Document ZB96JjQ9kL6dxEoe33rMkBOkd

FRICTION MATERIALS STANDARDS INSTITUTE, INC., EAST 210 ROUTE 4, PARAMUS, NJ 07652 BULLETIN N 0. 7 7 8 November 8, 1983 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA) ISSUES EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARD (ETS) REDUCING PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LEVEL (PEL) FOR ASBESTOS OSHA Issued an ETS on the permissible workplace exposure level for asbestos on Friday, November 4, 1983. Articles in the WALL STREET JOURNAL and the NETT YORR TIKES advised in their November 3 editions on OSHA plans. En closed with this bulletin is a copy of the NEW YORK TIMES article as well as a digested copy of the notice as it appeared in the FEDERAL REGISTER. The FEDERAL REGISTER copy includes the specifics on this emergency standard, but we have not included 44 pages on medical, epidemiological and statisti cal studies cited by OSiIA in support of the emergency standard. The sections not included are those cited below, with the respective page numbers: Ill OSLA Rationale for "the ETS A Grave Danger Ii Need for an ETS IV Occupational Health Data 51088 51008-51091 51091-51099 51099-51122 V Quantitative Risk Analysis 51122-51132 The most important parts of this notice are those indicating the amendment of Section 1910-1001 of Tart 1910 of Title 29 of the CFR, as written on pages 51139-51140 ef this notice. In summary, OSiiA is reducing the 8 hour TWA PEL for asbestos from 2 fibers per cc. to 0.5 fibers per cc. This standard is effective with publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER on November 4, 1983. In addition, in no more than thirty days from November 4, employers must institute training programs for all employees exposed to concentrations in excess of the 0.5 fiber limit. Compliance can be achieved by any feasible combination of controls, work practices and personal protection equipment. OSHA also indicated required respiratory protection for certain concentration levels. An ETS is limited to six months, and this notice requests comments on whether the ETS provisions should becorae permanent revisions to the asbestos standard. OSHA notes that it will soon issue a separate notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the permanent standard. There is an industry petition for review of this ETS in the Courts, but no one can now predict the outcome of legal challenges to this action. The foregoing is for your information. EUD/dr Enc. Distribution: Delegates 4 Alternates Active Members - List B E. U. Drislane Executive Director Regional Members (US Dues) Licensees H.E.A. Committee FMSI 02609 T FRICTION MATERIALS STANDARDS INSTITUTE, INC., EAST 210 ROUTE 4, PARAMUS, NJ 07652 November 8, 1983 T o: Officers and Board of Directors Health and Environmental Affairs Committee Subject: OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on Permissible Exposure Levels, and the Restructuring of the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee Concurrent with this memorandum, the Institute Membership is being sent a copy of our BULLETIN NO. 778, which covers OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard reducing the 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure level (PEL) for asbestos from 2 fibers per cc to 0.5 fibers per cc. That bulletin, along with a copy of the OSHA notice as it appeared in the FEDERAL REGISTER covers details of this ETS. While this OSHA move is not unexpected, the Institute first learned of the ETS in the NEW YORK TIMES on Thursday, November 3, 1983. The Institute would ordinarily refer an action of this significance to our Health and Environmental Affairs Committee for possible action or comment. However, on Wednesday, November 2, 1983, Mr. Jim Armstrong of Bendlx, who has chaired this Committee for the last several years, called to advise that as of January 1, 1984, he would no longer be with the Bendix Corporation. I am enclosing a copy of Mr. Armstrong's letter of October 28, which arrived here after our phone conversation. The timing of this OSHA action and Mr. Armstrong's resignation was referred to Mr. Nelson, President of the Institute. I have contacted others with the Intent of installing a new Chairman, but we cannot take any action on this activity until the Committee is reorganized. As the OSHA action is an Emergency Temporary Standard, it was effective on November 4. There is an industry petition for review in the Courts. Also, as OSHA intends to publish a notice on amendment of the permanent standard. Institute action may be taken after that notice. It is likely that a meeting of the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee will be called after OSHA's notice on proposed rulemaking is published. The foregoing is for your information. EWD/dr Enc. E. W. Drislane Executive Director FMSI 02610 T