Document 85djyo4bbZLwaNo7eDXjN5Qdo

-&Lt. -NATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING Friday, April 27. 1979 Present for the Company J. J Whelan P. E. Toth E. E. Meyer Present for the Union E. Kovaclch F. Mirer The following Issues were discussed at the monthly meeting which was held in the labor relations conference room - WHQ. CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME The Company provided a status report of the program to the urion. They were advised that the questionnaires were expected to b. received this week and analysis would begin the week of May 7, 1979. Following analysis of the questionnaire the company will be filming certain operations at Dearborn Assembly Plant. These films will also be analyzed and data., resulting from this analysis should be available by approximately June 15, 1979. The union was advised that the study will be completed by August 1, 1979. Kovaclch then commented on his observations of certain op srationa at Sheldon Road on Friday, April 27, 1979. Kovaclch requested that corporate * personnel look at these jobs which he alleged are responsible for employe complaints and stated that Gary Atkins (plant safety engineer) knew all of the job particulars. LEAD The union representatives stated that It was their Impression that the requirement regarding restricted respirator use to 4.- hours per shift beginning in 1980, as described in the new lead standard, was applicable to the wearing of all respirators. Toth stated that it was his under standing that air supplied hoods were excluded from .his restriction. Toth indicated-that he wag sure that instructions from OSHA subsequent to the istiumce of the new standard covered this question. Toth indicated that ha would attempt to locate the appropriate material and. ahaar It with the members of the committee. Kovaclch again alluded to tha company providing more relief to employes assigned to the solder grind booths and any other employee exposed to more than 50 u.g.X (over the PEL). Mirer stated that the UAW has sane data that indicated that even employes under the air supplied hood might be exposed to * more than 50 u.g.X and that additional relief might therefore be appro priate. I responded that the issue of relief was not appropriate subject matter for discussion by this committee. The legal status of the new lead standard was discussed primarily by Mirer, for Kovaclch' benefit. There was no disagreement among the parties in this regard. 8008 0137 SCF-FORD-1723 PRODUCED BY FORD Mirer also indicated that he had not seen the Company's request for variance. He indicated that after reviewing the request he might wish to discus* it further. TRAINING CONFERfiWCE *We advised the union that we would make a copy of this years agenda available to them by the middle of May. Kovacich recommended that the use of epoxies be included on the agenda and the Company readily agreed. (The use of a particular epoxy in AAD and MSD has created some employe complaints especially at certain MSD plants and has been discussed at earlier meetings.) TDI The question of employe exposure to TDI at Utica was again discussed. Mirer inquired of Toth about materials in use at Utica with no M numbers. *Toth agreed to check this out. A copy of the industrial hygiene survey results from Utica was provided to Mirer. With respect to monitoring equipment at Utica, which the union regards as Inadequate, Toth Indicated that we are presently looking at newer, more effective equipment. Toth also mentioned that the Company is considering a modification to the ventilation system. ,-- t: The union members expressed concern that the company did not have a tf0- back-up monitoring system at Utica. Kovacich stated that he thought tW * Company should have "an early warning system" rather than waiting for'-* employes to report problems to medical. The union stated that employes at Utica are still complaining about exposure to TDI and agreed to furnish the company with the names of these employes. ASBESTOS Toth Indicated that the Company was still compiling a list of personnel * exposed to asbestos for the purpose of providing these employes with annual physicals. Kovacich requested that the Company investigate a situation * at Lorain Assembly Plant involving the receipt and storage of brake assemblies, allegedly containing small amounts of asbestos, which are packaged only in plastic bags. Apparently such packages, stored on wooden pallets* Can at times not only create housekeeping problems but also result,itt eaploye exposure to asbestos as well. ' Kovacich' elW mentioned that in the future he may request that a corporate representative accompany him on plant tours or surveys. He stated that too frequently local company representatives are not sufficiently familiar with the health issues discussed and are therefore reluctant to commit company resources to reasonable resolutions on a timely basis. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 1979. J. Whelan * Requires Company action and/or follow-up 8008 0138 PRODUCED BY FORD