Document Z4Z6RgY2DdqKBaZezyJZVeREJ

*> The Asbestos Information Association/North America In recent years, new findings relating prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers to various occupational health hazards have created understandable public and governmental concern. This concern, nurtured by lack of information on the true nature and extent of these hazards, has at times created an emotional and irrational attitude toward asbestos in all its forms and applications. Members of most producer and user companies, which have for some time implemented worker-protection procedures, individually attempted to provide facts to the press, government and public about the nature and extent of asbestos health problems and efforts to correct them. However, the industry lacked a single, constantly available source able to provide authoritative information on asbestos-health in the United States and Canada. This situation was changed with the formation of the ASBESTOS INFORMATION ASSOCIATION/NORTH AMERICA (AIA/NA) in December 1970. Its objectives are: 1. To provide industry-wide information on asbestos and health, and on industry efforts to eliminate existing hazards ; 2. To cooperate with governmental agencies in developing and implementing industry-wide standards for worker protection and for the control of asbestos dust emissions into the community air; 3. To exchange information on methods and techniques of asbestos dust control; 4. To correct misleading and uninformed reportage on asbestos-health problems; 5. To publicize the unique benefits and importance of asbestos in protecting human life and property. 1 UCC 000009 The AIA/NA is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from ail member companies. Day-to-day activities are conducted by an Executive Committee, which consults with member company industrial hygienists and environmental control experts, legal counsel and medical consultants whenever necessary. The chief staff officer is the Executive Secretary, Matthew M. Swetonic, who functions from AIA/NA headquarters, 22 East 40th Street, New York, New York lUUlb.------------------------------------------------------------------- In its first two years of existence, the AIA has, among its many activities, conducted a full day seminar on asbestoshealth for industry officials; nominated industry environmental control specialists to sit on governmental advisory committees examining (1) occupational hazards of asbestos, and (2) ambi ent air emissions; testified at both Federal Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Labor hearings on asbestos; sponsored technical research into the reliability of the method currently being used to measure asbestos concentrations in the workplace; provided speakers for seminars on occupational health, and developed informational programs to keep the industry fully aware of all new developments whether metiioa!^ governmental or toohniool, concerning asbestos-health. The AIA/NA, since the promulgation of the OSHA occupational health standards on asbestos in mid-1972, has devoted much of its efforts to assisting the member companies and others within the industry with their compliance programs. A five booklet OSHA compliance manual developed and pro duced by the AIA/NA was scheduled for publication in mid 1973. The AIA/NA has also provided information on asbestoshealth to the press, medical researchers, federal government officials and agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Labor, the Department of the Interior, the EPA, and also to officials at the state and local governmental levels. It has attended and participated in local, regional and international conferences on asbestos-health, and 2 also maintains a close working relationship with other asbestos industry groups, including the Asbestos Tevtile institute Asbestos Cement Products Association. Friction Materials Standards Institute the British Ashestns information Committee and Asbestosis Research Council and similar groups in France, the Benelux countries, and Scandinavia. AIA/NA Membership List Amatex Corporation Atlas Asbestos Company Cassiar Asbestos Corp., Ltd. Cement Asbestos Products Company (CAPCO) Certain-teed Products Corp. Congoleum Industries, Inc. The Flintkote Company GAF Corp. Jim Walter Corp. Johns-Manville Corp. Kentile Floors, Inc. National Association of Filter Manufacturers National Gypsum Company Nicolet Industries, Inc. North American Asbestos Corp. H. K. Porter Company Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. Supradur Manufacturing Corp. Union Carbide Corp., Uvalde Hock Asphalt Company o CD fX O <1 3 UCC 000010