Document 6a401LYkxxL3N7p0KRrjEBwm

FILE NAME Corning OC DATE 1943 Dec 27 DOC OC007 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Memo - Public Relations Angles in Branch and Division War Survey a Mr. G. E. Gregory . Decem27be10r 63 PUBLIC PHATICEF ABULA BRANCH AND DEVESIH HAR BUTWAY 001 Hr V. P. LimeS Mr. T. 8. Recers : Nr M. C. Jonsen Mr. J. H. Thoms . tr, &, & Move JSR Attachod is a detailed exery of references in the Post questionirs to Piberglas abostos admixtures and the ita problem Branch and Mvision mon almost unanimously urge further development of class and asbostos edmixtures to broaden the electrical and fabrics meriate And they indicate that product or if we to improvement to reduce eliminate the itch is imperative are coopete succesfully in markets where Fiberglas wool products possess doaired engiosoring obaracteristics Following are oboervations on some publie relations ancles of these conts report thte o m you at your request I am glad to dixtures with Admixture with Asbestos In formulating our policy on ambostos we should - . koop on tx aort Samuse otherwise wo will run the risk of amparing Fiberclas with te baserte of exposure to astros astros : pathological dusty procese Fabrication of asbestos in both tertile and textile forms is a axxyouro to asbestos my involves the dancer of asbestosis a pathological and lung condition ecommt lil silicosis This hasard is minimized by use of boods and exhaust toms and waring of respirators the bestcs fabricating industry has lourned by the hard way a how to acctral it More signifiunt fabrication of textile astectos involves a sldin bazard Tois Tois bandling asbostce yarns in carding drafting twisting and plying operations and in warping and weaving -- wherever the material my pase through the sincere at high spood -- my acquire skin lesions known as hebestos cords caused by the bedding of the m -11 asbestos fiber into the skin . The asbestos mamiferturing mamiferturing industry is well soquainted with these husards and its workers are conditioned conditioned to them and are supplied with adequate prebootive devices It follows that |. any extensive perplas asbestos aloth manufacturing establish asboctos fabricators Duch a course avoid our fabricoting follition of our own and would prevent exposing our people be night adversely affect our compensation ratings and might well be subcontractod te having to set asbestos ; bazarda thiol disubility experiences ity sigestion isis exrefore that the the handling of asbestos incombination with Fiberglas be dissociated manufowan cmatnuufarctiurningg . eesesece om The Ibo Pration Although our files are fully documented with medical references and etn: to to Comonstrate that exposure to Piberglas materials involves no disabling injuries or Minoase wo have long recognised that the bandling of Fiberglas wool producte - docs involve some skin discomfort pointed slugs and unfiberised spicules have excapt penetrate Ttructural strench to dorim this effort as a the skin and to once a distrossing itali modical dimmbling tim which is transitory and superficial storition and it has been docuastrated 1. that workers soon become sccustomed to the Deterial and handle it ^' . PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT OCF 000012400001204124  9 without difficulty if they stick on the job long to build an imunitanyd 2. that when the mental hasard is recoved washing before meals and at the end of each shift withwith plen of tmiy ld soap and warm water nee of calamine lotion containinonge per cent phenal as an pruritic and sonetines use of a cleanser scctaining a wetting agent such as cor wam tch ia s corl mal impreg win thalt ace old ia ordinarily suffice Since my 1941 our health program has boom built on these precises files have 1. Find out the facts Our been sentralised complete relatod data Dave been abled an insurance experience investigations have been carried outs Biobert Bulsberger Solmarts Sobols etc. 8. Dot the facts into medical literature Articles have been published in Industrial indici Abricourt Abricourt of Durgery Journal the American Medical Association Industrial Regione Dipost etc. ... ... 5. mysthte emyrsteyry out of the the foot by making the facts avaitl o a memb bel rs e of ) our own organisationorganisation general public alth Aspects has been published and reprints of articles in medical journals made available for general distribution . . inquiries 4. Dandle inquiries and folly All bona fide inquiries have been answered with ouston replies have been avoided 8. Concentratoen professional and technical influence centers -- Indical P sewentinoors sewentinoors industrial bygionists plant physicians and marees publis health authoritios Ex contacts have been and are being cultivated - be hase been n a alow educofaet dui cao tin on Frequently Branch men have been under the suspicion of being devil's advocates to get the order and their talk about the absence of the health hasard has boon discounted Boce brann oncsh oe not falsl ougi h wia th r sur bealth story to tell it ina forthright and accurate munner still reflect a defeatist attitude about the loac nd a locl al competitive competitive conditions metines frustrate t eeseoe9 Our efforts to combat the itch may be adequate in a seller's market it is a certainty inaid n a e Postq waru buya er'st mare ket In some cases we have been Dutch boy at the dike trying to sten a competitive avalanche that threatens to He can point with pride however to the sonsistent effort we have made to treet distribution and oat feet on its merits We have to hide noth to i eccnceg al And whe therite an a culos obstacle apparently ruling our materi oua t l ofsa job the roal rossobans lain dooper in a complex of local and national afacturing behind such situations lios the fact that the Asbestos Workers Defon has bad a portape alliance long and portape unholy alliance with the mia mamufacturers Evidence in our files demonstrates e J oa f c ^'e such promineautocomoushandling informationinafolrmatioonalfficeras ss insist m subject only to the international's international's international's prohibition Dole tation tation by costs practice contractor to bid on amplied job at a price under competitive competitive materials such a practice is impractical for at last three resents such i 1. Par Labor Doard will not approve y - 3. It impal ti a he asas rd does exist 3. The precedent estabwol uldibesdh iffe icudlt if not impossti o buplarei Back of this situation lis our distributing arrencamente in the industrial insulation field Creation of industrial rioters rioters a justified at the time it was undertaken step to truck into the market But since that time it has become apparent that next to the Dapodia secuftcturers them the s stroe ngesl t fav ctore ins the the contract the applicator who gets the best price from Contract pecufacturer and who bids and applies the job off applicators bandling Fiberglas most buy at 80 dustrial marketer who gote 00 off flat Undoubtedly any of these applied tructors are arrawin th g thie s am rraengn emet nt But their own competitors - sether contract applicators getting the best price direct from - see the cosa fcturers of maristers in the distribution a throat to their own situations and whether whether on their own behalf or at the behest of asbestos emosia suhturers are the stimulationng relationship wo kors with whom they live and work in very close relationship to nae an imaginod boalth hasard to exterrace the Fiberglas contract applicator applicator obliged Thus to clean this situation we will be ) reine the raison d'atre of an decide industrial paristor 8. to whether his discount is equitable in view of the econondo functions to performs as compared with the discount given the contract appli- entor and .; to determine whether we can set up sufficient contract applicators to pover the cariste . . - * Another factor is the Immortanding grievance of the isbestos Workers Union that no settio- pbayyBhoaBovvvilelie lso olmu eetmbeedaaridngheitohnbyDDryrCornying CaBroptehrybrooff Potester Doser Potester disbute over the Corning's Corning's Combleasured Combleasured A.P.L. done Corming spoontly that a settlonont settlonont can be made at my time that payment can be made to a youn ride 000126 Suntry by good mufacture fabrication application of Fiberglas materials involve no basard attributable to Fiberglas a differentiated from other materials That point is well established established Banding of the wool materials sometimes involves skin discomfort commonly called the itch This is a disabling condition that ordinarily is overcome body hygiene to exterrass us by stirring the Fabostos Porters to decand pre- But competitive conditions have brought about a situation wherein the itch has become a for drevinek and to are often unable to discuss the itch characteristics obfoctively in a competitive competitive salos situation situation Especially in the industrial insulation market op- petit havoe r uss ed it up ndum vagos for applying Fiberglas Introduction of Fiberglas industrial marketers is unorthodox distribution in this mariant and has disturbed the contract applicators who seo in it a threet to their position The lack of a Corning settlement too still dis gruntlos the non which refuses to believe we are not alcsely related to Corning . , commendation : 7 eee 1. Contine our basic health program as outlined above This is fundamental educational work . of 8. sIonotlenpsirfoydupcrtosduct and proc- ess improvement activities to reduce slug content -. . 8. of 0 Feevanine industrial markster functions and discounts and relationship tmot applicators and determine ways and moans to establish more applied trestore to cover the parts . cop 4. Bring about a settlement by Corning with the Asbestos Forkers at the curliest opportunity opportunity * 8. Improve relationships with the Asbestos Forkors Onion by loser contacts through contract applicators ; instruments instruments -.. These to recommendations are based on the belief that the ital is not an is lated problem be solved alone by product inprovement rather it provides a convenient spurious are the starting point for anti Fiberglas conspiracy by the Asbestos Dafon Torkers who of the manufacturers and contract applicators i: . oe . Edward C. Anse 000127 December 27 1943 ~. Mr. C. E. Gregory PUBLIC BRANCH RELATIONS ANGLES IN AND DIVISION POST SURVEY cc Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. W. F. Zimmerman T. B. Rogers W. C. Jonsen J. H. Thomas Wm H. Page - R Attached is a detailed summary of references in the Post to Fiberglas asbestos admixtures and the itch problem questionnaire Branch and Division can almost unanimously urge further development of glass and asbestos admixtures to broaden the electrical and fabrics markets And they indicate that product improvement to reduce or eliminate the itch is imperative if we are to compete successfully in markets where Fiberglas wool products possess desired engineering characteristics Following are observations on some public relations angles of these comments I am glad to report them to you at your request Admixture with Asbestos In formulating our policy on admixture asbestos we should keep on the alert because otherwise we will run the of smearing Fiberglas with the hazards of exposure to asbestos with risk Fabrication of asbestos in both textile and textile forms is a dusty process and exposure to asbestos fly involves the danger of asbestosis a pathological lung condition somewhat like silicosis This hazard is minimized by use of hoods and exhaust systems and wearing of respirators the asbestos fabricating industry has learned by the hard way how to control it More significant fabrication of textile asbestos involved a skin hazard Workers handling asbestos yarns in carding drafting twisting and plying operations and in warping and weaving -- wherever the material may pass through the fingers at high speed -- may acquire skin lesions known as asbestos corns caused by the embedding of the snake asbestos fiber into the skin The asbestos manufacturing industry is well acquainted with and its workers are conditioned to them and are supplied protective devices It follows that any extensive Fiberglas these hazards with adequate asbestos cloth manufacturing program might well be subcontracted to established asbestos fabricators Such a course would avoid our having to set up asbestos fabricating facilities of our own and would prevent exposing our people to such hazards which might adversely affect our compensation ratings and disability experience My suggestion is therefore that the handling of asbestos in combination with Fiberglas be disassociated from our own manufacturing *** The Itch Problem Although our files are fully documented with medical references and other data to demonstrate materials involves no disabling injuries that exposure to Fiberglas or disease we have long recognized that the handling of Fiberglas wool products does involve some skin discomfort pointed slugs and unfiberized epicules have enough structural strength to penetrate the skin and to cause a distressing itch Medical authorities define this effect as a disabling trauma which is transitory and superficial and it has been demonstrated 1. that workers soon become accustomed to the material and handle it 000124 Varbotim VarbVo arbott im i Varbom tim MW. the 7 -2- without difficulty if they stick on the job long enough to build an immunity and 2. that when the mental hazard is removed washing before meals and at the end of each shift with plenty of mild soap and warm water use of calamine lotion containing one per cent phenol as an antipruritic and sometimes use of a cleanser containing a wetting agent such as Clean which is cornmeal impregnated with lanolin ordinarily suffice Since May 1941 our health program has been built on these premises 1 Find out the facts Our files have been centralized complete related data have been assembled on insurance experience investigations have been carried out Siebert Sulsberger Schwartz Sobolz etc. 2 Get the facts into medical literature Articles have been published in Industrial Medicine American Journal of Surgery Journal of the American Medical Association Industrial Hygiene Digest etc. 3 Take the mystery out of the subject by making the facts available to members of our own organization and to the general public Health Aspects has been published and reprints of articles in medical journals made available for general distribution 4 Handle inquiries promptly and fully All bona fide inquiries have been answered with custom replies Forms have been avoided 5 Concentrate on professional and technical influence centers - - Medical groups safety engineers industrial hygienists plant physicians and nurses public health authorities These contacts have been and are being cultivated This has been a slow process of education Frequently Branch men have been under the suspicion of being devil's advocates to get the order and their talk about the absence of the health hazard has been discounted Some branch men too not familiar enough with out health story to tell it in a forthright and accurate manner still reflect a defeatist attitude about the itch and local competitive conditions sometimes frustrate them kkk KKK Our efforts to combat the itch may be adequate in a seller's market it is a certainty that they will be inadequate in a Post buyer's market In some cases we have been like the Dutch boy at the dike trying to stop a competitive avalanche that threatens to engulf us We can point with pride however to the consistent effort we have made to treat the subject on its merits We have nothing to hide nothing to conceal And where the itch has been a sales obstacle apparently ruling our materials out of a job the real reasons has lain deeper in a complex of local and national manufacturing distribution and application methods Behind such situations lies Union has had a long and manufacturers Evidence in the fact that the Asbestos Workers perhaps unholy alliance our files demonstrates with the magnesia 000125 Verbatim Transcription -3- that the Asbestos Workers have been stimulated by some magnesia manufacturers to insist on wage premiums in the handling of Fiberglas Since the asbestos workers profess to consider each local autonomous the Union's international officers have passed the word along that each local must decide for itself whether handling Fiberglas involves a health hazard and whether as a result the local members will ask a premium wage for handling Fiberglass -- subject only to the International's prohibition against a premium wage on a defense job The restriction imposed by the International of course convicts this policy as inconsistent on its face since Fiberglas cannot be safe to handle on defense or war jobs where Uncle Sam might be interested and unsafe private jobs Be that as it may a chaotic wage rate situation has developed Premiums ranging from 25 c to 1.00 per hour are some locals none by others Even though premium labor costs make it possible for a contractor to bid on applied job at a competitive materials such a practice is impractical for at demanded by might still price under least three reasons 1. The Labor Board will not approve 2. It implies that a hazard does exist 3. The precedent established would be difficult if not impossible to upset Back of this situation lie industrial insulation filed our distributing arrangements in the Creation of industrial perimeters was a step fully justified at the time it was undertaken to break into the market But since that time it has become apparent that next to the magnesia manufacturers themselves the strongest fact in the market is the contract applicator who gets the best price from the manufacturer and who bids and applies the job Contract applicators handling Fiberglas must buy at 50 off list through the Fiberglas industrial marketer who gets 60 off list Undoubtedly many of these applied Fiberglas contractors are satisfied with this arrangement But their own competitors -- other contract applicators getting the best price direct from the magnesia manufacturers -- see in our use of marketers in the distribution setup a threat to their own situations and whether on their own behalf or at the behest of the magnesia manufacturers are the stimulating the asbestos workers with whom they live and work in very close relationship to use an imagined health hazard to embarrass the Fiberglas contract applicators Thus to clean raison d'etre this situation we will be obliged to 1. reexamine of an industrial marketer 2. to decide whether the his present discount is equitable in view of the economic functions he performs and 3. as to compared with the discount given determine whether we can set the up contract applicator sufficient contract applicators to cover the market Another factor is the longstanding grievances of the Asbestos Workers Union that no settlement ever has been made by Corning Glass Works on the dispute over the job done at Corning by Manville Smith Derrey Company of Rochester Corning's recent A.F.L. affiliation may have some bearing on this Both Mr. recently that a settlement Hosier can be and Mr. made at Coable assured me in Corning any time that payment can be made to a bona fide charity 000126 Verbatim Transcription Summary Manufacture fabrication application of Fiberglas materials involve no hazard attributable to Fiberglas as differentiated from other materials That point is well established Handling of the wool materials sometimes involves skin discomfort commonly called the itch This is a non- disabling condition that ordinarily is overcome by good body hygiene But competitive conditions have brought about a situation where the itch has become a major drawback and we are often unable to discuss the itch characteristics objectively in a competitive sales situation Especially in the industrial insulation market competitors have used it to embarrass us by stirring up the Asbestos Workers to demand premium wages for applying Fiberglas Introduction of Fiberglas industrial marketers is unorthodox distribution in this market and has disturbed the contract applicators who see in it a threat to their position The lack of a Corning settlement too still disgruntles the Union which refuses to believe we are not closely related to Corning Recommendations 1 Continue our basic health program as outlined above This is fundamental educational work 2 Intensify product and process improvement activities to reduce slug content of wool products 3 Reexamine industrial marketer functions and discounts and relationship of contract applicators and determine ways and means to establish more applied contractors to cover the market 4 Bring about a settlement by Corning with the Asbestos Workers at the earliest opportunity 5 Improve relationships with the Asbestos Workers Union by closer contacts through contract applicators These recommendations are based on the belief that the itch is not an isolated problem to be solved alone by product improvement rather it provides a convenient though spurious starting point for Fiberglas conspiracy by the Asbestos Union Workers who are the instruments of the manufacturers and contract applicators blr Edward C. Ames 000127 Verbatim Transcription