Document Vja6m6nM20xYn5gre6B4OjK5j

32 M, L. Besttley recently become apparent that some control might be necessary and helping those concerned with satisfying the requirements of the new regulations. This Committee is the Environmental Control Committee of the Asbestosis Re* search Council and it consists of a number of working groups concentrating on the special problems of particular areas. One of these Working Groups is being devoted to the field of friction materials, and has, as its constituent members, Small & Parkes (makers of Don materials), Ferodo and Mintex. This Group, which has been formed recently, is concerned with the users of friction materials, both at its major customers --the brake, clutch and car manufacturers--and also in the replacement and service field. Its concern has been, first of all, to establish whether or not a problem exists and, if so, how big a problem it is. To this end dust counts have been taken both in premises where friction materials are handled and serviced, and at customers' premises, by the three Companies principally involved. These tests have been taken by their own dust counting teams who have many years' experience in accurate dust measurement. This work is continuing and a picture is being built up of dust counts likely to be en countered whilst carrying out typical operations during brake and clutch maintenance. Analysis of the dust found in brake drums is being carried out also to determine whether all the fibrous dust is asbestos or not. In addition to gathering and collating information on a large number of dust readings in various types of service premises, the Working Group is preparing two codes of practice for users of asbestos-based friction materials which will be issued by the Asbestosis Research Council. One of these is for the guidance of bulk users in factory premises carrying out, in some cases, operations similar to those carried out in our own factories, such as drilling and grinding, and the other is for the guidance of those engaged in servicing of brakes and clutches. The purpose of these Codes of Practice or Notes for Guidance will be to remind users of the principal requirements of the new Asbestos Regulations to recommend the action that they should take to meet their requirements. The aim is to achieve what is, after all, the whole purpose of the Asbestos Regulations and the Asbestosis Re search Council's work--to reduce concentrations of asbestos dust to a safe level. The long experience of the manufacturers of friction materials in dust control over a wide variety of operations will enable them to recommend measures and types of equipment to help the users to comply with the Regulations and protect the health of their employees. A further line of study is being followed to see whether a satisfactory surfacescaling agent can be found in order to cut down the amount of dust given ofTin hand ling a new lining, even though this amount is already small. It is not possible for us to take dust counts in every service garage in the country and the work of the Friction Materials Group has been directed to dealing with, and giving advice on, situations which are likely to be typical of those found in service garages. It is, however, (lie intention to give as much help and advice as possible with the facilities that arc available and requests for help or advice directed to the Asbestosis Research Council will be passed on to the Working Group for action.