Document OEzb90pz62agG6mZj4x423KNp

JUI za*" 7-/^-77 djvpce. CO/nnvc. -- - - .......................... ssfsws (f us*) Cr-&o & +2- Rh\ f~ Q C&rPi.B- -- &&S7V* -- 0.T ^* /1/^rCt; ^5. " Coote L.& Aw Go vpi>& -- --* Gee* *3 * /4c- CoopiG UJt H./AS&. - /lte:<<> EC. - C~eop ALCOAO 000009473 jul**' 7'IS-T? IN f&r.'OK/ 6~F~ "77<2.. C<-Xi 04/ St-PG- 3 ft Pft&tte* ^VP-Af* < vfr/v f t.tf. l/l f rsv /vpMtyfi Gvc/f&S- Cftf&tA/G- &&CV (P-OOT? |/fi A*' djvpoe. (Otntvc. -- ^0 9 Ce&Pi.& O.T C^ov Lqa& &&?&& /? sees tvs -- C-vo. & * (TtfoP /js&asrzn -- &&CV C&MQ. ?Jl /l d-c. C&OP&& CiJ/ fLfAS& A/ty ftC* O-e&f? J**" 'U// . ALCOAO 000009474 V. J. BOVARD, M. D. VANCOUVER OPERATIONS B. E. MOORE VANCOUVER OPERATIONS February 23, 1976 > GL 0 y RE; GUIDELINES TO AVOID SKIN PROBLEMS IN WORKING WITH FIBREGLASS The foilwing recommendations are from the medical director at the largest fibreglass manufacturing plant in the midwest. 1. Good personal hygiene is the single aoat effective measure to avoid akin probleas. 2. Avoid direct akin contact. (Use gloves, sleeves, loose fitting collars and belts.) 3. Shower after with warm water then cleanse skin with a stiff washcloth, using any common emollient. 4. The "hardening", acclication, or time to "become used to" the material varies between 2-4 days. 5. The rash has a typical appearance; if in doubt, let me see the employee. 6. People who persist with probleas after 5 days should be evaluated for special sensitivity (rare). 7. If to be used "overhead", goggles should be used. 8* Thousands of people work with this material daily and have learned it need not produce any problems if the above are carefully followed. V. J. BOVARD tfJB: fh cc: G. P. Nelson t. L. Halsch D. L. Werner ALCOA ALCOAO 000009475 TELEGRAM This Copy for TELEGRAPH OFFICE [J^Ce [^CONFIRMATION point of origin & date: PITTSBURGH OFFICE20APR76 RFC D. T. OLIVER ALCOA GOWERTON SWANSEA TALES CC: T. I. S. BOAK, JR., PITTSBURGH C. P. FLETCHER, ALCOA, GOWERTON, SWANSEA, WALES N. K. HARDMAN, ALCOA, GOWERTON, SWANSEA, SWALES W. K. WEBB, PITTSBURGH (uCzJ, REURTELEX 16APRIL. VANCOUVER OPERATIONS HAS FOUND SATISFACTORY ALTERNATE. MAILING YOU COPY OF CORRESPONDENCE. RPC:lmn ROBERT P. CARTER ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA, PITTSBURGH cc: M. J. Caprio, Pittsburgh 19 \ Note to Caprio: Sending copies W.K.Webb letter 15Dec75 to J.H.Pierce, and M. L. Miner letter 24Mar76 to W. K. Webb. Copy to Marsha Frank, 14AB, on 27Apr76 ALCOAO 000009476  KA0920-16* ALCOA B P3H ALCOAMFG SVlfSEA SBL 5 16TH APRIL 1976 ES TAPED 3/00 TO HR ROBERT P CARTER ALCOA PITTSBURGH HEALTH.AMD ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT CC MR T I S BOAR JR ALCOA PITTSBURGH CC MR C P FLETCHER ALCOA VAUN CC MR N K HARDMAN ALCOA VAUN 1 VS USE THERMOCOUPLE VIRE VITH ASBESTOS INSULATION FOR FURNACE TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT. MAXIMUM OPERATING TEMPERATURE IS 650 DEGREES CENTIGRADE IN SOAKING PITS. CAN YOU COMMENT ON THIS AND SUGGEST ALTERNATIVE INSULATING MATERIALS. FROM D T OLIVER ALCOA MFG VAUNARLVYDD S ALCOAMFG SVNSEA* ALCOA B PGH ALCOAOOOOOQ9477 FROM W. L. MINER VANCOUVER OPERATIONS TO W. K. WEBB PITTSBURGH OFFICE - 20 MARCH 24, 1976 RE: ASBESTOS COVERED THERMOCOUPLE WIRE WE HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY NINETY DAYS EXPERIENCE SINCE YOUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 15, 1975, WITH CLAUDE S. GORDON FIBRE GLASS OVER ASBESTOS, CATALOG NUMBER K20-2-202, 20 GAGE (CHROMEL-ALUMEL) THERMOCOUPLE WIRE. OUR EXPERIENCE THUS FAR IN THE INGOT DEPARTMENT AND THE EXTRUSION MILL HAS BEEN VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU AS FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ARISE. W. L. MINER WLM:J CC: B. A. BEEBE - CLEVELAND WORKS \ R. P. CARTER ~ PITTSBURGH OFFICE - 7 L. EGGLESTON - MASSENA OPERATIONS G. R. FARNETH - PITTSBURGH OFFICE - 22 P. H. GOMULKIEWICZ - WENATCHEE WORKS P. KENY, JR. - DAVENPORT WORKS P. B. MATHEWSON - LAFAYETTE WORKS R. W. PLUMMER - PITTSBURGH OFFICE - 20 F. E. ROBINSON - VERNON WORKS J. SEXTON - TENNESSEE OPERATIONS J. A. SMITH - WILLIAM PENN - 4 R. G. TANGERINI - CRESSONA WORKS T. N. WAGNER - MARSHALL WORKS M. W. WALL - BADIN WORKS B. WRIGHT - WARRICK OPERATIONS M.- J. Caprio, 19AB, 29Mar76 CQA ALCOA0000009478 SF*4r*0S (REV- PROM RE: ASBESTOS COVERED THERMOCOUPLE WIRE As we agreed in our recent telephone conversation, I have investigated use of subject material in furnaces and soaking pits with regard to possible health hazard due to the asbestos insulation. I have discovered no instance in Alcoa's organization where anyone considered the amount of asbestos on electrical wiring to be a health hazard. I discussed this with R. P. Carter in the Health and Environment Department and he feels that the limited exposure in this connection could hardly be considered a health hazard. Even though some abrasion takes place in soaking pits and furnaces when; Joad thermocouples are used, it is doubtful if enough fibres are separated from the wire to exceed any OSHA standards. However, it is impractical or most likely impossible to measure the fibre content of the air in furnaces against uncertain OSHA standards to prove this point. Therefore, 1 suggest we use? fibre glass covered thermocouple wire instead of the traditional asbestos. In discussing this with Tennessee personnel, I found they are trying out a Claud S. Gordon fibre glass over asbestos. Catalog No. J20-2-202, 20 gage wire. Also in checking with Claud S. Gordon it was discovered they are working on a new glass insulation which may be superior in abrasion resistance to the fibre glass braid. The motivation for this is in steel industry where there has been some OSHA criticism. But I hasten to point out their application is much more severe both in temperature and handling than anything we experience. In the worst case where OSHA or others may insist there is a health hazard and where the abrasion resistance of the fibre glass braid is unacceptable, we could use wire with stainless steel overbraid. This is expensive, of course, and I doubt if it will become necessary. Fibre Glass-Fibre Glass, Asbestos-Fibre Glass and Asbestos-Asbestos are all similarly priced with fibre glass perhaps slightly lower. All three of these types arc more expensive than the commonly used asbestos twisted with no overbraid. In the quantities we use on a given furnace, I don't believe the added cost of overbraid will be burdensome. I will continue to pursue this and when more information is available, I wi 11 pass il on I o you. ALC It****: i L. J f- ALCQA0000009479 *ih (srv n Mr. J. H. Pierce^ December 15, 1975 Page 2 In the meantime I suggest you have your people try the fibre glass overbraid and advise me of your results. The wire is available from most of the vendors you now deal with. , ii '. /-' i > - ' L ' W. K. WEBB WKWrdms cc: B. A. Beebe - Cleveland Works R. P. Carter - Pittsburgh Office - 7 L. Eggleston - Massena Operations G. R. Farneth - Pittsburgh Office - 22 P.- H. Gomulkiewicz - Wenatchee Works P. Keny, Jr. - Davenport Works P. B. Mathewson - Lafayette Works R. W. Plummer - Pittsburgh Office - 20 F. E. Robinson - Vernon Works J. Sexton - Tennessee Operations .1. A. Smith - William Penn - *1 K. ti. Tange nni - Crcssona Works T. N. Wagner - Marshall Works M. W. Wall - Badin Works B. Wright - Warrick Operations cc: J.H.Dunbar, 23AB, on 17Dec75 ALCOA0000009480