Document ZJkd3ywnp0QZ5QQZM0zeLYM17

Subnet: Central Office Cable Penetration Closures GL: 7W-10-033 ene: October 8, 197^ @AKT r * 7U-10-033 file no Off** New Vorfc. N.V. 10807 mom (213) SMMBTi : Chief Engineers, General Plant Managers, Medical Directors and OSHA Coordinators frm: .yoo: Director - Outside Plant, Safety and Supplies Engineering Director - Equipment and Buildings and Medical Director Provides interim Instructions for replacing translte wall and floor covers with steel plates. *** Attached to this letter Is a Temporary Instruction being issued by Western Electric Company to replace existing Instructions regarding translte floor and wall coverings. These Interim measures e adopted after a series of meetings between Western Electri .ell Telephone Laboratories, and A.T.& T. P'ant, Engineering ana Medical Departments. Effective September 1, 1974 all orders shipped from Western that require material to close new cable holes will have steel plates substituted for translte. In addition, all jobs engineered after October 1, 1974 which require cutting of existing coders to add cable or equipment will receive steel covers to replace the translte covers that would normally be cut in the field. The cost of the steel replacement covers will be borne by the associated companies and should be Included in all future engineering. This interim change <s being implemented to provide Western Electric Installers and Telephone Company Operating Personnel with a better health environment. Transite board contains asbestos and cannot be cut, drilled or filed without releasing low levels of airborne asbestos dust particles, which over a long period of time can create a health problem. Existing floor and wall coverings do not present any source of airborne particles and are to be left in place. Effec tive with this letter, however, there is to be no further cutting or 00 2 389 shaping of existing transit* covers - a substitute steel cover should be obtained from Western Electric If any changes In configuration become necessary. The Bell Telephone laboratories are continuing their Investigation of fire and smoke penetration through floor and wall cable openings. Pending the flnel results of their testing program* the Interim "`be followed. and Supplies Engineering Director - Equipment and Buildings Medical Director Attachment 0 0 Z 390 FI1ST CLASS HAIL COMPANY PRIVATE Installation Eng: Western Elactrlc Service Division, Handbook 30 Vffi'.Kr* :tio TI Saction 15D CABLE PENETRATION - CLO 1. GENERAL 1.1 Tha purpose of this Temporary Instruction is to provide Installation with tha history and to explain the reason why the floor and wall cable hole cover material is being changed from transite to steel. 1.2 The Bell System cable hole assemblies have been accepted throughout the country for over fifty years. However, there ere no records of BTL tests establishing thair fire resistance capabilities. Accord ingly, in 1970. CIS requested AT&T to approve the replacement of tran site with steel in order to reduce the Installer's effort in fabri cating cable hole penetration closures. Ir August, 1971, AT&T re quested BTL-Uhippany to undertake an analytical and experimental program to upgrade the fire policy described in EL 1343. As a re sult, e group ac Nhippany was formed and a full scale test facility, equivalent to a Central Office building bay two storias high, was constructed at Chaster Laboratories, N.J. 1.3 Over the past <tavral years, numerous tests have been conducted to establish minimum standard time requirements for smok*.' and fire pene tration through eable hole assemblies. Tests at Bell Telephone Laboratory are still in progress to determine if any further improve ments to the cable hole concept can be made. 1.4 The substitution of steel for transite floor covers will reduce ma terial cost and fabrication tlma; but more important, it will improve the Installer's environment. When transite material is cut, it pro duces low levels of airborne asbestos dust particles. Accordingly, the Installer is required to wear a respirator and gloves as pro tection. Cutting of steel trill eliminate this potential health problem and the need for these personnel protection'requirements. 1.5 ' Because of the importance of improving the Installer's environment, a progrma to replace the transite material used as cable penetration wlosures with steel plates has been initiated. All orders (requir ing material for closing new cable holes) which are shipped after 9/1/74 will be provided with steel floor and vail plates. All orders engineered after 10/1/74 which require the opening of an existing eable hole to add additional cables, will receive steel plates to replace the existing transits covers. Printed in U.S.A. 002391 I** TI 15D 'r-.^W *" ~ - - - w' . 2.1 Disregard ell figures in Sedas 15 of Handbook 30 dbf&ediig transits atoriel whan steal floor and sail elosore plates earn received on job site. Install steel floor and veil closures in manner stellar to transits covers. 2.2 Cut floor sad wall steel pistes with the H-4353 Id&bltf stellar to the ceiling steel pistes. 2.3 Ibe replaced traoslta well and floor ceweaH**^ tsat to he eafc-19 or in aay way reduced in sise ;prinr te.dSep<55^ %^<4flhs loeel aamjgpr -ffagtsHinMOa Fnglneerffig X.;y: 002392 January 3, 1979 Mninnn FMpnoni wnp TiliQiiph ConyiR)f 29S North Mapt* Am* BMHng ndgc, N. J. 07W0 Phone (201) 221<2000 TO ALL SAFETY COORDINATORS Attached or your information is a copy of the long awaited System Letter dealing with the problem of asbestos gloves in Central Office locations. The letter recommends a systematic replacement of KS-8463 asbestos gloves with the new KS-22240 gloves over a three year period. Disposal instructions are included within the System Letter. Until such time that a complete changeout of gloves is completed, it is recommended that the KS-8463 asbestos gloves not be removed from the canisters for periodic inspection. Sincerely, R.L. Beach Manager - Safety Attachment 002393 Introduces tha Nw KS-22240 Beat and Fire Retardant Glove tvaaiMMr: Racoaaandstlon mm: Deceaber 8, 1978 a, RL 78-12-071 tt: KL 78-12-071 @AKT AflMriciR Teleaeoee vd TUie>kOl Company 1WfM*WV Nm York. N. Y. 10007 ^kono 1212) U10000 Building Operating Staff Haada Nm Dlractor - Raal Bataca Managanant, Automotive Operations, Energy od Envlrotant wiueei. introducaa tha new K5-22240 Baac and Pirn Racardant Glovaa and cal la for the removal of all KS-8483 Aabaatos Glovaa. *** Fadaral ragulationa hava placad llalea on tha usa of products or aatarlala vhlch contain or ara aada of aabaatoa, but aora specifically, where tha uaa of thla product or aatarlal vlll Introduce fraa aabaatoa fibers into tha atmosphere. Since this ruling, Hasten Electric Purchased Product Engineering has bean searching for an acceptable raplscsmaht for tha KS-8463 aabaatos gloves. Presently, each portable fire extinguisher station in central office equipment areas has a canister (KS-8434) aounted vich, or adjacent to, the extinguisher station and containing a pair of KS-8463 aabaatoa gloves. These gloves vara intended to be used after sxtlngulstuMat of a fire, to separata bundles of vires la order to put out any burning sobers. <0 It Is recoaMaded that all existing KS-8463 asbestos gloves be replaced with the nav KS-22240 Beat and Plre Retardant Gloves. These new gloves can be ordered through Vestem Electric supply as: Gloves (Plre Retardant), KS-22240 The coat of each pair of KS-22240 gloves is approximately SS.2S to tha 0TC, and will b available during the second quarter of 1979. These gloves are constructed of two layers of notarial, with the outer layer being of fire retardant cotton twist terrleord and the liner being of 6 ounce cotton aaterlal. The overall length of each glove is approximately 19 inches and is node for use on either hand. Tests indicate that these gloves vlll not support coebustlon and have a high resistance to the transfer of heat. When rolled in pairs, they can be stored in the existing KS-8434 canisters. NOTICE Net for uw or dndoeure outnde die Bed Synwn except undw wmtwi epeemeet 002394 Ac the prassnc tins, spacing of the existing asbestos gloves la at aaeh extinguisher Cation In cancral offlca equlpaant araaa. Ttaa new glovas, stored In a KS-6434 canister, should ba located at the uaia entrance Co aach cancral offlca equipment area, not at aach axdngoiataar location. Tha programed raplaeanant of tha KS-8463 aabaacoa gloves should ba ovar a thraa year parlod. Tha existing KS-8463 aabaacoa giro* Should ba disposed, of by placing rh-- in a plastic bag and tying tha and. Ttta laddafldtafra .fairtomlug *-h<* cask ahould ba equipped with a faca auk to patiMat tub inhalation of fron aabaacoa fibers* Thata plastic bags, ooagafitifig dh B-M63 gloves with tha opan and dad, should bn rsanvsil co an approved sanitary land fill operation snltabls for disposal of this notarial. Any quaatloaa regarding chose gloves should ba addressed to V. J. Session (201)221-49*6. 002395 r' * `n:sr Oc er 30, 1981 y.r. u. C. Aarhyn 17-1239K3 Chuck: The instructions provided to the BOCs regarding modification of C Manhole Heecers should contain sufficient detail go ensure compliance with both GSHA and EPA requirements. bead an my perception of the construction of the heater and the friable nature of the enbestos tape, I would recommend the following precautionary seasons: 1. Vet the asbestos tape prior to removing the rivets end cape. 2. If any of the asbestos tape sticks.to the heater, vet the stuck residue prior to scraping. 3. All removed tape, scrapings, and any contaminated rags cr debris should be placed in sealed impermeable bags or containers labelled as fellows: CAUTION _ Contains Asbestos Avoid Breathing Dust Breathing Asbestos May Cause Serious Bodily Harm Personnel performing the modifications should wash their hands trier to eating, drinking, or smoking. The sealed bags must be aisnosed of in accordance with stare an: local regulations for asbestos containing waste. In t'.ose 301 s that perform their ovr. vehicle maintenance, it should be .--Irle :c retain -acs and labels free the garage forces, as similar 002396 requirements exist for the handling of dust removed from brake drums and clutch assemblies. Disposal of the filled bags could also be consolidated with the same garage forces. Please advise if additional assistance is required. When the final product is ready for distribution, I would like to include the Company Safety Coordinators. James M. Degen District Manager - Occupational and Environmental Safety 002397 Case. 48106-3 Ml Laboratories 600 Mountain Avenue Murray HH1. Naur Jaraay 67874 Phone (201) 802-3000 January 28, 1982 Mr. L. Bennett Southwestern Ball Telephone Ra 459, 1111 V. Capitol Street Little Rode, Arkansas 72802 Dear Larry: This Is in response to yoor Inquiry whether heat shield pads contain asbestos. The Bell System-Practice "E Sheet Repair Sleeving" (BSP-644-200-005) recommends that heat shield pads (AD-1460) be used to protect workers who apply heat shrink sleeves* Bsychem Corporation, the manufacturer of the heat shield pad, clalns their pad contains an asbestos substitute, thereoglaes, idllch replaced their fozner asbestos containing pads over two years ego. A problem nay arise, however, in the operating telephone companies where some asbestos beat shield pads (older than two years) are still used. To identify the older asbestos pads vs. the newer non-asbestos pads, a few differences exist. Ths new pads are smallsr in size with these dimensions: (12* x 40" x 0.125"), shinier, and less fibrous than the older heat shrink pads. Ths other method to identify whether e pad contains asbestos is to analyze it, but this method is time-consuming end more expensive. If you locate any asbestos heat shrink pads, they should be properly disposed of in accordance with state end federal regulations. A replacement pad may be purchased from Reychem Corporation at a cost of $48. 40. If.you have any other questions, please call me. Sincersly, MH-78691-PCP-jjc Copy to L. C. Smith - SWBT R. E. Eberhart J. U. Berry, M. D. J. M. Degen - AT&T. R. W. Stone, M. D. U. J. Schreibeis C. H. Wilkening Petricie C. Payne 002598