Document banrG4qOOZ8QOYKVNOyzjDMm3

FILE NAME: Asbestos in India (IND) DATE: 1985 DOC#: IND019 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Indian Govt Report Extracts - Hazards in Asbestos Industry w ry C ^ / A * J Q f l w i t \ UJG-4 &-+*. , {f ^ GLAAvjy 2< . Wiiiing Mlhjcct fb-uings, revived itselli I > Hug I have e llns II the ! mai ls for '; With lice. ? i! LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE "TO STUDY HEALTH HAZARDS IN ASBESTOS INDUSTRY" 1. Mr. D.K.. Biswas Director, Department of Environment, Government of India, Bikaner 1louse, Shah Julian Road, New Delhi-1 10011 2. Dr. V.P. Gupta Director (Research), Centra! Labour Institute, Eastern Express Highway, Sion, Bombay-400 022. .1 Dr. B.B. Chatterjee , Director, National Institute of Occupational Health, Maghani Nagar, Ahmedabad-380 016. 4. Dr. G.K. Pandey Principal Scientific Officer, Department of Environment, Government of India, Bikaner House, Shah Jahan Road, New Delhi-110 Oil. 5. Dr. G.G. Davay Ex Medical Inspector of Factories. Government of Maharashtra, 7/72, Varma Nagar, Old Nagardas Road, Andheri (East). Bombas-400 069. 6. Mr. G.S. lehhpurani DDG of Mines Safety. Southern Zone, 1iyderabad 7. Dr. S.K. Dave Asst. Director, National Institute of Occupational Health, Maghani Nagar, Ahmedabad-3K0 016. S. Mr. B.K. Sharan Director, Mines Safety, Directorate General of Mines Safety, Dhanbad. Chairman Member Member Member Member Member Member Member -- -- liY F ^ V A T IO N S AND R EC O M M EN ^t , TM - ( ) k<m nlions t 1. Main observations are l ' * Uncontrolled asbestos usage has been the cause nf i,. , ; wooers. Such exposures to asbestos dust may result in asbesf a" d proIonged exposures to : theiioma. (Para 9 of Report by Study Team `A'). b S1S' lung cancer and meso- 1-2 These diseases have long latent periods, making it difficult to relit*. valence of disease at any given time. (Par. I0 of Report ^ Pre" 1.3 There are some reported cases of low exposures in the nast that , , increases in risk. A report on the evaluation of rkv / resulted m no appreciable of exposures (50 fibre years) is estimated to h- 0 miners m Canada on current levels Report by Study Team `A')/ S u c S (Pam 11 of use of asbestos in such places where it can be u sed ^ h* *^ Conim,ttee t0 recommend the so that the benefits onhis materia^\ o n Z u ^ r^ d ""ons workers. tmUe t0 be exP,01ted without any undue risks to the 1,4 Fhe latest ^eientific thinking favours the controlled use of not o i u inorganic fibrous materials. (Para 13 of Report by Study Team "a 0 Reconinrenilations S ^ 2- General Environment . thef " " ? - - , bCC" a" CndCCi Whh r "suhsS(Para*22 ^ have 3. Legislaf,tbiv"e Regulations b7studVTenam!BU*hT 3 1 Factory Acts & Rules 3.1.1 Framing of rules according to the Schedule X t v ,, a , 3 , 2 c""" rned Sta,cs is " uree"' < * i ofnRePx c c . B.)y ihc purview of H e F a cto ? ^ e ' e V R ^ e ' r i r r e ^ a i ^ H e "! ^ J T * " usage ol electric power. (Para 16.8 of Report by Study Team `B'7 " ^ WOfkl rCe or asbestos fibre s h o ^ d T e T u ^ 0re Processing of W = - := ^ of Report by Study Team `B'). q P rrr- should be Prohibl'ted. (para 16.5 3.1.4 Current prescribed level of 2f/cc as specified in Model Rule 12tA at the present time. Membrane Filter Technique (MFT) should h * T T ,ncu. o f II,c air-borne asbeS,0S fibre dust. V a ,6 ., o f Rcp,,rl b, 6 3.1.5 Measurement of fibre dust levels is a complex subject and efforts should be made to s -> obtain uniformity within industry and regulatory agencies (Para 16.3 of Report by Study Team `B')- 3.1.6 Personal protective equipment should not be considered a permanent of preventive engineering control measures. At best, this should measure, (Para 16.4 of Report by Study Team `B'l. solution in place be a contingency 3.1.7 Equipment used in the processing of asbestos should carry a certificate from the manufa cturer that during normal usage as recommended, the equipment will not release fibre dust that will result in any workman being exposed to dust levels higher than the prescribed limit. (Para 16.6 of Report by Study Team `B'). 3.2 Mines Act; Regulations & Rules Thereunder. 3.2.1 The regulations and rules made under the Mines Act 1952 need to be modified to bring them upto the International Standards for the control of asbestos fibre dust during mining, handling and milling of the ore. 5.3 5.4 6. Med, ! i 6.1 ; ii . i 6.2 3.2.2 Where applicable, the rules under the Mines Act should be modified so as to include the 6.3 relevant provisions of Schedule XIV and Model Rule 123A made under the Factories Act so far as they relate to asbestos fibre dust control. 3.2.3 Asbestosis; lung canceFand mesothelioma when they are caused by asbestos should be notified as occupational diseases under the Mines Act. 3.2.4 Specialised trained manpower and equipment arc to be provided to eflectively monitor the environmental exposures in mines and medical surveillance system ot the mine workers. 3.3 Licencing, (Para 16.9 of Report by Study Team `B'). 6.4 ! f t' J i 7. Cn 7.1 \\ For licencing/registration of new units, specific requirements of dust control to be met by them should be listed out by the competent authority. Licence should be issued by the competent authority only after satisfying itself that such requirements have already been included in the project. (Para 16.8 of Report by Study Team TF). 4. Small Scale Industry. i 7.2 ^j u ? Management and control of asbestos dust in the small scale sector of the industry need to be tackled on priority basis. Major recommendations in this regard are : . -- Financial : Subsidy should be given for the purchase of equipment needed for the control of I dust, personal sampling etc. Capital assets under this category should not be counted for the capital investment clause which determines classification for small scale sector. _ Engineering : A technical cell in D.I.C. or other concerned agency should be directed to pool the technology for the suppression/control of asbestos dust and to help the Small-Scale Industry to select and install appropriate equipment. -- Measurement and Health Control : The Small Scale Industry should be encouraged to pool their resources und establish a centralised dust counting centre, as also a health surveillance centre under the supervision of a competent qualified person. _ Education : Employees in this industry should be made aware ot the need tor strict imple. mentation of the asbestos regulations and the health hazards that might arise due to occupa tional exposure to asbestos. tPaia 16.7 of Report by Study Team ' B'). 5. Compliance of Regulations. 5,1 Packing of raw asbestos fibre should be in impermeable bags and should be handled as unitised loads as far as it is practicable. ISI may be requested to bring out the Code of Practice for packing, handling, transportation and use of asbestos fibre. (Para 16 1lo t Report by Study Team `B'h 7 y2 F.fTectivc Steps to implement the Rules must be taken by providing all facilities to the state regulatory agencies. These include dust monitoring equipment and specialised trained man power in order to produce accurate and reproducible results.1 (Para 16.3 of Report by Study Team 'IV). 5 -j The industry should periodically monitor dust levels to ensure the efiectiveness ot the engineering controls. (Para 9.2 of Report by Study Team `B'). 5.4 Government should be liberal in allowing the import of equipment required tor the use in dust monitoring & medical surveillance. (Para 16.13 of Report by Study le an t B ). f 6. ring j | lire t L ! be . the Medical Surveillance. 6.1 All the workers likely to be exposed to asbestos fibres should be covered by a well defined medical surveillance plan with no cost to the employee. (Para 27.2 of Report by Study Team *A'}. 6.2 . Health education of workers is an important object ot 'medical surveillance programme. (Para 28.1.2 of Report by Study Team `A')- 1 6.3 Frequency of periodical medical examination should take into account age, service ot employee and his exposure profile which includes his exposure level in relation to action level. (Para 29.3 of Report by Study Team `A')- 6.4 Medical records along with periodic exposure profiles should be maintained for 40 years alter employment or 10 years after cessation of employment.: (Para 32.2 ot Report by Study Team `A'). I 7, Compensation. i* i un r ` 7 j The employees covered under the ESI Act should also be eligible for compensation alter cessation of ESI coverage, as is the case in Workmen's . Compensation Act. (Para 16.12 ol Report by Study Team `B'). Employees not covered under the ESI Act should be covered un(ier general insurance, at no cost to them. (Para 14.6 of Report by Study Team `B'). 7'2 Clear criteria for the diagnosis of asbestos related diseases.should be specified and should be 1 ' uniformly followed. (Para 14.2 of Report by Study rTeam `B'). Criteria for diagnosis for asbestosis is included in this report for the purpose of determining eligibility for compensa te tion (pani 24.1.6 of Report bo Study T eam `A'). Criteria for confirming asbestos as caus- : ative factor for lung cancer and mesothelioma is also included in.this repo-t for the purpose off of determining eligibility for compensation. (Paras 25.7 and 26.8 of Report by Study or' T eam `A)'. 7 3 The Committee recognises the need to designate an agency that possesses specialised training, ,() j ' expertise, competence and facilities to decide the cases entitled to compensation arising out j . of asbestos-related diseases. (Para 16.12 of Report by Study Team *B'). ; 7 4 Regional medical panels should be constituted to act as referal bodies in case of asbeslos- .(1| ; related diseases to determine eligibility for compensation. (Para 34 of Report by Study ^ Team `A'). 7 5 Panel should have specialists, preferably with knowledge of asbestos-related diseases. (Para . 34 of Repoit by Study Team `A'). `` 8 National Standards/Cotles of Practice. ISI may be requested to expedite lormulation of. .... standard lor the measurement of airborne fibrous dust. . Code of practice for the packing, handling transportation, and use of asbestos in the factory, mine and other places. ..... Cotie of practice for the use of asbestos containing products, ji l Qrde 0f practice for disposal of asbestos waste materials, including tailings. jM (Para 16.14 of Report by Study Team `B'). BOMBAY 4. j B g B B L t f - w a s B o ia a g The Study Team visited this Factory ^ brake linings/clutch fac.ngs (friction materials). This company ma,,ufactu,cl jointings, asbestos textile products, null board i etc. (a) iFMriMctiionnn MMaatteerniaaliss/;Ci.A*Fr Joint i n g -s--P--I--^ Jointing were . _ he case of Friction Materials and CAF Joi g The manufacturing processes observed . the ce ^ ^ mixeri along with other chemical, Wet processes where once the asbestos fibr binder used- w e t resins for friction * andrtie wet binders, the fibres get encapsulate 1^ come out 0f the mixers in wet materials and rubber solut.on for jointing5 * ` p and moulding of the linings/sheets are in conditon and all further processing including *cd t0 gct the final form, shape and size, wet form. The materials are then cure and - j a k ^ In ^ case of the Brake Lining , The mixing operations where asbestos fi [cs Plant, the pre-packed asbestos ?bre.bf bin along with other raw materials inclu 8 are charged into the mixer body which is P of CAF Plant, the asbestos fibres are e the feeding end itself, which ensures negligi recorded in these operations (as per manage Linings and facings so produced, are then machines/drilling machines where adequate and charged into a bottom opening , he bindcr. This bin is raised and the raw materia b J wUh sufficient negative pressure. In the case ^ of the mixers with negative suction at emission. In both cases, the fibres dust eve s) s well within the 2 fibres/cc level. ^ dimensions in special purpose grinding h ^ systems are pr0vided t0 rem0ve swarf thc case 0f jointings, the sheets are anddust produced in the m a c h m . n g uent finishing involves only cutting to s.z cured in the calendering process and the s q negligible. The Team observed that -- s s s , e '" (b) A^bcsms Textile P M . ' .. a ,,r fibre are received in pressure racked I,, the manufacture of Asbestos Textiles 4 "' bags. These bags are cut manually and M * ^ feeding end itself which does not allow " " operators. The blending operation ,s do re-bagged in polythene bags manually under hoppen with' negative suction at me ^ come ,he brcathm6 zone of the 0,Med systcm and the blended hbres are conditions at the bagging stage, ^ ^ ^ arc mamf The blended fibres are then ted into the hoppe overlapping plastic strips. Adequate ained hTtotal enclosure of flexible suction Is provided on the various < " * "f machines a,e required to wear On-n i-J dropptngs inside the enclosure is -- - help of centralised vacuum coliectio y It was also noted that the card stripping Pcrdt," U -chm ent stripping operation to e for ^ of the card are collected into a gg The carded sliver is then spun on sp.ning fra ment so that the dust emanation is contained.. ried t)Ut using a totally enclosed stripp This arragement enables the card dust from the mam cyUnden disposal. , are prQyided with wetting roller ariangt s0 processed is in reasonably wet stag at thc ti,,ie of doffing yarn are also cleaned r * * * ,h: proccssin8 ,ike .......... -i 41 ar! ua7 ied 0Ut, I" WCt C0Dditi0n' The finished Product- viz- doth and plaited packings are hna l> dried before packing in polythene wrappers and water-proof packing paper. All the indivi dual process machine work stations viz, carding, weaving and/or plaiting have been provided *uh dust collection arrangements which are connected to the centralised dust collection systems, tel Medical Surveillance : The Company maintains extensive records o f health status o f its employees over several years including pre-employment records. These records include clinical examinations, chest X-rays and pulmonary function tests. All the employees o f the company are periodically examined by the Company Medical Officer. 3 (4i i anlronmcntal Surveillance : Duu level monitoring wore also observed to be maintained by the Company at the various ,, < * . , 0, .irons. They were also found to be well equipped In the areas o f dust monitoring and iM4i.urcmcnt equipment. 18 The Company provides each o f its employees with the twin locker facility, spaced well apart to tore Utcir street and work clothes separately. r t iltwii Textile Plant : 26.3.85 sCTh* T*tn visited an Asbestos Textile Plant at Bombay in the afternoon o f 26.3.85. Tke pre-packed asbestos bags are manually cut and fed into the Feed Hoppers o f the blending p*wi and the blended fibres are conveyed pneumatically to the Card Hoppers. The exhaust provided at the hoppers appeared inadequate. i O fd m g machines are provided with plastic curtain enclosures. The system o f curtains could have been improved with proper overlaps to avoid leakages. have - l ". t P'1 untJcrneathJ hc carding machines is used to collect droppings from the cards which was * 7 n 7 >nS,dC,rdb Cdr0pp,ngs whlch are reported to be periodically cleaned. Such an operation itaoukl be performed with personal protective equipment. . % ThC lca m also observed spinning and twisting operations where the yarn was being wetted before n CS1P,nn,n8/dOUbllD8 flyer- The Company has installed centralised vacuum system to periodically clean the frames. y | Some o f the sections o f the factory were not working. Other operations, such as, weaving, plaiting < *>* *rc located in another factory, which the Team could not visit. 8P 8 I Tfce Team could not sec any medical examination facility in this Company. This ii a small unit, with less than 150 workers. th e blending operation is done in a totally enclosed system and the blended fibres are then fed into the hoppers of carding machine by pneumatic conveying system. Central vacuum and dust extraction plant is installed on a German dust extraction specialist 4tugn having a system of pipe lines reaching all the working areas of the factory premises. t>e pit in the carding is equipped with devices to extract and transfer the droppings pneumatii*ity to the central vacuum cleaning plant. The dust extraction plant clears card stripping epration dusi/fibre from the main cylinders and keeps the floor, machines, walls etc. clean of 4. fibre and droppings. k ; Ik* management mentioned that operators are provided with Ori-masal respirators. Airline tvipifatiori are also provided wherever exigencies of work so demand. oilers are provided with two sets of lockers away from workplace.