Document Ozp4NL22r6exxR9mXVE7jRX8X

9k . KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM 11552 G. B. Kirk Oakland Date March 1, 1974 ticket Copies TO J. W. Blewett (via GBK) T. T. Smith H. L. Weightman A. F. ftafiaeiii SUBJECT DUST FROM JOINT COMPOUND JOB OPERATIONS from j.v&j Sheahan at Antioch R & D ?L 4.1.0 00022 We have received a group of three reports from the Gypsum Association `covering amounts of asbestos and siliceous dusts generated during mixing and sanding of joint compounds on typical jobs. The overall summary by the testing agency states, "There was evidence of exposure of workers to airborne concentrations of asbestos and both total and respirable siliceous dust in excess of acceptable limits as estab lished by OSHA. Because of the high concentrations of total dust gener ated during the mixing and sanding activities, it is clear that control of the total dust problem would provide an inherent control of the asso ciated asbestos and silica problems as well." The first report deals with dry and premix products from the other five major gypsum companies, with KGC materials not included. The dust sam ples collected were so heavy that reliable tests for asbestos could hot be made, and only siliceous dust values are reported. The second report covers a recheck using dry and premix products from two of the above companies on siliceous dust values. The third report covers asbestos dust from the products used for the second report. A summary of the test data is attached. Also attached is a summary of cur own tests or. our own products. ACTION RSCUIRZD: 1) Review and recommendation as to whether asbestos warning labels may legitimately be removed from our premix products. The law states that "no label is required where asbesxos fibers have been modified by a bonding agent, coating, binder or other material so that during any reasonably foreseeable use, no airborne concentrations of asbes tos fibers in excess of the prescribed exposure limits will be released." Our company is the only major company carrying the asbes tos warning on its premix and it is costing us business. 2) Recommendation as to company's position on what is next step to be taken by the Gypsum Association Study Committee on this project. That committee is already on record in favor of placing the asbestos warning ar.c a dust warning on all bags and pails of joint ccmcound . JSS/sc ' Attachment . _ j SUMMARY OF GYPSUM ASSOCIATION REPORTS FIRST REPORT September 1973 tests - Siliceous Dusts (asbestos dust data not reliable) Mixing of 5 dry powder, joint compounds (not including Kaiser) Worker exposure (breathing zone): 8 hr TWA OSHA Limit ** Total dust - S.9 to 21.6 mg/cu m * Respirable dust - 1.3 to 9.1 =g/cu a * General araa exposure: Total dust - 10.8 to 34.0 mg/cu m 3.1 to 9.7 Respirable dust - 0.8 to 2.6 mg/cu m * Sanding of joints from 3 dry powders and 5 premixes Worker exposure (breathing zone): Total dust - 72.5 to 244-4 mg/cu m Respirable dust - 1.5 to 5.6 mg/cu m 2.4 to 15.0 * General area exposure: Total dust - 27.7 to 136.7 mg/cu m 4.0 to 15.0 Respirable dust - 4.4 to 23.0 mg/cu m 0.7 to 5.0 * not calculable because samples too small to analyze for free silica content needed for the calculation. Respirable dusts are specific size fractions of the total dust. ** The OSHA limit amounts vary because they are dependent on the amount of silica present. NOTES: 1) There was no significant difference among dust levels generated by sanding joints which used dry powder compounds versus those which used premix com pounds. 2) No one manufacturer's product was significantly closer to complying with OSHA limits than were the others. 3) It is said that the individual worker is unlikely to have mors than 2 hrs. direct exposure to mixing or sanding each workday. SUMMARY OF GYPSUM ASSOCIATION REPORTS '4# SECQfflLBBSaai I November 1973 test3 - Siliceous Dusts Mixing of two dry powder joint compounds Worker exposure (breathing zone): 8 hr TWA OSHA Limit ** Total dust - 11.7 and 33.8 mg/cu a Respirable dust - <8.5 and 6.9 mg/cu m General area exposure: Total dust - 121.6 and 98.3 mg/cu m 6.7 and 5.4 Respirable dust - 13.8 and 12.2 mg/cu m 1.3 and * Sanding of joints from 2 dry powders Worker exposure (breathing zone): Total dust - 109.5 and 196.3 mg/cu m 8.8 and 5.0 Respirable dust - 3.3 and 2.0 mg/cu m General area exposure: _ Total dust - 96.4 and 76.5 mg/cu m 8.3 and 4.0 Respirable du3t - 14.6 and 7.6 mg/cu m 3.3 and 1.9 Sanding of joints from 2 premises Worker exposure (breathing zone): Total dust - 69.2-and 87.3 mg/cu m 9.4 and 10.0 Respirable dust - 3.9 and 6.4 mg/cu m General area exposure: Total dust - 54.9 and 91.-3 mg/cu m 5.6 and 1.5 Respirable dust - 4.9 and 7.9 * and 3.1 * Not calculable because samples too small to analyze for free silica content needed for the calculation. ** The OSHA limit amounts vary because they are dependent on the amount of silica present. MOT'S: 1) It is said that the individual worker is unlikely to have more than 2 hrs direct exposure to mixing or sanding each workday. SULIMARY OF GYPSUM ASSOCIATION REPORTS THIRD REPORT. November 1973 tests - Asbestos Dast (fibers longer than 5 micrometers) OSHA Standard - continuous exposure 5 fibers/cc OSHA Standard - peak exposure 10 fibers/ee Worker exposure (breathing zone): ' Mixing: 1st dry compound 2nd dry compound Sanding: 10 min, samples avg 1st dry compound ----- 2nd diy compound 4.4 fibers/cc 1st premix 4.2 2nd premix 10.8 31.4 fibers/cc 7.6 fibers/cc 30 min, samples aliquoted 4 redeposited 39.4 fibers/cc 14.8 11.1 9.7 6 of 13 sanding tests (10 min. samples) indicated concentrations in excess of 5 fibers. . 2 of 13 sanding tests (10 min. samples) indicated concentrations in excess of 10 fibers. NOTE; 1)' 'It is said that the individual worker is unlikely to have more than 2 hr3. direct exposure to mixing or sanding each workday. RESULTS OF TEST WITH KGC COMPOUNDS BY UNION CARBIDE Asbestos Bust (fibers longer than 5 micrometers) Worker exposure (breathing zone): Mixing joint compound with drill mixes Mixing finishing compound with potato masher Sending joint done with Premix Topping Sanding joint done with Premix Dual Purpose Sanding joint done with Finishing Compound fibers/cc 54.6 66.5 4.3 1.1 2.8 NOTE: Since in no case the sampling time was longer than 2 minutes, these dataashould be used only as general guides to indicate gross relative differences.