Document 91EkK4ojezOMpzR5g38gBoj75

Inter Office Personnel end Organization Staff March 18, 1982 Mr. J. D. Whyte, Manager Kentucky Truck Plant cc C. E. Allen, Jr., M.D D. Dyer J. G. Henry Subject: Industrial Hygiene Re-Study - Asbestos Fiber Exposures Reference: Industrial Hygiene Study - Asbestos Fibers, M. J. O'Brien to J. D. Whyte, April 9, 1980 Along with first quarter lead monitoring conducted March 2-3, 1982, additional sampling at the request of Mr. D. Dyer, Safety Engineer, was performed of employe exposures to airborne asbestos fibers. The purpose was to re-study asbestos-use areas and quantify exposures of those employes who routinely handle asbestoscontaining materials, per OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.1002. Only asbestos re sults are detailed in this report. Lead exposures will be reported at a later date. FINDINGS Asbestos fiber exposures at Kentucky Truck Plant are confined to assembly areas where new brake linings and clutch plates are installed. In some instances, the installation of these parts involves an abrading action that can potentially generate airborne fibers. Mainly, employe breathing zones can be contaminated by the release of fibers that have accumulated in the shipping cartons used for part storage. The extent of employe exposure to asbestos is dependent on many factors including personal work practices and the amount of dust in these cartons. Results from this study, as shown on the attached table, demonstrate the presence of airborne fibers within the employe breathing zones but at airborne concen trations, 1) below the OSHA permissible occupational exposure limit (PEL) of 2 fibers, longer than per cubic centimeter of breathing zone air (f/cc) and, 2) below the medical action level of 0.1 f/cc. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the above results, no additional employes require the annual medical examination at this time as specified in Dr. D. L. Block's letter to Divisional Industrial Relations Managers, et.al., (Medical Monitoring - Asbestos Exposures, May 2, 1978). However, those employes who were identified in the April, 19&0 Industrial Hygiene study as exposed to asbestos fibers in excess of the medical action level, must continue to receive annual medical examination. This is Company policy when dealing with asbestos, a known carcinogen, in which no safe limit or threshold of exposure is known and an employe exposure exceeds 0.1 f/cc. S005 1637 PRODUCED BY FORD Mr. J. D. Whyte March 18, 1982 Page Two In addition, the following is recommended: . Minimize employe exposure with routine vacuuming of shipping cartons and other areas of potential dust build-up of asbestos-containing material. . Insist supplier vacuum loose dust and fibers from parts and boxes before sealing and shipment. Request supplier to investigate coating inside of shipping boxes with an adhesive (spray or sticky paper lining) to trap non adherent asbeBtoB fibers released from parts during shipment. (This was successful for clutch plates at Livonia Transmission Plant. Raybestos was supplier of clutch plates wrapped in sticky paper.) . Vacuum operator will require monitoring and prior to monitoring, personal protective equipment during disposal. . Proper disposal methods are required such as collecting waste material in impermeable, clearly labeled bags. . If any changes in the present operation occur that may impact on employe ex posures such as rate increase, etc., additional sampling should be performed. dt attachment Ala.. ... .uiivw. Industrial Hygienist Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology Dept. Employe Health Services 8005 1638 PRODUCED BY FORD INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE SERVICES SECTION INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYE HEALTH SERVICES___________ Kentucky Truck Plant Asbestos Use Areas March 2-3, 1982 PERMISSIBLE OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMIT TO AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS (f/cc = fibers per cubic centimeter of breathing zone air) Contaminants Action Level 8-Hour Time-Weighted Average Exposure Limit Asbestos 0.1 f/cc 2 f/cc RESULTS Employe Name S.S. Number Job Position (Column Number) Date Department 62 - Front End Axle J. Renfrow 310- 46-71^4 Brake Tightener (AA-2) 3/2/82 M. E. Hibbs 407-60-0975 Hub Hanger (AA-2) 3/2/82 Department 64 - Rear End Axle R. Leffler 311- 46-1036 Brake Set-Up (K-7) 3/2/82 J. Richert 306-56-1773 Brake Tightener (K-6) Department 74 - Diesel Engine Line 3/2/82 H. Robinson, Jr. 315-44-7073 Clutch Plate Assembler (B-4) 3/2/82 3/3/82 N. D. = None Detected at 0.004 fibers/cc Airborne Fiber Concentration Time-Weighted Average (f/cc) 0.02 N.D. 0.007 0.01 0.08 0.02 6005 1639 DATA RETRIEVAL NUMBERS: ARA 172-176, 183 INSTRUMENTATION; Bendix BDX-55 sampling pump with 0.8 ^m open-face AA filters ANALYSIS: Fiber Microscopy performed by L. Latorre, Senior Industrial Hygienist FOSD MOiCi- COr.'.'ANY Industrial Hyyiunu 6 jy Laboratory Accrtd.icd it '-!...*d !>yt American InCuslrul ri/j.^ne Association PRODUCED BY FORD