Document QgjEVvEEpaoMrvE8bm2m314wv

V I A. c. RECFIVFO 1 OtC 1965 n ft n- EA i/PH/ACM ferepnal fi. A. Knott, Esq., X. 4 M. Safetywsar Ltd.. LEI3T0K, Suffolk. 17th Decenber, 1965. Dear Mr. Knott, Mr. Magee has told me of your concern following the recent press publicity abcut industrial diseases, said to be connected with the usage of ashostos materials. Might away I must apologise for the delay in writing to you, but 1 am sure that you will understand that we have needed time to give this matter most careful consideration. as consider that our organization his led the world in promoting medical research into asbeatosis, we spend upwards of 80,000 a year in cur factory alone in air cleaning and dust extraction, and we are always very con cerned to protect as far as we are able the health of our employees. There is no known health risk associated with the normal handling of processed asbestos goods (yarn, cloth, packings, Jointing, asbestos cement goods). If they are machined, observance of the normal provisions of tho Asbestos Regulations (3,ft. and 0. 1931 : 1110) will eliminate the risk to health. Although sewing machines are not covered at present by these Regulations, it is good practice to fit them with a ventilation attachment. It ahould be remembered that damping cloth before cutting Is a good method of reducing dust emission. Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer which occurs in the chest cavity. The recent reports in the 'Dunday Times" concerned a study of tumours at a London hoapltal, and the records of 83 persons who had died of meaotholioma were >>. \ wO i--r- It Itj.AlV-is ho *' ^ -----------------l ^ 1 * ^1^.1 * .'S' '4:<v- vct447" 17.12.65 , R. A. Knott, Esq., ' I. 4 M. Safetywsar Ltd. -2- examined, the first case being in 1917. Thus, on the average, there were lass than two eaaes a ye*r examined by this hospital, which serves a vaat arse with a population of two to three million. About half of theae mesothelioma cases had soma contact with asbestos, but s quarter of them had no contact at all. There Is no nroof that asbestos can cause mesothelioma and it le b no means the sole cauae of this disease. The chances of anyone in contact with asbestos con tracting mesothelioma are very small Indeed and It cannot be over-emphasized that this la a rare condition. The number of our employees who contract osbestosls today is very small; the risks have, by ventilation and other techniques, been minimised and the disease is well understood. I hope that this letter will give you tho information you need in order to deal with any queries which you may have from your Local Authority or from your own employees. It Is Boole time since we met, and it was only yesterday that Mr. Magee suggested that 1 should accompany him whan next he comes to Leistcn: I hope to do this and will look forward to the visit very much.