| Title: | The Digital way of working |
| Moderator: | QUARK::LIONEL ON |
| Created: | Fri Feb 14 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 5321 |
| Total number of notes: | 139771 |
I saw a short news story on CNN a few weeks ago about a newly
identified problem involving vinyl-asbestos floor tiles, those
shiny square tiles that so many DEC facilities have in their hallways.
It seems that the rotary buffing machines that are used to keep them
shiny release a dangerous amount of asbestos material into the air.
Already, some school districts in the country have banned any more
buffing of their tiles in this manner.
I didn't really think much about the report--until I've had to walk
past the buffing machine in operation here at BUO (Bedford, MA) the
last two days here around 2 p.m., when the building is full of people.
1. If there is a potential problem, who should be notified within DEC
to start some corporate wide action?
2. What about the operators of the buffing machines, who've had
a lot of exposure over the years---what should be done, regarding
checkups, etc?
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 997.1 | Another perspective | WRASSE::FRIEDRICHS | Go Bruins!! | Thu Jan 04 1990 13:09 | 9 |
There is also an interesting article in the latest Reader's Digest
that discusses the costs of cleanup (measured in $billions nationwide),
health risks and media hype.
Agreed, it is certainly not a definitive article, but interesting
reading for people concerned with asbestos.
jeff
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| 997.2 | Response Re: Potential Asbestos Problem in DEC? | TOXMAN::KACZENSKI | Tue Jan 23 1990 18:33 | 57 | |
Last month, NBC Channel 4 in Washington, D.C. aired a special study
they had conducted on the stripping of vinyl asbestos floor tile.
(Note that stripping and buffing are not the same.) Apparently
this news special alarmed viewers by concluding that stripping of
vinyl asbestos floor tile was hazardous.
My department (corporate safety and health) received several calls
regarding the study almost immediately after it was aired. Since
I had not seen the program on television, I contacted the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C. to discuss
the issue.
EPA stated that the aired study was not an EPA study (as many viewers
apparently had thought). The study was conducted by NBC Channel
4. And, according to EPA the Channel 4 study had some technical
shortcomings which affect the credibility of the study outcome.
Despite the technical problems with the Channel 4 study, EPA indicated
that they will be generating some recommendations regarding the
stripping of vinyl asbestos floor tile. EPA hopes to publish these
recommendations sometime in February. EPA also clarified that their
recommendations will be in regard to the stripping of vinyl asbestos
floor tile. Buffing operations don't appear to be a potential problem
at this time.
Although EPA's recommendations have not been published yet, EPA
did relay the basic elements of their recommendations to me over
the telephone. EPA feels that vinyl asbestos floor tile can be
safely stripped if the following guidelines are followed:
o Workers stripping vinyl asbestos floor tile should receive training
on asbestos, how to avoid releasing asbestos fibers into the
air, how to avoid breathing asbestos fibers, how to safely handle
asbestos materials, etc.
o Stripping machines should only be used wet (with stripping
solutions). Do not use stripping machines dry.
o Stripping machines should only be used at low speeds.
o Stripping machines should be used with the least abrasive pads.
o Floors that do not have wax on them should never be stripped.
Please note that I verbally conveyed the above guidelines to the
facility manager of your building (BUO). Also, I am in the process
of completing an asbestos hazard management document that will contain
this information. Once the document is finalized, it will be
distributed to environmental health and safety (EH&S) and facilities
management personnel worldwide.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at DTN
251-1166 or Toxman::Kaczenski.
Regards,
Janet Kaczenski
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| 997.3 | We had problems in the mill | DIODE::CROWELL | Jon Crowell | Tue Jan 30 1990 01:45 | 11 |
Here in the Mill they had some contractors in to take up a vinyl
asbestos floor. They used some kind of grinders to cut VA floor
sections from the plywood underlaying. They made large clouds of dust
at night while I was working. I didn't think anything of it till a few
days later when someone called saftey and they stopped the work.
They kept us off of MLO5-5 for a week while they tried to clean up the
mess. I hope its mostly hype about the hazards...
Jon
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| 997.4 | Speaking of the Mill | STAR::BECK | Paul Beck | Tue Jan 30 1990 02:34 | 5 |
You should have been there ca. 1980 when they were refitting Building 5
- I saw (unmasked) workers breaking long lengths of asbestos insulation
over their knees so they'd fit into the dumpsters - great clouds of
dust. I was walking around holding my breath when I passed near that
area. Regulations have improved since then.
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| 997.5 | Humm, I know who to sue now | SALEM::HO | Tue Jan 30 1990 14:51 | 8 | |
Humm ...
If I were that worker and now I have been diagnosed having asbestos
related disease.... Now I know what company to sue since I wouldn't
get much money from Mansville . Besides I have a witness.....
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| 997.6 | PM | CSC32::R_HARVEY | Wed Nov 13 1991 20:47 | 7 | |
Try some preventive medicine..KEEP YOUR NOSE OFF OF THE FLOOR!!
B*)
jus mi
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