Document mqb14YOpBLozjr3QgvXXx1X5d

LOU'OalS~# I FILE COPY SCRIPT working with asbestos / July 26, 1979 UCC 006860 1. Asbestos is a potential health hazard. Now, that statement is not meant to frighten you. In fact, there are many potentially harmful materials all of us may come into contact with everyday, both at work and at home. 2. But the important thing is to remember the word "potential." Just as we have learned to safely handle many highly toxic chemicals, so too, can we safely handle asbestos if we take a few simple precautions. And that's what this program is about... / 3. ..."Working With Asbestos." There are a number of points we will cover in this program. 4. First, we will outline the health risks that are related to breathing asbestos fibers. Second, we will look at your body's natural defense system and how it helps to protect us from illness. We will describe the Federal OSHA regulation on asbestos and finally... 5. ...we will review the controls to prevent exposure to asbestos dust, and what you can do to protect yourself and to help us protect you. 6. Medical research has associated occupational exposure to asbestos fiber with an increased risk of four diseases; -continued- UCC 006861 y 6. (continued) asbestosis, bronchogenic (or lung) cancer, mesothelioma, and gastrointestinal cancer. With the exception of asbestosis, all of these diseases are ones that anyone of us might develop whether or not we were exposed to asbestos. 7. Medical research also indicates that the increased health risks for asbestos workers are generally related to breathing large amounts of asbestos fibers. Generally, but not these risks are confined to work environments. t 8. Asbestosis is a non-cancerous lung condition which falls into a category of diseases called pneumoconioses. These include black lung, caused by inhalation of coal dust, and silicosis, caused by inhalation of some forms of silica. 9. Asbestosis can be detected by x-rays. Common symptoms are unusual shortness of breath, and crackling chest noises the physician can hear with a stethoscope. 10. Bronchogenic cancer is most often found in people who are heavy cigarette smokers. sA/hen oc.<Lc<,in> In fact, this form of cancer N it almost occurs h coork in asbestos workers^who are also heavy smokers. We'll explain why in a minute. 11. < tk* Ju-k Asbestos workers who do not smoke have IttW-roocs^ chance. of getting cancer- than anyone else who does not smoke. -continued- UCC 006862 (continued) Asbestos workers who smoke heavily have eigfrfrA times the risk of lung cancer compared to all other smokers and 92 times the risk of non-smokers not exposed to asbestos. So if you don't smoke now, don't start. If you do smoke. 13. Mesothelioma is a very rare cancer of the lining of the A chOB-t- or abdomen. Studies indicate that asbestos is not the only substance that might increase the risk of "^this disease. Researchers also believe that asbestos may cause an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer, that is, cancer of the digestive tract. This is very rare and we have a lot more to learn about the role asbestos may play in its development. . These diseases all have long laten^r periods--the time between the beginning of exposure and the time when the disease may develop. These periods range from five to twenty years for asbestosis, and thirty years or more for tjeosssan ly mesothelioma. Cases seen today are nol^an indication of present-day working conditions, L<\c existed. A of asbestos *tVveo. but of conditions that UCC 006863 The human body has a built-in defense system for coping with inhaled dust and other foreign materials, including asbestos. All the air we breathe is first filtered in our nasal passageways to remove larger particulates. 16. The respiratory tract is lined with a sticky mucous carpet, which moves upward on top of hair-likecalled cilia. 17. This system works like an escalator, trapping and moving foreign particles upward to the nasal passages. f 18. This^system extends all the way down our windpipe, into the two main air passages to the lungs and into smaller and smaller branches. At the end of the system are tiny air sacs called alveoli, where oxygen is absorbed into the blood. 19. Substances that escape the cilial defense system are attacked by special cells which surround the particles. These cells are called phagocytes, and protect the lungs from foreign particles and many diseases. 20. i mnr*e. 1 VeAy But smoking''***"9 the cilia on this mucous carpet so it can no longer^teT particles. Also, smoking causes changes in lung tissue that can render other defense systems inactive. So remember, smoking and asbestos do not mix. UCC 006864 MIBIffl T--fp UCC 006865 (c0 >i a s! o n Os 3 CaJ w w *n vi 0) *n Z>9 >*90 Z 5 u d z mI L. C Ii rO s p 0m1 o q 3 zo < a Ono - 50**^'^ 31. You may be asked to wear a small pump during your work. A The pump samples the air you breathe, and traps any asbestos fibers on a filter. 32. Afterwards, the Industrial Hygienist will determine the asbestos concentration by . I-oolrtng a piece or the filter under a microscope, and counting -tho number--of- f-i-boi*t> . Whenever we monitor you, the results are sent to your supervisor. It is their responsibility to show them to you. These results are entered into a computer and kept for at least twenty years. / 33. Whenever possible, asbestos should be thoroughly wetted before handling, mixing, cutting, scoring or any other job. The purpose of this is to prevent the loose asbestos fibers from blowing around. Asbestos cement, mortjar or plaster should not be removed from their shipping cartons until it is either wetted or the area is well-ventilated. 34. Whenever doing work involving asbestos, the proper type of respirator must be used. For normal dust exposure, either the Norton Model 170A respirator, or the 3M disposable respirator may be used. UCC-006S66--- 21. Asbestos fibers are long, narrow particles with sharp edges. If they are not removed before they get to the lungs, they can become embedded in the fleshy tissue of the lung. Once in, they generally remain there. 22. Our defense system senses a foreign body in the lung, and acts to protect the lung by forming a tough scar tissue around the fiber. The more fibers, the greater the scar tissue. Over a period of years, this leads to difficulty in breathing, and shortness of breath--the disease we described as asbestosis. 23. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known to you as OSHA, has developed a standard for asbestos exposure. This standard limits your allowable exposure to two (2) asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter of air averaged over the workday, and a "ceiling" of 10 fibers per cubic centimeter of air, not to be exceeded at anytime. 24. What is Union Carbide doing to protect you from excessive exposure to asbestos? The greatest chance that you will be exposed to asbestos fibers occurs when you are stripping old asbestos insulation. 25. We provide routine periodic physicals to all employees who are exposed to asbestos fibers in their work. These -continued- UCC 006867 f 25. (continued) are all conducted by a licensed physician, and include a chest x-ray. 26. The result of the examination will be discussed with you and upon written request, those results will be made available to your family doctor. 27. Asbestos fibers are released when you cut or saw the insula tion. For this reason, several precautions must be taken when removing insulation to prevent exposure. 28. Determine whether the insulation you are stripping contains asbestos. 29. When asbestos is involved, barricade the work area by erecting guardrails, sawhorses or a rope. Post caution signs at the barricades. The signs should read: CAUTION AVOID BREATHING DUST CONTAINS ASBESTOS MAY CAUSE BODILY HARM USE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DO NOT REMAIN IN AREA 30. Notify the Industrial Hygiene Department, x5l29 or 4752 before working so that air sampling to monitor the working area can be arranged, ri , UCC 006868 31. You may be asked to wear a small pump during your work. A The pump samples the air you breathe, and traps any asbestos fibers on a filter. 32. Afterwards, the Industrial Hygienist will determine the C0Ud{!3 o^i asbestos concentration by 9 J51 C O f the filter under a microscope,and counting -the -etHnb&r--of f-i-bors . Whenever we monitor you, the results are sent to your supervisor. It is their responsibility to show them to you. These results are entered into a computer and kept / for at least twenty years. , i . Ian. Feb. Mar. Apr. May MEMO Jun. Jul. Aua. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 TO. iroughly wetted f or any other job. :>se asbestos fibers FROM____ SUBJECT. 33 d not be removed jeither wetted or the proper type of ton Model 170A Itor may be used. UCC 006869 r 35. Both of these respirators filter the asbestos before you breathe it. They have both been tested and approved by NIOSH for use with asbestos. 36. Where you are in a confined space, or when the asbestos staulct dust is very heavy, a supplied-air respirator is-to be used. The Safety Department provides training in the proper use, care and maintenance of these and other respirators. 37. Special clothing, such as coverallsA.or head covering^ may wker\ teWeW twxsy V^vAv be required on certain jobs^ . Z5 This clothing will be provided when it is needed. The contaminated clothing should be collected and moved in sealed plastic bags so that no one else will reuse the clothing LLffttl i.'t i> proper\\j cleaned, 38. Waste material, bags, debris and old insulation must be collected and disposed of in plastic bags. When full, the bags must be sealed and sent to the landfill for burial. Each bag should have a large tag or label which reads: 39* CAUTION '" CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS AVOID CREATING DUST BREATHING ASBESTOS DUST MAY CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY HARM UCC 006870 r 40. Finally, and most important, use good housekeeping and common sense in your work. When cutting insulation from overhead pipes, lower it to the ground, never drop it. 41. Keep all surfaces free of accumulated asbestos dust. When cleaning an area containing asbestos dust, wet-clean or vacuum clean it. Never use a broom, brush or an air hose 42. Each of you will receive a booklet at the end of this program. We urge you to read the whole booklet very carefully. 43. If you are ever unsure of how to perform a job safely without exposing yourself to asbestos fiber, talk to your supervisor first. Don't take chances with your health. We don't want you to. If you see a possible health hazard, bring it to the attention of management. 44. So before you start any job, remember these three key points: 45. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. Thank you for your attention. UCC 006871