Document zoxDBGeVZJ2oVVMGN1GnwJ303

FILE NAME: Kaiser Gypsum (KG) DATE: 1971 Dec 27 DOC#: KG008 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from KG to Carey-Canadian Mines Ltd. RE Asbestos as a Possible Health Hazard PL^.f.O K A I S IS H G Y P S u I CTK''t- JO O Itfisirc v - December 27, 1971 U M C O M P A X Y, I x c Harold r. X. Plate, Sales Carey-Canadtan Mines Ltd. P.0. Cox 15C70 Cincinnati, Oliio 152I5 Manager Dear Harold: As users of asbestos we are concerned by the growing amount of data that asbestos may be a health hazard both in our manufacturing operations and in the use of some of our products. We are familiar with the "Asbestos and Health-Questions and Answers" published by the Asbestos Information Association, and request that you provide us with the following more detailed information. 1. What is the extent of the health hazard that might be experienced with the type of asbestos fiber we purchase from your company: 7RP 7TF 7D1 Please give details of mincralogical or crystalline nature of the fibers as wetl as toxicological information. 2. What precautions are recommended for handling these asbestos materials in our plants where they arc incorporated into dry powders and into pastes? a. Charging and blending into batches b. Disposal of emptied bags and spills c. Recommended type respirators d. Dust monitoring techniques e. Procedures to use in case of accidental overexposure. 3. What precautions should be recommended to the contractors and workmen who use and apply our products containing asbestos fibers (products may contain from l to 10% of asbestos by weight)? These products are of the following types: Joint Compounds: Dry powders for job mixing with water or premixed pastes which are applied by hand tools or mechanical spreaders to conceal joints and nailheads in gypsum drywall construction. Application is usually done in three coats with drying between coats. There is usuatly some hand sandpapering of the applied and dried compounds. Harold ?. X. Hate - Z- Oecember 27, 1971 Product types (continued) Wall texture: A dry powder texture for job mixing with water and either hand or spray application. It is usually applied by con ventional compressed air paint spray.guns in "fog" or "splatter" patterns. Ceiling texture: A dry powder lightweight aggregate spray texture for job mixing with water. It is usually applied by means of large orifice compressed air spray guns in a "splatter" pattern. Overspray on the walls is scraped off by means of wide blade scrapers while still wet. Laminating Compound: A dry powder product similar to the Joint Compounds used as an adhesive to bond one layer of gypsum wallboard to another. It Is spread by hand or by mechanical spreader. Specifically, what precautions should be recommended for: a. Job mixing of dry powder materials b. Spray application of slurried materials c. Cleanup of empty bags, spills, overspray, droppings d. Sandpapering of applied and dried joint cementing compounds containing asbestos fibers. h. a. Scope of existing legislation restricting the use of asbestos in product manufacture and in the end use of these products. b. Scope and probable timing of national or local legislation you are aware of which might be enacted restricting or prohibiting the use of asbestos in product manufacture and in the end use of these products. Please reply to me with a copy to J. S. Sheahan, Research Department, Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc., P.0. Box W O , Antioch, California 9^509. Very truly yours, Commodity Purchasing Manager ce: George '*lrk J. S. Sheahan x