Document 7O8QzaMzOgrZZodydZMm9xJDR

r v.' ,v offife AFL- FIVE GATEWAY CENTfjtffi pnana' |<i;i SH.3n \ooo(i(?n(g(oi July 25, 1979 Sifht. Mr. Bruce L. Webb Manager of Employee Relations Eaton Corporation Brake Division Gallatin. Plant P. 0. Box 761 Gallatin, TN 37060 AUG 2 9 1979 EMP. RELftltaSR. rr~\^.T j? (NpPNwf Dear Mr. Webb: ,v j*5iX c SJ rvCj We are writing in regard to our JulsXlJL tptiaNifed meeting at Eaton's Gallatin plant. CV XV" ' First, we appreciate all the qjMqgany *faa9\done since Director Thrasher's visit. Eaton seems weji^^n tH^sJjpy to minimizing the asbestos problem. From your^&jnpling Results, it would appear that the grinding opera^bjr i^ iS^nompliance with TOSHA standards. However, yon will^'a^all rtWt those standards are based on feasibility consid^r^fion^-^r the entire asbestos industry. As you know, there^is no^safe level for a carcinogen, although the lower the le^l, the lower the risk. Even at levels as low as 0.2 fibers/c.a'Ov 1 ALte^o^the current standard -- the average worker wouldbikltale ajboV^ Ja million asbestos fibers in the course of a work&aj^. ^Ewpry effort should be made to minimize this exposure. We^unSeist'ajM the company is investigating the possibility of pad-grinding operation altogether. We would appreciate continuing reports on your program at the regular meetings'1' o&vj&e^Safety and Health Committee. Until then, the corapanJ.^|Mul4^toyestigate the possibility of extra hooding around theCtib. le^L&^No. 2 grinders, in order to minimize the ospyesntinegms^Qshia thenbby increase the efficiency of the local exhaust me a^p^tos collector outside the building appears to be a bigger nrohjym. It is likely that the company is not in compli ance wit\JldSHA standards in this area. For example, there are piles p asbestos dust on the ground near the collector. The grav^TsJbfed makes it almost impossible to pick up all the asbestos, sli^p/'eorae of it falls between the gravel, only to be blown #' - - rmttrco iw 4 a. exhibit /bhli-p SCF-EC-1915 IIAB 0IK652 Mr. Bruce L. Webb 2 - July 25, 1979 around when the wind shifts. We understand that the company is designing a new collector system. We would appreciate a full report on this system at the next meeting of the Safety and Health Committee. At the very least, the company should immed- lately issue written standard operating procedures for minimizing and cleaning up spills, and should begin the construction of a sealed concrete pad to replace the gravel. .C. UM lf'vCr As you know, TOSHA standards require the company, to devi a written respirator program. We would appreciate a^-^qpy oi\j program at the next meeting of the Safety and Health 3obmmt,te. We would also appreciate it if you would provide fe' Un^otrfjjiembers of the Safety and Health Committee with copies of'the odbig^ny's sampling reports. As you know, this is required, i?y theM&Bbestos Standard. VSv During the walkaround, we identified. s^vBrafIS.vCraher potential hazardAsa` " W` 1. The operator of the centerl^^q'gJip4e|' is exposed to an excessive amount of oil mist. Ex^jflv^Bhrc^h^qk''should be installed as soon as possible. 2. TOSHA sampling reault3\*Ofbvr tgSStpn monoxide indicate that levels are below current-legii^stand^uS, but slightly above the levels recommended by the JJa^ihnalsS^stitute for Occupational Safety and Health. We umQystanjl the company intends to replace the gasoline-powered faflQS'fts^JttMh propane or electric forklifts. To the greatest extenlCfeasl$Iekv the new forklifts should be electric, since evexv^aeopane-^powered engines can give off carbon monoxide. We would Kbps replacement could be complete as soon as possiblewdu'HdCappreciate a report at the next meeting of the Safety -sail'd. HealtV'ffiSmmittee. .A 3. As^jfrajr kndwt^Eaton has been cited by TOSHA for excessive noise. Tl\e\^rappuf^3ha'3 already been given five extensions of time in orde^-rt&lcomgrath the abatement. The current deadline is August rlSS-fye. waul'd appreciate it if you could indicate whether the .pbmpAny c.^ha'lclers the hazard to be abated, and if not, what the dqmf)anyends to do. ^ rs*' ' 4. i Severalworkers complained about an unventilated cut-off saw ne^jr&e welding area. There is a great deal of dust around the While the saw is not used for cutting asbestos, it would Mr. Bruce L. Webb -3 July 25, 1979 appear that dust levels are very high when it is used. A local exhaust ventilation system should be attached to the saw as soon as possible. 5. It would appear that the fresh-air inlets on the roof may be too close to the outlets in the ventilation system. We Qa.VV1\. would appreciate it if the company would study the situation an^K^Q' report to the Safety and Health Committee by the September raeetipgv \ rsOs Finally, there is a more general problem. A nutf-B^sf of solvents, lubricants, cutting oils and other materials' ar&n'hsed in the plant. Most of these are labeled only wit^che home. We assume the company has material safety data sheets i^ji^jfchese products, including a list of ingredients, infbrmatiwi^n- the hazards of the material, and recommended prpjemres-v? safe handling. We would appreciate it if yau.jWouj" less safety data sheets available to the Local Union f nfc* jary, they will pass the,m|U WonU tXoU tUhMeO USWAUWII,. WSWaf.eWt.yJ Manu^upealtfivH JQWpkairtmlllSentlt in Pittsburgh. Where the company doeB ndftvjqjive ^ material safety data sheet for a particular productXwu shaft-id make every effort to obtain one or to use an alternfe{^ pnwfjgj-t for which adequate information is available. NVV . \ .\y ^ <*>T* Thank you again for yourySbnrte^'^afd cooperation, and for the efforts Eaton is makin(^&rSiitqiq|B,tt,e hazards in the Gallatin plant. We look forward to^arkingNM-th you in the future. JV .O^nSincerely yours, .V i\. * VS.' 5>s x, Cv' mV * 4 X*/ \ X x\N V MJW/^5^ Bruce Thrasher # Adolph E. Schwartz Herbert Johnson Michael J. Wright r Industrial Hygienist Safety and Health Department J SKen Mingle Staff Representative David Crenshaw President, Local Union 5034 EAB 018654