Document baX9oJpqq5G7Xx9XnOj1231rk
*V *Z 79
UTUUMOMI
E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
INCOftFOfUTCa
Wilmington. Delaware 19898
POLYMER PRODUCTS DEPARTMENT
cc: J. W. RAINES R. M. SHEPHERD H. A. SMITH W. E. THOMAS, SABINE iHaWKMDREOU^HASKEHBrTHB^ H. L. ADAM, BOD 1442 FILE: S-AI L:
September 23, 1980
TO: J. F. DOUGHTY - WASHINGTON WORKS FROM: L. F. PERCIVAL ^
WORK WITH BRAKE LININGS Re: Attached
In the attached note you requested a recommendation for personal protective equipment to be worn for protection against
asbestos containing dust while replacing brake linings. No special protective clothing should be required, if monitoring results con
tinue to show asbestos levels to be below OSHA and ACGIH limits.
However, the two samples reported in the attachment are probably not enough to adequately characterize exposures, and more sampling is recommended.
It is important to stress good personal hygiene habits (i.e., washing hands etc.), and also periodic checks on filters at the vacuum exhausts.
After checking with several departments, Washington Works and
Sabine were the only two sites that I was able to locate who do their
own brake work. Haskell and ESD personnel had not previously
addressed potential asbestos exposures from brake work. However,
at my request, Dr. R. W. Morrow of Haskell contacted specialists at .
NIOSH who recommended that we rely on monitoring results using the
standard analysis to help set protective equipment needs. Through
S&FP Division contacts, I phoned G. Kortsha of General Motors who
also backed NIOSH recommendations. Mr. Kortsha said that they
recommend rinsing the brakes out with water as a simple method that
was as effective as vacuuming out the brake dust. Either method
should be effective.
/
As you indicated in your note, several articles have been recently published that have speculated about possible harmful effects from extremely small asbestos_Ilfragments" ground off brake s'- lining during use. These "fragments"~are too small to be detected
by standard asbestos counting analytical procedures. Any hazard from this source has not been defined enough to warrant special precautions.
LFP/sab Attachment
There's a world of things we re doing something about
DUP 0905944
SC-DP-06435