Document BM1MB79kEoQDYaG82Xk5XzJE

FILENAME: Flintkote (FLK) DATE: 1972 DOC#: FLK010 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letters RE Physical Examinations, Specific Employee Exposure & Labels P. O. BOX 2218 TERM IN AL ANNEX LO S A N G ELE S . C A LIFO R N IA 0 0 0 5 4 Dr. Carl E. Nemeth, M. D. 5592 South Santa Fe Avenue Los Angeles, California 90058 November 17, 1972 Dear Dr. Nemeth: W e have been advised by our New York OffIce)that we can proceed with our physical examinations for those employees presently en gaged In occupations exposed to Airborne Concentrations of A sbes tos Fibers, At the present time we have approximately fifty (50) employees that will have to be examined prior to January 31 1973. We were also advised that prior to the examinations a question naire would have to be filled out by our Plant Doctor as to each employees symptoms of past respiratory diseases. Our first draft of the Questionnaire may be too long and may have to be revised. The attached form will have to be reviewed and we would appreciate any comments you might have. We would like to get together with you in the next few days to review this form. RCB.'bh Attach. cc: W. Harvey A. C. Costa S Weiss - White Plains Sincerely yours, vJ-QS&^. Richard C. Berns, Director of Safety and Fire Prevention December 19, 1972 W"8*1* A. C. Be m s PREBLES ROCKWOOD i Trebles Rockwood, ege h6 has been employed tn the Emulsion Plant since April 8, 1969 as a laborer. His principle duties consists of clearing up around the Department. At times this Involves vacuum cleaning around the various mixers where asbestos Is used. The Plant Manager states that at least twice that he can remember Hr. Rockwood had operated the Fibrated Emulsion Hlxer. As far as can be determined Mr. Rockwood has a 1ways worn a respirator when working In the areas where Asbestos Dusts are prevalent, therefore Hr. John Kent, the Department Manager, considers this employee to have had a minimal exposure to Asbestos Dusts since his e n j o y ment ' ` RCBrbh cc: Mr. Wilson Harvey Q. Q> y * TO Mr. W. Harvey fiom r .c . Berns t 7-20-72 subject Product Labeling I made a check of the products manufactured by both Emulsion and Flooring departments and find we would have no problem with the new labeling standard. The standards state no labeling is required where asbestos fibers have been modified by a bonding agent, coating or other material so that during any reasonable foreseeable use, handling, storage, disposal, processing or transport ation, no airborne concentrations of cess of the exposure limits. / / / I also discussed this with L. Hauger asbestos fibers in ex ~ . ` at the Vernon Eealth flepartment and he agrees we have no problem. - / All sacks or bags of asbestos that are delivered, stored and used in our processes should be labeled. At the present time all paper sacks of & e s t o s shipped in from Thetford Hines Union Carbide and John Manville are all identified with a stamped label indicating that breathing can be injurious to to the health. The wording is slightly different than the standards. The Abestos Information Association of Sorth A m erica of which Flintkote is a member is applying'for a temporary industry-wide-variance in order to have existing supplies of bags ect, which contain a little different word ing used up first. Today a shipment of polyethylane sacks of asbestos from J. M. arrivered for the Flooring plant. There were no labels at all. The department was advised-and we will receive some thing in our files confirming the fact that the supple* has been informed. =5 ^ Juno 20, IS72 TOi Hr w* Earvoy FROMs R C, Borne SUBJECT! H2UICAL SXUfZBATZGS - ASBESTOS . I discussed the now OSHA asbestos standards effective July 7, 1372 # with Ur* Seaethi today, particularly the one section calling for n soro thorough physical examination for those employees required to wear respirators* The new law states that all of our employees that are now exposed to asbestos oust have a thorough oxsndnation prior to January 1, 1973* All new employees that would be exposed to asbestos would need this thorough physical examination at tha time of e&ploynont or within thirty days* . The new nodical examination calls for a 14" x 17** cheat roentgenogram Cv-Rey), post history of respiratory disease, and pulmonary function tests to include forcod vital capacity Pr Heuothi wants us to provide the number of employees that would be involved This includeo the proposed number of now hires* This is being done Lr* Slonethi will provide tho equipment to get the job done* Soro thy viisdos, R*U*, will have aoaa literature for you to look at by cost ssosday The Enulcion and Flooring plants arc providing no with tho necessary information for hr Kemethi* RCBjpfl . cci Hr. j. Kent hr a c* costa Hr 11 Fletcher R* C, B c m s P. O. BOX 2218 T ER M IN A L A N N EX L O S A N G E L E S . CA LIFO R N IA 90051 Juno 28, 1972 Dr* Carl E* Denothi, M.D* 5592 South Santa Fe Avenue Los Angolos, Californio 90050 Door Dr* Koaothi* . In accordance with our recent discussion on tho cubjoct of sodical examinations, our careful survey vould indicate that there vould be a total of 31 csploycas iron tho Flooring Division and 6 fron the Enuloion Plant. These cnployeos verb full tine in an asbostos atmosphere or arc exposed to airborne asbestos when called upon to do cer tain jobs* In all cases these employees do wear respi rators* It is understood that the Clinic will now be ready to give the nodical examination, including chest X-ray and oulnonary function tests, starting July 15, 1S72* Since we havo until January of 1973, wo will nost likely arrange schedules to havo all processed before tiro end of the yoar. As far os new employees who vould bo assigned to work in the asbestos environment, wo will so note this on their physical examination records, indicating that tho X-ray end pulmonary function tests ero needed. hcdical records on these employees should bo forwarded to this office* Tho law says that wo oust keep these on file for 20 years* . * K appreciate very auch the opportunity to arrange this new and difficult program with you* Very Truly Yours, RCBxps ccs hr. w* Iiarvoy Hr. A* C* Costa Hr* E* Fletcher Hr. J* Kont Richard C* B o m s , . Director of Safety and Firo Prevention