Document 3m5gRO4eXjvqznNGBJGnO720

FILE NAME: TILO (TIL) DATE: 1967 Dec 18 DOC#: TIL015 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from Liberty Mutual with Report Slight Asbestos Exposure May Be Hazardous 1 D K 2nsy LIBERT MUTUA 10 llM lu h U ir H m . N aw T ork. Naw T a ft 10030 1 Doeaabar LB* 196? Mr. Malooab B. Bakara Partomiai Dirootor Ilio Coapany, las. y*7 Longbrock Ararat Stratford* Ceanootiont Dear Hr. Bakam V pacanti/ r*riwd xith yxra tha nadloal arrangesenta fop j o v r filo plant. Our flndlnga to dato and raa-- ndatlona ronltiag aro oatllnod la tha attaohad raport. BaaiotUy our raoo-- oadatlono aro la 3 aroat a prograa of aadtoal asuainationa aolootlon of a pbyololaa a foratilaad flrtt a&d prograa Xt la trar foollag that, la ordar to furthar dotino tho dlrootlan atdloal aontrola ahonld talco* anvlromaatal atudlaa bo aada to idantify axpooura lavala la yenr pnodnotion opaottlon* Oneo thoao aro dono -- oaa than datino apaoifioally tho oppa of tho -- dioal aocaalnation prograa. At tha and of tho attaohad raport la a brlaf dlacnoilon of aadloal orvieto for Tour distrlbutlon cantori V. Donaldson* M.D. Division Madioal Dlrootor 'Loto Prevention Nod. Dipt JVD apa oot B-- att B. Tboqpaon, Prooidaafc S. Ondrlok. Vloo-Praaidant P. J. Ploeloli, Ooaoral Hgr. of Kfg. Jaooa X Ka^HUas, XD. - Modica! Dlrootor ^ Pani 0 Stloklatr* Manager Inaurano Baal Botato Dopt. u iin fin N iiiH U U U tw M r . u iim m tm i m i m im m ci *' * . 1.1 m m i n iih RMC45000200001981 MEDICAL EXAHINATIOfg This recommendation la made in full knowledge of the high turnover rata. It has been our aocparlanoa that a medical examination program oftan con trols high turnover by eliminating from employment theaa Individuala mho ara obviously unsuited for tha work avallabla. This recommendation to laitlata pre-placement nodical examinations is baaad on tha followings Tha natura of tha work* Many of tha jobs require eonaidarabla heavy labor. Careful selection is indicated to insure that Individuals with Inadequate physical abilities are not placed In these jobs. This Is particularly important in relation to tha back* which baa become such a significant, costly factor la todays Workmen's Compensation socperlenos. Asbestos la utilised la year product. Only recently has tha tree significano# of the aebestosis hazard been recognised. While only a few of your employees are In olose approxima tion to thee# operations eridsnce la accumulating that only a slight exposure erven at aome distance oan be potentially baaardous. It's particularly important that individuals with prior respiratory difficulty bt excluded from such exposures. Moving equipment end vehicles are in operation in the plant. Operatore are not evaluated ee to visual ability or othsr conditions which might interfere with coordination and ultimate safety. Other materials used In production - such as asphalt, mica, trichlorethylens, represent potential hazards to individuals with pre-existing disabilities or suseeptibilities. The recent liberalization of Connecticut Workmen's Compen sation Lavs. This further emphasises the need for more oareful employee selection. Prior knowledge of an employees physical condition will be mandatory if unjustified claims for disabilities or aggravations are to be ooutraverted. The inclusion of a Second Injury Statute will offer con sideralo protection to employers In appropriate oases but prior knowledgs of the health status of the employe# will be needed to qualify for relief. If and ben a dacieice Is nads to Institute pre-plaeemsnt medical examinations than the appropriate aoope of the examination oan be defined. Likewise the aoope end frequency of re-secaminetions in selected odrenuetunaoe eon be out lined. 1 RMC45000200001982 2 SELECTION OF A M Th# most effective results can be realised hen one physician is given the responsibility for all aspects of the Tilo nodical service In this approach coordination is attained and management has avail able a nodical advisor for any related problem which nay arias. The physician's responsibilities would lnolude carrying out the medical examinations, treating minor oonpensation oases, supervising the first aid program and oonsulting with aanagaaant. The recently amended Conneotlout Workman's Compensation Lav gives eoployees free choice in selecting a treating physician* However, management has the right to send them to the physician of manage ments choice far the initial emergency treatment (when a designated company physician, exists) By having their own physician one who is known to the employees from prior contacts, it should be possible to influence continuing oars of the case by this physician. Thi* la turn, should mean better control of lost time and costs Since the plant population is not large enough to neoeasitete in-plant physician visits arrangements should be made with a physiolan la the near neighborhood. Asy physician selected should, of course, tour the plant and learn Its operations. nm m isssm Present plant else dees not justify a full time in-plant nurse. (Although certainly a part time nurse could be veil utilised). Any further increase in population would, however, re-open oonaeration of this possibility. At present there Is no formal first aid program. The individual currently giving the bulk of the oars has had no training. So reoordj treatment are kept. Xt isseemmauiad that one individual (with an alternate) be given currant training (Red Cress) and then assigned respon sibility for all first aid care, for eaah shift. Complete entries for all treatments given, properly signed, are needed if future protection far legal reasons is over needed. I . i Jv j RMC45000200001983 3 mSTKEBCTCOM CSHTBS3 At present apparently no evaluation of any kind la made of applicant* for positions at these locations. This vemld seem particularly significant In placing Individuals In the job of oohmic. In previous correspondence yon were provided with a ample screening font for use In such situations. This approach could certainly he considered hotter than no attcnpt at all to evaluate prospective enployee*. But it should never be forgotten that physical examinations represent the only oeeningful aodloal approach to control of the workaen's eonpensation experlenoe. The growing liberalisation of uorksen's oonpensatlon laws, and the opportunity for relief under second Injury statutes eephaelse the leparteaoe of adopting this consideration as soon as possible. RMC45000200001984