Document e5Lvy2xyknda0Zz2KXoq7JGp4

FILE NAME: Asbestos Sacks and Bags (ASB) DATE: 1968 Apr 25 DOC#: ASB046 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Turner Newall Board Meeting - Asbestos & Health Progress Report j c c \ ! T u m o r A Mown I I U n i tid T ItB* 15(b) Asbestos and Health - Progress Report Quarter endud 31 at March 1968 1 tJ>^I>toj^r_Roj2uJjit_lon^ Mr. J. M. Atkinson ami Dr. 3. Holaea of T.D.A. atten ded at the Ministry of Labour on 6th April to discuss the Industry's comments (expressed In the Aabestoala Research Council's letter of 7th July 1967) on the preliminary draft Regulations. Useful progress was * made. The Ministry Is accepting several of the most Important submissions of the A.R.C. 2 . L U rijtu r The Asbestos Information Committee parnphl'*' 'A-hestos - Safety and Control' and the confidential .ml for asbestos Industry Solos Representatives 'Putting the Case for Asbestos' hove been published and circulated to all companies In the Croup. Publication la awaited dally of a report 'Hygiene Standards for Chryaotlle Asbestos Dust' prepared by a Sub-Committee of the British Occupational Hygiene Society, and based largely on data accuanilatad over the years in T.B.A's Rochdale Factory. This is to be used as a guide by the Ministry of Labour in connec tion with the now Regulations. 3. Speakers Panel The A.I.C. is building up a panel of speakers on asbestos who will be given proper training and briefing on health matters. A presentation waa successfully given to an audience of Yorkshire plant engineers in Leeds by an A.I.C. panel on 13th March. 6. Preaa Relatione and Advertising The Central Office of Information film on asbestos is expected to be distributed in May. Dr. A.F.L. Deeson was appointed by the A.I.C. aa a retained medical Journalist on an experimental basis for three months with effect from 1st March 1968, at a fee of 250 for the quarter plus a lineage of 30/-d. per hundred words published. An unfortunate American report published here on the pollution of the air by asbestos from cars' braking was countered in several provincial newspapers by a letter from the Secretary of the A.I.C. More press publicity can be expected on asbeetos and health during and after a Conferenoe on the subject which is being held in Dresden in the week of 22nd April. Contd T I c c 1 c * | ki :( ~v K ^ - 2- T 47 3 Tha flocks Tha London doekara ara atill refualng to hnndta any aort of aabaatoa aacopt In contnlnera. Tha Aabostoa Fibra laiportera Coaaalttoo and a rapraaentnt 1vo of tha A.I.C. ara abating aoon to <liacuaa a propoaat that the Unlona ba approached nfreah by tha A.I.F.C, dock employera and ahlpownera regarding a progrnima of con trolled trial ahlpaienta of aabaatoa fibre through London. Southampton, Hull and Liverpool are handling aabaatoa inpreaa-pnekad baga wrapped and atrappod on palleta. Newcaatlo, Glaagow, Monchoatar and Avonmouth are handling aabaatoa packed in impermeable baga with out palleta. Smaller porta, with the exception of Leith and Grangemouth, will handle aabaatoa In inpermeable baga, though aometlmee at exorbitant ratea. Crocldolite ia being imported only in Impermeable baga, wrapped and atrapped on palleta. Agreement haa been reached between the Aabeatoale Reaearch Council and the A.F.Z.C. on a draft Code of Practice for handling aabaatoa in the dooka. Printing will proceed, but publication la to be deferred pending the reault of the A.Z.C.-A.P.Z.C. meeting on the London altuatlon. 6. Architecture and Building When tha Brltlah Occupational Hygiene Society Report haa been publlahed it ahould be poaaible to relate the findinga of the A.R.C. Reaearch Committee, who are aponaorlng duat counta of occupied bulldinga, conatruotlon aitea and, in due courae, the urban atmoaphere, to tha B.O.H.S. Standarda. Zf the raaulta on tha two former are favourable, they will be oomoninleated to architeota by direct aail. Repreaentativea of the aabeatoa induatry who alt on Commltteea of the Brltlah Standarda Znatltution have been aakad to realat the incorporation in Brltlah standarda or prominent warnlnge on the dangera of inhaling aabeatoa duat. 7, Customers A questionnaire has been circulated to the salee forces of member companies of the A.Z.C. with a view to identifying the key health 'policy maker' in each of the nationalised undertakings and of 20k leading industrial companies. When the list ia available the A.Z.C. will consider calling a conference, prob ably In London in the Autumn, to be addressed by experts of the calibre of Dr. J. C. Gilson (Medical Reaearch Council) on the following subjectsi (a) Vhy Asbestos?, (b) The health risk in perspective, (o) Control of the risk, and (d) Industrial hygiene advisory services. This would follow the publication of the statutory draft of the now Aabeatoa Regulations. 8. arliamentarj 18 Members of Parliament attended a meeting at the House of Cossaone on 30th January at which an A.Z.C, Contd. i' - ^ f . % . t J J c pnnal explained tha aabaatoa industry's achievement anil policy on aabaatoa and health and anavnred M.P'a qiieationa. Tha panel received a favourable racep- * tlon and wee laipreaeod by the reaponalble end Informed approach of the M.P's praaent. 9* Civil Service It appoara that two interdepartmental neatInga have now taken place on aabaatoa and health, tha Hlniatrlea represented being Labour, Health, Housing and Local Government and Board of Trade. We have hearaay evi dence that tha alvll aervanta praaent expressed balanced vlewa, though we till undoratand that tha Factory Inapectornte era propoaing to circulate a H a t of aubatltutea for aabaatoa. Tha Mlnlatry of lloualng and Local Government circulated varloui bodlaa and companioa in the aabaatoa Industry on 9th January regarding the Dlapoaal of Aabaatoa Vaata. Representa tive or the A.Z.C., A.R.C. and tha Aabaatoa Association will In dua course be invited to a M a t i n g at the Ministry to discuss the contents of a questionnaire and the sample of the Industry to whoa It should be sent. 10. World Health Organisation Dr. Holmes, Secretary of the A.R.C., visited Copenhagen at the beginning of January and net Dr. Aage Orut, Director of the Danish Department of Occupational Health, and Mr. Ilomann Pedersen of the Elsinore Shipyard, who had circulated a memorandum damaging to asbestos to the Association of Danish Shipbuilders. Mr. Pedersen has subsequently circulated an addendum to his original report, recommending (a) alternatives to asbestos, where possible, for insulation, and (b) a framing system for aabaatoa - baaed bulkheade which eliminates the necessity for screwing and drilling. The A.I.C. have written to the Board of Trade drawing their attention to the damage which may be caused to the British asbestos industry's exports by irresponsible statements from officials of the World Health Organisation. 11. A.I.C. Ebroenaes Tiie expensea of the A.I.C. for December 1967 and January and February 1968 were as follows l- a. d. Hill A Knowlton staff time charges 3,282. 1. 8 Hill A Knowlton out-of-pocket expenses 909. 8.10 T.B.A.Co.Ltd. special expenses 60 Q. 0 3,851.10. 6 The T.A N.Ltd. share of these expenses amounted to 2 ,1 8 8 . 9 . J*d. JOHN VADDELL* A <3o J