Document Byyv897aOB31q30GOXeM7Vpmw

c 7 9 /* -- A Interoffice Correspondence e J- - Subject : lr c : H. G. Converse - 24-2 L . A. Johnson - 220-JE S . D. Sorenson - 220-2E M. W. Tudor - 24-2E A. H. Weaver - 24-2E April 5, 1974 TO: P . A - TIBET.. M.D - MEDTCAT. DEPT. - 2 2 0 - 2 E PROM: M. R. SANDQUIST - PROD. SAFETY ENGR. - 23-3 In late January, 1974 Production Safety Engineering was informed by our Quality Control*Dept, that the presence of tremolite was detected in a sample of RM-5263 (#1313 ta lc soapstone). This was the f i r s t report of it s presence. Mr. Stan Sorenson was informed of th is report and he communicated with Central Research to .v e rify test methods and amounts of tremolite present. On February 7 4 15 1974 Stan surveyed the m ill area where RM-5263 is used and determined that tremolite levels approaching TLV and OSHA c rite ria were present. (See Stans report dated 2-27-74). In this report he makes fiv e recommendations to reduce the exposure to tremolite m aterial. I w ill reply to these recommendations in the same numerical order. 1. Obtain alternate t a lc , free of trem olite. On March 11, 1974, Mr. L. A. Johnson, Tape Process Safety, sent a le tte r to Mr. S . J . Mclnerney, 3M Purchasing, request ing him to contact the vendor Whittaker, Clark and Daniel to see i f they could supply a soapstone that would meet a sp ecification for RM-5263 of 1.0 maximum free s ilic a in addition to 1.0 maximum tremolite or other asbestos forms. Mr. Mclnerney has written to Whittaker, Clark and Daniel, however, a reply has not been received. Mr. Johnson w ill report a l l information, on this subject, as soon as received. 2. Greater priority to Taylor S tile s cutter modification. The Taylor S tile s cutter modification has always had top priority and as Stan implies was being engineered at the 3M 002723 2- - time the presence of tremollte was reported. With this modification the 3 * 5 foot (approx.) sheets of m ill base w ill be mechanically dusted, with the minimum amount of soapstone possible, as they enter the cu tter. The entire cutter assembly w ill be enclosed to permit the exhausting of the dust laden a ir through a cyclone dust co lle cto r, which is designed to remove 99.9 of the dust. The bulk of the a ir w ill be exhausted to the out of doors with only a small amount used to carry the collected soapstone back to the mechanical duster. When the 3 x 5 foot sheets are cut into 2 x -2 inch pieces tacky sides are exposed. Therefore, soapstone dusting is necessary to prevent them from sticking together and caus ing a charging and dissolving problem at the churns. This modification should be completed by June 15 197^. 3. Substitute interleaving for. ta lc . About April 1973 a program was started to use interleaving in place of soapstone to prevent some millbase pigs (moguls) and sheets (churns) from sticking together. This program has been progresslvly expanded since that time with the result being almost complete elimination of soapstone dust ing at the m ill. Work continues to eliminate soapstone dusting of one or two remaining m lllbases. Millbase is currently being soapstone dusted at the Taylor S tile s cutter using a small brush. This w ill be discontinued when the previously described Taylor S tile s modification is completed. The elimination of soapstone dusting at the m ills has reduced soapstone consumption from approximately 200,000 pounds to 70,000 pounds per year. I t is f e lt that a further reduction w ill be realized after the Taylor S tile s m odification. 4. Discontinue blowing dust o ff equipment and clothing. . The only equipment which requires blowing o ff now, and w ill contir to require i t in the future, is the Taylor S tile s cu tter. However, the exhaust which is part of the Taylor S tile s modificat: w ill be of su ffic ie n t capacity to exhaust the dust generated. Consideration is being given to purchasing a vacuum cleaner to be used by the employees to dust o ff their clothes. 5. Use respiratory protection in dusty operations. Instructions have been given to the Taylor S tile s cutter operator to wear a 3M #8710 dust mask when he is blowing o ff the cutter anc 3M 002724 \ - 3- any other time when excessive dust is present. 0710 dust masks are always available on request to any employee. When the Taylor S tile s modification program is completed about June 15# 1974 I w ill notify Stan Sorenson and make arrangements fo r a complete survey of the m ill area. MRS/Jb 3M 002725