Document 9143YyQb3aL06Momb5XeQ8voV

CHAHLES E. I11JKT JOHN U. CARRJCO VICTOR A. BAAONB LAW OFFICES HURT & CARRICO ONE BRIDGE PLACE POST OFFICE DRAWER B33 CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA 2iJ2J June 18, 1986 TELEPHONE 0M) 344-3301 Rebecca A. Betts Attorney at Law Charleston National Plaza Charleston, West Virginia 25301 Re: Arthur D. McClure and others vs. Wheeler Protective Apparel and others Our File No. 85KA136 Dear Rebecca: As I advised you by telephone, I am representing Wheeler Protective Apparel in several cases brought by former employees of Union Carbide Corporation alleging exposure to asbestos materials. Wheeler Protective Apparel made a glove which was apparently used by the claimants between 1956 and 1962 which is Wheeler No. 4815. I am enclosing a photocopy of a page describing these gloves. I need to obtain a sample glove to have examined by some expert to show that the wearing of the glove would not subject someone to asbestosis. Wheeler Protective Apparel no longer manufactures this glove nor does it have any in stock;. The local distributor was Safety First Supply Co. who also no longer has any of these gloves. I am hoping that Union Carbide might have some in stock or perhaps have some used gloves somewhere that we could borrow or purchase. Any assistance that we might be able to receive from Union Carbide would be greatly appreciated. CEH/tr Enclosure UCC 003337 Sfrrrt. (."/i/Vf/ifi* / O. IHimtis *4805 *4807 *705 *803 *1035 4811 706 036 4006 707 00/ *1337 *-t8IS *10910 *15768 708 008 4808 709 LC9 **839 `;UI9 710 810 4810 *15768 *4809 *10910 GLOVES, a-ibc'iiot1 II " long, lined, GLOVES. ii-betto-./. H iong, lined. palm and thumb leather reinforced, GLOVES, aibe-to*,'. ir long, lined, full front leather reinforced. GLOVES, drbe tOi1, II" long, lined: palm, thumb, and full finger leathei reinforcement. GLOVES, osbeuoi'. II" long, unlined. GLOVES. Oibcitci.' II" long, unlmed, palm and thumb leather reinforced. GLOVES, a-.he`.toi`. li" long, unlmed. full front leather icmfeuced GLOVES. .T.bcitrv.' 14" long, lined. GLOVES, utbc-tO'd. 14" long, lined, palm and thumb leather reinforced. GLOVES, atbcitod M" long, lined, full front leather reinforced. GLOVES, iv-bestcd. 14" long, lined- palm, thumb and full finger leather reinforced. GLOVES, ,id.e-.to;` idouble thief), 14" long, jumbo .me i : ah i ,,nd ihmnh Ihei mnl.-t.-.-vf, |e ith-r n!i rein forced on i nger-. GLOVES. .Vjhcitot' {double Ihicfl. 14" long, full film1. `e.itlei leml-trced, jumbo tire. GLOVES, a .netted H" long GLOVES. rt'.be-tot , 14" Inng. unlmed, palm end thumb le.ithei rcmfiirced, GLOVES, asbeded, 14" long, unlined, full front leather reinfuired. GLOVES. uibotnd. J}" long, lined, GLOVES, a bc.tod. .'J" long hr.cd. palrt and thumb leathei lemli.ired. GLOVES, :'.i..".iod ,M'long, lim'd, lull final leather e.ntoiced. GLOVES, mb.: tod Id" long . luieit- palm thumb a ml full lingoie.ilher f emf--re,': i GLOVES, i i .tee . . j" long, unlmed. GLOVES, i-.: .'Mo*,1 long, unlmed, palm mij thumb leather n.'u-.lorci' l GLOVES, vft.-to*/ ?J" iony* uni'ifietl, full front r*:*ntol tC:-J. , UndftwitUf'* Gr*d< Herringbone Wn* Atbilof it utd on lh* front #nd b*cb of *11 the jbov nbtllOt glovii---when tk he*vy wftiin^ \|rr occur!. Underwrite*'* Gi*dc AitVtt Wjivt Aibtttoi it uicd on Ike cjHi. Something newt *JV hei chinked Q*** la itbettot 9lov pattern*. Improvement* in dttigfi hi* been made The new ii Unjef throughout, it cHift th* U*| word in hind comfort, nd it he* * lilk*r thumb item rcinfaitimint which will intt*4i the w*4r<ny time. UCC 003338 wt to --i u a- to ^ s u O' --> u a 3 2-- i3--I 0 * <" O U -H i ja m c*j-r ty t-h -3 *S r: * 3 Q) * q n _ _ _ jj ^rO (fi t4-| CM* c e> o rH 3U O "Q>- M--- 03 0c 4Z ? a *003 S3 0O3 2 >> o CO H W JJ 03) "T*0HJr tO j: iH 01 Lt- JJ LO 60 Li d ed 43 JJ td d JJ cd i-l JZ --o G) jj - 4Z Q) jj to 03 TZ *3 JJ ..i-l T-H *dr-i (A JJ Vd H 1-i 4-1 o do o2 a to 0) a LJ o cd CL o B o r-* u jj cd jj u u VJ 3 cd 0) u cd 0) 43 cd a3 U Jj 3 o cd d GJ M-t pC to 0) JJit T3 03 43 0i EH c -- P- *rf H CL iH H CO JJ 3 JJ 3 cr o a H <Li to i-i O jj c cd u o a * o JC CO jj to o cd a 03 4= H U 0) rH JJ JJ > cd rH JJ iH td cd d cd a r--< 3 tJ ad d to cd CO Q> Q> S' Li 0) a cd Li U cd 03 U *H jj a a CO to cd a 3 cd cd a to 43 c0 >v jj JJ C cd -H r-t C B fr o to CL o jj 3 aa 0) 3 u 3 0) a O d T3 !-i d Vj 03 O d jj C0 a M a JJ 3 <D 0) cd C O tH tH 4-> O r* M CO cd -tH a JJ <d xz jj WORKING WITH ASBESTOS SEX PR0JECI0R,.0N...SLIDEJ`..JL.-AKD_STASI-AUIt 10. TAPE.^.MUSIC. SLIDES 2,3,4, ...MUSIC FADES____ Over the years asbestos has been widely used..........in . ---- <S . <2> . -<35 - ............. t> industry.......... tranportation........... homes...........construction rrr. automotive parts..........fire protection........... and many other applications. It'has been a very popular and effective insulating and fire retardant material. ^^3------------------------ Medical research has now determined there is a health hazard in"b"reathing~"asbestos fibers, and 'the Federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has developed a standard for controlling occupational _ __ exposure to this material ^ ' As'awareness of the potential hazards associated with exposure to asbestos dust has spread among the manufacturing community.......... and consumers........... asbestos has been ...... c virtually eliminated from most product lines.......... So, what's our1 concern here at the South Charleston Plant? We're concerned Jjecause there's still a certain amount of asbestos in our plant in the form of insulation, packing, (yg> . gaskets, etc. installed in earlier years and still In service. It is for this reasoj^ue want you to be ._ ................................ familiar with the OSHA standard and the safe procedures for handling and disposing of asbestos UCC 003339 Page 2 Now, before we go any further, let's.take a close look at some asbestos dust and understand more about whv we want to avoid breathing it. Note that the fibers are long, narrow particles, with sharp edges. If these aren't removed before they get into the lungs, they can become embedded in the fleshy tissues and they tend to remain there. We're looking now at ahealthy lung The body has a built-in defense system for snagging and expelling most dust and foreign particles we breathe..........including asbestos.......... Particles wThich do succeed in getting into the lungs are attacked by special cells which form scar tissue over them. Then the body attempts to dissolve the particles. The trouble with asbestos fibers is that they won't absorb. So, fiber by fiber, as this dust enters the lungs, more scar tissue is formed.......... taking up more and more air space. The lung we're looking at now ^ the condition called "asbestosis," which can --- result over a period of years from breathing asbestos . dust. The symptoms are difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. The physician would hear crackling noises when listening to the chest through a steth,oscope.V. _T_i--l UCC 003340 Page 3 Asbestosis has a long latent period, ranging from 5 years (for heavy- exposures) to as long as 20 to 30 years. So, cases seen today are not necessarily an indication of present-day working conditions, but instead, of conditions .existing years aeo when little was known about the health effects of asbestos. The important point we want to make, then, is for you $ to protect yourself and your fellow employees from__ _ breathing asbestos dust. If you are a heavy smoker, V *^ --- ---------- -------------- ---------------- - _t_h__is_ _m__e_s_s_a_ge_ is of even greater significance to you.'"'~---^ \ Moving on now to the OSHA standard, it limits your allowable < exposure to no more than 2 asbestos fibers longer than 5 t 1 microma^aj|s^per cubic centimeter of air, averaged over the workday, and sets a "ceiling" of 10 fibers longer than 5 micrometers per cubic centimeter of air -- not to be exceeded at anytime. What is Union Carbide doing to protect you from excessive exposure to asbestos? We've established some common-sense work practices and disposal procedures. Under most conditions asbestos^s^not normally in fiber form small enough to be ---------breathed. - The potential problem is with the removal, cleanup ... and disposal of insulating materials around the plant which were installed in earlier years before we began using asbestos-free mat UCC 003341 Page 4 we provide ro_utine period_ic_ physicals to all employees who are exposed to asbestos fibers in their work. These include a chest x-ray. The__result of the examination will be discussed with _ you, and upon written request, the information will be made available to your family doctor. Asbestos fibers are released when you cut or saw the insulation. For this reason,' several~precautibhs"must "be taken when removing-insulation; to prevent exposure. ` First, be sure to determine if the material you are stripping, or working with, contains asbestos. When asbestos is involved, the work area must be roped off with yellow barricade tape, and warning signs posted which read: ' 'Asbestos dust hazard - - -- ------------ - ........ Avoid breathing dust _______ .. __________ Wear assigned protective equipment Do not remain in area unless your work requires it Breathing asbestos dust may be hazardous to your health _ The barricade and signs must remain in place until the job and all cleanup are completed. The Plant Environmental Protection Department must be notified ahead of time - especially where large-scale jobs are involved, such as the stripping of more than 260 linear feet of pipe, or more than 160 square feet. UCC 003342 You nay be asked to wear a small air sampling pump while you work. The pump samples the air around you and traps .&> anv asbestos fibers present on a filter Afterwards our Industrial Hygienist will determine the asbestos fiber concentration by studying the filter under a microscope. Whenever we monitor you, the results are sent to your supervisor who, in turn, is responsible for showing them to vou. The results are also kent on ,' ` file for at least 20 vearsS2^ Whenever possible, asbestos must be thoroughly wetted before handling, cutting, scoring, or any other activity which could create dust.- The purpose of this is to ' prevent loose asbestos fibers from blowing around ......... ,. ________________ ...................... When working over a grating..........or a slag surface where ' '' dust can collect, be sure to cover the surface area with - ------------------ plastic sheeting, and keep everything on it damp^^^) . Whenever doing work involving asbestos, or when stripping any kind of insulation-- regardless of whether or not it contains asbestos -- the proper type of respirator must be used. For normal dust exposure, either the Norton Model 170A respirator, or the 3M disposable respirator may be used. ------Both of these respirators filter the asbestos, or any dust, before you breathe it. They have been tested and approved for use with asbestos. - - When you are in a confined space, or when dust is very heavy, a supplied-air respirator is to be used. The Safety . _ _ _ Department provides training in the proper UCC 003343 _ Page 6 use, care and maintenance of these and other respirators. Coveralls will he supplied for jobs involving asbestos, and disposable paper coveralls^---ire available from the storeroom. These work clothes are to be stored in separate lockers away from where street clothing is kept. Clothing worn while working with asbestos must be removed before you handle food or enter an eating facility Never, never use compressed__air_to blow dust off of your ' work clothing I This is a serious violation of the safety rules I Vacuum instead I Your contaminated work clothing is to be placed in_______ dust-proof plastic bags, wired closed, and a caution label attached to each bag to alert laundry employees of the presence of asbestos dust. All waste materials, bags, debris and old insulation must be collected and disposed of in special plastic bags which have caution notices printed right on the front of the bags'r--'When filled, the bags must be tjSSS,sealed^^and are then transported e Goff Mountain Landfill for disposal.. These bags are available from the Storeroom. - If, for any reason, one of these specially-marked plastic bags is used for anything other than asbestos materials. UCC 003344 Page 7 be sure to turn the bag wrong side out so that people will not see the cautionary notice and assume that disposal must be handled in accordance with procedures for asbestos Finally, and most important, use good housekeeping and common'sense'In your'work. "When 'cutting insulation from -overhead pipes,-lower it to the ground. Don't drop it and stir up dust. J_ _______ _ Keep all-surfaces" free of "accumulated asbestos dustV When-cleaning an area-containing asbestos -dust, wet--cleanor vacuum clean it. ^Or, when necessaryapply sweeping compound to the area. Never use a broom, brush, or an air hose to clean up dry asbestos. If you are ever uncertain about how to perform a job . ... safely, without exposing yourself to asbestos fiber, talk ..................... to your supervisor first. Don't take chances with your health. We don't want you to. If you see a possible health hazard^ bring it to your supervisor's attention p romp t ly. Also, if you have further questions about the information we have covered today, please don't hesitate to talk with your supervisor, the Plant Safety & Health Department, or the Medical Department. What we want you to do is. Save your breath by protecting your lungs I MUSIC UP AND OUT------ UCC 003345