Document garvYE2ag7OY6yrmzD9Jm22Ze

FETTER 01- 1 NT!:,NT !-'K- THE TV Or' MlGUEAq 1:, THE AShlifVi Of. FRO Yr-ur rcfrrt'nrr: Otif Ti fi Ttncc: 'OOP, CONCERNING ' ! I' :iHC lino EFFECT PLAIN! ty EXHIE JM-2204 M 1 NIST R Y OF LA HO U R SArETY, Hr.ALTn Ahu Ar.LrAhx. UEFAi! TilbiiT Ba>nafcL House, 1-13 Chepstow Place West bourne Grove, Lonixjn W.2 Trim!,/u,c: RAVjrt Qter 345/', CM. Dear Dr.Holaea, Ootober 1966. Rovislon of the Asbeetoe Industry Regulations Ab you may already know, we are at present reviewing the Asbestos industry Regulations , 1931 th a view first to oxtendi: their aoope to cover occupations in which there ie a hazard from asbestos, but which are not covered by the existing ilcgulntior_s , end secondly, to making their (substantive provisions core effective, V.'e have r.rw rarhf,d t*>ye arc able to put fo*v?..rd curtain ]UO^wub> and I an writing to seek your observations on then. These proposals are not complete<r final. Ab they stand they are concerned solely with the physical precautions to be taxon to minimize exposures to aeteuton dust. They may have to be supplements! by other provisions in duo courso. As you are no doubt awai-e, HN Senior Medical inspector of Factories has set up a panel of experts to advise him on questions relating to the health risks of as bo s too in industry. The panel is cons!dering in particular the question of the association of mosotholioDA wjth ox poo are to asbestos, as well as such matters as medical supervision. >f)ien we come to consider what provision to sake in these mat tore, there fore, our medical colleagues will have full knowledge of the most export medical opinion on this subject, ' Meanwhilo, however, sotio things arc clear. We think that the now Regulations will have to apply to any proccan in which &3b'ntoj in processed or U3<sd or in which it is applied to or removed from on article or in which uny article made wholly or portly of asbestos ie worked. They should apply to all factories and to all premises arid places to which the provisions of the Factories Act as respects special Re&uluticub apply. The Cidef Inspeotor should bo given the usual powers of exoaption froa the substantive requiram nts, and duties would be Laid on both employers and workpeople to comply with the appropriate requirements of the Regulations. We propose a general requirement that no process to which the Regulations appi y should be carried on unless exhaust draught ventilation is provided to prevent the escape into the air of any workplace of asbostoa dust. This requirement wool l not apply where the procerus is carried on, either in 0 total enclosure from which all person's r.r" oxc in > J, Or in none ottmr squall;/ safe tianner. In any case in wuich 1 ir;no ti- to comply *1 in this req-.i r< nnt, proi active equi peent should bo prov i Cor trio use .. every -,a rnon asp! > t In a p-,r*. cf ' h" fa* lory into which asbestos i e.-- p*j , Thin eq. i;--r:t aho"! I cun in*, t * a- '."Mf hroa**-' - np 'aratiu ark overalls, heutgO' .r , glo n.-3 and b ctfl or over bo > t-J winch offucdivoly exclude ashes to dust, b.iuh protective oqui prion t will hive to proprrly maintained'and there w. 1 a roqui regis nt that it eh uld bo u'*d by the p'iooni fo. whose benefit it wac provi : The Rogul a t' oru will also provide tint brea t'n rv.; ajt<iratu3 which hn pravicurly l e i8 We propose to require that all mu ib inary, plant, fixtures and internal surfaces of every part of a factory in which any process to which the Reflations apply is carried or, should be kept clean by naano of vnouua cleaning cqui p*scnt s air emitted from turn equipment aust not be di ac barbed into'workrooms , corridors, etc# The olean: r.g of machinery, fixtures and exhaust ventilation equipment sunt be carried out by pcrs'-na wearing personal protective equipment an i an air-lino respirator, and no ouior person i u in -.-I'.otvI ir uml pa, t of the factory rhr re the cleaning is being car riot on. The Hog-ulations will require any building used for the first time for an asbe3toe process after the coming into force-of the Regulations to have interior walls with smooth ..vub surfn-r- , r' "'* `vn^uun cleaning equipment, t The Regulations will provide that asbestos must be stored in suitable clooed ccntainorr. and that it must no tv brought into, transported within or despatched from the factory oth.rwise than in impervious containers, When not in use personal protectivu equipment nait to kept in lockers in suitable changing rooms. Finally, we propose tiiat personal protective equipment should be laundered at suitable intervale. If laundering is not carried out at the factory the clothing should be eent out in : rape rv i ous c on ta i ne rs . It would bo helpful if vou could let me have your observat.ons on these outline proposals within the next six weeks. Copies of t-tis letter are going to the organioations shown on the attached list. Yours sincerely, A, F, HAirULL. Ur. Tj. Holmes,. Asbestos Reoearoh Council , Turner Brothers Asbestos ColLtd,, ; .i . Lanes. Confederation of British Industry Trades Union Congress The Cape Asbestos Co, Ltd. TV'-rer *T--.*v>sr Asbestos Co. Ltd. A. A. Brasier A Co. Ltd. Bell's Asbestos A Engineering Ltd, Central Asbestos Co. Ltd,