Monona Rossol on wed 4 jun 97
Subject: Re: fiber v. brick updat
Jeff,
> Marc passed on a datum that free silica is reported to be the main health
> hazard from refractory ceramic fiber. I've gleaned same from manufacturers.
> Ms. Rossol says, "dead wrong!" at the beginning of a paragraph and concludes
> the paragraph with the danger of free silica is a danger. Which should I
> believe, the beginning or the end of the paragraph? <
I can't help you if you can't read. The Manufacturers say that roughly 20 %
converts to cristobalite. That leaves most of the rest (80 %) in the fiber
form. Both are hazards. OSHA regulates cristobalite at 0.05 mg/m3. OSHA
has proposed regulating the ceramic fiber at 1 fiber/cc and the manufacturers
have agreed to endorse this limit. There are TWO hazards with fire RCF, but
the greatest hazard is from the fiber itself. Perspicacious enough?
> Selfishly Suggested Next Project for Ms. Rossol: A discussion of the
> effectiveness of remediation methods for risky materials which still get
> used in spite of the risks, beginning with encapsulation methods such as
> spray coatings on free fiber from RCF. <
As I pointed out, the manufacturers already have booklets discussing the
types of precautions that should be used in order to use the material and
keep below the 1 fiber/cc limit.
And although I assume that encapsulation helps, the inventor of this material
has three jobs to do before the product can be endorsed by either the
manufacturers or the safety community:
1) Write a proper MSDS. The MSDS is highly flawed so we still don't know
what are the encapsulant's hazards. (I have already discussed this with the
manufacturer and sent a copy of the MSDS to OSHA with my comments.)
2) Do personal monitoring of people using fiber kilns that have been
encapsulated while they engage in typical activities such as loading and
unloading the kiln. We need data to show that the stuff really works and how
well it works. Since the fibers and cristobalite particles are often so
small they are invisible, monitoring is needed.
3) Monitor the amounts and types particulates generated during demolition
of well-used encapsulated kilns. We need to know what kind of disposal
problem we have down the line with this material.
So there are no clear solutions at this time. But the problem is clear. Or
it should be, Jeff.
Monona Rossol, industrial hygienist
Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety
181 Thompson St., # 23
New York, NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062
http://www.caseweb.com/acts/
Distribution:
To: [75054,2542]
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