Document 2jVwZo6DkMKz7axQ6Rk36OJng

FILE NAME: National Gypsum (NG) DATE: 1969 Apr 10 DOC#: NG047 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: NG Company Memo - Asbestos Problems, AsbestosCement Products Association > ' Gold i ' BrJ.* National gypsum u u m r * ^ r I N T ^^0 FF1CE C O ! K ^ _ N D EN C e Bond z. J. lillian Vice-President X** ^. Ctc Subject Asbestos Prcbleas wate Asbestos Cexsr.-- Prccucts AssociaticnFrcm April 10, 1?6? ?. K. lizr.eiTar. /T /, ***+ Cm*'.<..'r,,v*.--* Ui^; y 1- reoards to tie s-.uoy tbit Tr. C-ecrg" Wright is crnsic-rini Ter the New 'v-~c-- - j,- p -'*.'- suggest that we cooperate to the f *,es t enaent tnat Vfr" cs.-i7 with'ye-- afte- r^ocrrfrdo.tiers into- rocr trrctttttr. teeth;. - <f=i j.t would. also be agTt3i'ole to cor.s-- -t cur -.nsurencs wetarvient _n regards to vnat could become very m g n n s * p r s m u n prooiess. [TTsav- this problem in the Millington Plant, with 17 suspected eases, which prompted llovds of London not to reinsure us in this area. It was necessary for our brokers to find other insurance coverage at a higher presiun). I night also ads'that in talcing to Johns-Manville teday that they are going to cooperate, -j s t u d y t o vr.it entert, I cc not "Slow as yet cat wi_ l near m the eery near future. The basis for the study is that the two scientists frea Tulane Medical School discovered five cases of lung cancer in asbestos workers suffering from assestesis. They contacted Dr. Wright. He isr.ediately flew to Hew Orleans, studied their reports and findings and concurred with then. They were not National Gypscn employees, but employees of the Flintkote Company who pre viously were operating in the New Orleans area. These doctors are to be caaplinented in the netbod they handled this -- in advising Dr. Wright instead of seeking front page publicity, as others-have in the New lent area. Dr. Wright, in bis trip to New Orleans, requested from us permission to-visit our Hew Orleans Plant,* in the ccapany cf the two doctors iron Tulane. As a result of the visit at our plant, and Johns-Manville, it was decided that it would be advantageous to the industry if a study were race in this area. Thus the proposal that 70U have. ' In regards to the Health and Safety Council of the Asbestos Cerent Products Association, a brief summary of how this organisation cane into the picture would be as fellows? Cr. April 3, 1: 2 'Tliif Schsckler, Mar.iger, Occupational Invirormentel Control for J: ns-Manville invited the representatives cf Certain-Teed, General Aniii: i- 7iln, TLmtkota, Cwons-Ccmir.g and National Gyprua t; a nee ting ir. S-:--- fork city, at their headquarters, primarily to give an ' industry-wide cceptance to a booklet entitled*-- "Recoroended Health Safety Practi cer for Handling and Applying Asbestos Cenent Products.* A personal and confidential letter is attached that I wrote in objection to thus publ: It eveotuallv tan* to the attention cf Mr. Colon Prcwn who called a r'eetong vita Jack Hayes, Bill Duncan ana nyse_i in attcncance. Frost that net :::g, A1 Pay was also aade aware of the problem. - Cn April 17, a letter was r?fted, copy attached, sent to Mr. Scheekler outlining our carcany's oe.- :lions to -one booklet. In the meantime, A1 Fay reactivated IHE K0.P1 KORK.ER 1 36G33 C r '4 \ Z. J. Killian 7i;g-?resident Asoeszos Problems P April 10, lVr? Page \ an organization known as -is "Mineral Fiber Produces Bureau" io a l e n ev-irycr.e in ihe incustry cf the problem caused by- ihe booklet Jc.ir.sMar/rille wishes to print. Al's g n u ? net in New Torx at a later cate and reactivated the group, changing its nane to tr.e "Asbestos Cement Products Association", zainl~ to handle on an incustry-wice basis the problems being caused 07 aaverse asbestos publicity and the Jchns- Manville beck." The group then organised two sub-committees to write a code cn "Recommenced Health Safety Practices for Handling and rely ing Asbestos Cement Prcducts" and a code to be entitled "la Plant* * Snvircizzental Control". ) ' This is about the state where we are at the present tine. Arrangements haTe been nade today for meetings of both committees to be held April 23 and 21, at Jehns-Manville1s Sew Jersey Research Center. As this is just a short' synopsis -- tiers are literally tons of newspapers, magasines, statements frsa various health authorities, federal and state recommendations -- most of which were sent to Mr. Prown by Xsri 7. lindell, Chairman of the luecuzi-e Committee, Johns-ManriHe. This file is in my office and you are welcome tc any portion cf it. In ay opinion, this is the time to keep cool on all the heated emotion that is being caused by`the medical fmaternity. It is quite amarent that in the very near future, there are going to be many, federal regulations controlling the health and safety aspects of asbestos workers. Thesi laws are now n the 91st Con-ress. If ve can keep industry calm and do all in cur power to clean up our owe plants, and suggest the industry do the same, and make people available for Advisory Committee work when called upon to write the standards that will protect the worker, and still be within reason for the industry, we will have a fighting chance to stay in business at a reasonable cost. I hope this run-down will be of some use to you and we can further discuss it Saturday morning, at your convenience. H 2 :rs Attachaents Director of Safety ? S. Please excuse the notes and scratching on seme of the attached booklets they are the only ones I h-ve left. I would appreciate the file returned when you are through with it.