Document rpK661yMLmRdz5E1wo78Bd3da

OCT- 1-93 FRI 9:00 ALCOA MAIN OFFICE 2nd FL FAX HO. 3174483604 P.02 Rg: Medical Surveillance For Pipefitter/General Mechanics This nemo is to clarify why I recommended the aformentioned job classifications undergo an "initial asbestos screening" approach similar to what Davenport and Rockdale locations did. I interviewed two salaried (T. Greives/J. Huberts)and one hourly employee (Tony Newman) about potential exposures to pipefitters. Greives did not know. Huberts thought exposures were "low to minimal, and not very much." T. Newman gave the following information: Exposures varied greatly. As a rule of thumb they occured 1-2 times per month per person. Potential exposures occured more frequently during winter months than summer due to steam pipe leaks. The time of exposures varied from 15 minutes to 4 hours per job. Respirators were worn periodically, especially after the early 1980's. Some pipefitters smoked. Generally wet removal methods were not used, however, sometimes steam would condense on pipe lagging. Fiber exposure likely occured when manually removing pipe elbow insulation, crumbling it by hand into a bucket, mixing it back into a packable slurry, then applying the slurry onto an elbow. Entire sections were occasionally lifted off pipe lengths, and fiberglass replacement sections came into use late 1970's early 1980's. I also contacted Joe Damiano and Karen Crawl at Pgh. S Health for assistance. Joe stated Alcoa does not have asbestos exposure information on the Pipefitter job class in the I.H. Hygenius database. Karen did find 1980 data at the Alcoa Arkansas operation on Pipefitters performing valve repairs. The 8 hour TWA results were as follows: 0.008 f/cc 0.005 f/cc 0.007 f/co 0.003 f/cc I did not find any Lafayette Pipefitter exposure information in my search of our hardcopy records. I did run General Mechanics and copied you on the Hygenius printout: 8 hour TWA range ran: < 1 75 % of the permissible exposure limit. Short term exposures ran from <2"-- 27 % of the limit. Basically I believe that both classifications are at a low moderate degree of risk based on the available information. ALCOA M'/l 752484 0003 OCT- 1-93 FRI 9:01 ALCOA MAIN OFFICE 2nd FL FAX NO. 3174483604 JOB DESCRIPTION P. 03 x1 JOB TITLE Pipefitter- 261 -----------Lafarvette_____________ EPT. Maintenance r-^( Sa-va~L . (_ Ixi l--u^ PRMRY 7UNCTION3 OF THB JOB? j2 *-*>/-IS Install, dismantles, repair, and service all types of pipi^^and plufcbing. MATERIALS USED, PROCESSED AND HANDIED: L>*J: (5 3 Metallic and non-metallic materials such as pipe, tubing, hose, gasket material, lead caulking, cutting and lubricating compounds, valves, floats, etc. TOOLS AMD EQUIPMENT USED: Hand tools suoh as wrenches, hammers, saws, pipe and thread cutters, etc.; equipment including pipe maohines, power drills, ladders, blow torch, bending tools, hoists, hand trucks, etc,; testing and measuri. ng devices such as gages, meters, rules, etc. DIRECTIONS EXERCISED! May have a helper or helpers assigned. DOTIES AND WORKING PROCEDURE: Works from drawings, sketches or other instructions; makes field measurements Rpfl sketches; cuts, threads, fits and bends pipe; installs, dismantles, repairs and services all types of piping, plumbing and accessories; applies various types of insulation and protective coverings; installs, repairs pnd services fire protection equipment; Installs, cleans and repairs traps, valves, and floats; determines and obtains required materials; assists in training apprentices; maintains production and time records. REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE ABOVE STATEMENT REFLECTS THE GENERAL DETAILS CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO OESCRIBE THE PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB lOCNTirico, and shall not be construed AS A DETAILED OESCRIPTfON OF ALL THE WORK requirements that may be inherent in the 752484 0004 OCT- 1-93 FRI 9:02 ALCOA MAIN OFFICE 2nd FL FAX. NO. 3174483604 L. L. RIPPEY PITTSBURGH OFFICE - 6 R. A. SLACK LAFAYETTE P. 04 1993 April 7 BEj___ASBESTOS MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE Your question about requirements to include people with historical exposure to asbestos in medical surveillance programs is an interesting one. I've checked the OSHA CD-ROM (with all of the latest interpretations and field directives) as well as the CFRs. There is no requirement that people other than those specified by the standard be included in medical surveillance. Asbestos Standard for Construction (applicable to all renovation nd demolition activities). 1926.58 (m) medical surveillance is required for all employees exposed above the action level and/or the excursion limit for 30 or more days per year. Medical surveillance is also required for employees who are required to wear negative pressure respirators. Asbestos standard for General Industry (applicable to manufacturing processes involving asbestos and brake repair). 1910.1001 (1) medical surveillance is required for all employees who are or will be exposed above the action level and/or the excursion limit. Some plants have gone beyond the OSHA requirements and elected to include people who have historical exposures to asbestos in the medical surveillance programs. Please note, that the following list may not represent every plant who is addressing historical asbestos exposures; it is not based on polling all Alcoa locations. Badin is in the process of reviewing exposure histories to identify job classifications where old air samples exceed current limits (even though the sampling method was modified with he 1986 standard). H:\IAA38MEDI XL* 752484 0005 OCT- 1-93 FRI 9:03 ALCOA MAIN OFFICE 2nd FL FAX NO. 3174483604 1993 April 7 Asbestos Medical Surveillance Page 2 P. 05 ?avenportJ identified employees who had worked in certain job classifications which were believed to have historical exposures to asbestos. Those people were Initially screened via chest xray and pulmonary function testing. If screening showed any "changes" those individuals were enrolled in periodic medical surveillance for asbestos. Warrick The availability of medical exams for people who have had past asbestos exposures was announced. Employees who identified themselves were interviewed by the plant physician. Through the interview it was decided whether to enroll employees in periodic medical surve i1 lance based on the nature of the exposure. ____>> ('RockdaleNhas identified names of employees who spent time in job ' Classifications subjectively identified as involving asbestos exposures. The plan is to then screen those employees using pulmonary function testing and an optional chest x-ray. Screening will determine which individuals are then included in medical surveillance for asbestos. A small number of Rockdale employees who have already been identified as having pleural plaques have been sent off site to a pulmonary specialist and also receive special periodic surveillance. Laura Rippey cc: R.M. James, Pgh 6 D.M. Jaffe, MD C. Griffin, MO, Lafayette J.F. Rider, Lafayette W.T. Washam, MD/C. Beran, Rockdale J.F. Duderstadt, Pgh 13 File: Asbestos, Plant Programs H:UMSBMEOUXK 752484 0006 *OCT- 1-93 FRI 9:00 ALCOA MAIN OFFICE 2nd FL FAX NO. 3174483604 P.01 I do not have access to the necessary tox literature to do an in depth risk assessment and welcome corporate's input in the matter. My understanding is you will obtain this information. Jonh'-Rider cc: B. Slack K. Oxley Po*t-tt" brand fax transmittal memo 7871 [#o<pw 5 W Ayerf (Jjrewj\ Kpt V 0 T L4>* rmxi U 'toe., <v. 752484 0002