COTTON COTTON BRAIDED BRAIDED

CABLECABLE

This type of cable is unique toThis type of cable is unique to BT and can be found in BT and can be found in Telephone Exchanges and inTelephone Exchanges and in Repeater Stations.Repeater Stations.

There are approximately 600There are approximately 600 locations that contain Cottonlocations that contain Cotton braided cable.braided cable.

Cotton Braided Cable {CBC} is Cotton Braided Cable {CBC} is greygrey in colour and is normally in colour and is normally located within the main located within the main distribution frame distribution frame of a BT Telephone Exchange of a BT Telephone Exchange

Typical distribution frame

CBC contains a lead foil betweenCBC contains a lead foil between

the copper conducting wires inside the copper conducting wires inside

the cable, and the outer cotton the cable, and the outer cotton

braiding. braiding.

THE PROBLEMTHE PROBLEM

Part of the cable construction is aPart of the cable construction is a lead / arsenic based fire resistant lead / arsenic based fire resistantpaint which was impregnated onpaint which was impregnated on

the outer cotton sheath, as these the outer cotton sheath, as these cables have been in situ for a long cables have been in situ for a long

time {40-60 yrs} this sheath can time {40-60 yrs} this sheath can become friable and airborne if become friable and airborne if

disturbed.disturbed.

IN SITU COTTON BRAIDED CABLE {CBC}

Cutting these cables when Cutting these cables when drydry can produce can produce dustdust; this may lead ; this may lead to significant amounts of lead in to significant amounts of lead in the air, possibly enough to the air, possibly enough to contravene contravene

the control of the control of

lead at work lead at work

regulations 2002.regulations 2002.

Engineer Cutting With Power Tool

THE REMEDYTHE REMEDY

In Nov 2005In Nov 2005 (on behalf of CWU HQ)(on behalf of CWU HQ)

I attended a trial of a new I attended a trial of a new WETWET

recovery process for cotton recovery process for cotton

braided cable recovery.braided cable recovery.

My attendance was to evaluateMy attendance was to evaluate any change in working practiceany change in working practice that may affect the health and that may affect the health and safety of CWU members andsafety of CWU members and contractors who will do this contractors who will do this type of work.type of work.

The trial has been designed by BTThe trial has been designed by BT to get statistical data to support to get statistical data to support the change in working practices the change in working practices

for CBC recovery. for CBC recovery.

AnAn Independent Analyst and BT Independent Analyst and BT safety services were also in safety services were also in attendance to develop a new attendance to develop a new generic risk assessment for the generic risk assessment for the updated CBC recovery process.updated CBC recovery process.

Trial Pre StartTrial Pre Start

A {A {site specificsite specific} Risk assessment} Risk assessment

took place.took place.

control measures were put in control measures were put in

place, Including a Three stage place, Including a Three stage

air lock.air lock.

A full briefing from the analyst A full briefing from the analyst was given to trial engineers, this was given to trial engineers, this included a Face piece Face fit,included a Face piece Face fit,

to ensure an adequate seal for to ensure an adequate seal for face mask’s. face mask’s.

As required Under current HSE As required Under current HSE

guidance in the ACOP to the guidance in the ACOP to the

COSHH regulations (2002),COSHH regulations (2002),

this was done by the analyst.this was done by the analyst.

Health RisksHealth Risks

Lead can enter your body in two ways.Lead can enter your body in two ways.

you may you may breathebreathe it in. it in.

OrOr

it can be ingested - you may it can be ingested - you may eat iteat it..

Lead can easily enter into the body Lead can easily enter into the body where it is absorbed into the bones where it is absorbed into the bones and also affects the vitaland also affects the vital organsorgans..

Advice given to engineersAdvice given to engineers

If the lead levels in your bodyIf the lead levels in your bodyget to high you will begin to get to high you will begin to

feel ill.feel ill.

Lead may not be the cause of Lead may not be the cause of these symptoms but…….these symptoms but…….

You should consult a doctor ifYou should consult a doctor if

you have any of these symptoms you have any of these symptoms after working with lead;after working with lead;

Headaches, Nausea, Anaemia,Headaches, Nausea, Anaemia,

Tiredness, Constipation,Tiredness, Constipation,

Stomach pain, orStomach pain, or

A rapid Loss of weight.A rapid Loss of weight.

It Is Important to rememberIt Is Important to remember

Continued uncontrolled Continued uncontrolled

exposure could cause exposure could cause

serious damage to the serious damage to the

kidneys, brain and nervous kidneys, brain and nervous

system.system.

THE TRIALTHE TRIAL

The trial involves the The trial involves the spray application of a spray application of a modified type of paint modified type of paint stripper, {Lead limiter}stripper, {Lead limiter}This product can also be This product can also be applied by brush. applied by brush.

This will encapsulate the This will encapsulate the dust on CBC cables.dust on CBC cables.

During the trialDuring the trial

Five key areas were highlightedFive key areas were highlighted

Cutting tools.Cutting tools.Cable access.Cable access.Product application.Product application.Product identity. Product identity. Asbestos.Asbestos.

Cutting toolsCutting tools..

Because these cables are tightlyBecause these cables are tightly

packed together, workers were packed together, workers were

using open bladed Knives to cut using open bladed Knives to cut

twine that holds the cables onto twine that holds the cables onto

the framework, and this could the framework, and this could

cause piercing injuries. cause piercing injuries.

Cables tied to framework

To rectify this problem, the following To rectify this problem, the following knife is now being used.knife is now being used.

It has a curved blade with its cuttingIt has a curved blade with its cuttingface on its inner radius, this will reduce face on its inner radius, this will reduce

the potential for piercing injuries. the potential for piercing injuries.

Cable access.Cable access.

As the gangways are close together, As the gangways are close together, access to the cables can be tight.access to the cables can be tight.

stretching from ladders may cause stretching from ladders may cause falls & manual handling problems. falls & manual handling problems.

A mobile elevating platform is being A mobile elevating platform is being used to overcome this problem.used to overcome this problem.

Product application.Product application.

During manual product application, During manual product application, Some of the product was running off Some of the product was running off the brushes and down the handle the brushes and down the handle onto the wrists of the engineers, onto the wrists of the engineers, causing redness of the skin, and causing redness of the skin, and slight burning.slight burning.

This can easily be remedied if This can easily be remedied if a long sleeved elasticated a long sleeved elasticated glove was used,glove was used,

so that the glove can go over so that the glove can go over the elasticated sleeves of the the elasticated sleeves of the overalls.overalls.

PRODUCT IDENTITYPRODUCT IDENTITY

During the first trial, the productDuring the first trial, the product

Was clear in colour, this caused Was clear in colour, this caused

problems for the engineers, as problems for the engineers, as

they had difficultythey had difficulty

seeing whereseeing where

they had appliedthey had applied

the Product. the Product.

After consulting the product After consulting the product

manufacturer,manufacturer,

a a REDRED dye was added to the dye was added to the

product.product.

This would highlight as to where This would highlight as to where

the product had been placed.the product had been placed.

This made a big difference

ASBESTOSASBESTOS

CBC is normally situated between two CBC is normally situated between two floors, the cables have to go through floors, the cables have to go through cable holes in the floors or ceilings. cable holes in the floors or ceilings. As these holes are sealed with a fireAs these holes are sealed with a firestopping compound, it needs to be stopping compound, it needs to be analysed for Asbestos, as it was usedanalysed for Asbestos, as it was usedin the construction of cable holes in the construction of cable holes within some exchange buildings in within some exchange buildings in the past.the past.

In this picture you can see that the In this picture you can see that the cable hole is in the floor.cable hole is in the floor.

Historical issuesHistorical issues

Because of the nature / dangers of Because of the nature / dangers of

this type of recovery work, it has this type of recovery work, it has

Been mostly undertaken by Been mostly undertaken by

contractors.contractors.

Because contractors are paid by theBecause contractors are paid by the

job, it has come to light that they job, it has come to light that they

are cutting corners on safety to saveare cutting corners on safety to save

time, and therefore money.time, and therefore money.

Contractor complianceContractor compliance

The non compliance by contractors The non compliance by contractors should be tolerated.should be tolerated.

Therefore BT were asked to produce Therefore BT were asked to produce a principal contractor guidancea principal contractor guidanceDocument to be used byDocument to be used by direct direct labour and external Contractors.labour and external Contractors.

(A copy is available for inspection)(A copy is available for inspection)

TRIAL COMPLEATIONTRIAL COMPLEATION

Once the trial had been piloted at Once the trial had been piloted at

three other Exchanges, (summer 06)three other Exchanges, (summer 06)

the findings were analysed by BT the findings were analysed by BT

safety services and the CWU before safety services and the CWU before

becoming an agreed new CBC wet becoming an agreed new CBC wet

Recovery process.Recovery process.

THIS TRIAL WAS ATTENDED BYTHIS TRIAL WAS ATTENDED BY

Institute of Occupational Medicine (Analysts) Eco Solutions (product supplier) Dave Wallington (CHD)BT Group Safety Advisor Robin Edington (Accenture HR Safety Services) Richard Shoulders (NLT245)BT Project Manager Graeme Russell (CWU) Trial engineers

LEGISLATIONLEGISLATION The following lists the main legislation applicable to the The following lists the main legislation applicable to the

work described work described The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs. 1999The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs. 1999 The Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regs 1992 The Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regs 1992 Construction (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regs 1996Construction (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regs 1996 Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (CAW) Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (CAW) Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994

(CDM)(CDM) Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA)Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations

2002 (COSHH)2002 (COSHH) Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

(PUWER) (PUWER) Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regs 1998 Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regs 1998 BT Information systems (ISIS)BT Information systems (ISIS) The list is for reference only and it is not definitive. The list is for reference only and it is not definitive.

THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIMEFOR YOUR TIME

STAY SAFE!STAY SAFE!