Document G504RL9ke4nK4L05KMRx11arr

INTERNAL. CORRESPONDENCE --------- #~ MINING AND METALS DIVISION To (Homo) Division locution Mr. J. L. Myers UCC Mining & Metals Niagara Falls, NY Messrs. R. E. Byrne, Jr. F. H. Larrison W. C. Thurber^'"'^ J. E. Walsh Fi le P. 0. BOX 579, NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK 14302 Dot* Originating D.pt. August 8, 1973 "Calidria" Asbestos Answering letter date s,,bi.ct RG-244 Packaging Dear John: As you requested, Mr. J. E. Walsh visited the Atlanta warehouse and examined four pallets of RG-244 packaged in the new bags with tuck-in sleeves. Mr. Walsh was instructed to look for stray asbestos anywhere outside of bags, for loose asbestos within the overwraps, and for asbestos pressed against the bags. He and an assistant took off the top shroud from four pallets and removed and examined 17 bags from each pallet. His results are shown below: Pallet No. ____________________ Observations 8797 ) 8828 >- 8949 J No loose material anywhere. Bags clean with no pressed material. 8961 No loose material anywhere. Five out of 17 bags had very small amounts of asbestos pressed flat on the paper bag. It would appear from this that the tuck-in sleeves are doing a good job in keeping loose asbestos from accumulating inside the overwraps. The pressed asbestos was probably on the bag when it went into the bag shaper. It represents a definite dust hazard during the bag disposal. In addition to these observations, Mr. Walsh reported that there was a film of asbestos on the outside of the shrouds and also on the outside of the bag overwraps. This was not obvious but became evident when the shrouds and bags were handled. When they removed a shroud, they both had large splotches of white asbestos on their clothes and hands. Any portion of their clothes or hands that came in contact with the bags during subsequent handling was solidly white. No airborne dust was noticed by visual observation during the handling, however. Our overall objective is to deliver asbestos in a "clean" package so that the only routine potential for dust is at the point where the bags are opened. The pressed asbestos on the outside of the bag but inside of the overwrap that occurs sporadically but with some regularity appears to originate in a housekeeping problem in the bagging area. The preponderance of good clean bags suggests that this can be overcome. UCC 015304 AUG 1 0 1973 WM. c. THU.'S.'5? Mr. J. L. layers -2- August 8, 1973 The film of asbestos on the outside of the shrouds and on the outside of the overwraps has broader implications. We have obviously negated part of our efforts for "clean" packaging if anyone who handles the pallets or unopened bags becomes contaminated with asbestos. It may be impractical to change this with our present bagging arrangement but improvement should be included in the revised packaging setup now under consideration. Very truly yours, 'll - ft, H. B. Rhodes HBR:cjb UCC 015305