Document yk0077MvGwdJeO8rN1GbErm4

Your Health & Safety Deadly Dust--Asbestos Endangers Brake^Mechanics * ` Ithough much attention has been given recently to the dangers of ing asbesjosin schools aqd .. other public buildings, another source of contamination can be even more dan gerous. That is the asbestos in automobile brake linings and clutch 'facing's.' If these are serviced improperly, millions of micro scopic deadly fibers can be released into the air. Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can < die lungs; mesothelioma,akind of cancer which is always fatal and usually kills people within two years of djago^is^plus long cancer and cancers of the voice box. stomach, and large intestine. Asbestos/related disease usually takes 15 to 30 years or more to shew up. so it is easy to ignore the problem. Studies have shown that nearly one half of mechanics who work .for'many yigaip; without proper control measures can' develop asbestosis and many will get lung cancer. Mesothelioma can be caused by . very low exposures to asbestos and has also occurred among brake mechanics. Brake ' only ones in danger. Tm deadly dQSfctfi be spread throughout an entire garage, or wort area, and asbefjfetttipt can also; be . taken home on wotkervctoSses. Meso- tbetoBia has killed spouses and children SAFETY MEAS Wfiat NOT To Do,r Compressed Air Hoser! BLOW IT! The worst thing a brake mechanic can dp is to use a compressed air hose to delta drum brake*--16 million fibers per cubic meter of air can be released around the mechanic's face. (The new OSHA standard is 200,000 fibers per cubic meter). Just hitting a brake drum with a hammer can release over a million asbestos fibers. Disc brakes release smaller, but still dangerous, amounts of dust. These fibers can be scattered around the garage and remain, hazardous for months or years. Wet Method: Using a dry or wet rag or brush also can release millions of fibers into the air. When the wet rag dries or is shaken, asbestosJr^e^ttound die Wet inopping and disposal of the mop garage. head is the only effective way to keep the Liquid squirt bottles or solvent sprays. ... t dust from ait'All ca. n a1ls_o__sc_a_tt_e_r_a.s..bestos fibet^^TkifwItw waste that contains brake dust must be or solvent under pressure scatters much of carefully disposed of according to federal the asbestos and glso relea$eg ftfcfibeQt fc vC "d Itejl regulations for asbestos mate- when it dries. Using a gmien'rfose,ei'' - prevent some brake dust from becoming airborne, but (his can easily contaminate the garage floor. Shop Vacuum: Using a standard ' shoji'vieuuclearer can,spread._m__o_re, asbestos aroui pressed air hose. ' Hall- HyglenetWorkers should wash thor-.., oughly before eating or going home. Showers are recommended. Clothes should always be changed before going home. Respirators: Respirators with a spe. cial HEPA cannister filter and othef'Vljj^ protective clothing should always be used when working with asbestos unless the Doing It Right Enclosed Vacuum Method: Equipmeot Is available that make* it possible to, enclosed vacuum method is used. In 'addition, when the filters of the enclosed^ vacuum are being changed, it is tecom. .mended ^ rectors be worn. Before enclose a whole brake assembly. usipg_ v^rs musl ^ trained. special box or drum with clear plastic windows and glove bags which fit tightly around the brake assembly An tir.tosja^aa inside toe box `ancTdrum'is'usM w ' cleaning An exhaust hose goes from the box or drum to a special HEPA^f r'"cieflcy Air.Particulate) asMsu tfeTTflitii&g.far, toe safest ivay receive medical examinations, and be fit . tested for the respirator. More Information equipment: OiiJKa^ssbci 938-6700; and Nilfisk, (215) 647-6420. to work Special Areas for Brake Work: No Protection A^cneyjri** published a documl^cafleduufdanwjbr eat, drinL or smoke in an area Preventing Asbestos Disease Among Auto where brake wort '^Meghanict,a fact sheet, and poster. Single Cleanup and Waste Disposal: Dry copies of thedocuhient, poster, and fact sweeping or vacuuming (with a regular sheet can be obtained by calling EPA ai shop vac) ifiould never be (toh^pgtt^,. (800) 424-9065. An EPA video, as well as asbestos dust is getting into the air dr other information, can be obtained from ' where it has gotten into the air in the past. the AFSCME Research Department. 20 JANUARY 1987 PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT CIIR-218 OShA requires industry crackdown on asbestos Part II: Manufacturers offer their opinions on OSHA's recent ruling and whether repair shops will beforced to comply. 34 & FRONT END NOVEMBER 1986 n light of OSHA's recent move to phase out asbestos use in the workplace, some I manufacturers are skeptical as to wheth er OSSA will crack down on those who violate the ruling. Depending on an individual shop's ex posure level, owners of automotive repair shops will be required to comply with a number of regulations, including employ ee monitoring, medical surveillance, en gineering and work practice controls, housekeeping procedures, and employee training programs {see related story onfol lowing page). In the meantime, business is booming tor manufacturers of asbestos control equipment. Salesmen are being flooded with phone calls by shop owners and me chanics who are curious about the cost of such equipment and when compliance measures will be enforced. According to Greg Ran, field sales man ager for Hako Minuteman, sales for the company's asbestos vacuum system in creased by 15 percent within the first month following the ruling. Rau says the price of a complete Hako asbestos control system is S1500. The system also pro vides addition^ features, al lowing the system to be con verted to a wet and dry stan- ard tank vacuum for every day vacuuming. It may also be convert ed for use on clutches. One advan tage of the Ha ko system, Rau says, is the vac uum motor which has never been contami nated by asbestos. "No contaminants can pass through this motor," Rau says. "Besides, who would ever by Maria C. Dimengo want to work associate editor on a vacuum motor that's been exposed to asbestos? Like the others, the Critical-Vac Filtra tion Company (C-Vac) is also doing big business as a result of OSHA's recent compliance standards. C-Vac manufac tures replacement HEPA filters for use in Nilfisk vacuums and also plans to in troduce a replacement HEPA filter for Hako Minuteman vacuums in the near future. "The demand for our product will probably increase anywhere from six months to a year after we see an increase in vacuum usage,' says Bob Hunter, presi dent of C-Vac. 'There's no question about it -- the OSHA regulations will increase usage of those vacuums. "From a business standpoint, we're pleased to see those regulations," Hunt er continues. "Asbestos is a known car cinogen and there is a moral obligation to protect people from those hazards." Hunter says he is curious as to when repair shops will start complying, and is concerned whether compliance will be Asbestos removal is urged by OSHA T~7ith new legislation on the books, repair shops will be required to comply with a amber of regulations set down by the Occnpa-- tional Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). lb meet the required exposure limit, employers are required to institute various engineering con* trols (see asbestos story, October) and supplement them with the use of respirator equipment, if nec essary. Although repair shops that perform brake work on a regular basis are required to complywith the 0.2 ffec PEL, periodic monitoring, medical sur veillance, housekeeping procedures and employ ee training is required when the exposure level ex ceeds the 0.1 ike faction" level. Exposure monitoring. The primary purpose of exposure monitoring is to determine the airborne concentrations of asbestos and the extent that employees are exposed. It also allows the employ er to evaluate the effectiveness of engineering and work practice controls, in order to determine whether additional controls are needed, such as respiratory equipment. If exposure is above the action level (0.1 ike), ; 'die monitoring must be done every three ' wtths. If monitoring indicates that exposure is jlow the action level, monitoring may be discon tinued. Monitoring must begin whenever there is a change in the production, process, control equip ment, personnel or work practices that may result in new or additional exposure to asbestos. Medical surveillance. The employer is required to have a medical surveillance program for em ployees who are exposed to airborne concentra tions above the 0.1 ike "action" level. All medical exams and procedures must be performed by a licensed physician and will be provided without cost to the employee. Preplacement exams will be required of new employees who art assigned to an occupation which exposes him/her to asbestos concentrations. The standard also requires that periodic medical examinations be scheduled once a year. Housekeeping procedures. Accordingto OSHA requirements, where vacuuming methods are nec essary, HEPA filtered vacuuming equipment must beused. The equipment mustbe used and emptied in a mannner that prohibits the re-entry of as bestos. The employer should also provide his em ployees with information on cleaning up asbestos spills, keeping work surfaces well-maintained and waste disposal procedures. Employee information and training. The stan dard requires employers to inform their employees about the dangers of asbestos; the health effects associated with asbestos; the storage of asbestos; engineering controls and work practices associ ated with the employee'sjob assignment; the use of respirators, etc. If exposure levels exceed the 0.2 ike PEL even when engineering and work practice controls are implemented, employers will be required to pro vide the following: Respiratory protection Protective work clothing and equipment Laundering and replacement of work clothing Hygiene facilities and practices. This includes change rooms, showers, lunchrooms, etc. Regulated areas lforced by OSHA. "Making sure these repair shops com,y is a totally different aspect than just tting up the regulations," he says. "I link it will take quite some time for the arious repair shops to comply." Hunter expressed his concern about .ie future of non-asbestos, especially ince asbestos use will one day be elim-lated from all facets of industry. If sbestos use becomes obsolete, Hunter ;ars there will be no use for HEPA acuums and, therefore, replacement It 7. -.ore non-asbestos brake linings being manufactured, they wont need quipment." Hunter says. "Asbestos e is declining." With asbestos use on the downswing, manufacturers are becoming concerned about the effects of non-asbestos prod ucts. For example, Hako has added a feature on its asbestos-control system which allows for the vacuuming of non asbestos brakes and linings. "Non-asbestos related products have not been proven to be safe," says Rau of Hako. "I don't think OSHA has carefully looked at these products." Rau refers to an EPA report revised in June, which suggests that enclosure systems should also be used to prevent the exposure of harmful materials in non asbestos brake linings. Although a tech nician is at a much lower risk when working with non-asbestos brake linings, non-asbestos materials may contain adhesives, toxic metals and other hazardous chemicals which can harm the body. A. FRONT END NOVEMBER 1986 till, while non-asbestos Sproducts continue to flood the automotive market, there are still a number of manufacturers who continue to manufacture brake products which contain asbestos. Some asbestos brake manufacturers have already begun to monitor exposure levels in the workplace to prevent their workers from being ex posed to harmful levels during the man ufacturing process. Tbm Wall, vice president and general manager of EIS Brake Parts, says the 35 j .* company is already complying with plants tnax we operate, we nave our peo ICrb UUU'AdWCbMb t/ttWSL 1U iuc'CO OSHA's new manufacturing regulations. ple wear a device which accumulates and which supply 85 percent of the vehicles As stated in the June 20 Federal Register, measures the exposure level and then we in use. manufacturers are required to perform send it to the lab for a readout. initial monitoring of employees who are exposed to airborne concentrations above the 0.1 fAx "action" level. "We have been working toward OSHA's taigted levels for a long time and are "We want to make sure -- from a workers standpoint -- that we're not ex posing them to a situation considered to be hazardous." Although EIS -- a remanufacturer and ike the asbestos-control Lmanufacturers. Wall agrees it will be difficult for some shop owners to comply with the new regula already in compliance with the new stan assembler -- still supplies some brake tions. He believes the service stations dards." says Wall. "We go by the standard linings made with asbestos, the company and general repair shops will not be able in detecting asbestos fibers and are in does not mix asbestos fibers at its oper to afford some of the equipment needed compliance At all four of the friction ating plants. The company currently of- to effectively measure particulate levels "1 think it will be difficult to comply, but not at all impossible," Wall says. "I think the large high volume shops, the national chains and the brake specialists WARRANTY will comply, butgeneral repair shops and service stations might not because of their volume of business." Wall says repair shops will also have to figure in the cost of non-asbestos mate rials when performing brake jobs, which may eat into their profits. "If brake jobs are S59.95 per axle, oth er brake shops will be compelled to com pete with those prices." Wall explains "If they advertise at the $59.95 price and have to purchase non-asbestos materials to do the job. it's going to cut into their profit." BRAKE &. FRONT END NOVEMBER 1986 36 A Uni-Motive warranty is a guaran tee--your guarantee of 50,000 troublefree miles from Uni-Motive chassis components. This exceptional warranty is matched by the exceptional quality that Uni-Motive builds into every part. So when you choose a ball joint--or any other replacement chassis part-- choose the brand that backs great products with a great warranty. Uni-Motive. And guarantee yourself peace of mind. To learn more about any Uni-Motive product, call the technical hotline at 1-800-348-5600. GUARANTEE ^^lUNI-MOTIVE CIRCLE 7 Olt CARD FOR FREE WTO We Went Your Old Suspension Inventory! We buy thousands of new. but obsolete suspension pans from dealers. To get old suspension pans off your shelves. 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