Document Rdz3G8ogVxVgYaz0ojrM3G6n

CAMBRIDGE To: From: To All Employees J. H. Berke Date: 11 September, 1986 Subject: New OSHA Asbestos Standard The Occupational Safety S Health Administration has revised the new standards for allowable asbestos exposures in the workplace and medical surveillance of workers exposed to asbestos. For years, CPD has developed rigorous engineering and industrial hygiene controls to minimize employee exposure to asbestos fibers. The new standard requires a limit of 0.2 fibers per cubic centimeter of air (f/cc) exposure on an 8-hour time weighted average. All of our plants have been under that level for a number of years. In addition, the OSHA standard requires anyone exposed to 0.1 (f/cc) to undergo medical surveil lance. The management in the Construction Products Division has determined that since exposures greater than .1 (f/cc) are theoretically possible within expanding plants, all expanding plant employees will be treated as if they had exposures to .1 fiber per cc or greater. In summary, all employees are required to participate in the medical surveillance program as revised in the July 21, 1986, OSHA standard. The standard requires pre-placement, annual, and termination examinations and standardized questionnaires are mandatory. These questionnaires are for the purpose of collecting data on persons with a potential for asbestos exposure and have been developed by OSHA. The major change in our health programs will be that employees will be offered a hands-on medical examination annually. Each employee will receive a written statement from the examining physician as to his/her state of health. The frequency of chest x-rays will be decreased. Employees over the age of 45 with greater than 10 years of exposure will require the most frequent x-rays. Employees under the age of 35 with 10 or fewer years of workplace exposure will requires x-rays only once every 5 years rather than annually. The new health surveillance program will aid in assuring your continued good health. JHB/de Jerry H. Berke, M.D., M.P.H. Mecical & Toxicology Director for ICG 10003348