HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08161988 - I.O.4 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS i.o. 4
FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Cwtra
August 8 , 1988 C )sta
DATE'. CO"' "J
Investigation of Asbestos Exposure
SUBJECT: at USS-POSCO
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Refer the report of the Assistant Health Services
Director--Environmental Health to the District Attorney with
the request that he investigate to determine whether any
laws were broken and, if so, whether he has!: sufficient
evidence to prosecute any individuals or companies who were
involved.
2. Refer the report of the Assistant Health Services
Director--Environmental Health to the Federal Occupational
Safety and Health Administration , (OSHA) and the Bay Area Air
Quality Management District, and request ! that they
investigate the circumstances surrounding the 1985 fire at
USS-POSCO to determine whether any laws or regulations over
which they have jurisdiction were violated and, if so,
request that they take appropriate action.
In addition, request that both agencies determine the
current health status of any workers who were on site during
the period February 10 , 1985 to February 26 , 1985 who may
have been exposed to asbestos following the fire ,to
determine whether there is any evidence of contact with
asbestos.
3 . If either or both of the above agencies decline to have the
workers who may have been present examined, order the
County' s Health Services Director to contact those workers
and offer to conduct physical examinations of each of them
to determine whether there is any evidence of contact with
asbestos.
4. Request the County Administrator to prepare a letter for the
Chairman' s signature to USS-POSCO requesting their
cooperation with OSHA, Air Quality Management District, and
Health Services Department investigations by supplying any
information in their possession which would identify workers
who were present in the plant and may have been exposed to
asbestos following the fire.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: ,
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)'
ACTION OF BOARD ON AucT St 16 , 1988 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X
,.:: Al, . REQUESTED that brochures describing the services of the County industrial
disease clinic be distributed to all workers at USS-POSCO, and REQUESTED the assistance
of local labor unions in distributing these brochures.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TARN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED
Health Services Director PHIL B CHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
USS-POSCO (Via CIAO) SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Greg Feere , CC Building Trades Council
Steve Roberti, Central Labor Council
BY ,DEPUTY
M382/1-83
Page 2
BACKGROUND:
On May . 17, 1988, the Board of Supervisors referred back to our
Committee the issue of whether or not friable asbestos was
present in the U. S. Steel plant following a fire which occurred'
on February 10, 1985. The matter was referred back to our''
Committee because of a report presented to the Board by Greg
Feere of the Contra Costa Building Trades Council which indicated.'
that asbestos was present in the material removed from the,
ceiling tiles.
On August 8, 1988, our Committee reviewed. an extensive report
dated August 2, 1988 from USS-POSCO which attached all of thee
previous correspondence on this subject. We also reviewed a
memorandum' from the. Assistant Health Services;
Director--Environmental Health. Mr. Bergman indicated that he
had talked with the representative from E.C.U. , Inc. which had
prepared the report provided to the Board by . Mr. Feere. Mr.-
. Bergman-Is conclusion is that in his professional judgment.
. asbestos was present in the plant following, the fire which
occurred on February 10,' 198.5., and that it is. possible during the''
process of removing the. asbestos, that workers or clean-up crews;
may have been exposed to friable. asbestos.
Mr. Bergman is particularly concerned about the period of time
between February '10, 1985 and February 26, 1985 because U S.
Steel did not receive laboratory reports back on 'the air:. samplesl�
-which had been taken until February 26 . They had reopened the
plant `on February 18, 1985 without having had complete laboratory'
-results available.
As a result 'of Mr. Bergman' s conclusions, we have made the above ;
recommendations because of ' our overriding ' concern and '.
responsibility for the public health of any workers who may have,
either been involved in the clean-up subsequent to February 10,
1985; or who were working at the plant when . it reopened on
February 18, 19.85.
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