Document nknkkQX65OJj35bvd9BwLZq0G

FILE NAME: Georgia Pacific (GP) DATE: 1973 June 19 DOC#: GP021 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo RE Asbestos Fiber in Joint Compounds G EO RG IA -PA CIFIC INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION FROM: SUBJECT: M a Woodsmall C. V. Lehmart ASBESTOS FIBER 11 JOINT CCMPOOMDS ce: Mr. 0. t. Burch - Portland Mr. T. W.` Blchards - .ylga Mr. T. K. Godfrey - Portia DATE: A u u 19, 1973 LOCATION: Detroit Sale* LOCATION: Tigard Lab 1 fill try to respond to your customers' concern about asbestos fiber prompted by our labeling of joint aystea bags. This caution label is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We have always used asbestos fiber la our Joint systea products, so If there Is a hazard, It Is no different today chan It has bean In the past. The hazard is the inhalation of asbestos fiber. The degree of hazard would depend ou the concentration o asbestos fiber in the air and duration of exposure to that air. Tba health problems associated vlch asbestos have occurred in situations where workers have bean exposed to high concentrations of asbestos fiber over a period of years. Joint compounds contain relatively small percentages (2-81) of asbestos fiber. OSHA has imposed a number of stringent standards on plants where products are manufactured containing asbestos fiber. These include limitations on the concentration of fiber in the air, procedures for handling the asbestos fiber, use of protective devices (res pirators), periodic medical examinations, and labeling of all products containing asbestos fiber. I am not aware of any OSHA regulations for the use of toint system products. However, it Is recognized that there is some exposure during the nixing of dry products and the sending of joints aftor the joint compounds have bean applied. The level of asbestos fiber.concentration at these times is not presently known. The industry is currently planning tests to determine the level of airborne asbestos during the mixing and sending. In the meantime, it'mould probably bo advisable for workers engaged in these operations to wear respirators. Once mixed or wetted, the asbestos fiber is net smbjOct to becoming airborne and, therefore, is ae longer hasardens. For example, ready mixed products would present mo problem ether them perhaps the sandlag. cava by JUN21 1973 M suh OVISIOH Ns. Jobs Voodsaall 2 June 19, 1973 One solution of tha asbestos fiber problea for all coocamad la to allainata it rea aur producta. Wa ara engaged la a program to find 0 7 a to do thia. Oar flrat offerta ware with jolat ayataa textures because wa fait tha spray application praaaatad some spadai problaoa. At this tlaa wa ara about 901 coavartad to non-asbestos taxtura formulas. Va ara now dlractlag our attaatloa to our dry and raady mixed Jolat compounds. X hops this InfornatIon will anawar our customers' quoaCions concerning tha possible haaards of asbestos flbar and tha actions being taken to eliminate or aialolse those hasarda. CWL;elc