Document zoqgB8VyBx8RMX8GjjVLyNrx7

FILE NAME: Asbestos Textile Product Use (ATPU) DATE: 1969 June 27 DOC#: ATPU032 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Confidential Memo to Dunford & Co. Ltd. - Asbestos Dust Survey Results  A PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL 27th June, 1969 Mr. Robert Dunford, John Taylor, Dunford Dunford House, City Road, Jiewoastle-upon-Tyr.e, & Co. 1. Ltd., Dear Mr. Dunford, Asbestos Pu3t Gurvoy You were kind enough to arrange for our people to visit your factory and take dust counts on the 6th May and no doubt you have been wondering what has happened to the information which was obtained on that day. Analysing information of this kind does take a fair amount of time and we have delayed commenting on the results whilst discussions were taking place with the Factory Inspectorate about the interpretation of the new Asbestos Regulations which, as I expect you know, are to come into force in May 1970. I now attach a copy of the report issued by Mr. Harness who took these tests. This report gives the details of the duct counts in terms of asbestos fibres per c.o. of air at all the main operations Involved in the making of your asbestos mattresses. As you will see there is quite a wide variation of dust concentration from 1.1 fibres per c.o. at the marking out operation to 12 at the hand sewing \ operation. Wo understand that where the concentration Is less than 2 fibres per c.o. the new Re latlons will not apply, and where it Is between 2 and fibres per c.c. that the Factory Inspectorate is unlikely to require any special measures to bo taken particularly if the exposure of tho operative is intermittent and of short total duration. Over 4 fibres per o.o. they will expect special control measures to bo token such os the provision of ventilation equipment which, of 1 Mr. R. Dunford, John Taylor, Dunford Co. Ltd. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, 1. 27.6.69 course, you already use In your factory. I would prefer not to go into detail in this letter but to ask whether our Dr. Holmes could come to see you, with a viow to discussing this report comprehensively with you as he has an intimate knowledge of the subject and has been involved on behalf of the industry in framing the new Regulations and in subsequent discussions with the Factory Inspectorate. If this is agreeable to you may I suggest July 11th or 22nd. for Dr. Holmes' visit and if these dates are not convenient to you could you let me have alternative dates. As you may know wo have been carrying out a great deal of research and development into the production of dust-suppressed asbestos cloths and v/e are very nearly at the point of being ablo to offer these to you. I am enclosing a sample which will indicate the type of cloth which we shall produce. We are confident that the concentration of dust emitted by this cloth will be significantly lower than that emitted by the conventional grades. Once again 1 would like to express my thanks for tho facilities which you provided for these dust counts to be taken. If, following your talk with Dr. Holmes, it seems that T.D.A. can provide holp or Information In connection with asbestos and health matters, please lot me know. Yours sincerely. A. C. Mann Homo Sales Director ACr^JHB (Copiosi EBG/SH/DCP) o J