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FILE NAME: Gauley Bridge Sayers (GBS) DATE: 1986 DOC#: GBS004 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Book Excerpt - The Hawk's Nest Incident, America1 Worst Industrial Disaster The Hawk's Nest AMERICA'S WORST INDUSTRIAL DISASTER MARTIN CHERNIACK, M.D., M.P.H. ^aFnodreAwnotrhdonbyy RPhoiblibpinJ.s,Lma.ndd.rigan, m.d. Yale University Press W HAVEN AND LONDON CAlolpryigrihgthstrese1r9v8e6d.by Yale University. Torhiisn bpoaorkt, minaaynnyoftobremre(bperyoodnudcetdh,atin whole coofptyhiengU.pSe.rCmoitpteydrigbhyt SLeacwtioannsd1e0x7caenptdb1y08 rwerviitetewnerpserfmoristshieonpufbrolimc pthreessp)u, bwliisthhoerust. DBaesskigenrveidllebyteSxutsaanndPA. Fmilelrioicnanaanddisseptlaiyn type bPyrinDtaevdidinEt.hSeehUanmiteAdsSsotactieasteso.f America by Vail-Ballou Press, Binghamton, N.Y. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data ChTehrneiaHckaw, Mk'sarNtiens,t 1in9c4i8d-ent. BInicblluiodgersapinhdye:xp. . Br1id. gQeu. ar2t?. Sfiibliecross--is--ToWxiecsotlVogiyrg--inWia--estCVauirlgeyiniBa--ridCgae.uley 3D.isHeaaswekssanNdeshtyTguiennnee--l (WWe.stVVa.i)rgi4n.iaC--onCsaturulecytioBnriwdgoer.kers5R.AU1n2i3o1n.QC3a7rCbi4d8e C1o9r8p6ora3ti6o3n..T791. T8it6le-.7088 ISBN 0-300-03522-6 (alk. paper) The paper m //its hank meek the guidelines [or permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. 10 9 8 7 C 5 4 3 2 1 Contents LFiosrteowfoIrlldustratiovniis vi Acknowledgments x Introduction 1 Preparation for Disaster 7 WReocrokginngitiionnthoef TDuisnansetler 5224 A National Issue 81 EHpoiwlogMany D1i0e6d? 89 ANpopteesndix: E1p71idemiological Study 112 RInedfeexrences 189 184 Epilog A mhaolrfectehnatnursyevageno ihnuanrdermedotpeeprlsaocnes, Nmeasyt 'fhuanvneedli.eTdhtoosbeuwildhothseucHcauwmkb'esd were no maneddiienvdaul sptrlaiagluep:oltihcey,mnyosttebriyesteocfhrnoiccakldiugsnto bthoernevienntthsethtrearnesmfourmstabtieobnassoedf aonneuwnrienldautesdtricarlitaegreia,:sothjeudfagtme eonftthoef omfeinn,dtuhsetrciaolmdpiasenaiesse.thTaht ecrreeaisteadsythmemtuentrnyeli,natnhdistshteudfyutwuriethroeuctonganmitieosn. oItfsgsruebajtecntu,minbdeursstroyf mofesncaalned, isgraelasot naunmabneornsyomforuepslapcreoacbelses,mceocnhsaisntiicnagl spuamrtsm, osnomtheetimlaensgutraegaeteodfwwiathr oruatthdeirsttihnactniotnh.atAosfsueccohn, oamnayl.ogAiseswmheany hmeeanrinogf Gthaeulteoyll Borfidsogled,ie"rWs hdaetaddidintwheayr, witinis?"natural to ask about the froFmorththeemposevlevretys tthheatwaofrfkleicrtsewd omninlloiothnisngofatoathlleerxscdeuptriangbritehfereGsrpeiatet bDoeapsrteesdsiofonr. yTehaersrethwatasthneo Hgalowryk,'seNxceestpthyfodrroUelneicotrnicCpalrabnitdec,ouwldhicihl lpuamthiynatoer thgeraetintutidree.citTyheoftCriahlasr,letshteon.heTahrienrges,waasndcertthaeinlsyomnoetsimymes uthnefacvitoirzaebnlseonfaGtiaounlaelyaBttreindtgioenasththeyeybwroeureghtot wUenrieonasCuanrbwidelecoamnde ittos csuosnptircaicotnora.nTdhceonmteigmrpant,t bwecoarmkeerst,helo"oukneddesuipraobnlefsr,ommaitnhley Nfiresgt rwoeitsh" awnhdo cwoeurretsthoef rWeaelstsoVuricrgeinoifat,htehetrroeuwblaess.nAonrde,cothmanpkesnsteo fthoer mlegisieslraytoorsr even death, but for the meager settlements paid by Union Carbide's pr ICpilog 107 coornsotraitcwtoars twoidaellyewrepouotrteodl tahned tihsostuilslarnedmseomf bweorerkde--rsw. hFeonr tthheeyrceosut--ld nbyo floorncgee.rOwnortkhethfeirystwtehrreeaetviocftesduiftsro, mit wthaes csaaimd,psatalnedasdt roivneenoafwthaye caaremapisn wthaes hbouprneeodf vtoinpdriceavteionnt iitns tuhseecboyurltist.igFaonrtsthwehsomwalalielrednuinmbtheer odifmmineinshwedhobsye thhoemreesluwctearneceneoafrbcoya,ltmheinperoosppeercattsorosftloochailrewmoreknwwehroe hfraodmbedeunstoynwthoerkt.unnel and who were allegedly more inclined to illness in Ithfeevteunnnthele, swuhrvaitvoinfgthweoirrkeemrspgloayineresd? liRttilneebhuatrtmainsderyDbeynntihseicroutoldil ebloeacsttriocf choamvipnlgexbutihlta, tw'withasexatnrdaorredminaairnysspaneedenagnidneeeffriicnigenmcya,ravehly. dYroet dwehaotshes,prcionucript aclorsetss,ouanrcde sweatstlaenmaernmtsytoofoekheaahpemaviygrtaonllt loanboarecrosm. Rpianney shtarrutctainodn oDfemnnainsyhtaudnneesltsa,bldiashmesd, aanndenpvoiwabelrestraetpiountastbioenfobrey iittsbrcookne ganrodusnudccoensst.hYeettutnhneeclotmhaptawnyouwldoubleditnsegvreeraategsatinencgoimnepeertiengfocrhaalmleanjgoer bperoinjegctp. uWreilthyinlofciavlefyiremarss iints Cashseatrslowtteersevillalreg,elVyirligqiuniida.ated, its successors andWChaart,bothnenC,oorpf othraeticoonmhpaadnycothnacet iovwednethdeitvaalslt?pTrohjeecUtnainodn pClaarnbniedde eavt eAryllodyettaoilwohficthhethdeaymw, otuhledtsuunpnpelly, tahenepvoewr-eerndstiantgiofnlo, wanodf tehleecptrliacnatl pfoorwtehre. Iwt ohrakderhsi'rehdeatlhthe caonndtrparcottoerc,tdioicnt,aatenddscclhoesedluylessupanerdvipsreodviesvioenrys aitsspeepchteomfetrhael roepperreasteinotna.tivIte,htahde aNlseowtaKkaennawcharaePtoowseerpCaroamtepaintsye,lffraonmd lsehgoawl' rfeosrpoitnssvibisiiloitny afnodr ethnetefraptreiseo?f the workers. What did it have to surFpoarssaedti.mBeefitosregrtahnediFoisrset dWreoarmldsWwaerrethfeulliynvreenatliivzeedp,laannsd opfeMrhaajposr rMeaocrheeladndth, efmousenldveers.oTf htheemEoledcetsrto-dMiveetraslilounrgoicfalthCeoKmapnaanwyh, ahaRdivoevreart aGllloeynsFwearrsisa fcoormthmeeercleiacltrifcaaillulyrep.oTwheerreed wmeoreldninogmoafrhkiegths-tfeomr tpheeractoumre pgraanvye's malaurmkeinrsumab, otvheoutghhe tdheeaddisocfarFdaeydetpteroCduocutntwyo. uBldutfinMdoareulasneda'ss dlernegamings hmaodulnivtaeidnsonanidn tthhee anmatbuirtaiolnlsimoiftsthoef rsiuvcecressasonrdcmomuspcalen.yU, cnhioaln Cwaorubldidreeqhuaidrepsreevdeinctteeedn tyheaatrsthoef cHonawtinku'souNseostpehryadtiroonelteoctrreidceepmrojtehcet initial investment. The costs of construction were paid for in half that llpilotf 108 tUimnieo.nACnaorwbiwdearphraoddumceeadnwathiAlellcorye,aatenddatdheemmauncdkloarndthethme ertoaclsktheaxt tmraectatelsdoffrotrmiumGpahulaenyt eMnoteurnptraiisne.wInerjeusftasfhoirotyneydeairnstothethcerustdeee,lsseamndi ipnldanutstrainadl otpheeraHtiaownka'st (Ndeesnt FFeurnrinsehl,adinbtoeetnhetrcanensftoerrmoefdt,hebyAthmeeAricllaony fpeorwroesriilnicgontweinndtyusgtrryea, tefmurpnlaocyeisn.g forty-four hundred persons and NeFstroFmuntnheelshtaanddmpooirnet tohfanthjeusUtinfiieodn iCtsaerlbf.idTehCeroemwpaasnya,utnhiequHeawmkis's amnadtcahnbeintwduesetnrya aphriemaditivoef, iptsootirmlye,paaibdl,eatnoduutinlipzreottehcetemdolsatbmorofdoerrcne eAqlluoiypmpleanntt aitnsdelft,ecwhhniicqhuweso.uTldherepmraoionfcoofminpdeutisttirviealfoprrehcaolcfitaycwenastutrhye. aItndisuanlssokililnedthpishymsicisaml laatbcohrbtheatwt emeuncha ohfigthhleytrmageecdhyanaitzeGdautleecyhnBorliodggye canUbneiounnCdearrsbtiodoed.had won an easy and relatively cheap victory over tehnecowuonrtkeersrsinwhcooubrrtowugehret ssuoitqsuoicvkelrycolaviemr,s oorf ssiolicsouscisc.esNsfoutl.alAl sofwiatss rtietcioonuntoteddaimn cthhaepNteerw1,Rthiveecrotmo pthaenyFhedaderaolrigPionwalelry Csuobmmmititsesdionit,s bpuet tfhoer gpoervmerinssmioennttohatdhetakPeunblincoSaecrtvioicne.sUCnoiomnmCisasriboindeohf aWd etshtenVitrugrinneiad, wquheiscths. pIrnom19p3t4ly, hgorwanetveedr, iitn, athseitmhiaddstdoofntehewsiitlhicoalslisthtreiaclso,mthpeanFyed'serreal jPuoriwsdeircCtioomn movisesriotnhebrNoeuwghRt isvueirt aagnadi,nbstyUexntieonnsiCoanr,boidvee,rctlhaeimairntigfafcutlsl cthaamteaftfoecthteed ciotsmfploawny. 'sInaitdh.eTfhoelloawttionrgneyyeagr,entreureal,toHfoomrmer, tAh.e Hstoaltte, wcohuonswelo),uladrgsuoeodnthbeecroigmhets goofvUenrnioonr C(aanrbdidleatbeerfothree tchoemUpnainteyd'sScthatieesf Sfeudperreaml geoCveorunrmt.eTnthheacvainseg ddreacgidgeedd tohnat, thhoewNeevwer,Rfioverrtchairsteywyaesacres,nttrhael tIon it1s9e6f4fothrtetogowvienrnambreonatdfidneaclliysiopnreovnaiiltesdj.urIinsdpicrtaicotnicoevtehriswmateearnrtigthhtast. tUhneioHnawCka'srbNideest hDaadmm. Terheelygtooveinrnstmalelnsttrneeavmertghaeulegsesswaonnd, afnisdhwreatyasinast, sthmealrliegrhtfatcoiliptyuracthaGsleenthFeetrurinsn, eilna1n9d91p.oTwheer ppluarncth, atsoege(tnhiecre woifth19th35e wHiallwskti'lsl hNoelsdt: $F1u1n.n2elm, ilfleiodne.raIlnaftotourrndeyecsadweesreofcoinnvcoelrvneemdenext cwluitshivtehlye with the cost of water, not the exist of disease. othFeorrexUingieonncieCs.arBbyidethethi1s97fi0nsalthreecAklolonyinpglahnatshbaedenreaacnhtiecdiptahteedenbdy lip ilo 1<)9 othfeitsdopmroefsittiacblseteelilfei,nrdeutsirteryd annodt bthyeobesxoplaenscseionnceobf'utthebyfethrreosdieliccloinneionf dcoussttsr.yIinnto19t8h1e dUenvieolnopCinagrbwidoerlsdowldithitsitsrucshtienagpehrurleksoaut rAcellsoya,ndanldabiotsr eMnetitraelseCleocmtropmaneyt.allTuhrgeiccaolmdpivainsiyont,hatot ahaNdorbwegeguinanitsfiremxi,sttehnecEe lkinema mbeocdoemset amvearsgtecrorinpotrhaetiomnowuinthtaienxsteonsfioWnessitnVthirrgeienicaonhtaindenbtys.thInis1t9im84e, ohofwtoexviecr,fuitms epsrefsrtoigme istusfcfheeremdicaalsepvlearnet binlowBhwohpeanl, aInndaicac,itdoeonktatlhreelleiavsees olafwmsuoitrse atghaainnsttwtohethcooumsapnadnyp.eWrsohnesre, aasntdheendgeeanthdseraetdGaauglreeyatBmridangye hBahdopwaol nfoocnulsyedflteheetinagtteinnttieornesot finthethweiorrlodwonncUounniotrny,Ctahrebidtrea.gUednydeart aViyregainriaofalisnoteunnsdifeierwd esnctruatirneya,ssUesnsimonenCt.aTrbhiedec'somreplaantiyonasdhmipittteodWtheastt thwadenatyls-oeigohctcurrerleadtivienlyrehcaernmtleysesarisncaitdaenstisstseirmpillaarnttoatthIonssetitautteB, hWopeaslt Vfuimrgeisniaa,t ftihfteysmamilees pwleasnttolfesGsatuhlaeny Ba ryidegare.laAtemr oforercseedriothues ecsocmappeanoyf Cpuabrbliicdlye taoncnoonucnecdeedctahrealte, sbsneceassusien oitfs aopdeercaltiinoensi.nItnhempidr-o1f9it8a5biUlitnyioonf irtastifoanr-'sflluonngg-etenrtmerpfruistuesr,e iits winassopmlaenndionugbtr.etrenchment. The corpo a trIafnbsuitioldryinrgettuhrenHoanwikts'sinNveessttmTeunntnoefl hwuomnafnorlivUens,ioisnthCearrebindoethoinnlgy efolsretthoesmhoowstfpoarritt?wAitlhtohuotugnhotitchee oorccwuarsresnocoen aftoGrgaoutlteeyn,Birtiddigde hpealspsetdo ceadlllytodepsucbrilbicedattienntthioencltahsesidc asntugdeyrs ooffssiilliiccoossiiss.bTy hWisililmiapmacGt .wCasolpeoainndt hLaedwisstuGd.ieCdoles,omPneeutwmoecnotynioXsi-sr:ayTsheoSftoluryngosf DmuastrykeLdunbgys. aWcuiltleiasmiliCcooslies athmeosnpgonwsoorrksehrispaot fGtahueleJyoBhnridBg.ePainedrcehaFdoturnavdealteiodnt,ootfheNaerweaHuanvdeenr, Cseoanrcnhe,ctaincudt.heHeismfpihnadsinizgesd wtheerier simigpnliifcicaatinotnsfofrorhinsatoiownnalmpeodliicciaels roen ainnddusltergiaisllahteivalethacatsivwiteiells: a"Pndopauflfaercitnintegrejsutdiinciasillicdoescisis,iostnims,uwlaatsinngostoacbilayl aecpciseondtuea."te1d by the newspaper notoriety of the Gauley Bridge subOconm2m6itFteeebrbuaadry is1s9u3e6d, iotsnlyrepthorreteonwetehkes GafatuelreythBericdognegreepsissioondael, Sonecsrielitcaorsyis,ofwhLiacbhofrirFstracnocnevsenPeedrktiwnos cmaollnedthslolratear.naMtieodniacall,coencofenroemnicce, legal, and insurance committees were established to address the haz- lipilog 110 aleigdesdlayndexnpeoesedds oafndthtehefivoenehuhnudnrderdedththoouusasannddAafmfleircitceadnwwithorskielircsosaisl. lForcokms etnhseuseeda;mnbaittiioonuasl alnegdishlautmioannwitaasriannotbfeogritnhncoinmgsin, gh.oIptesleesesmdeedadas othfoaucguhtethseiliGcoasuislewy aBsrisdugmemtraargileydydihsmadisnseedvewr oitchcuthreredo.bsTehrveaetixoisntetnhcaet yruemarso,rbautttrtihbauttesdyma pfetowmcsasweesrteomexopreoscuhraeraocftelersisstitchaanfteornee-xapnods-uar-ehaolff tferonmorptrwiveantteyiynedaursst.ryO,fotnhee wtharseeannoatfifoicniaall aodfvUisneirosntoCtahrebicdoen. ference of Acosmlapteenassab1l9e40d,isaecausetes.siAliscotshies rCeomleasinwedoueldxewmrpitte,from the category aAcccuetpetesdilidcoesfiisniitsionno,tacnodmtpheenmsaabnlneeirninanwyhifcohrmleguisnldaeturrethseanpdreesveennt bmeeednicaalniantivoensatilgdaitsogrrsachea.v.e.i.gInnodrievdidtuhaelsroigfhtthsisogfrtohuepse, tvhioctuimghs fheaws ipnennsuamtiobnera, npdreasdeenqtuaatseercioomuspesoncsiaatliopnroabslesmoo.nTahseythededsieargvneocsiosmis estSabulcihshaedvicotrimceisrtianicnalypaacsitasoteodnfaosr sfyumrthpetormlasbaopr pineaar.dusty industry oparbalneyisotthhaetr oinfdnuisgthryt ;wtahtechmmoasnt--strpeenruhoaupss ownorak poafrtw-thiimche hbeasiiss.c2a eNnoatctaelldwlaawssincovvaeirni,nghowwoervkeerr.s Bafyfltihcteedenwditohfsi1li9c3o7si,s.foWrthye-sriexthsteatfeesdehraadl gsyosvteemrn,mehnatdhardecofaginleidz,edthesislitcaotessis, thasrouthgeh tphreotwotoyrpkiecrasl' coocmcupepnastiaotinoanl disease. genIenrfaetidoenrsaloafcwtioonrkainngd smtaetne,ltehgeislwatoiroknetros wprhootedcitetdheathGeaaluthleoyfBfuritdugree ehnagdrahveelpdeudptoonbiut.ilBduatninimthpeopsliancge mitsoenlfu,mwehnatt,isthleofutgtho sneoe tnhaamt emsigarhet crelemainnsdedaovfisditeoardtlhyatduasgtrbeyatthtreagreudsyh oonfcwe aotcecr,urwreildl rtehmeraei?nTfhoeretvuenrnienl, vniosliobgley. Iwtsithporeustenmceenitsiornevinegalehdistoonrlyy, baynda rboyadcosuignntletshsattopnrsaisoefsstieliccha bbeecaariunsge rtohcekreduwgasfrnoommtheeantsunonfeol ranudtildituyminpetdraanlsopnogrttihnegriitvetor'sAeldlogye. Trehmeadina,munstliellssblaocfkeswthyeeafrlsowheonfctehethNe efwedReriavlergaotvHeranwmke'sntNdeesct.idIet switlol rpeoswtoerrestthaetiornivecro'sntminauregsintaol cnealveibgraabtielitwy.ithNeitasretirretloesGsaeunleeyrgByritdhgeeetfhfie cieTnchye ocfamUpnsiownhGeraerbthideew'soernkgerinselievresdatnirde lcoonngtrsaicntcoer.gone--destroyed, if the rumor is true, to make them uninhabitable as soon as the work lpilo Ill winatsenodveedr. fWorhtehree pCleaamsupre1osftotohde Uthneiroen isCanrobwidea sctoafufn,trnyowclupbri,vaotneclye owTnehde.reNodidsigsnurrveimvea,inhsowtoevreecr,alllotnhge affotremr ethreocdcruilplianngtsaondf tthheestirteia.ls aTnhde tfheewhwehaorinkgnsewweorfe iot vheard, opnreefesirlreendt rtoemleitnditerreomfafinorghoidttdeenn.livBeus.t sino 1o9f5te4ntheemfpalmoiylyedfabrym RbienloenhgairntgatnodHDadenlenyisC, .wWashibteo,utghhetubnydeartlaokcearl cpohnysstircuiacntednathmreodugEhccNleics.hoLlaasteCr,ouwnhtyen, stehveeraAlpppaarlcaeclshioafnthciosrlraidndorwweraes spoalrdtmtoenthtetostparteoboef fWoresotldVciregmineitae.riIetsisbethfoerpeobliuciyldoinf gthae nHewighrwoaadywDaye. gInraJvuelysit1e9s72inthaepdloetpoanrtmtheentE'sccplersobfearrmidethnatitfiwedouslidxtbye-thtrraenespeoctteendtibayl tthhee hgirgahvwesaya.nAd creolnotcraatcetoarnyfroremmNaionrsththCaat rmoliignhatwbaesfhoiurendd.toNeoxhhueamde swtoenreesinodreontthaetiromnsarinketrhsefoeraridthe.ntIinficfaotriotyn-fwiveereofditshceosvee,rebdit,sbouft wthoeorde abnydprsokpeleerttailespaorftsthweesroeil.found, having been relatively well preserved