Document qkLDpJ0yEXp8r8Nazgdrbr4Jj

FROM . DIXON TURNER & NEWALL LIMITED MANCHESTER TO H.D.S. HARDIE AJA/ADB/MCP/AHW COPY TO 1 RONS VNK/PMK/NV 7th September 1981 . CONFIDENTIAL ASBESTOS AND HEALTH I attach a copy of an article which appeared recently in an Indian Journal. As you will see, this repeats significantly the text of the article which appeared in the New Scientist in London earlier in the year and which 1 sent to you on 16th April. However, it adds a paragraph towards the end which follows the only visit of any of the three authors to any T&N plant in India and it shows the ignorance of the author on the subject of filtration. . Although the article enclosed is repetitive of much that I have sent to you before, 1 have sent it again to emphasize three points: 1. investigative journalism does not respect national boundaries; 2. those who dislike multinational companies and those who bciiove that the use of asbestos fibre is sinful can come together to accuse the multinational of exporting pollution; ' 3. our critics know that we are sensitive about our reputations and therefore look for weaknesses where weaknesses might be expected, i.e. in Third World Countries. 1 would not now be surprised if journalists now tried to find out about T&N's asbestos operations in Africa. There is evidence in Europe that the anti-asbestos lobby is now making a determined effort to attack the asbestos-cement industry. It rightly believes that if asbestoscement can be driven off the world markct~the majority of asbestos mines will be forced to dose down. If doubts can be created about the safety of asbcstos-ccmcnt, and these doubts are discussed in news papers, then perhaps specifiers will turn to alternative materials. . Moreover, pressures would build up which governments themselves might find difficult to ignore. More than ever, therefore, we have to ensure that our operations arc to standards which defeat criticism. The essential elements in achieving these standards are: -2- 1. asbestos fibre and asbestos soft waste should only be trans ported in impermeable bags or other containers; 2. in asbestos processing factories bag opening should utilise the best technology available.* At present, the best bag ' opener on the market is of Belgian design. Even Hyderabad Asbestos Cement Products Ltd. in India has purchased a Belgian bag opener, even though they themselves are manu facturers of asbestos-cement machinery. Where import regulations permit purchases 2 consider that this should be our preferred bog opener also; i 3. where engineering has not yet brought dust levels down below a maximum of 2 f/ml, correctly fitting regularly serviced -< respirators should be worn by operatives and supervisory staff; 4. education programmes on industrial hygiene and good house keeping should supplement in-house medical surveillance; 5. employees should change into work clothes on the factory site and such clothes must not be taken home for laundering. Where the company is unable to arrange its own laundry facilities a contract service should be arranged and the contractor instructed on the precautions to be taken. Periodic visits must be arranged to the contractors to ensure that those precautions are being followed; 6. asbestos waste dumps must be visited regularly to ensure that dumped waste is adequately covered by top soil. Normally the top soil covering operation should follow immediately the dumping of the waste. Asbestos dust levels at a waste tip should be monitored in exactly the same way as dust levels are monitored in factories. o 7. a close working relationship should be established with the factory inspectorate and other regulatory authorities. A final point which reflects my own prejudices: 1 believe that every T&N company should take an initiative to persuade other companies in its industry to adopt the Asbestos International Association's approved 'a* label which incorporates an asbestos health warning. ' Experience in western Europe and Australasia has shown that the use of this label has no adverse effect on sales. . Progress towards achievement of the Items above should be covered in your annual report which I asked for under cover of my letter of i i 6th April 1981. H.D.S. HARDIE a r\ C lr PERSPECTIVES Industrial Hazards Exported to India bht|*|inl to the Miiklk frtf end Africa Ironically, ibeur product bu m warn Bhi| X ing lalu-k. )n khu^Ktanviltr H Isi4r rand fur hdlkan f abilUn liy thouundi Brtfh Midra Robert Majee of Aoierkao aarfctn with cancer tod edwatoda tot not having oMud waotog ULrb an product* old b the US ASBK8T0S k the mom lor 4 Untfiy of flmi adonab that have found wide* tweed toe to Jndawt/y eve* (he peat ceetnry. Thb b due 1a eikelna* coed' bet icsbtuKA lr> beet ant) tad Bi tensile rtreogth. la 187/. io aa fedUire produced 420008 (oat of oabettce cancel (A-C) abut ead fllJOOO paid lu any level of aaheatoa totpeavre ea bciog free fiten cancer twit, to (he of Ihfe tflutto Mawlndi have torn temuenended to* caie* where u. hritoa caeT |*tt hr icploccd hy aafer wtoteeonpj. In 1878, US health aulborttir* evtimoled that 20,009 new nans of anon tottil 1801 {5|. With ituiu tomctlmm awarding (nuOtive daeugca to adwate* vkiimi om! mw UwsulU betafl filed gt the rote ad over SJOUQ per year, them k growing concern (hat even JabM- Memvilk ami olhei large ucnpenlei may am lie able to *Wa* thrir ehtigo- ltonM |flj. * . tow of A-C pipe fa ladteflh 7heru ndU eecnr eenmiy far 00 more ytacs In Bumbay, Htodinlm Fcrode Ltd *tw mete thaa aae nifliao taae of A-C a i melt ad jvnt espoauree to eafaestao produen hake ttolagu dutch fadnp pipe ptedund to the US to IBM; but to Aeeriea The lecopultun f this and ubrdoa tcxUhn. Thk reanpony la AX abort Lt hardly pd at all to Ito US taypsnw (obetd TOJKtt fei to )M0|. Asbeslae readily hereto dewo toto A udcmwpte (tost ha tioforiaaeleJy tto totoietioo of fibrra i* ertirwsely haierduue ad Amnkta medical eothoiiilee . bW report* ef fata) nbaOwh | at* dog el toe hap) to the early tUQi, roeng win* wtth ea Iftlto* e* 0 In % meartb *d heavy npawwe to toe rise!* The dtroeto too* ant rweBv wantfeit toelT to feat (!* 10 yeeae (too the toeart id opmir, ad to A# refly tog** Ike main ooipti-- H ahnetnew ei hretok apan arovunw. The atoetoaoi id btob see mutually bnom toeap*tlUUaK and ked h iksto Urn h an ive to nUtbaii eal (hr to; hepa km to pnrdM| wuahra* fmn* tovktg to hace<be (to dml to the bM pbrr. D B ItAmefl be* lueml blab naa uvtotoe oA unfaear cttoiMpk* hea hd to bantam n,u,lM to owiWol pipe lawsUthm end other product*. and increasingly oevere tegu- klkmi ea both the air if estostur to weak end odiotto poBsatiait. Tto tkc- ItoA to US coeiiitnpUon of ashedi* em eefrmtrd to IMJ end wktto ccaeot pmdwli reflect (hit. One cmnpeny. JetoM.Montolle. hea wceWty etoed foer -ml- rOn-ctg* ot pig* roemdortwalcg pkto. Tto to krgrly e weak of pub lic Moevm oe the centeeiieqlloa nf drtofctef aOrr tu{yto) ade 4eitw neM ptpre tfl'memipi** id AX ptpre 'Mnol by cwMtof to IML toaeden, toe noapK haa heoerd as* tolenwwl |4b 7e evauA Ihr iw4 <f rrgiilltosea etui tanaae* $nr ilanain HeahtoaUsaiel flwaia kavr ImAhiI In dtn^iet autuma e* vamtaaito* U ma*f ir* cWaply- end a* e 1W (awnbef* he kvrtopteg err euiLru. 74 per cent ownod by t> dnmtned firaidi arfmstoa company. Toner and MewaQ. In late 1878; nporti to (he UK wen halted after lUpewnti wen wduard hacemo they were net triple* packed to poJyrtbylme bap- Itoide plant, camdittene mrmUe (tone In Bntidi focfenrtoa 90 yeata ago (4.51- The nvrfcm are ne* tofoaowd about the hasenU ef breathing adiertee dust, which h piamint to vfafide cencnitr-* km to the plant ibnacphrrr. Warkc i net toloaaead by aawaewmt wbm their chew X*tay w> hes<oM. Ewe (to itoflrat hammerpeag anri- mm art out employed: eg, dual on the fleam U dry awepi, oat wet mapped. Thr um Iwfae err -eaed far rttebt ikeket ml (he dudy nock ddhc*. to- surtog thr eentandnatfcm of dw werfc- en* bum. OvarwbehnrJ othaert ven* tdotkin w awl to remove ahwt to non* pauftsat' Suctkoa durtt feed la a won view tto weato dual if coBrctod to awl dugetani aahavtMte to A peaty to IM (eand on niev rUM nek. Tto wostra on (rondo- (A the vmitit ivrttk pane (hew five lm nMiMitM.-tHnng aclnitira to baaba ird tw into tach whlrk k'lk dnW pro-' yreav uw (to ewetoud to ea asheatoe uaiiet pM to tedteU). la eaUHkei to aahneedi. wMcb etto to ceased l<y *t*o of W*er eepueerv ei wrA ea lean than e nearth id intaeae nfMwer, rnbrnka unce o warty id (ton heal ton eeawhurird owl npeteleil to aldeilto with (be asakb Ui(* to mehtnattnal ozhcviM oepufattaeia. fa .(heiwlilieili Sheer OdPn)ey Crown* Ciwpany Ltd pnahqea SOJWO lean pr veer uI edwatn^meret pipe abrH. (H loch', Whre rbecgrd wish ouch prac tice* to mbit, anenogrewnt hu atoply jtlcnifd everything; clebninR. for ramplr, (bet then* on "vary dm notfci* that pent the dwgn* (of adwwnl jfMl** to tto yto. TV htwuma who mnn to ew, TH kbbl Sea (uea ndirfhoealor b (he }alms>MM- carry (to dost away firm tto vtiAfin- utiftace titomghoat tbt hd)' no] wen %iH CorpusHoo, (hr bifeto edwatoe '(ton fyden ton only to wnovw and toiww ad (to to**. stomefh, and uttoe oenpeey In the Wrdrm IlmHphrtc. Wkwe the potyathytoon hag* to wMeh idto. (Xbtvtonif mimb fcnewm ae Muee ixpibf hea haew a attedy rne- W dmt liea end toto M to tto atom f7h erotottoltoma hem dUctal eat tody traner fot CohnJim atlwlm hhte ntomd In plant lour conducted Hi March edienee toakem, .wt fto unrbfti to ly IdnaMaaeilk, Albftm labit oo IH1, one of the pment authors UU- fl (to talbibtj trastto, aubeatne vmk- tid woton am) tmete water to dump kedi Modan) wan ta/rmgrd that tto re' tiettn espeeed to dot kwgkt ed aratohlr if (be AtonanUhaul pknt la dutt t Actually coHectcd in boon on the wcakna* ck*be, end a vnenpietrty wanton aewwr. (hildne tup, then tmxs/mvd (a hft Nt*. iMightaei of estoafan pknH, some of play on thr warn dumps end norktm which ere kwdtd fmo tn open truck whom played ai children on wbeaht to nut tnfonnrd d (he bthol lUngen and (hipped .to tto dump in Deonar. ante damps, 1)5 hraHh eutborUire of the duet. Jobio.M*mr|ttft ta (he ** Nowhere io ibe dutt collection ptw- acknowledge that the evidence dart wd clmfare ^eflrt of Shirr PiRvifay paodnarta rest were polyethylene tops otoerrtd iosr ni ,* -? 4. Anln. N i>r!W^ ,M. w -V.> h-'* - \n: i*t .r c- ^ `hw`*h as/vs..:-": v, ,v. ,1^* ,. MiWfti""*>,,"f,,t ptant .*.*. n* "*>* **n in ** Pu'/ ijce i-Srd ''Mim.S- * * rt'*nt *rA 141 oilman. * "* * M I. -Imppmlmn S'*f en*Ui`oi '* **ni 9 nv>;,*f r.fnn*i. !* 1*n*> *'i * n>** tefavrivhnh*.*ar",*W-! 'hat uantf^fK f Jy.4*,*. I*.,!* ( ' W* &rill'AV W'*' ">b :ft* Sr^ir.sss rcuLi:-.*rr t**w. ^ ' ar****r l '^t ha<* 'nrl''4*** <?!w ><* ir.tduA (71 ftcmr. IMwlwt*** OmwcI ih^v ^ llll',Ti- W.rt* (u.m <*`*nu.ia "* *** * *.f^t U P*' ni ^ ^ ** i.< r ^ prr aW'CinJ ami ye* art nei,ti;r Oi.fKirtrH PW M* OV**^"- |..r %! V. 4.f. <i***l l` vIsw)r <:*.;*! I *' *. lv*.* ilnVi ..i,. * . / :. R Apr: ; lal n i.. * ' 'V. nr-1 ./ ..... i <i * j :i < 4'- r.n.i. r:v't;;. inn NjIht* I*11, 't.* ^ vr. 7: -/.'*':* !* " 1101 ^V.lli'P'A B ****."' ` il,.rtlH J*.V*,*4 *`,t 1,4* Ivr In * aptaftM ocu "* ittn>n'n< rMui-i'on, II * appa*i! that *hf ti.n,. ***emit** Krir*** ntuler *** IlMU l Imta "* *Ur*h-. * ,U <rtK.alr.p-* f *> M^ tm *f,.V.P -- * V:|* *" [ ^i. 4 " `Ji t,tr4 > : .'*** * '*fM * a .,,... Wf -- n-;4*.r '* ""1 mt ,v;r ** *'; :rrJl .--.4-,rf. KV<*.I * uunn-x-i .Hw.tn * '* '* g,r ... w.^-na *.Srr*Pt P"`* ^ Itt tK*r v-*'***'^ *'*"*' l **' J, ,, -- -i *. *;* " >,,IU .tiM hvl.'fju t i* | ' rta * ***('* *** Kwki**n * tM iVlIl'SH i*m |Sc ' t.w m I'm* . k. . ' **. al^eme nl * *''* Y* %W t*'. . 1 * I*1-* ''*** H-'.Wi*'1' ..^1 S III. MU* O. av %/. l< 4W.* ..-* r;w ^,,.444. .......... - .......... .! a Mil-* it}l J-"* 1 1 n .! ./C4. f- .!*' "4> m-.*.*.***.*,*.f -v<r* *. t' v. >, . .-.. Tm-i*m..u " '* V' HM'iin-'i.i .J .1 *4irf in*tn.ii.. *''*** *' l*'S*r i Mr *(* .t ...4oi ami :....;*iy. *%Nvi" i'*`` .THf OBSERVER, SUNDAY is AUGUST 1982 ' 'i+t u O-j*. .. A *. ,?^*:Af...'.-'<.V.V\ -,v1.*.- hs&k mm iW'MART'W jBAILEf r&'y ^ THE BRITISH' /'asbestot* Iu'tiIu* by 11 mllllon;Tdur* according-' to,-. Dr ' Bradley! company Turner ft Nawall'Inr the'put two wnki* be* partly beciuit of praiaure exposed ,;'lu Swiailand cause of mounting concern of. from , tha m^. He .'said: workers* to '.dulT VleveU litf*tioA' Jrom ;.-.aba^i. .Turner*.then, mada a,real thVf. ?t*i; iwlv. victims*-1'''*.**' -".-..w. : .*-*:*< -effort, andthtro vraa.a major ew"Mhi.atddy *( tha mine at improvement,* Compensation if *{;?*?* J*.S ^ ^>'Harelock;-'W par'cent owned . wai; iUovlived* to aabeitoal* allowed;*. ,.by\;..company,;. by t-ft-Nin40 percent by .'victims*rgpgln*.from. 1,00.0 p,6 icy, according'to an' un- Vtho. 'SwaxIland Government, -do- . w^,- published raport 'obtamoav-was-prepared'by CnydifT* conditUni'Yt Havelock, by The Observer!]' ^ baaa.d : Medical v. Research'-have. contradicted T & N's* ' ' The'study reveala iha^uit' .Council's v:- Pneumoconiosis 'miMrt'?\*tan<U: .Mr. Patrick r people] were oer cu ,cm In 1976. .-Although' since decreased,. _ . above the' company'*, safecr Jater tnis y<.............. ... . ,. .. Litindird Inparts of the plant, Journal of' Industrial, M*dt: '. Tba UX. legal limit, Intro . The'Havelock'study, ore- dne* * claims that for . the. duced In 1969, I* 2 fibres per ft nared 'by-the',UK HealcaT period' until '`-1976, ' -fnn cu cm, which wlll'ihortly be Research.`.Council', .also r*-; accurate/aititrtates of. dust^reduced .'to l: fibre. Yet ac- T_ e. .aIl,s*"' t,hLa^t-*nearly. ^a 'LthilrJd.cff'.-a'evexapAnotWiuArt#,'`''are pvaocsas(iMble,*- as ^cnofri4dlinnigr tno Itnhae rCaaffrldlfifff Isfttul/di Vy., thhaed W"odrekveerf*tio-ap_ aemd' 'p'leads*bines1t9o7s. 8!*;'dm. uosn.f itworaini-gniootrf-'sttnthaaertedaif*rbpUornnnttieill 'tuhie level .at Hnaavveeiolocciek waa 25 time* this figure In 1976, and Mfiur The companty'',r former doctor > then* ' ; .levels of-exposure, have inn. SJwwaazizlaiunfnidda,,...Dur Antnhonnyyv7 . . - .V; *.? gradually, teen decreasing' Brdley,.who helped write the Dan^firOUfl' . *' . ' v' i)inco- then; mi -report, admiy that he wat,-.. , u- ' No *; figures of post-1976 shocked *V. ar. `the result*,' f "ft Bradley, who wa* HatK (dust levels are given'In the tfunncu. ip final, isljsfimBimeofooHlrjer' -`^rt)tchectt^'i.ummrrllessdlyial/a'gwinrneoosslTnln'diiaf* d1^'-7i0^s1,:- dbhuaacei1.,ta*dd0nm^witttt.eue^5d-.*...^tto^o.t.,.TT'RlKlli*. 1 ut{Ca$rdttifhfastt,uwdhye. nBuhieDler fBi rHadalveey* what turned out to be aibe*-although (ocfijrrwo years- ago, tho.'maxi* ' l- i , ground tosis.' ne Uid.V;.V ;..;*** wai.ne.retulK'-ntonh '*T 8c N, tho.corhpany alt .tha".-torln* dust Imle were re* murq1,level at the( mill was 15 fibrti.'La*t wtek acompany iv-Ri 'bin.jucb .:,;iouudi, ire*/, the centre*of kijrovr.over. 'thd)frded oni.an,.*.occaalonal gpoke*man told The .Obsrr* Yorkshlce Altfelewilon*, film*., bails.* These fiiurei. fid laid,, vim that the auehege pronal rAlice,*,'^cratly; conilderdd 1 showed '.that, w^n.:?ubea(oi .. exposure- ' .for 'the **2,100 BRITA Inga* ciociinngg^'ddoovn'tnhe mmiinnee**ttnhrreeee.'*dcuusnt..lseevyecil* lin**oomme'pa*rta*of workers at Havolock-was now- month vears1 sjto^;"But "Dr.Bridley, /\ tthhe#-*.mmiiHll exceeded 50.flibreegs .beellooww^ two , fibre*, and only United *g<.CJub who.' fiaaisfhc*/-lett T ft,N<,.'percu.*caui;*'.*<.*% **'7 ` . ' `44ppeerrecent of -ihe work fotce. Twr **' said s.J2t wg# right ndt.tq shut ;:* Even outtldi th mill* con- re*cceliYved the equivalent of ma ' who _d_o_w_n_. l_tn__d_`__m_i_ne_'' b__e_c_e_u_s_a *. p.f.Edition*, were alio dangerolis. between two and three fibril. tlont. cu re-drawn I confunc* I i chief! the effect'll would have h*d..Thd.Cardiff.shady polnti out-. on unemployment,*. ,.that until 1970Lasbestos was But even now, according to `packed Into * hestlen; sacks the* study^ 'In dry,* windy and trensported on a 13-mile ^ -i6m^ ^jty'. ril, ,nu "i-pbloav^ne(- were* the UX t.pp?haearrrMtesf*or0oefi s4tandard. Indian Diego Anecro new f Mauri: In an rtsmouih , Met-were ties' read! oc of. re*. \t lame* Jed- from re Porta* -'chanting :UillwalT weather dust from the.mill eerlal ropeway, `which re* The Cafdiff study con* and. waste tip* U blowrt oyer, suited in the workeri on the eluded that 43 per cent of the whole area, so that even ropeway .receiving *. high .the.workeri In the dustiest estate workers are exposed fo'dust.exposure,* A T ft N.pub- * areas of. .Havelock. had the `.backgro_und'" leve_U* V-v.licJty photog_ rap. h shows,'developed'asbestos pneumo* }>Thase -' new'5* revelations -'nearly' *V hundred /children * conioils or- a^basto/fs.* Overi *about^'ft.'N,i'safety itan-;playing ..'outside/ the : mine .`all, .30. per/ceng* of. the' 4381 dards-'tre Hkety to. put'fur-" school, a hundred yards fron^ (workers In the_sample hsd last we> fain as sovercif 'both wrong/ lease. 01 has. spi .million the W. military Ocean, : f proposer, The ; fdiea ;~`U- Chagos 'captain* forth it'd-' admlnls u^til ne