Document ZBLDaykoe8JywjXRDLGzdEoJO

FILE NAME: Asten Hill (AH) DATE: 1953 DOC#: AH013 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Meeting Minutes HOLMES S8 ASBESTOS TEXTILE IUCTITUTE .-iutes of heetins or Air Hvgiene Committee - 12/9/53 This meeting was attended by the following: Thos. Schmidt of K & 1 Geo* Luttenberger of R & H John v.'eber of American Asbestos Co* G. Kovach representing Union, Charlotte Plant Benj* Stanton of J-li Ralph Smith of R-li, Charleston Plant John kcCormack <5= D- R. Holmes of Asten-Hill hfg. Eo. This meeting was comprised to two sessions. The morning ses sion, was devoted to the stody of a survey of asbestosis incidence case histories complete with years of exposure submitted by member Companies. This survey showed the percentage of incidence of asbestosis cases iii relation to the number of employees exposed in each plant. This study shows percentage figures varying from five to eleven percent of those employees working in exposed areas af fected. A copy of this survey is enclosed and is to be part of th minutes.. " I n cur discussion it was brought out that perhaps the survey did not delve far enough into the subject of exposure". Also, the following factors should have been considered in order to make thi. survey more accurate. A study of the employees work record, the exposure of the departments in which he had worked or works, his period of employment and the total time of exposure and dust count recorded in these areas during periods of exposure* This information may be necessary in order to determine just where the disease was contacted and why* This survey showed one Company with a Stage 1 case with only three years of exposure and one other Company..shov/ed one Stage 1 case with only two years of exposure. Vie believe that if these cases were reported accurately they could have been avoided by the use of proper pre-hire physical and x-ray examinations* Discussion of forced breathing therapy and its value took place. It was agreed that this equipment is of some value in givix relief to Asbestotics in Stages 1, 2 & 3* In many cases these people have shown remarkable improvement in their condition and it elds them in that they learn to brea the.-deeper all through theix daily lives, both on and off the job. This tends to give people a lift in their daily living in that they breathe easier, walk easier, have a better appetite and sleep more normally. There wer< three Eember Companies present using this apparatus and' all three reported good results. AHD 0002836 Minutes - Air Hygiene Ccmmlttee - 12/9/53 The next setter under discussion vas the particle size end diameter study to be made by the Trave_er's Engineering Laboratory in Hartford. Each member Company is to forward samples, according to instructions received, to this Laboratory within the next few weeks. As Travelers' have accepted this project it was agreed that we should all cooperate in this survey and, it may be that we will kave the results of this study possibly for the Spring meeting It is hoped that this study will answer some of our questions con cerning the particle sizes and diameters of fibres and their rela tion to the contacting of asbestosis. The Committee was pleased to note that the U.S.P.H.S has agree to Include dust sampling equipment in their current dust survey. The Committee feels that this operation is a major step toward the solving of some of the problems Involved In standardizing dust count studies throughout the Industry. > -- '--i v .n n u r r r r T O M AHD 0002837 liinutes - Air Hvclcne Committee - 12/9/53 American Tiheelobraiter was by far the best type of collecter on the market for the handling of asbestos dust. T.'e then discussed many types of dust collection equipment and dust eliminating processes being used throughout plants in the en tire industry.. This discussion covered spray systems, water-wettl . systems, oil systems for mixes, dust systems for Cards, Pickers, >* YJeave Boom, binders, etc. All member Companies are making some progress in the elimination of dust. After some discussion the problem of dry reaving came up and after a full discourse on this subject it was decided by the Committee that we make recommenda tions to members at the General Meeting, December 10th,'to this effect: RECOfai-iElvDATlOI'.1 Due to the fact that it is our Job to eliminate dust in an ef fort to protect our plant personnel from this hazard, we recommend that a study be made*by the Technical Committee of the possibility of eliminating dry weaving in member Company plants. v:e ask that this recommendation be given consideration by the full committee.' -;;At the General Meeting, this recommendation was accepted. AGENDA FOB SPRIBG LELTIlvG - 1954 SUBJECTS: 1* 2. 3- 4. Twister Enclosure and Spinner Survey Travelers' Report of Dust Particle Survey Report, on U.S-P.H.S. Sampling Equipment Survey if available by this time. The C-t.udy of the Possibility cf Eliminating Dry v aving. < AHD 0002838 vyyi;: A AS5ESTC5I3 IHCIDcKCE STUDY Jive member Companies reported their experiences: COaPANY A This Company reports 22 cases in three stages; 7 Stage #1 13 Stage 2 2 Stage j?3 There are also six "borderline cases as yet to be determined. This Company employes 295 people. The percentage of incidence of asbestosis is 7`.4655 for classes 1,2 3 or 9.6655 including the six questionable or borderline ceses. This survey was completed on October 1,' 1953. This study v;as made from a history of x-rays covering the period of 1945 until the present... It is presumed, at present, that no one should contract asbestosis with less than five years exposure. However, this Company`s 'experience at present is that one person in Stage-ll has been "employed only six years and another in Stage #1 has been employed only eight years. Also, in Stage ,72 there is one employe* with nine years and one employee with 10 years. COMPANY B This Company does not report ny questionable or borderline cases. There are 363 employees here engaged. The percentage rate in this case is that 5.23J5 of the average number of employees are affected. Also, the earliest a person contracted asbestosis in Stage 1 was after twelve years of exposure. The year periods run from twelve years to 28 years of exposure. COMPANY C This Company reports a total of 125 employees under exposure. Of this number, there are fourteen cases of"asbestosis at this plant. These are: i, 8 Stage jr1 4 Stage 2 2 Stage ft3 This report shows that 11.25; cf the total number of employees exposed were affected. This' Company reports one male in Stage 1 with only five years exposure. There is one in Stage jjl with nine years, one in Stage 1 with ten years, one in Stage 2 with five years ana one in Stage #2 with nine years of exposure. AHD 0002839