Document jByBZd0da7pM5Zp0MJZBbLL0k

FILE NAME: Hedman (HED) DATE: 1977 Mar24 DOC#: HED004 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo J *' ^rEMORANDUM DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELF ARIA PI 1111 IC IIP.AI.'I II SERVICE c'liN i r,it t o k o is r iA M i c o A t k o i . N ATIO N AL IN S 'llT l'T li TOR (K '(TITA TH )N A I. SA TKTY ANO IIT.AUM TO tOUGII iOUGH ` Director, OESCP : Chief, Industry-Wide"Studies Branct? : Director, DSHEFS i/" DAT*.: March 24, 1977 FROM : Assistant Chief, Industrial Hygiene Section, IWSB, DSHEFS SUBJECT: Hedman Cationic Fiber In a previous memo do you dated February 9, 1977, we brought to your attention the possibility that a Canadian company, Hedman Mines Limited, may be marketing an asbestos containing material without proper hazard labeling Since that time we have obtained additional information. On March 22 Mr. Stuart Charbula, Vice President of Hedman Mines Limited met with John Dement and Howard Ludwig in Cincinnati. Mr. Charbula stated that Hedman was now labeling their products with the OSHA required label in addition to a label as to asbestos content (label attached) . This label has been used since early 1975. Mr. Charbula stated that labeling was initi* ated after receiving an analytical report concerning their product from a consultant firm (Ontario Research Foundation). Mr. Stuart also indicated that this labeling requirement was discussed tilth OSHA. j It appears that Hedman is grinding their product to insure that a large majority (98%) of the chrysotile present is shorter than 5 pm in length (the OSHA'regulated fiber length). We pointed out to Mr. Charbula that, although the OSHA standard considered only fibers longer than 5 pm, this should not be taken to mean that shorter fibers were not a health hazard as the 5 pm size limit was established only as an "index" of true fiber'exposure. We also pointed out that Hedman*s discussion of the hazards of asbestos (attached to the February 9 memo) was highly misleading and did not reflect current scientific opinion. ec Ralph Zumwalde -RTVlWESTON 011156