Document zLybbxdMOZKLw3Kk53rQQzq3

A .L INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE March 9, 1961! From B. R. SPEER Engineering Department Alcoa Research Laboratories New Kensington TO DR.--.T-. nG. THI . OFAKRDRDAIHtl Industrial Hygiene Division Alcoa Research Laboratories New Kensington i-t RE: MACHINING MOLTEN METAL MARINITE Several of the men in the Shop have expressed to the foreman that during the machining of the captioned Marinite they experience some discomfort on account of clogging of the sinus and difficulty in breathing. Also one of them indicated that the Marinite dust irritated the skin on his arms and face. During the week of March 2, 196t, K. C. Bartholf was mach ining small Marinite headers in the lathe and it was brpugnt to my attention that he was again having some discomfort, apparently from the dust. I talked to Bartholf and at that time his face seemed dry and red and he indicated that the condition had started almost as soon as he started to work on the Marinite. He said that he had not been to the Medical Department, and I suggested that he have the doctor or the nurses check his face. Mrs. Kuhn called the office later in the day to say that Bartholf*s condition might have been caused by Marinite dust and that she would discuss his condition with Dr. Fusia for his reaction to the problem. Dr. Fusia called March 6, 196*1, and advised us to have the Industrial Hygiene Division run a check while we were machining Marinite to determine if the dust was present in sufficient density and of a nature to constitute a health hazard. He did indicate that the asbestos in the dust might present a health 916276 0517 Dr. G. H. Farrah TO. .Date. March 9, 1964 .Sheet No.. 2 problem and should be checked. Will you, therefore, please arrange to have your division make this check for us? We will arrange to give you advance notice when we will be machining Marinite on the lathe, as we consider this the most objectionable operation. If there is additional information needed or if we can help in any way, please let us know. BRS:mj b Library Dr. D. A. Fusia and Mrs. Virginia C. Kuhn Messrs. E. S. Howarth, S. C. Huddleston and B. R. Speer 916276 0518