Document xdkqoeqj1X4g4N2Q7qoYoZ4zE

OCT 1 4 1986 CAMBRIDGE TO: J. J. DeMarco/Bridgewater FROM: H. A. Eschenbach DATE: cc: i !/ (/ U P C,~ U Sj I C /rv^FV- / 4 2` Slotefn^fti^rai -..jCJ. .... A. V. Ryan/New York SUBJECT: Bridgewater Facility -- Basement Fireproofing Material ( EXHIBIT 5 I WRg80| | On 25 SEPT 86, I visited your new facility in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Jean Diamond showed me the basement area which contains the fireproofing material and provided copies of appropriate documents. Samples of the material were taken and analyzed upon my return to Cambridge. As a result of this visit, I have reached the following conclusions: 1. There is no significant hazard for employers working in the basement area under normal circumstances. There is no hazard at all for people working in other parts of the building. While difficult to guantify for those employees working in the basement for several years, the increased risk at levels measured this spring and summer is roughly comparable to smoking somewhere between 1 cigarette and one pack of cigarettes in a lifetime. 2. An analysis done in the Construction Products Division's fiber laboratories indicates that the content of crysotile asbestos in this material is approximately 15%. The remainder of the material appears to be mineral wool with the possibility of some cellulosic fillers. The material is extremely friable which means that it falls from the beams and ceiling at the slightest touch. The reason for its presence in that part of the building is unclear, although the State of New Jersey may have required some fireproofing material in the vicinity of the heating and other equipment. 3. Removal of this material is suggested. Eventually, it will have to be removed -- either because of governmental regulation or because its bonding abilities deteriorate to the point that it can no longer be ignored. Further, continued use of the area, especially if it involves construction of rooms and storage areas with ancillary electrical wiring changes and other modifications, will be much more expensive in order to work around the asbestoscontaining material with minimal worker exposure. Asbestoscontaining material as friable as this is mandates a "management program." This involves, among other things, periodic air sam pling to make sure that exposure levels remain low and a system of permits to preclude any work which might disturb the asbes tos-containing material from being done without adequate safe guards and training of the workers involved. Removal will allow 10004794 much greater freedom in making use of the basement area and eliminate the need for ongoing elaborate inspection and control systems with their burdensome administration requirements. 4. It is important to advise employees in the building of the nature of the problem and what is being done. I strongly recommend a positive informational 'approach which will prevent rumors and prevent Baker t Taylor from being put in a defensive posture should employees learn of the asbestos-containing material from others. I suggest that you send a letter or memo to all employ ees and meet with those who may be directly affected because of the nature or location of their work. The situation and lack of hazard can be discussed and questions answered. I will be available to attend such meetings if you wish. In summary, while there is, at this time, no significant health hazard involved in the presence of the asbestos-containing fireproofing material, it makes good economic and operational sense to remove it now rather than at some time in the future. H. A. Eschenbach HAE/cs E3t 4 IOOO4797