Document e5n1X7yN0j4Rrn85km60DKGgp

A/C Pipe Producers Association Public Affairs Committee International Affairs Committee d/ZC*/e*C- J. F. Welch, Vice President News Article - Asbestos and Disease ACTION REQUIRED: Review for information Internal Correspondence DATE The enclosed article appeared in the December 30, 1981 issue of TheWashington Post. AACPP believes the described report is a research project, "Analysis of Disability and Workmen's Compensation in Asbestos-Associated Disease," funded by the U.S. Department of Labor in November, 1978. The funding level was $498,810 and its projected completion originally was June, 1979. The reasons for the 2 1/2 year delay are not known. The report is said to be one of a number of studies of pulmonary and respiratory diseases resulting from occupational exposures. These studies were mandated by the Black Lung Benefits Reform Act of 1977. OSHA is said to be reviewing the draft on a routine basis. It probably will be released with the related studies in late 1982. AIA/NA requested that it be permitted to comment on the report prior to publication. Staff Analysis Staff understands that the report is not oriented toward the suitability of current asbestos standards. Although "the asbestos health problem" is covered, it is secondary to the availability/inadequacies of workmen's compensation for former asbestos workers. Thus it is not likely that the document itself will place significant pressure on OSHA to accelerate its time schedule for review of the current and proposed asbestos exposure standards. However, this is the second study in recent months on asbestos and its potential hazards. In late 1981, the U.S. Government Accounting Office released a report recommending that schools litigate to recover expenses of removing or rehabilitating asbestos-containing materials in schools. Further, on January. 19, 1982, Congressman James Florio (D-N.J.) will hold a field hearing on asbestos exposure in schools and the workplace. The relative inattention asbestos enjoyed in 1981 appears to be diminishing. Staff cannot assess at this time whether the Selikoff report and Florio hearings will prompt political or regulatory action, but they clearly have the potential to do so. JFW/ajb Enclosures cc: A. Kahn, Esq. N. Rahn, Esq. Special Counsel (7) N. Battle CAPCO JEN 0001694 copies to: Public Affairs Committee H. Olson B. Cook R. LeGault W. Perrell J. Woods J. Baker T. Dougherty D. Stinson W. McCallie B. Collier International Affairs Committee R. Dorner E. van der Rest B. Giboin N. Officer R. Hobbs A. Saoulis R. Jalan V. Pattabhi H. Hudson C. Barton S. Al-Tarkait HEGA/1 Chrono CAPCO JEN 0001695 Report Paints Grim Picture Of Asbestos By Caroline E. Mayer . Washington Post StafI Writer More than 200,000 of the 9 mil lion .surviving workers - who have been exposed to asbestos during the past 40 years will die of asbestos- associated cancer by the end of the- century, an internal Department of Labor report concludes. , Thousands of more cancer deaths will occur among the workers' family members as well as among consume ers who use asbestos products and. former members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to the can cer-causing mineral, the report con cludes. The 650-page report, which is expected to be released by the Labor Department early next year, was obtained by . the Washington Insurance Newsletter. v Even before its release, a number of insurance companies were criti cizing the report, which was pre pared by Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, a spe cialist in occupational disease, espe cially asbestos-associated cancer. If its findings are accepted by the Department of Labor, the report could lead to significant changes in policy. For one thing, it could lead to tighter standards for asbestos expo sure in the work place. The Occupa tional Health and Safety Adminis tration is scheduled to review the current rule next year. The report also could lead * to changes in worker compensation programs and product liability laws. The report concludes that as the number of deaths increase and as the public becomes more aware of their cause, ' so many additional - worker disability claims and damage. suits will be filed that the existing compensation and legal systems will not be able to handle them. The increase in litigation also could hurt the financial stability of many insurance companies that end up paying the monetary damages, the report notes. ' Among its specific findings: Approximately 8,500 asbestos- See ASBESTOS, D10, Col. 1 Report Paints Grim Picture Of Asbestos ASBESTOS, From D8 . : related cancer deaths are occurring annually among workers who were- . exposed to asbestos since 1940. This total will rise to about 10,000 by the year 1990. - There was no minimum expo- ' Isure level at which workers are safe. .'Less than one month of work was sufficient to increase the risk of. death significantly. . ; ; Even consumers who use ashes-' .'tos products and employes who are : hot exposed directly to asbestos ; where it is used face risks. "We may - have to include risk to the garage - .'supervisor or owner in addition to T the brake-repair mechanic, to the supervising architect as well as the carpenter, the naval draftsman as well as the shipyard welder, and to the plant guard at the asbestos fac tory," the report says. Exposure to asbestos increased the risk of lung cancer about four or five times. The risk is even higher to . exposed workers who also smoke-- 50 times as great as that of a non- smoker not exposed to asbestos and five times greater than other smok ers. The number of lawsuits against manufacturers of asbestos products has increased dramatically. ' ' In the fiscal year that ended March 1, 1976, 124 suits were pend ing bgainst Johns-Manville Corp., the nation's largest asbestos compa- 1 ny. In 1978 that number grew to j 623, and from I960 to 1981 the j number rose from 2,857 to 5,800, j according to a Johns-Manville 1 spokesman. J CAPCO JEN 0001696