Document wg6NKzwD1V1o4VXOr8KnwBXOV

Subject. Occupational Safety and riealth - Exposure to Aircorne Asbestos "ibers type fcrter dm* datnbutiori hjtj d Strong Recommendation EXE 00L, EXE 002 . . r*4od !rfrj- Ottf Company Dresidents and AT&T Vice Presidents to. Ar-e^car 'e'ec'cr? 3-: Teleqrac* Cc^ca~v I 7 7 ^r ;pg MOf'SfOvr. N J C'?6C P*one *.2C l >*C-o2CC Vice Presidents - Human Resources from: description Provides guidelines for a concrenens1ve program resigned to orotec employees from occupational exocsure to amoor-e asoestes riders. f** Section 29 CFR 1910.1001 of Standards issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 'equires all emoloyers to establisn arc maintain an effective p^og^am for protecting their employees from exposures to airoorne asbestos fiDers which are above those permittee :/ this Standard. This letter and its attachment provide guidelines ano procedures to assist the Operating ~elepnone Oompanies in developing arc implementing the programs t.nat are necessary to safeguard the health o* their employees and to assure compliance with the current CSHA Standard for asbestos. In recent years, the Beil 5/stem has made substantial progress toward eliminating the purchase arc use of buildings, products and other materials which contain asbestos. Unfortunately, trie elimination of asbestos in new production crccesses, products, and materials, and in t~e construction of new buildings and otner facilities, does not guarantee that all exposures to asoestes nave been eliminated in tne existing *cr< environment. Baseline environmental studies conducted by the Environmental Health and Safety Department of Bell Telephone Laboratories show that Bell System workplaces generally do not expose employees to hazardous concentrations of asbestos fibers. Where exposures do occ-r, they are generally well below tnese permitted by the current OSHA standard. However, these st^cies have identified several potential sources of contamination -.non result eitre'- from earlier use of asoestes (i.e., fireproofing and insulation for buildings, steam pipes, caile-s, air plenums, etc.) cr fre- exist.^g uses of asbestos for wnich no suitable substitutes na,e ye: oee- *:ur-o ,'.e., -otc venitle :-a<e 5"te; and elutenes;. NOTICE Not for use or disclosure outside tt>e Bell System except under wnrten agreement LLA 000234 2- - GL 77-07-02^, Motor Venicie Maintenance - Brakes ana Clutches, ana GL 78-08-054, Motor Venicie Maintenance - Protect',on Acainst Exposure to Asbestos Fibers, provided recommendations ana procecures for protecting employees from exposure to airborne asoestos fibers while performing maintenance operations on Drake and clutch assemblies in Company-owned motor vehicles. When properly implemented, these procedures will reduce asbestos exposure levels to well below those allowed oy the present Standard. SR 79-05-398, Occupational Safety and Health - Exposure to Airborne Asbestos Fibers - Request for Survey requested tne Operating Telephone Companies to initiate a comprehensive survey to identify Company-owned and leased facilities in wmch sprayed-on asbestos was used for fireproofing and neat insulation. RL 79-07-254, Asbestos Hazards in Leased BuiIdinqs, reconmenaed that facilities ^ncer consideration for lease be reviewed for potential nazards caused oy tne use of building materials tnat contain asoestos. 3R 30-C5-3IC, Cccuoati oral Safety a"-: Health - Sprayed-on Asoestos in Company-owned apc teasec Suilcincs, recommends procedures tnat sr.culc oe folldwec m o.'lcr'gs identified oy this survey to minimize tne risk of exposing employees to asoestos fibers which are potentially harmful to their health. Station and ?3X instal1 at1 on, rearrangement, and repair operations also frequently require employees to enter and wcr< in pj:Icings owned or leased dy customers m mon sprayea-on asoestos nas been used for general fireproofing or heat insulation. Wnere exposures to asbestos fibers appear to jeopardize tne safety or nealtn of company employees wre must enter these worxplaces to conduct company business, the Companies should follow policies and procecures incluaec in PC 30-C7-215. Detailea information is deluded n the attacned "Guide^'nes for Controlling Occupational Exposure to Asbestos FiDe^s" to assist tne Companies in developing a^c implementing a program for identifying, evaluating, and control 11"g potential sources of exposure found in them work environments. Estimated costs for implementing this program in Company-owned and leased ouildings were included in SR 30-06-010. Estimated costs for customer premises have not been provided since estimates of tne frequency and severity of asbestos hazards on customer premises are^ not available. m-v\ Z1 t-SyC. is being developed to assist the Companies inform their employees aDout tne na:--e anc scarce of potential exoos-re to asbestos in tneir worxplaces anc w:r< environments. Information concerning cost anG availability will ce available later this jar LLA 000235 t.11o -3- Questions regarding tnis letter, or its att acnment, should be referred to the following persons: Medical Safety Support Services J. P. Dunn, M. D. (201) 221-2^5 J. M. Degen (201) 540-6510 N. J. OeCapua (201) 221-49B4 Vice President - Human Resources Attachment LLA 000236