Document 5LKnp6pgRLVpOv7o55OBQaeme

FILE NAME Insulation Contractors & Distributors ICD DATE 1973 Spring DOC ICD027 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports from the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program Environmental Sciences Laboratory MOUNTMOUNSITMALNSIMALN . MEDICINE MEDICINE SCHOOL Of MEDICINE of The City University of New York INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESSPROGRESS REPORTS FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM Be? Irving J. Selikoff M.D. Program Director Vol 5 No. 1 Spring 1973 Asbestos Standard has Little Effect Conditions in the asbestos insulation industry have changed little since the promulgation of the Asbestos Standard on June 7 1972. This is the conclusion from a preliminary analysis of the data in a survey of all Asbestos Workers on environmental conditions in their work Although the standard required that at least one dust count be done by each employer during the first six months following the issuance of the standard fewer than % of workmen saw such a count These results included dust counts made under the auspices of the employers and also those by state or federal officials In fact a large fraction of those dust counts were in Navy shipyards which have permanent industrial hygiene departments Procedures Not Followed In order to reduce dust concentra- tions below the established Threshold Limit Value of 5 fibers longer than 5 microns per milliliter of air certain procedures were listed in the standard These included the the use of plastic bags for mixing cement vacuum cleaning of asbestos debris the use of containers for waste material disposal and exhaust ventilation on power equip- ment Over half of the replies stated that none of these items were usually available on job sites approximately third stated all were never available In nearly fifty percent of the replies change rooms were listed as unavailable so that dust laden clothes were taken to possibly holds home by many workmen contaminate their house- The replies represented observations on over 900 employers and thousands Continued on page two Roy Steinfurth right Director of the Health Hazard Program of the Asbestos Workers discusses the statistical work of the American Cancer Society concerning asbestos insulation workers with Herbert Seidman chief statistical analyst of the A. C. S. Asbestos Workers Health Hazard Program Begins Roy Steinfurth formerly Business Agent of Local 45 Toledo has beca selected by General President Haas to direct the Health Hazard Program of dhe IAHFIAW This program was developed by the Asbestos Workers at their convention last September and is being funded by a one cent per hour assessment on each member's wages All Aspects of Health The new program will be concerned with all aspects of asbestos health problems support of clinical and laboratory research implementation of asbestos dust control technology educational programs for workmen and adequate compensation for asbestos disease This last issue assumes special importance at this time Procedures materials and control equipment have been identified that can reduce dust exposures in insulation work to onetenth that which existed in the past This existing technology additional engineering controls to be developed and the use of appropriate respirators in dusty work will substantially reduce the health risk of workmen now entering the insulation trade it is equally important however to assure that those now in insulation work or who have retired and have been dis- abled by the dust exposures of 20 30 or more years ago be adequately treated for their disease and compensated for their disability Mixed Picture At this time the compensation pic- ture is very mixed A few states have laws that provide reasonable compen sation for damage to health caused by asbestos or other dusts However in somesosommee states compensation for dust dis eases eaeassees s is virtually existant and in others totally inadequate New York for example will allow payment in pneumoconiosis diseases including asbestosis only total disability Continued on page two Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports Vol 5 No. 1 Spring 1973 from the Insulation Program Industry Hygiene Research Editor W. J. Nicholson Ph.D. Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory Irving J Selikoff MD Director Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York N.Y 10029 Advisory Council of llHRP Irving J. Selikoff M.D. Program Director and Chairman E. Cuyler Hammond Sc D Vice Presi- deni American York N.Y Cancer Society New Andrew Haas General President Interna- tional Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Washington DC Fred L. Pundsack Ph D Vice President and Development Johns Corporations Corporations New York N.Y PURPOSES OF THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM 1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insu- lation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work 2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dus , control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation advice and assistance toward their universal adoption Asbestos Standard has Little Effect Continued from page one i of of jobjob sites and demonstrate that much is yet yet to be done before safe work concitions prevail on construction sites The complete results of the survey with a detailed statistical analysis will be published in the next issue of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports Compensation an Important Issue Continued from page one ) Hazard Evaluation Available Similar problems existed in the coal mining industry and were solved by the passage of the Black Lung Law in which the Federal Govemment through the Social Secunty Administration assumed the compensation responsibility for all coal mine workers Mr. Steinfurth spent the first week in his new position with International President Jack Novak visiting Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the American Cancer Society where all aspects of the various asbestos research programs were revicwed Arrangements have been made for Mr. Steinfurth Mr. Novak and Dun- can Holaday of Mount Sinai's Environ- mental Science Laboratory to visit individuals in the AFL headquar- ters concerned with health matters and all government departments and facilities that may be involved with asbestos health problems including especially the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Depart- ment of Labor and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Healin discussing his new position Steinturth said Solving the health prob- lems of asbestos workers is such an important task I'm pleased to be part of that effort and look forward to work- ing with all insulators across the coun try to solve our health problems Regulations for conducting job health hazard evaluations have been published by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the November 7 isste of the Federal Register NIOSH carries out evaluations of potentially toxic substances in the workplace at the request of employers or of representatives of employees in establishments covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act Such a representative may be a union officer a collective bargaining representative an employee having written authorization from at least two other employees who work in the area where the toxic substance is found or a single employee in those establishments employing three or fewer employees Copies of all inal reports of health hazard determinations will be for- warded to the Department of Labor and to the appropriate state agency as well as the requesting parties Fach deter- mination will state the concentiation of the toxic substances found whether such concentrations can produce toxic ettects and the basis for such judg ments Because a wide variety of possibly toxic chemicals and adhesivearse now used by insulators we are publishing a copy of the form on which a health hazard evaluation can be requested from NIOSHI On December 15 of Local 2 Pitsburgh were killed in a coke oven gas explosion in Weirton West Virginia Paul E. Byrne George M. Crowley Russell J. Ober Michael R. Repko Albert R. Tuttle and James R. Tunle were applying nsulation to pipe at the coke oven battery when the accident occurred Because of the large number of deaths from asbestos dust diseases in insulation work accidental deaths are often overlooked In his report before the delegates to the National Convention Dr. Irving J. Selikoff pointed out that over % of all deaths of insulators are from work accidents Moreover for every accident causing death there are many more involving serious physical injury The terrible event in Pittsburgh and accidental deaths elsewhere dramatize that Asbestos Workers industry safety officers and govern- ment officials should be conscious of occupational safer as well as health in insulation work One cannot be ton careful on the job site U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EDUCATION AND WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUEST FOR HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION This form is provided to assist in registering a request for a health hazard evaluation with the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare as provided in Section 20 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and 42 CFR Part 85. See Statement of Authority on Reverse Side Name of Establishment Where Alleged Hazard Exist { Company Address Street City onmn State Telephone Zip Code 1. Principal Company Activity manufacturing construction transportation Services atc 2. Specify the particular building or worksite where the alleged hazard is located including address ____ 3. Specify the name and phone number of employer's agent in charge 4. Describe briefly the hazard which exists by completing the following information Identification of Hazard or Toxic Substance Trade Name If Applicable Manufacturer Chemical Name Does the material have a warning labe es If Yes attach copy of label or a copy of the information contained on the label Physical Form = Dust Type of Exposure = Breathing Number of People Exposed Occupations of Exposed Employees Gas Liquid Mist Swallowing Length of Exposure Hours) Other Skin Contact No (7 hn asa elt SND 8. 8. Using the space below describe further the nature of the conditions or circumstances which prompted this request and other relevant aspects which you may consider important such as the nature of the Illness or symptoms of exposure the concern for the potentially toxic effects of a new chemical substance introduced into the workplace etc. FORM APPROVED OMB NO 68-21236 6. a To your knowledge has this hazard been considered previously by any Government agency_ ee, b If so give the name and address of each c and the approximate date it was so considered 7. a is this request or a request alleging a similar hazard being filed with any other Government agency b If so give the name and address of each The undersigned check one C] Employer (] Authorized Representative of employees i ii it circle one believes that a substance or substances normally found at the following place of employment may have potentially toxic effects in the concentration used or found Signature . Typed or Printed Name { Street AddressCity q City _. ; State State Date Telephone Home Business - Zip Code Zip Code __. if you are a representative of employees state the name and address of yourorganization organization do not want my name revealed to the employer et iu My name may be revealed to the employer AuthoriAtuthoyrity termite Section 20 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 29 U. S. C. 669 ! provides as follows The Secretary of Health Education and Welfare shall ... determine following a written request by any employer or authorized representative of ee employees.specifying employees.specifying with reasonable particularity the grounds on which the request is made whether any substance normally ean 2 found in the prace of employment in determination both has potentially toxic effects such concentrations as used or found and snail suomir such employers and effected employees as soon as possible If the Secretary of Health Education and Wel- fare determines that ary substance is potentially toxic the concentrations concentrations in which is usec or found in a place of am- ployment and such substance is not covered by an occupational safety or health standard promulgated under section 6 the wetre Secretary of Health Education with all pertinent criteria and Welfare shall immediately submit such determination to the Secretary of Labor together Hd Mr Authorized representative of employees means any person or organization meeting the conditions specified in 42 CFR Part ue 85.3 b 4 ) hi or iii ae i - that he is an authorized representative of or an officer of the organization representing the employees for purposes of AN ROMNFL collective or bargaining Hn ] - that he is an employee of the employer and is authorized authorized by two or more employees employed in the workplace where the Hr substance s normally found to represent them for purposes of the Act Each such authorization shall be in writing and in- cluded in the request or 13 that heis one of thres or less employees employed in the workplace where the substance is normany found Send the completed form to National institute for Occupational Safety and Health Hazard Evaluation Services Branch U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare Cincinnati Ohio 45202