Document VJZ01aO33kN29RB9LzZNLqbjg

1942 Pennsylvania-GE J^ECQMMONWEALTH!oggNNS HA V**V HON. ARTHURH.JAMES/iGC^NOR Dapartment of Lewis G. V Seeetary ' foZt-'f * mw*?- - "; SAFE PRACTICE BULLETIN '$$$$%;< ' No- * / 'i'l*' . '-V* Occupational Diseaso Provantion'/ f . ' a: ' ff* V*. . awfe- - Wsr*: .>*' r4'fVWVFfc?-??wWlf- - gmurSTlBG ASBESTOS FIBER 150 DUST 1: L j imS IHSTJLiTICH lUHUPAC'TORB ~ * ' " **i- '-V- ^itliWws*> . 1 :'' -V\-f ; *v. . 4 . j* *,* \ .1 . . 1;.v.. ,%$* . Deputy Secretory ; Department of Labor and Industry ' Frank K. Bool (?!$. \4r i l. | r* - .Aw( 'AIRXL 1942 V >;': , Bureau 1 :' w.-v EXCASB 0019 ^ncovfafflkd occupahmaldlmses. hkt imambuAhd acddf.nl kaza/uk aA a cadhj^ and nudltAA bi^-p/wdad ofindnsbuji EXCASB 0020 EXHAUSTING ASBESTOS FIBER AND DUST BL WIRE INSULATION MANUFACTURE Edited bytRobert L. Houta, Industrial Chemist When asbestos is used as an insulation agent in the manufacture of rare it enters the plant in a refined form, having been through a previous annufacturing or processing treatment at some asbestos factory, which has conditioned the raw supply of asbestos* Thus we find two general types of asbestos supply, one the yam of asbestos in the spool form (to be used for braiding the outside of the finished wire), and the other the batt, or lop, form of asbestos which is loosely wound in a reel (this is the form that is used on the carding machines) High grade asbestos, of long staple and free-from-iron content, is used in wire manufacture intended for electrical insulation. The wire manufacturer is more concerned with removal of a rather longstapled waste, than the finer dust partioles r/hioh are found associated with asbestos-ore processing about the picker-oarding machine for example. However, this asbestos by-product, if allowed to escape into the vrorkroom, would soon float into the for boundaries of the plant and hang like Spanish moss* even from the rafters, and settling on belts, pulleys and equipment. It soon gets beyond the oontrol of good housekeeping if unremoved at its origin* Asbestos has a decided abrasive action and its presence is not beneficial to the long life of plant equipment with which it comes in contact. The plant procedure of the General Electrio Company's wire works at York, Pennsylvania is considered a model in its asbestos waste removal system, and on illustrated description of the processes used, makes up the basis of this Safe Practice Bulletin, EXCASB 0021 .4^l3 is ft general view of the Insulating room of the General Electric Ccmpany's Works plant at 7ork,Penna. The asbestos carding machine ventilating hoods are icated by #1, with the white reel of asbestos felt , marked "A". Tie larger ventilation hoods, marked #2 are to carry away the volatile fumes of ^johol-base solvents used in lacquers for the wire, and are over the drying ovens, ,, This general type of machine is known as M-Machine, lhia turns out magnet wire for j^tors and generators, and electric railways. The asbestos dust is delivered to the ^^Sbora Dust Collector, and this system is independent of the one for alcohol fumea. EXCASB 0022 -1- Ike following illustrated talk was presented by Fred R* Kalmar, at a monthly safe practice conference sponsored Jointly by Pennsylvania State College and the State Department of labor and Industry* This conference was held at the Rittany Lion Inn and was under the joint chairunship of Dr* Prank C. Whitmore, Dean of the School of Chemistry and physios of the College and Ur. William R. Chesnut, Director of the Bureau of Workmen's Compensation. EKHACTSTING ASBESTOS FIBER AND DUST Df WIHff INSULATOR MANUFACTURE by Fred H. JEalaer, Assistant to Manager General Electric Co* York Works The use of asbestos fiber in the manufacture of insulated wire usually Introduces a dust control problem which may require attention either as a potential dust hazard, a housekeeping problem or both* These conditions depend upon the quality and grade of fiber used, the form in which it is applied and the method of applying the insulation material. The York Works of the General Electrlo Company Includes in a complete program of control not only the essential exhausting and collecting equipment for controlling the asbestos fly and dust at Its source, but a routine Inspection and continuous maintenance of all systems, a periodic check of air conditions, thorough physical examination of all new employees &hd re-examination periodically for all employees* The success of this program depends upon the uniform stress Placed upon each unit of precautionary measure* The employee, as well as the employer, share a definite responsibility to insure safety, Improved health and better working conditions* EXCASB 0023 i ' >6 O , aso-3n3 aCefreiHsT*3* tj-- s a eoc* ni, 9g-w93 ha aup o3 n-j n-- -- E--- 3 SCJ J ` t4>) rH-f Ha6XSO3 >tb444D) TU3kDM, . 2S fflfcl i'ao c ma 2Q_a.O,^woH aao -34 -c sO Mcr ha*--.--. H^ e*hu U o WcH4 o}gc"aav eeuc--u; -hc-x*c4: a 3 h o,s c 010 u2 a*s- e Co e fls U 44 -- ass-si^* _ c>-i^ co &e - ooS~:r X>* a -c --C 4* VOr _ *ae** adOu> '--sco a 4 4* a-- in fl3 c 44 ML .... *J* CUC n rta3 4*3 nS*.SQc >sz -So uu s u -- o v a +U. *j y hU --o -oH 4o* U0-T3 oS4O4 Ho pp~*o303o.. - He fiWO He 3s Hai--aI --a s ua*3Ma<,,?4,,04 H H .0-55 -- CO e44 Hoa h3ao 9eaao-CuoHU^- O UoJ4S* O ha o004go4*^w54^ C M EXCASB 0024 A brief outline of the method employed in asbestos wire manu facture la essential to qualify some of the illustrations and clarify the mechanics of asbestos fiber removal and collection* "Deltabeston" the General Electric Company*9 trade name for asbestos Insulated wire, comprises an insulating fiber of the crysotile variety H.Kof,Si,,Oa free from iron and other foreign elements. The fiber is physically recognized as pure white #1 quality insulating fiber, length }* - 1* or #2 grade length 3/8" - 5/8". The method of grading employed by the asbestos mill comprises a soreen test which is described briefly as follows: A 16 os. sample of asbestos fiber is successively screened using first, two mesh screen, then four mesh and ten mesh* The bottom is a solid pan which retains "shorts" or fine splinters-of unopened fiber* A typical screen analysis of #1 fiber and #2 fiber is given below:- Method of grading #1 Fiber 16 oz. sample First screen 2 mesh Second 4* 15*376 oz* 354 * 96 retained it Third * 10 .240 Bottom - Solid pan 030 " 0.10 shorts #2 Fiber First Second Third 13*085 oz* *640 * 193 90 retained * Bottom 082 " 0 shetta Asbestos Textiles for Insulations The above grading represents a final control test of quality of fiber used in the manufacture of asbestos textiles, such as roving, yarn 4}i EXCASB 0025 "* f.r.'.fc 2.-' y'j*^ v\ l -Jiry T r* * * -ST tho York *Tire TTorlcs (G.E.Co, )is shown a K-U&chins.About 50-50 amounts of l;=estos and coimmppound are placed upon the wire by this aachine.The asbestos is *lt on wire, (2)run through viscous compound, and (3) polish out* excess '`'baound. The aovement of wire through this machine is from left to right. EXCASB 0026 3 ad lap designed for use in insulated wire manufacture, The feet may now be recognized that the quality and grade of product supplied by the asbestos mill for wire insulating purposes is already highly refined* The crushing, grading and refining has been completed leaving the product which the wire manufacturers must handle free from dust particles* The problem therefore becomes one of controlling the fly of short asbestos fibers* If permitted to fly in the work room, the fibers adhere to practically all rough surfaces and projections, settle on operating equip ment, floors, beams, eta. and cause In a short time an unsightly appearance* the abrasive action of the asbestos on rotating members, bearings, gears, earns, is also extremely violent necessitating costly replacements and repairs or high maintenance costs* The Installation of adequate ventilating quipnent and control measures at York has effectively eliminated these conditions as well as any semblance of health hazard* / The process of manufacturing asbestos Insulated wire at the General Electric Company, York Works, requires the utilization of asbestos fiber in the form of lap or rolls* (Sample for Illustration) The material received from the asbestos mill in this form is re-carded and fed to the wire element in the required quantity to produce the desired insulation thickness* See 1* The process of re-carding the asbestos fiber and transferring same to the wire element generates asbestos dust and fly, which is controlled by proper exhaust equipment* The simplest, most effective and lowest cost method which we have devised, without interfering with production, Incorpo rates a hood completely enclosing the generating unit utilizing hinged parts with shatter proof glass windows for operating control* The volume of air handled Is a function of hood opening and velocity, the latter being EXCASB 0027 EXCASB 0028 dependent upon particle size, specific gravity turbulence and location of bood opening for most effective control* . C.F.M. Area (Sq. Ft.} I 7 (F.P.X.) Referring to figure #1 - Slide No, 1 pictured is a typical hood used In the process completely enclosing the generating unit, ^he hood opening measures lf x 3* x lf making an overall area of 3 sq. ft;* The velocity used at hood opening Is 300 ft/ min* or a volume of air handled of 900 C.F.M. The single branch pipe velocity at entrance to hood is S300 ft/ min* A blast gate and by pass damper are also provided for reducing velocities if desired. Figure (2) Illustrates the method of fiber collection and system of removing the collected fibers* The equipment comprises a Fnngbom Cloth Screen Dust Collector, arranged for outside location and selective opera tion* There are 124 screens covered with cotton filter fabric arranged wide spaced 5j" centers providing an active area of 5150 sq, ft. These are equipped with motor driven screen vibrating mechanism utilising 4 1800 RBI motors. ' The collector is provided with a central partition through the collector screen section and dust box shown belowto penult continuous operation* Under normal operations, air flows to both sides of the collector* Provisions have been made permitting the entire air flow to be diverted to the collector in order to vibrate screens in the other half and clean out the dust box section below the isolated screen section. The air flow fetes are then reversed to permit screen vibration and cleaning of the opposite half of the colloctor. The air flow gates are finally opened so ** to return both screens sections to the line* This operating cycle is performed once each day as a result of our experience* The removal of EXCASB 0029 a 1" o Ao s,s &y-H ufoi hJO **a4 4oJ C*l g(Q Pa a-- po0 .-chac X> O U0 'P e 0har^j u rpU4 H 3 a 3 -- *0 u a A>>P A aM O OOP <n acu Pa Po A0 >*i -0dH O 0 PJ O'--* u a H P30 P feuS A O'H a S-4-. u ---i-t uc * .H Ji 0,3 a (. (3 0 00 > A 4-> bfi a*.. a a0 Pk-H P O -0 V.V, U 0 O 0 .-? PoP U>H g C-p n iH H 3 0 0 33 P ip a o w a, j3 31,3 P 30 V P 0 J= bfl P C ---. HrH H t % dO - u ^CJ M 3 tq p P o H ent 'H3 A -5- asbestos fibers from the dust box section is accomplished manually through four unloading thimbles in the bottom of dust box. Large oollector bags positioned with bag clamps receive the asbestos fiber (See photo.) The dust velocity maintained throughout the main duct system is 4000 ft/ min. The system is operated by a single exhauster, backward curved blade type, designed to handle 16,420 C.F.M. from 70, 4* diameter exhaust connectors. A 10# leakage allowance brings the total C.F.ll. to 10,120, at 1629 R.F.M. A 40 HP - 1800 KRi actor is used to operate the exhauster. This installation has now been in operation approximately three years con tinuous service and has proven its value through results secured in improved housekeeping, working conditions and good health insurance. The waste asbestos fiber formerly thrown away has been reduced by 20#. In other words, we have added to our saleable waste 20# of good fiber which is valued at 500. per year. Health Routine The procedure which constitutes a complete program of health routine at the York Works, I feel is of tremendous importance and if time permitted would justify acre detail regarding the administration of each precautionary measure. In brief, this program to protect the health and safety of employees develops the following practices! 1. A thorough physical examination and pre-employment history a pro-requisite to initial eploymont * 2. A distribution of G. S. Co. Booklets on general safety requirements requiring employees signatures. 3. A distribution of booklets on rules and precautions of safety and health applying specifically to the York Works. 4. Distribution and furnishing of following materials: EXCASB 0031 (c) Lockers - 1 for street clothes - 1 for work clothes (d) Shower baths - 15 minutes allowed In work schodule. (e) Trained nurse - Soutine inspection and first aid. (f) Lunch room facilities. Bnployoes enter the plant through the lockarrooms provided, street clothes are deposited in special locker room and working clothes provided are worn during factory operations* The reverse cycle la carried out at the close of the work day. - The installations which X have described, together with on In telligent cooperation of employer and employee have provided the essential measures of control of any health problom or housekeeping problem incident to the handling of asbestos fiber employed in the manufacture of electrical Insulation for wire and wire products. '