Document JJJQvzB1zYakb7rbe3RwRLG7O

FILE NAME Colonial Sugar Refinery CSR DATE 1962 Dec 10 DOC CSR009 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Letter to Dr. Rennie from Dr. McNulty RE Lack of Improvement at Wittenoom and Workers Becoming Sick with Short Exposures 108| KALGOORLIE 10th December 1962 Dr. H.M. Rennie F.R.C.P. F.R.C.P. Lond F.R.A.C.P. Macquarie Chambero 183 Macquarie Street SYDNEY + NSW NSW NSW NSW Tear Dr. Rennie Thank Australian Blue you for your Asbestos letter regarding dust conditions at has ing not Unfortunately the situation has altered been laid and to date it is doubtful if littls the dust any major less- of the hazard has taken place In July of this year dust mine and counts at the still being used for mill were as bad as ever The Koninster i dust counting and although it is not the ideal instrument there is little point in pressing for a finer instrume 2 until the coarse dust has been supressed However since July several events have occurred which mu ? radically alter conditions possible now that shafts have Through ventilation underground is broken through to the surface in Deveral places the mine and this A recent earth movement altered the is expected to considerably improve geography of ventilation A new type of dust extractor embodying a synthetic fibre sock has had successful experiments and is being installed in the mill This is a pretty expensive dust extraction process and there are great hopes that it will help to solve the problem My information information Mind in regard to this is derived from discussions with Dr. Letham MindMind Department Inspectora and Mr. Thomas Superintendent or the company . Fairly short exposure is still causing siliccsis and asbestosis and the tragedy is aggravated by their relative youth There are now about 42 men fairly seriously affected cr dead and in most instances their only exposure to harmful dust was at Witter oo: The industry has been producing for about 15 years and only the hu labour turnover prevented disease on an epidemic scale 80 p.c. the workers at any one time have been employed for leas than thr : years Many of them have scattered elsewhere in the mining indusi : and now complicate the overall picture K. PLAINTIFF'S Bayone EXHIBIT = ae - Continued , The plans and improvement mentioned earlier make ma hopeful that steady improvement will be maintained The coincidental diagnosis of disease in so many men in 1958-59 highlighted the problem and had a dramatic effect The problem is still acute and much more work will be needed before the hazard to the men will be reduced to at least that of mining carcinogenic effect of I am still a little concerned about the crocidolite and wish that the Company wouldn't use its tailings for roads and paths Tailings were used as fillers at the golf course so that the poor devils inhale asbestos at rec- reation as well Many thanks for your interest Anything that you can Asbestos do to impress upon Australian Blue the problem woulbde appreciated the seriousness of Dr. D.D. Letham Physician Occupational Health Department of Public Health 57 Murray Street PERTH : W.A. Cory for our information Yours faithfully J. McNulty CHEST PHYSICIAN