Document rx3KqKkwgbM8oBBQ3rJpaJaOJ

THE ASBESTOS INFORMATION COMMITTEE ;Cr*. WAKDOUIt STIIEET, LONDON, W.i ' ASBCSTOS IKFOn>wvTION C0MMITT2B ' aumbry of first year's worli to 30th April 1968 1. *ometl8n of /jb>to Information CownlttM Tho Asbestos Information Committee was fonwd In April 1987. Its Bashars ara Turner A Nawr.il Ltd., Capa Aabaatoa Co. Ltd., B.B.A. Group Ltd. and Central .'jsbestoa Co. Ltd. It retains Hill A Xnowlton International aa its public relations consultants and operates officially from the liill A Xnowlton offices in 10 Vordour Street, London, V.l. 2. Structure The detail of A.Z.C. work is planned by the following sub-coaaittees1 Press Relations and Advertising Literature Liaison with asbestos Fibre Inporters Committee Architecture end Quildlng. parlianentary Conference Pilas " - ' 3* Frees Relations The first of a series of constructive course taken by the Asbestos Information Committee was a press conference on 19th Kay 1967 at which the lnduetry*s concern over health and Its past record were fully explained, at tho sane tine it was announced that the use of blue fibre was being voluntsrily restricted, that fibre was being imported in dust-proof packs (end blue palletised), that 100,000 was earmarked for the Asbestosis Research Council over tho next 3 years, that Codes of Practice for additional user industries were being, prepared and that four asbestos companies had set up the asbestos Information Committee to keep the public properly informed bn matters concerning asbestos and health Per tho first time, as a result, proas coverage presented 'the asbestos industry in a favourable light. VC- *'V.k*Ihe Committee sponsored a supplement in The Times ,on ^asbestos on 23th November 1967, which covered the positive boneflts conferred on industry and the public by the use of asbestos-based products, and included an Cent/d iaqpartlalartlele on the hea).+h question by Th Ixmea radical correspondent. " . . ' Wilsadiiiff srticlss in medlcc.1, technical and local journals have been challenged by letters to editors. The Committee sponsored a useful special number in the magazine "Insulation" on the subject -of asbestos( prepared an article for publication by the Asbestos fibre Importers' Committee in the P.L.A. newspaper "The Port* . and an article in the Safety Officers' Journal "Protection". The Committee have eppointed a retained medical Journalist for a probationary period of three months. A. Tolovialon Leaders of the Industry and its medical advisers have been given professional instruction in case it proves necessary for an industry spnfcosmar. to aij>e*r a television progra 5. Members of Parliament The Committee set eighteen Members of Parliament at the House of Commons on 30th January 1958*. a copy of the memorandum produced at the time for M.P.s is attached. The A.I.C. panel explained the asbestos induotry'a achievements and policy on asbestos and health and anawex-ad questions* The panel received a favourable receipt'*'! end were Impressed by the responsible and informed approach of the M*P*s who attended* Several M.P.s have visited the factories of member companies and been shown the industry's practical safety meaoures. 8, Civil Service It- appeal's that two Interdepartmental moetlngs have now taken place on aabostos and health, the Ministries represented being Labour, Health, Housing and Local Government and Board of Trade. Vo have hearsay evidence that the civil servants present expressed balanoed views, though wo still understand that the Factory Inspectorate are proposing to circulate a Hat of substitutes for asbestos* The Ministry of Reusing and Local Government circulated various bodies and companies in the asbestos industry on 5th January regarding the Disposal of Asbostos Vasts. Representatives of the A.I.C., A.R.C. and the.Asbestos Association will in due course bo lnvitod to a meeting at the Ministry to discuss the eontonts of a questionnaire and the sample of the Industry to whom it should be oont. The Department of Education, and'Science were persuaded . to write to looal authority architects who appear to have l^lU^^piisundorstood the Intent of a D.X.S. circular on asbestos and Health as calling for substitutes for asbestos for - building applications. rv>%' * Cont/d i. A paper on th put, present and future V>f* of bluo flbro vu prepared for tho T.U.C. The A.I.C. trill be eakins peraonal contact with various interested Vnion officials during 1968. 8* Universities A Bisleading asBorandua circulated by Leeds University to the Building Officers of Universities was challenged by tho Cotanittoe t which suocoeded in securing the circularisation of the original addressees with the industry's rebuttal of the memorandum. 9< British Standards Institution Tho Comnittee hav asked roprujuiiiuiivoa of Bomber companies who sit on Committees of the British Standards Institution to resist the incorporation in British Standards of prominent warnings on the dangers -of inhaling asbestos dust. ^ World Health Organisation Dr. Holmes, Secrotary of the A.R.C., visited Copenhagen at the beginning of January and met Dr. Aoge Crut, Director of tho Danish Department of Occupational Healvh, and Mr. Homann Pedersen of the Elsinore Shipyard, who had eiroulatod a memorandum damaging to asbestos to the Association of Danish Shipbuilders. Mr. Pederoen has subsequently circulated an addendum to his original roport, recommending (a) alternatives to asbestos, whore possible, for insulation, and (b) a framing system for asbestos-based bulkheads which eliminates the necessity for screwing and drilling. The A.I.C. have written to the Board of Trade drawing their attention to the damage which may be oaused to the British asbestos Industry's exports by Irresponsible statements frob officials of the World Health Organisation. Cue towers The Committoe has attempted by personal approaches to encourage various largo usors of asbostos notorials - to concentrate on effoctivo control measures rathor than the substitution of alternative materials to asbostos. It hopod to arrange a conference of international standing of key health policy makers in larger organisations in Fobruary I9S9. Cont/d 12. Adwrtltlim Bteauss of * bellof that it la unsafe to occupy buildings in the structure of which asbestoa- based materials bavo boon employod, roassuring advertisements were' lnoertod in architectural, building, hoopitni and educational journals, and in Sir the Journal "Protection" in the fora of a Statement by the Aaboatoa Xnduatry. Copies are attached. A positive advertising campaign on tho indiaponsability of asbestos in solectod national nodia is at prosant being conaidorod. 1}. Literature The Committee published a panphlet in Nay 1967 entitled "Asbestos and your Hoalth" for iasuo to deckers at ports faced with labour troubles over the handling of asbestos oargoos. Good use has boon mado of this panphlet. It has subsequently published a booklet, principally intondsd as a source book for companies* own booklets on the health problom, and for the guidance of representatives, entitled "Asbestos Safety and Control", and a confidential leaflet for guidance of tho Industry's sales representatives entitled "Putting the Case for Asbestos". Copies of all three publications are attached. At the saao time tho /sbastosis Research Council has in addition to tho edisting Codo of Practice on Thermal Insulation, produced new Codos of Practico eovoring the Building and Shipbuilding Xndustrios, is drafting a new Codo on tho Disposal of Asbestos Vasts and eooporatod in tho drafting of a now Code on the Handling of Asbostos in the Docks. Ik. films Assistance was given to tho Central Office of Information with a film on asbestos for overseas showing. A propoaod troatoont for a 20-23 minute 16 mm colour film on asbestos and its usos is at present being oonsldorod by the Committee. 13* Speakers Panel' r'SjV.,:- The A.X.C. Is building up a panel of speakers an asbostos who will be given proper training and briefing on hoalth matters.. A presentation was successfully givon to an audienco of Yorkshlro plant enginoors in Loads by an A.I.C. panol on 13th Naroh. SJ`i<T.' "Publicity Offloors* Conference A brioflng and discussion conforence for tho publicity offioors of mombor companies and their C subsidiaries was hold in Soptombor 1967, to which somo ef tho eonstruetivo ideas slnco adoptod by tho A.I.C. can bo attributed. Cont/d -f