Document e5XRb3w9moqQeNgvypnqO1N49

A sb e sto s Inform ation Association/North America 22 East 40th Street New York, N. Y. 10016 212-689-3378 October 24, 1972 TO: AIA/NA Executive Committee Gentlemen: Attached is the first draft of a proposed AIA/NA "Employee Safety & Health Guide" on asbestos. The purpose of the G u i d e , which w o u l d be printed in booklet form, is to inform asbestos industry employees of the basic facts about asbestos- health and also about employer responsibilities under the OSHA regulations. The main reasons why I am proposing such a booklet at this time are as follows: 1. T h e IU D is l a u nching a p r o g r a m (the M ount Sinai seminar in late November is the first step) to inform employees throughout the industry of the health hazards of asbestos and how to best use OSHA to assure compliance with the standards. There is little doubt that the IUD will paint a very black picture of the health situation and of the industry's supposed lack of concern for its employees, and will encourage local unions to constantly search out even minor infractions of the regulations for reporting to OSHA, as well as to press for strict observance of all employee health rights granted under the law. In my opinion, it is essential that we get to our employees first with the facts about asbestoshealth, and about OSHA, rather than to permit the IUD to present its highly distorted, anti-industry "information" unchallenged. 2. O n e o f the m a j o r a r g u m e n t s v o i c e d b y both Tony Mazzochi and Dr. Selikoff at the Lyon c o n f e r e n c e for' g r e a t e r u n i o n p a r t i c i p a t i o n in medical and other meetings on asbestos-health .............................. ...... ' '* j^ j^ ive^ stegs^ EXHIBIT i. -2- to inform its employees of the hazards of asbestos and was, in fact, trying to keep these facts hidden from its workers. Thus, in principle, a booklet of this nature would have the support of the IUD and of Dr. Selikoff. It would also be an effective refutation of their charges that the industry is doing nothing to inform its employees. 3. O S H A has on mor e t han on e o c c a s i o n v o i c e d its contention that industry should provide employees i with as much information as possible on occupational health hazards, and that OSHA w o u l d l ook favorably o n an y i n d u s t r y that did so. In my opinion, it would be a serious error on our part to continue to hold the belief that our employees are, for the most part, unaware of the asbestos-health problem and are not . going to find out about it unless we tell them. I think we L must face up to the fact that employees in all areas of the asbestos industry are becoming increasingly aware of the ( situation and are going to become better and better informed i as the IUD and other medical-labor informational programs get into full swing. The point is simple: If we don't inform our employees, somebody else will! I am fully aware that one of the major industry fears with regard to providing employees with facts on asbestos-health 1 is that this would result in a great increase in workman's compensation claims. While there may be some validity in this argument, think for a moment how many claims there would ( be if the IUD and Dr. Selikoff were permitted to present their [ estimate of the health situation to employees without any refutation by the industry. One of the major problems that can be anticipated in any 1 industry sponsored informational program for employees is the question of credibility. Will employees believe what we tell them? or will they consider the contents of the booklet to be nothing but a pack of industry lies and misinformation? Because of this credibility problem, it is essential that the booklet not be a propaganda piece, but it must be as factual and irrefutable as we can possibly make it. For this reason, for example, I have'eliminated all but a passing reference to industry efforts in controlling dust levels and have instead c o n c e n t r a t e d o n t h e i n d u s t r y ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s to -its employees under OSHA. Hopefully, the employees will come to the conclusion that if the industry is willing'to tell t h e m what the law requires, the industry is, in fact, planning to obe y the law. 000182 -V Mity As another example, I have avoided the subject of what is a safe dust level by emphasizing that the reduction of dust exposures to as low a level as is technically possible is universally accepted as the best way of preventing disease. To argue about dust levels would give the impression that the industry wants to do as little as possible, and is looking for excuses to avoid doing more. To have this booklet be credible to the majority of workmen, it is essential that we avoid points of controversy with the IUD and Dr. Selikoff as much as possible, and also that it contain information of value and use to the employee. Yo u w i l l noti c e in the draft that considerable attention is paid to the use of finished asbestos-containing products. As we are all aware, there is much misinformation being circulated as to the safety of such products. This booklet can, hopefully, also be used by our customers to help allay the fears of their workers. Because the IUD-Mount Sinai seminar is a mere five weeks away, I believe it is essential that we proceed as rapidly as possible with the production and distribution of this booklet. Of course, no member company has to make use of this booklet if, in its opinion, the disadvantages of using it outweigh the advantages. Nevertheless, for those companies that will find it useful, speed is essential.' I would appreciate, therefore, receiving your comments on it as soon as possible. Once the Executive Committee has agreed on a final draft, we will then send it out to the member companies for final approval. Sincerely, Matthew M. Swetonic Executive Secretary Enclosure 000183 WHAT YOU HEED TO KNOW ABOUT ASBESTOS E m p lo ye e S a f e t y fc H e a lt h G u id e In tro d u c tio n I f you a re an employe engaged i n th e M ining, M an u factu rin g , o r ha nd! 1ng and fa b ric a tio n o f asb esto s and asb esto s-co n tain in g products t th ere are c e r ta in f a c te concern in g the p o te n tia l h e a lth hazards a f a s b e s ta s and what t o do a b o u t th e n t h a t you sh o u ld know*. The purpose f t h i s b o o k let i s to pro v id e you w ith in fo rm atio n on what these h a z a rd s a r e , w h e th e r y e u r jo b i s a f f e c t e d , what law s e x i s t t e p r o te c t workmen, and what you c an do t o p r o te c t y o u r own h e a lt h and t h a t o f y o u r fe llo w employees*. H ealth F acts About Asbestos I t i s a g en erally accepted fa c t th a t the in h alatio n o f excessive q u an tities f fre e a sb e sto s f ib e r can in crease an employee's r is k o f developing c e rta in d is e a s e s a f th e lu n g , in c lu d in g a s b e s to s is , bronchogenic can cer and Mesothelioma, Because i t ta k e s many y e a rs fo r a s b e s to s - r e l a te d i l l n e s s t o show up i n an in d iv id u a l, th e d is e a s e b ein g found to d a y among lo n g -term a s b e s to s in d u s try em ployees i s a r e s u l t o f c o n d itio n s t h a t e x i s t e d 20 e r 30 y e a r s a g e , a t a time idler, n e i t h e r t h e m e d ic al p r o f e s s io n n o r th e in d u s tr y knew v e ry much a b eu t th e h e a lth e f f e c t s e f a sb e s to s o r th e p ro p e r means f o r t h e i r c o n tr o l. While th e re a re d iffe re n c e s e f o p in io n w ith in th e m edieal p ro fe ssio n concerning: Many a s p e c ts e f t h i s problem , i t i s u n iv e r s a ll y a c c e p te d t h a t d u s t l e v e l s in the w orkplace s h o u ld be k e p t a s low a s modern te ch n o lo g y can p o s s ib ly a ch ie v e * At th e p r e s e n t tim e , th e re d u c tio n o f d u s t l e v e l s i s th e o n ly known method e f p re v e n tin g th e s e d is e a s e s among exposed workmen* E x p erien ce h as shewn t h a t when dust le v e ls are lew , the incidence e f these diseases drops sharply. Q Q Q ^ ^ I t has a lso been proven th a t heavy asb esto s exposure g re a tly in creases the r i s k o f lu n g c a n c e r from c i g a r e t t e sm oking, b u t t h a t a s b e s to s in d u s tr y workmen who da n e t awoke c i g a r e t t e s have no g r e a t e r r i s k e f lu n g c a n c e r th a n th e average e n -c m -th e -s tre e t who does n o t awoke* I s My Job H azardous? As a g e n e r a l r u l e ,. m ost em ployees engaged i n th e m ining and mi3,l i n g o f aab eatee fib e r , e r in the m anufacturing o f ash esto e-co n tain in g products: w ill be exposed fce some q u a n tity o f a irb o rn e a s b e s to s f i b e r i n t h e i r jo b s . I n p ro p e rly c o n tro lle d p la n ts and s i n e s , th e s e l e v e l s w i l l be e x tre m e ly low,* I n im p ro p erly o r u n c o n tro lle d o p e r a tio n s , th e l e v e l s may be d an g ero u sly h ig h . H ost m an u factu rin g p la n ts i n the in d u s tr y a re now o r soon w i l l be p ro p e rly c o n tro lle d * . The i n s t a l l a t i o n e r a p p lic a tio n e f a e s t f in is h e d a s b e s to s -c o n ta in in g p ro d u cts w ill not produce dust le v e ls high enough to be o f concern. In products such as v in y l-asb esto s flo o r t i l e and asbestos-cem ent sh eets and pipe, the asbestos i s s o lid ly locked in to th e product w ith cement,, p la s tic o r o th e r binders in ouch a manner t h a t th e f i b e r i s n o t e a s ily re le a s e d du rin g norm al hanrila ng and a p p lic a tio n . Some a s b e s to s - c o n ta in in g p ro d u c ts ,, how ever, su ch a s u n s a tu r a te d t e x t i l e s and most a sb e sto s in s u la tio n s , can re le a s e p o te n tia lly hazardous: amounts o f asbestos d u rin g h a n d lin g r f a b r i c a t i o n . T he t e a r - o u t o r rem oval o f Id a s b e s to s - c o n ta in in g in s u la tio n s can lik e w is e bo a v ery d u sty o p e ra tio n . These p ro d u cts m ust, th e re fo re ,, be handled w ith c a u tio n u sin g approved methods o f d u st su p p ressio n and c o n tro l to minimize' th e g e n e ra tio n o f a irb o rn e f ib e r . F o rtu n a te ly , only a v ery sm all percentage f th e asb esto s-co n tain in g products produced in the United S tates each year are capable o f re le asin g sizeab le q u a n titie s o f dust during handling or a p p lic a tio n . _________ _ . . ' ______ ... - . ; *' * *; ' n0Q l35 r - 3- I f you are unsure w hether th e product you are using i s capable o f producing p o te n tia lly hazardous amounts o f a sb e sto s d u s t, check th e c a rto n o r bag i n which th e p ro d u ct was shipped* M anufacturer* are re q u ire d by law to place a caution la b e l on a l l asbestos-containing products th a t re a d ily release high le v e ls o f f i b e r during handling o r a p p lic a tio n * The la b e l has been placed t h e r e f o r y o u r p r o te c tio n * Look f o r i t i f you a r e u n su re * I f you do n o t work d i r e c t l y w ith a s b e s to s o r a s b e s to s - c o n ta in in g p r o d u c ts , but work i n c lo s e p ro x im ity t o th e s e who d o , su ch a s on a c o n s tr u c tio n a i t e where a sb e sto s-co n ta in in g in s u la tio n s a re being a p p lie d , you should check to determine i f those products are being handled properly* I f they a re ,, i t i s highly unlikely th a t you w ill be exposed to p o te n tia lly unsafe le v e ls o f asbestos* I f proper p re c a u tio n s a re n o t b e in g ta k e n by e t h e r workmen on th e jo b s i t e , t h i s should be rep o rted to your employer o r union representative*. R e g u la tio n s On A sb e sto s On June 7 , 1972, th e O c c u p a tio n a l S a fe ty and H e a lth A d m in is tra tio n (OSHA) o f th e U nited S taten Department o f Labor issu ed occupational standards fo r exposure t e a s b e s to s d u st* These s ta n d a rd s have ene m ajor purpose -- t o p r o te c t you from ex p o su re t o p o t e n t i a l l y ham ardous am ounts ox a s b e s to s d u s t i n y o u r work,. The a s b e s to s s ta n d a r d s , a s th e y a r e commonly c a l l e d , c o n ta in many d e ta i le d req u irem en ts, however,, th e b a sic o b lig a tio n s placed on th e employer under- the standards can be sunned up as follow s t 1* The em ployer s h a ll m ain tain a h e a lth y w orkplace by y aking mure t h a t no employee i s exposed tb c o n c e n tra tio n s e f airb o rn e asbestos fib e r in excess e f established liad ts* 000186 The c u r r e n t OSHA l i m i t f o r ex p o su re t o a s b e s to s i s 5 f i b e r s , f iv e m icrons i n len g th o r lo n g er, p er cubic centim eter (cc) e f a ir as averaged over an 8-heur workday* A t no tim e may a n em ployee' s ex posure exceed 10 f i b e r s p e r cc* Inr. 197o th e 8 -h o u r a v e ra g e i s sch e d u le d t o be red u ced to two f i b e r s p err cm. A o ic re n i s a p p ro x im a te ly 1 / 2 5 ,OOOth o f a n in ch ,- and a c u b ic c e n tim e te r i s approxim ately 2* Where exposure lim it s a re exceeded* th e employee sh al l be n o tifie d i n w r iti n g f th e s i t u a t i o n by h ie em ployer and ha l l be informed f th e c o rre c tiv e m easures b eing u n dertaken t reduce h is exposure t a s a f e le v e l* 3* W hile c o rre c tiv e m easures a re being i n s t i t u t e d , th e employee s h a ll be p ro te c te d by o th e r means* auch as by the w earing o f an approved r e s p ir a to r p ro v id ed by h is em ployer o r by s h i f t ro ta tio n .- E n g in e e rin g c o n tr o ls and th e i n s t i t u t i o n o f s a f e wrk p r a c tic e s a re th e approved methods f co rrectio n * . 5* Sxe use o f r e s p ira to rs o r s h i f t ro ta tio n to achieve c o n tro l is n o t p e rm itte d e x c e p t (a ) d u rin g th e tim e n e c e s s a ry tao i n s t a l l a n g in e e rin g c o n tro ls r to i n s t i t u t e s a fe work p r a c tic e s ,, (b) in s itu a tio n s where such c o n tro ls o r p ra c tic e s a re n o t te c h n ic a lly fe a s ib le , e r (e) in emergencies* 6* N# employee s h a l l be a s s ig n e d t o a t a s k r e q u ir in g th e use f a r e s p i r a t o r i f h is most re c e n t y e a rly m edical vamt,nation in d ic a te s t h a t he would be u n ab le to fu n c tio n p ro p e rly w h ile w earing ne, o r i f th e w a r in g f a r e s p ir a to r would hazard th e employee*s h e alth r s a f e t y r t h a t f a n o th e r workman n th e job* 7* S p e c ia l p ro te c tiv e c lo th in g , change roeas and se p a ra te c lo th e s lo ck ersr s h a ll be provided f r employees in c e rta in situ atio n s* . 8* P e rs o n a l and environm ental m o n ito rin g f w orkplace a i r s h a ll be conducted by th e employer to assu re th a t th e stan d ard s are being met*. Employees s h a l l have a c c e s s to th e r e s u l t s o f th e m onitoring . s f t h e i r job* 9* Warning s ig n s s h a ll be p o sted i n a re a s where th e d u st le v e l i s in x cess o f the standard* 000187 -5- 10* C aution la b e ls a h u ll be placed an *beeto-centaining products th a t are lik e ly te re le ase free asbestos fib e r in excess f the standard during handling, ap p licatio n o r fabrication*. 11* The em ployer s h a l l p ro v id e y e a r ly M edical e x am in atio n s f o r employee exposed te co n cen tratio n s e f a sb esto s dust* Pre-employment and te rm in a tio n m edical exams a re a ls o required* 1 2 . At h i s r e q u e s t, an em ployee's m ed ical reco rd s, can be ssade a v a ila b le to h is fam ily physician* While th e e n tir e s e t o f a sb e sto s re g u la tio n s covers n e arly 4ft la rg e pages e f f i n e p r i n t , th e Twelve Key P o in ts l i s t e d above a re th e Most im p o rta n t ass f a r a s you,, th e employee,, i s concerned. S tanding behind th e working man, ready te enforce these re g u la tio n s , I s the O ccupational Safety and H ealth A dm inistration,, w ith in sp ecto rs and o ffic e s a l l acro ss the country* I f the standards are not b e in g m et, an y employee h a s th e r i g h t t o com plain t o OSHA and re q u e s t a government in s p e c tio n team t o i n v e s t i g a t e th e s i t u a t i o n * Employe nos who f a i l t e obey the re g u la tio n s a re s u b je c t to heavy fin e s* I t i s i n your b e s t i n t e r e s t t e knew your r i g h t s tender th e law and what o b lig a tio n y o u r em ployer h a s toward you* The Twelve Key P o in ts l i s t e d above sh o u ld help*. What Can I Do? I n d u s t r i a l s a f e ty and h e a lth can n ev er be o n ly one p e rso n 's re s p o n s ib ility * Both om ployer and employe Must work to g e th e r t o p ro v id e a s a f e and h e a lth y working environment*. In c e r ta in segments o f th e c o n stru ctio n in d u stry , fo r example, very d e ta ile d work p ra c tic e s w ill have to be in s titu te d to assu re compliance w ith th e re g u la tio n s * As a n em ployee, i t w i l l be y o u r d u ty to fo llo w th e se work p r a c t i c e s a t a l l tim e s , and n o t ta k e s h o r t c u ts t h a t s a y en d an g er your* own h e a lth and t h a t o f o th e r workmen on th e jo b a w e ll a s p o s sib ly s u b je c t your employer- ,000188 ' *1> ; - 6- t an unnecessary fine*. F ar an o th er example r i f you r p o te n tia l hazard th a t y o u r em ployer may h a re overlooked*. p o in t i t o u t t a him f o r c o rre c tio n * Only i f ha continuously ignores obviously hazardous situ a tio n s a r refu ses to correct th e s sh o u ld you re p o rt! th e v i o l a t i o n t o OSHA. Remember* compliance? w ith the re g u la tio n s w ill be extrem ely d i f f i c u l t and very expensive i n w a y segments o f the industry* In the in te re s t of saving jebs as v e il a s assuring a h ealth y ' w orkplace, in d u s try and la b o r must work to g e th e r to so lv e t h e i r Mutual problems* A sbestos and Smoking On page 2 o f t h i s booklet* , i t van p o in te d o u t t h a t smoking c i g a r e t t e s g r e a tly in c re a s e s-' th e r i s k o f lu n g c a n c e r among employees? exposed t o e x c e s siv e q u a n titie s f a s b e s to s d u st* S t a t i s t i c s show t h a t lo n g t e r a , h e a v ily exposed a sb e sto s i n s u l a t i o n w o rk ers who smoke c i g a r e t t e s have a 92 tim e s g r e a t e r r i s k o f developing lu n g c a n c e r th a n t h e i r fe llo w w orkers who do n o t smoke* I n fa c t* i f you do no t smoke c i g a r e t t e s , even i f you have been exposed to e x c e ssiv e c o n c e n tra tio n s o f a s b e s to s d u st f o r 20 o r more y e a rs ,, you have no g r e a te r chance o f g e ttin g lung c a n c e r th a n th e a v e ra g e m a n -o n -th e -s tre e t who d o es n o t smoke* The ad v ice o f m edical s p e c i a l i s t s on t h i s m a tte r i s sim ple t I f you work w ith r a sb e s to s and smoke c ig a r e tte s * q u itl- I f you work w ith a sb e sto s and do not smoke* don't s t a r t * r Summary 000189 A sbestos can be a hazardous substance i f in h a le d i n s u f f ic ie n t q u a n titie s* There i s a re c o g n iz e d n eed t o keep d u s t l e v e l s a s low mat p o s s ib le f o r exposed workers* The a s b e s to s in d u s tr y i s w orking h a rd to ach iev e co n tro l* . The v a s t m a jo rity o f . f in i s h e d a s b e s to s - c o n ta in in g p ro d u c ts a r e n o t h azard o u s t o u se o r handle* The O ccupational S afety and H ealth A dm inistration has issued re g u la tio n s to p ro tect : o. * American workmen f r e a exposure t o he a ry c o n c e n tra tio n s o f a s b e s to s d u s t, ? iia > th e se re g u la tio n s work p ro p e rly , th e co o p eratio n o f both employer and x p le y e e i s e s s e n t i a l . A sb esto s w orkers sh o u ld n o t smoke c i g a r e t t e s . Far A d d itio n a l o r Here D e ta ile d In fo rm a tio n Or For A dditional Copies o f This Booklet C o n tact The A sb esto s In fo rm a tio n A ss e c ia tio n /K o rth America* Suite l6 ll 22 F a s t Aoth S t r e e t Kew Y ork, N.Y, 10016 PHONEt (212) 689-3378 r il Vt , f.-i f 000190