Document eLZjm6p780JrBK1E58EY6V7M

FEB 13 1974 to Or. R. Henderson, Or. H. AT Rescue, W. Dugle, G. *1. Henrlch, J. J. McHugh eUBJBCT atb February 12, 1974 cott to c. e, Ridenour H. H. Kerr A. Baker Attached Is a copy of an article which appeared In the Kantujiky Labor News of February 2, 1974, In which Mr. Peter Bomrlfc|r President of the United Rubber Workers, views with alarm tlMt*yGM situation at Goodrich and the other producers. This Is not Mich more than a repetition of his comments which appeared In the Wall Street Journal last month, but addressees may be interested In the reference to the study being conducted at the University of North Carolina. / JJH/mh Att. OLI 1117 WHt FILE THIS COFY? tF TOO MUST SSTAIN IT. SStCIfV * DEFINITE DETENTION SCSI D ONI YtAO OTHI*. ,4 % *i * Occupational Hazards .. . Polyvinyl Chloride Asbestos Internationa] labor standards on the safe use of asbestos An inakhous recently rmpM occupational health disease aid be created as soon as possible, according to a committee has been reported by the B. 7. Cadrich*s director of Environ tperts which met at the Internationa] Labor Office in Geneva. mental Health, Dr. Mmrioe N. JohMon. In the meantime research should be continued into the ways vhich asbestos fibres cause injury, said the experts, who An extremely Ugh <***--" If a rare and deadly liver cancer was found in Coodrich's Polyvinyl Chloride plant in swed current knowledge of the effects of asbestos dust and Louisville, Ky. ible preventive measures. Since 1988, four documented cues of angiosarcoma of the It is well established that exposure to asbestos dust in die liver and related deaths have occurred in this Kentucky plant, has caused serious diseases, and there is evidence that the employing about L200 workers. Of these, some 270 workers ience of diseases is related to the intensity and duration of could have a direct exposure to chemical agents used in the isure. production of polyvinyl chloride. Most startling is the fact that The experts underlined the fundamental importance of in the entire country, only 21 deaths per year are recognized and ter monitoring of the working environment to determine those diagnosed as angiosarcoma. This physical response has never Is of asbestos fibre concentration which can lead to asbestosis, * been reported as being related to polyvinyl chloride manufacture. those which can lead to lung cancer or to mesothelioma, jse cancers spreading over the surface of the lung and the jminal organs. prevention of harmful dust emission is complicated of die wide range of products containing asbestos, and variety of its uses. The use of safer substitute materials table. After examining different technical prevention measures -- suppression, enclosure and mechanization of work processes personal protection -- the experts said a high standard of ical supeivision should be maintained to ensure die best action for exposed workers. They stressed the need far rts to correlate dust exposure to different types of asbestos i the development of symptoms. The experts attached great importance to the need for a full evstanding f the asbestos hazard by all persons concerned, i within and outside the undertaking. They recommended that the ILO prepare a guide on the use of asbestos, and issue the report of the meeting to ILO nber governments, and through diem to employers and ken, and to all interested organizations. is , A specific causative agent, u yet, has not been identified, but could be related to vinyl chloride or other chemicals used in the polymerization of the polyvinyl chloride resin. Although none of the B. F. Goodrich plants producing this material are organized by the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC, many other plants involved with polyvinyl chloride production do employ members of the URW. This recent information could directly affect our membership, u its impact could be worldwide. My initial approach to this situation will be to call on URW officials and companies involved with polyvinyl chloride manu facture to meet with B. F. Goodrich and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) officials for a briefing of the problem. As chairman of the Industrial Union Departments Health and Safety Committee, 1 expect to set up a conference with the other international union presidents whose members could also be involved, and our goal will be to establish an approach to study and evaluate the impact of this cancer on workers and a policy related to worker protection and monitoring. Our membership is immediately being informed of the hazard reportedly related to polyvinyl chloride handling and production, and I have assigned our director of Industrial Hygiene, Louis S. Beliczky, to initiate an immediate investigation -- < to obtain objective data to fully document and define the problem as it affects our workers. As part of our negotiated Joint Occupational Health Program, die University of North has already initiated a crash epidemiological study of the locals involved with. polyvinyl chloride production and more comprehensive investigations will be designed in the near future. Fast responsible action is mandatory to avert a catastrophe fo this modem industrial world. OLI 1118 I' 'X ; i * f\