Document ZBv8bD7vGZzg31781L1vdMGoZ

FILE NAME: Asbestos Cement Pipe and Sheet (ACPS) DATE: 1967 Aug 23 DOC#: ACPS070 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Industry Recommended Practices with Cover Letter f . From T\ &i *, * f i ; * } f l j ,'T j M ta w iiU iM a M ttiia i hr. J . F.nrr.l'y To ; ^ /ashington A ll Area Managers RHH/JG 2Srd August 1967 o . GRP/PEB/JWD/KAC/RA JF/LSH/GJ/HG/JCB A sbestosls Rocearoh Council Reoommsndad Code of P ractice On Precautions to bo taken when Cutting D rillin g or Machining A sbestos Canent and Asbestos-based Boardo In tho Shipbuilding Industry Enclosed are copies of the booklet issu e d by the above and I should be pleased i f you would d istr ib u te these to in terested person'iel in your Area ffR .H / O / o ' J i * f f * j>('}i Q$&f U^i j j ^j * I utHateatMtaMi The Ashestosis Research Council c Recommended Code o f Practice O n Precautions to be taken when Cutting, D rilling or Machining Asbestos Cement and Asbestos-based Boards in the Shipbuilding Industry o a.i ..if^.i, ha-raA t'i^ i i O A / o ' ^ I t // l i !, n Y * . * i U fi iJ f-m ) " / :'* ' * i *' * K *) ).j dtt tfiaw, ittiSmt o i o / o : f ' T he Asbestosis Research Council Present factory regulations recognise asbestosis as an industrial disease which could arisefrom the inhalation o f asbestos dust. The regulations, which stipulate rulesfor the protection o f work-people engaged in the manufacture of certain types o f asbestos products, do not include any special requirentents relating to the handling ofproducts containing asbestosfor use in the ship-building industry. The Ministry o f Labour is now considering extending the regulations which apply to the handling of asbestos and asbestos cement products infactories so that they cover wider applications of handling and processing and, while it is not certain to what extent this change will apply to the shipbuilding industry, it is felt that some preliminary guidance should be given. This guidance lakes the form of a Recom mended Code o f Practice which is prepared in anticipation of the extension to the regulations. The use and manipulation of asbestos and asbestos cement products is very diverse and ranges from the fixing o f an occasional single sheet to extensive operations involving cutting or machining by power-driven equipment. While care should always be exercised, special precautions are only necessary when there is a possibility that operatives may inhale asbestos dust as a result ofproximity to cutting, grinding or similar operations. _ Finally it should be emphasised that there is no hazard in the handling, working andfixing o f these products, provided that the simple precautions outlined below are followed. For convenience, the Recommended Code o f Practice is divided into two s- sections: a Work infactories or shipyard workshops. (Section 2) b Work in ships under construction or repair. (Section 3) 1 i: o 9 J Recommended Code o f Practice Products This Cede o f Practice covers asbestos cement and other asbestos-based boards. The content o f asbestos may vary, but the recommendations are the same for all products. 2 W o rk under Factory or Shipyard Conditions in Confined Spaces The following procedures should be adopted when working w ith asbestos products. 2.1. C attin g, G rinding o r T a m in g b y Mechanical Means 2.1.1. When mechanical cutting or machining takes place, efficient dust extraction equipment should be installed, or respirators o f a type which are approved by the Factory Inspectorate should be worn. 2.1.2. The approved respirators should be carefully maintained, and adequate servicing arrangements should be made to ensure that this is done, and that employees are not without respirators during maintenance (see note A). 2.1.3. Waste, dust or off-cuts should not be allowed to accumulate in the working area and should be disposed o f in such a w ay as to avoid escape o f dust. Damping or wetting o f waste before disposal is recommended. 2 .14. Vacuum cleaning plant should be used to keep ledges, floors, trusses, etc. free from dust accumulation. Removal o f dust by brushing should be avoided. 2.2. A d d ition a l H ygien e 2 J .I. The best standards o f good factory and workshop housekeeping and hygiene should apply to mechanical cutting areas. Such areas are best segregated and used for no other purpose. In addition to dust exhaust on machines, a good standard o f general room ventilation should be maintained. 2.2.2. Operatives should wear overalls that can be kept in a clean, dustfree condition. These overalls should be made from nylon or other ^ N ith c tic material and should be free from open pockets, etc. 2.2.3. Where heating is necessary, radiant panel heaters should be used, rather than fan assisted heaters which tend to keep dust in suspen sion. 2.3. M edical Supervision 2.3.1. Operatives should be advised on the precautions to be taken when cutting asbestos and asbestos cement products. 2.3.2. Wherever possible, arrangements should be made for routine examination o f workers w ho are regularly engaged in this work. Particular attention should be given to examining new workers before employment or as soon as possible afterwards (see note B). 3 W ork in Ships under Construction or Repair W here a considerable run o f cut material is required in any one size, pre-cut material rather than site-cut material should be used. Some site-cutting is, however, inevitable and the following practice should be followed in such cases: 3.1. M echanical C u ttin g on Ships 3.1.1.In general, the same recommendations apply as for factory or workshop cutting, bearing in mind that the operation will be o f a temporary nature. When power cutting tools are used a portable dust extraction plant should be made available. 3.1.2. Where it is not possible for an exhaust system to be used and where there is still a risk o f inhaling asbestos dust, an approved respirator should be worn by the operative. The same steps to ensure adequate servicing arrangements should be taken as noted in 2.1.2. above. 3.2. H and C u ttin g and D rillin g 3.2.I. When hand cutting and drilling has to take place and a dust exhaust system is impracticable, operatives should wear approvedtype respirators (sec section 2.1.2.). 3 > tMtfaMtaOaMiWn*, -I.............. --^ M liriill< iliiri] O 3.2.2. Dust can be avoided by damping the material (c.g. by drip feeding) where the nature o f the product permits. 3.2.3. Floors should be kept free o f cutting dust, using portal^^dustrial vacuum cleaning equipment. In the event o f this not being available, a dampening agent should be applied to the dust im mediately before sweeping up. Notes A Notes on the care and maintenance o f respirators arc being prepared and will be available from the Council separately. B Notes on the medical examination o f workers in the asbestos industry arc available from the Council. /^ v o e June 1967 The Asbestosis Research Council Secretary D r S. Holmes P.O . B o x N o 40 Rochdale, Lancashire Telephone.* Rochdale 47422 4 O ' o- 4 .<