Document 93OE2X6xMMx0JYdDkNgjv3aXD

FILE NAME: National Gypsum (NG) DATE: 1968 May 16 DOC#: NG021 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Recommended Health Safety Practices for Handling and Applying Asbestos-Cement Products & Cover Letter ! C cc: .1. r.'yAy.- ft inincari\yvr " A./H. ray r J o h n s - M a n v i l l e X b- Crov5U *>I 'K < I! * 1 NtJN'EtRINC. C E N T 1R r i iu ix i `io M A N Y U l E . N I W J E RS E Y T E L E P H O N E 120) > R A N D C - l P H r - o c c o m May 16, 1968 :*%>?.--j,'?.%*v V--> ; a?*-. __ ~- Mr. t : H. Zimmerman Director of Safety National Cypsum Company Cold Bond Building Buffalo, New York Dear Frank: 65 A joint meeting of the Asbestos Building Products Manufacturers Environmental Health Council and the Mineral Fiber Products Bureau will be held on Monday, June 17, 1968 in the Johns-Manville Board Room, 22 East AOth Street, New York City, at 10:00 A.M. fhe purpose of the meeting is to discuss coordination and possible consolidation of both organisations for the purpose, of handling health safety problems in the Asbestos-Cement Building Products Industry. Sincerely, CLS/ems C_ ^ ' - k b - / f a ' - j ----- C. L. Sheekler, Manager Occupational Environmental Control : KOPYKORNER1 1 3 7 36177 r C / / , . KECCMMEJCDE!' HEALTH SAFETY PRACTICES K<)!`. HANDLING AfI> APPLY I NT. AiPrs-IOS-CLWIN-T PKOIM CTS IN TU BPn.DIKC a?::- rnr.'STRrcTioN i :;iii :": h i k .s t V. TG -178 k o e r- 4f.a* s i n -v o r r e i i o n .......................................................................... .> ` F .............. .. .............. SHIPIMM., HAN'Dl.IW. .AM) .'lnrxACr............................ FABRICATION ant- .APPI.:CA T ]on . VF'-'PTkATOHY FOl IPMF.NT I OR HhAJ.Ti! SAFETY* .S .SAKE " >-r*-e ma 'ir jsr** to Veep in - f u l in the hanrllinp and apis!virig nf m aterials containing ashesto9: . TaVe every p r e c a u tio n to keep d u s t to a ttuni'sni'u. '-.'r t` . S . Burea o f M in e stoor !!f<n r a * nr s vh**n cf| |n f X l . S * . i v tlus t s . 1 i*a*u j -.-i*! h.viaeVeep l1/ at a i t t ino>. . *>. 36479 o o 1KTKODUCTT ON The development end production of hundreds of natural and synthetic material including asbestoscement products has brought the need to protect workers from certain health risks, known or suspected. Manufacturers of asbestos-cement products have for years been taking protective measures to eliminate excessive exposures to inhalation of dusts that may be injurious. The handling and application of asbestos-cement products la very diverse and ranges from the Installation of a single piece to extensive operations Involving cutting and machining by mechanical eauipment. Vhlel care should always be exercised, special precautionc are necessary when excessive dusts, including asbestos, are generated as the result of sawing, drilling or other similar operations. Experience has shown that all materials can be handled with no adverse effects to health provided proper precautions are taken. The Asbestos Building Products Manufacturers recommend the following practices for handling and applying asbestos-cement products in the building and construction industries. Contractors and applicators are urged to study these reconsnended practices carefully and to see that they are observed by ell workers handling asbestos-cement materials. As with Safety Regulations, it 6 in the interest of both employer and employee to see that health protection practices art strictly observed. - 3- 364S0 An organized housekeeping program should be maintained in all areas and on all operations t all times. A major source of excessive airbrone dust is from loose materials, scrap and debriB distributed throughout the Job area and disintegrated by trampling on running over, etc. Much of the airborne contamination can he eliminated by exercising simple good housekeeping practices. Specific standards and practices designed for providing, safe, clean and orderly working conditions should be defined. Efficient supervisory control, planning of systematic cleaning plus day to day follow-up are the basic reouirements for dust control and injury prevention. -4- 364S1 c SHIPPING,- HANDLING AIO) STORAGE r Under normal conditions, unit lead handling and storage of asbestos-cement products including roofiog and aiding shingles, flat and corrugated sheets, asbestos-cement pipe, etc., present no environmental health problems. When handling individual piecea of flat and corrugated asbestos sheets, care should be taken when placing one sheet on top of the other to avoid creating excessive airborne duct and breakage. If breakage of asbestos-cement*products occurs, broken pieces of material should be cleaned up and disposed of to avoid disintegration by trampling on, running over etc. which may create excessive dust. Handling and storage of bags containing asbestos fiber, cements etc. present no environmental health hazards, providing bags are unopened and not broken. Open or broken bags should be repacked, resealed or discarded to prevent dust distribution throughout working areas. Spillage -should-be ( cleaned up immediately. .5. 3G-152 i.. r.JWttV, c ~ O f a b r ic a t io n Ain> a p p l ic a t io n When moving asbestos-cement, products to end from the fabrication site, individual pieces of eiaterial should-be handled w i t h cere to avoid creating excessive airborne dust and breakag. Fabrication of asbestos-cement products involving cutting, drilling, saving, etc., should be done in a manner that vill minimize airborne duat. The uae * of proper methods, tools and equipment vill contribute considerably toward duat abatement. When cutting drilling, saving, etc. on a repeated basis with power equipment.^mechanical duat collecting systems adeouately designed to remove dust from the source should be used. If mechanical dust collecting systems cannot be used and excessive dust is generated, respirators should be worn. In confined spaces, fabrication of stbestos-cement products require special precautions. Provide mechanical dust collecting systems adequately designed to remove duat from the source. If conditions prevent collecting dust at the source, use exhaust blowers to provide continual general room air changes. Avoid exhausting these blowers into other work areas. If exhaust equipment cannot be used, respirators should be worn. Provide vaste containers at All fabrication and application areas. Dispose of unusable material immediately. Keep floors and surfaces clean. Dust and small particles created during fabrication and application should be cleaned up. Vacuum eoulpment is recommended for this cleaning. If vacuum equipment cannot be used, vet down waste material before sweeping end shoveling. If excessive dust is generated during clesn-up respirators should be worn. Bureau of nines - approved respirators * See Page -M 3G-1S3 "T7 o f RESPIRATORY EOUIPMENT Only U. S. Bureau of Mines-approved respiratory equipment is recommended for use with asbestos, -ilica and other pneumoconiosis-producing due ta. Approved respiratory eouipment must be used at all operations where dust control is not sufficient to maintain airborne dust concentration within . allowable limits for asbestos and other pneumoconiosis producing dusts, as established by governmental and professional agencies. * i efficiency and effectiveness of respiratory eouipment is dependent upon proper care, cleaning and maintenance. ' A systematic procedure should be established to aasure that this is done. i > 1 c t i ! j i< Lists'of currently approved respiratory equipment can be obtained from: Bureau of Mines United Stotes Department of the Nineteenth and E Streets, N.V. Washington, D. C. 20240 c Interior American Industrial Hygiene Association 14125 Prvost Detroit. Michigan 48227 i V. 36484