Document kDYgrKeVaBzYn11r6V1R3gVbB

FILE NAME: National Gypsum (NG) DATE: 1970 Mar 11 DOC#: NG059 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo - Summary of Health and Safety Council Meeting on Feb 17 j u j-o 3 0 o r c .x 'jn n.U i 1 1m m TO: MEMORANDUM FOR FILE FF Chicago #186 - C, P. Kipp SUBJEo.. Health and Safety Council Meeting March 11, 1970 The Health and Safety Council met February 17, 1970. At this meeting, Mr. Cliff Sheckler presented a pamphlet that his ; committee had developed for each member of the Council to distribute to its customers regarding recommended practices for the use and handling of asbestos products. It was understood that we and two other companies would review this pamphlet at our earliest convenience and advise our approval. The Council intends to print up to 10,000 copies of this pamphlet and distribute the cost pro-rata to each member with each member to receive a thousand copies. Each member may reorder at its cost. Each member may distribute the pamphlet in any way it sees fit with any accompanying information. Mr. Sheckler indicated that the threshold limit value for asbestos fiber was somewhat in a state of flux. At present three different threshold limit's exist. May states are still using the old threshold limit of 5 million particles per cubic foot of air with no recommended procedures for t w n g sample. mho Amord.90.n----------Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has a temporary standard of 12 fibers per milliliter or cubic centimeter of air which was to become a final standard very shortly. It is under stood, though, that at the next meeting in May, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists will change the temporary standard to five fibers. Mr. Sheckler and Dr. Gross of the Industrial Hygiene Foundation of America indicate that the five fiber standard is based on studies in England which indicated that no new cases of asbestosis developed under this type of standard* They cannot guarantee that this wi? e the last value, but feel it probably will be. Johns-Manville and National Gypsum Company both cooperated with HEW in the New Orleans area. An agency of HEW examined conditions in every employee of these companies in New Orleans. This study showed that 12 fibers is a better preventative health measure than 5 million particles per cubic foot - that there is evidence of much less lung disorder when the 12 fiber TLV is met. As a matter of interest the British have set a TLV of 2 fibers, which is purer than outside air. Johns-Manville has a standard whereby if an exposure exceeds 12 fibers, respirators are required; if the exposure falls between 6-12 fibers, it indicates the area is.out of control and needs engineering and if the area falls below 6 fibers, they have obtained their objective. 5*90 *0dfi 0-0310 U nited States Gt um C ompany MEMO POR %ILE (Health & Safety Council Meeting) March 11, Dr. Sellkoff, on' the Governmental Committee, wanted a 2 fiber standard and HEW wanted a 12 fiber standard The Committee initially, agreed to 6 fibers and then both sides of the argument backed away on the basis that they could not support a compromise. Now the indication is that everybody will agree to 5 fibers. Mr. Sheckler indicated that the implnger method of taking samples is practically a thing of the past and that the mlllicore method will be the accepted procedure in the future. At this meeting it was indicated that on April 22, 1970 there will be a teach-in on practically every campus relative to the environ mental health situation. T M s teach-in may spread to some high school campuses. Naders Raiders is one of the groups b '''t ' this. Johns-Manville has alerted its plants close to campuses they should take precautions against possible damage as a ret. ' the teach-in* Nader's Raiders have been cooperating with the le workers to try to obtain legislation like the coal miners *ly got. The cotton workers are trying to Include the asbesto ;ile workers and then extend themselves into all asbestos. The Coal Miners1 Act provides benefits equivalent to that under the Longshoreman's Act until 1977 with the extra benefits being paid by Social Security. After 1977* it is contemplated that the States, will pay the increased benefits. The Coal Mine Act is bad for a couple of reasons. One, it permits the Federal Government to get its foot in the door in Workmen's Compensation and second, it presumes that a man's disability is related to his work in the coal mines without absolute proof. If a man has a spot on his lung, he has a permanent partial disability, Mr. Sheckler indicates that if the textile workers are successful, they can work for you for a year, leave for 16 years and come back and claim you gave them disability. He indicated that if a man continued to work for you for a long period of time, he will get asbe3tosis; if he Just works for you for two years and leaves, he will get. lung cancer. Apparently asbestosis could kill some body before they developed lung cancer. Lung cancer does not develop over-night. Johns-Manville had settled a claim in New Jersey on a Workmen's Compensation basis for $20,000 for a man who worked for them for 16 months, in 1940-1941. They have also disposed of another claim under Workmen's Compensation of a woman who lived near a plant and allegedly got mesothelioma. On deposit! it was found that the woman had worked for Johns-Manville for a few years during the war and thus they were able to convert her claim from a common law action to Workmen's Compensation. ri MEMO POR PILE (Health & Safety Council Meeting) March ll, 1970 One of the bad things about the Coal Miners* Act is that it pays for partial disability. The State of .New York also has a bill pending that would pay for partial disability as a result of lung disorders. If this type of thing spreads, it could be a matter of deep concern to A. P. Green* Mr. Sheckler indicated that the C-l6 Committee of the ASTM decided to study the health hazards in the field of thermo*Insulation which would include asbestos and fiber glass. The objective was to see what could be done and to set standards. Mr. Sheckler was able to convince the Committee that the health hazard was not adequately defined by the medical industry for ASTM to be able to set a standard. The C~l6 Committee took the position that they would not proceed further without full approval of the ASTM Board. -3- GPOI* 0667