Document MM12RLMxNLkgKXO28wzRZV7X9

FILE NAME Corning OC DATE 1941 May 23 DOC OC430 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Memo RE Health Aspects of Fiberglass . oo " . }* eaad ot. wnweee, NG 1 _ rom a0 . CORP & PATENT DEPT CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION | iz Attention of COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE General ToleTodleo do Ohio Mr. Harold Boeschenstein C May 23 1941 Mr. W. P. Linsermon Subject \ TRIT REPAKT St. Louis Monday May 19 1941 Chicago Tuesday May 1941 Louis Ho ltRenects of : Mr. C. G. Steelin ao Kr T. B. Rogers Kr 1. J. Scott Mr. N. R. Thomas ~ St. Fiberglas M. Bayonne 4 The detailed trip report follows Results i BE394b J, Assurance by Mr. Bartley that local No. 1 will be take no action before June 3 and that the result will practical assurance 5. PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBI3T94b 1. favorable Revelation that the union's concern is with the possi- bility of a silicosis hazard and that the dermatitis hazard is secondary and not nearly so important as we had been led to believe 2. - Complete Complete satisfaction of the questions raised by the A.I.H. 3. section Contact established with National Safety Council and way paved for carrying out a helpful program with 4. them Discovery of the role of Defense Commission investigators in re Fiberglas materials and Conservation of Manpower program At the request of the newly formed St. Louis section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association the following Corning representatives reached St. Louis Monday May 19 prepared to discuss the health aspects of Fiberglas products Edward C. Ames Dr. H. h Campbell Can Morris Tyler Stewart Rogers Boy J. Scott Carl O. Stalin Present also representing the St. Louis office were George Beaker N. E. ThomALE Mr. Boeschenstein - May 23 1941 - and representing A. Q. Brauer Supply Company St. Louis marketers industrial insulation marketers Oscar Brauer William Thompson Three other representatives a . A suite Room 434 was engaged at the Forest Park Hotel which selected as headquarters because the dinner meeting of the A.IHA was scheduled in that hotel at 6:15 was A.IHA Shortly after arrival we telephoned Mr. William H. Bartley of Bartley e Mayfield Chestnut 7163 Mr. Bartley is attorney for Local No. 1 of the Asbestos harkers Union He confirmed his accept- ance of our invitation to him and the members of the Executive Com- ' alttee of the Union to meet with us in the suits Shortly before noon Mr. Bartley arrived with Mr. Qus Sahmitter business agent of the union local and the following officers and members of the Union's Executive Committee Mr. Carry O'Connor President Mr. Blayter Becretary Achitit A xhibit Mr. Brabisan Mr. Block And one other Before their arrival ample displays of both wool and tartile products were arranged about the suite together with mounted pictures showing manufacturing processes and applications In the meantime Itr Amas had telephoned Mr. N. A. Thimann Guite 1944 Pieres Building President of the St. Louis Section of the A. to pract precedure for handling the evening meeting Mr. Thiemann who in engl- neer with the St. Louis office of the Bartford Assident and Indsanity Company agreed to come to the hotel during the afternoon to discuss the matter further hitit D Mr. Bosschenstein -3- Kay 23 1941 In the meantime too Messrs Stralin and Thomas Dr. Roy Philip Schols St. Louis surgeon who has for surgical suturing material for three years Dr. Schols agreed to furnish us with a statement ad been having with the material visited the office of been using Fiberglas They reported that about the results be implied To Mr. Bartley Mr. Anan gave the greeting of Mr. Marshall and it was leeviydeenmtphatshaitsedMr.theBartley has a high regard for Mr. Marshall kr Bart- favorable impression that Mr. Marshall has upon him his willingness to meke information afeated meny times his statement that his interest available He reiterated aspects of our extends only to the bealit titive materials He was emphatic in his contention that expe propagands actual or implied has no bearing whatsoever on his determination to make an objective and disinterested subject and that if we could appraisal of the prove to his satisfaction that no pational hasards jeopardize the health of workers sou- materials be will recommend that nion members applying Fiberglas Filorglar as they work with other insulating progdoucathsead and work with For approximately two hours the guthoring was informal Conversations in groups of twos and threes and fours and soncerned principally the samples photographs on display The atmosphere was one of natured relaxation confortable florid Mr. Bartley is a portly haired gentleman gentleman 55 years old He has a professional approximately legal business of the manner and appears to dominate the excellent political A.P. of L. building trades in St. Louis No has connections in Jefferson City being a number of several state boards devoted to workers welfare straight incorru.tible The union He is easy to talk to sulate their mambers look to him to arti- among them is and his influence perplexities and they regard his as their shampion His paramount statement that anly on his they will net recommendation said in a matter manner sims muggestion of p poumessur bossting is burns out by the any confidanos that they manifest toward him Schnitters While a buffet luncheon ma being served Hr Bartley Mr. and Mr. Ames draw spart at Mr. Bartley's suggestion Mr. vissed his interest in the subject and took from his Dartley brief re- copy of the resolution relating to Fiberglas that case a marked Lasus of the Asbestos Worker He dismissed appeared in the April the called dermatitis as almost unworthy of comment hasard citing the fact that many cement workers are allergic to ingredients of cement mixtures and have to know how in handling lost they suffer skin irritation require soSD He stressed eS a hie xhibit E ~ Mr. Hoeschenstein -4- -4- -4- < Xy 23 1941 fact that dematitis is common complaint in many of the building trades and that shec an individual is found to be allergic to a material he ought to find a means of livelihood where he is not obliged to expose himse toltf he mateorrsti ica k ll ong eno onu a g jobh to condition himself and develop immunity toward the material Uppermost in Ir Bartley's thinking is the possibility of salled sillcosis hasard in bandling Fiberglas He requested information about that pointed out that be was looking forward to the presentation at the A.InHal meeting and emphasised that he had been in touch with Mr. Thisnam of whom he had requested permission for himself and the executive excmittes members to attend not with the thought of introducing controversy into the mating but because be sonsidered the meeting a good opportunity to became informed Kr Anes informed kr Bartley that we were looking forward to having the union representatives attend the dinder as our guests He took a poll of the representatives and they agreed Mr. Auss pointed out that the attitude of the union representatives and that of the A.I.H.A. A.I.H.A. were parallel on the question of finding out the true gituation in re a possible hasard and therefore we were looking forward very much to the apportunity of putting all facts at their disposal At approximately 2:30 Mr. Bartley exlled the Unica group to order To introduce the subject he pointed out to the Union representatives that he was gratified that Corning should be willing to meet the issus with fairness and frankness The resolution from the Asbestos Forker was read and at that point Kr Scott interrupted to pet the resord " straight straight by by reading the letter from Consolidated Edison to the affect that they do not regard Fiberglas as a hazardous malarial and know of no effects deleterious to health The interruption had a good affect for it illustrated that we were prepared to conduct a frontal action e unterattacking allegations with documentary proof Than Hr Ames spoke painting out that although Fiberglas is a now naterial it is already basic in hundreds of different applications He nited humanitarian uses like the was of Fiberglas by Dr. Schals in surgical sutures battleship insulation inner soles for poliseman'a shees and oil refinery insulation tracer threads in surgical sponges and car- loeds of glass wol for refrigerator insulation He menti sood airplam uses and army and navy mes Mr. Boaschenstein - 5- Kay 23 1941 Exibit F Exhibit G Exhibit H Exhibit He pointed out that it is right and proper that anyone not familiar with Fiberglas should inquire about health aspects of the material that we had received merous inquiries and had answered them all to the satisfaction of the interrogators that insurance s mpanies state : departments of welfare manufacturers industrial physicians safety engineers all wanted to know t Mr. Anos mentioned Dr. Evan at duPont Dr. MeEllvalin at Budd The Pennsylvania Safe Practices Conference which published Mr. Rogers address as Bulleton No. 58. He called attention to the fact that we are not amateurs in the glass business and that although our company is comparatively new it stems from the research and development activity of two established glass companies which were pioneers in the work of encouraging medical investigations to protect their people against the dread disease silicosis He said the danger of silicosis exists silica only where free allies is in air and that when the fusion of and the other miner ingredients of the batch takes place silics becomes a silicate He compared this phenomenon to what happens when sodium s highly corrosive metrl combines with ehlorine a poison ga to make sodium chloride or common table salt He compared it also to what happens when hydrogen a highly explosive gas combines with xygen to make water without which man sould not live F even though known to be true that sili- But he emphasised it was a coals hasard exists only where free silice in infinitesimally fine partiales is likely to be breathed good business sense told us that we should anticipate questions about this versatile new glass and determine whether in its fibrous form glass night conceivably mise an unknown hasard Accordingly he acid we enlisted the services of the most ominent medical authority in the field of lang disorders - Dr. Laroy U. Gardner director of Saranac Laboratory whose experiments not only reassured us about the absence of any silicosis hasard but made it possible for me to go ahead with an absolutely clear conscience as regards the welfare of our own production employees and the employees of mamifacturers or contractors applying the materials as well as 2- gards any possible Mability that night Seopardize our business Mr. Ames also pointed out that our own group insurance rates are lenwith and that we enjoy an industrial compenantion rate 954 per 100 of with for wool workers and 664 for textile workers as compared with payroll 1.10 for magnesia manufacturers ( 100 for asbestos manufacturers ss 1.60 alay products namifacturers etc. At.this At.this point Hr Staslin was introduced and discussed 17. Gardaar research Mr. Ames then recapitulated Mr. Staelin's remarks calling attention to the final pentenes in Dr. Gardner's report >* Daibit J Mr. Boeschenstain - . - 6 - #Trusting these findings may allay any scepticism as to a theoretical hasard involved from the handling of glass wool I an .. May 23 1941 Boibit Boibit , Exhibit 1 Achibit L Mr. Aces then introduced Dr. Campbell who bore testimony to the bealth program at the Eewark plant Dr. Campbell had assembled figures showing the incidence of various kinds of diseases among 1055 production employees He pointed out that although the average age of the asployed group studied is 31 the age where the inci- dence of tuberculosis is high there were fewer lung disorders among our people than among other average groups He said that ship ing as plant physician he is much more concerned about good housekeeping to make sure that clerks do not fall from loading docks and break legs than about lung or skin disorders that now workers s 56 times are concerned about skin irritation until they become accustomed to handling our products under the tutelage of older employees on the basis of whose experience we drafted our recommended practices set forth in Fiberglas Standards F 4.2.1 Dr. Campbell mentioned Dr. Evans statement to his following a visit to the Newark plant in June 1940 that the difference between handling of Fiberglas by duout employees and by Fiberglas employess was one of attitude | Dr. Campbell cited an excerpt from an article by J. W. Miller and R. B. Sayers on Response of Peritoneal Tissue to Industrial Dusts from the American Ceramic Society's publication Val 20 No. 5 May 1941 reprinted from 0.5 Public Health Reports The article lists glass wool among the inert dusts that cause no pulmonary { Abrosis Mr. Rogers then spoke about other mineral wools and he compared than to Fiberglas in regard to elaanliness and dusting He described his experience before the Pennsylvania Safety I'ractless Conference Mr. Ages was called from the room at this point to meet Mr. Thiemann The conference ecotimed with Mr. Scott presiding and the discussion turned into an informal question session When Mr. Ames returned about 5130 Mr. Slayter the union secretary songratulated us on the way we had put out the information and assured Mr. Amos that they were well satisfied and when they decided to use Fiberglas they'd keep on using it until the end of time tunity of telling our story immediately after dinner when the audience through an hour and half of convention reports in Boon 431 In his discussion Itr Anes prevailed upon Mr. Thismann te defer the business session and discussion of convention papers until the Fiberglas discussion was completed Be was persuaded to do so en the assumption that the male men would become restless if they are obliged to sit a agreement was fortunate for it meant that we were to have the appTohri-s was fresh hibit l Mr. Bosschenstein -7- May 23 1941 Approximately 75 persons attended the A.I ... included plant physicians industrial murses mosting safety The group insurance company companycompany alain agents personnal men engineers engineers from the area. Seated at the hand table were Dr. St. Louis Ames Mr. Thieman and Dr. Campbell Kr Regers Nr Miss Agnes Rabbit pronounced Rybit) who is secretory of the section ^' She is an Industrial Anheuser In the audiance also were morse at Kr Hillman Actos safety engineer Mr. Young Ast~-molain agent Dr. Theodore Hanser or Hanser Anheuser- Busch plant physician Ray N. Seeker Anheuser personnel and anfety director and made the point that Fiber- Following the dinner Mr. Thieman turned the who covered approximately the same points meting covered over io Mr. Ames representatives during the afternoon with the union the audience was . We recognised however that technically minded and we discussed the report in graster detail Mr. Gardner ment Staelin read the latest inhalation progress report Just received from ag in discussed the bealth record at the discussed quality control of the Newark plant Ir Rogers Rogers batch glas materials are highly refined form of rock which industry has been familiar for and alag wools with of the psychological psychological fifty years Mr. Scott spoks products may have because they are known to be handicap which our glass and called upon . Anes to read the telegra pointing out the the fact that the Chio Industrial Commission has us a rating lower than that enjoyed by other industries given During the question peind Mr. asked for company representatives representatives on their comments by insurance glass wool Mr. Mr. Hillman the rating letne and experience on workers handling man respsao yinn g thd at e Fibd er U employees of Illinois te not consider glass manufactur- to any spesial hasard They don't requir a as for asbestos be said and although he was cpeaking manufacturer be sold his Corning because remarks applied alss to Owens- there is no silicosis basard beyond the batch house Jibit Mr. Boeschenstain : Mar 23 1941 Eembers of the audience to were invited to san to ay, meeting see our display naked ta ta dedng Mr. Bartley same the and naked sopy , , xas , 16 16 for a ob0 , , xas 58, d With @ @0;y of pr, Oardosr's Interin e hag Mrplied bin that that they would take the Feport ef Mey lb, 1K, action without without his recommendation recomendation Al- Al- that they would take no action without his a though he said he was convinced recommendation Al- that there is no health hasard as a result of our presentation presentation was to be in Jefferson City on in handling Fiberglas be said be Missouri Department of May 20 and desired to check with the tion This was Health to see if they had any further an obvious saver He informs- asserted be a decision by the local at the that there would Juno 3 ac authough 8 8 following meeting scheduled for 8 that the decision will be . "< " sc"hedule'd favorable to Fiberglas Dr. Kanser brought with him to our our suite ibit P 1bit : assistant general mineger mineger of the Anheuser Busch by one of the Corning man to have plant who is reported would peralt use of asked Dr. Hamber whether he Hanser at reported Plast. "Y on satisfied Dr. Hanser is reported to have eorpletely replied Mr. Seeker also came up as did the followings . Breerich, Baletys encisser Laabersens ietcal Camiulty Co, Reilwey Exchange Bullcing, s, Louts John Dorall, etier tarioner Indust etal Hy elem Serrics Bt. Lets Realty Piviaicn 39 Wernieiral Costs Building, 8t. Loats Mr. ^ meker'spresen gave Hr, less whai s mwariltettetnerbywhich had been handetdoanEri, nisnsaan ninesae ne itnosainnesanTehe wiltehtter 8. 3. Horrell pensead MADarer ef opoerations The Carey Ca mpany chinson Zanzas r marher of tha Eetlonal mareags State of Kansas Ris letter pik Comisgion fer ths a the Ris pik E. Sember E. toe how Spoker was propressing uae of Spoker o propressing propressing Mr. Hoeschenste 9 / May 23 1941 and whether & e'tisfectory solution had been found to the problem It so happens Mr. Horrell's letter sontimed that an a recent inspection trip for the U. 5. Labor Department he visited a company Tag Tag Fiberglas to insulate trailers being manufactured for the . Department The reference apparently was to Truehauf in Kansas City He and be had been told due to an infection exused after He said be had been told that no that two man working with solution had were span been in the hospital glass insulation insulation found and that the only thing they could think of was rotate the employees The letter arid he had written Kr Guilbert but had had no definite answIT and he was suggesting that Guilbert take up the matter in Washington and see if some other material could be substituted for Fibergles This in turn the letter added would be of great service to man facturers using this material on Dovernment contracts The letter said also that he was writing Hube Forney to use whether he had any data and it promised to send along to Seeker any further information Mr. Seeker told Kr Anse that Rube Ferney is R. L. Forney . Director Industrial Division National Safety Council 20 North Facker Drive hibit R and that Pr Guilbert is Harry Gilbert spelling not certain The Pullman Company Chiago Chiago Gilbert Secker added is a dollar man in the National Defence Comission's program for the Conservation of Manpower in Industry and is in charge of the state region embracing Kansas - In Chicago Tussday nomming May 20 Mr. Ames informed ir Kinnerman of this situation Mr. Limerman suggested that it was better to approsch Mr. Ouilbart through Gustin but with Hr ran's approval ^"rAmes visited Mr. Ferney who called into the conference Mr. G. E. Dr Mational Safety Council Chicago : Mr. Anes did not mention the Horrell letter introducing himself by mentioning his meeting in St. Louis the night before with Mr. Cesker That was so Hr Pernay said because the National Safety Council Mr. Bo schenstein - 10 - May 23 1941 recently had received many inquiries about the health aspects of F rglas He pointed out two on his desk ona from Mr. Horrell of Carey Salt obviously a duplicite of the letter sent to Mr. Seeker . which Mr. Ames had seen in St. Louis and one from Dr. Haslitt spel- ling uncertain plant physician of restinghouse in East Fittsburgh The Testinghouse letter had sexles of tapes and braided sleeving attached and Forney indicated that the inquiry was about derma- titis The conference lasted an hour and thres quarters Both ur Forney and Mr. Burns maintained a constant interest in the subject and a thorough presentation was made Three results may come from this meeting 1 kr Forney indicated that he may relay to us copies of the inquiries received so that we may suggest replies to appear in the Council's monthly publication 2 The editor of the Council's publiertion will be interested in obtrining a popularized account of Dr. Gardner's findings to appor this entuman after be has published his report in one of the medical Journals 3 Suggestion was made that we participate in the Safety Council's National convention this October by taking a booth where we can display our products and emphasise health aspects for the benefit of persoanel nen and safety engineers who come to the souvention A proposal already has been received from the National Safety Council on this subject It is not unli thak t we e ml ayy be able to engi a pn lace e oe n tr he Convention program for a discussion of the subject Hr Jass then returned to Toledo Tuesday evening with Mr. Seott