Document gEJw84zLrQX0B02O4YQnL59wL

FILE NAME DuPont DUP DATE 1972 Jan 25 DOC DUP149 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Letter from J.A. Sigman DuPont Manufacturing Division to D.B. Sebree Legal Dept. RE Asbestos Dust Control a ~~. 12004 REV 8-65 ; ESTAZUISHED 1908 E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & COMPANY ICORFORATED WILMINGTON DELAWARE 19898 | TEXTILE FIBERS DEPARTMENT cc G. A. Christian L. Louviers | J. A. Zapp F. Reinhardt E. F. Ruppe - Administration January 25 1972 D. B. SEBREE LEGAL DEPT ASBESTOS DUST CONTROL This will confirm suggestions made at the Environmental Liaison Committee meeting of 1/21/72 concerned with asbestos dust control With the publication of maximum permissible concentration of asbestos dust where workers are exposed under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 Federal Register December 7 1971 several problems have come into focus that are probably of concern to all plants and in Engineering Construction where asbestos is handled and used for thermal insulation Among them are sampling and analysis of dust concentration substitute materials for use in place of asbestos and dissemination of technical infor- mation on asbestos ) f Since the publication of this directive by the Department of Labor the number of samples which will be sent to commercial laboratories for analysis will undoubtedly increase many fold At the present time samples sent to Dr. Corn at the University of Pittsburgh normally require four to eight weeks for results to be returned With increasing attention to environmental hazards by the Dept. of Labor we can anticipate that this interval will correspondingly increase Since it is important to know if not immediately certainly within a reasonable length of time the concentration of asbestos dust in a given work area so that appropriate protective measures can be taken we propose that serious consideration be given to the establishment of analytical facilities within the Du Pont Company to assure rapid and accurate analysis of asbestos dust samples submitted by our plants and laboratories It may even be appropriate to consider the justification for establish- ' ing facilities and training personnel to perform this analysis at some of the plant sites This might be especially beneficial at those locations where asbestos is routinely handled C. F. Reinhardt and J. L. Parsons would be , qualified to advise on this matter RECEIVED JAN 27 1972 HASKELL LABORATORY BETTER THINGS FOR BETTER LIVING . THROUGH CHEMISTRY | . 2 Because of the growing concern with health hazards associated with the handling of asbestos it would also seem desirable to undertake if it is not already being done a significant research and development program aimed at obtaining thermal insulation having operating characteristics comparable to asbestos but without the attendant health hazards J. L. Parsons agreed to look into this situation and advise committee members Because of the questions that have been raised in regard to the proper handling fabrication and disposition of items containing asbestos along with appropriate protective equipment for personnel as set forth in the Federal Register of 12/7/71 we feel it would be desirable to consider another Companywide seminar to discuss problems associated with this material The last such seminar was organized and conducted by Haskell Lab and it would seem appropriate that they organize the proposed seminar MANUFACTURING DIVISIONS J. A. Sigman Division Engineer Per RB Hayden _ R. B. Hayden RBH