Document a1KaNzr8xVrBOqwgyxqBNZV2b

ASBESTOS STUDY COMMITTEE REPORT June 2, 1976 The asbestos study committee began this term at a time when it appeared that relaxations of oppressive government controls might be expected. Public dis enchantment with such things as seat belt and ignition interlocks gave hope that we might anticipate greater realism in governmental approaches to regulating the indus trial environment Our hopes for such relief were dashed when, on October 9, 1975, the Federal Register published a proposed amendment to the standard for exposure to asbestos. This proposal included a drastic, and what informed members of our industry think to be unrealistic, reduction of a standard scheduled to become effective July 1, 1976 of two fibres per cc, time weighted average permissable exposure to asbestos fibres. The proposal would amend this to 0.5 fibres, as well as imposing more stringent and unrealistic record keeping requirements Based on information available to us, no alternative existed but to accept the task of: 1. Putting our members in the best possible position to comply with both the July 1, 1976 two fibres per cc standard, and educating cA them at least to understanding the impact what will be required ' to cope with the 0.5 fibre standard, should it be imposed. 2. Using every possible means at our disposal to enlighten goverment officials of what informed members within our industry regard as the complete impracticability of the 0.5 standard. 3. Cooperating with the Asbestos Information Association and the Institute Office in their response to O.S.H.A. on the revised asbestos standard. We have been told that our efforts in the above areas have been efficacious. We believe that the Seminar, which we conducted on December 3 and 4, 1975 in Paramus, was constructive in the areas of 1 and 2 above, in that top talent from FMSI 06807 I Page 2 allied industries, equipment suppliers, government agencies, trade associations, and medical technologists made timely and informative presentations. I am certain that everyone who attended the seminar went away with a better grasp of both the task which confronts us, and methods by which to resolve them. The third area was implimented by close cooperation with the Asbestos Information Association, and their contractor, the Weston Company, who did such a professional job in preparing the Association's response to O.S.H.A. If nothing else was established by the response, it certainly masterfully rebutted the evidence upon which the changes were based. The Asbestos Study Committee will continue to work to keep abreast of government regulations and to share with members technological techniques developed to cope with them. FMSI 06808