 34 Oln 4r/ -'0 Seceaber 6* 1953 ASBESTOSIS INCIDENCE SftTpy five member Companies reported their experiences: COkPAKY A This Company reports 22 cases 1a three stages; 7 Stage ffl 13 Stage #2 2 Stage *3 t There are also six borderline cases as yet to be determined. This Company employes 295 people. The percentage of incidence of asbestosis is 7.46 for classes #1,2 and 3 or 9.66< including the six questionable or borderline cases. This survey was completed on October 1, 1953. This study was nade from a history of x-rays covering the period of 1946 until the present* It is presumed, at present, that no one should contract asbestosis with lets then five years exposure. Henever, this Company's experience at present is that one person in Stage #1 has been employed only six years and another la Stage #1 has been employed only eight years. Also, in Stage #2 there is one employee with nine years and oae employee with 10 years. COaPAKY B This Company doss aot report any questionable or borderline cases. There are 363 employees here engaged* The percentage rate in this case is that 5.23< of the average number of employees are affected. Also, the earliest a person contracted asbestosis in Stage el was after twelve years of exposure. The year periods run from twelve years to 23 years of exposure. COWPAOT C This Company reports a total of 123 employees under exposure. Of this number, there are fourteen cases of asbestosis at this plant. These are: 3 Stage #1 4 Stage *2 2 Stage 3 This report shows that 11 .H of the total number of employees exposed were affected. This Company reports one male in Stage *1 with only five years exposure* There is one in Stage #1 with nine years, one in Stage #1 with ten years, one in Stage with f-ve years and one in St*g# #2 with nine years of exposure. < i 735 LAQ-WV tO/93 000035 Asbestosls Incidence Study -2 The earliest exposure recorded in Clast 3 Is eleven years* COMPANY S This Company reports a total of 142 eaployeea exposed, showing a total of 11 oases as foiltvs: 5 Stage 41 4 Stage 2 Stage 43 A breakdown of these figures show one person classified as Stage #1 with Si years of exposure, one person classified as Stage ff2 with 8 years of exposure and another person classified as Stage #2 with 4i years of exposure. Here* we find that the five year minimum was not effective in one case* The percentage of cases with a total number exposed in this case is ?.?. egmn s This Company reports asbestosis incidence for two plants. In plant *1 there are 79 persons exposed. All of these employees are classed as negative. Four of these employees were employed for 23 years* In plant #2 there are 300 persons under exposure* This plant reports a total of 12 persons In Stage lh Z and 3 and 30 cases classified as #A-1 2 and 3 which are questionable or borderline cases. 4* of the employees exposed are classified as Stage *1, Z and 3* 10* of the 300 persons exposed ere classified as Stage A-l, 2 and 3. This report shoes one person in Stage 1 with six years of service,, 2 in Stage frl with eight years of service, one in Stage *-1 with ten years of service and one In Stage *2 with only 2 years of service* Again* we find that the five year minimum was not ef fective in one case*. A report has been received from h Jacques Texnitre of S.A. Franeaise du Ferodo from Paris which forwarded to Or. Sha*. This report is from a factory physician covering a French asbestos plant which does not run at the present time* In this report, the physician explains that according to years of exposure involving this plant with 68 employees LAQ-WV 10/93 00CC36 -3- Asbestos Incidence Study :0 to 5 yrs. 5 to XO yrs. 10 to 15 yrs, 15 to 20 yrs* 20 to 30 yrs* 30 * over Ho percentage of asbestosis 4.7* 15< 23* 43*7* 50< In this report are also soae statistics published In a paper entitled, "Asbestos* by two French doctors. These statistics, however, were published in the year 1930. These figures show the followingj 0 to 4 yrs* Ho percentage of asbestosis 5 to 9 yrs. 23* 10 to 14 yrs. 32* 15 to 19 yrs. S3* 20 & over 60* These figures cover 350 employees exposed. Both sets of these figures have very little significance In our study as the plant is no longer operating and we do not know when they want cut of existence. These are the first figures that have been given here. Also, their percentage of cases is such higher than any in the U.&. that we have seen. As far as the second part of this report involving the exposure of 350 workers, the percentage was extremely high and all out of proportion In comparison with our experiences here. MWX ?Je find that nest of the Companies reporting asbestosis case history studies of their plants in this survey have shown that the five year minimum exposure Is correct except In two Instances; one in Company 0 and one in Company E. However, we should agree that with proper pre-hire physicals and x-ray examinations these few cases with less than five years exposure could have been avoided and it is quite possible that in a short time we may be able to say that this disease should not be contracted with less than ten years exposure. 0. K. Holmes Asten-HiU kfg. Co. Acting Chairman of AIS H50I2HB COkkITTEE ASBESTOS TEXTILE INSTITUTE 4 C"CJ?3? LAQ-WV 10/9300CC37 3- out* Ike dust remains in the air stream and is carried up into tha duatubes. as the air escapes through the cloth tubes* the duet is deposited on the inside* it the end of S hours for the preparation Unit and 1$ hours for the Card Room Unit the fans are stopped and the shaJeer motors turned oa this shading of the tt&es causes the accumulated dust and dirt to breaJc loose and drop into the Scree Conveyors* this residue is then conveyed out for disposal. This system produces two separate grades of dust. One that is falling all day long cad the other that is conveyed out during the 15 minute shaKlng cycle. The entire operation is conducted in a dust free atmosphere now and with only 4 men. K>T2: The above described involves only the Preparation Department and Card Room* We have a jaeissler hag type collector for cur BraJce Ban* Department a large burlap screen house for the Heave loom, a Cyclone type collector for our Winding Depart* meat* a Ket Rote-Clone and Pangborn collector for our Rubber Department. From this, it can be realised that we have a large investment in dust collecting equipment* AQ-WV 10/93 OOOC15 - * #