Document 50G2pa2RYqLme0wx2QNRdngYN

FILE NAME: Exxon (EXX) DATE: 1972 Mar 9 DOC#: EXX026 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo RE Asbestos Hazard Control Program MEMORANDUM Mr. J. W. Hanmond F. S. Venable ^ ^ Asbestos Hazard Control Program OATC 3/9/72 ATOM nOUOC. LA. iCl O The U. S. Department of Labor 's Advisory Committee on Asbestos has made reconrnendations to the Secretary of Labor on many phases of the proposed asbestos hazard control program. Those items included in the report of February 23, 1972, cover monitoring and records. Later reports will cover final reconrnendations of the Advisory Committee on the subject of asbestos standards. At this time, we are not absolutely certain as to the scope of the Conmittee's final recommendations to the Secretary of Labor, nor can we be certain as to which of these specific reconrnendations will be adopted by the Secretary. There is good indication, however, that most of the reconrnendations of the Committee will be adopted without change. A minority of the Committee has objected to certain requirements concerning details of sampling and fre quency of monitoring, and the requirement for protective clothing when dust concentrations exceed 10 times the limit has been termed "unnecessarily restrictive" by two members of the five man Conmittee. However, the Conmittee unanimously agreed on the recommendations for respiratory protection and two members also called for "registration", presumably a program of registering all asbestos users. , It is not yet certain as to the final values of permissable dust counts (fibers greater than 5 microns in length per cc of air). Hie Secretary may begin with 5 and within several years lower this to 2. There is no indi- cation as yet as to the timing of, or effective date for, meeting the various requirements. It would appear desirable, however for Humble to initiate a program for controlling asbestos dust exposures without delay, emphasizing compliance with certain recommendations which appear to be incontrovertable. This program should employ a stepwise approach and, depending upon the effective dates specified by USDL, work toward a complete company-wide program. Three priority classifications are suggested and are outlined below. Priority I ' ; 1. Eliminate, or use substitutes for, all asbestos-containing materials possible. Minimize or eliminate the use of talc, asbestos in sulation materials, building and construction materials (except floor tiles containing asbestosl asbestos fire blankets, etc. t nn -3/,