Document NGrx2DE45wqDV1xL36qz6nDMQ

ACOMPANY CORRESPONDENCE R-98 (R. 1*68* F O M : Homer M. Cole - Industrial Hygiene, GOB D. E. Thrasher - EXO R. H. Featherston - EXO c 0 F Y: L. A. Johnson - EXO -R-i D. O'Donnell - GOB---------CcaAtTeE 66 E. H. Lucas - Staples Mill SUEJECT: rRj . BT> . JTa*icn1krsronnn _- SCt-abp1leaso MVf-J ill UTB. Moore - EXO----------------------R. E. Cole - EXO R. M. Kibby - EXO W. A. Wright - EXO R. B. Newman - EXO J. R. Amos - EXO A. M. Murphy - EXO S. T. Abbate - EXO W. J. Vogel - EXO R. -C. Roberts - EXO------------R. N. Bolling - EXO F. L. Morris - SIRCO K. W. Downs - staples Mill B. J. Sasser - GOB Dr. J. M. MacMillan - EXO Dr. E. C. Irby - EXO April 22, 1976 Effective July 1, 1976, the OSHA standard regulating employee ex posure to asbestos will be lowered from 5 fibers/cc of air to 2 fibers/cc. On the basis of our asbestos sampling information collected to date, it is the opinion of the Industrial Hygiene Department that we will not be able to comply with the provisions of this standard in the machining of asbestos-containing products. The lowering of the standard makes it quite likely that this new level (2 fibers/cc) will be exceeded. When this is found to occur, we are required by law to notify all employees in writing of their overexposure, implement costly programs such as providing protec tive clothing and laundering services, dual lockers, separate showering facilities, and a very extensive environmental monitor ing and medical surveillance program. Even if we could comply with the July mandate, OSHA has recently proposed a more stringent standard for asbestos of 0.5 fibers/cc, which we do not feel could be complied with under any circumstances. It should be pointed out that we have had a number of cases in the past two years where employees have had to be notified of their overexposure to asbestos, and the experience has been, to say the least, traumatic. HMC/mm Homer M. Cole TX TINER RMC0036359