Document 5Dzz6j48ELOyGL05ked25Vg7D

FILE NAME Colonial Sugar Refinery CSR DATE 1962 Dec 10 DOC CSR051 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Letter to Dr. Rennie from Dr. McNulty RE Dust Conditions and Asbestosis - Australian Blue Asbestos - Problem is Serious he e es. we ,os JMcN RM EXHIBIT 140 c AGA AGA AGA 4 oye tte 10th December 1962 Dr. H.M. Rennie F.R.C.P. Lond F.R.A.C.P. F.R.A.C.P. , Macquarie Chambers 183 Macquarie Street SYDMacN quarie NE .S.Y W. Dear Dr. Rennie Thank you for your letter regarding dust conditions at Australian Blue Asbestos oe Unfortunately the situation has altered little the dust has not been laid and to date it is doubtful if any major lessen- of the hazard has taken place In July of this year dust N ing counts at the mine and mill were as bad as ever The Konimeter is used for dust counting and although it is not the ideal for sitnisltlrubmeeinntg there is little point in pressing a finer instrument until the coarse dust has been supressed | possible However since July several evveennttislahtaivoen oucncduerrrgerdouwnhdicish may radically altetrhatcosnhdaifttisonhsave Tbhrrookuegnhthrough to the surface in now A recent earth movement altered the geographoyf stheevemrianleplanadcetshis is expected to considerably improvfeibrveenstoiclkathiaosn A new type of dust extractoranedmbiosdbyeiinngga inssytnatlhelteidc in the mill had successful experiments and there are This is a pretty expensive dust extraction process that it will help to solve the problem My information Mines girnearteghaorpdesto this is derived from discussions with Dr. Letham Department Inspectors and Mr. Thomas Superintendent of the company Fairly short exposure is still causing silicosis and asbestosis and the tragedy is aggrasveartieodusblyy tahfefierctreedlatoirvedeyaodutahnd i There are now about 42 men fairly to harmful dust was at Wittenoom in most instances their only exposure for about 15 years and only the huge The industry has been producing scale 80 p.c. of Il labour turnover prevented diseahsaeveobneeann eepmipdleomyiecd for less than three the workers atof antyheo mne havteimsecattered elsewhere in the mining industry years Many and now complicate the overall picture cont AY.et : ~3vat sfWRN 1 gags ~ - Continued that steady improvement will be maintained The 1958-59 hopeful of disease in so many men in coincidental diagnosis and had a dramatic effect The problem highlighted the problem work will be needed before the still acute and much more to at least that of mining is hazard to the men will be reduced little concerned about the carcinogenic am still a the Company wouldn't use its effect of crocidolite and wish that were used as fillers at tailings for roads atnhdatptahtehspoorTadielviinlgss inhale asbestos at rec- the golf course so reation as well interest Anything that you can Many thanks for your Blue Asbestos the seriousness of do to impress upon Australian the problem would be appreciated Yours faithfully Dr. D.D. Letham Physician Occupational Health Department of Public Health 57 Murray Street PERTH : W. Cow for your information CHEST PHYSICIAN CHEST PHYSICIAN