Document rxQ6jdXnQNrx4XVV5wRJjYQb7

Into Office Personnel and Organization Staff Mr. feu1 K. Tcth April 28, 1978 Subject: Asbestos Exposure-Cleveland Casting Plant An investigation of Mr, Woody Thompson's death was conducted at the Cleveland Casting Center on April 25, 1978* Short meetings were held with D. Simmons, D.O., Messrs. G. Short, Security Supervisor, H. HiBnay, Supervisor Worker's Compensation, R. Finnessy, Worker's Compensation Administrator/also former floor supervisor in Mr. Thompson's department, and R. McDaniel, Floor Supervisor, Department ^789. In general, the operation of concern was a two-shift operation consisting ! of repair welding on cast parts. This operation was initiated in 1951 and was terminated in November of 1976* (The job was free effort and no production standards existed for it.) Approximately 35 to b5 people were employed on this job at a time. A total number of employes bolding thiB classification was not obtained. An attempt was made to determine if all employes formerly employed in this operation could be identified. This question could not be fully answered but it appears that identification I will be somewhat difficult requiring review of individual records. I J " An attempt was made to define conditions of the operation (furnace welding) which would influence employe asbestoB exposure. A plant layout of the ` cleaning room is attached with the position of employes doing repair welding shovn in red. Mr. Thompson's job was repair welding on heads or blocks. These parts were preheated in a furnace to facilitate welding (maintain welding temperature and stress relief of parts). To provide radiant heat shielding while performing the operation sections of asbestos millboard was used. The sections of boards would vary in size and shape due to the type of repairs being made. The aBbeetos board would have been shaped by the employe to expose minimal surface area of the part. Information concerning medical responsibilities in this case was received from Dr. Simmons, a review of the record indicated that on May 6, 1977, Cleveland Casting Plant medical department was informed of the diagnosis of Mr. Thompson's mesothelioma. Mr. Thompson's medical jacket contains five chest x-rays, the most recent being 1971*. It was normal procedure to give yearly x-rays to employes in this area. It would seem that procedural problems (difficulty with scheduling, noncompliance by production personnel with medical requests) precluded getting x-rays for every year of Mr. Thompson's exposure. V* HFM-012655 8005 0496 1* A . /> .nn ,U pponTir^rt rv cncn SCF-FORD-1543 Hr. Paul . Toth (2) April 28, 1978 1 was informed that medical records of other employes in the area should contain the same type of data. fir. Simmons also checked the OSH* log during our interview and found that Mr. Thompson's death vsb not reported or recorded. This case was not considered recordable. discussions with Mr. Hisnay revealed that no other cases are pending on asbestos related disease from this or any other area of the plant. However, it was reported that two other deaths of former department h?89 employes have occurred. These do not appear to be aBbestoB related. Death certificates are enclosed. Discussions with Mr. V. Kosicky, Material Control Clerk, revealed that the material used was asbestos millboard, 42" x 48" x y", supplied by Allan Packing Company. The current manufacturer is Philip Carey. Allan Packing Company has been the supplier for the yearB of production use except for an approximate three-week intaruption of supply. Mr. Kosicky'e estimate of usage was 50 sheetB per month during the production welding operation. lb Attachments Keith Lee ,r HFM -012656 8005 0497 PRODUCED BY FORD I . *t # Attachment The shaping of the board vae done by eimply scoring the asbestos millboard vith a sharp object and breaking it. It vae stated by both Messrs. McDaniel and FinnesBy that no grinding, Bawing, or power cutting of any type was performed on the boards. < Mr. Finnopey and Mr. McDaniel both Btated: a. The area was clean relative to other areas in the plant b. Employee did not wear respirators. However, welding faceshields or goggles were worn by the welders c. Housekeeping in the area was above average d. No training in the hazards of asbestos was conducted for the employes e. Employes were supplied with Company issued coveralls and those may have been taken home f. Little abuse of the asbestos boards occurred, except to write names of messages on them with the acetylene gas (this left a black residue on the boards) g. The boardB were not used a6 bumpers or parts stops h. Some employes, as personal preference, ate or smoked at their job location i. Each employe did his own shaping of the asbestos boards. In some instances, the set-up man might prepare a few boards for the welders but generally each man made his own j. No air blowoffs were remembered k. The erea was well supplied vith air-eupply ventilation to provide air for cooling. There was no exhaust ventilation l. Neither man could remember any habit unique to Mr. Uoody Thompson which would have increased hie exposure greater than other employes in the area m. The asbestos va6 disposed of vith any regular rubbish generated in the department, no special provisions were made for it n. Furnaces used in the area were not lined or insulated vith asbestos o. Material was delivered to the area in 42" x 48" x t" sheets V, HFM -012657 8005 0496 profit irpr> pv cnpn