Document mbjRJeYa09pkj5E4E0gRedjwZ

t T MEMO FOR RECORD r. xv. >\st: Jen L, BERLIN ASBESTOS EXPOSURE Datj December 11, 1970 cc: G= Eo Devitt - Tower 1 Th s memo is intended to summarize what is known to date concerning the scope ci asbestos exposure et the Berlin, New Jersey, plant, the possible he aim ef sets on the workers, the stage of in-plant environmental control, other as esssents of the physical condition of exposed workers, disposition c: wo kere who demonstrate physical findings compatible with excessive asbssto: ex osure and interim measures of exposure control until good environmental cc. trol can be achieved throughout the plant- Pe iodic chest x-rays made over the years when read as individual films do c:* te d to demonstrate excessive asbestos exposure Li: itec enviresmental sampling studies performed by the insurance carrier de oastrated at best a borderline exposure to all dust including asbestos, a;w 1 if other' ingredients in Kaylc In September ISLE, a private industrial hygiene consultant carried out a surv*-;' of the in-plant atmosphere. At the same time he did air pollution studies. Th; result of this sampling study using impinger techniques did not demonstrate a ;erious dust exposure except at the batch mix area, the sawing stations on th; integrated saw line and the band saw operation The impinger technique ha: ically samples for all dust which was the accepted method at the time, el; hough people realized tne weakness of this system,. At that time it was re omcended that employees in these areas should wear an appropriate dust re; piratcr In February 1965, a meeting was held at ths Berlin plant with representatives of the hedieel Servioe, Environmental Control, Plant Management, Plant Engl' ne<ringr Toledo Engineering, the Industrial Hygiene Consultant and Ventilation En;insers from Johns-Manvilie The ventilation requirements wore extensively re' iewed on site sea recommendations as to control methods were discussed a? le: gth In June 1969, the same industrial hygiene consultant again surveyed the inpi* at atmosphere and tabled both by the older impinger technique as well as by a limited number of samples taken using the "new" membrane filter method, Th: membrane filter technique ehecke for actual fibers, and this is how the he. ltn guidelina is now set It tends to bs more specific for asbestos thar. th: ole "impinger" method The results of this sampling again suggested only ( O 01 107 0532 Berl In Asbsstoa Ex; 2 Deescb-r 1 ist: iso; sted excessive exposure locations and person?.! protective devices were recc amended for those areas In August 1969, three possible cases of asbestosis wars investigated and veil documented by a physician experienced in chest diseases. The iesult of tsese work-ups demonstrated asbsstooia in one individual. Previously, the only known case of asbestosis in the Berlin plant was in a mas with a very at opi cal aooeurc. The periodic x-rays taken during 1969 which demonstrated abnormalities, as read by the local Berlin radiologist, were forwarded for review by another x-ray consultant at the School of Public Health, University of Michigan Frier to this, for a number of years they have been read by the Institute of Indvitriai Health, University of Michigan.. The results of these x-rays were reported in February 1970, and suggasted an Increased frequency of somewhat noa-specific findings which, in itself, could not rule out possible pulmonary changes from asbestos exposure, lbs film, approximately forty in nunber, demonstrated approximately nine films which were compatible with asbestos ovat ej^osur; An jidssiolcgicii study bas&d on the x-ray readings to data, suggest an increased incidence of radiological pulmonary changes in employees exposed tc the eanufaeturing areas cf the plant Similar changes were not noted ir. unex>osed employees. A cc iprwhensive industrial hygiene study by an independent industrial hygiene eonsalting firm (not the original industrial bygiaca consultant), in July 197C, demonstrated several additional areas of excessive asbestos exposure This study also evaluated the partially completed dust ventilation system sad race sanded improvements As * result of meetings held in 1936 and 1969 with the Industrial Hygiene Consiltant, members of the Johns-Manville Ventilation Group, our Corporate Engineering,. Plant Engineering and Plant Management, it was expected that satitfactory in-plant environmental control baaed on the old threshold limit valu t at 12 fibers/cc, greater than 5 microns in length would be attained by earl' 1970, Completion of this work was dalayad and therefore the extensive induttriel hygiene survey which was planned for April 1970, was also put off. In J sis 1970, after it was learned that the threshold limit value was to be Iowa xd to 5 fibers/cc, greater than S microns inllength, coupled with the medisal evidence of possible pulmonary changes from excessive asbestos exposure, a co jprebenaive industrial hygiene survey evaluation of tbo ventilation inat tiled tc that time was carried out. It was felt that this evaluation would assiit in determining if the proposed and partly installed ventilation system wouli be adequate to meat the naods of the new threshold licit value It would 01 107 053`J Sri .u Asbestos Ex 3 December 11, IS7 else permit us to determine if personal protective measures would be required unti . total environmental control was achieved within the planto This was the indu :trial hygiene survey that deaosstrated the additional exposure hazard froz asbestos A melting in July at the plant attended by Plant Management, Plant Engineering, Toleio Engineering, Corporate Environmental Control and Corporate Medical date 'vined that in-plant environmental control which would meet the new criteria ccul i be achieved by late 1970 or early 1971. Medical evaluation based cr. the exposure levels, length of tine it would take to install an affective compre hear.ve respirator program and tbe personnel problems generated by eueb a prog'as., dictated tba best eourse of action would be not to install the respirator program but to coeplete the ventilation work already started The area: would then be sampled upon completion of the installation to determine coop lance with the standard of five fibers per milliliter. a In t iocs areas where the engineering was in process, the design was to be reevilucted based on the requirements of the new threshold limit value Zn wjrk locations which had been newly identified as excessive asbestos expo iuxv areas, assessment by plant and corporate engineering wise to be--carried out o determine the necessary ventilation, cost and timing to control the exposure. Zn mid-October, a progress meeting was bald and included representatives fror. Corporate Bigineerlng, Plant Management, Plant Dtgineering and Medical Services At tiis meeting the revised scope for the ventilation system and its cost was reviewed. Zt was determined that the plant would request $50,000 for advanced engineering money in order to get the project moving.- The actual request was for $25,000 but this was not approved at the group level A subsequent review by Messrs* Peck and Grant requested a review with con siderations for possible cost reduction- Paul Scheuerle was requested tc develop a priority for possible changes in operation which would eliminate some of the dust producing conditions and also to establish a priority in whicr. changes could be made, as well as a step-wise procedure for installing the necessazy control equipment Hr* Scheuerle attempted to carry.out this request. Zt has bean suggested that on# pouring line be phased out* In'the event that additional production capacity would be needed, they would activate the 13 pouring line which is equipped with seme control equipment-. Number 3 pouring line has never been aampled since it was never i& operation during any of the sampling periods In early November, Mr. Devitt reviewed the step-wise procedure'proposed and does not feel that this step -wide method of control Will satisfactorily prevent 01 107 05S Her Asbestos E; izv 4 Decatur 11, 1ST; ( uscja exposure to our workers. It is his professional judgement that the er.circ package of proposed changes must be installed if control is tc be achieved in a reasonable time period Zt ias now been determined tbet if the funds were immediately allocated, it still would require nine to twelve Deaths tc complete the installation of the entire package. At this time all of the ventilation control equipment proposed and funded in 1969, has bees installed with tha exception of those areas which were pu*' on -add when it was determined that they could not possibly meet the required eon:rol parameters _ Shortly after the first of the year, Mr, Devitt and I will go to Berlin Lr.d review location by location tha asbestos exposure end will use as guideliner the July 1970 sampling study for operations which have not changed apprbpiall. Zn areas where it is believed that better control has been achieved, ^ Hr Devitt will carry out new sampling studies. Areas which heve been changi because of plant alterations and new processes will be sampled again. Cp the be? is of this sampling we will recommend to plant and higher management jthr. a ptreonal respirator program be installed in arses which demonstrate * excessive exnosurc i It is understood such a program will require mandatory wearing of respiratory protection which will be vigorously enforced by plant management- Alac^ ( this respirator program will have to be supported by an effective respirator maintenance program. Such a program may require the part-time services |of one individual who will care for and service the respirators. Thii respirator program it to be only an interim measure to protect the `health of individuals working in asbestos exposure and should in no way influence the vigorous activity necessary to install good industrial hygiene ventilation control t .'i In- ilant monitoring of personnel by the plant physician on s yearly hatit mus: be continued and expanded, Zn those cases where the yearly evaluation is outside the scope of the plant physician such individuals should be care ful ly worked up by a chest physician and his reconanendations followed. | *> The annual chest x-rays, in addition to be read by the local radiologist, an to be sent to Dr- George Wright in Cleveland, who will read the films using an international pneumoconiosis classification It must be remembered that sues a surveillance program is "after the faet" for the Individual concerned but serves as a warning sign if positive cases are noted. It, also willy per ait a prompt recognition and appropriate handling of any eases whichfare discovered, | -_ iK c JLKonxen tsgs. 12-11-70 01 107 0535