ASBESTOS GEEK PIC OF THE WEEK March 27, 2024

A weekly post featuring pictures of asbestos-related artifacts from the private collection of Andy Rowland, CIH – Principal at IMPRIMIS Forensic Health & Safety.

When I was about 6 or 7 (circa 1968), we received the happy news that our father was going to take us to the Drive-In Theater to see a John Wayne movie. We didn’t know what movie we would be seeing, but the fact that it starred John Wayne was all that we needed to know. As it turned out, that night we saw “Hellfighters”, an adventure film based loosely on the life of legendary oil well firefighter Red Adair.

On that huge screen all of the heroic characters battling the ferocious fires were wearing shiny suits like the one worn by John Wayne in Photo #2.

Now, fast forward to 2004.? I was a member of a 4-person team conducting Environmental Health & Safety audits at gas and oil facilities in Texas, Colorado, California, and British Columbia.? When we reached our northern most plant in Prince George (BC), we met a gentleman who had worked there for quite a while.? In addition, he had once been a member of the plant’s fire brigade.

When our gracious host learned that we would need to review their asbestos program and related documents, he got a little excited and said that he had something that we needed to see.? Just a few minutes later, I got my first glimpse of the Asbestos Proximity Jacket depicted in Photo #1.? Before leaving the site, our host asked for my home address.? When I asked why he needed my address, he said “Well, I need to know where to ship the proximity jacket.”

The jacket consists of asbestos fibers spun into thread, woven into fabric, fashioned into a jacket, and covered with a reflective finish.

Imprimis FHS – Specializing in Expert Witness Services in the field of Environmental Health & Safety.? [email protected]?? (843) 209-2951.