Document MoXGQapRNVgEBG1YgQjqqvam7

FILE NAME: Kelly Moore (KM) DATE: 1976 DOC#: KM033 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from Johns-Manville to KM with Attached J-M Policy Statement J- t Sales Corporation P.O .Box 9067 2430 East 223rd Street Long Beach. Calif. 90810 213) 775-3451,834-6471 August , It7CS Kelly Moore Paint Co. Inc. Paco Textures Division 1057 Commercial St. San Carlos, Ca. 94070 Gentlemen: In view of recent developments relating to proposed Federal regulations governing the use of Asbestos Fiber, as well as the proliferating number of liability suits associated with asbestos fiber exposure, we consider it essential to issue a "Policy Statement" on behalf of Johns-Manville. The conditions of our "Policy Statement", as attached, will be incorporated into our sales policies for asbestos fibre. We will not expect our customers to assume the potential health liability for the asbestos we supply, as other producers are attempting to do. However, in accordance with Clause 5 on Page 2 of our "Policy Statement", we will refuse to sell asbestos to customers- who fail to meet applicable governmental regulations on asbests exposure and thereby endanger the health of their employees, and expose J-M to unwarrented liability. W. P. O'Reilly Asbestos Fiber Sales. ATTACHENT KM 01087 JOHNS-MANVILLE POLICY STATEMENT SALES OF ASBESTOS FIBER KMX 03653 JOHNS-MAN V IL L E PO LIC Y STA TEM EN T ON SALES OF ASBESTOS FIBER WORLDW IDE Johns-Manvllle is Canada's largest producer of chrysotile asbestos with a projected production level in 1976 o f 720,000 tons a t the Jeffrey mine and 8 0 ,0 0 0 tons at the Advocate mine. Also, J-M is the largest single consumer o f asbestos in the U.S. and Canada in the manufacture of asbestos containing products. In addition, we are expanding our asbestos production in 1976 at Jeffrey mine and allocating additional funds for the purpose of finding and bringing to production new asbestos sources to alleviate the present and expected shortages. It is apparent, then, th a t asbestos fiber is o f great importance to Johns-Manville, first to supply this essential mineral to industry and second to manufacture products w ith it internally. The corporate policy o f Johns-Manville on environmental health is stated as follows: " It is our Company's policy to equip our plants for the highest degree of personal safety--providing it is technically possible and economically feasible to do so. When technology is not available--or when it is not feasible economically from a com petitive standpoint to make these installations--we w ill elect to discontinue a particular operation rather than knowingly endanger the health or life expectancy of a single em ployee." We are convinced th a t asbestos fiber can be produced and used safely and we are installing equipment and expending funds at our asbestos mines and asbestos-using plants to meet this objective. Further, as asbestos fiber concentrations in the workplace are re- KMX 03654 ducd, injuries to employees and resulting damages will eventually diminish. Based on this preamble, we can state the Johns-Manville sales policy, as follows: 1) We will continue to produce and market asbestos fiber on a worldwide basis, recognizing that we cannot ask our customers to accept iiability properly belonging to J-M for health problems resulting from the responsible use of our asbestos fiber. 2) We will continue our efforts to inform, educate and pro vide inform ation to our customers on the safe use of asbestos in order to facilitate our customers' ability to comply with applicable governmental regulations and safe practices relating to the use of asbestos. We will continue to offer and provide educational material to our customers so that they can inform and educate their employees on the safe use of asbestos. 3) We will reserve the right to refuse to sell asbestos fiber to customers w ho fail to meet applicable governmental regulations on asbestos exposure and thereby endanger the health of their employees, and expose J-M to un warranted liability. In countries where there are no govern mental regulations on asbestos exposure, accepted in dustrial hygiene practice shall apply. 4) We will continue our research and development efforts in order to find and implement improvements such as new and improved forms of asbestos, (e.g. blocks and pellets) and better packaging and shipping methods to reduce the possibility of excess exposure to asbestos fiber. KMX 03655 'Iff. A JOHNS-MANVILLE POLICY STATEMENT ON SALES OF ASBESTOS FIBER KMX 03656 JOHNS-MANVILLE PO LICY STATEM ENT ON SALES OF ASBESTOS FIBER WORLDWIDE Johns-Manville is Canada's largest producer of chrysotile asbestos with a projected production level in 1976 of 7 2 0 ,0 0 0 tons at the Jeffrey mine and 8 0 ,0 0 0 tons at the Advocate mine. Also, J-M is the largest single consumer o f asbestos in the U.S. and Canada in the manufacture of asbestos containing products. In addition, we are expanding our asbestos production in 1976 at Jeffrey mine and allocating additional funds for the purpose of finding and bringing to production new asbestos sources to alleviate the present and expected shortages. It is apparent, then, th a t asbestos fiber is of great importance to Johns-Manville, first to supply this essential mineral to industry and second to manufacture products with it internally. The corporate policy of Johns-Manville on environmental health is stated as follows: " It is our Company's policy to equip our plants for the highest degree of personal safety--providing it is technically possible and economically feasible to do so. When technology is not available--or when it is n o t feasible economically from a com petitive standpoint to make these installations-we will elect to discontinue a particular operation rather than knowingly endanger the health or life expectancy of a single employee." We are convinced that asbestos fiber can be produced and used safely and we are installing equipment and expending funds a t our asbestos mines and asbestos-using plants to meet this objective. Further, as asbestos fiber concentrations in the workplace are re- KMX 03657 duced, injuries to employees and resulting damages will eventually .diminish. Based on this preamble, we can state the Johns-Manville sales policy, as follows: 1) We will continue to produce and market asbestos fiber on a worldwide basis, recognizing that we cannot ask our customers to accept liability properly belonging to J-M for health problems resulting from the responsible use of our asbestos fiber. 2) We will continue our efforts to inform, educate and pro vide inform ation to our customers on the safe use of asbestos in order to facilitate our customers' ability to comply w ith applicable governmental regulations and safe practices relating to the use of asbestos. We will continue to offer and provide educational material to our customers so th a t they can inform and educate their employees on the safe use of asbestos. 3) We w ill reserve the right to refuse to sell asbestos fiber to customers w ho fail to meet applicable governmental regulations on asbestos exposure and thereby endanger the health of th eir employees, and expose J-M to un warranted liab ility. In countries where there are no govern mental regulations on asbestos exposure, accepted in dustrial hygiene practice shall apply. 4) We will continue our research and development efforts in order to find and implement improvements such as new and improved forms of asbestos, (e.g. blocks and pellets) and better packaging and shipping methods to reduce the possibility o f excess exposure to asbestos fiber. KMX 03658 If Johns-Manville Saies Corporation Greenwood Plaza Denver. Colorado 80217 (303) 770-1000 April 16, 1976 Kelly Moore Paint Company 909 Old Country Road San Carlos, California Attn: Mrs. Judy Bullivant Dear Mrs. Bullivant: In view of recent developments relating to proposed Federal regulations governing the use of asbestos fiber, as well as the proliferating number of liability suits associated with asbestos fiber exposure, we consider it essential to issue a "Policy Statement" on behalf of Johns-Manville. The conditions of our "Policy Statement", as attached, will be incorporated into our sales policies for asbestos fiber. Yours very truly, ! Director of A.F.D. Sales U.S. & Canada Attach. KMX 03659 KMX 03660