Document Rj0nDKDqExr9vJwRowbKzGXa7

FILE NAME: Asten Hill (AH) DATE: 1955 Oct 17 DOC#: AH055 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Meeting Minutes NOU-3-2004 12:08P FROM: TO:14108894944 P:10'13 n October 1?, 1955 fs MINUTES OF THU ASBESTOS TEXTILE INSTITUTE ADI HYGIENE COMMITTEE MEETING September 7, 1955 IN ATTENDANCE WERE* D,, It. Holmes J . N, Weber Kj C, Smith II, iis. Jck3on The Air Hygiene Committee was most pleased. to have as its guests representatives of the Quebec Mining Association - Dr Paul Cartier, Ur, Ivan Sabourin and Ur, Maurice La Chance, Mr, Sabourin, general counsel for the Q.AwijA, told of the history and function of that association. The Quebec Asbestos Mining Association has been operating for approximately 20 yearn, and its membership represents approximately 65of the world supply of asbestos fibre, As an industry association, it functions quite similarly to the Asbestos Textile Institute, Considerable attention is given the health problems of the industry. There are two medical cliniosj one at Asbestos, the other at Thetford, both fully staffed and itith complete hospital facilities. Pre-employment and periodic health examinations are provided for all workers. Safety engineering services have been provided by the Association to its members for a number of years. More recently, an industrial hygiene engineer has been added to its staff. As a result of the industry emphasis on health, safety and dust control for the past ten years, there are practically no new cases of asbestosis other than those with twenty or more years exposure, Hr. Sabourin stated that the present major health problans of the industry pertained to the relation ship of heart difficulties and cancer to asbestos exposure. Dr, Paul Cartier told of the operation of the Thetford Clinic, Established in 1?U5, the Clinic provides health services to the Thetford people. Pre-employment and periodic annual examinations include an X-ray and electrocardiagram, as well as the other usual examination features. Commenting on the occurrence of asbestosis, Dr. Cartier indicated that after ten years exposure, about 505 would have some histological evidence of asbestosis (minimal tissue changes not sufficient to be observed on the X-ray), ICiJ would have some radiological evidenco and 2$ might have some clinical evidence of disability from asbestosis. rc\< . In reference to the pulmonary cancer experience in the industry, Dr, Cartier stated that in the ten years of the clinic's operation, there have been fifteen cases of cancer observed, Nine of these on autopsy showed sane histological evidence of asbestosis. In six., however, there lias no evidence of asbestosis. This experi ence would indicate a very much lower attack rate than that reported from the British experience of 1#, NQU-3-2004 12:08P FROM: TO:14108894944 P:11'13 r- r '. -- nl Minutes of Air Hygiene Conunittee -2- October 17, 1955 Autopsy study is made of every occupational disease claim case, and as many others as possible Dr* Cartier stated that this was of utmost importance not only in determining the extent of liability, but also in increasing the knowledge of the disease process* The clinic has not done any work with intermittent, positive pressure breathing, although sane use of cortisone is being made. The experience to date, however, has been insufficient to justify any conclusions. Dr, Cartier expressed the opinion that considerable research must be cone in the fields of cancer and heart to define more dearly the role, if any, played by in halation of asbestos, Mr, Maurice La Chance told of the erpeiience in dust control in the mines and mills of the Association members. Annual dust surveys are made at eleven mines and re ports submitted to each* The standard U. S. Bureau of Mines technique is used for surveying with the midget impinger. For fibre evaluation, the definition of the length being three times the width is applied, Mr, La Chance stated that since the program was inaugurated in 19U8, the average dust concentrations have been reduced $055, In general, the fibre content of the total dust count ranged from 1% to 12$, In his opinion, the most effective dust collector system to date is the bag type Wheelabrator unit. John Weber reported on the bag dumping unit now in operation in his plant. Photo graphs were shown and John indicated that full details may be obtained from the Vfilkra Company, 71 Denton Avenuo, Hew Hyde Pari:, Long Island, H* Y, Although dust counts have not yet been taken, visual observation indicates complete con trol of this usually dusty operation. The unit has not been in operation suf ficiently long to estimate the maintenance and operating cost. The shaking cycle is less than one minute per bag, and John indicated that the bags were shaken considerably cleaner than by the hand method. A general discussion of fibre conditioning agents was held, and it was suggested that the experience of our associate members might be of value to the technical committee which is further investigating this problem, Ue herewith extend an invitation to each associate member to forward a summary of its experience with fibre conditioning as a means of preventing dust control. H, li, Jackson Chairman Air Hygiene Committee r O