Document 5DOBL5dmkJ8p7mOLxkng7yBY5

*SgB5V0S A HEALTH" COURSES Wig SUPERVISOR AHD 3)P SHVlnm w.tm, *k. -T-ini,,,,li Of H.W. Faotory DiiMtot. Bn KtHtoi industry Ifcgilittan 1931 BiMii Regulations applied only to certain manufacturing processes apao:.flad la a schedule - basso "aohsduled areas". IMusttcn of dust alarIon was called for, but no awana existed for rellabla aaaauraamta. It wua suggested that tho level of dust given off hr a flyer fraaa at 750 f.p.a. h probably satisfactory. Posl-deo at mt prior to 1956 Bren bafora 1991, ventilation bad been applied to earda andlocma. Dust ms removed by eyelooaa or settling ehaabara (sleeve filters cans later). Dempdng was Introduced la 1939-AO. Despite problems during the Second HsrJUl War, steady Improvements sere made culminating la the Major Developawnt Scheme of the aid 50', alaed at enclosing fIberiaIns aad lxlng processes. ' Monitoring of the Factory Btvlronment 1. . .. .'I . lb arses* the value of the engineering control aeaeures being Introduced. - various duet aanpllng lnetnsMnts sere tried la the early 19t0'a and ' regular routine sampling throutfiout the scheduled areas started la 1951* ft hr ljife the Idea of counting fibres which eould bo breathed In was . - established and the Industry adopted a method using a vary fine filter to give an estimate of the number of asbestos fibres between 5 and 100 :' nlenawtres t, , and 1 of an Inch) long In a cubla centimetre ( of a ll'.re) of fa53c3to5ry ai5r5. 5 Ifceae very fine, abort fibres ecn only b1e3s0e5en In a microscope and the preparation and counting of a duet saaple takes a considerable time. This has led to the use of an autooatlo sampler and counter (the Boyco Particle Counter) for the routine work, a system which la satisfactory provided It la checked perlodlolally against the standard method. For the taking of "personal" samples, the filter method la the only one available. ' Ih ijbcstoa Regulations 1969 Thesn Regulations* in force since 1970* have a much wider scope then the 1931- Regulations. Tho main provisions arei- (a) The employer responsible for creating the/dust la required to protect hla own employees and other persona who might be exposed* even If not employed fay him. 0>) The employe* la required to comply with the requirements of the Regulations as far as they apply to hlo (c) Satisfactory duet levels are to be attained by ventilation or other equally effective means (e.g. damping)* 'If this la impracticable, protective equipment must be worn, but It la not an alternatives <*) Cleaning of premises and machines must be carried out fay approved vacuum cleaners or other duatlesa methods. If this Is Impracticable* full protection must be worn by all people In the ares where the cleaning Is going on. () All outdoor clothing must bs kept In an ares free from asbestos dust end protective clothing must not ltava the predate except to be laundered, end then only la clearly marked containers. O0 (f) In-factory transport of loos* asbestos fibre must be la closed receptacles. Permitted Duet Levels _ In the 1969 Regulations, *4beetoe dust Is defined ac "dust consisting of or containing asbestos to such an extant aa la liable to cauaa danger to the health of employed persona". Me dust levels to comply with this definition are given in the Regulations, but a separate document has been Issued by the Factory Inspectorate for the guidance of ita inspectors. Briefly, this states that tho substantive clauses of tho Regulations will not apply where dust levels are below 2 fibres per cubic centimetre and where tbs level eamot bs brought down below 12 fibre* per e.c., full protection (overalls, headgear, respirator) is required. Between 2 and 12 the action required will depend upen the level and duration of the exposure. In arriving at these rvcoamnodatlons, the Factory Inspectorate was guided by tho British Occupational Hygiene Society Standard for Chrysotlla Asbestos, based on data collected at TEA. Vie 2 fibre per o.c. "safe- level" la baaed on a working life of 50 years and therefore for most asbestos workers, there la a built-in safety factor. The Present Poettier, at CBA . ' (a) Extension of dust control and improvements to existing systems has been a continuing oosmlttmentelnee before 1931. large areas of tho factory s.g. Weaving.Department'/have been operating below tho 2 fibre level for many jtaars and steady progress has been and Is still being mads In many other locations. Our target is to reduce dust levels throughout the faotory'.tO the 2 fibre standard as quickly aa possible. '^ ' (b) We support strongly the provision In the Regulations for tbs ' segregation of outdoor clothing and the wearing of overalls in working areaa. In order to prevent asbestos dust being carried Into the hones of workers on their elothlng. To this end, changing rooms have been provided and overalls supplied free to all production personnel, whether or not their work In an area where protective clothing under the Regulations is required. It le regretted that little progress had been msde In the wearing of headgear until the last month or so when it began to be worn, whatever the hair atyle, by both men and women. A few production operations e.g. card hopper filling, still require a respirator to be worrvaa well as certain cleaning tasks. This will probably continue to be /the case, even when we achieve our goal.pCJS fibres per c.c. at all factory processea. _ (c) A major Improvement has resulted in the handling of cruda fibre by the adoption of pallatised pressure-packed impermeable bags in place of the old basal an bags which suffered so scverly from dockers' hooks. (d) Tne nearer factory dust levels approach the 2 fibre target the more difficult and costly It becomes to achieve further Improvements. In this situation, tno maintenance of low background dust levels becomes more and more Important, highlighting the need for good housekeeping practices which will be dealt with in mors detail oleewhere In the course.