Document zLBr0mwopmXDavGy2KmDQRn6

PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT PUBLISHED BY L'ASSOCIATION DES MINES D'AMIANTE DU QUEBEC OCT./NOV./DEC. 1980 VOL. 4/HO S Proposed regulatory action unjustified f In a brief submitted to the Ontario t Ministry of Labour, the Association des \mines d'amiante du Quebec contends that there is neither a scientific basis nor any medical, social or economic justification for a regulation proposed by the Ministry that would lower the permissible average exposure to asbestos in the work environment. Basing itself on the 1978 Occupa tional Health and Safety Act, the Minis try is proposing that the permissible level of airborne dust emissions in the asbestos mining and manufacturing industry be reduced to one fibre per cubic centimeter. Unwarranted haste The Association is unable to find any justification for the suggested stan dard which seems to have been largely precipitated by recent media coverage that has been more sensationalist than informative. Moreover, the proposal comes at a time when a Royal Commis sion of inquiry into all aspects of the asbestos health issue has barely begun its work in Toronto. This contradiction is underlined in the brief which has been documented from a scientific and medical, as well as technological, economic and social point of view. Pointless reduction The Association supports its posi tion with numerous scientific and medical research studies, including the results of the latest and most important epidemiological study on the effects of asbestos exposure. The AMAQ brief points out that at an exposure level of roughly 20 fibres per cc (a level which has not been found for many years), an Increase in risk is practically undetectable. At 2 fibres per cc -- the current standard -- it is scientifically impossible to prove any increased risk. Tightening the stan dard any further would thus be utterly pointless and would provide no addi tional guarantees with respect to workers' health. In view of the fact that the present standard should be considered s.afe, as acknowledged by both the Cana dian and Quebec governments, and since a reduction of the norm to 1 fibre per cc would not increase safety, the only effect likely to arise from enforc ing such a needlessly severe standard would be to hamper the asbestos industry's ability to function effectively. Technologically unfeasible The AMAQ brief also establishes that existing technology does not per mit a constant average exposure level of 1 fibre per cc to be maintained in the mining sector. Based on the results of dust monitor ing and control measures and statisti cal data compiled by the Association and its member companies, the brief shows that even with the utmost effort and using all means available, includ ing the very latest technology, It proved impossible, even the cleanest and most modern mine facilities operating under optimum conditions, to reduce average airborne dust con centrations below the level which is now obtainable on a continuous basis and which varies between 1.5 and 0 fibres per cc. Planned standard unjust However, the fact that it is neither feasible nor possible at present to reduce the norm should not be a cause for concern. As the report emphasizes, it has been medically proven that, aside from those exposed to the higher dust .levels of more than twenty years ago, the health of asbestos workers is comparable to that of the general population. It is hoped that the Association's brief, which also puts in perspective the importance of the asbestos indus try's socio-economic contribution to Canada, will convince Ontario Ministry of Labour authorities that the proposed standard is indeed unfair, since it is scientifically and medically unjustified, technologically unfeasible, and poten tially very damaging In socio-economic terms. t Information centre projects fur When the Institut de Recherche et de D4veIoppement de I'Amiante (IRDA) was founded, It was decided that not all research work or projects would necessarily be done within the IRDA itself, in order to take advantage of alt available resources that could help the institute to fulfill its objectives. Within the framework of a "Research Support Program", it was anticipated that certain projects would be entrusted to the groups best able to produce good results, such as public, parapublic or private research centres, or organizations in the academic or industrial sectors. In keeping with this policy, IRDA's Board of Directors has recently acted on the recommendations of the Scien tific Committee to authorize $224 476 in grants aimed at financing an asbestos documentation centre and three research projects. Documentation centre The documentation centre, which received a $116 000 IRDA grant for the 1981 fiscal year, was founded in 1977 as part of the Universite de Sherbrooke asbestos research program. It is already considered the most important of its kind in the world. By providing this funding, IRDA is assuming financial responsibilities held until now by the university, the Ministere de t'Education and the Bureau de I'amiante. Furthermore, in full accordance with one of IRDA's fundamental objectives, which is to provide a more accurate definition of the characteristics of asbestos-based products in terms of safety, the Board of Directors gave the green light to a research project sub mitted by professors D. Nadeau, Ph.D. At the Unlversiti de Sherbrooke's esbestos docu mentation centre, electronics lacilitate relerence work. and G. Poirier, Ph.D. from the Univer site de Sherbrooke, Science Faculty. Scientific research In their project, the two Quebec researchers hope to develop an "in vitro" test (conducted in an artificial medium, as opposed to "in vivo"*tests using guinea pigs) which would permit rapid evaluation of the possible biological changes In pulmonary cells resulting from contact with fibrous par ticles. IRDA's two grants, totaling about $62 000, will cover the first year of research. The study is especially important because it should allow rapid differentiation between the biological effects of pure chrysotile fibres, and those of chrysotile fibres chemically altered as a result of their incorporation in finished products. Since this research concerns fibrous particles in general, it will also provide Invaluable information on the biologi cal effects of various materials pro posed as asbestos substitutes. This project is a follow-up on recent studies which reveal that when pure chrysotile fibres are incorporated in mixtures, chemical changes occur in the fibres that can modify their biological effects. Applied research In accordance with another IRDA ob jective -- to improve existing products and develop new asbestos applica tions -- a $52 650 grant was awarded to R. Gauvin, an engineer and profes sor at the Universite de Montreal's fecole polytechnique, to evaluate the applications of asbestos-plastic mix tures. As the use of plastics for machine parts has been Increasing considerab ly, Professor Gauvin's research will concentrate on the possible develop ment of' asbestos-plastic mixtures to Prolessor D. Nadeau in his lab at the Universite de Sherbrooke. 2 Photo: La Trlbuno a n z' rt i r-- and three research ,dedbylRDA be used in manufacturing gears for the automobile, pulp and paper, textile, printing, and other industries. To date, asbestos has been used essentially as a filling agent in asbestos-ptastic mixtures. The innovative aspect of Professor Gauvin's project is that he will be determin ing to what extent asbestos fibre con tributes qualities of friction and mechanical resistance to asbestosplastic mixtures. To study the performance of new mixtures, Professor Gauvin will be using a test bed he personnally per fected. In keeping with the constant goal of expanding the many ways in which asbestos is used, a $23 000 grant was awarded to Professor Kinh Ha, an engineer at Concordia University's Centre for Building Studies, to conduct design studies on asbestos-cement roofing attachments. Asbestos-cement panels currently serve as roofing but do not contribute to a building's structural strength. Professor Kinh Ha will attempt to find a solution to this deficiency by designing attachments that would allow asbestos-cement not only to be used as roofing cover but also to serve a structural function. This research pro ject, slated for completion in eight months, would have particular impor tance for buildings in regions suscepti ble to earth tremors, where roofing resistance must conform to more stringent specifications. ft. Tfauvtn, engineer end prolessor el the Universite do Montreal's cole polytechnique. Study finds asbestos-cement pipes safer The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has published the results of a study concluding that asbestoscement pipes used in aqueduct systems are less hazardous to health than vinyl polychloride or plastic pipes. This study was conducted last sum mer at the request of the municipality of Lakeland, Florida, which wanted to know the risk to health involved in using various materials before starting work on expanding is aqueduct system. According to the EPA, asbestoscement pipes present the least risk when neutral water (low in acidity) is involved. The risk increases with pipes made of vinyl polychloride, vinyl, epoxy SPM - Asbestos-cement pipes oiler several advantages tor the construction of aqueduct systems. and plastic, in that order, with tar-lined pipes carrying the most risk. EPA experts arrived at this conclu sion after analyzing various water samples taken from Lakeland's exist ing aqueduct system, which uses asbestos-cement pipes. The agency's sole reservation con cerns the quality of the water flowing through the asbestos-cement pipes. Researchers noted that if the water is too high in acid content, it risks damaging the pipes. It is easy to get around this problem, however, in that municipalities only have to control" the acidity of their water. 3 wninw* Rolling stock in the asbestos mines, from the wheelbarrow to the 200 ton truck From the very beginning, the asbestos mining industry has been dependent on the technological means at its disposal. A century ago, the amount of ore extracted was largely determined by the number of picks, sledge hammers, borers, cobbing ham mers, wheelbarrows, sleds and the occasional dump cart that could be put into use. But the most important factor was the number of men used, since "elbow grease" was that era's main energy source. Their labour compen sated for the missing technology, which only developed as the industry's new needs made themselves felt. Steam power Due to the rudimentary equipment available in those days, earth and waste material could not be transported very far. They were dumped near the mine, preventing exploration of new sites and requiring deeper excavation to reach the ore. Indeed, the first boom derricks were used for this latter purpose. Initially, the boom derricks were powered by horses, then later, around 1890, by wood-fired steam boilers which also operated the borers. Around the beginning of this century, an important milestone was reached. The introduction of return cableway derricks henceforth made it possible to transport wooden skips containing up to two tons of ore. However, as mining excavation grew in size, transportation by cableway derrick became less efficient and haufageways had to be added to en able cars handled by electric hoists to circulate. Later, cable cars were rep laced by mobile steam cranes installed in the pit itself. Soon, the development of a new technique was to change mining methods. With the introduction of spiral benches, underground haulage tracks carried the ore cars from the pit floor to the crusher through 20% graded galleries. The amount of track increased rapidly, car capacity rose from 4 to 10 tons, and powerful locomotives made their appearance in the mine. War technology On the eve of World War II, more mobile equipment replaced the rail haulage system. Companies were quick to recognize the advantages that could be derived from the use of equip ment that was more adaptable, but no less tough and resistant. Shortly before 1940, bulldozers and tractors were introduced which not only fed the ore chutes but also towed the mine's first trucks, which had diesel engines and rolled on wheels and caterpillar treads, features borrowed from both the tank and passenger car. Until as recently as 1972, truck haulage was complemented in some mines with a system of cableway der ricks (skips moving on rail from the mine pit to the surface powered by electrical cables). Until 1945, Industrial production and technical research were mobilized for the war effort, and equipment was scarce behind the lines. On the other hand, the technology developed during the war enabled the mines to benefit from new equipment which was hitherto unequalled in capacity, toughness and the foreground and crane in the background. 4 CAPcn .ifm nn-mop'* adaptability, and could be considered the basis (or the rolling stock on which today's asbestos mining operations depend. shovel and truck is designated by a number. Trucks are dispatched to the shovels by radio and then on to their destination when loaded. about 400 permanent Jobs in the asbestos region. Research An impressive fleet Since the 1950's, the number of vehicles used In asbestos mining has steadily increased and their power, toughness and capacity have been continually upgraded In response to the specific needs of mining opera tions. Thus, the mines both contribute to the advancement of industrial tech nology and benefit from the resulting progress. Today, in both underground and open pit mining, haulage of ore, overburden and tailings is no longer a challenge to mechanical ingenuity. Mammoth vehicles weighing tens of tons and even 200 tons seem to move like toys- in a mining playground so gigantic that electronic communica tion systems are needed to steer these metallic monsters safely and efficient ly. in a small cabin overlooking the mine, dispatchers- control and direct operations from a panel on which each Economic impact At present, the value of the asbestos mines' fleet totals some $130 million. Spare parts alone represent a market of more than $25 million a year. In the mines of the AMAQ membercompanies, 60 000 tons of asbestos ore are transported to the surface every 24 hours by 130 trucks ranging from 35 to 200 tons, 9 locomotives, 80 rail cars and nearly 400 men. Due to the wide range of vehicles in the mining fleet, the industry's garage employees rank among the top specialists in the heavy equipment field. They check, adjust and repair engines as well as differentials and brake, fuel, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical systems. To attain this degree of specialization, some mechanics have benefited from tech nical training programs provided by the manufacturers themselves. This sec tor of activities, which guarantees that extraction and transportation equip ment is in good running order, ensures Mining companies are continuing their research in an attempt to improve equipment from the efficiency, worker safety and environmental protection standpoints and are making "inhouse" improvements which will later be useful to manufacturers. Thus, company research has tailored vehicles to the special needs of asbestos mining. For example, trucks hauling tailings have been equipped with a totally-enclosed dip per to prevent dust from escaping dur ing loading, on the trip to the dump, and even during unloading, thanks to a built-in watering system. As another environmental protection measure, water, spreaders have been installed to reduce dust raised on the haulage routes, and a hydraulic tank truck was recently developed to sow the dump sites. To counteract winter conditions, graders and scoops have been equipped with sharp points which dig grooves In the frozen ground to prevent skidding on slippery haulage routes. A tow truck has also been designed to come to the aid of any haulage truck in difficulty and allow it to empty its load through hydraulic and air hoses connecting the two vehicles. Such research will no doubt con tinue, in collaboration with the heavy equipment industry, to meet the specific production needs of the asbestos mining industry. At tett. gigantic 200-ton truck dMarts man. At right, a special vehicle equipped with a boom has been designed in the mines to change loaded truck tires with out causing damage. 5 CAP CO JEN 0010284 win?TM Bell's new test room now in operation As part of Its overall modernization program, Les Mines d'amiante Bell Ltee has Just completed Installation of a $225 000 test room which, accord ing to its designer, Bob Smith, is the most modern facility of its kind. In a move towards greater centralization of operations, the room will serve as the communications and control centre for the entire processing plant. The equipment Installed In the new test room a month ago permits increased operating efficiency and better fibre quality control during bag ging, the final phase. About every 45 minutes, samples of different grades of fibre taken before and during bagging are sent to the test room. Within minutes, control technicians are able to detect, report and correct any pro duction defects such as imperfect or excessively long or short fibres. Air quality A special vacuum system then returns the analyzed fibre directly to the production circuit with minimal handling or dust emission. In keeping with the Company's policy to provide healthy working conditions, the test room Is equipped with continuous tem perature control and a ventilation system that filters, sterilizes and re plenishes 5 000 cubic feet or air per minute. Hygiene was also a major considera tion in constructing all counters, walls, equipment and furnishings -- even the telephone -- out of stainless steel, which has the advantage of being highly resistant while not retaining dust. Central control The central control system for the mill Is now being installed in the room. A huge control panel with hundreds of luminous indicators has already been wired with some 4 700 connections linking It to the various work stations. The slightest defect, regardless of the cause, is immediately registered on the control panel and the production circuit Is adjusted automatically, mak ing' work easier and a great deal safer. From central control, a single person operating a few buttons can start up all of the mill's machines In sequence. Expected to cost a total of about $1 million, the project should be entering its final phase within the next few months. New mechanized method of ore extraction Bell has recently implemented a new method of ore extraction designed by Company engineers to increase pro ductivity while improving safety and comfort for workers in underground operations. The current project brings Bell one step closer to the block caving system which the Company intends to imple ment in two years, primarily for ore extraction at subterranean levels below 1 000 feet. CAP CO JEN 0010285 I < Sculptures made of asbestos and water The present phase of the operation involves mining a 160 x 500 ft orebody located west of the old drifts and containing two million tons of ore that represent a two-year asbestos reserve. Environmental control The orebody is crossed by two 500foot parallel drifts, connected by a 160-foot drift and 35 draw points. Under the new system, mechanized diesel shuttle loaders with a capacity of 3 cubic yards per trip will carry ore from the draw points to the chutes. Formerly, each draw point was linked to a chute equipped with a grizzly. Dust emissions were thus multiplied, whereas today the shuttle loaders feed one larger chute from 20 draw points, allowing control over dust emissions at a single site. Dust control is facilitated further through regular use of water jets to dampen the ore. The new mechanized extraction method offers immense advantages over the former system. Costs are equal but productivity is greater, and the more streamlined operation will make the miners' work easier, reduce the use of explosives, and lower dust levels. Some sculptors like to work with hard materials such as stone, wood or marble, carving or chipping out the forms they want to reveal. Others turn welder or blacksmith to produce fascinating metallic creations. And still others prefer to shape and mould malleable materials like clay or wax. Mrs Helga Lone Hodsman, a Cana dian artisan who has dedicated herself * Mrs Hodsman with some of her sculptures. to sculpture for the past eleven years, has opted for the latter method, with a difference. Her works are created from a unique asbestos-based material, undoubtedly because she has lived in Quebec's asbestos region for more than thirty years. She does not work with asbestos-cement, which has been used by many renowned sculptors. Rather, she uses apaste made of short fibres (grade 7) and water, and is pro bably the only sculptor in the world to do so. An unusual art career Mrs Hodsman did some drawing and painting in her youth, but only returned to art at the age of fifty, after raising eight children. This time around she was attracted to sculpture, and at the suggestion of some friends decided to experiment with asbestos fibres which her husband, a designer in the engineering department of JohnsManville Canada, would bring home. After six months of experimentation, Mrs Hodsman finally produced a paste mixture to her satisfaction. All she had to do was add water to the fibre until the mixture attained the desired con sistency. Similar to clay, though less viscous and sticky, this material can be worked more easily and also has the advantage of not needing to be fired. Mrs Hodsman's sculptures range between 6 and 24 inches in height. Larger or more complicated pieces are built around a frame. For small statu ettes, she moulds the paste with her fingers, and for the finer details she uses various items from her manicure kit, having found these to be the most practical tools for her purpose. During the modelling stage, she has to make allowances for the fact that the sculptures have a tendency to shrink as they dry. 7 Worldwide clientele The finished sculptures are almost white, with a very pale gray tint. Mrs A particularly elaborate piece: St. George and the dragon. Hodsman usually leaves them In this natural colour, simply applying several coats of silicone to provide protection and a semi-mat finish. At the request of some clients, however, she does col our some of her sculptures. At the beginning of her career Mrs Hodsman displayed her works at various handicraft exhibitions, notably In the Eastern Townships region where Quebec's asbestos mines are located. She has frequently participated in the important annual "Salon des Metiers d'Art du Quebec" In Montreal, and there Is also a permanent exhibition of her works in the Johns-Manvllle Manolr In Asbestos. Many visitors who have stayed at this company guest house have subsequently placed orders with Mrs Hodsman and as a result, her sculptures are now found in many parts of the world. These days Mrs Hodsman is a little regretful that she has no time to work on sculptures of her own choice, since she is completely occupied with filling a growing number of orders. The sub jects of her works are highly varied, Inspired by her imagination or by pic tures from books. Her sculptures include animals typical of Canadian fauna: bears, beavers, otters, seals, dogs and cats. History, mythology, folklore and folk tales are other fre quent sources of Inspiration. But in the final analysis, the subjects Mrs Hods man like best of all are people, ordi nary people engaged in their daily activities. tot Htsfjfls from L'Association des mines d'amiante du Quebec Les Mines d'amiante Bell Ltee Johns-Manville Canada Inc. Carey-Canada Inc. Lac d'amianle du Quebec. Ltee StfiJIPWffH---------------- This BULLETIN Is published by /'Association des mines d'amiante du Quebec, 1130 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 410, Montreal H3A 2MB. The Post Ofiice Department in Ottawa has authorized postage paid in cash and forwarding of the publication by third class mail. I* Canada Rentes Po*! Canada Postage pfd Port pay* j / Bulk En nombre third troisieme class classe F-264 Montreal, P.Q. MR. A.E. ALPINE SR. VICE PRES. & P.0. BOX 3^35 BIRMINGHAM, ALA. G.M. - CAPCO 35JM15, USA. a i rr k -4 r