Document RaqvMeKgMNr1gv5ngJ659m3yV

FILE NAME: Raybestos-Manhattan (RBM) DATE: 0000 DOC#: RBM047 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: RBM Booklet for Employees - 'Here is Something You Should Know About Asbestos...1 1 HERE IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ASBESTOS . .. Every person employed at RaybestosManhattan where asbestos fiber is used should know that breathing asbestos dust can cause certain health, problems. We have taken many steps to protect you from exposure to harmful amounts of asbestos fiber. To make these steps effec tive, you must follow safe working rules on the job. THE HEALTH PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS ARE THESE: A disease called asbestosis - a scarring of the lung tissue, which when severe, makes it difficult to breath properly. Persons who smoke cigarettes and inhale asbestos dust are at a greater risk of developing asbestosis and lung cancer. Studies show that if you smoke cigarettes, asbestos ex posure increases your risk of getting lung cancer. Persons exposed to certain types of asbestos have a greater risk of developing mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdomen. White (chrysotiie) asbes tos, which we use in most of our asbestos products, is least likely to cause mesothelioma. We also use small quantities of anthophyllite, a variety of asbestos which has never been shown to cause mesothelioma. There also is some indication that there might be a greater incidence of cancer of the digestive tract in per- , sons such as insulation workers who may have been exposed to ex cessive amounts of airborne asbes tos in past years. W ARNING: THE SU RG EO N G ENERA L H A S DETERMINED THAT C IG A R E TTE S M O K IN G IS DA NG ER OU S T O YO U R HEALTH HERE'S HOW WE PROTECT YOU FROM ASBESTOS. Enclosure or isolation of major equipment or machinery likely to generate airborne asbestos fibers. Specially designed local exhaust ventilation systems for operations producing airborne asbestos fibers. Wet or damp processing if feasible. Insistence on good housekeeping. Insistence on use of vacuum clean ers. Insistence on immediate repair of damaged bags of asbestos. Development of new processes which are not dusty. Development of new products which are dust-suppressed. Development of new products which are shrink-wrapped. Our NOVATEX process is the best example of the above. Be concerned - not alarmed about asbes tos related problems. Present day cases of diseases we mentioned are related to working conditions that existed many j years ago. As we became aware of the I risks, Raybestos-Manhattan began spendt ing considerable sums of money to reduce ' employee exposure to asbestos fiber by isolation, ventilation, and development of new processes or products. We are confi dent that as long as employees follow work rules and control equipment is main tained and operated properly, nobody will be exposed to hazardous amounts of as bestos fibers in our operations. To assure continued control of risk, the company's trained personnel will regularly check asbestos using operations. You are asked to cooperate with these trained employees when they check your work areas. Government inspections are also made of our facilities to make sure you are not being exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos. The government has set stan dards that limit how much asbestos you can be exposed to and we have taken steps to abide fully with those regulations and in many instances have achieved levels well below permissible limits. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS ON THE JOB TO HELP US PRO TECT YOU. SOME OF THESE ARE: 1. Do everything you can to prevent creating dust and do not let any asbestos fiber get into the air where it can be inhaled. 2. Follow the rules about how to per form your job at all times. 3. In some areas you may be required to wear a respirator or some other form of personal protective equip ment. Wear this equipment properly whenever it is necessary and main tain it in good condition. 4. Do not smoke on the job if you are working with asbestos. You are urged for your general health's sake to quit smoking completely. 5. To avoid exposing others, do not take any asbestos material home from the plant. Use the facilities pro vided to change work clothes, and wash before going home. 6. If equipment is not working cor rectly, report it to your supervisor immediately. If you have any problems concerning asbestos and health, ask your supervisor to help you get them solved. He or she will know where to go for an answer. The medi cal staff in your company will be able to provide answers to your questions about asbestos and health. You will be able to find out from the Safety Director how to use personal protective equipment and other methods of protect ing yourself. Because of the joint efforts of Raybestos-Manhattan and yourself, you will be as safe working for us as in any other occupation or endeavor. That is the way we want it. We will not take chances with your health and we won't allow you to take chances with it. REFER TO THIS BOOKLET OFTEN . . . FOR YOUR HEALTH'S SAKE. Z O -H O O CAUTION -- ASBESTOS DUST HAZARD CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS -- AVOID CREATING DUST BREATHING ASBESTOS DUST MAY CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY HARM 00 vi ) l 5 <P S m vq a cp ^ e-- > (/> =e2- w2 ? " t !P e (a CO CD 2. Bi ft B S 5> era <o SB c/> s : ft) _ 2 2 </> 3 o> So cl o> II ooo ooe ogtooc2 S0"3"COOO3O0<3 O= --"'-'Co o= ?-2. 0 0 3* s ; ooq IMPORTANT - ASBESTOS DUST HAZARD DO NOT BREATHE DUST DO M i l USE A IR HOSE FOR CLEANING DO N O I MACHINE W ITH O U T DUST COLLECTION EQUIPMENT DO USE VACUUM OR WET CLEANING-METHODS DO DISPOSE OF DUST IN SEALED CONTAINER DO WEAR MASK IF U N A B LB TO AVOr'DDUST For Further Information Contact 075*009 Environmental Affairs Department Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. 100 Oakview Drive Trumbull, Connecticut 06611 I M PO R TA N T ASBESTOS DUST HAZARD DO N Q I B R E A T H E D U ST DO N Q I U S E A IR H O SE FO R C L E A N IN G DO NOT M A C H IN E W IT H O U T D U ST C O L L E C T IO N E Q U IP M E N T DO U SE V A C U U M O R W E T C L E A N IN G M ET H O D S DO D ISPO SE O F D U ST IN S E A L E D C O N T A IN E R DO W E A R M A SK IF U N A B L E TO A V O ID D U ST 075-008 OSHA CAU11UN LAflfcL *< CAUTION AVOID CREATING DUST CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS BREATHING ASBESTOS DUST MAY CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY HARM R/M WORKPRACTICE INSTRUCTIONS IMPORTANT Asbestos Dust Hazard Do NOT Breathe Dust Do NOT Use Air Hose for Cleaning Do NOT Machine Without Dust Collection Equipment DO Use Vacuum or Wet Cleaning Methods DO Dispose of Dust in Sealed Container DO Wear Mask if Unable to Avoid Dust For Further Information Contact: Environmental Affairs Department Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. 100 Oakview Drive Trumbull, Conn-icticut 06611 RM 400 CCMBINATICN 2 0 ---- I O O CAUTION -- ASBESTOS DUST HAZARD CONTAINS A SB EST O S FIB E R S -- AVOID CREATING DUST BREATHING ASBESTO S DUST MAY C AU SE SERIO U S BODILY HARM IMPORTANT Do NOT Breathe Dust Do NOT Use Air Hose for Cleaning I DO Use Vacuum or Wet Cleaning Methods I DO Dispose of Dust in Sealed Container Do NOT Machine Without Dust Collection Equipment f ' DO Wear Mask if Unable to Avoid Dust SP-403 F o r F urther In lo rm a tio n C o nta ct: E n viro n m e n ta l A lla irs D ep artm en t. R ayb estos-M anhattan. Inc. TR U M B U LL, C O N N . 06611 September 26, 1979 The following materials are available for distribution to RaybestosManhattan customers, their employees or to others interested in the subject. 1. AIA/NA Work Practices Booklet "Fabrication and Use of Asbestos Friction Materials". 2. Raybestos-Manhattan booklet "Here is Something You Should Know About Asbestos". 3. Recommended procedures for controlling asbestos dust during brake servicing (an extract from friction material catalog). 4. Key steps in acquiring an asbestos dust system. 5. List of firms offering dust control system design and construction services. 6. List of suppliers of protective equipment and industrial vacuum cleaners suitable for cleaning up asbestos dust. 7. List of laboratories and consultants offering asbestos fiber moni toring services. 8. Asbestos and Water. 9. Asbestos in the Atmosphere. 10. Report of the Advisory Committee on Asbestos Cancers to the Director of International Agency for Research on Cancer. 11. Excerpts from Asbestos Industry Response to OSHA on Proposed Re vision to Asbestos Standard. 12. Order blank for materials available from the Asbestos Information Association/North America. Note that this includes some items listed above. Work practice instructions have been included in every shipment of Raybestos-Manhattan friction materials for several years. These are very similar to NIOSH recommended procedures for asbestos brake and clutch servicing issued in preliminary form in July 1977. A copy is attached. RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES FOR REDUCING ASBESTOS DUST D U R IN G BRAKE SERVICING Because studies have indicated that exposure to excessive amounts of asbestos dust may be a potential health hazard, OSHA has set maximum limits of levels of airborne asbestos dust to which workers may be exposed. Since most automotive friction materials normally contain a sizable amount of asbestos, it is important that people who handle brake linings and clutch facings understand the nature of the problem and know the precautions to be taken. 1. Areas where brake work is done should be set aside if possible, and entrances should be posted with an asbestos exposure sign as follows: ' Asbestos Dust Hazard Avoid Breathing Dust W ear Assigned Protective Equipment Do Not Remain in Area Unless Your Work Requires It Breathing Asbestos Dust May Be Hazardous To Your Health 2. The amount of asbestos in the dust from brake lining wear is normally at an extremely low level because of chemical breakdown during use, and if machining of friction material does not take place, simple procedures will minimize exposure. During brake servicing, the mechanic should wear an air purifying respirator, either a throwaway or one with replaceable particulate filter(s), as approved by the mining Enforcement and Safety Adminis tration or NIOSH. I t should be worn during all procedures starting with the removal of the wheels and including reassembly. 3. During disassembly, all parts should be carefully placed on the floor to minimize the possibility of creating airborne dust Dust should first be cleaned from the brake drums, brake backing plates and brake assemblies using an industrial type vacuum cleaner equipped with a high efficiency filter sys tem. After vacuum cleaning, any remaining dust should be removed by using a rag soaked in water and wrung until nearly dry. Under no circum stances should compressed air or dry brushing be used for cleaning. 4. Of extreme importance are the precautions which must be taken during machining of friction ma te rial This is. the operation in brake servicing when exposure to asbestos dust is at its highest. In addi / tion to the approved respirator, there must be local exhaust ventilation such that the worker exposures are maintained at least below the 1976 OSHA asbestos standards. If there is any question as to the efficiency of asbestos dust removal by the ma chine, the manufacturer should be contacted. 5. Industrial vacuum cleaner bags containing asbestos dust and cloths used for wiping brake assemblies should be sealed in plastic bags and labeled with the following warning' label printed in letters of sufficient size and contrast to be readily visible and legible: Caution Contains Asbestos Fibers Avoid Breathing Dust Breathing Asbestos Dust May Cause Serious Bodily Harm All asbestos waste should be disposed of in accord ance with the OSHA asbestos regulation. During removal of vacuum bags, an approved respirator, as described in (2) above should be worn. 6. All floor cleaning in areas where brakes are repaired should be done with the high efficiency industrial vacuum cleaner as described in (3) above. Under no circumstances should dry sweeping take place. Grinding (arcing) machines should also be cleaned with such a vacuum cleaner and any remaining dust wiped with a damp cloth. An approved res pirator, as described previously should be used during this cleaning. 7. Although adherence to the above procedures should minimize any contamination of work clothing, it is necessary that the appropriate sections of the OSHA regulations on asbestos be followed when ceiling levels on asbestos dust exceed current stand ards. This could involve special clothing, change rooms, etc. At the very least the work clothes should not be taken home but should remain at work for industrial laundering. 8. Proper hygiene practices will help minimize ex posure to asbestos dust. Wash thoroughly before eating and do not eat in the work area. Remember, smoking is harmful to the health, and smoking coupled with breathing asbestos dust is extremely dangerous. CAUTION: DO NOT BREATHE ASBESTOS DUST