Document 99eQOzG6noXbxO96Q3gwqJe3

FILE NAME Quebec Asbestos Mining Association QAMA DATE 1977 Mar DOC QAMA148 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION QAMA Bulletin Vol 1 No. 1 Industry Advocates Dynamic Collaboration by M.J. MESSEL For some time now the asbestos issue has been very much in the news Hardly a day passes without some media report interview or commentary on the subject Given this flood of news rumours and hypothetical considerations it would be appropriate at this time to summarize the situation and recall the position adopted by the Associ- ation in the current debate First we are in no way seeking a sterile confrontation with Qu^'bec authorities On the contrary we wish to enter into a constructive and productive dialogue The 1977 reality As a first step the facts should be set straight and certain issue elements should be placed in their proper perspective So that the analysis made of the situation facing the Qu^'bec asbestos industry conforms to the 1977 reality To this end the industry is entirely agreeable to put at the disposal of public authorities who apparently are currently preparing scenarios and work assumptions concerning the asbestos industry all data constantly being updated and the expertise of specialists whose % knowledge experience and skill in the matter are undoubtedly unequalled in the world today Realism and common sense Once those responsible for preparing Qu^'bec's economic policies are aware of all the facts pertaining to an objective evaluation of the asbestos issue progress in the fields of health and environment investment programs economic potentials commercial _ trends competition etc. we are quite sure that common sense and realism will prevail To the extent that political mo- tivation is not the overiding issue and that Qu^'becleaders as we believe are above all interested in finding the best means of promoting Qu^'bec's economic interests and in encouraging greater participation by Quebecers individually and collectively in industrial development we feel the Government will want to explore all avenues to best attain these objectives particularly tailored to the asbestos situation and conceived in such a way as to draw the maximum ben- efit from the great advantages that the industry can offer in terms of human and financial resources ex- perience skill know and lever- age on world scale In this perspective we are convinced we can demonstrate that dy- namic collaboration between the in- dustry and the State is much more beneficial to Qu^'becthan the hypothetical advantages of a policy which would inevitably lead to the elimination of private capital inflow needed for the future expansion of the asbestos mining industry New formulas Under these conditions we have good reason to hope that Qu^'bec leaders will agree to the timeliness of seeking new creative formulas Mr. Messel president of Lake Asbestos is currently president of the Qu^'bec Asbestos Mining Association ee | Bulletin New Research Projects Concerned With Asbestos and Health The Montr^'alInstitute of Occupational and Environmental Health subsidizes four new studies totalling 445 000 The Montr^'al Institute of Occu- pational and Environmental Health created and supported by the Qu^'- bec Asbestos Mining Association recently approved four Important research projects in the field of prevntion and studies The amounts subsidized by the lastitute total 445 000 Projects approved will attempt to identify and study new methods and means to further reduce the quan- tiry of airborne asbestos dust to identify the risks following exposure to various levels of dust and to determine more accurately the causes of illnesses related to asbestos The projects The first project concerns the reduction of airborne asbestos fibre concentrations in industry using charged and uncharged water aerosols the second deals with fibre exposure mortality and radiographic changes of employees in the Qu^'bec chrysotile asbestos production industry A third project will concentrate in identiflying the relationships between the haemolytic effect of fibrous minerals in vitro and their effect on the alveolar macrophage and their fibro genicity m vivo Finally the fourth study will examine the distribution of particulate material in the rat fung following administration by inhalation and by single and multiple intracheal in- stallations The Institute's vocation As we have just seen all these projects have a common goal which is the elimination of the dangers of asbestos This has been the Insti- tute's objective since its inception by the Association in 1966 For the record the Institute's work and particularly its policies regarding subsidies awarded to scientific and medical research constitutes the most important contribution world to the advancement of science in the field of asbestos biological effects The recently approved projects bring to over $ 000 000 the total subsidies paid out by the Institute In the last few years At the pre- sent time the Institute is studying new requests from Qu^'becand in- ternational research agencies Independence and objectivity Research agencies Institutions and universities receiving Institute subsidies have total freedom and independence In addition research findings are published whatever the conclusions may be Furthermore the Institute is di- rected by a committee formed of Canadian European and American scientists who have a recognized 2 competence in relation to asbestos and health However they must not be related in any way to the asbestos industry Scope of work The Institute's research projects which benefit workers as well as users and manufacturers of asbes- tos products include first compar- ed epidemiological = studies in chrysotile mines of Canada chrysotile mones of Italy and anthophylite mines of Finland A second group of subsidies includes epidemiological studies in the asbestos- cement industries and in shipbuilding yards A third group includes epidemiological studies on mesothelioma among the population in general A fourth group includes studies on the chemical state and transformation of asbes- tos fibres during the various technological stages from the mining until the final utilisation of the product in relation with the study of the health of workers exposed to the fibres during these various stages Finally a fifth group includes studies on asbestos dynamic un vivo and on the mechanism of the biological action of asbestos All these studies have led to the setting up of an extremely valuable data bank forming the basis for en- vironmental control programs which have progressively been perfected byindustry Measuring Devices Are Put To Test The report of the Committee for the Study of the Health Conditions in the Asbestos Industry recommends that dust content be measured in three distinct ways continuous su pervision internal verification and inspection The Beaudry report named after the Committee chairman also introduced for the first time in America time weighted average dust measurements in the asbestos industry Certain of these time weighted measurement methods permit automatic determination of dust concentration levels rapidly Canadian Exports and continuously of Asbestos Products In 1976 Canada increased its exports of asbestos containing products At year's end the value of manufactured goods exported had reached 15 000 up % over 1975 sales of 14 631 273. Exports of asbestos products manufactured in Canada have risen sharply since 1972 when they totalled 5 206 000 To a large extent 1976 exports consisted of asbestos construction materials totalling 8 514 000 Brake linings totalled $ 457 000 while asbestos textiles Felts and sheets had a value of 093 000 Other products amounted to 3 043- 043- 000 Innovation Presented in London At this year's annual meeting in London England of the International Information Conference on Asbestos Lionel Piuze president and General Manager of Lake Asbestos described to delegates the specifications and functioning of a new device permitting mechanical opening of bags containing asbestos The device will soon be put to use at ** Lake Asbestos The International Asbetos Information Conference on Asbestos brings to- gether representatives of producers and consumers from all over the world Its aim is to promote an exchange of technical data relating to research especially in the fields of health hazards and new uses for asbestos products Mr. Piuze who is a member of the Executive Committee of the Conference is also chairman of the Committee on the Environment of The Qu^'becAsbestos Mining Asso- ciation All devices tested Accordingly in order to determine the situation existing in our mines and mills as the Beaudry Committee also recommended time weighted average dust measurements and mainly in order to compile other than bibliographical data and knowledge on the various devices suggested the Qu^'becAsbestos Mining Association took on the responsibility of testing all continuous monitoring devices and in turn recommend to its members the equipment which proved to be the most adequate Thus all devices described in the Beaudry report were tested the ROM the APM the PW 9790 the FH 62 A and the Tyndallometre Also since internal verification requires similar devices the RDM101 and the 3500 were tested in like manner A final report on the efficiency of each of these devices should soon be available along with purchase recommendations for the asbestos mining companies 3 Program and scope of the study The market and feasibility study which Sor^s is conducting on the Association's behalf deals mainly with the following aspects The feasibility study was at press held in Quebec Asbestos Mining Association and Paul Filteau Executive Vice on February 15. From left to right Ivan Bergeron president of Sor^'sInc. M.J Messel President of the president and Secretary of the Comprehensive Study to Develop Asbestos Manufacturing in Qu^'bec Specialists commissioned to carry out a market and feasibility study on manufacturing asbestos libres in Qu^'becare already at work and every effort is being made to adhere to the projected table As foreseen a preliminary report will be published in mid- June embracing study As known the Qu^'becAsbestos Mining Association has commissioned an important economic and scientific research firm Sor~ s Inc. of the SNC Group to undertake a comprehensive study of all possibilities and conditions for optimum development of a Qu^'bec asbestos manufacturing industry This news was released February 15 at a An indispensable decision tool for developing the asbestos manufacturing sector press conference chaired by Mr. Messel President of the Association The mandate given to Sor^s which has insured the collaboration of A.D. Little of Cambridge Massachussetts in carrying it out is the first ever to involve an exhaustive evaluation of the possibilities of manufacturing asbestos products in Qu^'becand of the economic viability of establishing new faci- lities Expansion parameters The object is to determine scientificaly and objectively parameters for expansion on a solid and realistic base of the asbestos manufacturing sector to the benefit of all Quebecers This initiative of the Association follows on a move first taken in 1974 when the industry then made a similar offer to the Qu^'becgovernment which did not pursuiet As a matter of fact any program aimed at the fullest possible integra- tion in Qu^'becof primary and manufacturing sectors of the asbestos in- dustry cannot reasonably be put into action without a complete market and feasibility study on a world basis It is precisely an embracing study of this type that the Association commissioned at cost of 225 000 Collective goals During the press conference Mr Messel pointed out that the decision testifies to the determination of the industry as a whole to unite in a concerted effort directed at contributing constructively to the attainment of col- lective economic goals Though the Association is financing the project it is pledged not to inter- vene in any manner or form in the work of Sor^sthe tatter having given alf warranty of impartiality on the findings of the study whose final report will submitted in October 1977 It has also been agreed that progress and preliminary reports as well as the final conclusions of this study which represents a major step towards in- creasing the manufacturing of asbestos In Qu^'becwill all be made public Opportunities Assessment Assessment of the opportunities for manufacturing asbestos products in Qu^'becand analyzing their competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets Selection of most promising pro- ducts and markets from asbestos fiber and asbestos products supply demand matrices regional shipments and estimated production costs @ Definition by geographic area of the market importance and its growth rate for selected products Evaluation of investment and operating costs for the manufac- turing of technological process alternatives environmental meas- ures energy and new material re- quirements Assessment of the economic and infrastructural investm environment Qu^'bec for new plant investment in Qu^'bec m agnitude of demand forecast from 1977 to 1985 Assessment of manpower re- quirements @ Analysis of existing trade palterns links and potential constraints which might affect the opportunity for Qu^'becmarketing Establishment of profit and loss forecasts cash flow needs and po- tential returns on investment over a year period @ Possible implications of health and environmental regulations in the manufacture of asbestos throughout the world @ Identification Identifcation of technological progress new products or new trade trends which could Influence the of asbesastbeostsos products Economic Feasibility General Characteristics of selected production units Schedule of implementation of the production units @ Industrial development strate- gies and action program Definition using an exhaustive list of possible products and their use of fabrication processes pro- duction units and sales strategies in relation to possibilities for market penetration @ Marketing strategies @ Export and import policies @ economic impact studies 4 Bulletin| Sor^sInc is member of the Mont- based SNC Group It was founded in 1963 to promote the application of the techniques of management science to financial economic social and industrial planning Sores Inc's Inc's multidisciplinary staff brings together economists and spe cialists in operations research cybernatics marketing and organiza- tion The team also includes mathe- maticians sociologists and urban- ists Vast experience The list of projects and mandates carried out by Sor^s over ils four- year span attests to the company's experience in economic and scientific research market and feasibility studies on both national and international scales Whether it be planning industrial development in Africa Asia or Latin America or evaluating numerous specific large projects in Canada such as the Bay James territory development study Sor^sexperience is on a par with its reputation The asbestos industry is not unknown to Sor^s which has already carried out for the Qu^'becGovern- ment three major studies on asbestos gaskets papers and textiles A.D. Little A.D. Little of Cambridge Massachusetts is assisting Sor^s for this mandate The American company is renowned in the field of scientific studies and research It has carried out numerous studies on asbestos production and conver- sion Background Quebec produces about 30 of the world production of asbestos fiber Its annual production is of the order of 14 million short tons for a total value of more than 300 million The raw material is mined and refined in Qu^'becand the fiber is exported to more than 80 countries Nearly 95 of the production is earmarked for export Qu^'becwhich uses only % of the annual production % for Canada is one of the smallest consumers of asbestos products There are 21 plants in Qu^'bec which manufacture products made with asbestos fibers and 20 of their production is exported On the other hand Qu^'becim- ports annually 15 of its requirements of asbestos products for its domestic markets The mining companies of Qu^'- bec are essentially engaged in mining although some of them have activities manufacturing of relative importance Nonetheless all the asbestos mining companies grouped together process less than 15 of the total production of asbestos fiber which is trans- formed into finished products by hundreds of manufacturing companies spread throughout the world Asbestos Corporation's President Confident in The Future Maurice Taschereau the new President and Chief executive officer of Asbestos Corporation recently ap- peared as a guest on the CTV net- worksworks Canada AM and stated that his company intends to actively pursue its air purification program in its mines and mills and for this purpose to invest same 30 million over the next few years Concerning healthy and safe work ing conditions Mr. Taschereau stated that considerable improvement had been made in the last few years and that he was confident the in- dustry will be able to meet the objectives set by the Qu^'becGovern- ment A useless step When questioned on reactions to statements made by the Qu^'becPremier on possible nationalization of asbestos companies the President replied that Mr. L^'vesque had spoken of nationalization as an ultimate solution if necessary In Mr. Taschereau's opinion it will be possible to demonstrate to the government that such a measure is absolutely unnecessary to attain the goals of Qu^'becleaders especially on the matters of the manufacturing of asbestos fibre in Qu^'becand the environment On CBC Mr Taschereau expressed the same opinions on the CBC's Frenchlanguage network show Ce Soir adding that an depth feasibility study should be made before undertaking major investment programs in the manufacturing sector Prior to becoming President of Asbestos Corporation Ltd. Mauri- ce Taschereau was President and a member of the Board of Direc- Maurice Taschereau tors of Gasp^' Copper Mines Ltd. His career with the latter company a subsidiary of Noranda Mines Ltd. began in 1953 when he completed his mining engineering at sludies McGill University Improvements to The Environment Information Campaign in Great Britain Last June the U.K. Asbestos Information Committee launched a large scale publicity campaign to inform the public on asbestos pro- ducts Aimed at readers of the Bri- tish press the campaign will cost close to a million dollars it con- sists in supplying the latest in- formation on the asbestos health issue and on the industry's efforts M lo assure safe use of the mineral Advertisements published in newspapers answer date questions and invite readers to contact the Asbestos Information Committee for further information The Committee received over 5,000 coupons after the first two ads appeared Opinion research conducted since the start of the campaign reveals that the public is now more interested in the possible uses of asbestos and realizes that when properly used asbestos products do not constitute a health hazard In 1976 Asbestos Corporation Ltd completed work totalling 2 500 000 at its four mines at Thetford Mines Black Lake and Coleraine Armong the projects carried out Asbestos Corporation installed new dust control equipment at its King Beaver mine in Thetford Mines its No. 1 and No. 2 British Canadian at Black Lake and at its Normandie mine at Coleraine A clothes facility was built at the King Beaver No. . mine and a new air sweeping sys- tem was installed at the Normandie mill and at the Beaver King secon- dary mil These improvements do not take into account other projects currently being carried out representing investments of several million 7 1976 Asbestos Production a In Qu^'bec Qu^'bec asbestos fibre deliveries totalled 373 941 short tons in 1976 an increase of 55.4 over the pre- ceding year 884 023 tons On the other hand in 1975 a month work stoppage occurred in the Thet- ford Mines area When compared to 1974 deliveries decreased by 162 715 tons or 10.6 However in 1976 during the hundredth anniversary of discovery of asbestos deposits in the Thetford Mines area the estimated value of fibre deliver- ies reached an alltime high of close to 340 million close to 5 176 million tons in 1976 Other producing countries include the Soviet Union South Africa Rhodesia Italy the United States and Australia Asbestos is also found in Cyprus in India and in Brazil In Canada For the whole of Canada asbestos deliveries also increased by 45.5 from 1 163 674 tons to 1 693 742 tons in 1976. When compared to 1974 these deliveries show a 6.5 decrease or 117 tons However Canadian sales should set a new record of close to 425 million Naturally Qu^'bec still leads the Canadian provinces with 81 of deliveries originating from eight mines six are open and two are underground located in the Eastern Townships Some 6 500 workers produce 150 types or mixtures of fibres and ensure their sale to over 80 coun- tries Other Canadian producers are located in British Columbia the Yukon Newfoundland and Northern Ontario World production Canada accounts for approximately 30 of the world's chrysotile as- bestos production It is estimated that world demand for asbestos was Main outlets Asbestos cement products are still the main market for asbestos fibre They represent approximately 70 of production and in the past this sector had the strongest growth rate Paradoxically there is little demand for this type of product in Canada and in Qu^'bec These demand products are in in developing strongest countries mainly as the cost of facilities quired to manufacture asbestos ment construction materials is rece- rel- atively low If consumers had to import these materials in the form of finished products costs would be such as to lead very simply to the disappearance of the market for fibre cement products in the countries where Canadian asbestos is present- ly sold Because of the elasticity of demand for products containing asbestos and of unit production costs a larger domestic market is an essential condition for reducing costs and consequently for increasing exports Bulletin This BULLETIN is published by the Qu^'becAsbestos Mining As- sociation box 1646 Station B Montreal H3B 3L3 The Post Office Department in Ottawa has authorized postage paid in cash and forwarding of the publication by third class mail