Document bBz2zQzqo354D66kqx4xr1m06

u Index: 2nd June, 1976 Index Humber 1. 1.1 1.2 2. 2.1 2.2 20 2.4 5. 3-2 3.6 4. 4.1 4.2 4.5 5* 50 6. 6.1 6.2 60 6.4 7. 70 7.4 7.6 Report Chief Medical Offlcer*s Report Reported by HCL BOHS Standard New Asbestosis Cases and Deaths Envl ronmental EXist Hazards Asbestos Dust AVHCL Cotton Dust AA Glass Dust AA/fCL General Remarks aa/hcl Noise Cotton Textile Department AA General Remarks AA/HCL Toxic Vapours and Chemicals Toluene AA VCM General Remarks WS AA/HCL Skin Irritants General Remarks HCL Safety Report Protective Equipment . Engineering . Power Trucks General Remarks Health & Safety Executive & Related Matters Ventilation . Noise Legislation Labelling of Asbestos Containing Products AA AA AA AA NR NR NR o I 1. CHIEP IgPlCAt.. omCHH*s REPORT 1.1 1.1 B0H5 Standard for Chrysotlle The Sub-Committee on Asbestos Standards met on 29th April, 1976. The analysis of the data Is at an advanced stage and it Is hoped that an outline report will be available for discussion when the Sub-Committee meets again in July. Dr. J.C. Gilson and Mr. G. Berry are visiting Rochdale on 27th May, 1976 to review the cases in which discrepancies or doubts exist or where the clinical findings do not fit the accepted criteria for early diagnosis. This will ensure that an independent medical opinion on the problem cases has been obtained. Die additional data from theRieumoconiosis Medical Panel's records has confirmed that no discrepancy exists between my clinical assessment of employees and the assessment by PMP members. * HCL. 24 th May, 1976 j J } . ; ; ; ; . 'i j It I | o l' I  i 1. CHin? MEDICAL OFFICE'S REPORT 1.2 1.2 New Asbestosis Cases and Deaths One now asbestosis case has been reported since the last meeting. ' three ex-asbestos workers have died since the last meeting. One man, aged 82, worked at T3A from 1919 to 1945 when he retired due to ill heslth. the cause of death was not due to an industrial disease after 26 years service and 51 years in retirement. . the death of a Joiner from lung cancer and asbestosis in an occupation not scheduled in the past, makes it imperative that as many neonl AS nasslble exposed in'their* daTTy Jobs to asbestos, should be kept under surveillance and be provided with, adequate protection when doing their Jobs in busty areas. the third death was due to carcinoma of the stomach. HCL 24th May, 1976 t y 1 1 2.1 2. Hr/inoirjsrrAL bust hazapbg 2.1 . Asbestos Eust Card Ventilation It has not yet been possible to do a full assessment of the modifications to the dust extraction systems on the >0 cards on the South side of 'B` Bloch, but the indications are that only marginal improvements have been achieved. In fact on 10 of the JO cards forming `B1 West No. 1 Section, it has been necessary to speed up the extraction fans and to completely change filter sleeves to achieve an acceptable degree of dust control. Further work on Card Ventilation is awaiting an assessment of the contribution to dust control achieved by individual card enclosures separately reported below and in Section 6.2. In the meantime local troublesome spots are being dealt with individually as they arise. Hie modifications to the trial vacuum cleaning system on West Carding No. 2 Section have been completed and production assessment is in progress. Card Enclosures o Materials are now on site for the erection of strip curtains to the canopies at the condenser end of all carding sections In 'B' Block, and this work is about to be put in hand. lhe canopy and strip curtains at the hopper end of the cards on West Carding No. 2 Section have been installed, and dust ~ count readings so far taken have indicated promising results. As a next step arrangements are in hand to modify the plenum systems to provide some fresh air input adjacent to the canopy. Work of totally enclosing the 50/50 Tandem Card in 'B' Block Carding South is substantially complete, and assessment trials are expected to cormence in the course of the next few days. ... In parallel with this, but as a separate issue, a 25/50 Card in *B' West Carding No. 2 Is being fitted with side panels basically for guarding purpose (see report under Section 6.2), but It is expected that some contribution towards dust control will also be achieved and enable comparisons to be made with the totally enclosed card. Card Hopper Feeding ` The trials with the first prototype bulk container fitted to the card hopper have been concluded and the container removed. The trials proved the need, with a bulk container, of a measure of control over the amount of fibre presented to the vertical spiked lattice of the hopper to avoid scotching and variations In product quality. Cont'd.. i nmRo\:^:rrM dust xazarbs 2.1 2.1 Asbestos Dust Card Ventilation: - An assessment of the effect of the modifications to the dust extraction systems on the 30 Tandem Cards on the South Side of "S'* Sloe): will be made as soon as a new Model 21" Royco is available. By adjustment to the dampers, the extraction system will be reverted to the condition before modification and a Royco survey taken. The dampers will then be re-adjusted to the modified condition and the Royco survey repeated. The installation of a second fan to impi'ove the capacity of the trial vacuum cleaning system on West Carding No. 2 Section "BB Block will be completed by mid-February. CardEnclosures The enclosure for West Carding Ho. 3 Section, "B" Block has been completed and arrangements are now in hand to balance the input and extraction systems in "S" Block West Extension. Authority has now been obtained for the installation of plastic strip curtains to the canopies at the condenser end of all carding sections in "B" Block and delivery of the material is expected at the end of March. Installation of the screen at the hopper end'of the cards on West Cardins Ho. 2 Section has now been authorised, and erection is planned to start during the first week of February. As a continuation of the trials carried out on the enclosure of the tandem cord in Asbestos Research, authority is currently being sought to enclose a 50/30 Tandem card in "5" Block for assessment under production conditions. Card Hopper Feeding As a further development of the use of plastic bins for feeding card hoppers, a portable bulk container has been designed for fitting on to a card hopper, and which will contain sufficient fibre for 3-4 hours running. -A prototype of such a container is currently in course of manufacture, and trials with its use are due to start early February. Cont'd -2 - 2.1 cont'd ! Arising from the experimental work, three schemes are under consideration with the Production Division. Two schemes propose the use of transportable bulk containers, one with mechanical controlled discharge and feed, and the other with pneumatic. The* third scheme pursues the use of plastic tubs in lieu of bags. j t I Spinning Frames Authorisation was granted at the April Board for the install ation of Yam Damping Equipment on 32 Roving Frames on 'B1 Block North Section and this work is now being progressed. A Request for authorisation for a further 32 Roving Frames has also been submitted to the May Board and notification is awaited. Following on from the samples of alternative flooring proposed as an aid to easier and Improved cleaning, authorisation has been granted to lay the selected type, i.e. a polymeric concrete, to an area covering 28 Inter-frames in *B' Block South. This work vfill be carried out during the two weeks of the Works Annual holiday. \ | ] j Plaiting Machines The installation of the enclosure for the bench machines has been delayed due to late delivery of proprietary materials. This is now to hand and the installation of the enclosure is currently in hand. I I AA. 20th May, 1976.' The importance of good housekeeping in a dusty Job area cannot be over-emphasised. <Xi a recent walk through the carding and spinning area and 'X* Block, it became apparent that this aspect of environmental control was not regularly supervised. Many of the points made by Mr. ^fowler in the TEA Asbestos & Health Slide/Tape presentation could still be identified. Box trucks are used for litter, disposable face masks are left lying about, long-handled brooms are much in evidence. The filter galleries for carding are areas where particular attention needs to be paid to spillages and burst bags. The FORTEC area as a whole could be improved from the point of view of housekeeping. HCB. 24th May, 1976 j j j | 1 I ; 2.1 (cont'd) BiyiRDin'JcrrAT, eist hazards 2.1 Asbestos Dust . Spinning Franses <; A maintenance programse is now in hand to modify the existing damping arranger,ents already fitted to frames in "B" Block, with the new design of bearing arrangement for the damping rollers. . , Additionally it is planned to Install damping arrangements *' on a further 64 frames and an estimate of the cost of this . work is currently being compiled for submission for authorisation. Four trial strips of alternative flooring are beins laid between selected spinning frames in "B" Block and two of these have been completed. She remainder will be completed early in February. . Halting Machines Manufacture and installation of the enclosure for the seven bench machines is expected to be completed early in April. AA. 2nd February, 1976 )