Document 82YDMkYJBVxEekZqEDnrYxO6a

FILE NAME: Rogers Corporation (ROG) DATE: 1976 Mar 11 DOC#: ROG062 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter RE Use of Asbestos with Samples K j, ardi 1. 1976 Hr. Citarles F. Stilly 17 Lodwcod Crlvt Clinton. Connecticut 1)6413 3*ar ChariIt: Tht following C M M t s art It answer to your questions eecemlng tur periance In using tsbastos aed the safety and health precautions e bave taken far the protection of a*r OfIU nabar employees who oust ori with and around asbestos. Regers Corporation has always taken steps to protect Its employees against known safety or health hazards. Ia the case ef asbestos although m hare used It In our Haachestar, Canaectlcut plant (Local #1654) since 1936 In Matrix and since 1951 to soldino aterais, and In our Bogara, Connecticut plant (local #46) since 1951 1n gasketing (tf Oerolds), wo were eet aware af any potentially serious health hazard frae our use of this storiai unti) 1972. At that tire wa Insti tuted prograa of nasal nodical asaos ; itr sailings on a regular basis; em ployee training; mandatory se ef approved personal protective equipment as re quired; personal sanitation procedures; warning signs at appropriate locations; engineered changes In plant, equipment and fracasa which reduc aployen exposure to asbestos; and a team of engineering and personnel department specialists assigned the ajer responsibility for fostering and nonltorlng the entire pro gram. The Information below will amplify the abovw-llsted Items, as well as answer other questions you raised; 1. engineered changes In plant, eoolpwent. and process Since 1972, we have spnt In the range of $200.000 1n plant, proCMS, and equipment Improvements designed specifically to reduce employee exposure to asbestos at our Manchester, Connecticut and Regers, Connecticut pienti. In addition wa have- found It feasible to convert wuch ef oer manufacturing process at the ftogers plant to toe use ef asbestos peeked In pufpeble bags 1n order to further reduce elr-bome asbestos In those operations, tfe are continuing to work steadfastly to engineer further Improvements Into our eqwtpeent and processes in order to meet the stricter 0SHA stan dards, 2.0 Ftbers/CC, which are to go Into effect July 1, 1975. The aree ore stringent standard (0.5 F1bers/CC) being discussed woola present ajer engineering and cost problems for us 1n com plying. Engineering work 1s presently being conducted tc enable us to attempt to comply If that stender Is adopted. Lagerberg 00373 ft. Chart F. tell!/ 2- ftreh 11, m e Tte remits of too a n t recent one and two hour air saapliags at M c h of tho operations at the Maachestor plant and at the Sogers plant art i t u c M . Alt tf tttst reported sawples art r m be- tweat pat and two hours txcopt 1* the Beater Seofl, whora the short processing tit Halted stapling time to IS 1 notes. The analysis of staples 1s by Tort Research Laboratories, an Indepen dent laboratory- 3* Medical t e w ft tern ft firing ewmal respirator/ systea aedical exams to ell eapln/ees with potential exposer* to eoneentratfoos of alr- borno asbestos since 1972. In addition w* hare allowed eoployees ebo are net presently exposed bet oho nere exposed In the past, to participate In the radical m s pragma. These e i a u era condocted under the aospices of the Long Research Center of the Vale University edlcd! School, with the results being reported only to the employee's private physician. However, the Long Research Center has informed asthat they have not discovere single work related nodical problem In any of these employees. . The Long Research Center Is authorized fay GSHA to retain the * ployoe'S records In accord with the OSHA asbestos standard. 4. Wort Clothes. Change Rooes, and Showers (Personal Sanitation Pro cedures In Haachester the employees are provided work clothes, change races, showers, and separate lockers for their work clothes end street clothes. The dirty work clothes are stored 1n a closed container until picked up by the laundry. This procedure 1s In the process of being established at Rogers, although we do not exceed the current asbestos standard and are. therefore, not re quired to establish such a procedure. 5. Personal Protective Equipment In the few operations where there 1s a fair possibility of air borne asbestos exposure wwentarlly exceeding DSHA specified levels, we require employees to wear approved personal protective respiratory devices as provided by the Company. 6. Labels aod Warning Signs Labels are used and warning signs are in place In accordance with USHA regulations. Lagerberg 00374 ?!r. Charles F. Reilly 1` March 11, 1976 Wrter of Employees The ourter of eroloyees, by shift. In the regulated areas 1s: Manchester (Local 1554} Rogers (Local 45) 1st -- 29 P 2nd - 17 S 3rd -- 4 4 I. In ''Mchester, Connecticut* the products In which asbestos Is used are: Matrix end rartows folding Compounds. It Is used 1n the foYfowIng canner: Dry (tlund 1ntn raw materials uncitr exhaust hood (a folding Compounds and Matrix. It 1*ed1etely btcouos wet tn the Matrix process. In '-*ol4lrr> Compounds, 1t usually be-eos*s bound Intc the product at an eerly stage of processing. In Regers. Connecticut, the product In which asbestos 1s used Is; GP Ourofds. It Is used In the following manner: P u l p a M e Bees or Vat Siend. Sincerely, S. t. Salth Vice President Personnel aS:ed Enclosures cc: 0, Renaud, <3ik Ledge M6 ) Included air sample InforMtlen which T. Hosby, Mania lodge ISM ) etiplles to their location only. N. L. Graencun T, H. Johnston, Jr. E. J. Sweeney H. Kupsaw S ' Lagerberg 00375 MOLDING MATERIALS DIVISION (Manchester, Connecticut) Beater Room Dryer-Slitter Calender Inspection Small Blender Large Blender 735 Extruder Pre-Mix Mill Operator Final Blender Screening & Grinding Kneader 11/6/75 11/6/75 11/6/75 11/6/75 11/6/75 11/1118/75 n ti 2/11/76 1 1/20/76 11/20/75 11/20/75 11/20/75 2/11II/76 Fibers/CC 0.75 0.01 0.75 0.24 1.05 0.09 3.00 0.10 4.07 0.85 3.74 0.61 0.02 0.03 0.04 1.37 2.22 Lagerberg 00376 FIBERLOYS DIVISION (Rogers, Connecticut) Beater Room -- Pulper Inspection Calender Feeder 2/9u/76 2/9/76 2/9/76 F1bers/CC 1.18 2.05 0.30 0.10 Lagerberg 00377