Document e5aZZ36Rp7QgQy8Z2xNdLB86q

FILE NAME Painters and Allied Trades PAINT DATE 1974 Sept DOC PAINT029 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Conference Proceedings - International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades PROCEEDINGS OF THE Twenty General Convention OF THE International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades September 1974 Los Angeles California PROCEEDINGS of the Twenty General Convention of the International Brotherhood of Painters & Allied Trades Los Angeles Septe- m Sepbteembr er 9-13 1974 ET t ee THIRD DAY Wednesday September 11 1974 GENERAL PRESIDENT RAFTERY Will the Convention please be in order Before I ask for the invocation one of the Brothers in the hall has lost his identification card It is Franklin P. Abling Local 1514 I have got it up here on the dais if if somebody wants to come up and get it for him Let's have a little order Brothers The Chair now recognizes for the invocation Father Lewis P. Bohler Jr. of the Advent Episcopal Church Father Bohler FATHER BOHLER Almighty God amidst the splendor of this grand ballroom we are reminded that that it was not always this we now the laborers way were once the servers and the host obvi- ously was not us but we are grateful for the long journey that we have made rather successfully from the early dreams of organized labor through the craft unions through men like Samuel Gompers and John L. Lewis looking to budding giants like the American Federation of Labor and then finally the merger of AFL and CIO This meeting this great meeting illustrates that we indeed have come a long long way and some day the collective strength of organized unions organized labor will more than rival that of management and the executive branches of our gov- ernment and we will then be able to negotiate and to engage in dia- logue as equals complete equals rather than as persons asking for favors . INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF F Remembering this past when we a group of little people came to- SELE a gether and formed giant we hope SELE that we never forget that we are SELE no larger than the smallest indi- vidual SELE Recent events on our national " scale have suggested that perhaps giants get out of touch with little people from time to time and fail rhe to represent them adequately When we some day become not only bastions of strength but also of leadership may we never forget from whence we came and may we never lose contact with the smallest - h man on the scale May all of our endeavors be to this end and may we ask your guidance in carrying this out Amen y GENERAL PRESIDENT RAF- TERY Will the Delegates take their seats Will the Sergeants clear the aisle The Convention will please be in oe order 7 This is one of the highlights of this Convention as 1 indicated to you that it would be and am happy and proud and it is indeed a privilege this morning to present to you not only the Vice President in S District S this who will Chair this ne part of our program but who is also the Chairman of our National Safety Committee Vice President Cox Jack Cox mew Applause) f COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Ie COX Thank you Mr. Chairman EEDINGS EEDINGS of the . General General Convention Convention . of the Brotherhood of Allied Trades ia - September 9-13 1974 that that ince it was not always this we now the laborers the servers and the host way were obvi- icic fouulslyforwas not us but we are grate- the long journey that we have made rather successfully from the early dreams of organized labor through the craft unions through m .S en like Samuel Gompers and John L. Lewis looking to budding giants like the American Federation of eatin, Labor and then finallfinyally the merger of 5 me. AFL and CIO merger men ilustrates This meeting this great meeting illustrates that we indeed have come A a long long way and some day + the collective strength of organized unions organized labor will more than rival that of management and the executive branches of our gov- ernment and we will then be able to negotiate and to engage in dia- logue as equals complete equals rather than as persons asking for favors : asking INTERNAIONAL INTERNAIONAL BROTHERHOOD BROTHERHOOD DE PAINTERS PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES 17 Remembering this past when we a group of little people came to- gether and formed a giant we hope that we never forget that we are no larger than the smallest indi- vidual Recent events on our national scale have suggested that perhaps giants get out of touch with little people from time to time and fail to represent them adequately When we some day become not only bastions of strength but also of leadership may we never forget from whence we came and may we never lose contact with the smallest man on the scale May all of our endeavors be to this end and may we ask your guid- ance in carrying this out Amen GENERAL PRESIDENT RAF- TERY Will the Delegates take their seats Will the Sergeants clear , the aisle . The Convention will please be in order ry This is one of the highlights of this Convention as I indicated to you that it would be and I am hap- py and proud and it is indeed a privilege this morning to present to you not only the Vice President in this District who will Chair this part of our program but who is also the Chairman of our National Safety Committee Vice President Cox Jack Cox Applause COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX Thank you Mr. Chairman We have been in progress for considerable period of time in put- ting together program that we feel is of vital interest to you as individual representatives of your Local Unions and District Councils for and on behalf of the membership of your Local Unions would like to have your full attention this morning This program will take approximately one hour and 50 minutes I know many of you sitting in the hall this morning have already tak- en your medical exams I think you will agree that they are extremely thorough in what they are doing I know you realize that there is a purpose behind this The exams that you have taken and the infor- mation of such is strictly between you and the doctors not to us But we have a purpose because we wish to find out what is occurring with our members in the health and safety area within their jobs the materials they are using Now we have the privilege to work with a man that has unbelievable energy Dr. Selikoff from the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York The man continues to amaze me how fast he can accumulate what I would call evidence within our health field and feed it back to us so that the General President and the members of the General Exccu- tive Board are up to date at all times as to what is occurring with new materials on the market what may be destructive to a glazier or a floor layer in his everyday work and which we have found have occurred what is occurring to the taper and the painter which we find is occurring and which you are going to see this morning in this program something that quite 574 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION frankly I am = sure you will find shocking realize how little I knew what was occurring in the field with our mem- It is not the intent and purpose to lay before you a program to bership and quite frankly I was shocked with what I found shock you into wondering what you I could not believe that these should do in your work day but to lay before you a program of facts of what is occurring in our industry so that you as representatives will things are happening and when it is presented to you you probably will not either But gentlemen the facts laid before you are correct and return to your home areas and put forth your efforts to protect your members in the health and safety field the truth , At this time I would like to call upon the General President Emeri- Without asking I know you will agree with me after you have seen this program and heard the pro- tus for a report Now I did a little background on this gentleman and I find that this is his 12th Convention He attended his first one in gram the necessity of fulfilling your 1921. 53 years ago and this man duties and of your cooperation we has never stopped beating the m need of working with us so that we drums and particularly in the field can extend our investigation in order of health and safety It is a pleasure to protect these members to introduce him at this time Larry Now for many months we have had a joint committee working in the field of health and safety and on that committee I would like to read to you the names and I am sure will know most of them We were honored to have our General President Emeritus Larry Raftery serving on the Committee as Chairman with me General Vice President James Wolford General Vice President William Duval Bill Duval Director of Legislation John Pecoraro and Busi- ness Representative John Alfaronc of the Tapers Local 1974 in New York City On Management's side we had Glen Craven the Executive Dircctor of the PDCA Avery Boyd Chairman of PDCA's Safety Com- mittee out of Alabama Earl Dixon of the Carpet Linoleum Layers Association in Denver Colorado and Chuck Haynes of PPG Raftery Standing applause) PRESIDENT EMERITUS RAF- TERY From its very inception our Brotherhood has had a deep sense of concern about the health and safety conditions prevailing on the job sites where our members work as well as a more general interest in improving working conditions throughout our industry as a whole Our Brotherhood is determined and fully committed to correcting the hazardous conditions of the working environment to prevent sickness disease injuries and deaths among our membership in the United States and Canada Many employers have a deep and sincere concern for their work- ers health and safety However unfortunately a view prevails in some portions of our industry that a job means the lives of workers did not take me very long to or parts of their bodies lungs livers kidneys legs arms eyes aTC INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF expendable for profit in the work place and in exchange for a job In contrast our position is that the employer must provide a safe place to work and local unions and international unions have the right to insist on the most effective ways to protect the health of its members . safety and We believe that the man on the job is entitled to know the complete facts about the safety and health problems to which he is exposed and the most effective way to prevent and control them Dr. Irving J. Selikoff of the Mt. Sinai Hospital School of Medicine in New York whom as you well know our Brotherhood has been cooperating with stated that of the approximately 500,000 workers now or previously employed with asbestos 100.000 will die of lung cancer 3,500 of abdominal or chest cancers mesotheliomas and about 35,000 of asbestosis scar- ring of the lungs All of this makes a frightening account The point however is not to be frightened but to do some- thing about it it None of it is inevitable none of it is necessary The time has come to see to it that workers in our coun- try live healthy lives To say this plainly to see to it that workers live long enough to collect their pen- sions _ It's like a major war going on all the time The casualties aren't fighting however just trying to make a living is Every citizen of the United States is guaranteed the rights to life lib- erty and the pursuit of happiness Working under dirty dangerous TROENERAL TROENERAL CONVENTION in USC to realize how little 1 knew whatwhat was , occurring in the field with our mem- was hership and quite frankly I was shocked with what I found will either corect .00 tS CES trv vill out I could not believe that these things are happening and when it is presented to you you probably But gentlemen , the facts laid laid before you arecorrect and and the truth Our . background sty At this time I would like to call upon the General President Emeri- tus for a report Now I did a little = on this gentleman and 5485335 I find that this is his 12th Conven- 0- tion He attended his first one in 5485335 1921 53 years ago and this man 5485335 has never stopped beating the 5485335 drums and particularly in the field 5485335 of health and safety It is a pleasure to introduce him at this time, Larry Raftery Standing applause) e PRESIDENT EMERITUS RAF- TERY From its very inception our Brotherhood has had a deep sense of . concern about the health and safety Conditions prevailing on the job sites here our members work as well as ^ ^ more general interest in improving working conditions throughout our throughout industry as a whole Our Brotherhood is determined and fully committed to correcting the hazardous conditions of the working environment to prevent sickness disease injuries and deaths among our membership in the United States and Canada Many employers have a deep and sincere concern for their work- ers health and safety However unfortunately a view prevails in some portions of our industry that a job means the lives of workers or parts of their bodies lungs livers kidneys legs arms eyes are INTERNATIONAL INTERINTNERNATIONAL AINTTEIRNOATNIOANALL BROTHERHOOD BROTHERHBOROTOHERHDOOD OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES 6 r) expendable for profit in the work and in exchange for a job place In contrast our position is that the employer must provide a safe place to work and focal unions and international unions have the right to insist on the most effective ways to protect the safety and health of its members We believe that the man on the job is entitled to know the complete facts about the safety and health problems to which he is exposed and the most effective way to pre- vent and control them Dr. Irving J. Selikoff of the Mt. Sinai Hospital School of Medicine in New York whom as you well know our Brotherhood has been cooperating with stated that of the approximately 500,000 workers now or previously employed with asbestos 100,000 will die of lung cancer 3,500 of abdominal or chest cancers mesotheliomas and about 35,000 of asbestosis scar- ring of the lungs All of this makes a frightening account The point however is not to be frightened but to do something about it None of is is inevitable none of it is necessary The time has come to see to it that workers in our coun- try live healthy lives To say this plainly to see to it that workers live long enough to collect their pen- sions It's like a major war going on all the time The casualties aren't fighting however just trying to make a living Every citizen of the United States is guaranteed the rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness Working under dirty dangerous ' and unhealthy conditions is an infringement of these basic rights Through long years of struggle and effort workers have established the right to organize themselves for collective bargaining with their ,cmployers over wages benefits and conditions of employment Although the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 guaran- tees that every worker in a union on not has the right to file a complaint without being discriminated against by the employer in reality it is the rare individual standing alone unsupported by an organiza- tion of his fellow workers who will use this right Despite the guarantee against discrimination the fear of reprisal will keep individual workers from using OSHA In addition when dealing with a huge government structure the most effective way to cut through red tape and utilize the benefits of the law is through another structure a union Our experience has shown that when a local union attempting to enforce safety and health laws channels their complaint through our International they have the as- surance that our International will follow through every step of the way prepared to fight for enforce- ment This is the way the law can be used most effectively When the Occupational Safety and Health Act was first proposed our Brotherhood was among the other Internationals spearheading the movement for enactment of the proposal It wasn't easy Each standard that became part of the law had to be fought over each rule was contested Most importantly sufficient funds had to be appropriated for inspectors testing 276 > PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION facilities research and that enforcement of the be possible so on so Act would by If the government is swayed the influence of the business com- ravel some of the mysteries of the harm to humans from chemicals via the work of Dr. Irving J. Selikoff of the Mount Sinai School of Medi- cinc in New York munity then we must see that 4. Our Brotherhood's work in through our International we exert safety glazing was started late in a counter influence 1969 and it is one of the most e: We must see to it that no one unique legislative experiences un- has to pay any price in health dertaken by any union group Our me safety or dignity for trying to earn Brotherhood assumed a leadership se tee role in the National Safety Glazing a decent living Committee This Committee in- When OSHA went into effect on cludes members of the glass indus- April 28. 1971 our General President Bud Raftery said Organ- ized labor must shoulder much of the responsibility for realizing the full potential of this Act Our efforts must include the work site the State Legislature the Congress and the Executive Departments responsible for its conduct We must equip ourselves to understand and use in- telligently and with discernment the important protections and rights which are provided for workers by the Act try government safety groups and other related organizations Our Safety Glass Bill is now law in 33 states covering 92 percent of the population of the United States Our Brotherhood's work in safe- ty was recognized in a national award presented to General President Raftery by the National Council on Safety at their annual convention held in Chicago in 1972 Besides the also legislative our Brotherhood has also been involved on other fronts Shortly after the enactment of OSHA an eight National Joint Safety and Health Committee was established with General Vice 1. Through collective bargaining many locals have been able to pursue better job enlight- condi- . tions thanks primarily to enlightened cooperation from management in the painting and coating indus- . President Cox as Chairman myself as Honorary Chairman General Vice President Duval General Vice President Wolford Director of Legislation Pecoraro and including others that have been mentioned by Vice President Cdx 2. Through union education we have sought to close the gap between safety in theory and safety in practice making sure that as many members as possible not only know but use the latest safety Techniques 3. Now through medical science our Brotherhood hopes to un- One of our first acts upon meet- ing was to revise and update our Brotherhood's Play It Safe manual This manual is designed to insure that workers employed in construc tion jobs and plants receive the ben- efits of the latest advances in safe- ty equipment and have job standards that meet the requirements of OSHA INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF PA Play It Safe is a most popular safety manual Our manual is bc- ing used by the staffs of 35 labor education programs in universities throughout the United States Going further General President Raftery recognized that it would be to the mutual benefit of the major producers of paint products and our Brotherhood if some additional areas could be explored The National Paint Coating Association representing manufacturers who produce 95 percent of all paint products endorsed President Raftery's concept A committee was formed pledging cooperation in efforts to minimize health and safe- ty hazards -- -- ent On IVO CXI ph cas mc lev .be the ru , of Some of the areas the Joint Com---- mittee is working on are 29 th 1. Reformulations 2 Development of OSHA and 11 safety programs 3. Development of continuing programs regarding federal legisla- tion on coatings and resins 4. Participation in lead poisoning detection programs 5. And any other related areas One of our outstanding programs is the work being done with Dr. Selikoff We are providing staff assistance record management.com- management.computer department cooperation field staff and local union participation . Ongoing research is now being conducted in the analysis of mortality experiences and in assessing long- terni effects of hazardous exposures Particular reference is being given to the detection of possible toxic ef fects from introduced materials such as exotic paints special WENTY THIRD GENERAL GENERAL CONVENTION >> ould 1 by 11771- ravel some of the mysteries of the harm to humans from chemicals via the work of Dr. Irving J. Selikoff of the Mount Sinai School of Medi- cine New York that Wert One 1th arn on esiaan1 of the efthe and 4. Our Brotherhood's work in safety glazing was started late in 1969 and it is one of the most unique legislative experiences undertaken by any union group Our Brotherhood assumed a leadership role in the National Safety Glazing Committee This Committee in- cludes members of the glass industry government safety groups and other related organizations Our Safety Glass Bill is now law in in 33 states covering 92 percent of the population of the United States ... Our Brotherhood's work in safe- quip in- ty was recognized in a national award presented to General Presi- the dent Raftery by the National Coun- cil on Safety at their annual con- -! vention held in Chicago in 1972 our ved tin- : / idight- cnt us- Shortly after the enactment of OSHA an eight National Joint Safety and Health Committee was established with General Vice President Cox as Chairman myself as Honorary Chairman General Vice President Duval General Vice President Wolford Director of Leg- islation Pecoraro and including by others that have been mentioned Vice President Cox 4317 teety as nly ety iC.Jn- ing One of our first acts upon meet- ing was to revise and update our Brotherhood's Play It Safe manual This manual is designed to insure that workers employed in construc- tion jobs and plants receive the ben- efits of the latest advances in safe- y equipment and have job standards that meet the requirements of OSHA INTERONA TIPINAL TIPINAL BRONEERICARDION BRONEERICARDION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES 177 Play It Safe is a most popular safety manual Our manualis being used by the staffs of 35 labor education programs in universities throughout the United States Going further General President Raftery recognized that it would be to the mutual benefit of the major producers of paint products and our Brotherhood if some additional areas could he explored The National Paint Coating Asso- ciation representing manufacturers who produce 95 percent of all paint products endorsed President Raft- ery's concept A committee was formed pledging cooperation in efforts to minimize health and safe- ty hazards Some of the areas the Joint Committee is working on are 1 Reformulations a 2. Development of safety programs OSHA and 3. Development of continuing programs regarding federal legisla- tion on coatings and resins coatings spray paints and new solv- cals Why do we do these surveys One reason is the danger of the workplace Only accidents extreme exposures to toxic substances and physical hazards result in acute easily identifiable illnesses But most workers are exposed to low levels of these agents which may be just as deadly in the long run though less apparent in the short run Exposure to level agents can cause chronic illnesses The onset of these illnesses is often not no- ticed Therefore they go unrecog- nized uncounted and uncompensated We want to put a stop to all this nonsense We want to search out those dangerous areas and remove them The focus and main thrust of our health and safety demonstration today is on chemicals used in our in- dustry and the exposure of workers to toxic dusts fumes mists and gases 4. Participation in lead poisoning detection programs 5. And any other related areas For years attention has been on accidents on what you can see happen the loss of an arm a leg an eye and the loss of life One of our outstanding programs is the work being done with Dr. Selikoff We are providing staff as- sistance record management computer department cooperation field staff and local union participation Ongoing research is now being conducted in the analysis of mortality experiences and in assessing long- term effects of hazardous exposures Particular reference is being given to the detection of possible toxic effects from introduced materials such as exotic paints special The accidents are sudden the effects are immediate and you can see and recognize the physical cause that was responsible What we are concentrating on today is what you cannot see materials that the microscope measures and the laboratory analyzes The harmful effects of these chemicals can be just as disastrous just as disabling just as permament and death just as certain j i { i i I 274 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF 1 The serious findings of cancer and cirrhosis of the liver among workers in vinyl chloride operations a comparatively new process illustrates the need for continu- ous studies These findings now pose a ques- tion that affects all workers How many other health hazards exist or have gone unrecognized during the will be the safest place to work and healthiest Thank you ( Applause ) COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX Thank you President Emeri- tus Raftery for your remarks and your continued dedication on behalf of our Brotherhood members trol or die of a fatal disease or acci- 5. / dent because awaited inspec- in tions are made only after the body 0 is carried away ci The statistics of his research are not just numbers They represent EL EL human beings working people do- J. ing their job sometimes at the cost of their lives past 30 to 40 years The point is if industry does not know if government does not know if we as labor leaders do not know how is the average work- er going to know Now Brothers we would like to move the program right along If time permits after Dr. Selikoff's presentation we are going to open the floor for questions as you may have some on your mind after hear- He has transformed computer tapes and research plans into flesh . and blood through hope and kind- Fa ness His works include the discovery of the link between toxic materials Worse yet how will these harm- ful ful effects be recognized and identified How will industry labor and the government ever know unless these industries are investigated and studied ing and seeing what Dr. Selikoff will present to you If time does not permit because of our schedule then we will not open it up and we hope it will so we can move along in the workplace and disease His li success has been in the treatment of those diseases and his hope in the elimination of them 35 In every important development in the field of occupational safety The fact is man has created a new environment but he has not tes created a new man We still have the mewn that same physical our ancestors characteristics had we still need clean air to breathe and clean Now as you know there is always a work horse that we use and we turn to in order to provide for us information that we need daily and our work horse is in the person of one man ge water to drink We have developed no second sight that tells us when a seemingly harmless vapor is doing At this time I would like to introduce to you for him to introduce Dr. ome insidious damage to our health There are many things that can Selikoff our Director of Legislation John Pecoraro ee he done to make your workplace safe and based on our survey we DIRECTOR PECORARO It is an honor and a privilege for me to will present suggestions on how to introduce to you today a man whom achieve this we greatly admire not only as a and health in the last decade he has been vitally involved in black lung among the miners and similar dis- 403 eases among other workers More recently he has been in the wh forefront of the important reve- lations about vinyl chloride and has eres battled valiantly for the cause of worker safety in the highest offices of our nation C We are extremely proud and men pleased to have his guidance in our Brotherhood's program of job safe- ty When I was installed as General President Emeritus I took a vow that I would dedicate the remainder of my life on behalf of safety and ask all of you to join with us in guide but as a loyal friend and teach- er ^ man who gets emotional about unnecessary avoidable disease discases suffered by workers workers who are simply trying to do their job * President Raftery has declared that this is going to be the decade of job safety in our Brotherhood and our determination combined with the expertise of our next guest will make it so our battle for safety and health He actually gets angry that workers should die of cancer because they It my extreme pleasure to pre- If you study and put to use our must handle chemicals in factories sent to this Convention the holder recommendations then we are con- or die of silicosis because of dust of the Lasker Award of the Ameri- K fielent that with your help America nobody bothered to collect and con- can Public Health Association the highest award the highest award a MENTS THIRD GENERAL GENERAL CONVENTION CONVENTION CONVENTION incer nong wd Proc- tau. will be the safest safest place work Thank you ( Applause anadnd hheaelatlhitehsitest INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD DE PAINTERS . AND ALLIED TRADES 170 troolr die of a fatal disease or acci- dent because awaited inspec- tions are made only after the body is carried away that can be given to any scientist in the field of medical research the Director of Environmental Medi- cine of the Mount Sinai School of Hes- low or the COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX Thank you President Emeri- tus Raftery for your remarks and your of continued dedication on behalf our Brotherhood members The statistics of his research are not just numbers They represent human beings working people doing their job sometimes at the cost of their lives Medicine and friend of all working people in America my good friend indeed our good friend Dr. Irving J. Selikoll ; Applause ) Now Brothers not we would like He has transformed computer DR SELIKOFF I will shortly HotHot move the program right along tIof tapes and research plans into flesh review with you some of the proh- do time permits after Dr. and blood through hope and kind- lems in the painting trades that we Selikoff's ork- presentation we are going to ness have been reviewing with your the floor for questions as open people in this past year have some on your mind you may His works include the discovery m- ing and seeing what Dr. Sealfitkeorffhewairl-l of the link between toxic materials in the workplace and disease His Before I do however I would like to precede what I am going to ati- present to you ind success has been in the treatment say with a preview If time does not ess of permit because our schedule then we will of those diseases and his hope in the elimination of them We have with us this morning Dr. nd open it up and we not Justin Stein President of the Amer- we can move along hope it will so In every important development ican Cancer Society of Now Now , the field occupational safety Dr. Stein is a remarkable man in i as you know there is always a work and health in the last decade he has many ways First he is a native i 5 _ horse that we use and we been vitally involved in black lung of Los son formation to in order to provide for us in- among the miners and similar dis Angeles having been here formation that we need daily and our work horse is in the eases among other workers at the University of California for the last 41 years and been involved one man the person of More recently he has been in the in cancer control and cancer re- duce At this time I would like to intro- Selikoff Selikof you for him to introduce Dr. Selikoff our Director of LegislationLeLgeLeiggissliatlisonlaattiioonn John Pecoraro DIRECTOR PECORARO It is an honor a privilege for introduce to you today a man wmheotmo we greatly admire not only as a guide but as a loyal friend and teach- er a man who gets emotional about unnecessary disease sufferedavoidable . by simply eases who who who are are are job simply trying 1 dis- workers , workers trying simply their job to do their He actually gets angry that work- ers should die of cancer because must handle chemicals in they or die of silicosis becausefaocftodruisest nobody bothered to collect and con- forefront of the important revelations about vinyl chloride and has search for this time He himself suffered from a virulent almost invari- battled valiantly for the cause of ably fatal kind of cancer that goes worker safety in the highest offices by the name of reticulum cell sar- of our nation e We are extremely proud and me pleased to have his guidance in our Brotherhood's program of job safe- . ty coma 29 years ago and he was successfully treated In other words he is a cured cancer patient With this background he joined the American Cancer Society as a President Raftery has declared that this is going to be the decade of job safety in our Brotherhood and volunteer 24 years ago because he as so many others felt that we have to conquer cancer in our lifetimes our determination combined with the expertise of our next guest will make it so As sit in places like this with friends and with happiness and ideas and comfort we sometimes don't re- It my extreme pleasure to present to this Convention the holder of the Lasker Award of the Ameri- alize because it is out of sight the tragic toll that cancer is taking in our country can Public Health Association the Many of us don't realize for ex- highest award the highest award ample that this year 1974 we are 250 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF P losing 200 deaths a day of lung cancer In 1974 we now have 250 new cases a day of cancer of the colon This is simply a disaster what is happening in our country Well it is the remarkable efforts of this society and my experience with them it's a society with guts You have to have guts I think to take on a problem such as cancer but they have always let the chips fall where they may They had no hesitation for example in taking on the giant tobacco industry as you know and they have no hesitation in reaching out to solve the problems of cancer in the work place Sometimes when somebody tells me that I have been practicing for over 41 years and realizing I am getting a little older I think of a Statement made by Jimmy Durante on reaching an advanced age .He said If would have known I was going to live so long I would have took better care of myself ( Laughter * It is a great pleasure for me President and on behalf of the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society to bring to you the greetings of this Society which is the largest volunteer health agency in the world which is political with over 2.250.000 volunteers of whom 50.000 are physicians made a study using 68.000 volun- teers from this Society H The habits and life stvics of Ci NI these more than 1,000,000 individ- tk uals has been tabulated including bh the history of industrial exposures si and the replies to many other ques- tions 0 c We have maintained a study of ti . 95 percent of this over 1,000.000 ud enrollees those who are now living R and tremendous points are being ti found which are going to be of great ti help to all of you f In 1971 the Board of Directors k of the American Cancer Society es- tablished an Environmental Cancer Research Project to study the en- vironmental causes of cancer Your union has been most helpful in par- Dr. Stein has other firsts to his credit not only the first Cancer Society's President who himself had what is usually an incurable form of cancer he is also the first President of the Society who served when in a It is the policy of this Society to award research project grants insti- tutional research grants grants in support of research personnel and to conduct research on epidemiology of cancer ticipating in this project Our Society is happy to make available its statistical services and the services of its volunteers to your union The estimated value of this contribution is 250,000 year which for the first time the Can- cer Society has raised 100 million to be used now for cancer control The overall goals for research for cancer control includes prevention cure and other means for control comeges And finally he is the first Presi- Now this Society has had a great dent of the American Cancer Soci- record in the field of epidemoliogi- oe ety who has addressed a great and cal research.. major labor union in the United States In 1952 a study was made on 188.000 men between the of we ages So with all these firsts I introduce 50 and 59 22,000 volunteers from Drs Hammond and Selikoff have met often with President Raftery of your union It is important to know now which chemicals and potential carcinogens to which individuals are exposed in the course of their daily occupations Sometimes it takes from 10 to 15 or 30 or more years after exposure to certain agents before the hazards and the to you a remarkable man Dr. Jus- our society participated in this harmful effects are known ome tin Stein of Los Angeles ( Applause DR STEIN President Emeritus study The study was made to evaluate the effects of cigarette smoking a Four years later over 99 percent of the living individuals were still Dr. Hammond and Dr. Selikoff are actively engaged in the environ- mental study of vinyl chloride asbestos and of the many chemicals Rattery President Raftery Vice under study and as a result of and carcinogens to which workers President Cox Dr. Selikoff Officers this the results of cigarette smoke are constantly being exposed = =e and Delegates to this 23rd Conven- ing in relation to lung cancer wefe You will hear more later from Tena t of the International Brother very definitely shown Dr. Selikalf who has been hood of Painters and Allied Trades In 1959 thus Society enrolled 1 very active in epidemiological cancer 10 Ladies and Gentlemen Net 1.000.000 individuals and search ssn pean ote nel ve nS oe serine tens han Parr CRUENTA FERRE CNERAL CNERAL CONVENTION lung lung flow elon at is Sometimes Sometimes statement when somebody tells me that that have been practicing for 41 over years and realizing am getting a little older I think of a made by Jimmy Durante on reaching an advanced age age lloorrttss unce guts 1. Wo long He s saaiidd If would going was was going to livelive so have took better care , have have known knownknown I would of myself Laughter ) AAccer er hihpipss CXac- hey out in . It is a is PrePrsesideint dent the of great and Board Directors Cancer Society greetings this plepalseausruree ffoorr me as on behalf of of the American to bring bring tto oyou thethe greetings of this Society which is the largest volunteer health agency in with world which is political with over 2,250.000 volunteers . whwhoomm50.000 are physicianvoslunteers of his 50- of atuionalwaarwdard epidemiologyinsti- is the policy of this Society to research project grants tutional research support research grants grants . grants in support of research . conduct research on pepeidemriologseypiodenmionloegyl and to cancer of The overall goals for research for on cancer cure control includes prevention and other means for control Now ; record this Society has had a great record epidemoliogi- ; in the field of 77 cal research epidemoliogi- 77 1952 a study was made on 188.000188.000 50 and men between the ages of 50 volunteers : 59. 22.000 from .. our society participated in this study The study was made to ate the effects of cigarette smoekvailnug- Four years later over 99 e or the living individuals percent under were still study and as a result of e the of cigarette smok- this resultss hown definitely se in relation to very lung cancer cancer were were In over 1959 this 1,000,000 Society enrolled individuals and INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD BROTHERHOOD PAINERS AND ALLIED TRADES TRADES AT muude a study using 68,000 volunteers from this Society The habits and life styles of these more than 1,000,000 individuals has been tabulated including the history of industrial exposures and the replies to many other questions ; We have maintained a study of 95 percent of this over 1,000,000 enrollees those who are now living and tremendous points are being found which are going to be of great help to all of you In 1971 the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society established an Environmental Cancer Research Project to study the en- vironmental causes of cancer Your union has been most helpful in participating in this project Our Society is happy to make available its statistical services and the services of its volunteers to your union The estimated value of this contribution is 250,000 Drs Hammond and Selikoff have met often with President Raftery of your union It is important to know now which chemicals and potential carcinogens to which individuals are exposed in the course of their daily occupations Sometimes it takes from 10 to 15 or 30 or more years after exposure to agents before the hazards harmful effects are known certain and the Dr. Hammond and Dr. Selikoff are actively engaged in the environmental study of vinyl chloride asbestos and of the many chemicals and carcinogens to which workers are constantly being exposed You will hear more later from Dr. Sclikoff who has been very active in epidemiological cancer re- search | has been stated by the World Health Organization that 85 percent all cancers originate from en- vironmental causes In other words the majority of cancers are caused by what we do to ourselves excessive exposure to sunlight smoking of cigarettes the type of diet we consume the use of food preserva- tives contaminants to our lungs from the atmosphere exposure to many agents as a result of our occupations to chemicals in the preparation of many things we use and so forth There are over 100 different kinds of cancer The different types of cancer may have different bio- logical methods of spread different etiologies and may require different methods of treatment or combinations of treatment Since cancer does not represent a single disease but a whole group of diseases it is not reasonable to anticipate that a single cause will be found for all types of cancer This Society represents you the consumers and a major effort to control and or to prevent cancer The use of volunteers will reduce the cost and increase the effective- ness of epidemiological research programs We delighted to be able to he of service to you and we wel come your support in the Society's efforts to control cancer Thank you Applause ) COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX Thank you Dr. Stein We are deeply honored to have you with us this morning It is a privilege sir for us to have before this Brotherhood and de- liver your message oS 242 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION I am going to ask Dr. Selikoff to take the mike on the floor eralogist Dr. Langer to see what is in the lung Dr. Selikoff are you ready to have the lights dimmed DR SELIKOFF Yes COMMITTEE COX Will you lights and turn please CHAIRMAN please dim the camera the on May I have the first slide please We did And we found that in Mr. Esposito's lung there were lit- erally billions statistically we would say that he had 10 to 12 fibers in his lungs That's over a billion billion fibers of asbestos in Mr. Es- posito's lungs Now Brothers let's have your immediate attention with no talk please as you are going to find the importance of the message that Dr. Selikoff is going to bring forth very The surgeon successfully removed the tumor but unfortunately it had spread and nine months later he had died . interesting so we ask your attention and indulgence in this please Dr. Selikoff We got a bit of a shock with this Now let me tell you in these next few minutes why it was an unhappy shock DR SELIKOFF About a year and a half ago John Alfarone of May I have the next slide please your Local 1974 came up to see me I didn't know John but I soon mie found that like so many leaders in your Union he was direct When he oct had something to say he said it and Fifty years ago it was found that scarring of the lung these lines here indicating would occur when people inhaled fine asbestos fibers he made no bones about it e When I say fine I would like And what he said presented a you to understand that you just ytimena problem to me that we just hadn't thought about John said There's a man in the taping business in New can't even see these with a micoscope You need an electron microscope to see them There are about ea York who is in the hospital now with a lung cancer a million within an inch They range around in our lingo around 350 Angstroms in diameter His name was Esposito I think ee is Sal Esposito Next slide please + And he said He is going to be operated and the men in the local have a hunch that maybe the dusts that he's been working with had something to do with the can- CUT said Fine We will try to help you We will look into it Tell the *** that when he removes the fung to send the specimen to our laboratory and I will ask our mun- We found also in these next 30 or 40 years that very often the covering the lung would often get scarred also That's these white lines here indicating .. This is calcification of the pleura Now you know of pleurisy that's the covering of the lung and the lining of the chest and technically - am going to give you a few technical words , technically this is INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF P. known as the mesothelium That is what we call the lining of the chest Next slide please This is a post mortem You are looking down at a body now on the post mortem table You see these placques Whenever somebody has breathed in asbestos why we don't know but the lining of the chest as well as the lung itself gets these scars indicat- ing ol Bp. Next slide please Sometimes the scarring is very dif- rig fuse as you see here indicating ; Next slide please is And at post mortem this how thick that pleura was This man ... died He was a Business Agent of the Asbestos Workers in New York He died because his lung just couldn't move anymore because of this thick scar Indicating) Next slide please One of the most important things we learned as we looked into this with the Pipe Coverers in New York Local 12 and Local 32 in Newark is on the screen now and if you for- get everything I say this morning and only remember this slide you will know pretty much what I know For example out of the 725 men who had begun work less than 20 years before most had normal X- rays And when they were abnorm- al not very much so On the other hand once the 20 years point had passed most had abnormal rays after 40 years 90 percent had abnormal rays and very often the abnormality was ex- tensive ret NTY THE GENERAL GENERAL CONVENTION CONVENTION CONVENTION " cralogist Dr. Langer to see what is in the lung May I have the first slide please We did And we found that in Mr. Esposito's lung there were lit- crally billions statistically we would say that he had 10 to 12 fibers in his lungs That's over a billion billion fibers of asbestos in Mr. Es- posito's lungs The surgeon successfully removed the tumor but unfortunately it had spread and nine months later he had died We got a bit of a shock with this Now let me tell you in these next few minutes why it was an unhappy shock May have the next slide please Fifty years ago it was found that scarring of the lung these lines here indicating would occur when : ople inhaled fine asbestos fibers When I say fine I would like you to understand that you just can't even see these with a mico- scope You need an electron microscope to see them There are about a million within an inch They range around in our lingo around 350 Angstroms in diameter Next slide please We found also in these next 30 or 40 years that very often the covering of the lung would often get scarred also That's these white lines here indicating indicating This is calcification of the pleura Now you know of pleurisy that's the covering of the lung and the lining of the chest and technically -I am going to give you a few technical technically this is INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL BROTUERIDOL OF PAINTERS PAINTERS ANDE ALLIED TRADES TRADES 1833 known as the mesothelium That is what we call the liging of the chest Next slide please This is a post mortem looking down at a body the post mortem table You now are on You see these placques Whenever somebody has breathed in asbestos why we don't know but the tining of the chest as well as the lung itself gets these scars indicating Next slide please Sometimes the scarring is very diffuse as you see here indicating Next slide please And at post mortem this is how thick that pleura was This man died He was a Business Agent of the Asbestos Workers in New York He died because his lung just couldn't move anymore because of this thick scar Indicating This gives point to what Dr. Stein has just said that many of the things in our environment many of the things that you work with won't show any effect at all for 20 or more years We have been very apprehensive in these last two days as we have ex- amined many of you Incidentally your response has been remarkable We have already examined almost 15 percent of all the Delegates at this Convention and the education that you have given us in these first two days has been a revelation to us We have been very apprehensive when you have been telling us about what's been happening for example with epoxides because they were only introduced about 10 years ago we have been told and whatever they are going to do besides the acute effects we won't know for another 10 years Next slide please most One of the important things we learned as we looked into this with the Pipe Coverers in New York Local 12 and Local 32 in Newark is on the screen now and if you for- get everything I say this morning and only remember this slide you will know pretty much what I know We had a surprise like this for example with your vinyl chloride You people have been working with vinyl paints made with polyvinyl chloride which is contaminated with vinyl chloride We have now been finding cancers of the liver a cancer called hemangiosarcoma which is invariably fatal rapidly fatal six months For example out of the 725 men who had begun work less than 20 years before most had normal Xrays And when they were abnormal not very much so On the other hand once the 20 years point had passed most had abnormal rays after 40 years 90 percent had abnormal rays and very often the abnormality was ex- tensive We have been finding it in workers in the factories making vinyl chloride and using it but the average duration from the time they began work was over 20 years So everything we have been seeing follows the year.rule That's what we found with the Pipe Covcrers in New York with regard to scarring on ray that nothing much happened until after 20 years 28-1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION had passed from the time they began work Next slide please About 20 years ago it was shown that something else happened when you inhaled these fibers that's on the screen now For reasons that we don't know very often cancer of the lung would scarring occur This is a cancer of the lung in a man who has the fine that I showed you before a worker who worked with asbestos Next slide please How often does it occur because after all anyone can get cancer of the lung especially if he smoked cigarettes ( Applause Thank you I'm glad that I have so many friends here ( Laughter With the American Cancer Soci- ety Statistical Department under Dr. been Hammond we found that among the 632 men there should have given their ages 203 deaths in the ordinary course of events had their experience been the same as everybody else's deaths Instead there were 255 50 men died who were not expected to die Why Well there should have been six or seven deaths of cancer of the lung There actually were 45 Seven times as many men died of lung cancer as were expected to die Interestingly there should have been nine deaths of cancer of the colon stomach and rectum There were 29 three times as many You know as well as I that any- one who inhales dust also ingests it There of course were deaths due to scarred lungs or asbestosis INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF P The entire lung is covered with cu mesothelioma tumor This is a It CC occurs virtually only if you inhale SC asbestos I cannot tell you why We only ne know that it occurs ho Next slide please For reasons that we don't know " be again and as I talk you will amazed at how much we don't know the fibers also get into the abdomen and when they do they also affect the lining of the abdo- i men the mesothelium of the abdomen and give a mesothelioma of the abdomen This is a construction t worker in New York with a mesothelioma of the abdomen Next slide please At operation this is what it looked all like All these nodules of cancer over the abdomen and because it is so diffuse because it is all over it | When President Mulhancy of the Next slide please Pipe Coverers asked about 30 years ago What's going to happen to my men who have been working with = asbestos I think you knew him well President Raftery he was told cancer of Don't worry Well we worried Let me tell you how we found out what actually has been happening Something else we found Remember L mentioned the pleura to you the mesothelium We found that unexpectedly many of these tumors mesotheliomas which means cancer of the lining of the chest were occurring This caused a lot of raised eyebrows because in general this was is again invariably fatal Next slide please In 1963 until the end of Decem- ber 1971 in New York the Ameri- can Cancer Society found that there should have been among the 370 men still alive of the first group in 1963 there should have been an- other 85 deaths statistically Instead there were 168. Twice This is a pipe coverer as you know 1943 there were 632 members | in their Local in New York Re- member what I said now 1943- because if we wanted to know what happened we had to have at least 20 years to look We have been following all of the 632 men very rare Somewhere around one out of 10,000 deaths ordinarily occurs with mesothelioma Here was a man a pipe coverer with this white shadow on the left side of the chest Next slide please When he died this was what we found This tumor this white tu- as many pipe coverers died in New York as were expected to die from 1963 through 1971 Next slide please All together out of the 632 men who were in this union in 1943 by the end of 1971 there should have been EE deaths of lung cancer 84 occurred Next slide please mor covering the entire lung You are looking at a post mortem now WX0002 There should have been no deaths WX0002 of mesothelioma which never ve = sore etnis SANTA SANTA THARD GENERAL GENERAL CONVENTION CONVENTION CONVENTION they WY no hen the the With the Anterican Cancer Society Statistical Department under Dr. Hammond we found that among the 632 men there should have behaednas given their ages 203 deaths in the ordinary course of events their experience been the same as everybody else's 11 Instead 50 there died uld 50 men died who die ing to die Why were were 255 255 deaths . expected notnot exepxepcetcetded lung ing rk- Well there should have been or seven deaths of cancer of the 45 lung There actually were Seven times as many men died of sc cancer as were expected to lung of Interestingly there should have been ed been nine deaths of cancer of the colon stomach and rectum were 29 three times as many There inhales ingests oneYowuhokninhales ow as wellwell as I that any- ie dust also it ee, There of course were deaths due ees scarred lungs or asbestosis n Next slide please S Something else we found Re- te , I mentioned the pleura to member you , the mesothelium We found unexpectedly many of these mttheuaamtnosrs chest mesotheliomas cancer of the lining lining were occurring which of the brows was This caused caused a lot of raised raised because in general this very rare Somewhere around out of 10,000 deaths ordinarily curs with mesothelioma ordinarily eye- one oc- a Here wwa as s man a pipe ne with this white man a pipe coverer with this fluid ee side of the white shadow on the left Next slide please eee When he died this was what we found This tumor this white tu- e mor covering the entire lung You mortem are looking at a now INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED ALLIED TRADES . The entire lung is covered with tumor This is a mesothelioma It occurs virtually only if you inhale asbestos . I cannot tell you why We only know that it occurs ; Next slide please For reasons that we don't know again and as I talk you will be amazed at how much we don't know the fibers also get into the abdomen and when they do they also affect the lining of the abdo- men the mesothelium of the abdo- men and give a mesothelioma of the abdomen This is a construction worker in New York with a mesothelioma of the abdomen Next slide please At operation this is what it looked like All these nodules of cancer all over the abdomen and because it is so diffuse because it is all over it is again invariably fatal Next slide please In 1963 until the end of December 1971 in New York the Ameri- can Cancer Society found that there should have been among the 370 men still alive of the first group in 1963 there should have been another 85 deaths statistically Instead there were 168. Twice as many pipe coverers died in New York as were expected to die from 1963 through 1971 Next slide please All together out of the 632 men who were in this union in 1943 by the end of 1971 there should have been 11 deaths of lung cancer 84 occurred There should have been no deaths of mesothelioma which never oc- there were 32 and the cancers of the intestinal tract the scarred lungs et cetera This is simply a disaster I have no other way of describing it It is heartbreaking Each of these men knows what is in store for him and I don't know what to do to prevent it The dust that they inhaled in 1930 1940 1950 that dust is still in their lungs just like Mr. Esposi- to in your International when he was operated on and when he died the dust of ten years and twenty years before was still in his lungs Next slide please Industry said Well maybe that is something unusual in New York We have therefore been studying the entire International There were 17,800 insulation workers in the United States in 1967 and we have been following them Of the 12,000 men who were in the trade for less than 20 years nothing much happened On the other hand out of 5.000 men in the trade for more than 20 years we five died of every and one found one out of every of lung cancer One out 15 died of mesothelioma out of every ten died of gastrointestinal cancer Imagine One out of every five men in this trade dies of lung cancer and through no fault of their own They went to work each day expeeting that they would have a safe working place and they didn't Next slide please About ten years ago we got a second shock Dr. Newhouse at the 28G PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION London School of Hygiene looked at 76 cases of mesothelioma member this only comes from as- bestos virtually their files and they found that sure enough 31 had worked with asbestos in the factories but of the 45 who had not worked with asbestos nine had sim- ply lived in the household of an asbestos worker These were wives who had washed their husbands clothes when they came home from work 11 out of the 76 had simply lived within a half mile of one or another of the asbestos factories in London Those of you who have been examined may now realize why we have been asking you whether you wash your own clothes whether you take them home or not and if you take them home who washes them whether your clothes are washed with your kids clothes Now you know the reason for that question that we have been ask- ing you Next slide please You can understand then our dis- may when looking at the construc- tion industries we found that as- bestos was being used under conditions in which it was actually being sprayed throughout your buildings insulation Here for example is spraying of insulation on a building on Wall and Water Street But the other 25 percent went to all the other trades at your building sites Next slide please That was an iron worker Here is a front end loader Next slide please Now you can see why we were apprehensive with what we found in the lung that John Alfarone brought to us . I came to Washington and I checked with John Pecoraro and with your President Raftery and found what we were seeing in New York was true around the country The first thing we did was to look at your materials that the tapers were using and we were taught that not only your tapers use it but other trades painters and so forth can use spackle and other compounds Dr. A. N. Rohl of our laboratory did an analysis of ten drywall taping and spakling compounds that the industry gave us through Mr. Pecoraro and Mr. Alfarone We found nine out of the ten con- tained chrysotile Chrysotile is a name for one variety of asbestos Nine out of ten compounds that were being used a year ago in New York contained asbestos Many also contained quartz and mica and other things which can destroy lungs Next slide please Next slide please Here it is being sprayed at the World Trade Center We found that it was pretty good work that almost as much as 75 percent staved on the beams actually We then put our sampling devices on your people Here are three tapers in New York and here are the samplers that test how much dust in the air # Next slide please Next slide please INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF I We got dust samples when you were doing dry mix work ir Next slide please Sanding Next slide please f All kinds of hand finishing Now I'm going to give you some technical information You have Pr got to understand it It is tough but you have got to know it It is " your life at stake We are talking about 2. 3. 5 fibers per cc What does that mean A cc or thimble cubic millimeter is a of air A man inhales around 8 million cc's a day 8 million thimblefuls of air a day The Department of Labor has said that it is safe for a man to in- hale 16 million million long fibers They don't count the short fibers even though there may be 100 times as many short ones as long ones million long fibers a day and retain an unstudied percentage So when you see two fibers per cc on the next slide we are talking about 16 million long fibers for a day's respired air Next slide please This is what we found Taping work mixing of drywall taping com- pound produced almost 60 fibers per cc That is about a billion fibers in working day that a man would inhale We found that in background to dry mixing the legal limit is going to he two fibers per cc which is too high 20 feet away it was still 13 fibers per cc or about 100 mil- lion fibers in a working day THIRD GENERAL CONVENTION CONVENTION CONVENTION But the other 25 percent went to all all the other trades at your building sites Next slide please That was an iron worker Here is a front end loader Next please Now you why cancan see we we were apprehensive apprehensive apprehensive with were with what found in we tahpperleuhnegnsive that John Alfarone brought I came to WashingtoWasnhington and with checked with John found your Pecoraro and in President Raftery and found what we were seeiseeningg New New York was truetrue around the country The first thing we did was look tapers were at your materials that the using and we were taught that not only your tapers use it but other +es painters and so forth can use _ kle and other compounds did Dr. A. Rohl analysis of our laboratory an analysis of ten drywall did tap- and spakling compounds ingthe industry gave us through Pecoraro Mr. Alfarone that Mr. nine We found the tained nine out of ten con- - tained chrysotile Chrysotile is a name for one variety of asbestos NNiinene out of ten compounds that York being York contained used a year ago in New contained asbestos Many also things contained quartz and mica and other things which can destroydestroy destroy lungs Next slide please . We vices then put our sampling de- three on your people Here are vicves ices in York and here are tapers New the samplers that dust is in the air test how much ' slide please e INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES 187 We got dust samples when you were doing dry mix work Next slide please Sanding Next slide please All kinds of hand finishing Now I'm going to give you some technical information You have it got to understand It is tough but you have got to know it It is your life at stake We are talking about 2 3 5 fibers per cc Even in the next room we found as much as 25 million fibers to he inhaled in working day We found that after sweeping the floors after sanding Alfarone told me they take a little brush and they sweep it up they don't wait for the laborers fibers per cc which is somewhere around 300 million fibers to be in- haled in a working day You don't see these People feel comfortable because what you don't see you don't worry about Next slide please What does that mean A cc or a cubic millimeter is a thimble of air A man inhales around 8 million cc's a day 8 million thimblefuls of air a day The Department of Labor has said that it is safe for a man to in- hale 16 million million long fibers They don't count the short fibers even though there may be 100 times as many short ones as long ones million long fibers a day and retain an unstudied percentage So when you see two fibers per cc on the next slide we are talking about 16 million long fibers for a ; day's respired air Next slide please This is what we found Taping work mixing of drywall taping com- pound produced almost 60 fibers is billion per cc That is about a billion fibers in a working dayday that a man would inhale Here we have hand sanding of drywall taping compounds Take a look at the fiber concentrations on the hand side anywhere from 8 million fibers in a day to 120 million fibers in a day We found that in the same room We found it in the next room Next slide please Pole sanding exactly the same thing hundreds of millions of fibers to be inhaled and many to be retained in your lungs as you do pole sanding Next slide please With this as a background we then rayed 17 tapers in New York We took only the fellows who were in the trade for more than 10 years We wouldn't have seen anything in than anything anything in less than matter how much 10 years no asbestos there was in the lungs It takes a long time to show an effect We found that in background to dry mixing the legal limit is going to be two fibers per cc which is too high 20 feet away it was still 13 fibers per cc or about 100 mil- lion fibers in a working day We found that 50 percent or 9 out of the 17 men had scarring on their rays of the sort we had already seen in the Pipe Coverers Next slide please ae oe set eae oe Feat 24k PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF We also saw the same kind of scurring of the pleura this white arca here the same kind of scar- ring of the pleura This was very little information with only 17 men With this initial data which we first showed to Loc- I came back to New York and we have since examined about 70 of the tapers in New York and we find is a comparison with the Pipe Coverers find that the percentage of abnormal rays year for year is virtually identical Lake City to see what the levels actually are of titanium among fe painters Next slide please We found among the solvents and thinners that there was a re- vi al 1974. we visited your Interna- for Tapers and for Pipe Coverers , markable display of the competence us tional in Washington We first went to a meeting to which we were in- vited in Miami Beach We met President Raftery and your full General Executive Board and it was at that meeting that your Committee was appointed to review the matter with us with the President Emeritus Raftery Mr. Duval Mr. Cox Mr. Wolford Mr. Pecoraro and Mr. Alfarone I had a liberal education that day I think you can appreciate now why we truly were dismayed in this past year please Next slide please With what I had been told we began to look into current paints Dr. Kingsley Kay the head of our Toxicology Laboratory recently gave a seminar to our laboratory staff and he said What I have found out about paints used now- - . and ingenuity of the American W chemical industry ri Not only did we find benzene which can produce leukemia but we found toluene xylene turpen tine coal tar solvent naphtha and the various kinds of alcohol Here el is a series of them Chlorinated hydrocarbons ketones and esters tt Next slide please This is only a summary I was told that it is all right to worry about the tapers but what about ...... and then I was - given a whole list of things adays would take a full year's toxicology course to review For example there are pigments there are solvents the plasticizers We found various which were used which tremely toxic hardeners were ex- the catalysts the additives the i I had thought that paints were stabilizers the hardeners et cetera paints I now found that they were Next slide please We found the oxidizers the ac- chemical compounds I had thought Next slide please celerators the catalysts the stabili- that floor tile sanding was an innocuous little thing and I soon found out that sanding of floor tiles sometimes gives so much dust that you couldn't see across the room asbestos dust And this is only a summary Among the pigments we have cadmium which gives kidney damage titanium about which we know nothing zers Next slide please The various bacteria additives planned to kill bacteria for exam- ple to keep the paint good 1 soon found that you people al- So did sandblasting you straightfor- ward or in preparation for painting and 1 knew what sandblasting did was told about your hardwood finishers with solvents with sand- You people won't believe this- at least I didn't Titanium which is used in every paint that you use is virtually completely unstudied with regard to what it will do to the human body When we looked into more about Next slide please These are fungicides They will . kill fungus Nobody said What are they going to do to the human be- ings es blasting and wood dust which I knew could also give cancer of the sinuses and nose this about blood levels for exam- ple we found the only thing that had ever been done was in 1936 gy- We found all kinds of effects on the body on the nervous system 1 remember yesterday Dick Fer- sete This was gone over with me in detail Now you know why we are taking blood samples from you We Next slide please are sending them to the Public es Health Service Laboratory in Salt ris- think he is from this area- was telling me that when he uses lacquer sprays if he takes a half can of beer afterwards he is drunk eta ane can soe aie dessiatwme ata wate set etme semn tre ee cites ry THIRD GENERAL GENERAL CONVENTION INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS PAINTERS AND MED TRAMES 1891 70 " came back to New York and vo we have since examined about 70 > of the tapers in New York and we the is comparison with this raysthe Pipe Coverers find that percentage of abnormal identical year for year is virtually identical for Tapers and for Pipe Coverers { I think you can appreciate now why we truly were dismayed in this t past year Lake City to see what the levels actually are of titanium among painters Next slide please We found among the solvents and thinners that there was a re- markable display of the competence and ingenuity of the American chemical industry Not only did we find benzenc This is true It is a combined ef fect Next slide please We found a whole series of plasticizers such as for example the vinyl chlorides that are now being used chlorinated biphenyls a whole series of chemicals polychlorinated biphenyls Next slide please series of : Next slide please ; With what I had been told we began to look into paints the head of our Kingsley Kay Dr. Laboratory recently seminar gave Toxicology gave a seminar to our laboratory staff and he said What I have which produce leukemia but which can produce xylenexylene turpen- coal tar solvent naphtha and tinethe various kinds of alcohol Here is a series of them Chlorinated hy- drocarbons drocarbons . ketones and estersesters Next slide please found We We have found a whole serieosf resins being used nobody what knowing to painters what will wall they do they know will do on the wall but we don't know what they will do to painters Next slide please now- out about paints used afdoauynsd would take a full year's toxtio-xi- ology course to review This is only a summary We which which found various hardeners were used which were ex- Now with this we also began to get some first information about sandblasters example there are pigments there solvents catalysts plasticizers there the , the catalysts the additives stabilizers the hardeners et cetera Next slide please please is And this is only a summary cad- the pigments we have Amongwhich gives kidney damage titanium titanium about which we kknnooww nothing used You least people won't believe this-- at I didn't Titanium which is in every paint that you use used virtually completely unstudied wwiitthh regard to what it will do tothe human body When we looked into more about about blood levels for exam- this we found the only thing that hadhad ever been done was in 1936 Now you know why we are tak- We ing blood samples from you sending them to the Public Health Health Service Laboratory in Salt tremely toxic Next slide please gres, We found celerators oxidizers oxidizers the ac- ac- the catalysts the stabili- Many people can sandblast and nothing much happens to them but nobody really knows There was one study done in New Orleans last year 1973 and reported here in ' ten zers Next slide please this city of 22 cases of sandblasters in New Orleans By the time they saw these men eleven were dead bacteria Op The various additives at an average age of 48. eleven nee kill bacteria for exam- were still alive and seven of them planned to had disease on the ray good ple to keep the paint Next slide please mt Next slide please We then looked on our expe- will fungicides These They are fungicides will ne kill fungus Nobody said What are to do to the human bethey going ings e We found all kinds of effects on ee the body on the nervous system it I remember yesterday mee yesterday this - ris think he from Dick Dick Fer- area- rience Here was one man that we saw with a little scar up here in the upper part of the right lung indi- cating Next slide please Two years later you can see al- very mostmost destroyed lungs Once it gets often destroyed going very going once it gets going because TB may be present it pro- ~ was telling me that when he uses lacquer sprays if he takes a half can of beer afterwards he is drunk gresses gresses very very rraapipdliy dly Next slide please ees 290 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION Here finally is another mesothe- lioma This is the last slide and it is worth remembering This is again a mesothelioma looking down at the autopsy on the autopsy table Here is the tumor These red nodules of tumor all through here indicating these are the calcified placques that told you . about before of a man who had worked sanding floor tiles and breathing in the clouds of asbestos that occur .I understand now that I have been told that this only happens to mem- bers of your union west of the Mis- sissippi that east of the Mississippi the carpenters have the privilege Laughter so that the entire audience will be able to hear you I do apologize to the Delegates on my right and left in the corners for not having had the opportunity to see the screen itself but am sure that you heard Dr. Selikoff's remarks and understood them well On I Mike in the front BROTHER COLE Waldo Cole Local 861 Kansas City Missouri From my experience I find that the employer and the employee not the employee but the insurance companies can get a medical report but the employee cannot I wonder if your association can help us along those lines I May have the lights please Obviously we have a lot to learn a a tremendous amount and for that reason we are terribly grateful to DR SELIKOFF Let's get one thing straight because you have raised a very interesting and very important question you for the teaching that you are Don't depend on us depend on doing with us in our survey now in yourselves Your union can get any- telling our scientists what the condi- thing erete tions of the trade are and we will even be more grateful to for You are going to get reports from this in the next several you us every one of you independent- come when we work with years to ly with nothing going to the em- y= you to cor- ployer and nothing going to even rect the conditions that we are find- ing Thank you your union me, Standing applause) COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX Ladies and Gentlemen you have just expressed yourselves the feelings that the entire General Ex- But reports now can be made . available of your union will see to union doesn't see rience is that very be done health if your it and if your to it my expe- little is going to centive Board and the General Pres- e ident Emeritus has felt for this won- derful man We are going to open the floor for questions if you have them di- I spoke think it was Mr. Valekis here of California 1 pronouncing it right Mr. Valekis a sandblaster and he told me that in yg rectly to Dr. Selikoff will ask if you do have ques- tions that you go to the microphones his trade and he is a foreman now that in his trade his experience in 25 years one ray of the lungs had been taken not one examina- INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF I tion had been arranged by the cm- ployers and here is a disease sili- h h cosis that we have known about for 100 years since the end of the 19th century in Great Britain so that your reports can be gotten from in- surance companies and from others if you ask for it eons Pa Now very often they may say they won't send it to you Write to me I will write to them and get it as a doctor and see that you will find out what the information real- ly is BROTHER COLE Thank you COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX You may obtain Dr. Seli- koff's address through the office our office if you so desire I recognize the Delegate on Mike BROTHER FEDORE Brother John Fedore Local 6. Pittsburgh Pa What I wanted to say is this I have been in the painting business and I done sandblasting and we also done a lot of blowing of dust flue dust on blast furnaces Now I went there and took an examination but what bothers me more than anything else I told them all of this history it's on the record there Now they give they put five different shots into me Now I don't even know what it was for The blood they took I didn't mind but the shots DR SELIKOFF Very very good question May answer that BROTHER please FEDORT Yes DR SELIKOFF Right ' | anaes ete ener ert ke Te ENTY THIRD GENERAL CONVENTION CONVENTION ... so that the entire audience will be able to hear you be 1:17 I do apoalgize poloagpologizie ze to the Delegates my right and left in the 2 for corners not had for 2 having the opportunity to see the screen itself but that you heahred ard Dr. Selikoff's am sure ill and Selikoff's remarks remarks well re and understood them , On Mike 1 in the front id d BROTHER COLE Waldo 35 Local 861 Kansas City Missouri employee- From my experience I the employer experience the 2- not the employee but the insurance ' ...companies can get a medical > but the employee cannot report help help wonder if your association can help us along those lines DR SELIKOFF : straight Let's ggetet one thing have straight because you * ised a very interestinginteresting and very very > portant question te yourselves depend yourselves depend on us on thing om yourselves yourselves Your unionunion can get any- tomb You to are going get reports from Lt us every one of you independent- us with nothing going to the em- ployer nothing ployer and ployer your union goggoioiinngngg to even even 1 But available reports reports now can be made available of your health if your will see to it and if your ruineinocne doesn't ee rience is be done expe- see to it my little that very is going very going to little is to kis spoke think it was Mr. Vale- e kis here of California pro- et nouncing it right Mr. a Valekis and he told me that in ee tshtaahtnatdblaster his that trade and he is a foreman now years trade his experience in 25hadyears not one ray of the lungs been taken not one examina- INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES tat tion had been arranged by the em- ployers and here is a disease sili- cosis that we have known about for 100 years since the end of the 19th century in Great Britain so that your reports can be gotten from insurance companies and from others if you ask for it Now very often they may say they won't send it to you Write to me I will write to them and get it as a doctor and see that you will find out what the information real- ly is BROTHER COLE Thank you COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX You may obtain Dr. Seli- koff's address through the office our office if you so desire o I recognize the Delegate on Mike BROTHER FEDORE Brother John Fedore Local 6 Pittsburgh Pa What I wanted to say is this I have been in the painting business and I done sandblasting and we also done a lot of blowing of dust flue dust on blast furnaces Now I went there and took an examination but what bothers me more than anything else I told them all of this history it's on the record there Now they give they put five different shots into me Now I don't even know what it was for The blood they took I didn't mind but the shots- DR SELIKOFF Very very good question May I answer that BROTHER please FEDORE Yes DR SELIKOFF Right Those skin tests that your Brother had made were only made in small number a small percentage of the men only those who have done sandblasting Let me tell you why When there is silica in your lung it lowers the resistance of the lung to tuberculosis Why we don't know again but we do know that anybody with silica in the lung is subject to developing tuberculosis There is some evidence now that the lungs are destroyed among sandblasters much more if they have some bacteria tuberculosis bacteria of various kinds in them So what we have done is to start to skin test for tuberculosis five different kinds of tuberculosis bacteria so that those men who we find have positive skin tests will be told about this so that they can get proper treatment to prevent any damage occurring to their lungs Applause) COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX I recognize Mike 3 BROTHER ARTEAGA Daniel Arteaga Local 560 Dr. Selikoff I appreciate your in- formation I have been very interested in this field In fact through my initiative and the cooperation of the California State Employces Association a resolution was introduced in 1971 Senate Resolution No. 137. I hope that I can be able to give to Vice President Cox this information But Dr. Selikoff while am on the mike I would like to ask you have you had consideration of heart conditions in damaging within the painting industry 14,2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION CONVENTION DR SELIKOFF That's one of the many things about which we have no information Mind you what we are doing now should have been done 20 years ago We are 20 years too late am sorry but these are the facts and nobody should kid you DR SELIKOFF 1 have two parts to my answer The first is that's the wrong thing to do They shouldn't get into the air in the first place You should have a working place where you don't have to work all day with a respirator We do know that the heart is of- ten damaged when there is scarring of the lungs scarring that can come either from the dusts you inhale or from the fumes and vapors and solvents and thinners that can pro- duce emphysema This then puts a strain on the heart in two ways First the heart has to push the blood through the scars which is difficult and secondly when the lungs aren't good there isn't enough oxygen in the blood there isn't enough oxygen to feed the heart in its work so therefore there is reason to believe that the heart can he damaged under these conditions ( Applause That's not for human beings Moreover you are aware of the respirator when you see the dust but there's lots of dust when you don't see it so keep it out of the air That's number one For example to get back I don't think there should be dry mixing of taping compound anywhere in the country Now New York Local 1974 has banned it and the contractors maybe didn't like it It is cheaper to have dry mix but I'm sorry it's more expensive in human life That's number one But the studies that will demon- strate this unequivocably have not yet been done Secondly there are good respirators now for these finc particles of dust disposable respirators that the COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX I recognize Mike 8 Pipe Coverers did the research on to develop - Brothers while he is on the mike let me request so we can get as many questions in as possible that you concise your questions We would like to attend to as many mikes as we can If you will do that.'we would appreciate it They are made by three com- panies by Three M by Welsh Welsh and by American Optical These are thin light effective and will keep the fine particles from getting into your lungs so they can be used but only in exceptional circumstances Other- Mike 8 wise have a clean working place and don't wear a respirator ny, BROTHER MC CURDY All right Don McCurdy Local 1137 Warren Pennsylvania COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX The Chair recognizes Mike 4 When are we going to get corrective respirators to take these minute particles out of the air BROTHER CAPONIO Sam Caponia Painters Local 127 Oakland INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF 1 In the San Francisco Bay area la Dr. Selikoff a local hospital is of- a fcring a test for lead zinc and ... mercury This test uses a human -- hair in its testing How accurate is that test DR SELIKOFF It is generally very accurate It is a very good test I don't know how much it will help It only tells what happened five years ago two years ago or three years ago but it will give you some information It is a good test It is an accurate test and I think they should be congratulated for offering it to you COMMITTEE COX Mike 5 CHAIRMAN BROTHER WOODEN Wooden District Council 48 Earl What respirator is the best respirator that we can use today DR SELIKOFF The best res- pirator that you can use today is an air supply respirator This is al- most impossible to get the employer to give you It cuts production all the way down Canister respirators of special types are also very good There are throw respirators for dust that causes scarring in the lungs that are very good There are very good respirators now and the Public Health Service has a special laboratory for res pirators that you can approach and they will give you excellent infor- mation Write to Dr. Joseph K. Wagnor of NOISH in Cincinnati and he will get the right people in touch with you and you will get to know the best respirators If you get into any trouble if you can't find out write to my Fats 1ARD 1ARD GENERAL GENERAL CONVENTION DR SELIKOFF I have two parts to my answer The first is that's the wrong thing to do They shouldn't get into the air in the first place You should have a working place where you don't have to work all day with a respirator Applause ) That's not for human beings Moreover you are aware of the respirator when you see the dust but there's lots of dust when you don't see it so keep it out of the , air That's number one For example to get back I don't think there should be dry mixing _ of taping compound anywhere in anywhere ; country Now New York Local 1974 has banned it and the contractors maybe didn't like it It is cheaper to have dry mix but I'm sorry it's more expensive in human life That's number one Secondly there are good respira- . tors now for these fine particles of dust disposable respirators that the Pipe Coverers did the research on to develop They are made by three com- panies by Three M. by Welsh Welsh and by American Optical These are thin light ef- lective and will keep the fine particles from getting into your lungs so they can be used but only in exceptional circumstances Other- wise have a clean working working and don't wear a respirator place COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX The Chair recognizes Mikc Caponio BROTHER CAPONIO Sam Caponio Painters Local 127 Oak- INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES TRADES 41 In the San Francisco Bay area Dr. Selikoff a local hospital is offering a test for lead zinc and mercury This test uses a human hair in its testing How accurate is that test DR SELIKOFF It is generally very accurate It is a very good test I don't know how much it will help It only tells what happened five years ago two years ago or three years ago but it will give you some information It is a good test It is an accurate test and I think they should be congratulated for offering it to you laboratory to Mr. Duncan A. Holaday and he will see to it that you will have accurate information with regard to respirators COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX Brothers when you ask your questions first give your name and local union number Mike 8 BROTHER LABELSON My name is Sol Labelson Business Representative Local 1511 Brooklyn If you would allow me at this time I want to compliment the General Board for their interest in this COMMITTEE COX Mike 5 CHAIRMAN BROTHER WOODEN Wooden District Council 48 Earl What respirator is the best respirator that we can use today DR SELIKOFF The best res- pirator that you can use today is an air supply respirator This is almost impossible to get the employer to give you It cuts production all the way down Canister respirators of special types are also very good There are throw respirators for dust that causes scarring in the lungs that are very good There are very good respirators now and the Public Health Service has a special laboratory for respirators that you can approach and they will give you excellent infor- Selikoff research and I thank Dr. personally want to for not only being a great doctor but a great friend to this trade I have had a personal experience Applause) I have had a personal experience on one of my jobs in the Brookdale Hospital where the kitchens were to be steam cleaned and painted with epoxy - When the men complained of this Jimmy Bishop our Secretary urer of DC 9 and Morris Levy was very interested I got in touch with Dr. Selikoff and he was kind enough to send Dr. Kay down personally and I want to tell you they stopped the use of epoxy on that job because it was dangerous to the men mation So when we receive the para- Write to Dr. Joseph K. Wagnor of NOISH in Cincinnati and he phernalia from the General Board telling you about safety I think we will get the right people in touch with you and you will get to know the best respirators owe a real vote of thanks to General Board and to a great . man being Dr. Selikoff the hu- you get into any trouble if you can't find out write to my Thank you Applause 1-1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX The Board agrees on your comments certainly about Dr. Seli- koff and thank you for your comment to the Board Mike 6. I'm sorry BROTHER TOPP My name is Eddic Topp Local Union 51 Dis- trict Council 9 In 1971 when we became aware of the danger of asbestos and other materials in the acoustical mate- rials we submitted a sample to the New York State Laboratories and at the same time I was the Safety Director of the Council or the Safe- ty Committeeman and they sent it back 100 percent clear It was purely by accident that we came in contact with Dr. Selikoff and he sent Dr. Kay out to different jobs and he took samples and we submitted it to Dr. Selikoff's laboratory and lo and behold the Gypsum people's material the report came back It was 50 percent asbestos and 50 percent fiberglass And as a result of this we went and got samples of every material that was used and it was banned from further use on the cclings in the City of New York and I am sure throughout the country What happened in New York State in that case was that they looked at it with the ordinary mi- croscope You can't see it with the ordinary microscope remember I told you that You have to have an electron microscope We have three One of them cost us 100.000 for example and an ordinary laboratory doesn't have one You can also use ray diffrac- tion but then you have to have a physicist to run it An ordinary laboratory doesn't have it But don't make a mistake If you think that this has been banned throughout the country you have got another think coming and it hasn't been I was told by one of the floor tile sanders I examined yesterday that he not only has the problem of the floor tile sanding but very often the sprayed ceiling material that you are talking about falls to the floor and when comes in to do his work it's part of the dust that he raises in general This is a big problem and you have solved it in New York but there are many places it has not been solved Now my question is this Since we had submitted it to the State of New York and it came back with an okay it was purely accidental that it was submitted to your laboratory where can we submit the material that we have doubts about so we can get an accurate report on them DR SELIKOFF It is almost impossible to believe but there are virtually no places you can get such a report COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX I'm sorry Brother Microphone No. 9 please BROTHER DOBRICK Art Do- brick Local 275 Chicago Illinois My question to you Dr. Selikoff is 1 realize that respirators in asbestos are probably very good hut I have always known that your body your entire body breathes so it is not only what you get through your nose or through your mouth INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF What about protective clothing This certainly would be a great help ool and it should be urged to other people not only to use respirators but also to use protective clothing such as plastic coats which cover your entire body while you are working and also protective shoes so that your entire body will be cov- ered DR SELIKOFF 1 agree with you First of all some of these ma- terials can be absorbed through the skin and can go to the liver can go to the kidney go to the brainthe brain being a very important organ here because we frequently see brain damage through the blood stream after it goes in the skin I would suggest however that the procedure that your General Executive Board is now following be considered wise because they plan after this Convention to sit down with the paint manufacturers to see how we can get safe materials in the trade and not have to go around like a zombie in a plastic uniform COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX We have time for one more question Brother we have two minutes left Microphone No. 4 BROTHER GREGORY Thank you My name is Chester Gregory Lo- cal Union 10. from Portland Ore- gon To conserve time I'm speaking for two people Several have asked that the Doc- tor's address be included in the min- utes so contact can be made se, NYRE NYRE GENERAL CONVENTION CONVENTION CONVENTION CONVENTION 1 Whatin happened in New York State f fr rlooked that case was that thethyey at it with the ordinary 11- croscope You can't ordinary mi- ordinary can't can't see it with the microscope told you that microscope remember I themYou have to have an electron mi- croscope We have three One cost 100,000 for of and an ordinary laboratory example example . have ordinary laboratory laboratory laboratory doesn't doesn't r You d. tion You can also use ray tion but then you have to diffrac- have physicist to run it An a laboratory doesn't have it ordinaryordinary t make don't a mistake If tthhrouighonutk that this has been you banned throughout the got country you have got another think coming hasn't coming and and hasn't been coming are talking about and falls to the floor when he comes in to do his work it's raises part of the the dust that he raises in general New York and it . This is a big big , big problemproblem you have solved in btheeerne soarlevedmanymany places iitt has not COMMITTEE COX COX I'm I'm CHAIRMAN CHAIRMANCHAIRMCHAIRMAN AN sorry Brother Microphone No. 9. please Illinois DOBRICK Chicago BROTHER brick brick Local 275 : Art Do- your body is My question to you Dr. Selikoff is realize asbestos that respirators in are probably very good have always known that but your your entire body breathes so is not only what you nose or get through your through your mouth INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES 197 What about protective clothing This certainly would be a great help and it should be urged to other people not only to use respirators but also to use protective clothing such as plastic coats which cover your entire body while you are work- ing and also protective shoes so that your entire body will be cov- ered : DR SELIKOFF I agree with you First of all some of these ma- terials can be absorbed through the skin and can go to the liver can go to the kidney go to the brainthe brain being a very important organ here because we frequently see brain damage through the blood stream after it goes in the skin My personal question am wondering the Doctor's comments are appreciated so greatly - he could give us a relative rating of the dangers involved in this smoking habit as related to those involved in exposure on the job Since we are after the contrac- tors to improve our working situation should we perhaps not have some kind of regulation in a meeting such as this relating to smoking in Applause DR SELIKOFF I have the answer to that Let me give you the answer to that because it is a very interesting one I would suggest however that the procedure that your General Executive Board is now following be considered wise because they plan after this Convention to sit down with the paint manufacturers to see how we can get safe materials in the trade and not have to go around like a zombie in a plastic uniform : COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN COX We have time for one more question Brother we have two minutes left Microphone No. 4 I think you will appreciate it The question was asked us ten years ago How do you know that the lung cancer that you are finding in all the asbestos workers is not due to the smoking A fair question What we did was we asked each of the asbestos workers throughout the country about what he smoked Some never smoked at all Some smoked cigarettes some smoked pipes and some smoked cigars I can tell you now that asbestos workers who don't smoke cigarettes have no history of cigarette smoking don't die of lung cancer BROTHER GREGORY Thank you My name is Chester Gregory Lo- cal Union 10 from Portland Ore- gon To conserve time I'm speaking for two people . Doc- Several have asked that the tor's address be included in the min- utes so contact can be made Applause ) Now this is the fact Now if they do smoke they have eight times as much lung cancer as all other smokers so it is not the asbestos hy itself it is not the smoking by itself but the combination is terrible Dr. Hammond of the American Cancer Society has calculated that a pipe coverer who smokes has 92 times the chance of dying of lung Sores Mi a PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY GENERAL CONVENTION cancer doesn't bestos compared to someone who smoke nor works with as- . Also out west out west in the uranium mines uranium miners who don't smoke don't die of lung cancer Now if they do smoke a terrible death rating of cer much greater than smokers they have lung can- all other Now it fits your problem be- cause you are exposed to many things that the combinations may be terrible One by itself may not be enough to cause trouble but by gosh what I have learned in the last two days indicates that you never are exposed to only one thing You are exposed to a whole slew of things until I had an opportunity to sit down with this wonderful man Dr. Selikoff and begin to realize what we had been facing all of these years but did not say Now you will possibly realize why Dr. Selikoff has provided for the General President and members of the Executive Board approximately 20 scientists doctors and nurses for the tremendous response that you have been giving to us and to them in these physical examinations I'm sure you realize that in us- ing the terms we have somewhat been using you as guinea pigs The purpose of that is to have you in a able collective audience and to be to learn as much as we possibly can as soon as we possibly can Applause) COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CON Thank you Dr. Selikoff Brothers Sisters I wish we had more time for questions I did extend the time because of your intercst I know that we could spend much more time because you have shown tremendous interest in the presentation made here this morning by Dr. Sclikoff I wish to make clear to each of you in your individual trades that it is the intention of the members of the General Executive Board that we extend our field of research not just in taping or painting but into every industry covered by this Brotherhood You saw in front the laboratory bus that unit When this Convention adjourns that bus will then take off that medical unit and in behalf of the entire membership of this Brotherhood, will travel mebrship the United States It will stop in various cities and towns to examine our members We are going to do the most thorough job we possibly can because Dr. Selikoff said we know as we are way behind schedule Now I know that the General President and each of your General Vice Presidents in each of your Districts is going to be interested in the response from you and your Local Union membership of the interest that you will take You have responded this morn ing us of your interest I told in you my opening remarks how little Knowledge | realized I had the field of my work and it was not Let me point out to you that in your packets you have a hook called Play It Safe Hi hook after OSHA went into effect was brought up to date by INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD IF your Committee your Safety and Health Committee You have 211,000 members to day in this Brotherhood and yet we had a response for only 30.000 of these books to be given out to the membership We intend expanding the knowl- edge in this book It will be inter- esting to see what the response will be for requests of knowledge that we can extend to you We sincerely hope that you and each of your individual crafts will respond to us when we come and say we wish to examine X number of members field While this Convention has been going on Dr. Selikoff's scientists have been in the construction in the City of Los Angeles taking samples of air on job sites where taping is being done where chloride paints have been applied to walls on floor cleaning jobs where sanding has been performed of the asbestos tile into the glass shops because of glass dust We will continue to extend and we thank God that we have the privilege of being able to have someone of the tremendous dedica tion of Dr. Selikoff working with the Board Thank you very much Applause ) GENERAL PRESIDENT RAF TERY think it goes without say her ing as I take the mike again the dais that all of us are in debted to the good Doctor for th tremendous job that he is doing i working with us to help take car of the problems of these jah si situations in our health and safet se rent ae e TO REXFRA REXFRRA EXFRA CONVENTION CONVENTION until had an opportunity to sit down with this wonderful man Dr. Selikolf and begin to realize what we had been facing all of these years but did not say Now you will possibly realize why Dr. Selikoll has provided for the General President and mem- bers of the Executive Board ap- proximately 20 scientists doctors and nurses for the tremendous re- sponse that you have been to and to them in these phygsiivcianlg examinations I'm sure you realize that in us- ing the terms we have somewhat been using you as guinea pigs The purpose of that is to have you in a collective audience and to be able to learn as much as we possibly can as soon as we possibly can You saw in front the laboratory me bus that unit When this Conven- GF tion adjourns that bus will then me oO off that medical unit and in Malf of the entire membership of this Brotherhood will travel the United States ; It will stop in various cities and towns to examine our members We e e are job Dr. going to do the most thorough we possibly can because as Selikoff said we know we are way behind schedule e General Now I know that the President and each of your General Vice Presidents in each of your Districts is going to be interested in the e response from you and your Local Union membership of the interest hat you will take Let me point out to you that in our packets you have a book called Play ft Safe a This book after OSHA went into effect was brought up to date by INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL BROTHERKULOBROTOHERKUDLO D BROTHERKULOOD O IM 1 fi VADO ALL TW * al your Committee your Safety and Health Committee You have 211,000 members to- day in this Brotherhood and yet we find a response for only 30,000 of these books to be given out to the membership We intend expanding the knowl- knowledge in this book It will be interesting to see what the response will be for requests of knowledge that we can extend to you We sincerely hope that you and each of individual crafts will respond to us when we say we wish to examine ber of members come and X num- While this Convention has been going on Dr. Sclikoff's scientists have been in the construction field in the City of Los Angeles taking samples of air on job sites where applied taping is being done chloride paints have been where to walls on floor cleaning jobs where sanding has been performed of the asbestos tile into the glass shops because of glass dust and 1 would like to make a little Brotherhood presentation presentation which e token of the esteem of the out the nation amnedmbtehirsship througgly and the officers and members of General secutive Road Road the equipped Wi have pinchased for Dr. Silikott a mobile unit a specially equipped piece of equipment that I know that he and Mt. Sinai Hos- pital_need_ pital_need_ desperately in New York and t would like to him the key to that new unit pornesebnet- half of all us Standing ovation DR IKOFF May 1 express my thanks and the thanks of our group of scientists industrial hygienists nurses physicians who are working here with you this week for the help that you have given us in these last days and for this throughout generous gift that you now give us that will help our work the country Thank you very much Applause ) We will continue to extend and we thank God that we have the dedica- privilege of being able to have someone of the tremendous tion of Dr. Selikoff working with the Board Thank you very much Applause) GENERAL PRESIDENT RAF- here TERY I think it goes without say- ing as I take the mike again at the dais that all of us are in- debted to the good Doctor for the tremendous job that he is doing in working with us to help take care of the problems of these job site situations in our health and safety GENERAL PRESIDENT RAF- TERY The Chair now the Chairman of the recognizes Credentials Committee for a of the CredentialsconCcolmumdiitngteerepboer-t fore we move into the special order of business COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BOCANFUSO President Raftery General Secretary DiSilvestro Gen- eral Officers and Delegates this is the Final Report on Credentials Your Credentials Committee concluded their duties as of 9:00 a.m. this morning and this will be an updated final report to the cooperative Delegates to this 23rd General Convention eatin sre