Document 85a2vYQ2GGYG05K26mxnGkELd

FILE NAME: WR Grace (WRG) DATE: July 21, 1970 DOC#: WRG228 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1970 Minutes of Board of Examiners special meeting on asbestos hazards. Marked incomplete document. BOARD OF EXAMINERS SPECIAL MEETING - ASBESTOS HAZARDS MINUTES OF MEETING July 21, 1970 MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Messrs. Oliphant, Merrill, Degenkolb, and Guttman. Secretary Goldberg, Fire Insp. Jebe Mr. Raff in (TAPE 870) (TAPE 920) Meeting called to order by Chairman Oliphant at 7:10 PM. Mr. Goldberg reviewed history of the problem, beginning with first available information in San Francisco in 1968, He noted the previous meetings of the Beard considering the possible hazard and briefly reviewed actions by some Eastern cities as well as by the California State Division of Industrial Safety. He defined the several areas of possible hazard to construction workers as well as to the general public. Dr. W, Clark Cooper, School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Introduced himself at the request of the Chairman, and outlined his experience with the insulating trades. He sub mitted an "Outline - Asbestos and Human Health." He concurred with the general view that a hazard exists and defined his presentation as a review to bring the problem into clear perspective with the present state of knowledge: 1. Controls and safeguards are needed to protect workers who are in contact with asbestos. 2. There is probably no significant special hazard to the general pubi ic. 3. Each of the five different types of asbestos require different safety techniques, k, Knowledge of the subject is incomplete. . 5, Asbestos bodies and similar bodies are found extensively in lungs of the general public. The extent to which asbestos is a significant factor Is difficult to determine. Board of Examiners Special Meeting - Asbestos Minutes of Meeting July 21, 1970 Page Two Hazards (TAPE 1120) (TAPE 1140) (TAPE 1200) (TAPE 1230) He concluded: 1. Asbestos fibers in sufficient doses certainly cause diseases. 2. it is not known how low a dose is safe. 3. Many bodies (other minerals, asbestos, etc.) can cause hazard. To sort them out is difficult, 4. Asbestos exposure must be reduced. ' 5. Dr. Cooper is working on study projects to define safety controls in asbestos-using industries, . Dr. Selma Dritz, San Francisco Department of Public Health, defined the presently existing possibility of preventing further spread of severe effects of asbestos-caused diseases, and urged the Board to take necessary steps to control the industries. Mr, Douglas Fowler, University of California at Berkeley, cited measurement of number of asbestos fibers in ambient air at different locations at and near a construction site using asbestos materials. Measurements are stated in time-weighted averages ove an 8~hour day. He submitted copies of report, "Asbestos Fiber Concentrations in Air From Spray Fireproofing Operations Using Zonolite Products" by Tabershaw-Cooper Associates, dated July 15, 1970. Mr. John Fisher, American Institute of Architects, cited use of insulating materials during many years, with no knowledge of the existence of any hazard. He stated that measurement of fibers in ambient air of a completed building has been made recently (at Bechtel Building). Mr, Goldberg asked for source of the figure of 5 fibers per milliliter, Dr. Cooper stated source was textile industry, particularly in England, He considered 5000 fibers per liter as high, 1000 per liter as reasonably safe, 100 per liter as virtually undetectable.