Document qmMdq7wgao1NpBJRzO4mz9dzK

FILE NAME: Asbestos Sacks and Bags (ASB) DATE: DOC#:ASB04 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION:>ZD::DZ>ZK ^Z'Z:ZZ ZZZtZ^ Gel " Similar letter to H. C. Armstrong, Comm.Councillor, Metals & Minel~als Office of the High Commissioner for Canada, 1, Grosvenor Square, W.l. M. J. Brazier, G. A. Brazier & Co. Ltd. , Newly House, 309, Chase Road, N.14. Universal Asbestos Manufacturing Co. Lt~ , Tolpits, Watford, Herts. ~J~. lo~~, Mr. Jamcs, , Johns ld:anville le Co. ,Ltd., 20, Albert Embankment,. London, S.E.l. ;}..(' C2.--r:.:......1.'. ~ '". .~~/ j?. J" f!-U 9th August, 1965. Dear Sir, Following our telephone conversation, I should first explain that the OCean Shipowners Group Joint Committee is the joint industrial body responsible for working eondi tions wi thin the Ocean Trades of the Port of London. At the present time" both sides are concerned over the possible risk of men sustaining Aebestosis. Whilst for some years this rear has exIsted, it has been broUeht to a head in the Port of London recent ly J following gange employed on a particul~ vessel obtaining a medical opinion for themselves trom Dr. Donald Hunter of the Middlesex Hos pital Medical School J and a copy or the letter written by the latter is enclosed. Since the gangs concerned obtained this advice, the discharge of \sbest08 on the 'Vessel haa been restricted to approximately one ton :per hoUl", the men being supplied wi th Siebe Gorman M,isY,.s IAark TV. Whilst that vessel has now been completed, the issue has spread to other vcsoels subscq,uently discharged in the Par t, as both Trade Unions represent !ne port Transnort' Workers have iasu.ed their Merribers certain instructions. These are set out in a circular which I, as secretary of the Shipowners OJ'ganisation, sent to my constituents on 30th July. copy attached. I\S when the die charge of the bage of Asbestos is completed, a certain amoWlt of dust will remain, it ls understood Dr. Hunter has advised the men to continue wearing the mnsks and conti.nue the discharge 'of the otht~r commodities at a reduced output_ Iover (... - - - - 2,- . ;;~ .u. <) ~..t""j;-:I:'IJ .':.: ~ .tQl~:)3'.:, J e: .~. J ~:{ 4! lJ'.~":' . :-~t~~J ~:. :,..<~:... ~ I~~.C ij "~J:4; GV~ : .,,:1" O~) ~)i~u'.:\V'll appr~c;1at~C",:th&jc:~b~jJ.(~ill have affect on. ~~ .:1Jl1l?o~,"tng .of rJ.tfl~~a:los through the LondoTL 0-," ' . . Tt"; ~~ ~.~ a grave Port of .' I. .' .'~ .. , . ~:' ~ .Following a deeision of the Joint Comm.ittee, Q . Consultant B1o~Chenist is at the !~r,~~l}t. :t1me.ie~~~,::~lle . ( .9:~~j (C9unt in ~he atmosphere of shi:ps~ h,~l.<1a .dur~. ~:~e. -coorse of disc11arge of the various tt.P~s of ~~Sa .wh~c..b, are ", '. 1mp<>rted. It 1s, of course, reasonable to expect that one of the,;f'ea,turea, of his Report will be concerned with a 'r'e'corrunellaat"ion as to th~ best type of bag to be used. . The question still l'emains., however, a.s to whether '::-' V/1J,at.ever io contained in the Report - the men will accept the conclusions reach~d, in-face of the o;pinion held by, Dl:'. Hunter. Indeed, i t may be n~oessai'y .to stibinIt bur Bio-Chelll:~ts Report t,,:, 11 Doctor "r9r furtlie~ C9!M\cmt:.. ' , . or . :tiiso:f~ as the" DOC~8, ar.e conQe.'~.Qed, 1 t la .t'elt by Borne Membar~ my. Cojrmi tt.tl$. that the risk of As~atosia ls :rar greater in the processing industry than to dQc.kers J who are only in contact with this commodity in small quantities foI' S4ol':t q~fil.tj,ons ~t :int.r~Q.Uynt, Int;er.v.als. '.. It has t tb.erefqre t. o.q~U%'red. ~_9 "rae ~lat the, p~~ducers Oll' pl'Q.cesso%'s of' J\.spee:t<?-s J'lQl'B. m~ Jlav~. a~~1lable to them oona.l~~abJ..e medi{!'a~ i~ol'matlon 'O1:l the .:r:i.$k at AsbeatoGls" ,even though it may be '11ml ted to the ci,l'eumstancGs und,er which their employees work. . At the same t1me~ it ls.' felt ~lult y,ou might b~ able to pl'ovide me with some useful Infor:.natlon on your ex.perience and possibly comment on the risks dockers might run~ together with any o~her useful information.which you t ..ink may be of 'asa:ta tance to me. It mlglit .even be useful to know to what extent employees conCerned .with minine und processing might have suftered, 1f such information can be made availablo. , Whilst th.e issue at present is restricted to the handling of the raw Asbestos,. 1 t has been indicated by one Trade Union that an approved mask should be worn even when haridling the manufactured product., aueh as sheeta, pipes, etc. Whilst t personally feel that this view has been token in the presen't cl:tmate of grave fear over the raw material, and thus may not beoome a problem, 1 t will be useful if ~ou could also comment on this aspect. . Sin'ce the Trade un,iona made known thei%' policy to their ~Aembere J the reaction has varied ,in the dock. and whilst where Members of.' the 'l'l'ansport & General Workers Union l..- _ _ _ are/conttd ... 5 - are solely ooncerned the discharge has continued not unreasonable, the reaction of the Stevedores to their union' El instl.'uction hao bE'en to work the oommodity at time ra,te and not .plec~work, but unfortunately in working to time rate tb.eir O\1tput has been severely restricted. Furthermore, with this particular category of labour the issue still remains, after the Asbestos is completely discharged, sinoe under the Lt'lstructlons of' the!:. Trade Union, :t'olJ..owing the s.dvice thei%' , M~mbe~8 .received from Dl'. Hunter, they have to continue wearing the masks on other cargo, and ao a result, output ot those commodities is 'also seriously restricted., In conclus1on I must once again reiterate my request for any observaU on or ill.fol'matlon which you might. consi del.' of use to us. in our endeavour to overcome, this issue. otU-s faitlltull7. -. > :~.~: ,,--,,--,"'- - ,- - (n. L,. Bennett) secretary I,..- _ _ _