Document zQR0Kjwxkp9JkzxqZMQoa16m

PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT Minute's of the Asbestos Textile IniHitutc Air Hygiono and Mnnufaclurl i Committee --- Lo comber 'j} 1^57 In attendance: V.'. C, Atkinson II, H. Jackson B. V/, Luttenborgor A. E, Hoy T,. C. '`'lus'.:oy J. I., Mitchell YJ, C. Seeds P., B. Smith J, W, Wobor Johns-Munvillo Corp. ii ii ii Rnybcstos-lkm'nniton, Inc. ICcasbey ft Mxttlson Co, Tallman-McCluskey fabrics Co, Southern Asbestos Co. JolmO'.f-ianvilic! Corp, Raybostos-llnnhattcn, Inc. Amorican Asbostos Textilo Corp, The following items woro discussed in an informal atmosphoro with nil members talcing an activo part in tho mooting: 1, Hr. Hugh Jackson reported that tho study being conducted by tho Industrial Hygiene Foundation for the Queboe Asbestos iiinero Association has boon completed but is not .available. . Tho report v/ill bo diocussed at the next comr.ittoo mooting, . 2 Kr, Luttcnbc.rgor roported that Dr. Haior is continuing his work on the percentage and. typo of dust received in various raw fiboro. Tho Air Hygiene and Manufacturing Co:r,mittoc is interested in the work of the Fiber Evaluation Committee and would appreciate being advised of thoir proceedings and plans for tho future. 3* Public Relations and employee relations were briefly discussed. It was the consensus of opinion that a greater effort should be mado'to provide new workers with correct information as to the naturo of our industry arid to acquaint the members of tho community, and in particular, tho medical end nursing professions of the conditions in'our plants. Two companies reported of the increased good will which resulted after various groups had visited their plants. k, Mr, John Weber reported on h'Ls recent trip to Europe whero ho visited textile plants in France, nr. Webor stated that in general tho machines do not operato nb no high a spoed as the Anorican machines. A now dosign spinning frame of Italian amnufacturo was being installed. These frames wore equipped with a variable speed spindle drive which rcducod tho speed of the splndlo when winding on tho upper port, of tho bobbin. 5. The effectiveness of the hoods now in uso over tho broadcloth looms wan discussed. Two companies advised that they had installed now experimental hoods on oomo of thoir looms and were considering roplncing nil of the hoods with .the new design. The experimental hoods wern of tho ovorhoad typo with two dooro on each sido to por.nlt accor.s to tho loom. 6. One company reported that in a recent dust count taken in t.hcir card room, all counts, except one taken at n feeder, wero below 3,6 million particles per cu. foot. Another company reporte L-.hat their uverago count was new 2.7^ million particles per cu, foot. Hinutos of the: Asocstos Text/llo Institute Air ilygicno and Manufacturing Committee-Dec. [1957 l'ago 2- Tho reuse of air from tho dust collcctcro was discussed and tho importance of good distribution, was emphasizod, to reduce the offecta of drafts on tho workers and machinery, Mr, Seeds of Johns-lianville reported that a duct oystein, in uhich tho return of air wao discharged at the ceiling, was quite satisfactory, Mr, Smith reported that tho test holes in tho duct work of their dust collecting system nro made by drilling a hole through the duct where a pipo coupling has beon brazed to tho duct, when tho holes are not in use they aro sealed with a pipe plug, This insures that all reqdings will be taken in the same location at each te3t, The members report that routine test3 arc conducted from one to four times a year in their plants, Tho committee discussed the problem of dust being generated at the rub aprons on tho card condensers. This dust is not being collected in most plants at tVio present timo. Methods of control vail bo discussal at future meetings, 7* The selection and use of respirators wore thoroughly discussed by tho . committed. Tho points covorcd nre well summerizedlin tho attached paper by Mr, Jackson, 8. Tho agenda for the next meeting will includo the following: a, Vacuum cleaning for dust control, Mr. Mitchell has promi3od to bring data cn tho Abington system recently installed,, b, Tiie Q.A.M.A, report, c, Dust control w.othods in the fiber preparation department, '' d, Continuod diocussion of dust in fiber, o. Continued discussion of Dust Collectors and Removal of Dust at machinos. Respectfully submitted A, E, May, Chairman I ^* Rj-r.^iiuMon:; y 5'ho n:;o of respirators as a means of protecting an operator against exposure tp .asbestos. sh-. aid bo regarded as the 3 as L lino oC dofonoc. The engineering ap proach to accident prevention is valid for tho provention of occupational disoaso, . control Measures should bo given consideration in tho following ooquuncoi sac ] JoC 4 eliminate, isolate, 3. minimize, a)id a. protect the operator. Ira situation exists in which it is impossible or impractical to accomplish naoquato control by means of the first throe steps, protection of the operator is, of course, imperative. It should bo recognized, howover, that the acceptance of this last approach places additional responsibility upon tho supervisor to insure that tho protective dovico is consistently and properly used. As v.'ith any other tool, respirators are designed for specific purposes and exposures and must bo used accordingly, Tho United btat.es Bureau of dines is the ngoncy v:hich establishes the standards or.d specifications for reopirator design and performance*, Their circular j,`7636 contains a list of Gas masks, supplied air respirators, dieporsoid respirators and non-emergency gas ro3pirators, approved for a varioty of exposures, JAsbesto.r, being a particulate .dust which iG toxic through inhalation, falls into the category cf pnevunonoconiosis producing dust (defined on pago 0 0f circular tr'lojG), -1/ Among a number of criteria established by Die U. S. Bureau of Mines is a rrquir-. mer.t that resistance in tho rospirator to air flow at tho rate of 3 cubic feet (85 liters) per minute for inhalation should not exceed 2 inches (50 millimeter: of water), and for expiration should not oxcecd one inch (25 millinetors of water), Other criteria include specifications of the amount of dust of designated size 'which will pass through tho filtering medium, as well as specifications of tho fit of the respirator face picco on different facial contours. Thera e.ro a number of factors which ohould be given consideration for Gelocting tho stylo and make of approved typo respirators for plant uso, 1, Resistance I-'oat respirators on tho market today have breathing rnsistnr.co much lower than the U.3.B.M. standards. In a series of ten respirators . from four major suppliers, tho resistance rating ranges from 13*0 : millimeters to 27.9 millimeters, compared to the standard of 50 ! : millimeters. p\t best, the wearing of a respirator iu a nuisance to ct-hc'operator and Dio lowest possible breathing resistance ininirazoo cthls nuisanco value,y 2, Filtoring Capacity I Tho square inches of filtering surface varies considerably in different models of respirators. Qivon tho same dust load, tho respirator with a -w.ee;-- largor filtering surface will build up breathing rcoistanco at a much . ... . C PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT /#.0 4+45' nlownr rate than ono with a omaRer filtering nron. Thin facet. would havo its.practical application in determining hew frequently tho renpirator filtering medium would havo to bo changed. 3. Weight In the same group of ten respirators, tho weight of the various styles varied from 1,25 ouncoo to 9oO ounce:;,, In general, tho lighter weight units havo a smaller filtering area arid, therefore, tho wolght factor, which is important to pporator comfort, must bo balanced against tho replacement requirements, prodicatod on tho filtering capacity (Itom 2 above, li. Facial Fit Although tho U, S, D. H, specs requiro a tight fit on three standard typos of facial contours, 'it io oftentimes difficult to obtain tho (tight fit ossential for positive protection of any given individual, -The '.operator usually needs considornblo instruction regarding the placement, tend adjustment, of..tho-respirator to hio particular foatures, __ 5# Distribution iv: . ` "* ........ . ..... .. 'One method of distribution io to have two respirators identified for -.--r- - reach man. t/hilo one is being worn, the other is being cleaned and (.maintained and io returned to that individual. A3 can bo readily ap- ' \ 'predated, turnover find job trar.sfor add complications to this method of distribution, A oocond tochniquo is to arrange for daily or periodic pick-up and delivery of respirators to a given distribution point, . (foremen's office, deportment store room). All respirators picked up after a period of use nro cleaned and sanitized and rodistributod v;ithout roferenco to the point of earlier U3o, 1* 6, Maintenance It is rocor.anonded that maintenance of respirators bo done at a control location by an authorized individual, A regular schedule of r pick-up, maintenance and distribution should be established. Tho regular maintenance should consist of-washing and cleaning with a sanitizing compound recommended by the respirator manufacturer and' - tho inspection and replacement of each of the functional or contact , portions of tho respirator. Certain of the filtering mediums can bo cleaned and reused,_ Others nro designed for ono uso application only,' I.t is essential, thoroforo, that all working and contact parts be in ; 'first class-order, othorwiso tho effectiveness of tho respirator may ; ibp .pntirolyjaogatod* ! 7 Prograrening Areas of e.v.pcsuro which cannot bn satisfactorily controlled by other engineering means should bo identified and tho use of reopirutors in those portions bo mado a mandatory job requirement* Sinco tho wearing ' of respirators dooo conatituto an element- of r.uisanco and fatiguo, the job evaluation should provide appropriate allovicnce for this factor. PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT X /J.O- Employees should bo ('.Even sufficient knowlod/jo of the nature of the t (exposure and potential hazard Ui.it. they will understand and appreciate ,3 itho vr3.v.o of the pro lee live device. Discipline should bo used to insure the correct and consistent use of-ror.pirntors whero such aro n job requirement, in tho sume mannor os would bo tho enso for any othor infraction of job mothods. Examples cf respirators which, hnvo a breathing resistance in the 13 to lfl millimeter range-and aro light weight (1.2^ to 3n0 ounces) are tho Kino Safety Appliancoo Dustfoe i!$$} Pulmosnn 600, American Optical R-2000 and Willson Mono-Mask ir600. Each of tho major rospirator manufacturers offers clcaneroonitizor products for rospirator maintenance. . 1 I- i i * ); i i