Document 3y2MmXLJwLmZk5aMbzaKoDO6

FILE NAME: Sprayed Asbestos (SPRA) DATE: 1945 Aug DOC#: SPRA004 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: UK Govt Letter RE Risk & Possible Regulations for Asbestos Insulation and Ships MINISTRY OP LABOUR AND NATIONAL SERVICE ` tidrr* t e j rrptj 1 TKK OKIE? INSPECTOR OF FACTORIES lm4 ^aow: . F.j M JJ t f ii - ' , T J . K. WHIuiUl (ana - *" ` . * " ^9 * FACTORY D EPT, - ST. JAMES SQUARE, LONDON , S.W .*. ` *- ' ' ./ - ; A ugust, 19L5 Dear Sir* Asbestos In su lation aboard Ships & ' " I ' an concerned by the considerable development during the -T a r years in the use o f asbestos, either alone or as part * ndxhxre, in the Shipbuilding and Shiprepairing In d u stries r a in ly S T S ' p S p o s e o f heat and sound in s u la tio n , and the _accon pa^an S increase in -th e number o f workers exposed t o r is k o f in ju r y to - health throu^i asbestosis. . .' .. . I f the r is k is found to continue, the question w il l a n s e of In ch idin s some sta tu to ry requirements on the su b je ct when the . fo r ccnottu ctdon ol <u*i oth er i* hips ore being revised and extended, or o f issuing a , code o f regulations d ealin g p a rticu la rly w ith the use o f asb estos. I would, however, emphasize th a t, while asbestos us any apparent e ffe c ts a t f i r s t , experience sh^-s th a t, ^ ^ u ^ - r i y if^ th e workers are exposed to the dust in su b sta n tia l co n ce n t t ic n s . serious re su lts are apt to develop la t e r . I t is th e re - fo re important t h a t , even i f the work w i l l only be reasonably practicable steps should be taken to reauce the r is k to a joinixsxn * '' I suggest th a t p ro te c tio n can be secured an th e fo llo w in g basis?' - ` . ' ' ' ' ( l) In son cases preparatory work, c.jg . the making up c f . in su la tio n m attresses, to which the Asbestos Indu stry - .1 'c e r t ify t h a t :th is i s a true copy of a document held on f i l e number P18481/2/K belon gin g to the H ealth and S a fe ty E x e c u tiv e . D T EVERETT EM DEPUTY SUPERINTENDING INSPECTOR OF FACTORIES I -- # R e g u la tio n s , 1 9 3 1 apply i s c a r r ie d on in a shod In the y , shipbuildin g yard or near tha dockside; in such cases' .hose Regulations should, so fa r as tha provisions are ap p ju .^ b le, bo c a re fu lly observed in p ra ctice . ' - (2) On board ship steps should be ta k e n , in accordance w ith tha s p ir it o f tho R egulations, to prevent unnecessary canoen- %t r a t in no or accumulations o f asbestos dust - f a r instance by having good v e n tila tio n arrangements in confined spaces, . ' damping do>vn d u s t, and c le a r in g up asb esto s d eb ris and . to c u d ila tia n s o f dust a3 soon as p r a c tic a b le . . (5) Tha p ro v isio n o f a r e s p ir a to r (Homo O ffic e Mark No. - fjfyftf, ? or oth er approved type) f o r each workman engaged in tho f i t t i n g or removal o f any dry in s u la tin g m a te ria l ccrv* t a in in g a s b e s to s , on board s h ip . . (4) The p ro v isio n o f a s im ila r r e s p ir a to r f a r a l l ) engage^ in the spraying o f asbestos or asbestos mixiui'w and ' . ` v a r k a n c i lla r y th ereto which renders them l i a b le to exposure t o d u st o r sp ray. During sp ra y in g , no oth er person should . park in the fame compartment u n le ss a ls o provided w ith a r respirator. . . . - " (5) No person under 18 should be employed i n any p rocess . ' g iv in g r is e to asbestos d ust o r in any compartment or e n clo sed space where such a p ro cess i s being c a rrie d on. . . * . ( 0 S p e c ific arrangements f o r supervising the maintenance, care and use o f resp irato rs. _ ' ' J ay say th at these arrangements have been accepted by the Sh ipb uilding Employers* Federation and by the Trade Unions .concerned, ard I therefore hope you w il l be prepared a t once to accept the precautions suggested. * I am, S i r , - lo u r obedient Servant, \ H.! C h ie f In sp e cto r o f F a c to r ie s . I c e r tify th at th is is a true copy o f a document held on f i l e number F18481/2/X belonging to the H e a lth and S a fe ty E x e c u tiv e . D T EVERETT EM DEPUTY SUPERINTENDING INSPECTOR OF FACTORIES '