Document 55qYMgpQj3BrpO0NwayxedDJ

B.F.GOODRICH CHEMICAL COMPANY TO: Plant Managers Date: December 23, 1975 From: R. M. Montgomery- Enclosed for your information and review are copies of an editorial from the Lorain, Ohio Journal and a letter from Bob Downey to the editorial page editor of the newspaper. The response prepared by Mr. Downey is well written, and we can all take courage in the manner he has defended the B.F.Goodrich Chemical Company. Please pass this along to your Industrial Relations Manager for his information when you no longer have a use for the material. RMM:sc cc: R. B. Downey E. W. Harrington 21436001 BFG14488 T cc g HARRY R. HORVITZ, Publisher IRVING LEIBONVITZ, Editor JAMES LONERGAN. General Manager MALCOLM D. HARTLEY, Editorial Page Editor 4 The Journal. Lorain, Ohio Wednesday, December 10.1975 Goodrich Health and Safety IT IS REASSURING news that B. F. Goodrich has virtually eliminated illness and even death from exposure to vinyl chloride at its five domestic plants. It is a splendid idea that the company will share its research with other firms for a "modest" fee. The fact that Goodrich plants will be safe in the future is sure to be greeted with relief by the workers. We are sure Goodrich officials were always concerned, but we note that it took pressure from government laws to get this progress this quickly. What is still troubling, of course, is the fact that polyvinyl chloride, which is used in making plastics, will continue to claim victims until at least the year 2000. Company officials do not know how many workers will die from earlier, heavy exposures. In foreign countries, where the laws are lax, Goodrich has no immediate plans to get its plants as safe as the U.S. A human life is a human life, and Goodrich would do well to make all of its plants as safe as possible, as soon as possible. Vinyl chloride was first recognized as causing fatal liver cancer in the 1970's. A total of 45 persons worldwide, including Charles Arthur, 47, of Avon Lake, have died from angiosarcoma, the cancer associated with ex posure to vinyl chloride. Nineteen of the persons were employed at plants now owned by Goodrich. He's Prejudiced A PROLIFIC father in Colombia, S.A., has become an advocate of birth control, according to a news dispatch, after having 36 children. Why quit when he's ahead? THERE IS something else Goodrich could do. It could upgrade its death benefits to those who have already died as a result of working in their plants, and for those who may die in the future from heavy, earlier exposure to vinyl chloride. A human life is precious and should be so treated. The Journal has devoted much in depth coverage to this subject because of the concern for the health and safety of the people who live here and work in the Goodrich plant. We are proud that our reporter, Peggy Engel, covered the Goodrich press conference in New York so thoroughly. She was the only reporter there from Ohio. Throwing Heating Gas Away MAYBE WE ALL should think again about a comment made last week by David Sweet, a member of the Ohio Public Utilities Commission, about saving natural gas. Sweet declared in a taik that Ohioans could save $50 million a year on gas bills by insulating and weather stripping their homes -- and in the process conserve 27 billion cubic feet of gas. Even if Sweet is only half right, his words should be heeded. The potential saving, both in money and in gas, is too great to be ignored. reducing the gas bills of household consumers, be beneficial to industry. A number of Ohio industries are having gas wells drilled to insure for themselves an adequate supply during the winter months. The cost is higher but the purpose of avoiding the danger of shutdowns is served. But why not get at least part of the needed `supply simply by avoiding unnecessary waste? Riddle tt i onics T iter, wo ran nut a man on the For By RICH UP WASHINi limelight is Kissinger ant being moved Ford adminis President 1 the foreign himself. Longtim< President in is not bein Kissinger. It Ford. Every D. Roosevelt the eiectora foreign policy Kissinger Although kep Nixon admin; Secretary Rc lUnt ** /> r BFG14489 T 0100 OAK TREE BOUIEVARO B.P. Goodrich Chemical Company A OIVISION OF THE 0.F.6 0 0 0 AICH CO M f k It C L E V E l A N 0 . 0 H I 0 44131 PHONE: 21 0-524-0200 December 19, 1975 Mr. Malcolm O. Hartley Editorial Page Editor The Journal 1657 Broadway Lorain, Ohio 44052 Bear Mr. Hartley: The lead editorial in the December 10 issue of The Journal was read with interest here at B.F.Goodrich Chemical. We were, of course, gratified to note that you recognized our progress in reduction of exposure to vinyl chloride at all five of our domestic PVC plants. Your comment in reference to safety conditions in overseas plants was not entirely accurate. The panelists at our New York press briefing indicated that progress had been made in our foreign plants in containment of vinyl chloride--notably in Canada and Australia. Vinyl chloride standards abroad are generally much less rigid than in the United States. Nevertheless, our goal in all phases of our operation where vinyl chloride is present is to contain it to U. S. levels--even in those ventures where we may be a minority participant and agreement by foreign partners is necessary. The benefits our company offers relating to illness, accident, or death are, we believe, equal to any of the industry. As such benefits have increased through the years, our company has kept pace. Human life is indeed precious, as you state, and any such work-related tragedy is treated on the same basis throughout our company--regardless of its cause. . Another point we wish to make may seem to be minor, but it is essential to a complete understanding of the subject under consider ation. Your second paragraph refers to PVC continuing "to claim victims ..." Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, has never claimed a victim. The substance you meant to refer to is vinyl chloride which is the basic chemical used in manufacture of PVC. It is important that your readers understand that PVC, which is used broadly in products with which they are in daily contact, is per fectly safe--the hazard lies in the manufacturing process. 21495003 BFG14490 The Journal Page 2 December 19, 1975 Finally, although we agree that The Journal has devoted much in-depth coverage to this subject, we feel much of such coverage has been alarmist. For example, your headline following our press briefing read, "Vinyl Chloride: More Cancer Deaths to Come . . . BFG Program Tames a Profitable Killer". Other leading newspapers reporting on the facts presented at our news briefing last week took a more dispassionate tone as follows: "Goodrich Says PVC Output, Safety Up" (Louisville Courier Journal); "Goodrich Curbs Chloride Hazard . . . Goodrich Cuts Exposure to Chemical Linked to Cancer" (New York Times). We understand the importance of this story to you and to our community. We only hope you will give consideration to a more evenhanded, balanced treatment in future coverage. In our view, as you have informed your readers, you have perhaps unduly alarmed them. We would be glad to discuss these comments with you in person at your convenience. Very truly yours. RBD:cb R. B. Downey, Manager Public Relations & Advertising BFG 14491 T