Document dYwe4zZ67r1k3KobE9zXY63pe

FILE NAME Brand Insulations BIN DATE 1969 Apr 21 DOC BIN005 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION JM Respirator Study - Disposable Dust Mask Field Test %y MANYILLE RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING CENTER TILE TILE TILE DISPOSABLE DUST MASK FIELD TEST Memorandum Date M404-69 April +669 fterts, Feat oy Aa aye Bt iia RUE eet hd ae ta, eb. We PAE An job field test to determine veerer reaction to masks was conducted on April 8-9 at the construction our disposable dust Nuclear Power Station which is site of the Dresden Joliet Illinois The being built for Commonwealth Edison south of workers who tested the masks are members of the Asbestos Workers Union Local 7 Chicago and are employed by Brand Insule- tions Inc. a contractor for certain insulation work at the The test was arranged through the cooperation of Mr. J. McMahpaonwearppsrteanttiiocne training coordinator for Local 7 and Mr. M. Corbeil job superintendent for Brand Insulations Inc. The test Mr. D. Holaday of Mount Sinai was conducted by Dr. W. Nicholson and present to observe the test O. Reimschussel of Manville was . The attitude of the workers and the supervisors toward the test Most of the workers were was excellent conscientious about testing the masks and their evaluations were frank and honest the potentiel health hazards of They seem to be well informed regarding working with asbestos and other dusty materials and are interested in the development of a sultable dust mask Welshgardmasks they Presently many the men use Welshgardmasks Model 7200 - Canten These masks are made available to the men by the company although it is not mandatory that they be used The men claim that they are quite confortable However since they are reted for nuisance dusts it is doubtful that are very effective in filtering out respirable size dust A total of 108 mesks vere made for the test and included three different types Type A - masks fitted with exhalation without valves and Type C ~ placebos The valves Type B Rasks 36 men test the plan vas to have a group of masks each man was to try a different type on each of three successive days At the end of each day the men were to questionnaire in order to evaluate each complete a the others type mosk and compare one against against 36 because Actually the number of men participating was somewhat less than of absences etc. Also the test period for each mask wes reduced to half day insteed of a full day There were two reasons for shortening the test periods first e full work day consisted of 10 eech test period was 5 hours long and second by the middlbeouorfs thtehefrierfsotre morning when ve mede the rounds to obtain first comments from the it was apparent that as much information could be obtained in a men hr period as in hr period : on wt we It was learned from the first comments main problems or complaints regarding the desfigrn pom f thte hma ast k thOenre ewawserethetwo cbstruction of devavord vision It is difficult or impossible for can to see his feet when vearing the mask and this is vorking on scaffolds or catwalks partiqvierly dangerous when The other concerned the fit of the face piece especially cross the nose to give a good air zeal around the When faco the the mask was adjusted frame tended to tight sough Into the nose causing frritation pinch or dig A few men complained that PRODUCED JM - 83 a BA MT045489 pa ee R. Flynn 000006 . ee . MANVILLE RESEARCH rs AND ENGINEERING CENTER - * Memoranduin MI04-6 MI04-6 Page breach through their noses when the masks were properly adjusted Those wearing glasses had e speciel problen vhan the frame was adjusted ta cross the bridge of the nose the glasses were pushed out of the normal position The alternative vas to have the frame cross the lover part of the nose but besides making it more difficult to caused even more irritation or pinching of the obtain a nose good seal this Some other specific comments were 1. The top of the mask binds when the head is tilted backward This presents a problem when doing overhead work 2 There were some objections to the double strep arrangement a single strap would be preferred ~- 3. It is difficult to talk through the mask especially in noisy places 4. Wearing the mask ceused excessive sweating While there were some compleints about difficulties in breathing through the filters large breathing restrictions did not seem to be a problem Detailed wearer evaluations were recorded in the questionnaires mentioned above The completed questionneires are presently being reveived and analyzed by Mr. Holaday and Dr. Micholson and they are planning to send us a report which will summarize their findings and conclusions MB.C 14 CC Dr. George Wright St. Luke's Hospital Reimcchussel .. G. P. Reimcchussel F. b Pundsack S. Speil E. M. Fenner C. L. Sheckler J. P. Leineveber A. F. Burns G. P. Reimschussel Library 2 ReimschusselReimschusel JM PRODUCED R. Flynn 000007