Document 44vLpB0ENjnv6jN1eomEka8aQ

RAILROAD FRICTION PRODUCTS CORPORATION WIL.MCRDIIJG, PENNSYLVANIA IMtS APE A COBt <'2 * 27I-`-HK>- PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT ,December 6 1978 Mr. M. A. Scott, Manager Field Engineering New York Air Brake Company Starbuck Avenue Waiertown, New York 13601 t\ - r 1 i Dear Mr. Scott: COBRA High Friction Composition Brake Shoes Environmental Safety__________________ ____ With reference to your letter of November 14 to our Mr. W. I. Graham, the following text is suggested for response to a letter of inquiry from Mir. Frank Upton, Assistant Vice President, Milwaukee Road, regarding the asbestos fiber conlent in COBRA shoes: "This is in response to your request for information concerning possible environ mental hazards that could result from the use of COBRA Composition Brake Shoes. Investigations we have conducted offer reasonable assurance that COBRA brake shoes do not pose an environmental hazard to either personnel handling them or personnel in close proximity to the point where they are utilized during braking operations. Specific actions that we have taken to insure the environmental safety of COBRA brake shoes are as follows: A certain amount or Tioer is i: }CiJuCzu in THc COrwpCii7iOH material arid backing stock of each COBRA brake shoe. During the manufacturing process, the asbestos and other materials are molded into a hard block of friction material which is bonded to a steel backing plate. At this point, the asbestos is effectively contained within the friction material. As a further protection, the entire brake shoe.is dipped in a sealant which will prevent any loose asbestos particles becoming airborne during handling of the brake shoes. The sealant also restricts rusting of the backing plate during outside storoge and provides the distinctive "red" shoe color. V.ESTINGHOOSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY (J> JOHNS.manville corporation Sp+etshtu m faction ki*hu*U \ RFP- 2. We have bean quasiionvd by various groups and individuals concerning Ihe amount of asbestos fiber released by C013RA brake shoes during braking action. To be able to answer these questions, we ran an elaborate series of dynamometer tests in 1971 during which all the wear dust from various types of braking cycles was collected and analyzed. The resulls of these tests show that almost all of the a-beslos fiber is decomposed during brake applications. Less than one percent of the original asbestos fiber in ihe shoe remains as fiber in the wear dust and less than one tenth of that becomes airborne. Since each stop v/ears only a very small amount of material from each shoe, and since each shoe contains only a very small percentage of asbestos fiber, it can be seen Hint the amount of asbestos fiber that becomes airborne v/ith each stop is not significant. 3. During the same period of investigation covered in 2 above, possible toxicity of gases liberated by COBRA brake shoes during braking wes also given attention. Stop and drag tests wore performed and samples of gases given off during braking ware collected by a technician from an independent testing laboratory. The samples were subsequently analyzed and the results reported. Results showed that the COBRA bral<e shoes gave off no extremely toxic materials, and only small amounts of hydrocarbon gases. It was concluded that no .amounts of harmful gases sufficient to be injurious 1o health were liberated. 4. The original COBRA brake shoe composition also contained lead. All shoes manufactured since November 1975 have utilized a lead-free composition. The primury reason for this change was to eliminate lead from our plant environment for the protection of manufacturing employees exposed to the raw material. 5. In early 1977, WASCO, in cooperation with John-Mansville research personnel, conducted a series of air sample tests in the Boston Subway in an effort to capture chrysotile fiber during train operations. Samples were taken between the cars near the track level, in the passenger and motorman's area, and on the platforms over a 10 hour period of highest density operation. No significant fiber counts were seen on any of the fi iters. We trust the above information will provide answers to questions that may arise as to the environmental characteristics of COBRA brake shoes." Please let us know if any additional information is required. Sincerely yours, EWK/e Manoger-COBRA Shoe^ales Copy 1 o: SU\x. C. E. Hart New York Air Brake Company Starbuck Avenue Watertown, New York 13601 Copy to: Mr. D. H. Crews New York Air Brake Company Suite 3514 55 Eost Monroe Chicago, Illinois 60603