Document 71Baaybg0ojMe3eEDYgvq9OrB

*< . ' ~ m. / - / ifi rgnnic MIDLAND, MICHIGAN October 31, 1968 R. C. Middleton Safety Department Ludlngton Plant LETTER OATES OCTOBER 7, CONCERNING HAZARDS DOE TO HANDLING PIPE COVERING MATERIAL CONTAINING ASBESTOS Asbestos baa long baaa known as a material capable of causing a discrete disease called aabestosis (which is somewhat similar to silicosis - caused by crystalline quarts). In the more or less recent past the subject of hazard due to asbestos has been further complicated by reports in the literature of malignant growths which were associated with the presence of asbestos bodies. The whole subject is presently under study by the U.S. Public Health Service. Z feel that at this point in time our best bet is to control asbestos dust exposures according to the Threshold Limit Values suggested by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. This Threshold Limit Value is five million particles per cubic foot of air (mppcf). We have done same dust sampling during a variety of operations carried out by pipe eoverers. I'll include a stannary of this work for your information. You will see that there are some jobs where the ntaabers of particles in the air are above the 5 mppcf mentioned here. Jobs such as this should be done using a dust respirator which is approved by the U.f. Bureau of Mines for protection against toxic dusts, including siliea. Another approach to the dust hazard is to contrive better control of the dust so that measurements will show less than the 5 mppcf and there will, therefore, be no need for respiratory protection. Generally this is best accomplished by the use of exhaust ventil ation at the point where the ddst is being generated. Biochemical Research Laboratory 1701 Building HRHireh Ene DOW 06295 $ IU U b/D O \ * DOW 06296 Ex-^vra rr ns vr.r; .rir-'*in / oikeis c t t im various types oi pipe covering materials z. /- 3/-/ MIDLAND, MICHIGAN October 30, 1968 v r/: ?:' Richard P. Falk Safety Department 401 Building -;. Enclosed is a copy of a letter which X received from Bob Middle- ton. `V ... 'i One of Bob's questions is "what safety equipment, if any, is used by the Midland Division in handling the materials in question?11 I feel that you are in a better position to answer that part of the inquiry than X am. Thank you for your attention to the matter. H. R. Hoyle Biochemical Research Laboratory 1701 Building HRHtreh Enc. cc: D. B. Morse, Safety Department, 401 Bldg. R. C. Middleton, Ludington Plant ST006759 DOW 06297 ST0006759 1 I# THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY LUDINGTON October 7, 1968 v ST006760 H. R. Hoyle Biochemical Research Lab 1701 Building Dear Harold: We are interested in finding out what Safety Precuations are being used by the Pipe Coverers in the Midland Division. We are using three types of material in the plant. .Our Pipe Coverers spend approximately 50# of their time on outside work and 50# inside. The materials used are Fiberglass, which has no precautions on the bag, and a product called "Kaylo", which has the following warning on the bag. THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBER If dust is created when this product is handled, avoid breathing the dust. If adequate ventilation control is not possible, wear respirator approved by U. S. Bureau of Mines. There is another product which has the following information on the bag. CAUTION -- ASBESTOS SHORTS This product contains Asbestos Fiber. Inhalation of Asbestos, in excessive quantities, over long periods of time, may be harmful. If dust is created when this product is handled, avoid breathing the dust. If adequate ventilation control is not possible, wear a respirator approved by the U. S. Bureau of Mines for pneumoconiosis producing dusts. DOW 06298 ST0006760 I QLQnn I c r -2I would appreciate it if you would check Into these materials as to the harmfull effects to the employee and what Safety Equipment, if any, is used by the Midland Division. R. C. Middleton Safety Director cr DOW 06299