Document OYJwBXVLRdvJ4rpO58bddzYL

SEP- 9-93 THU 11:52 ALCOA FAX NO. 3174483301 P. 02 ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47903 (317) 448-3600 September 7, 1993 ALCOA Daniel Jaffe, M.D. Corporate Medical Director ALCOA 1501 ALCOA Building Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1850 Dear Dan: I would appreciate your input regarding asbestos medical surveillance of a group of employees whose work is covered under the Construction Industry standards for asbestos exposure. Nine employees have been identified who were pipe fitters and general mechanics in the 1960s and 1970s and who were responsible for the demolition and repair of steam line coverings and/or furnace insulation. They performed these jobs at a time when the current techniques for asbestos containment were not implemented. B-reader chest x-rays have been obtained on them and show no abnormalities related to asbestos exposure. No further evaluation has been carried out on them, i.e., pulmonary functions and physical examinations, specifically for the purpose of detecting disease related to asbestos exposure. In my interviews of these nine employees, it appears difficult at best to document precisely whether they meet the criteria of exceeding the excursion limit for 30 or more days per year. In the interest of minimizing ALCOA's risk for OSHA citation, I have recommended that these nine employees be included in medical surveillance. This suggestion is being menvit^esistancefrom Industrial Hygiene apparently because we cannot adequately documennEe^uraRbn of exposure for theseemployees 20 to 30 years ago. I have received the memo from L L Rippey from the Pittsburgh office referring to the Construction and General Industry standards for asbestos exposure and delineating the different approaches being taken at other ALCOA plants. 1 do not wish to pit one group against another, but I am interested in minimizing ALCOA's exposure and optimizing employee surveillance. I would appreciate your recommendation on this issue. Very truly yours, Carl D. Griffin, M.D. Plant Physician ALCOA Medical Department - Lafayette CDG/pag SEP o 1993 DANIEL M. JAFFE, M.D. 752484 0011 752484 0009 SEP- 9-93 THU 11:51 ALCOA FAX NO. 3174483301 ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47903 (317) 449-3600 P.01 \ ALCOA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION HEADER FROM IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE RECEPTION OF THIS DOCUMENTj PLEASE CONTACT LAFAYETTE DIVISION AT (317) M8-36Q0. A'EMjU- r.c ^ /*' ........ i6 - 8^0*' OANIEL M. JAFFE, M.D.^ 752484 0010