Document DMmvNN3wv13OGjMYo8zD0MjrM

FILE NAME: National Gypsum (NG) DATE: 1968 Apr 4 DOC#: NG063 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Minutes of the Meeting of the Asbestos Building Products Manufacturers Environmental Health Committee I * 'S4 .C L . "M,. Cranell cet J . V. P iacsn ft A H. F a / V 'j J* P , Hayes || 'C Meeting of the Asbestos Building Products Kanufaeturevu tn'viveunoniul Health Council. April Lj ,196'.i F H di.mr.ernan - 1h f i r s t meeting of the Cour.cil was held Ve-dncsday r.orri.6. ir. the Collier enee Room of Johns- r in v ili e Building in Kev Yri C1'F Tho na.tir.D; v&s called by C liffo rd L. Shecklcr, Manager - Occupational Tirant ont a l Control, Johns-Kar.villo Corporation. Those Ih a t "ena?-riCe vere: Bert Alpine* \ Ccrtam -teed Products Corporation Stephen Fon cry* Corla i n -teed Products Corporation harry K. heeler, J r . Central .'n i l inc L 711;-. (Ruboroid Company)-- t i l l i a r . r-aines Johns-M untilie Company. fran i: H. Zinner=an/. N atio n al Gypsum Cornany. Fa's. C ly t ia ChambersR i l l - Knovi tor., I n c . (Public Relations Counsel fo r Jchr.s-har.viilc) ihr 5hf.cU.rr opened t h r .meeting v itii a summary of the von: that, the <1-v`.nrK v i l l e Company has been involved in - in Occupational F.nvirorr c r .t 'i Cn :tr . 1 . He gave v - u p-to -d ate h isto ry o f the problems fa c in g th f Asbestos ir .r c rtr y and depressed Jo h n s -V a n v illc ' s desire fo r the immediate in d u stry cooperation in h n n illin f ` it they think is a most urgent probier, concerning a l l manu facturers of Asbestos products. He then presentee t'-c ''Recommended Health Safety Practices" proposes booklet that vas Qev<lrp-C by him ar.e h r. Hesler of General A n ilin e. His f i r s t r< quest v a s , b a s ic a ll y , asmr.c fo r cor.pletc agreement on t h i i b o o k le t, a t v .i s r.ee-tir.r, frer a l l reenters p resen t. Ihr v ritp r objected to th is approach, s ta tin ,' th a t he c e r ta in ly had no tlmr to study i t - and Ju s t thumbing threw i t - he vou lc have r.ary queEtiens on hov i t could or should bs used. He stated t ' -at he voulc n o t, a t t h is meeting, take any commitment u n til a ft e r cq..saltation v iU : h is ccnrar.y rep resen tatives. K O ?y EXHIB L "/ I . Crowell Environmental Health Council April hs 196B H r, Sheckler asked i f any other members had any comments - there were none a l l were in agreement, v itn the exception of H r. A lp in e who sta te d th a t he was in agreement but would lik e to snow the b ooklet to h is su p ervisor. He stated that he would giv e a te n ta tiv e approval o f i t and would c a l l Mr* ShecSder on the fo llo w in g day. The w riter maintained h is p o sitio n and claimed that N atio n al Gypsum would hare un answer by F r id a y , A p r il 19i on our p o sitio n on the b o o k le t. H r. Sheckler r e a liz e d nothing more could be accomplished a t th is m eeting, anc suggested th at ve adjourn,. Y.'her. a l l comments on the b oo klet were i n , he would c le a r i t fo r p u b lic a tio n with H i l l and Knovltcn and have a sample p rin tin g ready fo r approval at the n ext m eeting. He a lso requested th a t th is be a permanent committee th a t could be c a lle d in to discuss problems as they a r is e * A summary of the m eeting, in the opinion of the w r ite r , i^ th a t Johns-M nnville will- go mead with th i3 boo klet with or withoutc~ induatr7-vride approval^ I t appeared to the w rite r th a t they axe xilxoodxiE th is p r o je c t ,'a t the present tim e, I t i s my firm b e lie f th at th is booklet should be given thorough study fcy S a le s , Production and p o ssib ly In d u s tr ia l R e la tio n s as to a l l p o ssib le aspects concerning our p ro d u cts. I t also should be rememosred that Federal le g is la t io n in regards to Environmental Health and S a fe ty has been proposed by the P resid en t, ana, a t the p resent time, there are two b i l l s in Congress being debated which would, i f passed, have many ra m ific a tio n s in the produc tio n and handling o f t h is m a te r ia l. One remark th a t I think slip p ed out by M r. Shecfcler was -- "We must p ro te ct fib e r g la ss from Asbestos p ro d u cts." I t was immediately dropped -- no reason given fo r the statement nor could I get any. In c lo s in g , I would su ggest th a t a meeting o f the in te re ste d departments be arranged during the week o f A p r il 15 to discuss al 1 aspects of tlu s program and committee. I an a lso e n clo sih r 2 copy of a brochure th a t i s beir.y given to contractors on Thermal In s u la t ic r .. Notice the d iffe re n c e in the two b o o k lets, ( f r i t ter. b a s ic a lly by Jo h n s-h a n v ille . ) A / - /tp L 'Trri'rYU LA, ' T r u i t t / / /XUi O__ Director of Safety P , S , I t might be to c'ur advantage to also have the Company1 le g a l opinion t c April 17, 1968 5^ Ur. Clifford L. Sheckler Manager [ Occupational Environmental Control Johns-Manvlllje Sales Corporation 22 East 40th -Street New York, N. hr. 10016 Dear Cliff: \ In the council meeting of April 3, 1968 held in your confer ence room, itj was agreed that I would advise you by April 19, 1968 of National Gypsua Company's position relative to the printing and -distributing of the booklet entitled, "Recommendcc c Health Safety Practices." Our position,is that we strongly oppose the publication and distribution of the booklet. Our reasons sre: 1) Ho risk !|as been shown to the general public from exposure to asbestios cement products manufactured for use in the building and construction Industry. 2) The proposed booklet points to dangers to health from the handling fof corrugated and flat asbestos sheets when there is no scientific evidence of such dangers. 3) The book] et creates fear in the minds of buyers, users, and workc rs without Justification. These fears would be damaging to the entire Industry. . We agree with the J-JI position paper of January 15, 19G8, sub scribe to the concepts of the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health in Montreal, and are extending full co operation to U. S. Public Health Service in its study of asbestos in processing plants. < V. HE KOPY KORNER 145 364S5 o C- ^k o This strong opposition to the publishing of the booklet hns the full concurrence of the top executives of our company, including thejChief Executive Officer. i Cliff, ve would be most willing to meet with you and other asbestos cemedt manufacturers to discuss Health and Environ mental problems relative to our industry, at any time. Beat regards.! Sincerely, NATIONAL GYPSUM COMPANY C FHZ:sp Frank H. Zimmerman Director of Safety i V 3S1SG