Document RJNMwXkD32vJ5LQnrG44VJwYX

FILE NAME ALCOA ALC DATE 0000 DOC ALC000 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Report of Barry Castleman Alcoa Alcoa was a member of the Industrial Hygiene Foundation from 1936 until 1975 or later and thereby received the monthly Industrial Hygiene Digest containing abstracts of articles in medical and scientific journals from around the world During this time there were dozens of abstracts of papers and editorials about asbestosis and cancers associated with asbestos Alcoa was represented at the 1935 meeting that led to the founding of IHF consequent to the rising cost of compensation claims against US manufacturers by workers alleging disability from asbestosis and silicosis In 1941-44 Dr. Francis Frary of Alcoa corresponded with Dr. Leroy Gardner director of the Saranac Laboratory leading research institution used by US industry for the study of the dangers of breathing industrial dusts Frary wanted Saranac to conduct experimental studies of the inhalation of aluminum compounds and silica In 1942 an article published in the Medical Bulletin of the Veterans Administration described asbestosis in an aluminum plant worker from wearing asbestos apron and gloves An Alcoa memo described successful efforts to obtain union cooperation in management's provision of a change of clothes and showers after working shifts with a chemical DicksJuo lyn2 1948 Alcoa Medical Director Dudley Irwin was on the steering committee for the American Foundryman's Society listed in a 1952 publication in which it was noted that asbestosis caused impairment of lung function A medical paper Occupational Cancer was authored by Dr. Bertram Dinman noting evidence that asbestos dust caused lung cancer Fraser Dinman Ashe Ohio State Med J 1217-22 1959 Dr. Dinman would become Medical Director of Alcoa from 1973-1978 and Vice President for Health and Safety until 1987 Prompted by visits by health officials Alcoa managers at the Vernon California location evaluated exhaust systems on saws cutting containing Marinite boards We decided to discontinue this practice and have sent our work to outside shops FH Regehr memo 1/24/62 Asbestos use in potlining operations associated with risk of asbestosis and lung cancer HA Semkin memo 4/9/65 In 1968 a brick mason with extensive exposure to asbestos from potroom repairs raised concern that he and his family were at risk of cancer from asbestos based on a news reports in the Austin Statesman HA Semkin memos 1/12/68 and 1/16/68 Another Semkin memo attached a Washington Post article on mesothelioma New Cancer Cause Puzzle to Doctors 12/26/67 confidential memo on the health effects of asbestos including mesothelioma and the combined lung cancer risk from smoking and work with asbestos was circulated in Alcoa Environmental Effects of Asbestos Chlorine Institute 3/3/71 Soon after the publication of the OSHA asbestos regulations in June 1972 EB Youngblut Alcoa corporate workers compensation manager noted that a provision of the regs required management to notify a worker in writing within 5 days if air measurements of the worker's exposure exceed the permissible exposure limits In handwritten notes Youngblut noted that workers so advised would ask for increased pay based on the hazard go to the union or attorneys file workers compensation claims against Alcoa It will not be possible to defend the case He noted that 50 employees and % of the hourly workforce in Tennessee could be exposed to asbestos in excess of the standards He closed Perhaps we should consider not notifying the employee and taking our chances with an inspection and citation Upon Alcoa being inspected and cited for violations of the asbestos regulations in Indiana penalties assessed were 30 to 90 and a total of 240 for 5 violations Alcoa industrial hygienist Thomas Bonney commented The penalties imposed are of small concern when compared to the cost of correctitnhge conditions for which they were cited 3/28/73 The OSHA inspectors neglected to cite Alcoa for failing to notify workers whose exposures exceeded the ceiling permissible exposure limit though other violations for such exposures were recorded In 1973 a questionnaire was sent to all operations about compliance with asbestos regulations This detailed all operations where asbestos hazards existed included some air sampling data and specified corrective measures dos and don'ts RC Hinkle OSHA Asbestos Compliance Questionnaire 5/29/73 Arkansas manager reports the practice that Alcoa was not obligated to tell employees exposed up to 50 ml provided that the workers were fitted with respirators The ceiling Permissible Exposure Limit was 10 ml R Owen 3/28/74 Bonney noted a citation and 600 fine by OSHA for mixing asbestos with molasses at Point Comfort a use that was subsequently discontinued 12/9/74 Asbestos mill board used in pot lining became brittle and crumbly hence it was being phased out in favor of substitute material HN Mueller 4/15/76 OSHA citations for violations of asbestos regulations included repeated violations cited on a previous inspection For lack of labeling and proper bagging of asbestos waste materials fines of 410 and 820 were levied issued 7/27/78 Continuing exposures at Marinite sawing operations persisted in Tennessee in 1979 KP Karsten 4/19/79 Draft Removal of Containing Products refers to asbestos replacement program starting 1978 and describes protective measures for place asbestos EE Rumberger 10/20/82