Document MEaOq2Gg6DGZ4YRg1OZQZ0YM

AIA-23 Asbestos Information Association/North America 22 East 40th Street New York. N. Y. 10016 212-689-337B October 24, 1972 TO: AIA/NA Executive Committee Gentlemen: Attached is the first draft of a proposed AIA/NA "Employee Safety & Health Guide" on asbestos. The purpose of the Guide, which would be printed in booklet form, is to inform asbestos industry employees of the basic facts about asbestoshealth and also about employer responsibilities under the OSHA regulations. The main reasons why I am proposing such a booklet at this time are as follows: 1. The IUD is launching a program (the Mount Sinai seminar in late November is the first step) to inform employees throughout the industry of the health hazards of asbestos and how to best use OSHA to assure compliance with the standards. There is little doubt that the IUD will paint a very black picture of the health situation and of the industry's supposed lack of concern for its employees, and will encourage local unions to constantly search out even minor infractions of the regulations for reporting to OSHA, as well as to press for strict observance of all employee health rights granted under the law. In my opinion, it is essential that we get to our employees first with the facts about asbestoshealth, and about OSHA, rather than to permit the IUD to present its highly distorted, anti-industry "information" unchallenged. 2. One of the major arguments voiced by both Tony Mazzochi and Dr. Selikoff at the Lyon conference for greater union participation in medical and other meetings on asbestos-health was that the industry was taking no active steps 0001-61 AIA-23 -2- to inform its employees of the hazards of asbestos and was, in fact, trying to keep these facts hidden from its workers. Thus, in principle, a booklet of this nature would have the support of the IUD and of Dr. Selikoff. It would also be an effective refutation of their charges that the industry is doing nothing to inform its employees. 3. OSHA has on more than one occasion voiced its contention that industry should provide employees with as much information as possible on occupational health hazards, and that OSHA would look favorably on any industry that did so. In my opinion, it would be a serious error on our part to continue to hold the belief that our employees are, for the most part, unaware of the asbestos-health problem and are not going to find out about it unless we tell them. I think we must face up to the fact that employees in all areas of the asbestos industry are becoming increasingly aware of the situation and are going to become better and better informed as the IUD and other medical-labor informational programs get into full swing. The point is simple: If we don't inform our employees, somebody else will! I am fully aware that one of the major industry fears with regard to providing employees with facts on asbestos-health is that this would result in a great increase in workman's compensation claims. While there may be some validity in this argument, think for a moment how many claims there would be if the IUD and Dr. Selikoff were permitted to present their estimate of the health situation to employees without any refutation by the industry. One of the major problems that can be anticipated in any industry sponsored informational program for employees is the question of credibility. Will employees believe what we tell them? or will they consider the contents of the booklet to be nothing but a pack of industry lies and misinformation? Because of this credibility problem, it is essential that the booklet not be a propaganda piece, but it must be as factual and irrefutable as we can possibly make it. For this reason, for example, I have eliminated all but a passing reference to industry efforts in controlling dust levels and have instead concentrated on the industry's responsibilities to its employees under OSHA. Hopefully, the employees will come to the conclusion that if the industry is willing to tell them what the law require the industry is, in fact, planning to obey the law. 000182 AIA-23 Zt has (Im been proven that heavy asbestos exposure greatly increases the risk ef lung cancer from cigarette smoking, but that asbestos industry workmen vha de net smoke cigarettes have no greater risk of lung cancer than the average man-cn-the-street who does not amoks. Is My Job Hazardeus? As a general rule, most employees engaged in the rfiytng and milling of asbestos fiber, er in the manufacturing ef asbestos-containing products- will be exposed te some quantity ef airborne asbestos fiber in their jobs. In properly controlled plants and mines, these levels will be extremely low*. In improperly er uncontrollec operations, the levels may be dangerously high. Most manufacturing plants in the industry are now er soon will be properly controlled* The installation er application ef most finished asbestos-containing products will net produce dust levels high enough to be ef concern. In products 6ueh as vinyl-asbestos floor tile and asbestos-cement sheets and pipe, the asbestos Is solidly locked into the product with cement, plastic sr other binders in such a manner that the fiber is not easily released during nemal and application. Seme asbestos-containing products,, however, such as unsaturated textiles and most asbestos insulations, can release potentially hazardous amounts of asbestos during handling or fabrication. The tear-out or removal of old asbestos-containing Insulations can likewise be a very dusty operation. These products must, therefore, be handled with caution using approved methods of dust suppression and control to minimize the generation of airborne fiber. Fortunately, only a very small percentage of the asbestos-containing products produced in the United States each year are capable of releasing sizeable quantities of dust during >mn/n jwg sr application. "001 SO AIA-23 3- If you are unsure whether the product you are using isr capable ef producing potentially hazardous amounts of asbestos dust,, check the carton or bag in which the product was shipped* Manufacturers are required by law to place a caution label on all asbestos-containing products that roadily release high levels of fiber during handling or application. The label has been placed there for your protection. Look for it if you are unsure. If you do not work directly with asbestos or asbestos-containing products, but work in close proximity to those vhe do, such as on a construction site where asbestes-containing insulations are being applied, you should cheek to determine if those products are being handled properly. If they are,, it is highly unlikely that you will be exposed to potentially unsafe levels of asbestos. If proper precautions are net being taken by ether workmen on the job site, this should bo reported to your employer or union representative- Regulations On Asbestos On June 7, 1972, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSRA) of the United States Department of Labor issued occupational standards for exposure to asbestos dust. These standards have one major purpose --- to protect you from exposure to potentially hazardous amounts of asbestos dust in your work.- The asbestos standards, as they are commonly called, contain many detailed requirements, however, the basic obligations placed on the employer under- the standards can be summed up as follows: 1. The employer shall maintain a healthy workplace by yaking* mure that no employee is exposed to concentration* ef airborne asbestos fiber in excess of established Units- 000186 * The current OSKA limit for exposure to asbestos is 5 fibers, five microns in length or longer, per cubic centimeter (cc) ef air as averaged over an 8-heur workday. At no time may an employee's exposure exceed 10 fibers per cc. Irr. 1976. the 6-hour sverage is scheduled to be reduced to two fibers perrons A micron is '--* mrvt-y m-r * inch, and s cubic centimeter is approximately 5- AIA-23 10* Caution labels 1 be placed on asbestos-containing products that are likely te release free asbestos fiber in excess f the standard during handling, application or fabrication- 11* The employer shall provide yearly Medical oxaat nations far employee* exposed te concentrations af asbestos dust* Pre-employment and termination aedical exams are also required* 12* At his request, an employee's medical records can be made available to his family physician* While the entire set of asbestos regulations covers nearly large pages ef fine print, the Twelve Key Points listed abeve are the most important as far as you,, the employee, is concerned* Standing behind the working man, ready t enforce these regulations, is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,, with inspectors and offices all across the country* If the standards are not being meet, any employee has the right to complain to OSHA and request a government inspection team to investigate the situation- Employers who fail to ebey the regulations are subject to heavy fines* It is in your best interest ts know yeur rights under the law and what obligations your employer has toward you* The Twelve Key Points listed above should help- Vhat Can I Do? Industrial safety and health can never be only one person's responsibility- Beth employer and employees must work together te provide a safe and healthy working environment*. In certain segments sf the construction industry, for example, very detailed work practices will have to be instituted to assure compliance with the regulations. As an employee,, it will be your duty to follow these work practices at all times, and not take short cuts that may endanger your own health and that ef other workmen on the job as well as possibly subject your employer- 000188 AIA-23 to an unnecessary fine*. Tmr another example*. if you Beet potential hazard tyt your enployer may hare overlooked* point it out to him for correction* Only if he continuously ignores obviously hazardous situations or refuses to correct then should you report! the violation to OSHA, Remesber* compliance? with the regulations will be extremely difficult and very expensive in many segments o the industry* In the interest ef saving jobs as veil an assuring a healthy* workplace* industry and labor must work together to solve their mutual probleas* Asbestos and Saolrtwr On page 2 of this booklet*, it was pointed out that Booking cigarettes greatly inereasess the risk of lung cancer among employees exposed to excessive quantities f asbestos dust* Statistics shew that long tera* heavily exposed asbestos insulation workers who smoke cigarettes have a 92 times greater risk of developing lung cancer than their fellow workers who do net smoke* In fact* if you do not smoke cigarettes* even if ysu have been exposed to excessive concentrations of asbestos dust for 20 or acre years*, you have ns greater chance sf getting lung cancer than the average man-on-the-streot who does not casks* fixe advice of aedieal specialists on this aatter is simple* If you work with asbestos and smoke cigarettes* quit! If you work with asbestos and do net smoke* don't start* guamarr 000189 Asbestos can be a hazardous substance if inhaled in sufficient quantities* There is a recognized need to keep dust levels as low m possible for exposed workers* fixe asbestos industry is working hard to achieve control*, fixe vast majority of finished asbestos--containing products are not hazardous to use or handle* The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued regulations to protect