Document KXoQqpBD3VN8NdkwgoJ1Jo6w

4 Temporary Organization Ihdujtxiaj. Dust Pkobum February 5th, 1935. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TEMPORARY ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE WHICH WAS ELECTED AT THE "SYMPOSIUM ON DUST PROBLEMS'* HELD AT PITTSBURGH, PA., JANUARY IS, 1955. PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT IHF-288 Dr. C. K. Drinker, 55 Shattuck Street, Boeton, Mass. Dear Siri All individuals who attended the Symposium on Dust Problems held at Pittsburgh, Pa., January 15, 1935 end all Trade Associations which were addressed by Dr. Weidlein of Mellon Institute under date of December 1, 1934, are receiving copies of this letter. The purpose of this letter is to ask if your Company or your Trade Association (as the case may be) will subscribe an amount not to exceed $500.00 for the establishment of a Coordinating Agency as the first move toward a study of the many existing phases of the indus trial dust problem, together with a recommendation based on that study as to such further concerted action as may be possible and proper for all industry. At an initial over all cost of $25,000.00 when pro-rated amongst the subscribers to the movement, the individual contributions required may be very materially less than $500.00 each, depending on the number of subscribers. The enclosures will furnish full information to enable you to judge whether the plan proposed has sufficient merit to justify its cost, and whether your Company (or your Trade Association) should properly share in the initial cost or. a pro-rata basis. Page 2. It is of great importance that whatever is to be done should be started quickly. Uay I, therefore, ask that you reply to this letter as promptly as is possible? Yours very truly, Roger A. Hitchins Chairman, Temporary Organization Committee Elected in Pittsburgh, January IB, 1955. Enclosures: (1) A brief outline of the events leading up to and occurring at the ''Symposium on Dust Problems" held in Pittsburgh, Pa., January 15, 1935. (2) A brief outline of the discussion and action taken by the Temporary Organization Committee on January ' 15, 1935. ` (3) A brief outline of the discussion and action taken by the Temporary Organization Committee at a spec ial meeting held at the Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh, Pa., on Friday, February 1, 1935. (4) Copy of a letter from Dr, E. R. Wsidlein, Director of Mellon Institute dated January 21, 1935, together . with a copy of the "Plan for Study of Dust Problems" referred to in Dr. Weidlein's letter. (5) A tentative "Program of Initial Activities" (for a correlating agency) arranged in somewhat different form but which has the approval of Mellon Institute. (6) A Form of Letter for your reply, which is suggested for your guidance, if your Company or Trade Associa tion (as the case may be) is willing to participate in this movement. Enclosure (1) A brief outline of the events lending up to end occurring at the "Symposium on Dust Problems" held Page 1 in Pittsburgh, Pa., January 16, 1935. On December 1* 1934, Dr. E. R. Veidlein, Director of Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, at Pittsburgh, wrote to more,than eighty industries, in connection with the subject of industrial dust hazards. There are various types of so-called 'dust diseases', known generally as pneumonoconiosis, among which are silioosis, asbestosis, anthracosis, siderosis, and numerous others. Dr, Veidlein*s letter was written at the request of a few of the industries, in which the dust hazard exists, in an effort to determine whether sufficient interest existed to warrant having a meeting for a general discussion of this question, and with the basio idea that if such a meeting could be held it might be possible to establish a coordinating agency for the collection of all available data on silicosis and other dust diseases and Its dissemination to the interested industries, and with the further thought that such an agency would later develop into a coordinating and- planning body. V The response to Dr, Veidlein's letter was immediate and represented a large percentage of the industries to whom the orig inal letter had been sent. In view of the wide-spread interest, Mellon Institute proceeded with arrangements for a "Symposium on Dust Problems", This meeting was held at the University Club, at Pittsburgh, Tuesday, January 15, and addresses were made by the \ following: ' Mr. A, C. Hirtb Williams, Bversman & Morgan Toledo, Ohio Dr, R, R. Sayers 'VashiagtoEt "L- U. Dr. A. J. Lanza Assistant Medical Director jiecrcjolitan Life Zcssrarce Co. Kew York, IT. Y. Dr. Eugene P. Pendergrass I-Ray Laboratory University Hospital Philadelphia, Pa. Prof. Philip Drinker School of Public Health Harvard University ton, Mass. Enclosure (1) Page , * Mr, 7. Robertson Jones General Manager, Association of Casualty and Surety Executives New York, N. Y. Donald E. Cummings Assistant Director, Saranac-Laboratory for Study of Tuberculosis Edvard L. Trudeau Foundation Ironvood, Michigan . Dr, Samuel R, Haythom Director, Singer Memorial Laboratory Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Weidlein, of Mellon Institute, in opening the meeting explained that the interest of the Institute was simply the desire to assist industry toward a realization of the problem and the development of a possible program of activity. No reporters were present at this meeting and no stenographic notes were kept. Atten dance was by registration only and there were present nearly two hundred representatives of many of the important industries who are affected by the dust problem. At tho conclusion of an excellent and extremely informative program, on motion from the floor a nominating committee.was appointed to submit names of individuals in industries who would form a Tempor ary Organization Committee to develop plans and make a definite written recommendation to all of the registered attendance at the meeting, as well as to those industries originally invited, as to the formation of a permanent organization and its .purposes. The industries represented grouped thomselves into seven general classes and the Nominating Committee report consisted of the nominations for a Temporary Organization Committee, with one represenetative for each of the following Groups of Industry: GROUPS OF INDUSTRY . | I. Asbestos, Cork and Non-metallic. II. Chemical, Abrasives, Alloy and Non-ferrous Metals. III. Foundries. - IV. Glass Sand, Ground Sand and Glass Manufacturers. V. Iron, Steel and Iron Ore. VI. Lime, Limestone, Cement and Gypsum. VII. Refractories, Ceramics and Clays. meeting. The roport of the nominating committee was accepted by the .. - ROGER A, HITCHINS, Chairman, Temporary Organization Committee Enclosure (2) A brief outline of the discussion end action taken by the Temporary Organization Committee on January 15, 1955. Following the adjournment of the general meeting in the late afternoon of January 15, 1935, a meeting was held of the Temporary Organization Committee at which time the under* signed was elected Chairman of the Committee. The Committee was of the opinion that Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, Pittsburgh, was better qualified to con duct this work then any other agency. The Chairman was there upon instructed to request Mellon Institute for a proposal which would outline the work which they would expect to do on Silicosis and other Dust Problems and the cost of doing it, in case industry in general desired the establishment of such a coordinating agency. ROGER A. HITCHINS, Chairman, Temporary Organization Committee. Enclosure (3) A brief outline of the discussion and action taken by the Temporary Organization Committee at a special meeting held at the Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh, Pa., on Friday, Page 1 February 1, 1955, ' On call of the Chairman, the Temporary Organization Committee met at Pittsburgh on Friday, February 1st, 1935. . Judging from the keen interest displayed at the "Symposium on Dust Problems" held in Pittsburgh, January 15th, 1935, it was the desire of those in attendance that a coordinating and correlating agency should be established for the purpose of making a complete study of all (of the existing facts concerning the many phases of the industrial dust problem as affecting all industry, and a recommendation based thereon as to future action. A The letter from Dr. Weidlein of Mellon Institute dated I January 21st, 1935, together with the "Plan for Study of Dust Problems" \ was read and discussed. The maximum cost for the first year or for the first period of this work, which is estimated to require from six months to a year's time, will be $25,000.00. The plan provides for the possible establishment of a per manent organisation to be known as the Industrial Dust Institute (or by whatever other came may be selected) to be associated with Mellon axd tlss derails c; tiif* axd cay be kept at Mellon Institute and will be entirely confideniitl. Such permanent organization when formed to be directed by an Advisory Committee which will be elected by the contributing members, and whose function will be similar to that of a Board of Directors in co-operation with Mellon Institute in carrying out the purposes of the new Association. A somewhat rearranged "Suggested Program of Initial Activi ties" for the correlating agency covering medical, preventive, legal, legislative and publicity features of the industrial duet prollw was prepared and discussed with representatives of Mellon Institute and was approved by them. From the fact that a number of interested industries have already expressed their willingness to underwrite this program to tho extent of $500.00 each for the first year it appeared to the Temporary Organisation Committee that the cost per individual contributor will be relatively small when considering the benefits which "may result. The actual expenses will be pro-rated among those subscribing, thus if fifty members will underwrite proportionately the amount will be exactly S500.00 each. If eighty participate tho amount will be only slightly more than 1300.00 each, and less in the event of a larger number of Enclosure (3) Page , or can be refunded proportionately to the contributors. The Temporary Organization Committee feels that the import ance of this subject to industry can scarcely be over-estimated; - and that this appears to be a most opportune time for all* industry at reason able cost to attempt to gather together in a central agency all of the existing information of all kinds on this subject as a basis for de termining what further activities along this line are necessary or practical. The Dust Problem in every industry raises certain problems common to all, such as those concerned with Engineering (respirators, dust elimination and prevention), and the Medical, Legal and Legislative aspects. . The Chairman of the Temporary Organization Committee was thereupon directed to write to each individual who was present at the Symposium on January 15, 1935, as well as to the more than eighty Indus trial Trade Associations who were addressed by Mellon Institute under date of December 1, 1934; - and transmit to them (a) the development leading up to and occurring at the Symposium on January 15, 1935, and fb) the developments occurring at the organization meeting of the Temporary Organization Committee on January 16, 1935, and (c) tho plans proposed by and approved by Mellon Institute as to initial activities and objectives, and (d) a report of the discussions and .recommendations of the Temporary Organization Committee meeting in Pittsburgh on Friday, February 1, 1935, and he was directed to request that those addressed should respond promptly with an indication as to whether or not they will support a permanent organization on the basis outlined, ROGER A. HITCHINS, Chairman, Temporary Organization Committee. MELLON INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Enclosure (4) Page 1 Pittsburgh, Pa.. January 1, 1925. Mr. Roger A. Hitchins, President, American Refraotories Institute, No, 1608 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. . My dear Ur. Hltchins:. In accordance with your request as Chairman of the Organisa tion Committee which was formed at the conference on dust problems held in Pittsburgh on January 16, we are giving you our ideas regarding the important problems involved and the type of organisation that should be established. I am enclosing a plan for the study of dust problems and the organization chart. If this work were to be centralized in Uellon Institute, it could be carried out as a part of our air hygiene research. The director appointed to handle the investigation would also be the head of the institution or organization which the industries would set up. In this way, the work could be carried out in a most confidential manner as to who was supporting the research and no one would know what industries or individuals were contributing to the fund. This would enable the organ ization to get soundly established, so that if later on it was desired to come out in the open this could be arranged. Hoping that this gives you the information which you wish, I ERW-W enclosures Sincerely yours, (signed) E. R. Weidlein Director COPY Enclosure (4) Page 2 Plan for Study of Dust Problems I. Organization of the Industries. It is necessary that there be some organization representing industries for the reason that no program of research investigation could be carried on without assurance of continuity and financial support. Such assurance could be given only by some body that had authority to speak for a sufficient number of in dustries or companies, and might be called The Industrial Dust Institute. If it seams inadvisable to effect such a separate organization, for reasons that may be sound, it is suggested that a group of individuals be chosen from industries or companies, such a group to be called, for example, Industries Advisory Board for the Study of Dust Problems. Affected industries and/or individual companies could contribute to this Board, which in turn could make contracts and disburse the monies. a The other primary functions of the Institute or Board would be to select the cen tral agency to administer the activities later referred to in some detail (called, for convenience, the research agency), to.keep in touch with that central agency, advise with it as to the program of work, and aid it in other obvious legitimate ways. Obviously, such central agency must be independent of any specific industry or group, it must have a broad outlook, a sympathetic understanding of the problem, and wide contacts with all cooperating agencies; ar.d it must have the confidence of the industries, and of the physicians, engineers and all institutions, groups or individuals who might cooperate to advantage. II. The work of the research agency. - Of primary importance in the initial stage is the collection of available data published and, as far as possible, unpublished. These data must then be evaluated and correlated, and In this phase of the work it is assumed that it will be possible to secure the advice and cooperation of the recognized specialists in the fields of medicine, law, chemistry, physics and engineering. Evaluation should include the veeding out of data that cannot be considered as authoritative. It will then be possible to prepare a comprehensive program designed to provide the industries concerned with legitimate protection. In preparing to work out such a program, it would be necessary to compile a list of specialists in all fields who are engaged in a study of dust problems; to have determined any among them who may not be properly qualified and whose results might, therefore, not be entirely acceptable; to attempt as far as feasible to have investigational work correlated and synchronized; to be in position to make reasonable grants to qualified individuals or agencies to study special problems or phases of problems. Some of the aspects that occur to mind are; (a) The pathological and psychological effects of dusts of various kinds, alone and in combination- `or this a classification of dusts is necessary. MW Enclosure (4) Page 3 I Important from both medical and legal standpoints is the preparation of oourt cases. On the medical side is also plant hygiene, insofar as it is affected by industrial dusts and fumes. . (b) A study of sampling devices and sampling methods, with the idea of further developing standards, and also to attempt to provide plant officials with simple portable apparatus which, while neither as delicate nor as accurate as the standard equipment, will enable them to keep a regular check on plant conditions and to know when the danger line is approached. (c) Study of existing methods and cooperation in the development of improve ments designed to minimize dust and fumes in the plant, a9 well as protec tive measures for workmen. , | fd) Dissemination, through proper channels, of authoritative information. (e) Maintaining contact as closely as possible with independent agencies and cooperating agencies engaged in studies of phases of the problem, and a program of such research experimentation as may be indicated. (f) Study and synopsis of existing pertinent legislation (including compensa1 tion), and assistance in the preparation of safety codes and fair laws. The place to start is in the collection and evaluation of available data, which must precede the formulation of the longer-time program. III. Estimate of cost. ' (a) The cost, if any, of operating the parent organization or Board. (b) Cost of research agency. It is estimated that for the initial work of collecting and evaluating available data and preparing authoritative abstracts for dissemination, surveying the field and formulating a . long-time program of constructive work, not less than (25,000 should be appropriated. The time necessary for this initial phase cannot be predicted with cer tainty, but it is estimated that at least six months and not more than a year will be required. After the conclusion of this period, it is certain that an effective pro gram can be developed and would require a substantially larger budget. 3: vTD5C" . -s'* -WVN Enclosure (6) Fag* 1 CORRELATING AGENCY SUGGESTED PROGRAM OF INITIAL ACTIVITIES MEDICAL. (1) Secure from medical profession ahd health authorities as complete as possible information covering past and present research on Industrial Dust diseases. () Study the assembled data and report and recommend Ca) as to what phases have duplication of effort and (b) as to vhat phases should have further research; vith the objective of enlisting the cooperation of American Medical Association in setting up authoritative and . approved standards of diagnosis and correction. PREVENTIVE. (1) Secure from all possible sources the existing available data on Industrial Dust hazards. (2) Study the assembled data and report and recommend (a) as to present means of eliminating or minimizing those hazards and (b) as to vhat further should be done in that direction; vith the objective of setting up author itative and approved standards for the control of industrial dusts vhich, if complied with by industries, or by industrial companies, will act as a defense against personal injury suits. LEGAL. (1) Secure from all affected industries their present exper ience as to personal injury suits and claims growing out of industrial dust hazards and claimed diseases; in complete detail as to name of claimant, amount involved, court of jurisdiction, prosecution and defense counsel, character of suit (or claim) together vith a history of closed eases and the status of pending suits or claims, (2) Study the assembled data and report and recommend (a) as to the aggregate amount of money loss which industry has experienced and vith vhich industry is threatened as a whole and by divisions and (b) as to the instances vhere the situation appears to be a "racket* against industry and (c) vhat concerted action may be possible to be taken in pending oases and claims; vith the objective of en listing the co-operation of the American Bar Association and. Ideal Bar AasdciaALens ir. th* "t-srist-'* LEGISLATIVE, (1) Secure from all States and Territories copies of existing or pending legislative enactments and existing oourt decisions affecting the dust hazard in Industry, whether Enclosure (5) Page 2. LEGISLATIVE. workmen's compensation or occupational disease or (Costd) ' . common law. (2) Study the assembled data and report and recommend (a) as to existing laws which properly protect both employer and employee and (b) as to such existing laws as do not properly protect both employer and . employee; with the objective of securing the enact ment of State laws, of a uniform character, which, when compiled with, will fairly and properly protect the interest of industry and of those engaged in industry and of enlisting the co-operation of the Federal Government in that direction. PDBLICITF. Consider and recommend (a) the manner in which affected industries may be informed and be kept informed as to all phases of the industrial dust problem and (b) the manner in which governmental agencies and the public may be informed and be kept informed, and the propriety and advisability of doing bo, as to tho measures which aro being and should be taken in the direction of protecting both human life and property. Enclosure (6) Ur. Roger A. Hitchins, Chairman Temporary Organisation Committee Room 909, 1608 Valnut Street Philadelphia, Penna. * Dear Siri . , : } , e have your letter of February 6, 1935 and accompany ing copy of letter from Uellon Institute of Industrial Research, outlining a program for the study of industrial dust hazards. We are in full agreement with this program and with the method suggested for putting it into effect. Ve understand that the estimated expense for the first year is 825,000, In consider ation of other similar contributions, ve agree to contribute tovard the initial expense of 6uch a program the sum of five hundred dollars (?500) with the understanding that if the total contribu tions exceed *25,000, the amount.of our contribution is to be proportionately reduced. It is our understanding that vhen sufficient contri butions have been received, a meeting of the contributors vill be called for the purpose of effecting a permanent organization, and that contributions vill be payable at such times as the directors of the proposed organization shall call for payment. Yours truly,