Document d756z8y2QDmKqo73a2oYn8XQ
KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC.
TO G. B. Kirk *T Oakland
INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM datc March 1, 1974
1J 552
CQPitt to
j. w. Blewett (via GB2C)
T. T. Smith
H. L. Weightaan A. F. Rafiaeiii
SUBJCCT DUST FROM JOINT CCMPOCHD JOB OPERATIONS
from J.'S-. Sheahan at Antioch R j D
PL 4.1.0
00022
We have received a group of three reports from the Gypsum Association covering amounts of asbestos and siliceous dusts generated during miring and sanding of joint compounds on typical jobs.
The overall summary by the testing agency states, "There was evidence of exposure of workers to airborne concentrations of asbestos and both total and respirable siliceous dust in excess of acceptable limits as estab lished by OSHA. Because of the high concentrations of total dust gener ated during the mixing and sanding activities, it is clear that control of the total dust problem would provide an inherent control of the asso ciated asbestos and silica problems as well."
The first report deals with dry and premix products fron the other five major gypsum companies, with KGC materials not included. The dust sam ples collected were so heavy that reliable tests for asbestos could not be made, and only siliceous dust values are reported.
The second report covers a recheck using dry and premix products from two of the above companies on siliceous dust values.
The third report covers asbestos dust from the products used for the second report.
A summary of the test data is attached. Also attached is a summary of air own tests or. our own products.
actiov rearngp?
1) Review and recommendation as to whether asbestos warning labels may legitimately be removed from our premix products. The law states that "no label is required where asbestos fibers have been modified by a bonding agent, coating, binder or other material so that during any reasonably foreseeable use, no airborne concentrations of asbes tos fibers in excess of the prescribed exposure limits will be released," Our company is the only major company carrying the asbes tos warning on its premix and it is costing us business.
2) Recommendation as to company's position on what is next step to be taken by the Gypsum Association Study Committee on this project. That committee is already on record in favor of placing the asbestos warning and a dust warning on all bags and pails of joint compound .
JSS/sc Attachment
PLAINTIFFS
SUMMARY CF GIRSUM ASSOCIATION REPORTS
FIRST REPORT
September 1573 tests - Siliceous Dusts (asbestos dust data not reliable)
Mixing of 5 dry powder joint compounds (not includes Kaiser)
Worker exposure (breathing zone):
8 hr TWA OSKA Limit **
Total dust - S.? to 21.6 mg/cu m
Respirable dust - 1.3 to 5.1 ng/cu a
General araa exposure:
Total dust - 10.8 to 34.0 mg/cu m Respirable dust - 0.8 to 2.6 mg/cu m
3.1 to 9.7 w
Sanding of Joints from 5 dry powders and 5 pr*-n'res
Worker exposure (breathing zone):
Total dust - 72.5 to 244.4 mg/cu m Respirable dust - 1.5 to 5.6 mg/cu m
2.4 to 15.0 , *
General area exposure:
Total dust - 27.7 to 136.7 mg/cu m
4.0 to 15.0
Respirable dust - 4.4 to 23.0 mg/cu m
0.7 to 5.0
* net calculable because samples too small to analyze for free silica content needed
for the calculation. Respirable dusts are specific size fractions of the total
dust.
,
** The OoHA limit amounts vary' because they are dependent on the amount cf silica present.
NOTE?:
1) There res no significant difference among dust levels generated by sending joints which used dry powder compounds versus those which used premix com pounds .
2) No one par.ufacturar's product was significantly closer to complying with OSKA limits than were the others.
3) It is said that the individual worker is unlikely to have more than 2 hrs. direct exposure to mixing or sanding each workday.
PLTF 0496
SUMMfiy OF GYPSUM ASSOCIATION REPORTS
second report
November 1973 tests - Siliceous Dusts
Mixing of two dry powder joist compounds Worker exposure (breathing 2Cne): Total dust - 11.7 end 33.8 mg/cu m Respirable dust - <8.5 and 6.9 mg/cu m
8 hr TKA OSHA Limit **
*
#
General area exposure:
Total dust - 121.6 and 98.3 mg/cu n
6.7 and 5.4
Respirable dust - 13.8 and 12.2 mg/cu. m
1.3 and *
Sanding of joints from 2 dry powders
Worker exposure (breathing zone):
Total dust - 109.5 and 196.3 mg/cu m Respirable dust - 3.3 and 2.0 mg/cu m General area exposure:
8.8 and 5.C
# \
Total dust - 96.4 and 76.5 mg/cu a
8.3 and 4.0
Respirable du3t - 14.6 and 7.6 mg/cu m
3.3 and 1.9
Sanding of joints from 2 premixes
Worker exposure (breathing zone):
Total dust - 69.2 and 87.3 mg/cu m Respirable dust - 3.9 and 6.4 mg/cu m
9.4 and 10.0 *
General area exposure:
'
Total dust - 54.9 and 91.3 mg/cu a
5.6 and 1.5
Respirable dust - 4.9 and 7.9
* and 3-1
* Not calculable because samples too small to analyze for free silica content needed for the calculation.
** The OSHA limit amounts vary because they are dependent on the amount of silica present.
NCTZ: 1) It is said that the individual worker is unlikely to have sore than 2 hr=. direct exposure to mixing or sanding each workday.
PLTF 049?
w
SUIMARY OF GYPSUM ASSOCIATION REPORTS
THIRD REPORT
November 1973 testa - Asbestos Boat (fibers longer than 5 micrometers)
QSHA Standard - continuous exposure
5 fibers/cc
QSHA Standard - peak exposure
10 fibers/cc
Worker exposure (breathing zone):
Mixing: 1st dry compound
2nd dry compound
Sanding:
10 min, samples
avg
1st dry compound
2nd dry compound
A.A fibers/cc
1st premix
4.2
2nd premia
10.8
31.A fibers/cc
7.6 fibers/cc
30 min, samples
aliquoted 4 redeposited
39.4 fibers/cc
14.8
11.1
,
9.7
6 of 13 sanding tests (10 min. samples) indicated concentrations in excess of 5 fibers.
2 of 13 sanding teats (10 min. samples) indicated concentrations in excess of 10 fibers.
NOTV;
It is said that the individual worker is unlikely to h/tve more than 2 hrs. direct exposure to mixing or sanding each workday.
PLTF 0498
RESULTS OF TEST WITH KCC COMPOUNDS 3T UNION' C..H5IDE Asbestos Dust (fibers longer t-i^n 5 micrometers)
Worker exposure (breatM^g zone): Mixing joint compound with drill Muring finishing cctspcund with potato masher Sending joint done with Premi" Topping Ssndtnff joint done with Pr*m',v EUal Purpose Sanding joint donewith Fin'tshing Cum^ound
fibers/cc 54.6 66.5 4.3 1.1 2.8
NOTE: Since in no case the sampling time was longer than 2 minutes, these datanshould be used only as general guides to indicate gross relative differences.
1
/
/ PLTF 0499
3^ i |
' . SOMMARY OF GYPSUM ASSOCIATION REPORTS
*-
*
FIRST REPORT
t
*
*'
.. ' .
'
September 1973 tests - Siliceous Dusts (asbestos dust data not reliable)
. Mixing, of 5 dry powder joint compounds
'
Worker exposure (breathing zone):
8. hr TWA OSHA Limit **
Total dust - 8.9 to 21.6 mg/cu m
Respirable dust - 1.3 to 9.1 mg/cu m
General area exposure: '
Total dust - 10.8 to 34.0 mg/cu m Respirable dust - 0.8 to 2.6 mg/cu m
3.1 to 9.7 *
Sanding of joints from 5 dry powders and 5 premixes
Worker exposure (breathing zone):
Total dust - 72.5 to 244.4 mg/cu m Respirable dust - 1.5 to 5.6 mg/cu m
2.4 to 15.0 w
General area exposure:
Total dust - 27.7 to 136.7 mg/cu m
4.0 to 15.0
Respirable dust - 4.4 to 23.0 mg/cu m
0.7 to 5.0
* not calculable because samples too small to analyze for free silica content needed for the calculation. Respirable dusts are specific size fractions of the total dust.
** The OSHA limit amounts vary because they are dependent on the amount of silica present.
NOTES:
1) There was no significant difference among dust levels generated by sending joints which used dry powder compounds versus those which used premix com pounds.
2) No one manufacturer's product was significantly closer to complying with OSHA limits than were the others.
3) It is said that the individual worker is unlikely to have more than 2 hrs. direct exposure to mixing or sending each workday.
W1S100102-0259
'- SUMMARY OF GYPSUM ASSOCIATION REPORTS
*-r^r,1. *
MKI :
--1 ` r 1/
.SECOND. REPORT '.
.`
.
November 1973'testa - Siliceous Dus.ts
..
Mixing of two dry powder joint compounds Worker'exposure {breathing zone):
.
8 hr TWA OSHA Limit **
'* Total dust - 11.7 and 33.8 mg/cu m
-
Respirable dust - <8.5 and 6.9 mg/cu m
-*
General area exposure:
. Total dust - 121.6 and 98.3 mg/cu m
6.7 and 5.4
Respirable dust - 13.8 and 12.2 mg/cu m
1.3 and *
Sanding of joints from 2 dry powders
.Worker exposure (breathing zone):
' Total dust - 109.5 and 196.'3 mg/cu m Respirable dust - 3.3 and 2.0 mg/cu m
'
8.8 and 5.0 *
General area exposure:
Total duet - 96.4 and 76.5 mg/cu m
8.3 and 4.0
Respirable dust - 14.6 and 7.6 mg/cu m
3.3 and 1.9
Sanding of joints from 2 premixes
**
Worker exposure (breathing zone):
Total dust - 69.2 and 87.3 mg/cu m Respirable dust - 3*9 and 6.4 mg/cu m
9.4 and 10.0 *
General area exposure:
'
Total dust - 54.9 and 91.3 mg/cu m
5.6 and 1.5
Respirable dust - 4.9 and 7.9
* and 3.1
* Not calculable because samples too small to analyze for free silica content needed for the calculation.
** The QSHA limit amounts vary because they are dependent on the amount of silica present.
NOTE: 1) It is said that the individual worker is unlikely to have more than 2 hrs, direct exposure to mixing or sanding each workday.
WIS100102-0260
SUMMARY OF GYPSUM ASSOCIATION REPORTS
THIRD REPORT
'
*1
.
November 1973 testa - Asbestos Euat (fibers longer than 5 micrometers)
OSHA Standard - continuous exposure
5 fibers/cc
OSHA Standard - peak exposure
10 fibers/cc
ter exposure (breathing zone):
Mixing: 1st dry compound
'
2nd dry compound
Sanding:
10 min. S8mnles
' avg
1st dry compound 2nd dry compound
--r,. 4.4 fibers/cc
' 1st premix 2nd premix
. 4*2 10.8
.
31.4 fibers/cc
7,6 fibers/cc 30 min. samoles
A
aliquoted & redeposited
39.4 fibers/cc
14.8 11.1
'
. 9.7
6 of 13 sanding tests (10 min. samples) indicated concentrations in excess of 5 fibers.
2 of 13 sanding teats (10 min. samples) indicated concentrations in excess
of 10 fibers.
NOTE:
l) It is said that the individual worker is unlikely to have more than 2 hrs. direct exposure to mixing or sanding each workday.
WIS100102-0261
V RESULTS OF TEST WITH KGC COMPOUNDS BY UNION CARBIDE
Asbestos rust (fibers longer than 5 micrometers)
Worker exposure (breathing tons): Mixing Joint compound with drill mixer Mixing finishing compound with potato masher Sanding joint done with Preaiz Topping Sanding joint done with Premia: Duel Purpose Sanding Joint done with Finishing Compound
fibers/cc 54.6 66.5 4.3 1.1 2.8
MQIE:
Since in no case the sampling time was longer than 2 minutes, these dataashould be used only as general guides to indicate gross relative differences.
WIS100102-0262