Document EqwekwqOkov9LJ6EjQNb9BLoN

rV MINUTES OP THE 69TH MEETING CF THE CUEBEC ASBESTOS MINING ASSOCIATION HELD ON WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 14TH.1964 AT THE ST. GEORGE'S CLUB, SHERBROOKE, P.Q. I Present: Messrs M.J. Messel J.O. Eby R.S. Coleman P.A. Meyer A.L. Penhale I.E. Campbell R. Dodds-HebrorF.P. Hodgson G.F. Jankins R.J. Merrill L.G. Montpetit W.W. Oughtred G.A. Piche F.P. Smith G. Robinson I. Sabourin P.-A. Filteau The president, Mr. Messel, occupied the chair. Minutes of the meeting of May 2Sth,- 1964 were adopted. Technical Committee Tne chairman reported that the last meeting of the committee was held in Asbestos on September 22nd. He reviewed the work in progress: a) Dytkerhoff Calibrating Standards- Better correlation fcetaeen results obtained by members and those of the Sherbrooke Laboratory is under study. b) Oil Absorption - The kerosene retention procedure c) Freenass - A revised procedure to be issued. . d) Accelerated S.U. Test - Further data being accumulated. e) A.C. Silica Mixes - Work should be completed before the end of the year. 1-J i in""'1 wejirwn 't L cc 2- - f) Sag.Cake Test and Plasticity -Index - It appears that the test has possibilities For the measurement of wet strength. / g) Wet Volume - An amended procedure has been accepted. h) Modified Q.S. Test - Test work completed and data under study. i) Sherbrooke Laboratory - There is some laboratory tine available for use by sub-committees. Requests should be made through the chairman of the Technical Committee ' . for clearance with the directors. j) New Turner-Newall Procedures - A report on the Suter- klebb method will be prss"ented at the next meeting of the Technical Committee, This meeting to be held on November 16th next. ATI meeting (Ogiober 8th and Sth) The new fibre Testing Manual was discussed and it was decided that its size would remain, the same as before {8j x 11) in bound volume form and also in separate individual tests. A digest of the manual will be issued with tests identified by numbers.- Deadline for approved material is the next ATI meeting, February 10, 11 and 12, 1965. The chairman''advised that Mr. Lincoln, Research Director of the Turner-Newall fibre Laboratory, has developed a maghetic rating equipment at a low price of 2200. He also advised that the Asbestos Cement Products Association has changed its name to . Mineral rib:?: Pioduci." Rureau. Uniform Classification and Grading Since last meeting two shipping, test reports by the inspector have been distributed, fifty-seven grade samples have been sent to the Sherbrooke Laboratory, following explanations given lunrm v w *? i 1 ( 1 i J I14 I* iL cc -3- by the chairman of the costir.ittec concerning i'r. J. Pare recent visit -to asbestos plants in France it was moved that an amount up to 5200. be paid by QAlflA to Nr. Pare for certain legitimate travelling expenses. Adopted. The new wage scale for technicians at the Sherbrooke University which was adopted at the special meeting of July 30th will cost the Association some 53,150. on a total of 523,600. in salaries. The base rate has been increased from 3,600. to $4,200. It was moved and adopted that a prize of 850. be awarded to one of Park's students who is preparing a thesis on asbestos in concrete, following submission of the outline of his. thesis as accepted by the University. Mr. Parana/ become a member of the A.S.T.M. sub-cdmmittee on asbestos fibre^but, any work there is to be done in the laboratory must be approved by the directors. The time available at the Sherbrooke Laboratory following completion of S.U. Test for fifth exchange will be devoted to increased work on acceler ated S.U. Test and the rate of reaction as a harshness test. Fallowing the receiving of a request From Heribert Hiendl of Hagelstadt, "Germany, it was suggested that the General Manager write to Mr. Hiendl and suggest that he wait until the ATI manual cones out before making any inclusion in a book he is writing on the operation of AC machines. The J.T. Donnell 4 Company, assaying consultants in Montreal, have asked to have sene testing work done for them on a pre-shipment (?). It was agreed that such test could be made at a specified fee (5. 13. - 525.) ar.d .without accepting any responsibility. Results to be in records accessible to QAftA. The purchase of a Meta 1 ) r. /" v. cc -4- filter for the Sherbrooke-Laboratory at. a price of $2,000. was proposed and approved. An amount of ,027, was also approved for the changes made for walls, doers^ etc. at the Sherbrooke Lab. in order to provide for additional space required. Hr. El. MacKhool of the Ottawa Law Fi^m will submit a report on their recommendations concerning the four patent applications submitted by the Association. It seems that the sonic patent is doubtful; the other three will reouire patent applications. The brief requesting from Ottawa research assistance in connection with testing and certain applications of asbestos fibre was reviewed and commented. - It was moved and adapted - that the brief be submitted on October 15th at a meeting with the Minister of Mines ana Tehnical Surveys and some of his ' senior officials as already mutually arranged. It*was indicated that on this occasion Mr. H.M. Woodrooffe will submit on behalf cf his ceuticn a list of arses for investigation to supplement the GAMA request. Industrial Relations The report of the dust central engineer was circulated. The chairman reported on his recent visit to the Quebec Work men's Compensation Commission with Messrs. Ul.H. Soutar and P.A. Filteau. The group met primarily with the assessors and the treasurer of the Commission to enquire about certain problems and the merit rating system. With regards to the merit system, the group was told that in addition to the actual cost rate (minimum 0.35 maximum $4.50) there is also a mutual rate, which is meant to operate upwards or downwards on the total -5- assessment, depending whether the group experiences a surplus or a deficit at the end of a given year. This explains the recent assessment of 0.20 per S1D0. salary imposed tc all the members because of the experience of last year. In the case of permanent partial disability cases, adjustments can be made up . or down during the first three year period and credits or debits are charged against individual employers. Since December 1963, the ruling in the case of death is the same for P.P.D. compensations as for cases of asbestasis or silicosis; no'cerund is made to the employer when there is a balance left in the capitalized fund but, a charge is made to the employer should the capitalized fund be insufficient to taka care of the widow, and the children, if any. The commissioners also mentioned certain abuses (non-reporting of accidents) brought to their attention and they express their intent to discuss in the near future a case where a safety contest might have resulted in the non-reporting of an accident. The committee is arranging a wage survey which will cover a wide range of companies. It would seem that the Union is not ready to negotiate the next contract at an early date. Traffic , The chairman reported that no regular meeting had been held with the various shipping conferences. However, it seems guile likely that rate increases will take place. A Canadian conference has been formed for the Australian-New Zealand trade. cc C C M rj I i J -6- Leoislaticn and Taxation The General Kanager. subc<iLt.te(t a form to report taxes, duesj etc. . paid by the member companies during the year. The data to be kept confidential and to be used for the total industry only. The information will be collected through Riddell, Stead, Graham 4 Hutchison. The new Wining Act is expected to come down early at the next session and it might be appropriate then to stress the purchase po-er that mining industry injects in the economic community. Wa were also aevised that the Belanger Commission was expected to meet with officials of Department of Natural Resources to make sure that both are in agreement concerning recommendations to be made to the provincial Cabinet. A copy of the recently proposed Provincial Pension Plan was tabled and its main features explained. It was agreed that a copy should be sent to each director. Public Relations The chairman explained that his committee had-discussed the merits of arranging for the publication of Asbestos Producer through the Quebec office versus the Public Relations consultant, as is presently being done. It was the consensus of opinion that although some saving might be achieved by making this change, other factors seem to indicate that it would bs best tc continue under the present arrangement and that Cditas should be asked to reduce their cost. During the coming Canadian Ski Championship to be held in Thetford in 1965, Editas will provide public relations counsel to &zk;3ii -m, 1 r i ii i i i 1 ... 3 - *4 ! fcS ;i i i I ! a! ii *I -i (* * cc -7- the Thetford Ski Club having in mind the promotion of favorable public relations for the industry.- J /` It uras agreed that the Thetford asbestos pining companies would possibly sponsor a ten minute news broadcast over the facilities of Station CKLD in Thetford Mines thr^e times a week at a cost of approximately $23.00 a week. The industry could have access to this medium of communication for specific announcements of its own. The chairman to discuss t{ie conditions for this project with the companies operating in the(Thetford area. In the case of requests for information on the general health of the industry fron news media, ituas agreed that such could bs channeled through the General Manager who will then consult with the '`president on any statement to be made. It was suggested that copies of the article of the Wall Street Journal on the Canadian asbestos industry'which appeared in October 9th issue should be sent to each.member company. It was moved and adopted that an amount of 8200. be turned over to the representative of Editas, on his way shortly to the United Kingdom, to cover certain travelling expenses involved when calling,on local asbestos manufacturers for information on the need for export of raw asbestos fibre from Canada. e A model for a QAMA crest was submitted; it was recommended that certain modifications tc made to the design submitted. The proposal submitted by Plr. George Hunter concerning the taking of aerial photographs of each mining property was put off for decision until next spring. \ cc r' k -6- '7 The c;,ci !mj:= end the art work ore completed; printing is awaiting 1 of Irpe officials. ' A nei. by ti-. desc; proCi: exhib exper i n;* f is t lar.i s-iic-1 for an asbestos industry pavilion has been prepared ff.hi- = ct. This structure would contain an exhibit t'- = origin of the mineral, its extraction and n, t~e uses and products made of asbestos. Such an julc require imagination and the services of an id industrial designer. Prior to pursuing the matter ' ;* was decided to ask the architect for a cost = \.f new design. In the meantime, the General Manege: to hold or. until next meeting to the plot of m/:: on the Expo site. uti So the r. 7 oil: li*S to,, such the i this . her tv""a visit of tne Expo site was organized for 1 --sor.natives of the mining industry throughout Canada; j th= visit the executive director of the Canadian inc Association indicated that the mining industry as ncc participate in Expo '67 and that -it was left to 'iducl companies to decide on their participation in Recai . brief . A cop. r t- r heavy agir.ee, the General l-br.acsr touched only v, cerzain of his activities during the past month, hi 3 report is attached. Also *' .-her is a summary of the reply of Honoradle Benidickson to tt-s -..-icf submitted to the Government of Canada at the end of U-- >.`n *-.-;ual Conference of the Provincial ministers of mines. HViUfl-iVn'tirr*nV' nrr--i -wwi* L KCU BUSINESS OAi 7reasurer Accounts payable ratified as follows: EDITAS Account for fray . June July August September 5,350.44 5,350.44 5,350.44 5,350.44 5,350.44 S 26,752.20 Visit of Russian Asbestos (*!jres The President g_pve a brief review of his recent visit to Russia. The group of four Canadian asbestos industry representatives, were well received and visited the industrial complex located at Asbest in the Ural /fountains. The Russian output is estimated at some 1,430,000 metric tons of Fibre annually which is somewhat greater than the Canadian production. A new mill (mi 11 No. 6) jjs almost ready to go into production. Two new deposits are presently being developed: One at Kiembi,. Kazakhastan, with a potential annual capacity of 250,000 tons and one in Mongolia, with a capacity of 600,000 tons. Tears is, however, no connection between the Asbest operations and the new projects. In general, the Soviet asbestos industry appears to be behind in quality control. The visitors were shown in thEir laboratories an electrical method to measure fibre content and also a device -to measure moisture content. It would seem that at present Russia is exporting relatively less MxTifrmil I fi it 7~*' 11 * cc . -ID- to the European countries; however, it could at any time increase exports substantially, should it be convenient in its economic and political battle with the ii!est, j Conference on Biological Effects of Asbestos / It~was pointed out at the ATI nesting in New York that recent publicity on the subject of biological effects of asbestos were somewhat sensational and coulo baver^far reaching and damaging effects on not only the asbestos products manufacturers but also .directly on the asbestos mining industry. It was remarked that such discussions should be kept strictly on a medical level, since they refer to the cases of disability only and do not cover all aspects of the industry. * It was moved and,adopted that 8 contribution be made to the New York Academy of Sciences towards cost involved in sponsoring the above Conference. A maximum amount of $ 5,000. is allocated and final recommendation to be marie to the President following attendance at the Conference by the Counsel and the Csnerai Manager. ; Next Meeting *' Next regular meeting will be held on November 23rd, in Quebec City most likely. Ad iournment There being no further business the meeting adjourned.