Document N2oMLa4OXOazrqVg13yjVk5Ow

FILE NAME: Asbestos Information Association (AIA) DATE: 1970 Nov 19 DOC#: AIA026 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Meeting Minutes - Health & Safety Council/ Asbestos Cement Products Association MINUTES OF THE EIGHTH MEETING OF HEXTH AND SAFETY COUNCIL/ ASBESTOS CEMENT PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION , November 19, 1970 A'meeting,...of;the numbers of the Health and Safety ^ Council of the Asbestos Cef^nt Products Association was Held pursuant to notice at tbe Biltmore Hotel in New York, New Yorka on November 19, 1970 at 2 P.M. The following persons were present:. /./ . . '=; - : .. : . J. A. Main Health and Safety Council/ACPA $. E. Monoky Certain-"teed Products Corp. H, H* Meslei?,' Jr, GAF Corporation U. V. Magea Jc^s-MaPiville Sales Corp. . C. L. Sheckler Johns-Manville Sales Corp. ,' . . A. H. Fay ';j-V/ National Gypsum Company . ,. K. F. Netter .,-f . Supradur Corporation of New York. :. . K. ,; ; ^pradur^Gorporatii of 'New York! L. A. Tobey United States Gypsum ^ Walla Bums, Van Kirk, Jube 6sKafer The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Mr. James. A. Main. ' , ''v^o >' ; '/ ; , The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on May 19, 1970 were approved as distributed to the members of the Council. . . ' :. ' Mr. Walls presented the financial statement for the period March 1, 1970 through November 18, 1970.. A copy of this report is attached to these minutes and made a part hereof. The financial statement was approved as submitted. Me. Main reported that 10,000 copies of the Recommended Practices brochure had been printed. One thousand copies were sent to each member company, and 2,000 copies were sent to the Secretary for distribution upon request. Mr. Main observed that MT-008114 JIT- m, 2 greater emphasis is continuing to be made in public media on . the problems of lung health and exposure to massive doses of asbestos. He noted that the U.S. Senate had passed the Job Safety Bill and that continued proposals are being made to amend various municipal codes in this area. The public remains aroused on all subjects, touching upon environment, and Mr. Main exhibited to the Council recent newspaper clippings attesting this public interest. Copies of these newspaper clippings are attached to these minutes. The Chairman reminded the Council that at the time of its formation, there were two goals to which the Council under took to direct its activities. The first goal was to advise the public that asbestos cement pfodxicts, in place and tinder normal use, present no known health risk to the user or to the general public. This goal has been fulfilled in part by the publication of the Recommended Practices brochure. The second goal of the Council is to promote health and safety in. those plants manufacturing asbestos cment products and in th environ ment around such plants, including stack emissions and pollution. Mr. Main noted that since the creation of this Council, Atlantic Asphalt & Asbestos had withdrawn from the manufacture of asbestos cement products and that Philip Carey and Cement Asbestos Products Company had resigned from the Council. Mr. Main distributed copies of the InsulationHygiene Progress Report 0 o l . 2 v No. 2, Summer 1970) and "Partnership for Prevention - the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program" by Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, reprinted from No. 3, Industrial Medicine and Surgery. These publications indicate how rapidly iatblic concern is growing in the areas to which this Council is dedicated. RECOMMENDED PRACTICES BROCHURE Mr. Main asked the representative of each company attending the meeting to report on the distribution and use by his company of the brochure published by this Council on Recommended Practices for Fabricating, Handling and Applying Asbestos Cement Products in the Building and Construction In dustries. The members reported as follows*. GAFt At this time the Building Product# Division will not dis tribute the brochure. The Industrial Products Division MT-008115 . ?>&- ' " i ' * >. t?i <" ` \ * '* ,** * . -3 ' ... V r - - ' -.1 * ' : ' ,, :- . 1,1 ; ' ' ? S'* * if % . * ,, ; s.f ' : , R"y. 1 ;##' ,'i 'g !' executives are now considering the brochure end their decision on distribution is awaited,' / Certain-teed: The brochure is now awaiting approval of the Executive Vice President of Certain-teed. In Mr. Monoky1s : - preliminary opinion, the brochure would probably not be dis tributed among employees in the factory, but might be distributed in the field. Johns-Manville: The brochure has been distributed to all J-M 1 i-f ' plants manufacturing asbestos cement products, to all key pro duction personnel, to salesmen, and to applicators and dis tributors engaged in the fabrication of asbestos cement products. In Mr. Magee's opinion, the brochure has been well received. Mr. Magee also noted that. J-M has imprinted cautionary labels ... which are being inserted on each interleafing sheet of asbestos cement sheets manufactured by J-M. A copy of this label is reproduced and attached to these minutes. Mr. Sheckler remarked that J-M includes copies of the , brochure whenever it files material safety data sheets. J-M also encloses copies of the brochure when writing general bulletins to customers. Copies of the brochure are sent to other safety organizations and to governmental departments such as the Department of Labor and Health Education and Welfare whenever inquiries ate received about asbestos* A copy of the brochure has been sent to the magazine ''Asbestos" and may con ceivably be published by that magazine. No other magazines in the building field have as yet received the brochure. The con- senses of the members was that the brochure should not be sent to magazines at this time. 13.S. Gypsum: Mr. Tobey reported that the brochure is being considered by those executives of TJ.S.G. responsible for safety practices. Mr. Tobey doubted that precautionary labels would be used on shingles. He stated that although asbestos is used in wall board joint compounds, the fiber amount so used is below the acceptable threshold limit. Supradur: A copy of a letter prepared by Supradur describing the availability of the Recofflaended Practice brochure and sent to its customers was distributed to the members and is 6? ^ J.' A* MT-008116 pm m m m -m ' ** *... ' * ff' '*r ' . ' `v ,: >,. ..c > . ' ' s*yiv.\.**!'; -* ' i. . ** 4 -- attached to these, minutes, Mr. Schwarz reported that he. has had no requests as yet for copies of the brochure. Mr, Schwarz also stated that no distribution of the brochure has been made to production personnel of Supradur. [Philip Carey - Cement Asbestos Products Company] : The Seeretary, Mr. Walls, was asked to ascertain from these companies what steps if any, they were taking in the distribution of the brochure. National Gypsum: Mr. Fay reported that each account of NG using asbestos cement in industrial application (cooling towers, greenhouse manufacturers, etc.) has been contacted personally by members of the NG sales force. These customers have received copies of the brochure. No brochures have been sent to the general public nor to dealers or applicators because it is NG*s.. - position that the brochure is not applicable to them. It was noted that various research organizations have inquired abouthealth hazardsof asbestos cement products and have been sent copies of the brochure. It was the opinion of the members that the matter of distribution and use of the brochure should be re-examined at the next meeting of the Council. .RESPIRATORS , The members discussed their experience with respirators, ... currently being marketed. Mr. Sheckler reported favorable ex perience with the following respirators: Mine Safety Appliance Dustfoe No. 11 Mine Safety Appliance Dustfoe No. 66 Wilson Monomaak American Optical R3000 Series American Optical R9100T (Beehive Type) It was noted that the Beehive Type respirator does not have a replaceable filter and is regarded as being an expensive dis posable respirator. Mr. Sheckler stated that new disposable filters for respirators- are coming, or will shortly one, on the market. Som of these can be purchased for $1.50 each. Disposables MT-008117 5 re being produced by American Optical and will soon be produced by the Welsh Company. Mr* Sheefcler volunteered to bring samples of the various respirators to the next meeting. He also noted that J-M is conducting a program at McGill University to study the efficacy of respirators to filter asbestos fiber. It was his hope that a further report could be made at the next meeting of the Council, LABELING ASBESTOS CEMENT PRODUCTS The members discussed experiences to date on the labeling of asbestos cement products* The following reports were received, GAP does not presently use a cautionary label ,; on rigid siding or corrugated asbestos cement sheets. J-M does ; j label thermal InsuLatiop. products.,containing.asbestos, thermal insulation cements containing asbestos, and asbestos fibers. It is expected that cautionary labels will- be used on asbestos cement flat sheets in the near future. J-M does not label its shingles or siding or corrugated asbestos cement sheet or asbestos cement pipe. It is the policy of J-M to label only those products that may pose health and safety hazards. ASBESTOS INFORMATION COMMITTEE/NORTH AMERICA. , Mr. Fay reviewed with the Council the Asbestos Informa tion Committee/North America. By way of preface, he stated that the Health and Safety Council had been formed with five objectives in mind: the first was medical research. It was decided that such research could best be handled by QAMA. The second objective was public relations. At the time of the formation of the Council it was felt that it was not appropriate for the Council to under take such a program. The third objective was the exchange of information among asbestos cement manufacturers. The Council has attempted to keep manufacturers up to date with the most recent information in the area of health and safety, 'The fourth objec tive was the study and resolution of internal plant problems. The Council has encouraged mutual aid among its members in the identification and resolution of such problems. The fifth objective was the improvement of the relationship between asbestos cement producers and asbestos cement users. Part of this objec tive has been achieved through the publication of the Recommended Practices brochure. - V ,,. r ; , - . s- . - . > . ' `' PRODUCED ' ' ',v c' S3 - ' v -i j MT-008118 life*. fay stated that the public relations objective has developed in importance beeause of increased publicity About asbestos hazards which has been generated by consumer protection advocates, politicians and some scientists. Mr. Fay stressed two points; first, the true facts about asbestos are often ignored. Second, there is a great lack of understanding of these facts among the public. Because of these facts, in dustry members felt that a public relations program should be explored. " To that end, a meeting of ten manufacturing companies sponsored by Certain-teed Products Gorporationto launch Asbestos Information Commit tee/North America. For several years there has existed an Asbestos Information Committee in the Uni tec This Committee has tried to.utilize public relations in response to misstatements of fact about asbestos and products. .It was felt that a North American consulttee could be founded on lines similar to the Committee of the United A prospectus has been prepared for the AIC/NA and it was discussed in November at a meeting of ten companies manu facturing asbestos products. Some of those companies attending that meeting were Certain-teed, Flantkote, Johns-Manville, Philip Careys Raybestos-Manhattan, GAP, Woodward Iron and National Gypsum. A copy of the prospectus discussed at that meeting is attached to these minutes. - ; ? -1 :1 v The program for the AIC/NA would be a broad one en compassing many products utilizing asbestos such as brake linings, textiles, flooring, siding, roofing, etc. The program of the Committee J ^ l l be funded by J-M for the year_197l_in^the_lamount Of "$1507000.'^tis'anticxpated that B i d i n g for succeeding years ^ H r l m ~ s K a r e d in a mutually agreed manner by all member companies. The Committee has retained the public relations firm of Hill and Knowltcn, which has prepared the public relations program for the AIC/UK, Mr. Fay reported that the AIC/NA has been effectively launched. In his opinion, the activities of the Committee will probably be expanded and may be supported by other companies in the field. He noted that J-M will continue to maintain its own public- relations program in addition to the propram sponsored by the AIG/NA. MT-008119 - v -f 4 -iW ;*:' *! HEALTH & SAFETY COUNCIL/AGPA Financial Statement . March 1, 1970 - November 18, 1970 Balance as of March 1, 1970 INCOME Dues for February 17 meeting $ 172.26 ent for May 19 meeting 168.72 . ' 3,840.00 V - Disbursements for May 19 meeting Dues . ' : Administration ' Legal Services plus disbursements $ 339.22 100.00 1,666.61 1,126.64 Balance as of November 18, 1970 $ 771.17 4,180.98 $4,952.15 3,232.47 $1,719.68 f -NV-'. MT-008124