Document MG4LKxm2xXO9JMzL6pdB57Erj

FILE NAME: Ford (FD) DATE: 1975 Dec 29 DOC#: FD067 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from Liberty Mutual to Ford RE Exposu to Asbestos Dust with Recommended Practices PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT 800A 1758 LIBERTY MUTUAL 21040 Greenfield R oad, D etroit, M ichigan 48237 T el. (313) 566-2525 December 29, 1975 Fcrd Dealer Development Dealership Presidents fiyprsure to Asbestos Dust Drake lin in g s , pads and clutch assemblies are made o f asbestos, which has long been recognized as a material producing a hazard to the health o f those who 1nfn le It s dust 1n excessive amounts over a long period o f time. During the la s t fev/ years,'how ever, attention has been focused on the development of cancer of the lung and other body areas following exposure to asbestos dust. An a le r t concerning the potential health hazard fo r persons exposed to asbestos during tk i servicing o f motor vehicle brake and clutch assemblies was issued by tlV tia tlc .ia l In stitu te for Occupational Safety and Health on August 8 , 1075. rJO-11 c it 'd f a ir cases o f rare mesothellal tumors 1n persons who wore employed In iebs Involving bra!a se rv icin g . This rare type oF cancer 1n the membrane rrcund the lung or s ta r c h causes 1 1n lO.GCl) deaths in the general populace. Cut one study o f 632 asbestos workers found that 32 (1 out of 20) had died of th is type o f cancer. Asbestos also causes lung cancer; and an asbestos worker who smokes is 20 times more lik e ly to get lung cancer. The f u ll extent o f asbestos-related disease 1n brake servicing personnel 1s not hr.cv.n because th is greup has never before been system atically studied. ExceSjive dust concentrations measured a t operations, such as blcw-out of cutcmcolle Grin breka assem blies, grinding of used truck brake lin in g s , bevelling of r.avj track tr a 1"' H n ln n s, and arcing o f new auto fcrake lin in g s , together with mc-othallal tamers 1n persons so employed, affirm s the necessity for e ffe c tiv e ly controlling tho exposure. At croscnt wa do not have complete information on how much exposure, 1f any, can bo tolerated; and so 1t 1s Important to elim inate exposures whenever possible and mlnimlzo thoso which cannot be elim inated. Rcconmendcd practices are listed below. Tear Respirator: 1. During brake servicin g, an a ir purifying respirator, either single use or with replaceable particu late f ll t o r s ( s ) . as approved by the National Institute for O ccupationalSafety and Health NIOSH should be worn during a ll procedure startin g with the removal of the wheels and including reassembly. During man ual clutch serv icin g, such a respirator should be worn during removal a. .1 c lrT .ln a o f tho clu tch , pressure plate and housing assembly and during In s ta lla tio n of the new clutch assembly. This should also include any arcing or rlvotlng operations. LIBERTY M UTUAL IN SURAN CE COM PANY LIBERTY M UTUAL F1RC INSURANCE COMPANY HOME OFFICES: BOSTON EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS LIBERTY LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF BOSTU: * -c- The follcw ing manufacturers are known to have fllOSH approved respirators for respiratory protection acnlnst asbestos - containing dusts: Hina Safety Appliances C o ., 3.M Company, lillls o n Products Division - ESD I n c ., American Optical Corp. and Safelin e Products. Use a Vacuum: 2 . Dust should f i r s t bo cleaned fron brake drums, brake backing p la te s , brake assemblies and clutch assemblies using an Industrial type vacuum cleaner equipped v/ith a high e ffic ie n c y f i l t e r systen. A fter vacuum clean in g, any rereining dust should be removed using a rag soaked 1n water anrl wrung until nearly dry. Under no circumstances should compressed a ir or dry brushing bo used fo r clean in g. I t Is enrcctad th at the required in d u strial vacuum cleaner w ill scon be available from Rotunda. The unit w ill be a modified version o f the type shewn on page 153 of your 1975 c a ta lo g . You w ill be hearing more on this d ire c tly from Rotunda. Avoid Grinding: 3 . Av;1d grinding or arcing wherever p o ssib le . Some brake repair shops do no grinding at a l l . When grinding 1s performed the grinding (arcing) machine sl.ruld be equipped with lc ra l exhaust v e n tila tio n . At a minimum, the dust U q cr the arcing machine should be removed and replaced with the hose of the high e ffic ie n c y Industrial vacuum described above. Cleaning: 4. A ll flo o r cleaning In areas, where brakes and clutches are repaired should Le dcr.e v/11:h the h1oh e ffic ie n c y Industrial vacuum cleaner as described c!;:.vo. Grinding (arcing) machines should also be cleaned with such a vacuum cleaner and any remaining dust wiped with a damp c lo th . An approved resp irato r, as previously described should be used during th is cleaning. In addition to those measures NI0SI1 also recommends the following procedures: a . I f possible, an area should bo designated for a ll brake and clutch rep airs. Entrance Into the area should be posted with an asbestos warning sign. b . Industrial vacuum cleaner bags containing asbestos and cloths used for wiping brake and clutch assemblies should be rosraled 1n p lastic bars and labeled that the contents contains asbestos fib e r s . During removal of vacuum bags, and approved respirator should be worn. c . 0S1IA regulations also Include special requirements for the use and handling o f clo th in g. Adhrrencc to the prcr.edurc-s outlined In items 1 tlnourh 4 should minimize cuntaavlratlon of work clo th in g , hut care should Le t:!.:n to prevent the continuation of the asbestos exposure frem d irty clo th ::;. Our local Loss Prevention representative and/or industrial hygienist can provide you wltl additional Information or answer your questions. n. G. Pcssllp Loss Prevention Account Representative T. J . Slavin Industrial Hygienist 8004 1759 ' ) Data Sheet - Asbestos E ffic ie n c y fe s t Anerican Cleaning Corporation Vacuum Cleaner Remarks Test No. 1 OSHA 8 hour Threshold. Limit Value it it ii ii H e f f e c t iv e J u ly 1 , 1976 1 . Operator breathing zone a i r sample 2 . North general a i r sample 3 Southgeneral a ir sample Test No. 2 1. Operator breathing zone a i r sample 2. North general a ir sample 3. South general a ir sample Test No. 3 1. Operator breathing zone a ir sample 2 . North general a ir sample 3 . South general a ir sample ieoruary u , - . <.)^' ` / ' << ' 'i ; Concentration o f Fibers Greater than 5 Microns in Iennth/m i l i i i v e r a o f A, T. 5 2 3.4 7-0 3.7 1.4 2.7 3.7 1-7 3.9 5-7 8004 1760 Note: Room s ize 880 f t ? - samples taken equ idistan t from vacuum cleaner I3'i Model G pumps and Jlillip o r e membrane type AA37mm f i l t e r N Analysis: 1*30X Phase microscopy by Kettering la b o ra to rie s , U n iversity o f C in cin n ati le d ic a l Center Ovvi