Document ZB42bVmOaBG8V80N3p8YkgOG8

FILE NAME Insulation Contractors & Distributors ICD DATE 1970 Oct DOC ICD024 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Trade Journal - NICA 5 OCT 9 i) ae 1970 available lor re type Pon ry baked i ; Yee! VOL 15 NO 10 Published by National Insulation Contractors Association 8226 Fenton Street Silver Spring Maryland 20910 3226 Published monthly by National Insulation Contractors Association Fenton St. Silver Spring Md telephone 301-585-8886 20910 John C. Pollock Executive Director R. F. Par Yount Chairman of the NICA Publication Committee Officers 1969-1970 4. Marvin Gibbons President Theodore H. Brodie President Duane C. Luse Treasurer R. F. Yount Secretary 1. Kenneth Dixon Immediate Post President Board of Directors Ts Ts Ending 1970 : n W. Harrison CSICA Robert Bright CSICA Leon T. Choate Large James P. Ennis Large Terms Ending 1971 . Palmer Covil SEICA Paul D. Gauer MICA W. E. Munsey WICA W. R. Murfin SWICA Terms Ending 1972 James R. Pfister MICA Wm A. Bayer E^ SICA Homer C. Porter SWICA Richard Stapleton Large Ralph L. Sartori WICA Wallace E. Robbins SEICA Annual Subscription 10 which is included in the Membership dues Single copy 1.50 Controlled Circulation paid at Silver Spring Md Statements of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the authar alans and do not necessarily express the opinione of the Association Material may not be reproduced without written con- sent Copyright National Insulation Contractors Association 1970 CTOBER 1970 ; TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL 15 No. 10 The President's Corner A brief review of two years of progress YOUR EXECutive DirecTOR'S REPORT A men's a man for all that COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ... ....- In sad state of disrepair AREA WIDE Bargaining . A concerned look at negotiations SAFETY BILL WOULD DO HARM Chamber of Commerce speaks out MICA'S PAST PRESIDENT LAYS IT ON THE LINE A hope for continued progress ECONOMIC ANALYSIS . Dismal Science Survival Insurance MAIL BOX ALIBIS WE REMEMBER NEW PRESIDENT FOR B & B CONSTRUCTION SAFETY DOESN'T PAY ee PAY AND PRODUCTIVITY NEW TRAINING TechniqueS What's New FROM MANUFACTURERS LABOR NEWS INDEX TO ADVERTISERS 31 Safety Bill Would Do More Harm Than Good By ARCH N. BOOTH Executive Vice President Chamber of Commerce of the United States What employer doesn't want his workers to be safe in their jobs The health and safety of employees has been a matter of utmost concern for employers for many years The reasons are obvious There's the human element No employer who has seen one of his workers injured ever wants it to happen again And it's good business Accident prevention promotes efficiency cuts costs boosts profit potential Wage losses production stoppages and medical and insurance bills which result from accidents are costly So it should not be surprising that the business community has taken the leadership in fighting accidents Among the many safety organizations started by businessmen is the National Safety Council called the National Council for Industrial Safety when orga- nized in 1912 The record has been good With many millions of dollars spent for research progress has been steady Today the average American is safer at his job than he is at home on the highway or at play Almost twice as many deaths and disabling injuries occur at home as at work Even so the search for improvement must go for- ward to achieve a safer and healthier industrial envi- ronment for all workers With this in mind the National Chamber federation has supported legislation that would give the states incentives to develop better safety plans and in President Nixon's words would channel power funds and authority . . . increasingly to those governments that are closest to the people But any legislation in addition to being effective must also be fair Unfortunately this isn't the case with the safety legislation now going through Congress This measure by Chairman Dominick V. Daniels N.J of the House Select Labor Subcommittee could enacted one of the most disruptive of sound labor relations ever proposed It would allow employees to strike and receive full even ifno safety standards have been violated The bill would require employers to keep paying employees who walk off the job on the grounds they haven't been given the necessary safety equipment or sufficient information about a potentially toxic sub- stance Opportunity for further harassment would be lodged in a federal safety inspector who would have dictatorial power to shut down a place of employment when he discovers what he believes to be an imminent danger Again complete authority to set standards to police them and to enforce them would be lodged in one man the Secretary of Labor We believe that a separation of these powers is necessary to assure full opportunity for fair treatment and to guard against abuscs that often accompany bureaucratic control Sound legislation would provide for - An independent board of experts to set standards - The Department of Labor to police them and - The courts to enforce them Only the courts should have the power to shur down a business Unfair measures like the Daniels bill would if they became law undermine much of the progress that has been made in the safety field The helping hand of the Federal Government could quickly turn into a stiff arm WOMEN- LIBERATION- and CONSTRUCTION : Women in Construction are women who are working in construction offices and not to be connected in any way with the Women's Liberation Movement wanting mens jobs in construction One sex is neither superior nor inferior to the other they are merely different Both want and need security status prestige and acceptance . . and both are capable of envy hostility irrationality and masochism when their needs are frustrated Each must play its own biological role and derive much pleasure as possible therefrom and each has its advantages and disadvan- tages The most successful politician is he who says what everybody is thinking most often and in the loudest Theodore Roosevelt 14 NICA OUTLOOK carer Devi vy ~ (a e ae 2 Sel NL OCTO emmec: Environmental Sciences Laboratory MOUNTS MOUNTS UNALE MSM SCHOOL of The City University of New York INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY REPORTS HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM Irving J. Selikoff M.D. Program Director Vol 2 No. 2 Summer 1970 confined This asbestos worker is engine ship's engine space of a ship's engine applying insulation in the unventilated material and containing material room Note containing material on confined his his over- alls NYC Leads US - SA ets Rules For Spray In a historic action the Environmental Protection Administration and the Department of Air Resources of New York City have promulgated interim orders governing the spray ing on City construction construction sites of any insulation material containing as- bestos First Such Action The orders went into effect April Medicine's Insulation Industry Hy giene Research Program New York City's Department of Air Resources and various industry groups which hegan last summer As part of this cooperative effort a joint program of asbestos sampling and analysis was initiated by Mount Sinai and the Department of Air Resources last July At the same time the Sprayed Mineral Fiber Manufac- turers Association and the New York 13. They detail the steps that must be taken by spray contractors during application These steps will minimize exposure to spray applicators to other construction workers on a job site and also to the general pulation living or working nearby This action by New York City is the first such in the United States It brought to fruition a cooperative effort by Mount Sinai School of City Plasterers Association met to establish industry safety practices and control procedures for spray application See Fall 1969 issue of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports In addition consultation on vari- ous aspects of the problem of spray insulation took place between IIHRP staff and building owners architects general contractors contractors contractors and especially Continued on next page Shipyards Tour Shows Hazards to Workers Air samples taken from ship compartments in eight shipyards of the Gulf Coast are now being examined for asbestos fiber content in the New York laboratories of the Insula tion Industry Ilygiene Research Pro- gram Two scientist investigators Dr. Harry Heimann and Mr. William B. Reitze secured the samples during a recent week tour They visited yards at Houston Galveston Beaumont New Orleans Pascagoula Mobile Jacksonville and Tampa They carefully inspected aircraft carriers destroyers Navy supply ships container ships and tankers tankers Arrangements for the tour were made through the cooperation of the United States Department of Labor and the International Office of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Other Workers Endangered The handling of asbestos insulation products presents a health hazard not only to the insulation workers but also because of the confined areas to the allied shipbuilding trade workers Dr. Heimann and Mr. Reitze found that the three most serious hazards appear to be 1. the extreme dustiness during removal of old insulation 2. an almost total lack of ventila- tion in confined spaces 3. the spread of dust from work areas into other regions of the ship Methods to remove old insulation with a minimum of dust production are receiving up priority priority consideration by Mount Sinai's engineers The design of a typical ship includes many small compartments Continued on last page wate g pipes with containing asbestos containing material in so confined a space as sauds sauds to the danger of breathing the dust Confined Spaces Add Yet Another Danger Shipyards Tour Shows Hazards Continued from 1st page with little natural ventilation When the ship is in operation the air in these compartments is changed by means of a forced ventilation system But ing and and or during construction or rebuild- it remains stagnant Fine dust fibers put into the air by fitting handling calcium silicate block amosite blankets remain SUS- pended for hours Special Techniques Needed Dust generated by hand sawing or fitting asbestos block can cusily fall two or three decks through gratings The fibers thus deposited throughout an engine room may contaminate a ship for months Here the use of drop cloths or boxes to contain the dust can improve conditions measur ably Some of the methods being devel oped by the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program for controlling asbestos dust at based building construction sites can be used aboard ships It is evident however that further special dust control techniques will have to be developed for the protection of all craftsmen in shipbuilding trades Hence the pri- ority now being given to these prob- lems by the IIHRP The Insulation Industry Hygiene ogram has found answers to a mber of problems in the asbestos ulation industry Coated calcium silicate pipe cover ; and block plastic mixing bags d proper use of dust collection de es are some of the solutions All ntain the dust at its source and all nificantly reduce worker exposure asbestos rtable Exhaust Systems Some insulation work however problems not easily solved containment at the source Shipard work both application and ir out and covering steam lines in nfined tunnels are two such types k n there is poor ventilation in ch work areas removal of dust is ade difficult and temperatures may se to much above 100 F. To these twin problems two complementary solutions are now being studied by IIHRP engineers use of portable exhaust systems and seli contained air supply respirators Cool Air to the Face In the confined space of a tunnel the use of an exhaust system al a nearby manhole can reduce both the dust level and the working tempera- ture In many cases easily obtainable and inexpensive exhaust systems of less than 5000 cubic feet per minute capacity would suffice IIHRP engi neers and industrial hygienists will be pleased to assist any contractor or union having specific problems asso- ciated with tunnel work Aboard ship some use is made of portable volume exhaust systems designed principally to control fumes from weiding operations These sys- tems however are ineffective in changing the large volume of air in most ship compartments In some spaces having large vol- umes of air exhaust systems of suff- cient capacity to maintain clean air are either too costly or impractical to use In these cases the solution may iie in contained baitery- operated air supply respirators These respirators more com- fortable to wear than standard ones -not only provide almost absolute respiratory protection from dust but provide a cool stream of air to the worker's face Batteries and motors have already been developed of suthciently light weight as not to be objectionable Several later models are under study by the IIHRP and full details and descriptions will be forthcoming in a future issue of Insula tion Hygiene Progress Reports Text of the New Spray Rules Four examples of trade practices the new rules ban top to bottom Spraying without any containment at all Inadequate tarping asbestos containing debris uncleared up and spray material that has been allowed to fall down on to construction equipment 1. Before the start of spraying operations all floor areas shall be swept broom clean Before the application of containing material commences the floor of the area shall be cleared of all objects material and equipment other than that employed in the application of the asbestoscontaining insulation or all objects materials etc. shall be covered with plastic or coated tarpaulins in a manner that precludes the subsequent dispersal of asbestos particulates 2. The entire floor or the part of the floor to be in- sulated shall be enclosed with plastic or plastic tarpaulins in a manner which shall preclude the escape of coneltevaatiornishnafgts msattaeirriwaelllfsroemtc.thsehaelnlclboe- sure All interior open areas such as enclosed in a manner which shall prevent the escape of containing material from the working area Stack effect of the shafts stairwells etc. shall be considered in providing proper enclosures An enclosure will be confrom the sidered satisfactory only if visible insulating material cannot escape enclosure 3. Wet containing material which has fallen to the floor shall be immediately swept up and placed in a container having walls bottom and a tight cover strong enough to resist tearing or breaking under normal handling conditions and clearly marked as containing asbestos waste The contents of the aforementioned containers shall not be transferred to another container but the container shall be placed directly upon a vehicle for disposal at an approved site ; 4. All floors will be vacuumed shortly after drying . The vacuum cleaner shall contain a strong service disposable inner bag of durable material which shall be removed from the vacuum cleaner and tightly sealed The bag shall then be placed in a container of the type described in paragraph 3 which shall thereafter be placed on a vehicle for removal and disposal at an approved site 5. The materials used to form the enclosure shall be thoroughly vacuumed upon completion of the application of the insulation in the area The entire floor area all ledges and surfaces including tarpaulins which waste insulation material may have fallen shall then be vacuumed upon or revacuumed before removal of the enclosures 6. Enclosures shall not be dismantled until the area has been thoroughly vacuumed after completion of spraying and cleanup 7. All areas used for opening bags containing as bestos insulating material and charging of hoppers shall be such a manner that containing insulating material shall mitted to escape from the immediate area in which such activity enclosed in not be per- takes place 8. Signs shall be posted outside enclosures warning of the hazard of entering the enclosure without appropriate mask and persons other apparel 9. All persons involved in the spraying of asbestos at the site must be furnished with Bureau of Mines approved respirators for pneumocanionic dust and must be furnished with suitable coveralls asbestos which will be left at the site and thereby preclude the removal of from the site No person shall be permitted in an area in which asbestos spray- ing or handling has taken place until final vacuuming referred to in paragraph numbered 5 herein unless such person is furnished with and wears a Burcau of Mines approved respirator for pneumoconionic dust and coveralls of the described herein Facilities shall be provided and procedures insti- type tuted and supervised that preclude the removal and dispersal of asbestos- containing material from the construction site on the clothing or other appur- tonances of persons leaving the area 10. Any plenum or other structures coated with containing insulation which is intended for use in the circulation of air in the building must be thoroughly cleaned of all debris and waste insulation All applied containing insulation within a plenum or duct must be coated with a sealant which precludes exposure of the containing material to the circulating air Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports Vol 2 No. 2 Summer 1970 from the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program Editor W. J. Nicholson Ph.D. Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory Irving J. Seli- koff M.D. Director Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City Uni- versity of New York New York N.Y. 10029 Advisory Council of BHRP Irving 1. Selikoff M.D. Program Director and Chairman E. Cuyler Hammond Sc.D. Vice President American Cancer Society New York N.Y. Albert Hutchinson General President International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Washington D.C. B. Johe Vice President anville Corporation New V.Y. JohnsYork Fred L. Pundsack Ph.D. Vice Presi- dent Research and Development Manville Corporation New York NY George W. Wright M.D. Director of Medical Research St. Luke's Hospi tal Cleveland O. PURPOSES OF THE INSULATION { INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM 1. To develop improved methods for minimizing ex- posure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encoun- tered in their work 2. To disseminate knowl- edge of fl these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and o offer cooperation advice und assistance toward their universal adoption l to r New York's Mayor Lindsay Commissioner of Air Resources Robert N. Rickles and Environmental Protection Administrator Jerome Kretchmer discuss the new spray orders at City Hall NYC Leads USA Sets Rules For Spray Continued from 1st page the World Trade Center engineers and their general contractor Tish- man Construction Company The interim orders will remain in force until adoption of final regula tions following public hearings The hearings are to be held within six weeks according to Jerome Kretch- mer newly appointed New York City Environmental Protection Adminis trator The new rules include require- ments that reduce environmental exposures were not uniformly followed Some contractors he added made an effort to contain their spray operation See Spring 1970 issue of Progress Reports for story on World Trade Center Other operators however he went on made only minimal efforts at containment We also found that cleanup of waste was a serious problem everywhere with workers of all trades being exposed continually to the debris of a any spray area be completely enclosed by tarpaulins b the area he cleaned after application and c insulation in air circulation plenums or ducts containing asbestos be coated with a seal- ant to preclude prosion of containing material into the air of the building See page 3 for complete regula- tions Some Contractors Made Effort Dr. Robert N. Rickles New York City's new Commissioner of Air Resources emphasized the need for specific procedures that are enforceable and noted that voluntary measures to spray reproofing insulation Dr. Irving J. Selikoff IIHRP Di. rector endorsed the City regulations The technology for safe application of sprayed mineral fireproofing material exists he said However the utilization of appropriate containment and cleanup techniques must be uniform throughout the industry if we are to succeed in solving the health problem of mineral fibers in urban air It is of importance too to note the Environmental Protection Ad ministration's concern with coatings of air plenums in buildings already in construction since it wishes to in- sure that air in ventilating systems not be contaminated by foreign ma terial Environmental Sciences Laboratory . MOUNTS MOUNTS MOUNTS MSM CHOOL of The City University of New York INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM Irving J. Selikoff M.D. Program Director Vol 2 No.-$ Fall 1970 Available Soon- The Disposable Respirator At adequate respiratory pro- tective devices will soon be available to insulation workers Several com- panies are now producing disposable respirators which will both provide protection and be acceptable to work- men In one test conducted by the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Pro- gram HRP of a commercial model manufactured by the Minne sota Mining and Manufacturing Co. the worker acceptance was very high Favorable comments on such matters as breathing resistance weight interference with vision and comfort exceeded unfavorable ones by three or four to one Previous tests with this respirator demonstrated its ability to meet the Bureau of Mines standards Other Commercial Models Dr. Irving J. Selikoff r and Dr. Y Suzuki 2d ) of Mount Sinai's Environmental Sciences Laboratory addressed the participants of the post graduate course on asbestos discsc World's First Course In addition to the respirator already field tested the IIHRP will in Asbestos Effects soon be field testing other commercial models for use in asbestos insulation work . The tortuous journey to a commer- cially available disposable respirator began at Mount Sinai's Environmental Sciences Laboratory nearly two years ago At a meeting then with safety equipment manufacturers the need for respirators suitable for use in the construction industry and particularly in insulation work was put . As a historic first in occupational medicine The Mount Sinai School of Medicine presented a four postgraduate course during June on all aspects of the health effects of asbestos The course was given to 43 physicians and scientists from all regions of the U.S. and six other countries including England Wales Ger- many and Canada The program was under the direc- tion of Professor Irving J. Selikoff and environmental circumstances was also discussed The full spectrum of problems fac- ing the insulation worker was pre- sented including description of insulation operations especially contribut ing to high dust levels Industrial Hygiene procedures found to reduce these levels such as the use of efficient dust collectors plastic cement bags coated calcium silicate block and appropriate face respirators were also forward Director of the Environmental Sci- demonstrated ences Laboratory of Mount Sinai Single Worker's Problems Only All the Worker's . the extreme Because of difficulty Extensive presentations of of operataigonogd respirator __. _ were made tenance program on construction and discussions held on all clinical sites single respirators were a aspects of asbestos disease including necessity Moreover many states re- patient management ray diagnosis quired that U.S. Bureau of pulmonary function analysis and pa- Mines approved respirators be used Continued on page three Epidemiology thology related disease in both of asbestos- occupational Trips to Construction Sites The course included field trips to _. the application of thermal insula tion material at both large and smal construction sites in New York and New Jersey arranged by Jacob No- vak and James Mulhearn Interna- tional tional tional Vice Presidents of the Asbestos Asbestos Asbestos Continued on page two i be Continuefdromfirstpage Dr. Selikoff speakerscommentedwithpleas o | o ' Published the Environmental -SciencesM.D. Laboratory Irving J. Seli- ~ Director Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City Uni- * . Workers largest Union asbes " Visits to the world's tos mine in Quebec Canada and to an asbestos manufacturing plant in Manville New Jersey were arranged through the cooperation of the Johns- , - Manville Corporation : ure on the diversified background of - the participants and on the frank and open discussions held among them selves and with the faculty =. Unions Sponsor M.D.s We had physicians sponsored by AdDivriescto1orr0y02C9ounciYloorfkINIeHPRwrPoYgorramk A local together with health NeCwhairman the laboratory E. - versity of : unions of the Asbestos Work- NY Day in the Lab ers he said representatives of the ' Those interested in National Insulation Contractors As- - aspects of asbestos sampling and ex- sociation and medical directors of all Irving J. Selikoff M.D. tracting from tissue and air as well asbestos manufacturing companies meeting a single pur- i J. Irving Selikoff Selikoff as electron microscopic studies of the : : and pathology of lung tissue reaction to post improve the of the asbestos worker Hammond Cuyler Sc.D. Vice Mount noteworthy a . President American Cancer Society inhaled asbestos fibers the laboratories of spent a dayin Sinai It's also that more School of Medicine's Environmental than a dozen registrants were repre York New N.Y.American sentatives of the Public Health Sery- AB Sciences - Laboratory speakers Albert Hutchinson General President Each day at lunchtime ice or various State Departments of International ... Association of Heat discussed broad aspects of environ Health This demonstrates an in- and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Washington D.C. Corporation ~ B. Jobe | Janville N.Y Vice President New Johns York mental and occupational health One of them Dr. Ren^'Dubos Professor of Pathology and Microbiology at Rockefeller University spoke on Ecological Perspectives of the 1970's and creasing awareness by federal state agencies of the multiplicity of problems facing Asbestos Workers WhatWhat The Class Said The most informative course I Fred L. Pundsack Ph.D. Vice Presi- dent Research - and Development Frank and Open Discussion have ever attended Blejer M.D. California Dept. of Health Manville Corporation New Dr. Douglas H. Lee Associate Di- Enjoyable and stimulating York N.Y rector of the National Institute of Smither M.D. Medical Director a e Sciences George W. Wright M.D. Director of Environmental Health and Capo Asbestos Co. London => J of gp Medical Research St. Luke's Hospi Dr. Marcus Key Chief Bureau Superb seminar Campbell tal Cleveland O. Occupational Safety and Health of M.D. CoordinatorMississippi Re- ae the Public Health Service were other rere gional Medical Program 1 PURPOSES OF THE INSULATION INDUSTRY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM 1. To develop improved methods for minimizing ex- posure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encoun- tered in their work 2. To disseminate knowl- + edge of these improve7d methods of dust control wherever they may be ap- ' plied advantageously and to offer cooperation advice and assistance toward their universal adoption aes coe : Prof. Ren^' Dubos c course of Rockefeller University speaking during a discussion at the are at ct Continued * from page Bureau Mines schedule isted that was suitable for disposable 4 adequacy to breathing and adequacy of face fit The criteria insure that all res- _ respirators Hencneo approved mod pirators will give adequate protec els were commercially available tion , ' ' In the research towards the goal of Another significant development making disposable respirators avail now taking place is the preparation _ able the IIHRP has helped arrange - of an American National Standards field tests in which members of Local Safety Guide for protection against 17 in Chicago of the Asbestos containing dust This stand- Workers participated by wearing respirators and giving their observa- ard is being written by a subcom- mittee of the American National tions of the desirable and undesirable Standards Institute's Committee on features of the devices These trials Respirators and results were extremely helpful in assisting manufacturers to devise equipment which is as unobjection- able as possible andstill effective Bureau of Mines Criteria An important recent development. has been the action of the U.S. Bu- reau of Mines in issuing a schedule listing criteria for approval of dis posable single respirators This approval schedule lists essential requirements which respirators must meet Among the requirements are efficiency of dust removal resistance When to Wear Them The subcommittee chaired by Duncan Holiday of the IIHRP is composed of representatives of regulatory agencies the International As- sociation of Heat Frost Insula tora the Insulation Contractors Association respirator manufacturers and research and university groups The standard developed will detail circumstances in which respirators should be worn and also give guid ance in selection of respirators and any information which is necessary for the operation of a respiratory protection program Certain operations however pro- duce so much dust that more protec tion is required than can be obtained by mask respirators One such condition is the tearing out of insula tion aboard ship in confined spaces able entire industry .-a: the development of practical solutions for the dust problems in insulation work comments and suggestions of members of the In- ternational Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos B Workers have been of prime im- portance . In field trials of respirators dust collectors or new cement mixing methods the effectiveness each procedure was tested against the experience of the men involved - Infuture issues of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports we would like to feature comments suggestions and ideas of asbestos workers throughout the country | your We welcome your help We need your help Please send any com- ments or suggestions you may have to me at Mount Sinai Schooli of Medicine in New York City F| I. J. Selikoff M.D. Program Director @ A powered air supply respirator is wora by Duncan Holaday during efficiency tests For this test two sampling pumps are attached to his belt Conditioned A operated device which supplies filtered air to the respirator and is suitable for use in extremely dusty conditions was recently tested by the IIHRP at the World Trade Center in New York This equipment was developed by Prof. William Burgess at the Harvard School of Public Health working in coopera- tion with the American Iron and Steel Institute .. It is not yet commercially available but many units have been constructed and are being tested in several industries The device is lightweight and will operate for eight hours on one battery charge Full field tests are planned and will be reported on in a later issue of Insula tion Hygiene Progress Reports The battery pack and air filtration unit of the supplied respirator This respirator is for use only in extremely dusty condi- tions : market and Development ' Corporation will market their line of asbestos cement in plastic bags beginning in Septem- These bags will allow water to be added and the cement to be mixed inside the bag A previous study by the IIHRP demonstrated that dust levels could be reduced to one tenth that of standard tub or bucket mix- ing methods No Extra Equipment Needed The bags used are suitable for use . with conventional filling equip _ ment Thus they can be introduced - industry with no additional in- vestment in equipment The HHRP has made available to all manufacturers of asbestos cement samples of the bag used by JohnsManville as well as information on the effectiveness of its use Experience Valuable Dr. William J. Nicholson IIHRP Program Coordinator stated The clear benefits to insulation workers will only come through industry wide acceptance of this mixing method As in any variation of trade practices practical experience will undoubtedly have much to contribute in the rapid safety introduction of this important measure BE Charles Collins President of Local 30 of the Asbestos Workers Union cutting calcium silicate block during the powered hand trials at the Hoffman Air Systems plant in Syracuse New York Saber Saw May Answer The Sawdust Problem The insulation application trade has a sawdust problem The hand most commonly used tool by asbestos generates significant dust and such saws cannot yet be fitted with suitable control devices Tests Show Less Dust As an alternative to extensive handsawing the IIHRP is currently investigating cutting devices which can be fitted with portable dust control units One such unit offering possibilities for dust reduction is the saber saw Preliminary tests have shown that a saber saw fitted with the proper blade and appropriate dust collector can reduce the level of dust produced when calcium silicate materials are cut These early trials also demon strated that only heavy saws would be suitable Currently studies are under way to determine the right combination of saw blade and dust collector for standard cutting jobs & A plastic mixing bag containing asbestos cement being filled with water through a valve at the top of the bag Don't use Hand for Band Because of the size of existing dust collectors the use of a saber saw thus equipped would be limited to power house work and on industrial sites having localized insulation applications A word to the wise powered hand powered hand saws should not be used as a substi- tute for band saws which can be equipped with dust collectors of greater efficiency see Insulation Hy giene Progress Reports Vol 1 No. ) .