Document R2dOMoZaLqwJJrvvbyQvk6zBV

FILE NAME: National Gypsum (NG) DATE: 1968 May 16 DOC#: NG021 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Recommended Health Safety Practices for Handling and Applying Asbestos-Cement Products & Cover Letter * V-. 4 C r J ohns -M anvil P , | fi I I x I -.9 M A N V H l i . N I W J ERSEY T E l s P H O N E | 2 0 U R A N D C - l P H t - f C C D May 16, 1968 Mr. F7 >1. Zimmerman Director of Safety National Cypsum Company ` Gold Bond Building Buffalo, New York Dear Frank: . A joint meeting of the Asbestos Building Products Manufacturers Environmental Health Council and the Mineral Fiber Products Bureau will be held on Monday, June 17, 1968 in the Johns-Manville Board Room, 22 East Oth Street, New York City, at 10:00 A.K. . fhe purpose of the meeting is to discuss coordination and possible consolidation of both organisations for the purpose, of handling health safety problems in the Asbestos-Cement Building Products industry. Sincerely, CLS/ems C. L. Sheckler, Manager Occupational Environmental Control !KOPYKORNER* 137 36177 s c v / -- ' t r KECCMMENDEI' HEALTH SAFETY PRACTICES K<)!`. HANDLING AfI> APPLY INT. AiW'S-IOS-CLWIN'T PKOIM CIS IN H U BPILDINC a ?::- rnr:<:TT?rcT:oN ircurpTRiEs TG-2T8 k o e COiiTEi.' S r- i:r v o r r e i i o n ......................................................... `F:<* ............ .............. SHIPIMM., HAN'Dl.IW. AM) SI0*A C E ................... FABP ICATT^N ANT APPl.rr,\T]ns . VFv PTkA" f'HY r 01 I PMENT I OR HhAMIl SAFETY'S SAKE ">-r*-e ma 'ir jsr** t o Veep in - f u l in the hanrllinp and apnlviti;; nf m aterials containing ashesto9: . Take every p rec a u tio n to keep d u s t t o a ttuni'sni'u. . '-.'ear P . S . Burea of Minestoor !!f<ri r a *nr s vh**n <.f| -r i i v- ( l o s t * . 1 i*a*u j . v ,, ; i , t a i - -.-i*! h.viaeVeep l 1/ a t a i t t ino> . . *>. 36479 o 1NTKOniXTT ON The development end production of hundreds of natural and synthetic material including asbestos* cement products has brought the need to protect workers from certain health risks, known or suspected. Manufacturers of asbestos-cement products have for years been taking protective measures to eliminate excessive exposures to inhalation of dusts that may be injurious. The handling and application of asbestos-cement products ia very diverse and ranges from the installation of a single piece to extensive operations involving cutting and machining by mechanical eoulpment. Whlel care should always be exercised, special precautions are necessary when excessive dusts, including asbestos, are generated as the result of sawing, drilling or other similar operations. . Experience has shown that all materials can be handled with no adverse effects to health provided proper precautions are taken. The Asbestos Building Products Manufacturers recommend the following practices for handling and applying asbestos-cement products in the building and construction industries. Contractors and applicators are urged to study these reconsnenoed practices carefully and to see that they are observed by all workers handling aebestos-cement materials. As with Safety Regulations, it is in the interest of both employer and employee to see that health protection practices are strictly observed. -3- 364S0 o HOL'SEKF.?ING An organized housekeeping program should be maintained in all areas ond on all operations at all times. . A major source of excessive airbrone dust is from loose materials, scrap and debriB distributed throughout the Job area and disintegrated by trampling on running over. etc. Much of the airborne contamination can he eliminated by exerci*inS simple good housekeeping practices. Specific standards and practices designed for providing, safe, clean and orderly working conditions should be defined. Efficient supervisory control, planning of systematic cleaning plus day to day follow-up are the basic reouirements for dust control and injury prevention. -4- 364S1 SKIPPING,' HANDLING AND STORAGE Under normal conditions, unit lead handling and storage of asbestos-cement products including roofing and siding shingles, flat and corrugated sheets, asbestos-cement pipe, etc., present no environmental health problems. When handling individual pieces of flat and corrugated asbestos sheets, care ehould be taken when placing one sheet on top of ehe other to avoid creating excessive airborne dust and breakage. If breakage of asbestos-cement*products occurs, broken pieces of material should be cleaned up and disposed of to avoid disintegration by trampling on, running over etc. vhich may create excessive dust. ' ` Handling and storage of bags containing asbestos fiber, cements etc, present no environmental health hazards, providing bags are unopened and not broken. Open or broken bags should be repacked, repealed or discarded to prevent dust distribution throughout working areas. Spillage should -be cleaned up immediately. .5. 3G-152 O' O I FABRICATION A.ND APPLICATION r When moving asbestos*cement.products to and from the fabrication site, individual pieces of materials should-be handled-withcare to avoid creating exeeasive airborne dust and breakag. Fabrication of asbestos-cement products involving acutting, drilling, sawing, etc., should be done in manner that will minimize airborne dust. The use of proper methods, tools and equipment will contribute considerably toward dust abatement. W*en cutting drilling, sowing, etc. on a repeated basis with power eouipment. mechanical dust collecting systems adeouately designed to remove dust from the source should be used. If mechanical dust collecting systems cannot be used and excessive dust is generated respirators should be worn. 8 ' In cnnfir.ed spaces, fabrication of atbestos-cement products require special precautions. Provide mechanical dust collecring systems adecuateiy designed to remove dust from the source. If conditions prevent collecting dust at the source, use exhaust blowers to provide continual general C room air changes. Avoid exhausting these blowers Into other work areas. If exhaust equipment cannot be used, respirators should be worn. Provide waste containers at dll fabrication and application areas. Dispose of unusable material immediately. Keep floors and surfaces clean. Dust end small particles created during f-bricetion and application should be cleaned up. Vacuum equipment is recommended for this cleaning. If vacuum equipment cannot be used, wet down waste material before sweeping and shoveling. If excessive dust is generated during clean-up respirators should be worn. Bureau of Mines - approved respirators - See Page -AL * V 3G1S3 RESPIRATORY EOUIKCNT Only V. S. Bureau of Mines-approved respiratory equipment is recommended for use with asbestos, ilica and other pneumoconiosis-producing dusts. Approved respiratory eeuipment must be used at all operations where- dust control is not sufficient to maintain airborne dust concentration within , allowable limits for asbestos and other pneumoconiosis producing dusts, as established by governmental and professional agencies. The efficiency and effectiveness of respiratory eeuipment Is dependent upon proper care, cleaning end maintenance. A systematic procedure should be established to assure that this is done. Lists of currently approved respiratory equipment can be obtained from: Bureau of Mines United States Department of the Nineteenth and E Streets, N.W. Washington, D. C. 20240 * Interior . American Industrial Hygiene Association 14125 Prvost Detroit. Michigan 48227 36484