Document jBnqmNYD7nkOdE7jr4wKNZw9y

Hcntth Hmnrdz - NIOSH ISSUES ASBESTOS DUST ALERT FOR WORKERS EXPOSED SERVICING BRAKES r` \ An alert concerning the potential health hazard for persons exposed to asbestos during the servicing nf motor vehicle brake and clutch assemblies was issued by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and rtnalfli on August ft. NIOSH convened a meeting of government and university scientists, industry representatives, and labor union rffieials to discuss the present statoof knowledge with respect to this problem on June 2F Data was presented by investigators from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City indicating that workers engaged in the ninintcnnnrc and repair of automobile and (nick brake linings arc exposed to potentially hazardous levels of airborne asbestos dust (Current Report. July .11. p. 296'. Specific brake servicing operations studied included blow out of automohile drum brake assenthbes. grinding of used truck brake linings, and bevelling of new truck brake lutings. Average peak asbestos air concent rat ions for these three ac tivities based on personal samples taken within JO feet of the operator were, respectively. 10.5. 1.75. and 37.3 fibers greater than five microns in length per milliliter. An analysis of samples of brake drum dust revealed that almost all of the asbestos fibers were found shorter than 0.4 microns in length. Previous Studies Previous studies nf the extent of asbestos emissions from automobile brake lining wear showed that only a very small raction of the original asbestos content of the broke lining is Y>und in hrakc drum dust. It was presumed that this is due 1o .iicrmal degradation of the fibers during braking. The pre- Gscnt findings indicate that enough asbestos is preserved to produce significant exposures during certain brake servicing procedures. The full extent of asbestos-related disease in hrake ser vicing personnel is not known at. present because this par ticular occupational group has not been studied systematical ly up to now.' However, a review of the scientific literature on the association between asbestos exposure and mcsothclial tumors of the pleura and peritoneum has reveal ed at least four cases of these rare turners in persons who were employed'in jobs Involving automobile brake servicing, the alert said. The environmental studies of brake lining scrvie.irg together with observations of mesothelial tumors in persons so employed affirms the necessity for instituting and main taining recommended control measures in this industry so that the health hazards of asbestos arc minimized, according lu the alert. Reeommnnded Procedures Following are interim procedures recommended hy NIOSH to minimize exposure to asbestos dust during brake and clutch servicing: If possible, an area shall he dcsignated.fnrnU hrake and clutch repairs. Entrances into this area shall be posted with an asbestos exposure warning sign as follows: Asbestos Dust Hazard Avoid Breathing Dust Wear Assigned Protective Equipment Do Not Remain in Area Unless Your Work Requites II Breathing Asbestos Dust May Cause Ashestosis and Cancer During broke servicing, an air purifying respirator, either single use nr with replaceable particulate filterts). as approved hy the Mining Enforcement and Safety Ad ministration (formerly Bureau of Mines) or NIOSH, shall be worn during all procedures starting with the removal of the wheels and including reassembly. During manual clutch ser vicing. such a respirator shall be worn during removal and cleaning of the clutrh. pressure plate and housing assembly and during installation of the new clutch assembly. Duct shall first he cleaned from hrakc drums, brake harking plates, hrake assemblies and clutch assemblies us ing an industrial type vacuum cleaner equipped with a high rlfiripnry titter system igreater than PP percent, efficiency for 0.1 urn diamrirr aerosolsi. After vacuum cleaning, ary remaining dust shall he removed using a rag soaked in water and wrung until nearly dry. Under no circumstances shall compressed air or dry brushing be used for cleaning. During arcing and riveting operations, an approved respirator, as described in <2' above, shall be worn! Grin ding iarcing i machines shall he provided with local exhaust ventilation such that worker exposures arc maintained at least below the 1076 OSHA asbestos standard 171 CFR Jpioiooii. At a minimum, the dust hag of the arcing machine shall he removed and replaced with the hose of tho high efficiency industrial vacuum described in (31 above. Industrial vacuum cleaner bags containing asbestos dust and cloths used for wiping brake and clutch assemblies shall be sealed in plastic bags and labeled with the following warn ing label printed in letters of sufficient size and contrast to he readily visible and legihlc: Caution Contains Asbestos Fibers . Avoid Rrcnthing Dust Rreathing Asbestos Dust May Cause Ashestosis and Cancer All asbestos waste shall he disposed nf in accordance with thcOSIIA asbestos regulation. 21 CFR 1110.1001 (hi. During removal of vacuum hags, an approved respirator, as described in tli above, shall he worn. All floor cleaning in areas where brakes and clutches are repaired shall be done with the high efficiency industrial vacuum cleaner as described in tit above. Grinding tarnngi machines shall also he cleaned with such a vacuum cleaner and any remaining dust wiped with a damp cloth. An ap proved respirator, as described In <21 above, shall he used during this cleaning. z** Although adherence to the above procedures should minimize nnv contamination of'work clothing, it is required that the appropriate portions of the OSHA regulations on asbestos til t'FR 1110.1001 id1 (1) and M" concerning special clothing, change rooms, etc. he followed. Note: Slrirt adherence to the above procedures should minimize exposures to mechanics during hrake and clutch servicing. These are interim recommendations and arc sub ject to revision pending results of ongoing NIOSH research -V ` (.. 'V PQ6004 1809 SCF-FA-0003