Document 4aRGrypVXvzaBKz20L46zVqV

FILE NAME: Kaiser Gypsum (KG) DATE: 1973 Nov DOC#: KG085 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Internal Report - Special Task Force on Joint Treatment Compound REPORT OF SPECIAL TASK FORCE OH JOINT TREATMENT COMPOUND This Is the f i r s t report on the proceedings end sta tu s o f the work being done by the Sp ecial Cutfulttee on Asbestos In J o i n t Compound. As you w ill r e c a l l , a recommendation was made to the Gypsum A sso cia tio n that- I t Involve I t s e l f In the assessment of release o f asbestos fib e rs'd u rin g the use o f*the Jo in t tre a t ment products by the customer. This re<.iiendat!on was based on the strin gen t re g u la tio n s -o f the-Occupat-iona-1--Safety-and Health- A ct. At the annual meeting, a ll ttees and the Board supported a basic program and funds were appropriated to conduct a f i e l d te s t program to determine what level o f asbestos fib e rs are re leased In m ixing and sanding operations when using jo i n t compound products. I t was fu rth e r stip u la te d that an Independent laboratory would serve to monitor th is type o f .program in order to m in im i cost due to d u p licate in dividu al e ffo r ts by the membership. In Hay o f th is y e a r, representatives fra n the Gypsum A sso ciatio n met with OSKA rep resen tatives In Washington to discuss regulations pertaining to a sb esto s. The two purposes fo r th is meeting were (1) a hope to obtain an in terp retation o f the taw which would preclude the need fo r p la cin g labels on containers o f .J o i n t compound I f the asbestos fl.ber environment generated during Its normal use would not exceed the OSKR lim it s , and (2) a v a r i a n c e from the regu latio n s which would elim inate the need fo r the con t r a c t o r to provide m onitoring at each Jo b s i t e . Although D5KA was impressed with our in te re s t In our consumers use o f the pro duct, they v e rb a lly denied any general r e l i e f from e ith e r the labeling or the monitoring requirement. Subsequent to the meeting with 05HA, a sp e cia l A ssociation committee was formed from member designates who were s k ille d In a ir sampling techniques and e v a lu a tio n s. This cc*7,ulttee formulated a t e s t pro gram and se le cted George D, Clayton and A ssociates as the Independ ent laboratory to do the monitoring fo r the t e s t . The a ctu a l test work was conducted by Gardlneer Drywall Company, Aurora, Colorado, and they provided e x c e lle n t cooperation In order that the monitoring of dust and asbestos fib e r s could be e v alu ated . Ten dry powder and ready mix topping grade jo in t compounds from fiv e manufacturers were delivered to the s it e by the A sso cia tio n members. Containers were unmarked except fo r a code number assigned by the A sso cia tio n ' s c o n fid e n tia l dep ository. Ten te st houses, In close proximity to each other and of r e la t iv e ly comparable s iz e were designated fo r the te s t program. One product was assigned fo r each house for the mixing and sending procedures. The mixing t e s t s req u ire d about 15 minutes per product and th esanding req uired an average o f one hour per house;* sand in g was acconpl ished In a manner ty p ic a l o f f l a t work.. y A 1Though a* fin ), report has not been submitted by C layto n ..th ere was:a specie! cjunlttee meeting held October` 3 end discussion 'of'prelim inary re s u lts Indicated that there might be some are* of inconsistency or .inccmpletlon o f data obtained from this test * program. The Comal tee recommends ` that c e r ta in portions of th is , program be redone to assure the' A sso ciatio n th a t results which are to be published*In the fin a l report are accu rate, complete and consistent. ' . ' The*Phase11 program has already been estab lish ed and tha Cc!ttee Is, ready to proceed. It 15 estimated that th is phase w ill cost no more" than $2,000 and I t ' I s requested that the Board o f Directors approve such expend!tores. I f funds are appropriated, Phase II can complete th eir work and submit a comprehensive report o f findings and recommendations by' Che*>ehd o f January 1371. I t Is not possible as o f now to p red ict I f add itional te s tin g w ill be required a fte r Phase 11. R esp ectfu lly submitted November 1373 . Jo in t Cv^ounds