Document daaZQZXV1eJXj3anKR89w4bZq

Fhom G. DV DICKSON INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE July 2, 1948 To DR. LESTER V. CRALLEI n PITTSBURGH OFFICE NEW KENSINGTON RESEARCH LABORATORIES RE: SAFETY CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT AL-1298 You have previously been advised of the Company's Standardization of Stores Material program and in particular that section dealing with safety clothing and equipment known as Employee Sales Classification #22. The final list of approved items carried under classification #22 was released April 9, 1948 to all storekeepers who were asked to review their stocks and report any deviation from the approval list to Mr. Bradshaw. This procedure has been followed and to date we have experience relatively few deviations. One in particular which we wish to call your attention to is respiratory protective equipment. The final approved list of respirators included the following types: Hazard Make of Respirator Mfgr.Catalog No. Metal Fume Respirator M.S.A. Comfo. Pneumoconiosis Producing and Nuisance Dusts American Optical Toxic Dusts American Optical All Dusts M.S.A. Dustfoe (Pneumoconiosis-Producing &Nuisance Dusts plus Toxic Dusts) Mist M.S.A. Comfo Organic Vapors (PaintSpraying) M.S.A. ChemicalCargridge (Indicates revision in catalog number) CR-44752 * A0-R-9100 A0-R-9100T CM-46I62 * CR-44752 CR-44158 All of the above respirators are approved by the Bureau of Mines for the specific hazards listed. For example. Fume Type Respirators are approved for protection against the inhalation of solid dispersoids or particulate matter formed by the condensation of vapors such as those from heated metals and other substances. Pneumoconiosis-Producing and Nuisance Dust Type Respirators are approved for protection against inhalation of pneumoconiosis (silicosis and asbestosis) i' * producing dusts, such as free silica and asbestos; and nuisance dusts 916286 0620 July 2, 1948 -2such as free silica and asbestos; and nuisance dusts such as aluminum, cellulose, cement, coal, coke, gypsum, limestone, and wood. Toxic Dust Type Respirators are approved for protection against inhalation of toxic or piosonous dusts, such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, manganese, selenium, vanadium and their compounds* All Dust Type Respirators are approved for protection against inhalation of all dusts - pneumoconiosis producing and nuisance dusts plus toxic dusts* Mist Type Respirators are approved for protection against inhalation of pneumoconiosis-producing, chromic acid and nuisahce mistsi Organic Vapor Type Respirators are approved for protection against inhalation of organic vapors of concentrations not exceeding 0i percent by volume, such as acetone, alcohol, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, ether, formalde hyde, gasoline, petroleum distillates and toluene* For paint spraying operations this type respirator will afford protection against inhalation of the paint vehicle. An auxiliary paper screen is recommended to filter out the pigment. The list of respirators selected and approved for the standardiza tion program was determined (l) oh the basis of Bureau of Mines approval and (2) on the popular choice of such approved equipment in use at our plants* 1/e have leafned from the Otters received from storekeepers listing deviations from the standard approved list of respirators, that some ' locations have experienced difficulty ih conforming to the approved list. They report that employees have refused td use the approved equipment, claiming it to be uncomfortable, heavy and annoying* They prefer instead to wear the old style gauze masks or other unapproved {i*e.. not approved by the Bureau of Mines) respirators which they have been accustomed to using in the past. In some cases the preference is for other makes of respirators which have the Bureau of Mines-approval.. Where the preference is for other ftireau of Mines' approved respirators, we have and will promptly 916286 0621 July 2, 1948 -3- okay it as an equivalent item. However, we are opposed to the use of the old style gauze mask or respirator not approved by the Bureau of lines. We urge you to exert your influence to persuade the employees to adopt the use of Bureau of Mines approved respirators. We recognize the diffi culty of converting people to the use of a new type respirator, particularly when it i3 not as comfortable as the type they have been wearing. It is more difficult when any mandatory stand by the Company precipitates a controversy. It is a problem that we believe can be solved by patience and persuasion. It is a problem which rests directly with Management and one which will require tactful handling. Yfe have a twofold objective, (l) to provide adequate protection against health hazards and (2) to afford the Company maximum defense against fraudulent disability compensation claims. As an illustration of how this problem might be approached we cite the case at one of our locations where exposure to a chemical product . necessitated a complete change of clothing and a shower following the day's work. Employees objected to this requirement and refused to cooperate with Management. Their union committee was asked to attend a meeting for a discussion of the subject and were tactfully told that a health hazard existed if employees wore their clothes home from work and if they failed to bathe following this exposure. When the seriousness of the situation was presented in a business like manner and was fully understood and appre ciated by the union committee and employees, their attitude changed and the problem was solved. The significant point was, that when the employees were informed and recognized the merits of the program they cooperated. 7e believe in the case of approved respiratory equipment they will also cooper ate if we use the correct approach 916286 0622 July 2, 1948 As a possible aid in selling the Bureau of Hines approved respirators to employees at your location, we recommend the Mine Safety Appliances' 16 mm. sound motion picture, "The Air We Breathe." This film produced by the Wilding Pictures, Inc. is dramatically staged with professional talent and should be an excellent medium of selling our people on the use of approved respirators. Should you wish to borrow this film, contact your nearest M.S.A. representative or write this office and we shall arrange to borrow it for you. G. D. DICKSON GDD:mp Same letter to all Works Managers Safety Supervisors District Purchasing Agents Storekeepers Copies to Dr. D. A. Irwin Dr. L. V. Cralley Mr. A. R. Hamilton 91628$ 0623 Prom INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE C. L. BRADSHAW To PITTSBURGH OFFICE February 9, 1%6 f. RB: DISPOSAL OF FLUORESCENT LAMPS The attached article which recently came to ay attention suggests a potential hazard that had hot occurred to me. In 'view of the large amount of fluorescent lighting in use in our plants today, the disposal of old laape might constitute a serious health hazard unless proper precautions were taken in the disposal of such lamps. CLB:mp Same letter to all Safety Directors Attach. C. L. BRADSHAW V 916286 0624 DISPOSAL OF FUJORESCaiT LAMPS Fluorescent lamps are coated on the inside with a powder called a phosphor or fluorescent powder. The formulas used for phosphors 'vary con- ? siderably, but all contain beryllium in amounts ranging from a few tenths of a percent to approximately four percent. Some phosphors have been known to contain as much as 12 percent beryllium, but this is the exception rather than the rule. As was reported in. consultation sheet IH-198, a large number of deaths and cases of illness have occurred among workers in certain beryllium using industries. As far as is known, there have been no ill effects among workers exposed to phosphors when breaking bumed-out fluorescent lamps. However, in view of the nature of the beryllium problem and the possibility that some industrial plants may accumulate large numbers of bumed-out lamps, it is deemed important to dispose of the lamps in a manner which will result in a minimum of exposure to the fluorescent powder dusts. At the present time we have no quantative data to serve as a yardstick to measure the hazard from breathing dusts from fluorescent coatings. In other words, we do not know how effective ventilation or other controls need to be to prevent illness due to exposure to phosphor dusts. V/hile certain fluorescent lamp manufacturers suggest that general precautions be taken when disposing of fluorescent lamps, standard methods have not been developed for this operation. For these reasons, the following procedures for the disposal of burned out fluorescent lamps are suggested as tentative methods of minimizing exposures to phosphor dustst A. Breaking of small numbers of fluorescent lamps intermittently. 1. Break out of doors in waste disposal area or in waste container. 2. Avoid breathing dusts of the fluorescent powders. 3. Full protection goggles should be worn during the breaking process. B, Breaking of large numbers of fluorescent lairp3 either intermittently or regularly. 1. Break lamps out of doors in waste disposal area or in waste container. Operator should be supplied with, and required to wear, a respirator approved by the Uhited States Bureau of Mines for toxic dusts (See Consultation Sheet IH-122) b. Ultimate disposal of the broken lamps should be such that the public and others will not be unduly ex posed to the powders. c. Full-protection goggles should be worn during the breaking process. 916286 0626 -2- d. Under no circumstances should lamps be broken inside an industrial plant -without following pre cautions listed under 2, 3 and 4 below. 2. Break lamps in an isolated room used for this purpose only; a. Lamp breaking should be done in a hood of such design as to minimize\ihe escape of DhosDhor dusts. b. Sufficient exhaust ventilation should be applied to the hood to provide air intake of at least 300 linear feet per minute at the face. c. EUll-orotection goggles should be worn during the breaking process. d. Good housekeeping should be practiced ab all txmea. 3. Break lamps in a container under water. a. Disposal of sludge and broken glass should be done in the wet state. - b. Good housekeeping should be practiced at all times. 4. Place lamps in incinerator or furnace and allow glass and powders to fuse into a clinker. Probably this can best be done by placing lamps on a fire vhich is allowed to burn out and cool. Disposal of the clinker should be done immediately upon removal. a. Avoid allowing clinkers to accumulate. b. Avoid breaking of lamps before placing on fire. c. Good housekeeping should be practiced at all times. The above suggested methods of disposing of burned-out fluorescent lamps are tentative and they may be revised as additional information on the beryllium problem becomes available. If and when new methods of fluorescent lamp disposal are developed, or standard procedures are adopted, the above will be revised accordingly. 916286 0626 0. D. DXCK9QS nnsanoi omat January 29, 1947 TO: DR. L. V. CRALLSY N. K. RESEARCH LABORATORIES RSI RESPIRATOR - PAIBT SPRAlgC 0PBATIDM3 Ihoii of jo# to whon toll latter lo addressed havi io||Mtd an additional respirator, adsfAed for paint spraying operations, to be added to the Hot of safety equipment as set op for the plant stores standardisation program* j Tear suggestions have bean referredto Dr. Crilley for an opinion aa to the most satisfactory respirator available for this 1exposure. He has '1 recommended the U.S.A. shaolcal cartridge respirator CH-44158 and replaceable cartridge CR-JJ&& for this purpose* This la the only knoun respirator approved .. \\ by th^ Bureau of Hines for organic fuses, vapors, and gapes and this approval is only for concentrations which do not exceed 1000 parts far million, fines it is highly inprobable that our exposure would exceed the Critical limit we '\ have included this respirator on the Hat which has bean turned over to the Purchasing Department. . \ '\ The imeediate question as to whal <kur policy should be with respiet to present respirators of this ttype--*bi* are not approved Is s matter for looal decision. ill fhturo^nrahaooo of this typo of respirator should bo in accordance with ths Purehosing Department's Standardized list. ODDimp Same letter to R. U. Brown - Mobile A. A. Harrison - Vancouver K. J. Hulligan - E. St. Louis Copies tot Dr. L. V. Cralley - Research Hr. Thomas Parsons - Pgtu 0. D. 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O^LU.i^iAift y>, ^ -mTdT > i 4- _ SPECIFICATIONS FOR STANDARD SAFETY EQUIPMENT Foot Guards - Aluminum Alloy 5i" width - Trade Name - Sanky #200 " " combination) ,, ,, ^00 Foot and Shin Guard ) Sweat Bands Trade Name - Dry Brow Hand Cream Trade Name - Pro-Tek (Dupont Froduct) #1 and #2 Ear (Defender) Protectors - Trade Name - Ear Defender - Mine Safety Applianc Respirators ' . Nuisance dusts - American Optical - Cat. No. A0-R-9100 Toxic dusts - American Optical - 11 " A0-R-9100T Fumes - M.S.A. - Conio. " CR-17060 Gas Mask 11.S.A. All Service Gas Mask - Burrell Type " " Canister - EA-3107 Sleeves 18" length - chrome leather sleeve 18" " - Acid proof rubber sleeve Hand Pads Size 6" 6" - Open back style with or without wrist tie made of asbestos. - Hand Leathers Size 7" x 9" - Oval style, hand slit 'with safety catch, made of chrome leather. . Hard Hats. One size only, adjustable leather cradle, aluminum alloy, full brim. Aprons Size 24" x 48" " 24" x 36" " 24" x 36" Regular style (no split leg) -Acid Proof Rubber "" " "" "" Chrome Leather Spats Ankle and Shin Length - Chrome leather with flares Face Shield Jackson Face Shield - Type CH-5, including headgear, spark deflector and full binding - clear shield size 3" x 11" Jackson - Type CH-3, including headgear and full binding dark green shield - size 8" x 11" 916286 0629 From G. D. DICKSON INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE To ^PITTSBURGH tlFFICE RE: SAFETY-CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT October 9, 1946 O' :: 3 o You will recall our letter of June 13 to which was attached a copy of a letter addressed to Mr. Bradshaw from Mr. Parsons of the Pittsburgh Purchasing Department. In Mr. Parson's letter he explained a program undertaken by his department to prepare a companywide Standard Catalog of all Store Material and requested our assitance in standardizing safety equipment in cooperation with this program. After considerable study of safety equipment now in use at our plants, which you reported in line with our request of June 13, we have pre pared the attached list of safety equipment which is submitted for your suggestions and comments. In addition, we have prepared a separate list on safety goggles which shall be submitted at a later date. Such items as safety apparel and other miscellaneous gear have been omitted from the attached because of the varying conditions and peculiar hazards not common to all the plants throughout the Company. Aside from three or four hazardous occupations which require special types of gloves, we have decided to ask the Purchasing Department to contact the plant storekeeper and determine glove requirements on the basis of operating practices at the various locations. GDD:mp Same letter to all Safety Directors G. D. DICKSON 916286 0630 m v .'* -This copy fo r D r. L. V. C ralley (N .N .0.0.) 916286 0631 916286 0632