Document vJ65NQemKd7oxLebb5zzOykb

OP o- Georgia-Racific INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION TO; Mr. Dftve Cork! 11 ^ DATE: "" PLAINTIFF S | EXHIBIT I* ____GP-230 October 9, 1974 LOCATION: Portland FROM: William A. N alb one location: Akron SUBJECT: Asbestos Problem,. Rochester. N. Y. cc: Mr* J. D. Rauch - Akron Mr. P. L. Schultz - Rochester Mr. J. Hurd - Portland Confirming our phone conversation regarding "Asbestos Conditions in the Rochester, N. Y. area." Our compound has been removed from several job sites because it does contain asbestos. This has been done by the Sew York Construction Safety and Health Department. Ue believe an all out effort must be undertaken to exolain our present position and our future plans regarding asbestos to the New York State officials. We at Akron are more then ready to assist in any manner you deem necessary. kab RECEIVED BY OCT 14 1974 gypsum Division GeorgiaFfecific ^ intracompany memo 'o Anne Browjj^. location from C. W. Lehn&rt location subject AKRON PLANT EMPLOYEES' date ASBESTOS EXPOSURE EXAMINATIONS Portland - Legal : Tigard November 23, 1981 Enclosed is a letter sent to me from Akron regarding physical examinations relative to asbestos exposure. CWL:ps Enel. *10/9/74 Memo to RL McCallister fm LK Ryder C. W. L QJL* S-O cJ: NOV 241981 vaeoiyia-raumc INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION DATE: October 9, 1974 TO: Hr* R. L. McCallister LOCATION: Portland, Oregon FROM: L. K. R^dfer LOCATION: Stamford, Connecticut SUBJECT: Akron, New York Asbestos Exposure Cofif2ence with Marvin L* Amdur, M.D. - Buffalo Industrial Medical Center - September 27, 1974 Per your request, an appointment was made to confer with the abovementioned medical specialist regarding his past and future examinations and/or evaluations of Akron employees suspected to have been exposed to asbestos inhalation. I met with Dr. Amdur at approximately 10:00 a.m. on September 27, 1974 in the Buffalo Industrial Medical Center, Buffalo, New York. The Medical Center was extremely busy upon my arrival, patients were sitting and standing awaiting various examinations and Dr. Amdur was in the process of making a professional evaluation. Despite the fact that the doctor was very busy, I found him to be a most congenial personality and anxious to assist me in any way.possible. In answer to my question, he stated the following: His previous evaluations of Akron employees given pulmonary function and x-ray examinations were not necessarily conclusive due to two different test methods utilized. Further, test results for pulmonary function are largely dependent upon the cooperation and effort of the individual undergoing test. Test results to date do not necessarily indicate asbestos exposure, but positive results indicate impairment of pulmonary function due to exposure to some specific agent. In the situation at hand, he stated that it may be assumed that if asbestos exposure at the work site did, in fact, exceed permissible limits, asbestos was the causative factor resulting in disabilities that have occurred. Dr. Amdur had no specific recommendations in regard to management's problems relating to procedures at the plant to control the working environment or adjust employee's exposure during employment. His function, he stated, is to conduct and direct necessary professional procedures, evaluate and report the results based upon his professional knowledge and expertise. The doctor stated that to date, there is nothing that labels asbestos exposure as the primary causative factor of ventilatory difficulty in the employees tested. Further, he stated that to reduce the level of asbestos exposure probably will result in little, if any, improvement In the results of previous chest x-rays or pulmonary function tests. However, he felt that there was the possibility that with proper employee effort and cooperation, there may be, in 'some individuals, improvement in pulmonary function test results. Beginning Monday, September 30, 1974, five (5) employees at the Akron plant were scheduled for pulmonary function and x-ray testing. Five employees CP 0-9 Mr. R. L. McCallister Pg. 2 October 9, 1974 are sch&hi-led for each of several subsequent days until all employees concerne^'have been seen. -T.ribr. Amdur stated that Mr. Schifferle had been provided with a supply of ''Employee History" forms that the doctor felt essential to proper evaluation of test results. In checking, 1 found that Mr. Schifferle had not yet received the forms. He was urged to make a special trip to the Medical Center to secure a supply and take the action necessary to insure that each employee present a completed form at the time of examination. The doctor stated that Mr. Schifferle had requested a single 14 x 17 x-ray plate for chest examination. Further, he stated that if the 14 x 17 plate suggested the possibility of some problem or difficulty, he would prefer additional projections to gain additional information required for proper evaluation. In addition, Dr. Amdur stated that for employees showing a degree of substantial pulmonary difficulty, blood-gas tests should be administered to more accurately determine the level of physiological function. While bloodgas tests are not given at the Buffalo Industrial Medical Center, the doctor said that such testing could be arranged at the Kenmore Mercy Hospital on the same day as the other tests and he strongly recommended approval for such procedure. I found myself in the difficlt position of having to immediately allow or deny Dr. Amdur permission to take any additional x-rays he felt necessary and to arrange for any blood-gas testing he felt essential to proper evaluation. Tentative permission was granted with the understanding that if, upon checking with the Akron management, there were objections, he would be so advised. The Akron office was contacted and I talked to Mr. Schifferle and advised him of the above. Mr. Schifferle felt that he should not give an affirmative answer and I later called Mr. Rauch who gave his approval for additional x-rays and/or blood-gas tests at Dr. Amdur's professional discretion. In conclusion, the doctor felt that his next evaluation report will be in greater detail than previous reports and should be more conclusive and helpful in planning future affirmative actions by Akron management. Copies of the evaluation reports were requested for the Stamford office in addition to those sent to Akron. Your office will be provided with photocopies as soon as possible after they are received. Respectfully submitted. LKR:as cc: Mr. K. Gipson - Portland Mr. J. Hurd - Portland Mr. J. Rauch - Akron Mr. R. Schifferle - Akron Mr. H. Peele - Wilmington INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION TO: Mr. R. L. McCallister NOV 20 1931 DATE: October 9, 1974 LOCATION: Portland, Oregon FROM: L. K. Ryder LOCATION: Stamford, Connecticut SUBJECT: Akron, New York Asbestos Exposure Conference with Marvin L. Amdur, M.D. - Buffalo Industrial Medical Center - September 27, 1974* I Per your request, an appointment was made to confer with the abovementioned medical specialist regarding his past and future examinations and/or evaluations of Akron employees suspected to have been exposed to asbestos inhalation. I met with Dr. Amdur at approximately 10:00 a.m. on September 27, 1974 in the Buffalo Industrial Medical Center, Buffalo, New York. The Medical Center was extremely busy upon my arrival, patients were sitting and standing awaiting various examinations and Dr. Amdur was in the process of making a professional evaluation. Despite the fact that the doctor was very busy, I found him to be a most congenial personality and anxious to assist roe in any way.possible. In answer to my question, he stated the following: His previous evaluations of Akron employees given pulmonary function and x-ray examinations were not necessarily conclusive due to two different test methods utilized. Further, test results for pulmonary function are largely dependent upon the cooperation and effort of the individual undergoing test. Test results to date do not necessarily indicate asbestos exposure, but positive results indicate impairment of pulmonary function due to exposure to some specific agent. In the situation at hand, he stated that it may be assumed that if asbestos exposure at the work site did, in fact, exceed permissible limits, asbestos was the causative factor resulting in disabilities that have occurred. Dr. Amdur had no specific recommendations in regard to management's problems relating to procedures at the plant to control the working environment or adjust employee's exposure during employment. His function, he stated, is to conduct and direct necessary professional procedures, evaluate and report the results based upon his professional knowledge and expertise. The doctor stated that to date, there is nothing that labels asbestos exposure as the primary causative factor of ventilatory difficulty in the employees tested. Further, he stated that to reduce the level of asbestos exposure probably will result in little, if any, improvement in the results of previous chest x-rays or pulmonary function tests. However, he felt that there was the possibility that with proper empLoyee effort and cooperation, there may be, in some individuals, Improvement in pulmonary function test results. Beginning Monday, September 30, 1974, five (5) employees at the Akron plant were scheduled for pulmonary function and x-ray testing. Five employees CP 0-9 Mr. R. L. McCallister Pg. 2 October 9, 1974 are scheduled for each of several subsequent days until all employees concerned have been seen. Dr. Amdur stated that Mr. Schlfferle had been provided with a supply of "Employee History" forms that the doctor felt essential to proper evaluation of test results. In checking, I found that Mr. Schifferle had not yet received the forms. He was urged to make a special trip to the Medical Center to secure a supply and take the action necessary to insure that each employee present a completed form at the time of examination. The doctor stated that Mr. Schifferle had requested a single 14 x 17 x-ray plate for chest examination. Further, he stated that if the 14 x 17 plate suggested the possibility of some problem or difficulty, he would prefer additional projections to gain additional information required for proper evaluation. In addition, Dr. Amdur stated that for employees showing a degree of substantial pulmonary difficulty, blood-gas tests should be administered to more accurately determine the level of physiological function. While bloodgas tests are not given at the Buffalo Industrial Medical Center, the doctor said that such testing could be arranged at the Kenmore Mercy Hospital on the same day as the other tests and he strongly recommended approval for such procedure. I found myself in the difficlt position of having to immediately allow or deny Dr. Amdur permission to take any additional x-rays he felt necessary and to arrange for any blood-gas testing he felt essential to proper evaluation. Tentative permission was granted with the understanding that if, upon checking with the Akron management, there were objections, he would be so advised. The Akron office was contacted' and I talked to Mr. Schifferle and advised him,of the above. Mr. Schifferle felt that he should not give an affirmative answer and I later called Mr. Rauch who gave his approval for additional x-rays and/or blood-gas tests at Dr. Amdur's professional discretion. In conclusion, the doctor felt that his next evaluation report will be in greater detail than previous reports and should be more conclusive and helpful in planning future affirmative actions by Akron management. Copies of the evaluation reports were requested for the Stamford office in addition to those sent to Akron. Your office1 will be provided with photocopies as soon as possible after they are received. Respectfully submitted, LKR:as cc: Mr. K. Gipson - Portland Mr. J. Hurd - Portland ' Mr. R. Schifferle - Akron Mr. H. Peele - Wilmington --- . 4 fc V^VitiV 1HT ERDEPARTMEHTAL COMMUNICATION TOi Mr* R. L. McCallister DATE) October 9, 1974 LOCATION) Portland* Oregon PROM] L. K. Ryder ; LOCATION) Stamford* Connecticut SUBJECT) Akron* New York - Asbestos Exposure Report Per the request of Mr* James Hurd and other management people of the Gypsum Division submitted to roe via memorandum from your office* I visited the Akron* New York plant on September 26* 1974 for the purpose of investigating the asbestos exposure problem and conferring with local plant management regarding corrective actions taken to date. During the course of my visit* 1 toured the entire plant with special attention given to the Joint System Manufacturing Department and conferred on two occasions with Mr. J. D. Rauch, Plant Manager and Mr. Robert Schifferle* Safety and Workmen's Compensation Coordinator. Following this activity, I made a personal visit to the Buffalo Industrial Medical Center and spoke at length with Marvin L. Amdur, M.D. The report of my visit to Dr. Amdur is covered under separate memorandum. My activity at the plnnt disclosed the following regarding OSUA inspections and citations issued to dates 1. The last general OSHA inspection with citations is dated 3/21/73 with no serious violations* 13 other violations resulting in four penalties totaling $275.00. 2. The last OSHA inspection relating specifically to asbestos exposure with citations is dated 6/13/73. This inspection resulted in three serious violations relating to asbestos , exposure with $2,400.00 in penalties and seven other violations resulting in four penalties in the amount of $360.00. Total penalty imposed amount to $2,760.00. However, I have since discovered that upon appeal to the area OSHA Director, the total penalty was reduced by $1,420.00 tith the final penalty ' standing at $1,340.00. Details of the penalty reduction are unknown at this time. Following the OSHA inspection report of 6/13/73, a program to alleviate the employee asbestos exposure was implemented. Using Section 1910.93a of the Occupational Safety & Health Law as a guideline, employees of the Joint System Manufacturing Department were required to wear special disposable clothing, Bureau of Mines approved, respirators were issued and worn as a condition of employment and warning signs were erected at entrances to the department. Employees of the Joint System Manufacturing Department were given OF 0-9 Mr. R. L. McCallister Pg. 2 October 9, 1974 both pulmonary function and x-ray examinations at the Batavia Memorial Hospital in July, 1973. Again in January, 1974, the same employees were given pulmonary function and x-ray examinations at the Batavia Memorial Hospital. The test reports of July, 1973 and January, 1974 were subsequently forwarded to Dr. Marvin L. Amdur of ^the Buffalo Industrial Medical Center for evaluation. Due to the fact that the pulmonary function examination of July, 1973 was a "manual" test and the pulmonary function examination of January, 1974 was an "automated" test. Dr. Amdur reported that his evaluation was without the desired degree of accuracy. Dr. Amdur*s report dated March 27, 1974 to Mr. Schifferle evaluates the test result of each employee examined and indicates disability of varying degrees in the case of several employees with special concern reported for one employee 58 years of age. Again, using Section 1910,93a of the Occupational Safety & Health Law as a guideline, plans for a department ventilation and collection system were prepared and submitted to the New York State Department of Labor and Federal Environmental Protection Agency for approval. Upon receipt of approval from both agencies, installation was commenced in December, 1973 and completed in January, 1974. The wearing of approved respirators has continued to be a condition of employment in tha Joint Syntem Manufacturing Department. Air sampling has beun continued at six month Intervals with a Mr. Gaddis of Pennsylvania, reported to be trained and certified by the Bureau of Mihes , taking the air samples under agreement and/or contract with Akron management. Test samples taken by Mr. Gaddis have been evaluated by the Buffalo Testing Laboratory. Continued periodic inspection and air testing by Federal OSHA personnel has taken place and it is anticipated will continue at undeter mined intervals. The most recent OSHA inspection and air sampling tests were ,taken in February, 1974 with a report of clearance and/or compliance on file at Akron. Review of the OSHA report of the February, 1974 inspection and air sampling tests reveal that 10 air samples were taken with time-total ranging from 210 to 445 minutes at a flow rate of 2 liters per minute. Purpose was to determine the amount of asbestos fibres over five (5) microns in length per millimeter of air. Test results reported that by microscopically counting the fibre content in the air samples a low of .0032 to a maximum of .0438 was measured. Two of the ten samples were not evaluated for unknown reasons (Sample 1 and 8). All evaluated samples were reported to be well within acceptable limits. Akron management plans to discontinue the services of Mr. Gaddis, but will continue air sampling at regular intervals. Necessary equipment for such testing is to be purchased and Mr. Schifferle will be responsible for testing after appropriate training by Mr. George Greene of Georgia-Pacific's Tigard Research and Development Laboratory. Test samples will be forwarded to Mr. Greene for evaluation and reports. Hr. R. L. McCallister Pg. 3 October 9, 1974 Beginning September 30, 1974, approximately twenty employees of the Joint System Manufacturing Department; nearly all the same individuals previously given pulmonary function and x-ray examination, will be sent directly to the Buffalo Industrial Medical Center for examination and evaluation by Marvin L. Amdur, M.D. It is anticipated that by mid-October a sufficient number of employees will have undergone examination and eval uation reports will be available for comparison with previous examination results. A meeting between Messrs. Rauch, Schifferle, Mr. Henry Peele, Gypsum Division Safety Director and the undersigned is planned for mid-October to re-evaluate the entire asbestos exposure problem and arrange for any necessary future affirmative actions that may be warranted. I shall report the results of this meeting promptly upon conclusion. If you have any questions or problems that should receive attention at that time, please so advise. Respectfully submitted. LKRias cct Mr. K. Gipson - Portland Mr. J. Hurd - Portland Mr. J. Rauch - Akron Mr.. R. Schifferle - Akron Mr. H. Peele - Wilmington KMW /! ,. KR.