Document xzaq0eDBojDxZYLxDGMQwJjzQ
FILE NAME Manville JMA
DATE 1944-1945 DOC JMA182
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Health Survey of Pipe Covering Operations in
Construction Naval Vessels with Letters & Memos
OFFICE OF
SUPERVISOR OF SHIPBUILDING
_
UNITED STATES NAVY
IN REPLY REFER TONO
BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY SHIPBUILDING DIVISION
QUINCY YARD QUINCY 60. MASSACHUSETTS
_ P2-4 Q7781-50
ee
# 6 MAR1945
From To
Subj
BSuusphSihpisp 7Q6ui8ncy
Industrial Health and Safety - Survey concerning
Asbestosis
Ref
P2-4 768 a Buships 1tr SupShip Quincy
of 24 Feb 1945 to
1 In reply ref a BethlehemSteel Company is
to permit a survey concerning asbestosis
2. It is requested that the Supervisor be informed
the proposed date of subject survey
willing
as to
Manon Coberta B. |
B. Marion
Roberts
By direction
3080673
UNITED States MarITIME COMMISSION
me
WASHINGTON
March 1 1945
Navy Department
Bureau of Ships
Attention Admiral Mills
Subject Subject
Industrial Health and Safety - Survey
Concerning Asbestosis
Gentlemen Gentlemen
I beg to acknowledge copies of your letters of February 24 to Supervisors of Shipbuilding of New York SB Corporation Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and Supervisor of Shipbuilding Bethlehem Steel Company Quincy
We appreciate very much your prompt attention to this
_-
matter and will
keep you advised
as
the surveys
in question are
,
- carried out
;
|
Sincerely yours
vw
7
2D
Philip Drinker
epb
3050117
.
Section 768
72-4 758-6
FEB 1945 for
Supervisor or Shipbuilding Uss
New York 85 Corp. Shipbuilding
Canden N. J.
_
oO 24
Subji
ness
Industrial Health and Safety - Survey Concerning
Asbestosis
a b
Ltr Philip Brinker to us of 31
Buships 1ts P2-4 A2-11
January 1945
of 19November
Inel K.v.
A
Gopy of reference a -
1
In reference a the Chief Health Consultant of the
Maritime Commission states that it has been revealed by a
health inspection at Sath Iron Works that those persoDE working with asbestos pipe covering are exposed to a fairly
sericus dust risk He recommends that a survey be made at
two Savy Yards and two contract shipyards including the
New York Shipbuilding Corporation Canden New Jersey
2
In furtherance of the safety and bealth program out-
lined in reference b and enclosures thereto it is requested
that arrangements be made with the management of the shipyard
to peralt the survay requested in reference a
3
The expense of the survey should be very nonical
consisting only of the salaries of the son examined during
they are the time
being examined Facilities of the yard
should be placed at the disposal of the investigating personnel In case the contractor is not willing to absorb
the expense as a labor charge it is requested that the - Bureau be notified and other arrangements will be made
.
001 w encl A
SSuErCasHee 865
CamFour Saro w encl A
R. -
Chiefdirectdioinrectoifon
an
a
|
Section 768
82-4 758-0 .
eo,
SO
in ALG 2-16-45 2-19-46
|
To Supervisor of Shipbuilding USH 7 Division . Bethlehem Steal Company m Shipbuilding
=
Subji Industrial Health and Safety - Surrey Concerning
Raft ee b Ltr Philip Brinker to us of 1 January 1945
.) 1943 toComai lltNas valDistricts fo
ms
Emolt N.V.
|
a |
.
1
In reference a the Chief Health Consultant of the
Karitime Commission states that it has been revealed by a
health inspection at Path Iron Works that those persons
working with asbestos pipe covering are exposed to a fairly
serious dust rist Ne recommends that a survey be made at
two
Navy Yards
and
two centraet ahipyards
including
the
.
Bethlehem Yard at Quincy Hass
health 2
In furtherance of the safety and
program out-
lined in reference b and enclosures thereto it is requested
that arrangements be made with the management of the shipyard
to permit the survey requested in reference a
3
The expense of the survey should be very nominal
consisting only of the salaries of the mes examined during
the time they are being examined Facilities of the yard
should be placed at the disposal of the investigating per-
sonnal In case the contractor is not willing to absorb
the expense as a laber charge it is requested that the Bureau be notified and other arrangements will be made
"
SECF 568 w enal ^
buXes
Comone bar w encl A
RE Jose ts
By Jose 7%
=
Chief
of Burson :
ew
noe 1.
Toi
7.
coo
oo
LE.
Industrial Manager Navy
Eighth Haval District | Federal Building
New Orleans La
os -
.
5
1944 :
5 MAMYAY
-
1944
7
Subj
Alabama D. D. & Shipbldg Co. Mobile
Safety & Health in Repair Yards
Alabama
.
;
Industrial
a Industrial Health Survey of Alabama Dry Dock dated
b
22
c
c
d
of ee Serial for 0
INDMAN's ltr Serial He e oo e
IN Apri Apl ril 5 1944 ee
BUSHIFS itr 768 EN28 of Nov.19 1943
Ninimum requirements Safety and Industrial
ContinrCa ontcrat ct -.-
nme
ee
Shipy _ ee
ee
oe
wom
-
wee
ee
a
me
Se cali eee
1.
In reference a recommendation was made that a venti-
be formed in the Repair Division of the
lation
organization
and that
sufficient
blower
equipment
should
be
subject yard
based on the finding that
acquired This recommendation was
concentrations of
due to inadequate ventilation excessive
toxic fumes existed in certain compartments examined
for 2 In reference b the IndustrisaalfeMtaynaagnderhreeaqlutehstast ardevpiacier
as to his responsibicloin tytr coanccetrsninrgepair of Naval vessels and ffaucritlhietrieisf hmooltdiionngis to be taken in connection with Maritime Commission safety and health surveys of such facilities
to It is realized that references c and d purport to
refer only to shipyards engaged in new construction
However
which is detrimental the health or safety of
if & condition existe in a repair yard
and is brought to the atten-
employees tion of the cognizant Navy technical inspector
by whatever
means
such
inspector
should
take
the
proper
steps
to
remedy owned
the situation If the deficiency exists in a privately
facility the contractor should be requested to effect the
necessary changerecomendation If an improsvheomuelndt betoma ado e w tonte hedbufrsecalulity
is indicated
recommendation
which do
not
involve
the acquisition
messures
heaanl d ht ealh th
P2-4
7 5-4-44
es
ms
.
offacilities are considered the obligation of the contractor
andrequest should be made for their being put into effect |
4 : In the instant case it appearsthat recommendations *
have been made regarding a owned privately operated - =
repair facility If an addition to the facility is necessary to maintain proper standards of safety or health the Bureau
addition . will entertain a request for funds However such an
must consist of a capital expenditure Facilities do not|
include small pilferable or expendable items of the nature .
of loose and hand and portable power tools Such items must .
be treated as an overhead cost to be financed by the con-
tractor and depreciated by acceptable accounting standards .
obligation 5
The salaries of personnel or other expense of a
.
v2. safety and health organization are considered the
-~
contractor item oe
=
ain ofthe anes
a
ee owe
:
nw
were Cham eee
usually accounted foras an overhead
J. J. Broshek
of By Direction
Chief of Bureau
CC
SOSED
Atten Capt Simmers
Maritime Commission
Was D.h C.
, '
Lt.
A. L.
768
Green
Ext 61049
eo
In reply address not the signer
of this letter but Industrial
Manager U. S. Navy Eighth Naval District Federal Building
New Orleans La
.
INDUSTRIAL MANAGER U. S. NAVY
EEIIGHGTHHTHNAVAL DISTRICT
Refer to No.
FEDERAL BUILDING
_
NEW ORLEANS LA
:
L4-3 DAS P2 P2--44 22615
Serial 22615
.
No. IM
a 5 APR 1944
To
Subj
Chief of the Bureau of Ships
Joint Maritime Commission Project with respect to
Safety and Industrial Health in private shipyards having Navy contracts
Ref
a
b c d
Safety and Industrial Health Pamphlet - Minimum Requirements
SecNav'ltr SecNav'ltr SOSED 901 4/22 atd 5 May 1943
Seckav ltr P2-4 42-11 dtd 19 November 1943
Industrial Health Survey of Alabama
building Dry Company
Dock and Ship-
1. Ref a is a pamphlet containing information and instructions relating
to the joint Maritime Commission Safety and Health program in private
shipyards The forward page of this pamphlet advises Naval Supervisors of
Maritime Shipbuilding that they should assist and cooperate with certain
-
Commission Officials identified with this project
2. Ref b directs the Chief of all Bureaus to cooperate with the Maritime
Navy and private - Commission in Safety and Industrial Health Programs for
holding
Maritime contracts
shipyards
further elaboration 3. Ref c is a
b the Maritime Commission
for action on defects or
of Ref
and further states that
authority is acting as theNavy's agent and that
deficiency the correction of which will involve in-
creased cost to the Government shall be obtained from the Chief of the Bureau
- of Ships 4
a
4. Ref d is an Industrial Health Survey of the Alabama Dry Dock & Ship-
building Company conducted in accordance with References a b and c
Although no mention has been made in any of the above references of Repair
Divisions in shipyards Ref d included a report on Industrial Health in
connection with the repair division of Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company which corporation holds an Nobs type contract for the repair and alteration of
naval vessels
5. The Bureau is therefore requested to advise this office of its responsibility
,
vv
4110444
P2-4 22615
Serial No. IM
5 APR 1944
Subj
Joint Maritime Commission Project with respect to
Safety and Industrial Health in private shipyards having
Navy contracts
7
at repair facilities holding Nobs type contracts for the repair and altera-
tion of Naval vessels within this district insofar as the contents of Refs
are a b and c
concerned and further if action is to be taken by
this office in connection with surveys made of industrial health conditions
therein an example of which is the recommendations contained along these
lines in pages 3 and 4 of Recommendations contained in Ref d
H. DODSON
,
Industrial Manager USN 8ND
CC U.S.Maritime Commission Lt. jg J. F. Morgan
4110444
Section 768
82-4 765
:
4-19-44
To
Secretaroyf the Navy SED
19 1944
Subj Industrial Safety & Health Survey of Respiratory
Diseaseisn Shipyards
.
Refa a BUSHIPS ltr P2-4 to BUMED of 24 Mar.1944 b BUMED'S 1tr BUMED 062-39 of
10 1944 to EUSHIPS
Encl W.
A Copy of reference b
response of 1
By reference b the MedicMei din cie ne & Surgery in
response to reference a stated that it will conduct the
subject survey in Navy Yards for comparison with the like survey
to be conducted by the Maritime Commission in Maritime contract
yards
2
In order that the Maritime Commission may have opportunity
to
make
a research
concerning
the hazards
arising
out
of
destroyer .
construction it has been decided to make arrangements arrangements for a
survey by the Maritime Commission staff in two Navy contract yards Seattle at Seattle Washington and Consolidated Steel at
Orange Texas
A. .. Green
By directioonf
+ of Barety
|
NAVY
7.
DEPARTMENT 7
P2-4 390613
SOSED
WASHINGTON
13 June 1939
SAFETY __
ENGINEERING ORDER 2
39 ..
From To
_..
. The Assistant Secretary of the Navy
'
Shore Establishments Division .-
Shore Stations Bureaus and Offices Navy
=
Department
Subject
Safety Engineering Organization
1
The Navy Safety Organization comprises the Departmental
Safety organization and Field Safety organizations
; 2. > Departmental organization So
ERE. we a
a The Director of Shore Establishments administers Safety Engin-
eering matters under the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
b
The Navy Department Safety Engineer is attached to a section of
the Shore Establishments Division and performs his duties under-
the supervisioonf the Director Shore Establishments Division
or an officer of that Division designated by the Director
- c The duties of the Navy Department Safety Engineer include
1
Preparation of specifications for designated safety material in consultation with other government agencies
2 Consultation with representatives of other Government
Departments and agencies on Safety Engineering matters
3
Development of safety material as authorized and within ,
limits of appropriations
4 Visitinags ordered by the Director of Shore Establishments units of the Naval Shore Establishment for the purpose of inspection of safety methods materials and industrial conditions with reference to safety and health of personnel Reports of such inspections will be submitted on the spot to the Commandant or Commanding Officer in memorandum form and defects or deficiencies will only be made
the subject of official comment if not corrected
- LiaLiisaiosonn with other government and civilian Safety organioo
- zations
-,
-2-
of 6 Conduct safety campaigns and competitions under the supervision of the Director of Shore Establishments
7
Conduct in collaboration with the Bureau of Medicine and Sur-
gery of research into industrial health hazards and necessary
corrective measures
te
8 Planning and conduct of safety educational activities in- +
cluding supply of posters exhibits etc. within limits of
oe
aa
available appropriations
9 Collection analysis and evaluation of accident statistics
10
mutual Conduct of research into
relation of equipment design
; design
and industrial hazard
Lo.
.
a
The Navy Department Safety Engineer will not concern himself with
matters of procurement in connection with Safety material procure-
ment is the province of the Bureaus and Offices controlling ap prop-
riations concerned The Safety Engineer's interest in procurement
is specitfoisc pea citfiicaotinonss and the inspection of safety material
for adherence to specifications
.
.
3 Field Organization
ts
..
No safety organization is prescribed for units of the Shore Estab-
lishment safety is a responsibility of Commandants and Commanding Officers to be fulfilled as the Commandant or Commanding Officer
may prescribe
indicated that
However analysis and study over several years have
certain factors exert a strong influence on reducing
of frequency and severity accidents these factors are presented
as of possible use to Commandants and Commanding Officers in build-
up and improving their safety organizations
ing
a Use commissioned officers as Safety Engineers with suitable
* , civilian assistance to insure permanence of records contin-
uity of effort etc.
b Have safety engineers function as direct representative of
Commandant or Commanding Officer or of Manager in industrial
, ;
yards
c Assign responsibilities for safety wherever possible to officers .
in the organization
d .
Assign responsibilities for safety to shop superintendents : 3
foremen and leaders
e f
Make use shop safety committees
Establish command princiipn lte he Safety organization :
lufth proper authority and responsibility
i
|
1
i
i
g Disseminate information freely by means of meetings bulletin | boards etc.
h Institute local system of inspections report and records to
insure a live active and continuing campaign
4. A vigorou ansd continuing safety campaign embodying the above factors
will produce results but the Safety organization must be founded on sound principles and there can be no les in vigilance and effort Records are invaluable in the field of Safety Engineering and should serve to develop cause and remedies
Distribution
IX - attached list
E.T. Church
By direction of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
-
ry
vempormasse
WASHINGTO2N5
13 September 1943
a
SOSED 904 _ RLM MLB
From
io
,
To
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy
: '
Shore EstablainsdhmCeonmtmsanDdiinvgisOiffoincers Naval Shore Establishments con-
- Commandants
cerned Bureaus and offices Navy Department
Subject
Enclosure
Safety Engineering Inspection Schedule
Excerpts from Astsecnav orders etc. issued to Mr, . H. G. Des-
Jardins Senior Engineer Safety
1 ; Enclosure A is forwarded for the information of all concerned
2 Commanding officers of establishments under inspection are requcht-
ed to facilitate such inspections every way possible For example
a Provide adequate clerical service
to necessary
- b Facilitate the taking of photographs subject
security measures either by the station photographers or
by the inspecting engineer of conditions pertaining to the
.
safety inspection
and de-
c Assist inspecting safety engineer as may be reasonable
sirable in matters of transportation
appropriate conclusion of each inspection and before his departure the in-
.
3
Upon
his report and leave a copy of same with the com--
specting engineer will prepare
will be in the form of an spot
manding officer the station This report
of which will be discussed with
memorandum to the commanadiuntghoorfiftiiceesr eTvheirsy priotceemdure is based on the concept that
the
station
to the commanding officer of each station
the inspecting safety engineer reports
official of such command
inspected for service to that command and as a temporary
officer
submits his report by recommendatory memorandum to his commanding
H
Copies of each memorandum inspection report will be forwarded by this
office to Bureaus concerned
Secretary of the Navy desires that everything possible
5
The Assistant
and that the commanding officer of the
be done to correct unsatisfactory conditions the Bureau having principal cogni-
forward within 60 days via
should
This report
station inspected
taken on each recommendation
a report indicating action
bzeanacdedressed to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy SED Safety Engineering
_ S
,
C. M. Simmers
By direction
WASHINGTON D. C.
eK
.~s
DO NOT ADDRESS TIGNER TIGNER OF THIS LETTER
BUT ADDRESS YOUR REPLY TO
BUREAU MEDICINE AND SURGERY
NAVY DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON D. C. AND REFER TO NO
BUMED
P2-4 062-39
.
10 Apr 1944
| /
f
To ; BuShips
Subj Industrial Health - Survey of Respiratory Diseases
Ref . a Your letter P2-4 to BuMed dated 24 Mar 1944
1. The plan suggested in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Ref for a separate
survey of the Navy Yards by Naval personnel will give us a valuable
basis for comparison of health hazards when compared with the findings
of the Maritime Commission survey
2. As a result of the agreement reached by representatives of the
-
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Bureau of Ships Maritime
Commission and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery at the meeting held .
April 7th 1944 plans are being formulated to make a survey in the Navy
Yards The date of completion of this survey will correspond with th| at
of the Maritime Commission mentioned in paragraph g of Ref
Rear Admiral MC USN
Acting Chief of Bureau
a stan eres eosemen 08
P2-4weeee
arte e t s
SEE
NAVSHIPNSANVBSSHIP5S0250 AVY DEPARTMENT
lave
Rev.
|
foo ge
te
Code of Originating Section -..
768 768 768
SECTION
ODDE
INITIALED
Br
DATE
768 |Res | 3/11
aint
ROUTE SLIP 3/11
Ini ialedby
ale
aleale
:
REMARKSREMARKS
Date
oD
.
7
85m
85m
3/11 .
3/113/113/11
|
300 R R 3/21
discussed discussed this matte mattn en you
801
3 322 understand understand understand survey consists of
101he one he examination examination examination per
greater appreciablyand 101
03/23-- --... -- T--...his 187 lost mandays
ap reciably ------ ------,--, --,
oo
:
sesstocee
survey
survey
fe
of
time he
oc cocecsadecfeescececeepereee
:
SERial Number
ENCLOSURES
HW
i
FILE
DATE
|
CED
PAMARTE PAMARTE
PAMARTE PAMARTE PAMARTE
PAMARTE
PAMARTE
ees,
ae
|
CROSS FILE
{
N. | by O. O. adh,
N.
.
FILE NO
- -
16-26635-4
S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
i
ejwe
mee
pe:e
Teg
ey
Or
TEND . ~
SER PD :
eres
oe
we
ss
Tol Sure of Redline & Surgery
Ceptsin T. Garter
bade
Retai
Industrial Health = Curvey of Respiratory Cleesses
_ u scolaris SR 12/27 12/27 1907 of Haron 4 |
b
eleve
ite. - RR 901
4/22
of karch 5 :
of & 1943 |
c
Conference on March 3
1943
botween
represent
Bureau of
from the Bureau Nedicine Surgery
Ships Becretary'a Offies ribile Health Service|
.
and maritime Commission
.
1
+
Befverances a
" ind> ustrial a juins hery eino
fer improvement of industrial health and
Commission program
the program the
safety in
As a ster in furthering
dis-
asision has promised promised a survey of respiratory
Varitize wes Vsai rintc izee hinyard workers In surarince a @ divtvesion
.
hadragorian hadragorian thunuggested thunuggested surr
.
re
heteratante he
t2e
Pururred
na
outiinaa by
50 ,
o
,, from the teratane Conan Conan in refuranoe
ees
2
4) n'a
paubitze #dakica 390s 390s
MePhZLBe GontreeS etl FeTRS,
UTM
' UTM 8-0
2,80. fro
Trae neve
ne Co)
cotreet
4
tia kers to ne from ifferent 2 ea no no
sith sertigalar referes Fo D8C47 areut whose
yari
nom
arah Gbegesee Litwie Le the
by (aj The arah te be anadiated the arisine ...
-ipeton etc ff, bath jury contractrictontriactroitio contractritio
tu)
contraat yuyup
Ite *sPpi tantany tantany tantany tantany SLL
raseteos, 1 - heries tantany None
es: shee of
oh1CMOON
tn Hswy yrris, fa) The Sarctise Somniecton PAR
dnt 2PAR 10ng the eed Gok
PAR
tag -f.
thoae REeYY
ruans ren is ffi we .
of Sha EGte
Gontraes yoris yoris
"
benefit f The Navy to receive the benefit -
of the findings based
"on
the survey
g The survey to be concluded in approximately six
-
months|
Navy It is thought that the
can better contribute to
this program if its share of the survey the examination offor
1,500 workers is carried carried out in Navy operated Navy Yards for
- these reasons
a Navy should have direct contact with this problemand
in its own yards from the beginning to the end and
full control thereof 9
correlated
Two surveys proceedingproceeding in parallel but correlated
in their planning executioannd reports would give oe |.
two viewpoints and therefore be of benefit
-
Little contractual managoremm ane agen met nt problems -.
would arise in Navy operated yards whereas consider-
able difficultiaerse anticipait n ethde plan outlined ~~
.
oe
ae
d in paragraph 2 TheThe entire survey cancan progress more rapidly as the Navy ~ and Maritime examinations examinations can proac t e theesad me time
in 4
ItIt is believed that a desirable arrangement would be
for the Navy to conduct its surveys a Navy Yard on each
coast with the Maritime Commission Commission carrying on parallel re-
search nearby nearby Maritime contract yards In this collaboration
and
comparison comparison
as
to
methods
and findings
could
be
carried
on .
be|
fore during during and after the periods of examination
5
It It is requested that the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
communicate to this Burie tsa reau ction reaction to the above proposal
CC
Secy's.Office Capt.C.M.Simmers Capt.CM.Simers Dr.Philip Drinker Drinker Maritime Commission |
JOINT UNITED STATES NAVY - UNITED STATES MARITIME COMMISSION
SAFETY PROGRAM
'
PROGRESS REPORT
January 1 1943 - September 30 1943
Prepared by John M. Roche
Chief Safety Consultant U. S. Maritime Commission
November 15 1945
Approved by Daniel S. Ring Director Division of Shipyard Labor Relations
U. S. Maritime Commission
December 10 1945
JOINT UNITED STATES NAVY - UNITED STATES MARITIME COMMISSION SAFETY PROGRAM
The accident frequency records of United States Navy and United
Commission contract shipyards continue to show a favor-
States Maritime
cumulative frequency rate the number of lost
able trend The joint
for the nine months period is 31.5
time accidents per million hours
'
Contract Shipyards shows a cumulative frequency rate
The Navy
of 35.1 for the Maritime Yards
of 28.5 as compared to a higher rate
covering the same period See curve and chart attached The higher
in the Maritime Yards is partly accounted for by the fact
ftrheaqtuetnhecymajority are relatively new and consequently they did not
have the benefiotf an established organization
The combined
million hours
*
of 37.91
cumulative
is a 16.9
.
rate of 31.5 lost time accidents per improvement over the estimated 1942 rate
- Inspections of Shipyards
Atlantic
Region
No. Inspections 7
Days per Inspection Safety Conferences Held Safety Conferences Planned
37 5.19
--
Pacific
Region
Gulf
Region
44
4.55
50 3.15
2 1
Great Lakes
Region
37 1.95
22 22
All
148 3.27
9
2
of were made over a period of approxi-
Note
The above inspections late in March 1943.
Differences
mately si months beginning made in various regions and the
in the number of inspections is the reflection of the size of
length time per inspection
in certain
the yards inspected the concentration of shipyards
and the travel conditions in the region
areas
good
that have
exception every regional safety consultant harsatedonsehoa ws conscientious job The declining accident frequency their work has been along the proper proper lines and that their duties
been efficiently carried out
|
194
1944 Program
rates so far in 1945 show that
While the accident frequency
that far better
satisfactory progress is being made it is evident
2
average performance is possible The
peacetime accident frequency
rate for a shipyard having a good accident prevention program should
-
not exceed 25 lost time accidents per million hours
Projects
already under way that will be useful in reaching
a
this goal include
1. A study that is being made of accidents to women shipyard
employees to determine what special precautions or training
a
are necessary
2 A study that is being made of lost time due to first
cases that is the time lost going to and from the first
station and the time taken for treatment It is estimated
that the average time closely approaches one hour per case
and since the frequency of cases is practically one per man
month per
it can be seen there is a potential loss of .
10,000,000 hours
3. Health and Safety Bulletins on pertinent accident pre-
vention subjects that will be prepared and sent to all
yards as in the past
Further specific action designetdo control the yards having higher than average accident frequency rates will be as listed below
a
These procedures are already in effect
1. Yards having higher than average accident frequency records will be subjected to special study by the
regional safety consultant and proper corrective
action will be recommended While jards having good records will not be entirely neglected concentration
of effort will be on the poor yards
2 All yards developing records of lost time eye injury
.
cases over the average for the industry will receive
special attention Also he problem of eye injuries
generally will continue to be attacked by every means at our disposal
Recommendations
A careful analysis of the accident records of all yards backed
up by the safety programs of most of the shipyards now operating
shows that certain specific things ist be done to further improve
the frequency records and reduce the number of hours lost from
-
accidents
The following recommendations embrace a point program
to be stressed during 1944. It is urged that official approval be
given these recommendations
1 CR
i
|
3-
1 Since a study of accident records indicates that one ~ of the principal causes of accidents and alleged oc-
cupational illnesses is lack of proper safety training
of shipyard employees a definite minimum standard for the effective correlation of safety and craft
training should be prepared and promulgated This material should be prepared jointly by the Chief Safety Consultant the Chief Health Consultant and the Supervisor of Shipyard Training of the United States Maritime
Commission
2 Improper methods of handling material and poor house-
film strip keeping are responsible for 36.5 of all lost time
accidents A sound
on Handling Material
at a cost of approximately 3500 or less should be
produced to aid in the intensified drive on these
types of accidents This sound film strip a copy
which will be made available to each yard will be
of in-
valuable in connection with special posters health
and safety bulletins trade publication articles and
other allied material in reducing the number of such
injuries It is asked that this proposed expenditure
be approved and funds be made available
3 Greater cooperation should be secured from the individual
shipyard employee in the observance of yard safety rules An attempt should be made to secure this better cooperation through the various unions of which em-
-
ployees are members
4 It is again recommended that corollary consideration _ be given to the safety record of shipyards otherwise qualifying for the Maritime M award or the Navy E
is award is the practice of the Corps of Engineers
United States Army to withhold awards where the safety record of a contractor is not at least as good as the
average for industry
5 . Special safety citations should be awarded shipyards
doing an outstanding safety job
compliance The National Safety Council Chicago Illinois
Note
make funds available to defray the cost
has agreed to
marked
of special safety awards in the form of a suitably
safety flag bearing the Universal safety emblem The
award is to be made by a committee of three one chosen
from the United States Maritime Commission one from the
United States Navy and one from the National Safety
Council The award will be based on the accident record
of the shipyard and the degree of
with the
i
minimum requirements for safety and health of contract 't-
,
shipyards
~& -
- Comments
Lormments
The progress made so far has been as a result of the cooperation of all interested agencies of both the United States Maritime Commission and the United States Navy Shore Establishments Division and Bureau of Ships Special thanks is due however to the Bureau of Labor Statistics United States Department of Labor where the statistics that make possible the efficient utilization of the time of Regional Safety Consultants were prepared and to the National
Safety Council Inc. of Chicago Illinois which produced the sou-nd film strip Eyes for Victory conducted the Victory Shipbuilding
Safety Contest and prepared special posters
Sgd )
JOHN M. ROCITE John M. Roche
Chief Safety Consultant
United States Maritime Commission
APPROVED
Sgd )
DANIEL S. RING
' Daniel S. Ring Director
Division of Shipyard Labor Relations
| -
United States Maritime Commission
NAVY PREVENTION U.S.
MARITIME COMMISSION SHIPYARD ACCIDENT ACCIDENT CAUSE ANALYSIS
PROGRAM
JANUARY 1 1943 TO SEPTEMBER 30 1943
UNSAFE PRACTICE OR CONDITION
KUMBER OF REPORTED INJURIES
ATLANTIC | GULF GR.LAKES TOTAL
. Lack of goggles or screens-
eye injuries only 1. No impact goggles 2. No antiflash goggles
3. No welding screens 4. No welder's hood
5. Other specify
.
2,512 1,412
361 351
50
338
| 2,382
1,100
659 44
86
493
ce
3,448
1,420 1,420 | 512 |
71 36
1,409 |
utobu ~= |8,981 8,981
utobu
4,121
utobu 1,632
utobu
479
utobu
179
utobu | 2,570
Improper method of handling material 1. Lifting with bent back poor
grip etc. 2. Insufficient help in lifting
3. Failure to use crane hoist ~~
4. Failure to wear safety shoes
5. Failure to wear gloves .
6. Other describe
2,299
-
614
541
126 329
282
407
2,494
530
| 515
- 418
|
335
329
367
4,423
w ) 9,755 | 2038
7
NEOENE | GENREE
NEOENE
GENREE
NEOENE
GENREE
2,174 1,894
800
NEOENE
GENREE =: 1,609 1,609
NEOENE 774
GENREE GENREE
1,599 1,679
Poor
1.
2.
3. 4.
5.
housekeeping resulting in falls Unguarded hatches holes pits Defective ladders staging etc.
Unsafe use of ladders staging
Poor housekeeping generally Other specify
2,341 1,452
370
#4
275
|
413
243
542
252
593
318
425
364
3,413 470
440
763 792 948
WOLONY
WOLONY
WOLONY
WOLONY
WOLONY
WOLONY
7,737 | 16.17
1.135
mo
1,176
1,666
1,890
|1,870
Poor
1.
2. 3.
housekeeping other injuries Poor layout
Poor housekeeping generally
Other specify
Improper condition or use of hand .
tools
1.Unsafe condition of hammers
2. Unsafe use of hammers
3. Defective chisels & air
4. Unsafe use of chisels air
5. Other specify
948
132
605
211
. 542 38
165 . 36
83
219
7351,935 137
_ 478
120
7351,935
7351,935
556
710
BONEGU BONEGU
BONEGU BONEGU BONEGU
BONEGU
996
103 239
66
172 416
ELLO
3,783
ELLO
986
ELLO
1,715
ELLO 1,082
bcommi
2,149
bcommi
299
bcommi
547
bcommi
158
bcommi
381
bcommi
764
720
a
4.49
oo
| Improper condition or use of welding
| and cutting tools
ex eye inj
1. Lack of ventilating equip
2. Improper use of ventilating
equipment
3. Defective cables of electric
_ welding equipment
4. Defective electric welding
equipment
577 127
45
a
24
14
ET
ET
2
~
~
594
101
83
26
36
6
14
0
42
8
_l
1,732 350
362
163
58
121
u
oo
=
7
of
:
i
NAVYU.S MARITIME COMMISSION SEIPYARD ACCIDENT PREVENTION PROGRAM - ACCIDENT CAUSE ANALYSIS
1943 JANUARY 1 1943 TO SEPTEMBER 30 Page 2 Continued
PER
.
UNSAFE PRACTICE OR CONDITION
| ATLANTICNUMBER OF REPORTED INJURIES
J CENT-
ATLANTIC GULF GR.LAKES TOTAL AGE
5. Improper use of electric
welding equipment 6. Defective gas welding or
cutting equipment 7. Improper use of gas welding
or cutting equipment
8. Other specify
Improper placing or piling
falling objects 1. Placing insecurely on
2. Placing insecurely on
piles
3. Other specify
causing
staging
stock-
Defective or unsafe use of machinery
1. Unguarded power presses 2. Unguarded or defective
abrasive wheels
3. No goggles or shields when using abrasive wheels
4. Failure to adjust rest-
abrasive wheels
5. Defective or unguarded
shears rolls brakes 6. Other specify as overhead
cranes etc.
82
39 107 139
630 260 212
. 158
250
10 21
25 23
43
108
51
104
23
43
64
95
80
177
10
4
4 18
247
109
270 414
614
974
266
320
97
2,315 4.84
20
865
207 141
194
= 460
218 CV
544
29
000
643
000 | 807
no
1,047 2.19
no
.47
25
128
21
92
7
181
141
17
60
2
102
42
41
6
132
111
194 | 31
444
Defective or unsafe use of cranes and hoisting equipment
1. Defective alingsrings
2. Defective pads rings clamps
3. Unsafe hooking or rigging of
load
|
4. 5.
Standing under or suspended load
Other specify
near
painting j Improper
protection
against
against
spray
. .
. k Improper protection against sand oo blasting
All Others
TOTAL .
.
491 18
44
NX
745
44
53
ch
41
884 6
Tom
| 1,657
121
162
346
156
148 125
117
84 24
253
221 277
ma
ma 24
559
4651
350
|
10
3
33
*
88 0.18
76
159
98
--
3,501 | 1,865 2,393
525
14,157 11,301 19,596 | 2,797
:
315 0.65 = 8,504 1735
47,861 ;
OF INDUSTRIAL FREQUENCY RATES BY MONTH AND 1943 TO DATE FOR THE
SUMMARY
DEPARTMENT SAFETY PROGRAM
U.S. MARITIME COMMISSION NAVY
MONTHS OF 1943 1943
Combined USMC
Navy RateB By Month
lat Quarter
Jan. March
; 32.4
April
.
31.4
May June
30.6 31.1
.
July August September October November December
30.6 30.1 - 29.5
U.S.M.C. By Month
;
32.5
31.5 33.0 33.6 32.6 32.5 30.9
Navy Dept. ;
By Month
32.2
. .
31.3 26.0 25.7 27.1 25.8 27.3
1943 Cumula-
tive USMC
Navy Rates
U.S.M.C. Cumulative
Navy Dept.
Cumulative
Xx
.
ee ae
: .
32.0 31.4 32.2 31.9 30.3 31.5
33.1 33.0 34.1 34.3 = 32.0 33.1
}
30.1 28.2 28.1 27.5 27.0 28.3
'
ACCIDENT FREQUENCY RECORD
Joint U. S. Navy - U. S. Maritime Commission Health and Safety Program
Combined Frequency Rates - Navy and Maritime Yards - 1943 vs 1942
, .
ho
L
35 s
RATE
ae
RATE
\
FREQUENCY
yy
FREQUENCYFREQUENCY
FREQUENCY
ACCIDENT
ACIDENT
v
ACIDENT
ACIDENT 2525
;
. .
eeaeetaiiind
;
j .
4
.
.
. ;
. Rates
1942 ------ 37.91
1943
Jan. ( Feb. Avge ~ - 32.4
Mar. Apr. - - - - ~ 31.4 May ~---- 30.6 -
June - -- --- 31.1
- 30.6
July cece Aug. -
=
7
7
-
29.5 Sept. ---- 29.5
on
Legend .
.
Combined Rates
;
Median Line _.
.
20
1942
Jan.
1942
Jan.
1942
fo
a
June .
April
June
July
Sept.
Nov.
Dec.
Aug.
Sept.
200
Nov.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
Feb.
Mar.
April May
July
July
Aug.
Sept.
430
Nov.
Dec.
MONTHS
Estimated from U. S. Dept. Labor and National Safety Council Figures
1942 Rate
JMR - 11/20/43
~
A HEALTH SURVEY OF PIPE
COVERING
OPERATIONS
IN CONSTRUCTING NAVAL VESSELS
by
Commission Philip Drinker Chief Health Consultant U. S. Maritime
Walter E. Fleischer Lt. Comdr MC USNR AsstChief Health Consultant Frederick J. Viles Jr. Lieut H USNR Health Consultant Robert L. Gade Lieut H USNR Health Consultant
inspection Yard An industrial health
of an important Navy Contract
the
Beth Iron Works 1 of Bath Maine indicated that dustiness from miscellaneous
' pipe covering operations was considerable and a few of the employees had what
appeared to be asbestosis This is a known industrial disease caused by
only one prolonged breathing of asbestos dust The clinical manifesta-
tions are shortness of breath and an unusual chest picture by ray In industry
the disease is often disabling but it is much less frequent than silicosis with
.
which it very properly is classed
It was not felt that experience in a single yard was enough to justify any
general statements on working conditions in other yards and certainly was no
alarm cause for
but the results warranted check elsewhere
Accordingly
at the direction of the Bureau of Ships 2 arrangements were made to examine
by chest ray the pipe coverers in two Navy Yards Boston and Brooklyn and
two contract yards Bethlehem Fore River and New York Shipbuilding Corporation
exposure data Permission was obtained to use dust ,
from the U. S. Navy Yard Ports-
mouth N. H. Examinations were made of the working conditions including dust counts
of the air breathed and microscopic and chemical analysis of the dust itself
would making point out that this procedure is the customary one in
such
We
surveys of occupational diseases medical examination of the workers anda study
of the nature and concentration of the contaminants in the air breathed This
report is a digest of our findings
History of Amosite
o~
Amosite a magnesium iron silicate of variable composition is the generic
name for an asbestos fibre mined in Rhodesia South Africa
The obvious reasons for the wide use of amosite felt and pipe covering
naval in
|
are its low thermal conductivity light weight strength and
work
refractoriness When the felt and pipe covering were first developed we
were still building vessels under the Washington Treaty of Limitations in
Tonnage and every pound saved meant that much more armor guns or ammunition
for a given displacement to say nothing of more economic operation for the
weighs weight involved in insulation Amosite pipe covering
about 14 pounds
per cubic foot with a temperature limit of 750 as compared to magnesia
with a weight of 16 pounds per cubic foot with a temperature limit of 500
High temperature amosite pipe covering weighs about 18 pounds per cubic foot as compared to 26 pounds per cubic foot for other high temperature insulations
Because of the lower conductivity and the higher temperature limit of the
amosite amosite type less of it need be used in a combination covering than other
types of insulations
The amosite amosite secure
development of
a thermal insulation
felt started in 1934 when a need
lighter in weight and thermally more
existed to efficient
than the materials blocks and cement or asbestos blankets which were then
being used on destroyer turbines The Navy approved the type developed by
a manufacturer in September 1934. Originally amosite was used only for turbine
insulation but it proved so satisfactothrayt its field of application
enlarged to include insulation of valves fittings flanges etc. From the initial destroyer it has been used on almost all the destroyers built since that time and on all other combat vessels built since before the War
Pipe covering was a later development in late 1935 and early 1936
Due to the manufacturing problems involved it took a longer time to evolve
into a satisfactory shape and its first use on naval vessels was in 1937
Since that time its use has spread markedly and it was used on the great
majority of naval combat vessels bbuiltuilt during the War
repellent amosite felt was developed during the early part of
1942 as a replacement for hair felt in the insulation of cold water lines
to prevent sweating Hair felt had the disadvantage of being combustible
and as it was organic when it became wet it moulded or rotted and could
vermin
harbor the Navy of the
on board ship
At this time
desirability
Eventually a
fires on board certain naval vessels convinced
of eliminating any combustible material from
type was developed in strips of 50 foot lengths
and of suitable width to enclose the circumference of the type and enclosed
in an extremely weight muslin to provide handling ability and reduce the
dust which the repellent agent made more prominent than in other amosite
. products
I. Descriptioonf Operations and Working Environment
Asbestosis results from breathing asbestos fibers of relatively long length
such as 15 to 75 microns It is not caused by breathing chopped up asbestos fibers
of one or two micronass has been very clearly demonstrated by Dr. L. U. Gardner 3
Laboratories of the Saranac
:
Therefore we are concerned with the presence in air of
asbestos fibers which can be seen as such under low power of the ordinary microscope
But the clinical picture can easily be complicated by the presence of diatoma-
ceous earth a form of amorphous silica which can cause silicosis and is probably
a more serious health risk than asbestos
|
Another dust which may be present is magnesia Ngo whicihs in very common
use as a heat insulator and is harmless
Therefore our analyses Section IV are done to indicate how much fibrous type of asbestos dust is present in the air breathed how much silica is present especially as diatomaceous earth and how mucohf the harmless ingredients like iron
oxide and carbonates
There are frequent references in this report to the use of approved respira-
tors The approval is given by the U. S. Bureau of Mines for industrial dust
respirators which are intended to be worn under just such conditions as those we depict to protect the wearer against inhaling harmful quantities of dusts such as
asbestos and silice Respirators are never popular with workmen because if they
are effective they always offer a slight resistance to breathing But they do prevent dust inhalation and they can be and actually are used in preventing dust
inhalation in many plants today Both Navy and Maritime Commission have approved
the use of dust respirators for special jobs in shipyards
Pipe covering may be divided into seven different operations as follows
Leying out and cutting Band saw cutting Sewing and preparation of boots and jackets Cement mixing Molding Grinding
Installation on board ship
1. Laying out and cutting
Rolls of asbestos insulating felt are unrapped unraped and unrolled on a large layout table or on the floor of the shop This material with the exception
of the type known as water repellent amosite is then well wetted with a water spray The material is marked into measured sections and cut with a rotary
electric hand saw The cut sections are rolled up and either used or stacked
in the storeroom
Usually one to three workers are employed at this operation During the
unrolling considerable handling unwrapping
and but appears to settle readily
of the asbestosasbestos
dust arises
for A very fine water spray should be used
wetting down the material as a high velocity spray will stir up dust Once
wetted thethe handling and cutting of the material gives rise to little visible
dust All of the
The Brooklyn
yards wet
Navy Yard
down the asbestos as described above
has an elaborate exhaust system for the
layout
table The entire top of this table is covered with small perforations through
which the air
exhausted
This
table
is
sufficiently
large
no
that
more than
thirds of the top is ever covered with material and room air is thereby
5
exhausted through the other third While no velocity or capacity measurements
were made on this system data presented later in the report indicate that
this control measure had a marked effect in reducing the dust count
2. Band saw cutting
A standard band saw such as is found in woodworking shops is used to cut
asbestos insulation blocks and boards into desired shapes This operation gives
rise to large amounts of
there is only one worker
borne dust most
on this operation at
of which settles
any one time
slowly
Normally
Inasmuch as this is a very dusty operation the band saw should be enclosed
inroom by itself and should be equipped with adequate local exhaust ventila-
tion both above and below the saw table Because of the mechanical difficulties
in locating this exhaust properly some of the dust will escape into the air and
the operator should therefore wear an approved dust respirator
3. Sewing and preparation of boots and jackets
In this operation jacket covers for valves and pipe joints are fabricated
The work consists of cutting asbestos cloth with shears padding the jackets with
amositoer other
These operations
insulating material and
give rise to only slight
sewing with wire or asbestos cord
counts of visible dust and exhaust
ventilation and respiratory protection are neither required nor used There is
usually large number of workers doing this operatiinoon ne large room
4 Cement mixing
For protection and to give a neat appearance the insulation on board ship
is usually covered with cement containing a high percentage of asbestos fibers
In mixing the proper amount of water is addetdo the dry asbestos cement and
thoroughly agitated wiathh oe Occasionally small amounts of asbestos cement
are mixed in pail with a trowel Considerable dust is raised when the asbestos
-
5 -
cement is dumped into the mixing trough and during the early stages of mixing
Ordinarily this process is done in a separate room and only one operator is
exposed The dustiness of this operation warrants the use of exhaust ventilation or respiratory protection or both although neither is generally used
Petrographic analyses of asbestos cement indicate that the amount of
diatomaceous earth may be as high as 87 by count
5. Molding
Molding is the process of building up asbestos insulation to fit odd shapes
of boilerwork boilerwork and piping A form is made to the exact shape of the machinery
to be insulated Block insulation is laid on adjoining sections glued together
exposed surfaces sealed with asbestos
asbestos cloth When dry the molded
and is ready to be installed on board
cement and the whole mold covered with insulation can be lifted off the form
ship This operation is usually done
this little dust is produced from
in the shop next to the sewing operation Very
operation and no special ventilation or respiratory protection is required
6. Grinding
Several shipyards reclaim their scrap pieces of prefabricated sections
grinding of asbestos insulation by
up this material and using it in the asbestos
cement all of which contributes considerable dustiness Normally this job
is done at infrequent intervals and only one or two men are exposed but the
operation should be isolated general room exhaust supplied and approved dust |
'
respirator worn by the operator
7. Installation of pipe covering on board ship
operations board There are a number of
involved in pipe covering on
ship
tightly Amosite felt is wrapped and pounded
around large pipes and joints and
fastened firmly in place with wire or asbestos cord Pipes and boilers are
- 7
covered with prefabricated sections which necessitates some hand sawing to
fit the sections Ready mixed cement is applied to fill in spaces and give a smoother finish Some insulation is wrapped with glass cloth or asbestos
cloth for greater strength The only operations that produce much dust are
the wrapping and pounding of amosite and the sawing of sections
Nearly all of the compartments on board ship are involved in this work
although most of it is concentrated in the machinery spaces Usually the
greater number of pipe coverers work on board ship and relatively few men
in the shop The spacing of workers ranges from one or two men doing a small
job in a living space to as many as twenty or thirty men workinogn ten or
more jobs in the engine room Temporary exhaust ventilation is seldom used
on board ship for pipe covering and very few of the workers wear respirators
Because of the varied nature of pipe covering operations in ship com-
partments general exhaust ventilation is to be preferred If the compartment
is large such as the main engine room five air changes per hour are needed
In small compartments such as living spaces ten to fifteen air changes per
hour are required
II Materials Used
A. Amount -
A tremendous amount of asbestos insulation is used on modern naval ships To give a general idea of the increase in asbestos pipe covering operations on major naval ships in recent years Table I was compiled The
table starts with 1932 since high percentage asbestos insulation came into
use at that time The table covers only new construction although several
yards did considerable repair work which included pipe covering Since the dates given in the table are those of commissioning the pipe covering work
preceded these dates by one or two years The listings for 1943 and 1944
are probably not complete and some of the
launching timated from the dates of
The
from " The Ships and Aircraft of the U. S.
listings for these years were
information in this table was Fleet by James C. Fahey 5
es-
taken
In Table
2
is
given
a
of
summary
the
amounts
of asbestos
insulation
materials used in each of the shipyards during an average month
TABLE I
YEAR YEAR
|
. BOSTON
- NAVY YARD
BROOKLYN
NAVY YARD
PORTSMOUTH
NAVY YARD
NEW YORK
|
SHIPBUILDING
1932
1933 1934
1935 1936
1 Submarine
"
1
1 Cruiser H
"
2 Destroyers | 2 Destroyers 2
2
1
1 Cruiser H
"
1
H
3 Destroyers
1937
=
2
"
1 Cruiser L
6
"
1938
1939
1540
1941 1942
tt
1
1
6 Destroyers
;
6
"
11
2
1
2
"
6
1 Battleship
3
00
3 Cruisers L
1 Battleship
4 Cruisers L
1943
.
5
"
1
25 Destroyer Escorts
L
3
8 Carriers L 1 Cruiser L
1944
11
6 Destroyers } 1
11
3
2 Cerriers
1 Carrier L 2 Cruisers H
BETHLEHEM
FORE RIVER
1 Cruiser A
1 Destroyer
1 Cruiser H
4 Destroyers 1 Cruiser H
2 Destroyers
1 Carrier 2 Destroyers
1 Bettleship
2 Cruisers L
6 Destroyers
3 Carriers 4 Cruisers H 1 Cruiser I
12 Destroyer
Escorts 1 Carrier 1 Cruiser H 2 Cruisers L
H denotes Heavy
L denotes Light
TABLE 2. SUMMARY OF MATERIALS USED AT EACH YARD PER MONTH
Amosite
New York Ship 40,000 sq ft
Fore River
6,325 sq ft
Brooklyn 50,000 sq ft
Portsmouth
2,000 sq ft
Boston 58,200 sq ft
Amosite
( repellent )
Prefabricated Sections molded and block
Asbestos cloth
3,300 sq ft
15,000 sq ft
| | linear 1,750 sq ft linear ft
18,800
15,700 linear ft
1,200 sq ft
115,000
ft
34,700 sq ft
40,000 sq ft
106,600 sq ft
260 sq ft
600 sq ft
39,900 lineafrt
-
76,500 sq ft
Asbestos paper
Asbestos board
Asbestos coment
4,000 sq ft
5,500 sq ft
~
150 sq ft
57,500 lb.
38,500 lb.
5,500 sq ft 6,000 sq ft 15,000 lb.
-
120 lb.
-
2,700 linear ft 34,400 lb.
B. Composition of Materials Used
According to Navy Specification 32 F 3 the rovings of asbestos insulating felt amosite shall contain not less than 95 asbestos fibre of
the following composition
Silica S102 percent minimum Iron oxide Fe203 percent maximum 45.0
Magnesium oxide MgO percent minimum
Typical analysis of the two types of asbestos fibres in general use are
tabulated below
Chrysotile
Amosite
Silica ..... .39.05 .39.05 wane dese 50.24 50.24
Magnesia MgO .. csc eeceeee es coe .407 .40.07 cence ..... ..... 3.96 3.96 -
Alumina A1203 .3.67
New
Fe203 Ferric oxide
,
)
Ferrous oxide FeO ...
2.41
oaevaeerneevenere
ene ..7.80 .7.80 ..7.80
:
vee cece e .32.00 .32.00
Sodium oxide Na2N 0 a20 ence sees .2.12
H2O . Combined water
14.48 3.00 .
3.00 vec ees eee s
Therefore amosite alone will not comply with Navy Specifications because
must of the low
content and
be mixed with chrysotile asbestos to
magnesia magnesia equal or exceed the 6.0 minimum value for
On the other hand
cannot be used alone because of its silica content which is below
chrysotile The types the minimum 47.5 specified by the Navy
two
of asbestos fibres
proportions must be mixed together in the proper
to satisfy the values set
0
for magnesia and silica The amounts of these materials used
mixture therefore would be 6 - 43 chrysotile asbestos and 94
to form this
- 57 amosite
asbestos
Those two fibres differ mainly in their physical characteristics
Chrysotile is capable of being readily separated into very fine fibres with
a soft silky feel whereas amosite to fiberize it One authority has
is harsher and requires more manipulation
stated that the chrysotile has the finest
individual fibres and amosite
may suspect a decided decrease
the coarsest
in the number
Because of this difference we
of respirable fibres below 200
microns in length and 5 microns in diameter whenever amosite is used in
preference to chrysotile asbestos
~ 13 -
III Pipe Covering Facilities at Individual Shipyards
Brooklyn A. U. S. Navy Yard
N. Y.
|
There
are
men
50
working
in
the
shop
and
The shop is divided into four main rooms
w
Layout
Storage and Band saw combined With the exception
700 men on board ship
Sewing Cement and
of the Cement Room
the doors between these rooms are normally left open
The work in the Sewing Room consists mostly of fabricating and
sewing valve boots and jackets All the cement used on board ship is mixed
in the Cement Room There is no exhaust ventilation for either the Sewing
or Cement Room
exhaust The bandsaw is equipped with a flexible
tube above |
the table and an exhaust around the blade below the saw table The layout
table is equipped with exhaust ventilation as described above There is no
exhaust ventilation supplied on board ship for pipe.covering pipe.covering and no workers
were found wearing respirators
B. U. S. Navy Yard Buston Mass
There
are
84
men
working
working
in
the
shop
and 467 men on board ship
The
shop is divided into two rooms one of which is primarily for storage and oc-
casional grinding and band saw cutting operations The only mechanical exhaust
ventilation in the shop is provided for the grinding mixing and band saw cutting
operations and is inadequate In the
done
are
with
a
small
amount
of
space
other room layout for storage Cross
cutting and sewing
draft ventilation is
provided by open windows on both sides of the room
,
Work on board ship is not supplied with exhaust
ventilation ventilation
No asbestos workers were found wearing respirators
14
C. U. S. Navy Yard Portsmouth N. H.
There are5 men in the shop and 35 men working on board ship
The
shop consists of one large layout room with two smaller cubicles one for sewing and one for cutting and issue separated from the main layout room
by chicken wire partitions A small exhaust hood is used in the layout room
to exhaust cork cementing operations only All other ventilation is natural
draft There is a small room in another building where band saw operations
are done The band saw operator is the only worker wearing a respirator
Most of the asbestos insulation is kept in a stock room in a third building
D. Bethlehem Steel Co. Fore River Yard Quincy Mass
There are 8 men in the shop and 160 men working on board ship
Pipe
covering operations are done in two shops In the main one boots and jackets
stored for pipe valves and connections are fabricated and surplus material is
In the smaller shop layout and
fire felt is done There is no
cutting
exhaust
of emosite water repellent amosite and ventilation in either shop nor for the
pipe covering operation on board ship All the asbestos cement is mixed in a compartment on board ship The only worker who wears an approved dust respirator
is the man who cuts the two types of amosite There is no band saw cutting of
asbestos in this yard
E. New York Shipbuilding Corp. Camden N. J.
There are 51 men working in the shop and 123 on board ship Layout
cutting and cement mixing are done at one end of the shop Dust respirators are occasionally worn during these procedures At the other end of the shop
15
TABLE 6.
SHIPYARD
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LENGTH OF EXPOSURE AND INCIDENCE OF ASBESTOSIS
Years in Pipe Covering Industry
0-2
5
5 - 10
10 Plus
Exposed Affected
Percentage
_. . Exposed
Affected
Percentage
. Exposed Fore Affected
Percentage
-
Exposed New York Affected
Percentage
24
%
225 )
%
26
0
%
800 800
800
13 201
201
435
0
%
118 )
%
105
%
8 0
%
.67
0
%
...
f ) O%
45
0
00
3 --
%
22 0
%
9 2
22
17 1
%
VI Summary and Conclusions
1.
-
The data in Tables 3 and 4 indicate that band saw cutting cement mixing
and installation on board ship are the dustiest operations
20 The above 3 operations should be equipped with exhaust ventilation to
keep the total dust concentration low Such dust control will greatly facilitate
good housekeeping in pipe covering operations
3. The incidence of asbestosis found was low -- 0.29 3 cases out of 1074
rayed Since each of these 3 men had worked at asbestos pipe coverinign
shipyards for more than 20 years it may be concluded that such pipe covering|
is not a dangerous occupation
4. The excellent exhaust ventilation supplied to the layout and cutting
table at Brooklyn decreased markedly the dustiness of this operation
5. Since water repellent emosite carrot be wetted exhaust ventilation
should be supplied during laying out and cutting of this material |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
our We should like to express
_
appreciation for their excellent
cooperation to the Supervisors Supervisors of Shipbuilding at New York Shipbuilding Corporation and Bethlehem Steel Company Fore River to the Yard Medical
Officers and Medical Officers for Industrial Hygiene at the Boston Brooklyn
_
and Portsmouth Navy Yards and to the Medical Directors at Bethlehem Steel
Company Fore River and New York Shipbuilding Corporation
We are indebted to Lieut J. E. Fuller H USNR Portsmouth Navy Yard and to Lieut J. Ege S USNR Boston Navy Yard for allowing us to use data
from their studies on the dust hazard in pipe covering operations in their
respective yards
|
of We should like to thank Dr. Charles R. Williams
Liberty Mutual Insurance
|
Company for doing the petrographic analyses of settled dust samples and Mr.
Charles Day of the Union Asbestos and Rubber Company for supplying the informa-
tion on the development of amosite pipe covering in shipyards
References
1 Dreessen W. C. Surgeon U.S.P.H.S. and Fleischer W. E. Lt. Comdr
MC USNR Report on Investigation of Asbestosis from Amosite Pipe
Covering at Bath Iron Works Bath Maine Dec. 19 1944 East Coast Office of the Regional Director of Construction U. S. Maritime Com-
mission Philadelphia Pa 2 Letter from Bureau of Ships to Bureau of Medicine and Surgery 24 Feb-
ruary 1945 Section 768 P2-4 768 Subject Industrial Health and
Safety - Survey concerning Asbestosis
3 Lanza A. J. Silicosis and Asbestosis Oxford University University Press New York
Y. 1938
4 Dreessen W. C. et al A Study of Asbestosis in the Asbestos Textile
Industry Bull No. 241 Public Health Service U. S. Treasury Depart-
ment 1938
5 Fahey J. C. Ships and Aircraft of the United States Fleet 2nd War
Edition 1944. - Published by Ships and Aircraft 1265 Broadway New
|
* 28 *