Document jx9Jjn1MOe1Jw4n4qv4QKQkQ

r HE OHWG The Bell System Occupational Health Working GrouD (OHWG) was formed in July of 1973. Its broad goals are to: 1. Increase the awareness of known and potential health hazards in the Bell System and bring about a safer and more healthful work environment for its employees. 2. Contribute such information to the Government, or its standard advisory committees, so that standards pro mulgated represent t.ne best scientific and medical evidence available, marsna^ed into practical and us able standards. 3. Make recommendations to appropriate system departments regarding conclusions on proposed standards and other health issues that come to the committee's attention. The following Departments have been involved in this working group: AT&T Medical, Engineering, and Customer Facilities; Bell Telephone Labs - Environmental Safety and Health Dept.; WECO Medical and three Operating Company Medical Departments 'Long Lines, and New Jersey). Thus far, the OHWG has written to OSHA on Carbon Monoxide, Noise, and Tr-j chlor-ethylene. We are in the orocess of commenting again on noise and preparing comments on inorganic lead and heat stress. is a result a sm ^9 OSHA AdTH r; cn , Drsssrit 3 r d future OSHA activities uave s"''*'ceo "'or safety to health standards. We an exoec: si an :ar :e- o^ lea standards as a resu rdev' fo^ hen spec'f 'Wing areas: a these hea'th standards, we neec e'd survevs anc researcn in one LLA 000227 -?- Existinq Standards - Noise (This Standard is being revised and will be much more stringent by the end of 1974.) - Vinyl Chloride (Operating Comoanies will be involved in determining how much VC comes off (in vaoors) PVC fabricated products. - Asbestos - Carcinogens Standards that NIOSH has prccosed to QSHA and nave a good chance o' promulgation in 1974 and 1975: - Carbon Monoxide - Heat Stress - Inorganic Lead The Standards are listed in rough order of oriority. A review of their impact on System Operations is outlined in the attachment. When this survey information is available, it will be used to: - Write testimony on proDOsed health standards that can help shaoe them into practical and scientifically sound standards. - Determine compliance (In some cases like lead, you must survey to prove you are in compliance). Set up to meet appropriate Medical provisions. - Write BSP's to implement health standards uniformly in the fielc. - Respond to health citations. - Avoid duplication or unnecessary Ooeratinq Company testing, monitoring and equipment purchase. R.W. Store, M.C. 197A Bell System Medical Con*'erence Moran, Wyoming LLA 000228 ATTACHMENT THE 3ELL SYSTEM ANO OSHA HEALTH' STANDARDS When the Act known as OSHA 70 was passed, many people predicted that the long-term and most significant aspects of the Act would be in the area of health standards. The prediction is not only true, but it is beginning to take on new meaning for the Bell System. Many Bell System people felt that OSHA would not affect us for a number of years because "we were ahead of the rest of industry in safety and health matters. ' While we may be ahead of the rest of the industry (in jury and Illness rates indicated th's is true), OSHA is beginning to affect us with some regularity. Two permanent health standards "'n effect now are concerned with asbestos and carcinogens. We know that asbestos has been used in these situations in Bell System Companies: 1. As an insulation and fire repellent on some exposed metal beams in buildings. 2. As a covering for cable slots between floors and walls of central offices. 3. As a covering or insulation for some Dipes in buildings, a. As a backboard in centra' office oower rooms. 5. As transite duct in ccrdu'c runs. 'rcvisioRS o' the asoestcs standarc r'eou''"e annual medical exams for em ployees exposed to an v concert~ac' or' o1- a'rbcrne asbestos tubers. . t a iso !'_'t" number 'ibe^s f'ac i" e~c'cvee can be <posed to in wcr* rpn-n^p* LLA 000229 REDACTED To meet this standard, we are making tests in Sell System work environment where asbestos is used and evaluating if alternative materials are avail able, or if exposure can be eliminated. Lift 000230 ATTACHMENT Page 3 REDACTED LLA 000231 REDACTED LLA 000233 ATTACHMENT Page 5 The two examples of permanent standards (asbestos and carcinogens), one example of an emergency standard (Vinyl-chloride) and four examples of proposed standards (noise, carbon monoxide, heat stress and inorganic lead) reveal a number of important aspects in working with OSHA Health Standards. AUGUST 1974 LLA 000233