Document jNjzamnbXeRJRMj9jxGJ5x66Q

OEOROIA'PACIPIC INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION FROM: ? SUBJECT: C. V* Lahaart A5BEST0S TIBER IB JOIMT CQIPOPMDS cc: Mr* 0. t. Burch - Portland Mr. T. V.' Richards T^f Mr. T. B. Codfnf - Portia TF-3084 DATE: June 19, 1973 LOCATION: Detroit Salii LOCATION: Tigard Lab y p I will try to respond to your customers* concern about asboatoa fiber prompted by our labeling of joint syscaa bags. This caution Label is reculred by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (05HA). We hare always used asbestos fiber in our }olnt system products, so if there is a hasard, it is no different today chan it has bean in the past. The harard Is the inhalation of aabestos fiber. The degree of hezerd would depend ou the concentration of asbestos fiber in the air and duration of exposure to thst air. The Health problem# associated with asbestos have occurred in situations where workers have been exposed to high conceatrettons of asbestos1 fiber over e period of years. Joint compounds contain relstivaly small percentages (2-6%) of asbestos fiber. , OSHA has imposed a number of stringent standards on plants wnare products are manufactured containing asbestos fiber. These include limitations on tne concentration of fiber in the air, procedures for handling the asbestos fiber, use of protective devieee (res pirators), periodic medical examinations, and labeling of all producta containing asbestos fiber* 1 am not aware of any OSHA regulations for the use of tolnt system products. Hasaver, it is recognised that there is some exposure during the mixing of dry products aad the sanding of Joints after turn Joint compounds have boon appliod. The level of oaboatos fiber, camcmmtratloo at tboao timas is oot prasaatly know. Iha industry la currently pleaning tests to determine the level of airborne asbestos during the mix log and sanding. In tha meantime. It mould probably be advisable for workers engaged is these operations to wear respirators. Ooce mixed or vetted, the asbestos fiber is not subject to becoming airborne end, therefore, le eo longer hazardous. For example, reedy mixed produces would present mo problem other them perhaps the sanding. KffiflVfo By JUN21 lg?3 crPSu* aviso* Ms. John Uoodiaill 2 June 19, 1973 Om nlutloQ of tho aabaacoa f lbor problaa jfor all concarnod i to alialnata It froa our producta. Wo ara ongagad in a prograa to find ways to do thla. Oar firat afforta worn with joint ayataa textures bocauaa wo fait tho spray application proaantad aoaa apodal problaaa. At thla tlaa va ara about 90Z coovartad to non-aaboatoa taxturn formulas. Va ara mow dlractlng our attantlon to our dry and raady alxad Joint compounds. Z hopa thla Information will anawar our custoasrs' quaatlooa eoncamlng tho poaalbla haaarda of aabaatoi fiber and tha actions being takan to olialnatt or olnlnlaa thoaa haaarda. 'A CUT; all I 1 t ' GEORGIA-PACIFIC INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION TO; FROM. K LL SUBJECT. t CC Nr. Me Uoodsnail C. V* lohnart attitog rial m joint ccmpoomps Ms. 0. I. torch Portliad Nr. T. V.' Ilchard* - .ylgsrd Nr. f ft* Codfray - Portia*# | DAT* Juu 19, 1973 I LOCATION. totrolt SaUi I LOCATION* Tigard Lift * i Z will try to reapood to your ewstaoera*- concern shout asbestos fiber preaptad by our labaling of joint eystoa baga* Thla caution label la rnculrad by tha Occupational Safety and health Administration (OSHA). tfa hare always uaad aaboatoa fiber in our )olnt ayataa products, so if there la a hasard, it la no different today than it has bean In tha peat, the hasard la the inhalation of aaboatoa flbar. Tha degree of hasard would depend ou tha concentration of aaboatoa fiber lo tha air and duration of exposure to that air. Tha nealth problem associated with aaboatoa have occurred In situatlona where worker* bare bean exposed to high coocaotratlona of aaboatoa flbar over a period of yaara* Joint coapounda contain relatively snail percentages (i-flX) of aaboatoa fiber. | ' Ob'UA haa imposed a nnohar of stringent standards on plants wears product art aanufactured containing asbestos fiber. Thesa include llaltstlooe on the concentration of flbar In the air, procedures for handling the asbestos flbar, use of protective devices (res pirators), periodic oadicsl axaalnationsj and labeling of all products containing asbestos fiber. j 1 an not aware of any OSHA regulations for tha uac of lolot ayataa products, loom, It la recognised that there la seoe exposure during the mixing of dry products and the sanding of joints after the* Joist conpouads hare bean applied, lha lavel * aabastea fiber,rnenaafratten at these tlans is not preaantly known. The leduatay la currently planning taata to determine the level of airborne asbestos during the ala log and sanding, la tha nsaotlaa, It would probably be advisable far worker* engaged le tbaae operations to wear respiretors. Once nixed or wetted, the asbestos fiber is net subject to bocooiag airborne and, therefore. Is no linger hecardeas* fer example, ready nixed products would present ae problem ether than perhaps the sanding. | KCBVa BY jUN21 ,9?3 e,KW Division l I Me. John Voodaaall 2 June 19, 1973 Om Hlitloo of the iiImicoi fiber ^robln for all concerned la to Ulaliflta it free our graduate. Wo an engaged In a prograa to find weya to do thla. Oar flrat afforte were with joint ayatan texturea becauao we fait the eprey application preaaotad eone pedal probleea* At thla tie* we are about 901 ccoverted to oon-aeboetoe texture formilaa. We era now directing our attention to our dry and ready nixed Joint coepounda. I X hope thla lofomatlon will aaewer our leuatonara1 qua at looa concerning the poealbla haiarda of aabeatot fiber and the actloot being taken to aliaioato or ulaialse thoaa betarda* CVL:ala i