Document a490nJ9YO9L8ej12G0Z3GnoE9

From K. P. KARSTEN WARRICK OPERATIONS RETD APR 2 1 1S23 To LAURA RIPPEY PITTSBURGH OFFICE 1986 APRIL 12 RE: RESPONSE REQUESTED BY YOUR 88/4/86 MEMO CONCERNING ASBESTOS STANDARDS Since May of last: year 97 Individuals, principally General Maintenance Mechanics, were included in formal respirator fit testing for asbestos work. Although, not all will do small job asbestos demolition work, a management decision was made to have a corps of trained individuals available around the clock seven days a week. If we are forced to provide SCBA's or supplied air for all asbestos work, regardless of the exposure level, we will have to rethink our approach. To do so would be unnecessarily cumbersome, inefficient, costly beyond benefit, and most likely lead to unnecessary exposure. Unnecessary exposure could result by mechanics "going ahead" with a very small abatement project without an SCBA where today they would readily use their respirator. Unnecessary exposure may also arise by delaying our response time while efforts were being made to call-in and suit up an SCBA trained team. Warrick probably leads the ALCOA pack in the extent of asbestos demolition work done by both outside contract and ALCOA person nel. Our interest in any changes to the regs is keen. You did not provide me sufficient information in your capsule summary to comment on the proposed changes. Please forward to me a copy of the unabridged text for the Warrick staff to review. y. nneth P. Karaten cc: Paul Woerz ALCOA