Document Raoz2kmr7K6bJvdxB6yEKbgXv

FILE NAME: ZD^D/ DATE: DOC#: ^D/ DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION:ZZZ '"/:..- I Iii ',. ' ,_;. ' ~ I I ! ( I I I ' I I The ns!Jestos deposits in the 111ost the enstern cxten~ivc in townNorth -- . ships ot Quebec America, and nre since along aintain nlJout worltl 1890 hn ve lcodcl'shlp iennatbhleedproCdouncnttliaontoof mthis valunlile mineral. hus stc:-illily and D1:1m mnnd for as!Jestos mcnsely incrl'asctl fiLrc durini: these Ia~t found 25 for :venrs; it; and mnny new uses nil signs .point atorc anofwurtbheeirngexpansikonnowofn facinnd I I l i t i e s u for nex i p t l s o i pro ted duction reserve s in th Qu ere ebec, !Jcin g very large. examine I r I or sIttilwl oult<! litthioenres fournedesreewmhiicmhpetrhaetivpeeotpole this lhc con I rcalon work and Jive. In so fnr us the pnesxt pllsoictaotniocnernoef dt,heinsveC?smtii~n:ie-/i tion ct:: ral reveals deposits thnt hns the brou:;:ht nhout misery, nn incalculabl~ chronic invalitlt insmmo, uunntdofpruenmnactcut>ressa<rlycnth to the district. =t(),DQ.O_~.oplc Jive in theTodaasyb,estnopsprorxegimioantclyof Quebceocn.tinAuobuo~ulty one ex- quarter of these arc posed to heavy nnd almost dangerous concentrations iniog and pro- -..... . 'f. ofsstlnhAe ' douf sat s!pJrcostdous.cendndbythethreefomre liable to estosis. conThe ce I tract the nining fatnl three dqisueaarsteerscaollfedtheasbpotupbnelnrctiuolnosiiss. . II rcm unduly ex.posed conditions to in pulmonary these asbestos towns are has be- Health :1ppallingl:v bncl. n charnel hnonudsethnelmwohsot lellerycoi:n:itoln comclpit:iiorln!.. come There is no unless valid rndicnl excuse steps for arc such tnkcn n cmoentlintely im ted \IJJOn Altohnedesleimpienoaptlee iio,nfnalnsl cdaileseavseerywmillucbhe vgirseiater thnn J':"l ' in the past. nditions ln the asbestos towns vary. Pcnd- region, a or t :; lf'..', Co in u complete escription will survey of the be given here whole the conditions now prcv- d which hnvc "Prevailed, Eust Broughton, and which a villugc of doproxiruutdy n ccptinst nil. nt 3,000 per2s5o.nTs.hinsilviFllrae~nccihs tCheansaitdeiaonfsnnexnsbcstos sbcs- for 20 to ine nntl plant operated by the Quebec A '1 m 1,. .. . -3.- ::r:rr ~a;a.;mmtm~wcw:wemtJlllU~P;u:w:-;a/ , ~.::r ' .:t'"' ~ ~ J' - sub.~idinry tos Corpornfion, Philip Carey :irr~. Ltcl.,-a Co. of Lockland o!!iih (near Ci c:in1111li), Ohio. U.S.A. I THIS CASE PRESENTS A PARALLEL TO THAT OF ) ST. REM! D'AMHERST. HERE, AS THERE, WE ARE DEALING FUNDAMENTALLY WITH THE STUPIDITY '.MANIFESTED MUCH TOO OFTEN DY MEN IN THEIR : RELATIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER. OVER AND ABOVE THAT, WE ARE DEALING WITH CRIMINAL . NEGLIGENCE, RESPONSIUILITY FOR WHICH IS ' SHARED EQUALLY BY THE QUEBEC ASBESTOS COR- PORATION, LTD. ANO MENT OF QUEDEC. THE PROVINCIAL GOVERN- The lon is social p si1111ile. rohl But em fir s p !, r es it en is t ed ne hy ces Ens! sury l B o r ous::ltknow flit 11:ifure of the iliscasc.<>, :i.~sist prodtrcC'cf disl'ase, in Ilic or rather tlf fhe incliviuuals who if in Ille mining :ind processing of asbc:;tos, precautions arc not taken to protect fllcm from the hrornrcl.s of lhc inclustry, r r .. I r I -1 ASBESTOS "Ashestos" is 11 fi!Jrous varil'lies eo111111erci11J of several lerm :ipplietl lo rninernls. Tllr.se minerals \'~try wi<kly the nshe~los found in in composition. Gcnernllv, Quchec consists of 40 to 44% silica nnd an of mag11csit1111, the :ipproximalcly equal amount remaining p:irls beinr! iron, n:1slubmeismlo11s11fibarendnrcwusletr1c.n:iTthh,e flcexhiibeiflitqyuanlnitdiesnono-f inflamma!Jilily. It then WOVl'll inlo a can be s1iun into very large variety lhre:1d anti of textiles. It is ings used in very lnrgc hy the automohile qunntily industry; for brake linand it cnll'rs importantly into tl1c mntcrials. This fiLrt? mnnuf::icturing of buil<li11.ct has in fact become indis pensnblc hundreds to of w:miyosdei11rnwhiincdhuisitricy; ;cmtoploydeettlaiwl outhltel require nsbeslos Look-lenglli usccl i11 the space. United Aliont !J0.7o States, tl1e of the ~vorltl's largest con~urner, Great Drit;1in also is imported from imports nsbcstos from Quebec. ()11rhec in large cupies :1 qnantity. Therefore, the very stroni:: position in provincc oc-: the procluc- lion of !his cinlly must 111i11cr:il: ~o to it American to obtain inclustry c~pc the aslJPsfoc; ii 11cecls. - .q - l l ; /" Asbestosis or or Each of ::isbC'stos the mnny from the l1ancllings or 11wni1rnlatio11s time it is extrncted from the earllt up lo the public rproduccs time ii is ready for use by the -considerable nsbeslos dust. This dust consists of cxcccclingly osbeslos. some of which nre fine thrcacl> miscro~coriic of in size nn<I To inhale l11crcfore this clmt invisihle lo the n:1kcd o\er a ccrlnin period of eye. time 111cnns clr:ilh. For IJiis is n cinst tissue esscntinl to life whcrevcl' it that 1lcslroys comes to rest in the Jun,C{s. Asbestos is the lnhnlntion n pnlmonnry nffliclion due to n,-;bestos dust. Its onset is insi- -5- ..... :aa i:htWCU~:w.w~.fl;iTMWW '!@l'!".J:z;,ilSCltQ.i:J'J;i?.;l&h2it~~I,l.Jt,j;14;;;,.;....t~J;:\~JHiiiiilie5" .. . I I I I I ~ ~ ! ") ...., ): ... ~ ~~ .. ~tt-:tr:'.wai:r:= ~~ !!LI.Im = ~ diom; ils lcr111l11alio11 COlll'SC frrc~tJllll'; Hlltf v11ri:11Jlc. 1l rc.sc111b ifs lllVdc of some simpl r e espects, silicosi s m1cl , th di.ffc1s e lungs fro111 les i;ilieos!s it in others. in In sscupearw:1hleichaudhafvaeirlJyJcelnarge bcco111e lumps of spelled lJY fibrous tis- tnc dcslr11clio11 p:11tic-lcs. The of formetl norlllal lnng Collowin!{ ti~sue by upon silic:i lll~!o.~is, cs~c11ti:d ioo, 11111~ is prainepipr:o:gtlreseshi:vieracrtceplr:i1sctci1c11co1f1t lis~uc :tsof \\'llich llfl\\"Cl'<'I' prot'C.'.\s 11w.Y Le by tc11cls lo ro11 uscltss form a filirous tissue,. 111.!l\\'ol'lc. This spid<'I' .\p1c:1ds ils 1parc<I wch. to that l>y which Ille A.\IJc.~los cl11sl q11:i11litr nrls as lh:1l llus e11lerccl llrn11gh it wer lhe lung.~ in spider: vaguc-ly it fall,<; into pl~ce co1111cc:tc<I fila lo e directed b.r a produce long :incl which come to for111 pallel'll. All along a n mier unltls f ionfi l r f i:1b1ruol uisr n tgisu.~luaer, :iir the .~:ics du.~t collapse. invade boll1 A11<1 sid<s or these fil:i111rnts, :1). more and more of of <lC'5!r11ctio11 <111c11tl~', snl'Icliclali1c1lnf{dso. wmnorein:intchlemm.orCe olninsee.-~ uncl the lc~s thahe!!!vilrolim!.{clofc1t1h0<1~11tdhiseoaxsyege1nJecoto11Hs'S11pJrss :111d needs of his Jiocly; C'\'Cr weakrr; ve1y he thus .-;lowly becomes ply ever mo~ c:rcss distr ively c ssill!i cicun clc.o;tro.verl; 1 stanc ::incl c s, h h e i nlHI tmd!!r s l1111gs arc p Ille ro- suffoc:iles lo death. himself finall~ or Asbestosis end its complications As!Jesto'.'iis i.'i slowly; and ils :i di sca.~e tlrnl victim bccnrncs tJJogicsses extrn very ).mc< l.istan Jlt cc i hlc lo d l i o se infection.~. ase is gradu sinc ally e his ordin:irily natm:il re- T!nr.s usu:illr, clc:it11 p11lrrwnurs infection oc-rnrs being worn clown. hy way of rrn nc-11te liody hos }Jrcn \\'illl 1111alJlc fo hr way of serious wllich hi."> wcakrned cope suecessf11ll~. or hnnhnrs. The c:isr.~ is :is!Jcs i111p:iirme11!s basic cause or of ho<lily clcall1 in rnccllicsr 111011:iry llllrd1 l111Jrrcl.o11.\lios!,>is:i,q<1I1<1'n1rott ctliir.e~cn1!r>nec,11<1'l1c1..01l1hi::ii,t p11lnl'c To 1iers loo give often !Jut cc1lifircl as one cxan11Jlc tile of c.ause or dr:illi. the :iho,1~: o11 who h:is lost the sbc;ur;l'i:ci c1!ir nor lfi : i:li l ycc<rllncvi1c1loJJntr'<oI the :i.~!Je:;losis !hr rc~pirnlor:v :irra of hloocl h irmrfffricnt!y his 11111:?~. :ier:itc !;!ortinn of ThrrPforc, liis slo11SffCic'l'i\'renlIllyic ntcirsa.sluccesl lti.c; !Jlood cl. Auel in orclcr whole horlY. Iii~ j n- :ind Thi~ inpuutsrc:nintcradv1o!lct1c1l11e must 111:111 in a circ11late f:islcr 11orm:1J IH'ison. d11i1l1io1.1\I1 cl1lh) :11l11lor:rie<Is\\'otorkhs:rli:nrincrtlingdeinfl1fs1iclburil~st~ielsli'.~C'a~crl!s-,-p-:ciwrilncioli1lc.1hv- -5- 1c1n1ali:1i1nl:.(1ie1rinirc1n1~l of the heart. Fi11:1liy, drcrrlalion thro11gh tile .\lrr1i11 of clr.\lro;i.crl a!Jlc. all!! by :1.~lil\los dusl dcalh rc~11lls licro11111c1.1~1,r..:si11v~;111rlpi:p1olr1tY I lhorsail.'sL. disc:isc hrotr~ht :ihrorou1t11clil1rct':c1trll)' chlhrc:1:is~!cJ-l'~;-t Sign!', symptoms and conclusions l d('TY!ctlco1ini1riignt'i:p1sal>l cssito1.\1iss of :i cl<,clopril :ire: or of a cnror:a;cs,i11t h~ r os:liwl ,rlnacnsd~ llPIJt'I' irritalion of l'<'SJJi1':1tory !rad: of hre:illl; cou~ll. tltc i11- wrl sr)rncti111<'.<; clry; wright; wealrnl'sS :111c1 loss loss nf of :ipprtitls'o11:111<1c'!li1nol'sf l ::iinfdewchoefsttlicpo:;ieinssv. mlJ\l11lorena~r:ly ra!'icC:'1pwaei'lilly ~lfo1rowwo01r1l1c~; :II ust1all~ 11css of ~l1ow !Jl"C':Jf\1 ;ill. :inc App:iren;rtnlr.nrhincarnc:c1c~ci1!1,C.:-:1\Cs'hw1riltl- :ire signs itself in th:it him l ('011/.!h the cle:1dly icnlisfhraesr;1sishl'r~.\\Ol':thl\\i"~lOtil1'k1;e.r: 1 i111111ecliatclv :11 inc11 . lie s!1011l<l get :i11d al :ill coo;\<;. 011! of l11c cl11'>l Howel'cr. \Iii.~ is 1 has l H o r:ihi gre\ c s e di rl s e:is UP c . t A o ue ;i l if cer fil>r tain o \ i S or l1i<; ll!ng~ hcfJin'sOnsllcllci1ft1!'1I.Ir<1.'1crc:il>u.st:illWlwilul ghnoi!l wS:ill\l'r pr!otiplI>ollninliftll.y'o;rlncHllol<fl:ol\\n'::ilg!l ~- j I orirbTraohs.~hritsis1l1oJsivir<lults1talsuwffhiociehnat sloinnhraolcel11l1ce;incxakmount ;1111\/01 lik is iwlsillrsoo11o1nprlirratoior11l:si,lC'ur nclelises of the lli:il 1t,hc pccrli~<o;ln'.'1.s~e ~-~.) other l 11r1u1cto1l1.nlcwCr'llcd hvrlis:c11:11\Ca.c cI Ii r l cl wn ls or J1y licen. sP111r l ~ ~issll111rsdtos!!cJalulst woo\rrJ1< :tinromclrnllaSrC:ithC'OclllrC('Jl\l';ilio1c1',il:iloir- I of r l lo !i111e-two or thrcr :i profrn11Hl fihrnsb 'yocr:1th1es-lctrar11,1::!sC. \'rs1h1nlur:t1lhPcrki:oirrll I I tt:oikrc:i!;l"VsoCr'l1o1pc"i11hetrhce winitrhliivnirlfuh;<il vcars Orrli11:11"il.1, it fol' !II(' di.,<'n~1~ I ,<;rrn1di111r.o; :.rn ,<;0111cli111cs it may t:1l;r. up lo 15, to 'rxnosrd 1111 to lcn l~ott;1hres, <lml. :111<! rate: of nro~rrs.o; src111s ) :1111011111 of <lll~t i1 ;111<1 2r1 :.T:11"' '!'hr to clt1w111l 11po11 tlt1 nr lion that thislihse :i j1d1i1slivirl11l11:;11llrc!lt.ill;1l1\C1rl'lf1.11T1nl 1111t1la1vt' ron,littl hr 110!1(1 worl<ers midcllr-n n1mr carnsirictlk1rh1l t:itlh;easn rooilt i1<1lotlc1sc yio1u111tglicrr ;is nrnch gics!l:!mhotrwt n110:ihoonurt is i11111H11Jt lo ashrsto,is :is it. 7'ot or ,(. tsoilic!o)tsris.wrNHc:1-vrrerlho!'rlC'SthS,r !iaz~.irls a"li~slos all the rads ri.ss~wnnhtni1:11lt 11ro11lr CXJ)O"rl In !hr l ](2 ~ 111 I\orlh A111C11r:111 mrl11.11:1-.1I.111~1:1\:'i<n' cll1rrrt ~\rlll<!1nw11 ) for al ll':1<,I tl1PSP lnst 1!i vr:il's. 111ccl1c:il nrcll's nsh\r7s!'l1''.\1'~ilsittllrenvwrolr1lc<-r11a11:11lt'ro11';1'!1>p.ll'i:.l.l,'1rlJlr1il 1111!yhi!'hfricCl1:linoar- [ -1- " ~ " ~ <fi;111 llll'clic:1i prorcssion, lhc uulhoritntivc lilcr :ilun on 111ai11I~ in !he .c;ul>jccl, lrnving bcl'll p1oduccd Gical Urilain and the United States. Si~nifkantly enough, !his lilcrnturc sce111s to deal will! situ:itions whcl'e ::isbcstos workers were edxu:p;tostehdantoarmc uQchuebleecssewr orckoenrcsc. nlrnlions of the Asbestosis ond pulmonary tuberculosis or English mcclical authorities generally agree that asbcslosis and nnlmonnry luberculosis arc closely conncctccl, tlrnt one disease hclpc; lo proctuce, or has nn important adverse cffrct, npon the other. American medical authorities arc inclined to reject such an op:nion. The evidence in Quebec overwhelmingly f:lvors the pre-eminent work of English research workers in this field. onlmonary t11bcrculosis being ram oan I throughout I h c Quebec asbestos region to an almost incredible degree. For example: the very large majority of workers at Thetford l\Iincs is :ilmo.~l cor1Jin11011sly cx110scd to extraordinarily heavy eoncenlr:tfions nshE>-stos dust. am! most of tl1c gencrnJ popnln- fion itsclr is exposerl in some degree to !he <Ins!, since much of it is nt J:irgc in nnd 110011! the village. On the other hmHI, the people :11Jcl workers of to :i~bc.~fns Sorel ancl rlnst nt nil. of Granby arc not cxpo~ccl Let 11.~ then C'.Onmarc r!P:t!h rates officially n!lribulctl to culo.~is in those three towns, pulmonary which Jcwl tuhcrthem- selves well to comparison. Official death rotes attributed to pulmonary tuberculosis CFOR 100,0001 i . I Jl- I I ro dinarily hlHl1 jnciclcucc of tliis contngi1111~ disease. Confrunlcrl hy the :ibnornially iilgh tuh1~rct1Josis mortality rnlcs al Tlictford J\lincs, neither the !llcdical profession 11or the provincinl .i;overnmcnl can cvnt.lc the is~tJC', :in rl Loth arc under oblif.(ation to nwkc a choice between two :dtc:r- 11:1tivcs: r..lisposcs either i11hafalion of asbe\tOS dust rrcto and aggravates pulmonary tul.Jercu- Jo~i~, or ma11y deaths certified at Thetford 11.linf's :is having been clue to tuberculosis were i11:ic- l'Ul'ately diagnosed, anr..I in reality \Vere due to asbestosis. There arc no other rc:isonablc <x- planations for the ~haslly phenomenon in n11I111onary tuberculosis presented by Thetford :\lines. The people of this town cannot vfforcl lo wait until it is con\'enicnt for the mcdical profession and the provincial government to lllnltc a choice: control and elimination of the dust is the obvious nnd obligatory proccdnre at thi8 time. It i<; not nossiblc for the priY:ite invcslig:1lor lo obtain official 1!calh rnlcs for pulrn >nary tuherculosis lhe.~e arc ns nt East high as Broughton. nut cerl:ti'lly, those of Thetford :.Iinf's, and 11<'rh:rns hi~hcr. Jly rnc:ins of dct:iilcd r:i~c rcconls, wliid1 may lie taken ns typic:il rntltcr lh:in as cxccplions. we shnll show thnt \vorki11g tclorc~ndQi1li1ochnes<' in the min<' :111rl nl:int opcrnld Ashe.sins C.ornoralinn :ire suc-11 :1~ Jiv tpurobde1r1ccu-closniss.l>seisnlogsliys, oranlrol1{cInthcrf.avor t>Ullll>Ji:1r.v nmnE IS NO r.unE FOR ASBESTOSIS. BUT IT IS PHEVENTABLE. ' ' T/1d/1Jrc/ I Sorel Granby Mines 19,12 ......... 64.2 80.5 301.1 1!Hil ........ 3!1.3 40.2 301.7 l!JH ......... 61.8 65.4 236.1 in~SimthielntruleJvelrdceu1l1ocsclsmmayorhtaeliotbytari1a1teesrl hy :it rom11ar Thetford i\fines with those or nnv town in Qnchrc, ut- wnys excepting (l) those 10"1.vn in which the peonlc nrc pl~r.r.~ like cx11osed lo n~hrslos SI. Hemi d'/\mhcrsl, dnst, nnrl (2) where ~ncr.i:ll ~onrlitions explain beyond clouht the C'xtraor -R- l I I ' I c:::-- " ) ... ., "' I i l I I I I I .......... ; -11- EAST BROUGHTON The village The sight of frolll the train East Brougl1ton approaching the in the village twilight produces a frl'ling of horror in !he vic;itor who is more tl' kss infonncd regarding Hie nature of nsbcslosis. Sotne three q11:1rters of lite wny up the side or tile hill :it one end of the village !here stands a largt ugly lmildi11g. From tile roof :ind from :.ilwnt the !>iclts of this JJllilding, there is pouring what seems lo be a clcn.c;c, dirty-looking -;m1i:;e, so lll'U\'Y nntl so nbun<lant thnl is parti::illy obs- cures the building nnt! !he whole western end of tile vill::igc. The light coming through the windows from inside the Jrnilding ~n10ke" in Lite inirnediale Yicinity changes !he to a ,;ort of roseate color, and the first iuipression is that a lrtmendous fire ts rnging inside lhc IH1il11ing. It l'l'<!llires consitlernble effort on the :>.1rt cif tl1e visitor to dismiss tlii.~ lho11ght or "fire", :111<1 ll1e11 to ac('ept the f:1el that !his "smoke" is in 1t:1lity deadly :t'>he~tos dust. 011 nlighlin~ from Ll1c the trnin and entering the villagP, air literally .filled with the clust. one found Short, tiny threads of a-; would a ashe'ifos heavy dust r:ii11 wc1c upon T>oudn~ d0w)l the streets nnd houses. So thick was Jiglil~ !t1rnC'd on in the this dust lhnt early evening the street wtac dim- 111cd Jiy il, while houses only a short 1listance :1way seeJlltd to be ('11\'clope!I hy foa. Later, it is Jearnccl tl1:1l nt vurious points of the roof of tile large building on lhe hills1clc, there arc fif!Pc11 chimneys, each about n foot wirle, which, excl')lling for Sundays, belch forlll every rnoll!ent of the night nntl clay a tllirk nn<l hcav\ volume of asbestos dust info the nir. Aside from these, there is still another much wider chim11ey adjoinin{! the h11ildi11g, uncl it too is conlinuously adding its share to -10- a r '( j I { -r I\' I ~ I j or the enurlllous clout! dust conslnntly over and :diont Ille h11ildi11g. This e\cr-rc11cwc1l lll:JS'i of d11sl is picked wherever this la~t up liy wills. the For wind, :111d Ille largest car;icd :i.ut uf the yca1-, tlte win cl :111d :iii' curl'cn ts ov~r the !Juilcling flow from petu:il ma~s of clusl, the west, pick up nn<l carry it over this JH'l" clown into tl1c village inunediatclr Jiclow. 1111d Fol'l1111:itl'ly, these air 1111Te11ts and tltc contour of L11c Lllld arc such tl1al only :diulll h:ilf of lhc vilLi::e is c11vclopcd !iv tliis flow of dt1<,I. Tlial ,L1rt 11f the <Inst \\'hicl1 is not deposited up:.>11 the strel'ls un1l l1011scs of the \\'l'~L1r11 e11d of tire villngc clrifts tlown into :111d llJllll\ Lite farmi11,I{ lauds of the Yal!l'y across which the long 11i;1111 3lreet of the village lies. One hundretl a11cl fifly falllilies comprisi11g some 88 c~11oscd 0 t p o ersons prulong Jiv ccl e f i a n ll s t he of p:irt clu!>t. of So the vill:1gc thick dues the dt1~t lie upon tile si1lcwalks :nu! .~tr~d~ of tliis p:1d uf tile village for 11w3t of !he ti111e tt1:1t tH0 Jt-.ll'i:111s after ll1cy :ki.n1d\'C :11p1atso~1l11d0liikaslolne~a.veTvltiesilidlne'>t,r:1lciekss heavily upon the pord1cs of thc~c hoincs, cspcci:tlly in can plav out the suni11ie1li111e of doors. And :1s wlien cl1ild:e11 they play, they iinnetovittailbely:iikri<t'lktcyUI>a rIieIlilnel1c:ltoliundg.s of a~lltslos 11ust .!\Iany of these frnuilics have a snrnll garden to Ilic rc;11 of their lwrnts. So much aslle-;los 1lust h:1s f:tlltn u1ion the ground that it ha~ lieco111e i111 p overishetl. Tl1e formers in the va II ey have co111pl:1incd !Jilterly al.Jout the da111<1g,~ 1ltJne to tlleir I::i11d by the dust. One of thl'm who wa11lc1l to stt UJJ n inilk pl:111t on his propl'l"ty w:is for- hid1lc11 to 1!0 so h:v the Ill"OVilll'ial gnvt11111H11l's ,\grieultural Bnrc:1u; too 11i11eh :1slie~los du.~t would acld~'tl get into the milk. The llurenu tltnt this dnst has an adverse 111igl1t '1:1ve cffl'ct upon c:illle too, whether lhty inhale it or cat it, or ho th. To 0\)Cll the win1!ows or homes in this JJ:ll"t of Ilic villagt 111cans !ll du~t r:1ging outsitlt ll'l for Jn the storm tlw l:11g1'!.t of :1slwslH p:1rt Df the ti11H'. Somclinte'i, when the wind h lilnwinl( the , dust !Jell uwu:-,' from the village, these people nl night, opening thei1 win\lo\\'S :t c:o to little. l>urin/.( the night, the wine! rnay ch:in~c in dircclion, :111cl Jirint? the du~t down upon the village. Ancl when the vill:if.:l'l'S wnkc up, thci1 fnrec;, lleclclothing, ancl home<; :ire litcrnllv tovenu by clust. ,\s a general rule, :ill wind<l\\:S of the housts for days nncl nrt- kC't>l nights on ligl1ll~ closed, s0111e!i111c'i en<l, nnrl somethimcs for i l I I i r-l1--------_-, - Il Q)J'i1-1 l-'?/:I .tJ ,,..-L I ~ I -11- 'I ~ ..), " .Ic' Eidmt:lf:, ;za:s:;:z:n:s:~tt:f Q,t !:fl'!' 2EC'ft ;:r 0: Ii 4 a:!? 'l\:f&# ii l ~ttA !:MH:C" !"ti,;n;q :3 :w~ C\~tY 111<llnc11l ot an cntlrc working from 1:!.30 of a i\Iond:iy mornin wc'.!k; i.I!. lite next Saturdny ni~ht. dust seeps into these ll g lo 12 o'clock Nevertheless, asbestos bncilsleofsfodrtussttohn1<1l restvrccnntmieto<.ul.Osocnsveairn1n1q1uonrnnilnitgy,afdteesrpnitse Jong, I hnve ru!J!Jcd a finger house all night along window .sill inside, of dust a11<I collected a sizable :rnd visible u1io11 ii. nlthough I li:11l C'<1refu!ly .11nount cleaned that and walilmwoiwndsoiwll sofoafll tidleusthothueseprhe:vuiloubseeenvening, lightly clo.sl'cl the house, this nil nigl1t ICJnl{. dust must have To have been kept enterell in lo size, which is to sny the health. Evidenlly, it si7.e microsc1Jpic most cl:111gerous quantity as lo hecomc h:HI Yisihle entered h.Y force in of such arc\l mulation. A schoolhouse ing in age fro111 nllcncled by Ii lo 1(j !it's 170 children rnngin !he path of d o u u st ts i co de mi of ng th cl is own upon lrnildin~ i t s he sl villag nined e . The the brick by the dust. Windows must I.Jc a dirly kept dosed grey most oihnefitnot.,hBethilenimhcaell.nesd?s.librcoyroomstch,oepaicncdhdiluddsrrtecnun.elnvleerstheinlestsheseeapisr The mine or in This !he :i~licslos 111inc is enrl11. Dislod~ing now :111 enormous the crude nshcslos hole from the w:ills :incl floor drillin~ and then the of this 11:\C of pit requires first clynn111ilc, liolh lwo:h11ilcihn1~givethreisebrtookeronnpsiide(c'erns holfe dust, :is dots the material, of the the hauling rrnsons that of il lo the p1oce~sinf.( pf;111l. nnd I'or n111ai11 ohsc:trrc to this i11vc.~liU;1lor, the gi\'es lilerat111<' the illlpr e tlcatin~ ssion tha t with tile m asbes nount t os of mininl{ nshcsto.'i cfu~I proclnccd in such pits :incl i.:encrally insufficient to is Ile rclntivt'ly n menace sm:ill, lo .th health li!udc, oonf e t1h1e1mmt irneemrsa..in Fsakccepdlicwnlithwhsiulecl1 nn i.: at- d:niensrhneal~citoconsu.rndluest coalunltnrogfc tihne :1v11iysibpliet aunnddeinrnwvcniosinithisnlieg. Tlds pit nt Enst Broughton feef rlccp, nnd surely llw nir is :ti c;e,ernl Jwnc!red its hol!orn nll1st he more or worlc tlHrc less slngnant. A for 111:iny ho111s nu111her :it of men when oli~encd were profcction n:pi11st thl' :i stretch, and not wenring llla~lcs 11s dmt 11nqt1c~lio11n!Jly l"ndrrgyc".inDirti.llDinrgillhinf.n(rdmueot1l1loscwls o1r1ksc,1l:rnicnl this nit al nre chlnu.v~Ie il~o hbceinndg On\r'CorJl' 1c1lcocsde. \l.oontshle'<fJulcOinr~tltyt,hwelhhecclryle'ill:etihrr.ees -12- !I fI hl'lnlhing deeply hours 11t n lime. in It n cloud of should be aslicstos 1!11st for1 noted that "dry" i I drilling methods of the mine than nre fll'C less costly to the opcraton other methods of drilling Neither w :111ywhcre ate in r . t h no is r p o it i l, t o nor du<;t heir> ke e tr n nns Ilic . :ire med dtt~t i of !he nir being inhnlccl by !hr workcrs. out The paclnictdm:irsnddaoypf.eorrn\Vtnchsdebnesientvoesnr ifl ibsroerti;s owf wgreca;1ltheIrl,ia!nitghhis[ -L shelter nRninsl the possible, !he rain, snow or Ill r 11 cold t akc in n smnll This hcunt bianlsonesnerrveIlsicnsr>tlnhceeir thceatyin.:~ireplawcoer, td:inng. , is so poorly ventilated that sort of dust tr:in in itself. it con.<;tilutes d a liteNomepnrcirn.nnthtiiosnJJwit hangt:isino.e<;vfernsih"icstlaoksen lo protccl lions in it :ire such M nnrl lo fnvor tJtilmonnry clust. Condi to 11rorltH0 e n\bC"itosis. lnhcrc-11lo<>is. J\.~ only pits; strung young men the rigorous work ml' e111ployt'cl combin a rulr, in ~11ch cxoosure lo lhnt others dampness, cannot wetness ed :rncl to exct'ssive colcl h such length of time. hold down the job for :rnr The plant JI in Approximnlcly 125 111cn anci 2 or immerlinlclr nl1out the pl:rnt wo111c11 work ope1atccl by the :ir~ Quebec Ashe~tos C::orporalio!l. II lo give n dct:iiled description is not nccr.~o; (If lh<' rctl11re~ by which nsheslos from the crttcl<' mnlel'ial fihre is pro sep:ir;1tcrl ~ufficicnt feel into n to snv here seric.~ of pow that in which the rnw it fll"rurs. 111:itcri:il is it into ever smalll'I' !'rful mnchine.s th;it c1 u~h J>iects, the wnnt<'rl filwe'> 111rn11whilc UC'ill~ All these various pro~resshclY ri<'laC'hc-1! iproccrlurcs' .t(ive rise fro!ll it. to enor mous n11101mts of ashc.,tos ihlr and i1ni~ibfc. No pnl'! rlu~t. holll of of !his E:1.-.t Ille vi~ Broug dtou~nt.pJInnntmios sft repcarOtsf henn COIJCl'nlralions of this large plant, of h tile nssumcs an Ihe dmt nt indefinite i;:reyi.~h Jarr<e in it: color lh<' air Ler:111<;e of is so fhicldy fillc-cl with in oilier rlnst that 11nrls, the air workmrn :irni mnr.hinery n short inclis!ind sh:ulows. distance nwa~ The ventil:ilion ap11cnr sys!l'lll :i.s u!terlv in:irlectu:itc to cover the sit11:l(io11, rll'snile !lie fnrl that needs of is Ilic ronlint1011sl.v !Jelching nn unhclievni.Jlv !al'gc forth into it is :111110~! tile outside :iir from thi~ inrffrcthe lcrnpt wh:itso nmo11nl of ventilation lhe clu5t. Aside sntrm, no ::ii ronlrol the cvc cl11~t r C ' is Ol l mnclc linuom ) to y p sup rorl p u ress rcrl or in lo Ille -13-- l I l i I I ! 1 ~ ~ ~~' ' } L ..._ plant when in ... pro\'i1kd with upcra!ion. The workers masks of any ki111I by arc nol tph:1itnyk.ly Asupo11nrn)'llHhe 1t1'1XaJldl1'1~'nlceld',) ;ifslloic~tos ldlHu~lCoJim.cs n!'clirlllrilr dirly, ils ed fol' 111:111y years. Iwta~ llf l~o onru li sh:e.ln\'cinr gu sItleede n paint- or wnys this plant. .\II the workers 0 , ors 1111d :-.t:i1r :!Jmyd tfl1ilcth .-o.tfi'nnlisinin: wnncycwyneaurlsa.lio:-n:>cycorful sypeit,lhidcttl>dly, i' froorugshon1ltllUtli'mll e d1;11rfi1111i~rn\\lahtirleir Ewaoslt'lBcirno~urh,hotuorns, pla:nindt Ilic. 111e11 clca11cd askctl the rnan:1gc111enl to have :.i.rs :1go, lhc lJl:ice :ind \J:tinted. This rec\11C'~l wa~ uncontrolln!Jle cfforl t inhaled. This coug rds, in to expel :111 lhe instint:li\'C :11111 dust lllc.v li:1vc 'l"Jreret1po11, plied witlt 1. 1c 111cn nsked t paint. a1l1li11g 111:11 ial they !hl'y rd11sed. l;e sup- sb1pilling, Ille masseshinogf misoifsotllonwiaeledri:bily s)plritoru1ist1el I ": tr1c roo111 refused. tl1lrn~Ll\'cs. This would p:ii11l n1111c~t loo w:1~ f r i11g di'icolored of time, all t!tis bhryinagssheaslwlo1s1l dtd1e'ie!.p Inantthi echcroo\1nrse \ Jlcre Il then ;., this "dining roo111" i11 \':liicll i I ilrorri!y;1tIiomnela.ndThini"fl:uanllmowatsionthoef ic the upper rcspirn- mil'ro~copic 111lce11 11w1thnorehgauvlearlwyorgkaeldheirn-stthroe npgl:1hnelalftohry young only few a 111nrc lrnlt dangcrous pnrtil'ks into lilt lungs 111orr of lhC\ d11\t e:tsil~ lhan nncl to penc- for111erl~. ,~r rt1u11Jenm11olon>tih>s; an1d11111tireprewdhisopleosecd:1lclgooryptrlrn1f101p1u:irt-.r :111d l'l'rllll'l'S s11sceptihle to !ht indi\'i1!1tal l'OllCel'lll'l[ infections. espccinlly to hii.:111.v I I 011ary infection; r11111 the pl:111I 1'01 a na1 or who h:i\'e worked ~o :111d who<>e in lnlHrctilmis. prt'SC'llt in E:tsl to ;111 1:1.lr:1ordinarv dl'~rcl'. pulmonary Broughton ptople l \\'hcrH~\'tr it is w:1r111 outsiclc, lhc workmen hdu~tli;ci11llgH'l1l 11w1dlciro111li111ncvdc h.Y i11hal:ilio11 of l1l'.illli ;i~bnlo' developed :t.~!Jc,losis who 1xl1iliit 1111 sii:n<> :111cl ~y111plo111<> :ind lo a 11101krnlt or lo a11 ad van1e :ti1.1::iecnohlt'rhoaelflrytht ekl'ft'il\l'C ofploeonrs !ohfr thr1i1sn11ly:1hw~cinpdlo:twnt..; ll01111l at flictcd :1t 1111l111011:1r.v Olll' !.lagt' or 1l d11;1L'l'; :111d 111e11 anolhLr Ly co11!:1gio11' disra.\C :ill co11~lting imes of the wind is blowini.: do.~ed. Thi~ h:l!'d, :iear, n111l whcncrcr the nil lhc windows arc krpt dp1ro1f\1l1-a;ilo1l1ar:~dei i1O1 \'<I'hI'e I1liocor1p1l,:Ho'l', cit:li1ncdr spfroil1l1i1ngthine ll'lllJ>tratt11'C i lrn mi il d d e i ng fo r i s t h n e o t l n hr:itc1 rl-(esl 1. 'l'l1t1~ ~rnrl Of lhe lhc :I1J1'd0l11\d'cililoi>p.inogr o1r1ul111ur1:i1r r front .\O[l' Ihrn:1I, t1ilHrt11lo\i<;, 01 fro111 si1n:1rC.)iusl'lidt:1c111wp,illcolnd:10d1il,\'friguin1dl.crassta:nrndv. orOlL' livi11u hthai~s 1has gone 011 :11e1o1rttis1l1:1i1li0l1is1l<H;Jyd i:nt>I:Hi .r\oloo1,i1s1. .t\l1i1;1it! sflqouoarrrt,llilnrcwhisicha ths1orl111otnf chaonotl1 about fiun~ efarcl'hI 1ot l1t'l'J1 r11:1ny )'l':ll'S. properly ck;1nl'cl Dozens of men, :llld SOllH' p:1i n ll'd fnr now dt:1d 1' 1o>fi11cprroili<ceotinotnainas;!:atins~1t11:1ilnl cltmfeinnld sn111C' 111ras11rc lt'lllllC'ratu1cs, ba1c11sJtos1i'<sJir:cm, us/oornr eitsprceo~emnlpllivcafti:totnulsl,y ill have with :1!. lingcrell nilc into fo1 -some !hi.~ booth stove. N:1!11r:dly, tllev \\'hl'IH'\'er possible. which of lhC' workmen .'y.' I lionngthissinrcoeompasoSfl'<pl ewnfhicknneict, sahnotui ldtltC'h tirnl' 11:1<; n:ilure 1rnorly ohfuitlht,l'i:rJl\wheosrlkos pcr111itti1is1g fi:tl.irTlyhisof<te':nth,inlhit~ awnidpedIlioc ffgoIl\i'ecrnf1:11c1ccnolf trheespeoanrstihhlhl'y ftohre aC\o'lr' npIJ:Lin'l'\ll' t if. lo and cor11es in Id a man in 1l11sf of nl wlil'nt\cr tile sius door seep~ inlo is cpenl'd cncc. Sotnc of lhC' men \vorking in its <':d,t- I uhnolheeairn:ibi'ls roof. o"r'hocuntc. \Tehr crthr e isro:1omsmablelroompeens n la 11 I us c But cln't l h l' tin' 111iti1 's conditions in shop it n s and :11>0111 the n 11 1 :i tin:-: l' I:1 c e. ly fillccl the smnll window cllars with in ii, the tlrns clusl, the men open crcnlin1< a 1Jr;ift that than :inywhcrc else in Ille :ll'C not plnnl. mud1 lnltcr The :ill the air by nny of the largest part of the clnsl. not means, :ts :1ny eni:inecr woulcJ 1a1!1J:1ominatohillet,'l npnladctlsikien :ttilrle oJilllinenrt pnnrrct~fo1o1If :Illllidc ltstify. Excepting for the summer m Yl'a1r1s!, omf u1s1atltl;lyects,:ift1h1er:stel<'cpllahcey's nhshavrselo\s'L'reYlmr!c.cCA'nfll'r men thrre en! their micl-worlcin" wherrycr convc onths, the workda~' mcnl here :incl hcrn npnintecl. Two :\'oun~ wo11H lly spr<'i:il l>oollt surli nil'nt ns !11111 llSl'd liy nrnny of the Inside the clcscrihcd nl:rnl. alJO\!' A is obfy alghlt') cw!l!o'drkproincli1n<1smcl anliln (r1oonrc\hl canbsoiluyt pelnSetr:yt1l<:1crsl s"o<lirnroinwg" room (ubout l2ll0l'lxl u10s cfe11elti)n?:is psionlclele. liTmhciss is lo re1rni1 a111l :t~hrsto.c; fibre !1> tire pl:111!. ThPil' \\'CJrk prcpnrl' lht b:1g-; in wlii1!1 IHI\'( <lcd to <':ti :it meal times slanclin" 1111. th:it some of th!! men This room is C'Xll'H Thrirs is liltrnt11r a is cl11sfy .~!tipped Joli i 11 its lo ifs dt\li11:1tion. own right, an cl lite e cl 1111 f{Cr, on nshC'stosis rnllc; nlltntion In its -)4- I - 1 5 - :WiilbSAVlJIQt';:eae::~a:;[i!).t:fttt'tifi!U::::S!Dl.'C ~~~~~~II .. ) '. # ~. ~ :~ . f,y Tdhiertycluglhreinygishl-itgereweonrk1a1s1btc11slows eadlu' sJts. cncruslcd Dust 1m- l'\'rnly ovcrlnys drifts in sb::1l>lc their hands ancl faces, 11111mmt ngrdn~t l'rehrows, :ind lips, nosc.s and hair. Conclusions re plant Tllrrc is not which worknH'll n single pince tan rcti11 from in Ille this dust plnnt to for 1~vc11 a few Ji o,rr, 111i11utcs d11rin1t !heir worldug hours. for 1110!.I of lhc Y<':ll', they l'nnnot ;\!orcretire - Ill - rrnm lh1 dust or CASE HISTORIES Extrnordin:iril~ h;\' !,f(ppinit enoui.:lt, the out into lhc nval:111!'he yard. dust is~uing fro111 tlic rhi111ue~s, wi11dO\''.~ l of the plant hring~ :1ho11t as heavy :rncl doors co11c111lra- tio11 or \he dtr\t in llil' \'an! llS 11 J>r!'\':lils in SOllle I pnrts of lhe .vlnnl ilsclf. Afll'r only 1!i minutes Dossier No. 53 111 \,his yard, I found hcgnn to cough ond lo hrenthing spit. diffkult, nnd Uo11 , forty. Cinquantctrols died In 1040 nt tho ngo <l! IlleC o( lnudriht ieocn sA~!"J11rnsllosp r eCvoaripl o rOnilli otnh en r ep r e!.mUci she st h aotr When l1c was nbout fifteen slnrlccl to work nt the Quebec yenr:i o! Asbestos nge, he Corpora- few ordinar;\' worlo11e11 a period or li111r will10ut <':111 work thrrc over d!hC'r suffering severe t!on. inside So far ns -cnn he the plant ltself. learned, he did uot He wns stntioncd '\York In n o.prhyitssicnrol nd1n11>1l1irn:gicli,ono..r.. developing nshcslosis nnd/ No prccnu!ion wl111lsocvcr Jonr, covered trrior of the pnssnflewny l.rnild111g lo which led from the ina point some distance is ri !n nl ken either h~ g0Ycr11111cnl th to e C:omp protect : r ny o the r h by eal th th e o p f r ovinthese nwny from veyor, that it. is, This pnssagcway housed n conmac11incry tbnt carried waste ns- .), 111cn. Prrhnps the rh:irgc: is lo 111nre hcst way on rci-ord n to elnbornle few typi!'nl tliis case Lestos to the mnlerinl out huge pile of of the plant and dumped it on refuse always prominent out- historic.~ <if !he unfor!1111nt1s who or who :irr now worldng, thrrl'. hnve worlrnd, side nsbcstos plnnls in Quebec. amount of dust continually at There is a large large throughout this pnssngcwny, which is J hea!c(I. Consequently, the 1111venlilntcd and untemperature inside i3 always dnmp, and most of It is in this p::is~ageway lhe year cold or frigid. that Leon labored for ~ I twelve hours n over a period dny, often of years - for sixteen hours a this without any day, pro- i ) : tection ag:iinst such llw! which his own working conditions body nfforrle(I. beyond 1 As good; a boy there and is no young record man, Leon's health was of tuberculosis either in his mother's Cmnily or in ried at the age of nineteen. his f:lt11cr's. lie marAs do all these work- men, wllctl1er they be in good too coughed occasionnlly, but 11cnlth or not, be no attention w:is J I pni(I to this, :\long about since 1910 it his is the wire usllal state noticed that of affairs. he began to cough more 11rcqnc11tl:v, cough, sometimes wet. As somc!i111cs the months a went tlry on, this and COllf~h prog1cssiYely in inlcnsity. Leon increased in frequency then noticed t!1:tt he . i tire(! easily, !:J his work, especially when w:ilking up !he nnd tlwt he would arriYc there hill out r } C1f of nbrncy:1llld1n. clliperobdeugcaen1ltonnJooseutw~cofi-~bhrtc;ntahndfeeelxinergt.ion -115- ii :1 ;, cIf ;-::: .~ ,,.. ,: Jnc\'ilahly, ANU AS COULD HAVE fiEEN FOHE.SEEN \'EAH.S PHEVIOUSLY, Leon fell into the government. Leon's wifl' ~11stHrle<l th:it !.0111e serious illness, so serious \\'hereupon, lie l'l1tcred he 1111 had to give up work. hospitul in Quebec how her hL1s!J:1111l's drnlh wa~ tictl up wilh n'>bcstos dust, nntl she hncl hc:irtl n v:1g1:e rumor City where, according to l1is wife, the doctors did not !ell him much of nnythin~ nllout his illness. about "compensation" - n lo11g worcl. The idea of compensation in connection with her h11~ I l'\ot fceli11g nay !Jetter utter sl:iying in lhe llos- li:111<l's clcnth scemecl fn11t:1stic lo her, since she t r:it:ll five 111011tl1s, he became discourngecl, nncl rdurncd ho111c. On his llc)Jarlure, J1ospil:d nu- wE:a1sst aBwr:1orucglhlttnotn nwo:io~necoinllescimtiinl:g1ritr.irrnNnesvlc:irntlciec'l>esi>n f' I \ ll101ities did not volunteer m1y information thnt I ,I_ rniglll l!a\'e hclpld Iii n1 in nspcct to his rnalatly. she i11c111irccl hffe ancl anythin~ :llH>llt it until there, hut ~hr stn1ck no one knew :i nol:1ry. I r Leon's home was so situated as to receive n goocl den! of the dust belched ont Ly the plant, It so happened th:1t early in life Leon h:tCI c!e cidetl lo snve money anti lo protect liis family by cspcci I n:~lccl a!l th y e r i e n fo li r te so s11 me n1rncrl thrrc im m e, Ncv onths. erthcl At th c e s$, en c l lie of investinl{ in life ins11r:inre. Accorclingly, he hnd insured his life for $7,000. Con'iidrrin~ !he IO\\' that time, he hnd been eii:;hl months wil110ut income, nnd since he had a wife ... .:_ .f rate of pny prevailing nl !Ill' ()ur!Jrc A~!Je'>loo; Corporation before tile war. it rem:iins n rnyslerv to su111wrt, feecl and clothe, hanedwsnevs encocmhpiledlrleedn lo disregard ltis as lo how he rnan:igccl lo ~upport his family nncl to pny his inmrancc premiums too, Tl11t he clitl. the ().uel.Jcc malady. lle returned to Asbestos Corporation, This work nt time he wns se News that his widow wns colll'clin~ $7,000 insur nncc money lrnvellerl fn~t in tll~ <;111all Yi!la:ze. t to work nt small and "easy" jobs in the ynrd and in sm.all sheds immediately outside the The notary whom she conc;nlleil tclcl her she could not obtain compensation, l !Jlant. :Uut, and as pre\iously recorded here, the f atmosphere tl1ere i'i heavily tilled wilh dust most collcctecl on her hnsbanrl's life since she had insurance policy - a lamentable piece of the time, ns heayily saturated hy it as is the :itmosphere of some parts of the plant itself. Even fluenced her to give or misinformation th:it inup all thought 0f claiming l j Ir a normal person in full health cannot stay in this yard for as Ion~ as fifteen minutes withou compensation. In ronnection with this inrnrance money, it is worthwhile noting lliat an n;rnt .Ii riencing some diffkulty in breathing, t expe- ., ( /I How Leon managed to disregard his distress I :rnt! to work in this y:1nl for the next three years of "Les l\fcrcs Necessitcnses" did not nnwar :it her Joor. No help was forthcoming from an~,. qn:irlcr. The f:11nily tightened its hcJt, and h:is so ntllst ever remain an imperishable tribute to .his t fortitude anti lo his sense of devotion to his fam- j managed its rcsourceswcll. far TI1e two elrlest girls, r.ow twentv vne and twenty resp . ily. One cnrly morning after he had completed teaching school. ectively, :i.rc Another girl, :i'.Zed sixteen, is his l:1c;k<; during lhe night-shirt, he started down i: r the hill for hollle, cour.:hing, spitting-, nnd this nttenclin~ !Normal School :it Thetford \Iinc!!. Three of the C'l1ildren ::ire unckr sixteen, :ind still I; I _fliiimnnsaetlilnybcrtirincvgeailcnyl:1,.c:thluepils,thahlgoa-ogvccilnrcgiun lteqofutwaannrtJidlovnh.gisUtrJhninoiltmlloyef nahnnidds II laiunt nsg:1csh, soaonl aitnortihuem,"ilslenrgieo.usBluyt iLll,eosnl'lsndeoldwesst osno:ihiiss liluod upon lhe .snow. llis \\rife md llim at the ! door. By this lime his fal'e h:td }Jecome chalkish Dossier No. 14 in colol' and flC'cketl with hlood. llis wife de> r 11:1leliet! some of the children lo the doctol' and ::'lfaurit'c Ou:1lorw c!iecl in 1f11G nt !ill' :ir.:c or Sil. .I to the priest, and kd him to a sink in lhe kitchen, hatl him sit down, nnd held out a basin under He hncl worked for the Quchet ,\\heslo' Cor- r poration ll!Jl)t"OXilllatCJ}' 25 years, lllOSt or the his lips lo rl'tci\'e the life-l>lood that wns now 1rnurinf.{ 011t of him profL1sely, In a few minutes, time ill parts of till' pl:111t where the du<;! io; not so thick ns in some otl1er n:n!~. But lti.c; he fdl over into her nrms, and died. wifl' reports th:i! he lrnd :d<;o workl'1l fnr v:1riN1c; To this dny, this family docs not know the came of Leon's clcntll. The doclor who attended. hlm inclcfinilc periods of lime "in !he clnst", which is {O S:lV in the )nngu;ige of fhr IJC'OpJr, in l1e::1vy cnerrtetirfidceaateth, ,diadndnowt hvoolLsu1nptpcoerseadnlyy ifnilfeod the <lenth concl'ntrntions of the dust. She s:in th:1t on arl'ival homl' from work Iii' rlothini:: '\\'oulcl this subject. rmation on TJ1e family hns never applied for com.pcnsalion either from he covered with the dirty '\\'hitish d11~t. nn cl lhnt sometii1H's ht' woul<! reni:irlc, "Today, th!." the Company or from clu.c;t wns so thick where I workccl th:it it ro11lcl e. -19- ... ... ~ .. J1nYc been cut with n knife." Some five to six years preYious to his dcnt-h, J\Ianricc began to reel we::ik. incnn::ible of work, and gcncrnlly ill nl case nhysically nn(I mcntnlly, nil this nc- f c-om11nniccl by much cou.!!hing. Ile consultc1l a f. doclor :111<1 wns told he had nslhma, nnd !hat I he would recover from this illness. He continued nt his worlc. provincinl i;:overnment. How he learned !hat his fnmily hncl the right to make s11ch n clui 111, Rnd '\~hy he himself ditl not exercise his own right to mnke n clnim while he wns ill anti alive, I cnnnot tell. The brntnl Cnct is that, nside from l\laurice, these East 13rougllton workmen and families Jia,e not known Jhat they 1ios scsscd such rights in statute law AND in co111~ _,I J\lnurice lived in n small poorly built cotlnHc mon law. Neither doctors or Jnwyers, nor rnuni- silualccl in close :m(I rlirect line lo receive a dpul nnll proYincinl authorities, nor politicians full share or Ille avalanche of dust coming down I~ in or out of office. nor ncws1Japcrs nnd 111a~.1zines, have told lhcse peonle the Cncts regan.l1ng upon lhe village for most of the time. All win- this mutter. After havin~ talked with vcrr many dows in such a house nre kept tightly closed in nn effort lo ket>ll lht> du~t out. Tli~ wife rcJ)0rt.s worlonen nn<l their families in the village, I -~ I llrnl he had great difficulty in brcrlhing, I.hat he have Y<'t to fine! n sin,i.:le person nmong them who !' choke( easily, nnd that he coughed n good deal. i hod even nn elementary knowled).!c ns to the rif.{hts possessc1I bv all cili7.ens in !hi> rc~JH:ct. She :rnvs he woulcl wake un in the night g:1sning I for hrrath, :rnrl that lie woulcl cry out in clcspcr- J\t nny rate, Maudce's widow applied for compensation, ncldrcssing .Jier clnim to "Ln Commis- I ation thnt lhe windows he opened. This wns a sion des Accidents". Her clnim wns summarily mnn in cruel and ominous distress, nnd 11ot lo be denied. The windows were oncnccl. \\'here- rejected on grounds thnt it hnd not been c5l::ilJlishetl thnt lliauricc had contracted :my occ-upn- upon. a YcritalJTe stonn of dust would blow into lionnl discnsc compensable under the "Work- J11s room nn1l all through the house. IInving men's Compensatio11 Act of Quebec". The lcltcr obeyed nn imperntive instinct lo tnke ':tction -110 mnller how hlincl-lo relirve his agony, received from "La Commission des Accidents" I ~I:rnrice would calm clown a hit, go off inlo infonncd her that the case was consequently considered closed. Maurice's widow is not cli- n filful slecn, mcnnwliilC' inlrnling more nnd gihle to receive niil Crom the Burcnu of "Les J more of lhe dcnlh-dr:iling dust thnt now nrcrcs Nceessiteuscs", since her Children nre M1turalerl the l1011se. And in n 100111 near liim !.. In~ his son. :.vl1ose snhsrq11ent stomnch ailml!nts nbove the age of 1G. Iler daughter is now 13, and has been unable to fine.I work in the vil1:1ge. :incl onrrnfinns nre usunlly closely associated with nn nnxict:v nnd fcnr comolex. One son in practically nn invrilicl as result of ~lomach ailments nnd operntions cited :il.JO\'C. r,. i\[:inrke hccmne more nnrl more ill, ;md lie The other son, a strong henlthy young man Jia:s 1 finnlly hao to J.?i\'e UJ> work' altogether some on several occnsions applied for v.:orlc nt the 1;. ~ sthn1fr"e'rimngonnthn.d, nmriioser ryto thhinst chlcentwh.asSurcehmowvaesd hlios I QonuleybeecmpAlosbyemsteonst aCvoariplaobrlnetioinn E(::pisrtnc1l3icronnllg\hlotnh)e, nn ho'!)ital in Ouehec- l.ilv. There. acc-onling :111d for obscure rensons has been 1efuscd em- I to his wife. he wns told he hnd "enlnrw:ment ployment, nlthough other men werr hci ng hired l or the hcnrt", nncl tlrnl he would never get well. I at Ille time. ,./', Hr wns nlso !old 11fnt his clinical piclure wns This family of four is therefore lhing in ex- 1 somewhat confosed. :mrl thnt the doctors could ceedingly strnightcncd circumstances. t : not say positively that he had either ~ilir.osis or nsl1cslosis. Shortly nfterwnrds, 1\fnuricc died. As in the cnse of lnmrlrcrls or m,.,n in Qm~hcc, Dossier No. 105 .! wl10 hnve hcen or who nre now n rmcted either J\lpl1onsc Ccntcinq died in 1912 at the ngc or hy silicosis or by nshcslo,is, J\f:inrice knew for forty-fi \'C. n while nrc,ious to hi<; clcnth thnt he wn-; nl1out Beginning nt the nge or eighteen, he worked lo 1lic, !hn"t h(' hn1l hrrn in fnct conrlemncd to in the Quebc Asbestos Corporntion plant for an 1lrnth. nut nt !his noinl in his (':l,,r, lhrrc rnlcr.<; indefinite number of :vcnrs. lle thrn trnnsferc1l nn imnnrtanl fnctor, which, ~o fnr a<; I know, tro nnother mine :lllcl plnnt then being opcratccl h:is hM'cr hccn nre~rnt in lh<' cnsc~ or Ens! in the neighborhood, where he worked ng:iin for nrro(' Bro11ghlrrn 111e11 in simil:ir 11osition. he an in<lefinilie number of yen rs. D11sl concli lions cliccl, i\fa11rice strongly nchisecl his family lo in this mine nnd plrint too arc \"Cportecl to have \.~ ( rlai111 co111prn,nlio11 from !he l.0111nnn:v :incl the been bad. Alphonse returned lo work i11 the --20- -21- C-~- - ..., ~ ~ .... ' ' 'I' ! i. l: l J . I 11: .hiI. I.' I . ! I ~:!'l I I '), '. i! . !J :i ~ . ~ i I , f JI 11 - .r.:J1ec Asbestos Corporation plnnt where, on this nccnsio11, he rcrnninecl uniulerruptcdly for twch'c , ears. :mcl up to a few months prlo1 to Ms death. At the Quebec Asbestos Corpornlion plant, Alphonse was n "loader", his work consisting principally of Ji:rndling bags filled wilh nsbcstos fibre - n very clmty job. This occupation is not child's play, requiring as it docs considcralllc exertion. Consequently, n "lontlct"' is !Jrenthing deeply nntl l1envily while verforming his work. Ench 11:intlli11g of a bng of nsbcslos fibre releases into the air a .good deal of dust, espcci:illy the \'ery fine invisible dust that is invaria'l1ly fatal to the person who inhales it over a period of time. Alphonse's widow reports that her husband's clothing wns nhuncl:i11tly covered by dust when he 'l!Ti\cd home from work, and that for hours :1flcnvanls, he would cough vigorously and spit out dirty-looking moist masses. lt is worthy of note that nrnch du~t from his clothing was rcIL'ase<I daily into a house whose windows \Vere 1-<pl lightly closed against the <lust nt large in the ,illnge, an<\ in which trherc lived his wife nnd eleven children. Eventually n11d inevitably, Alphonse fell into illucss. llis wife reports that Jus COuglting pro- gresively increased, anll l11at he turne<l lo vnrions hon1c-macle remedies for 1clicf. Uc also consulted local doctors from time to lime, always pnying for surh co11s111lnlio11s, nnd for various syrups ;inu tonics supplii<l him. lie 11lso visitctl the clinic :1t Thetford ;\linrs, whl'rc X-'rnys of his cJ1cst were taken. Acconting lo his wife, the uocton a! !he clinic lulu him nothing. - Finally, the local doctors told Alphonse that he :.houlcl give up work altogether, tl1:1t he was very ill, and that he Jia<I heart trouhle. In other words, his heart coulcl 110 longer do the work normally cxpcclcd of it. Followin~ his wife's n<ldce, and hoping for bc:Llcr111ent, Alphonse entered nn hospital in Quebec City. There, he wns told by the <loclors that he had heart trouble, and hy the nurses thnt the "enlargement of his heart" must he due lo u "surprise" he had rccci\'Cd. This story of n "surprise" has since helped lo quiet the vague nntl healthy fear Alpho11se's f:imily had in connection with asbestos dust. Alphonse remained in the hospital for a month nnd a half, and then retnrned home lo die ten dnys later at the agc,of forty-five, Ilis widow was left with eleven children, the ddcst being se\"Cntccn years of age and the >'Ollll~cst three, She has never applied for- compensation. She knows nothing whatsoever re.: E(artling her rights, nnd those of her family. in -22- ----- this rC'spcct. One fine day after Alphonse's death, tht:'rc nppe:ll'ccl my~lerlously al her door nn agent of "Les Mere> N~ceso;itenscs", a provin- cial govcn1111ent relief organization. Some months after this visit - and this is a long, Ion~ time when there nrc twelve person-; to feet! and clothe-the family wns officiidly plnced on the relief roll of the Province: rale of relief about $50.00 y1er month. '!'.his beggarly allowance was for a whole yc:1r the sole i11co111c or the family. Jlerc then was a family condemned to extreme ~i poverty. Each ycnr since !lien, one of the cliil.'ll clrcn h:H reacher! an cl pa>>ccl the ng:! or si:-.lceu. w Conscqucntly the monthly check received from "La Commissi1on des Accidents" ha9 each year be- 1 come smaller and smaller, while the cost of living has scored progressively to everyone knows where ... The c-ondition of this family Jrns improved vcrr slightly during these Inst two yenrs. Tlte clclest daughter died nt the age of twenty-one in H.115 cf a pulmonary disease in which m::dnutrilion 1 pays a pro111incnt part. Two of the ~iris h::t\'c j left ho111c, :111cl nrc working in hotel Ill ne::irby . towns. (Three less lo free! nncl to clollie nt 11omc) . The rldest son has now been working for so111c rnonth.s at the Q11chcc Ashcslos Corporation plant; snme hint\ of work, -same dust conditions, c11ro1111tcrecl by his fathCL". Two or three or lite you11f:c1 ehilclren Ol'Cnsion:11ly fi1ul odd joh~ in l the v11lagc !hut bring in n few precious doll:lrs. l Dossier No. 79 ! Louis Soixantedixneur is now forty years old. I There is no rccorcl or pnlmonnry t11!Jerculosis I I either in his mother's family or in his father's. As n young man in cxcellcnl health, lie workc<l in various ashcstos mines and plants for about four ! ancl n lrnH years. Aflcrwnrcls, he worke<l for the Quebec Asbestos Corporation for ::ihout cle\'cn years. Louis was first employed by this Company in its open pit, where he nssistcd in <!rilling j operations, always perfO\'med by dry mcthocls. t Ibloerirnerpt oirnttso ththaet soindemaonf ythoeccmaisnioenws ahlel. h::einlpdetdheinn in hollowin~ out n long tunnel in which he and his compa111ons worked for honrs at a time. The dust in the air inside these tunnels wn~ so thick the men could hardly sec cuch other. The Com- p:rny cllcl not provide them with masks of any description, nncl no one c'cr told Louis that the dust was dangerous. ,\Cler working for about a year in the open pit, Lo11is was lrnnsflTC<l to the job or ''clcnncr" in -23- "" ; ~ .. ., i- ( c!', /": I '.. \' I l.' l! J ~ ' !it!rj' JI ~ i ~ ,r. IlltJ ~~i "f: :1 ;1 '! I :!i';' ,:,1 ~ ~ : ., f t!S='tf'h '"lttm::::alG~O::SlJ>: ~tK'CW::::n:zt t amn tiJU:O:t!!- "' <i- side the working plnnl. homs, hTewowoourldthl'cc times during hh rlnsl thal st:iirwnrs ha<l nnd settled floor :rn<l gather into nccnmulntcd piles on the the this time s p , urp he ose mov a ed dry an nssigncd brush nnd to him, shovel. using for At these rily was nhoctnvlmr seyo, ntccntrdntli>ornenolhfcdduisnt. nnAenxdtrwaohredninha- whnnvsc trheecorl<illtcl1e! cwhnea!Jsionnnloydnu"srhte-iftsruagfpleo"oin1a,vitnwsielhlnfib.clhc tnos hwimee s111A11mesowngc:iLt oiu11is1'po<rll:ttt1t1iecsc, there in was one that as that has prevailed in this Ilic scheme o[ thing~ The "dust of 1lust is chamber" in Enst which .I3roughton plant. a ccrlnin amo fills up would e deposited by rnpidly. Thus tthweicev'cnnli 'wnteioenk, systuemnt nter vccasions, he times this room to would wade dean it out. knee-high, On Louis these room, wnist-high, in open a s111nll the dust of trap door the and centre someof the the tlmt woaltl below. To get fall the to nnothcr bulk in the floor, and place on the floor rthoeomlr, airtHwloaos rn. ecAcsfstenrry to of the shovel idt udsot wonutthor-fouthghe wo114! use a sort Ifie walls nnd flo of this !'akc had l>cen done, or dry brush to Louis clc:m I J ~!icky. or He reports lhe atmosphere of the dnsl, some that the dust was of which so thick is i hullJ at the I he wns in ceilintghawt nths etoltiaglhlyt from the n electric blotted out vide him \ w he ith room. nny p r The otect C io o n mpany whats did oev while not pro- the dust. er against No fully m:111 c:m for long. wiIlnhesvlnitnatbllsyu, cLhoconditions success- ienxccaepsascivitey.c!0o1ugwh,orokuta-onfd-bsrcenacthrnusl ipselblse,camweealirlnl,cs-s, gressively Jy, he had increasing lo give up as time work mnlaisc, nil prowent on. Frnal- Ile rested I turned lo al home for his work. ahout asbixoumt osinxthys,eaarnsdagreo-. ' he had to ghc lime, :rnd !lien llJl agAaLi.nt.heHeendresotfedanfootrhear year, shott ~ little exertion up this wo found n in another svmillarlilgcj.obHtehahtadretqouired I kreinmdai-nedn vartekrhyotomsoicekiinnmcaaapnliat(t'lietawtch1lilefo, rawndorJkiasof.s1$n1in1veycc -l lhcWchleinnicLonnt isThbcctcf:oulu'ccl seriously ill, :\lines, w he rcpnfrod to t;,J 01 \en spo of ts hi on s h l i n s ng>. He lung.~. p1 w:is ohn told hheereh:xir~lrnsyhs:idwoewrse ,s:1ys over lhe the doctors nature fell into of Jiis bly lnbercu!osis. Louis 50ll1C sort of clisp11tc Uw1a1drcd1s tihtewiracslidrcecctiidoend, hheeaiphl:lpinclilecs"sds, itmohup"tlLeathsG:iiltoicmonmsfiliscs"r-.- -24- sion ports des that Accidents" for "La Commission compens:ilion. He re- er! him "double thnt silic il os nllo is", w c c ! c o md epsc nAscncl iiodnc nibn ' ' cian~feosr mor- is", hut :ind thnt his lhnt he was cnloatimin wcan!>sC~llo1fer"csfiomrerlcrci.<~i;lcilceo~ in ~Ionfreal lower! the n for ac!vhcd further leox~aomtionaaticoenr.tainLoh1o1ispi!:dil. Accidents". pital doc dAvibcoeutgitvherneehymo"Lnt;ilisCobmiemr,issions fol- r!r~ nrnlady tim tors rcpOl'[C<} was unknown. Sthinact e tthheen1,1:.1tlllethOef hhoiss- e that thnistimluencgosns1a1rlctc({l lilsoecaaslerdl,octors he hns from who tell him medicines, and suggest n prescribe cert:ii11 sanatorium. Loni-; ocJlmfieaoawsw:smahynelofrirsoimmclohsise tfonmdielya;thn;nrhlehdeoreesjencotsl t\\h':erni<t lctoa crive a plant. full n. His home is shnrc or the dust Asbe in direct line lo helchc<l 0ut hy Tl' closed stos winrlows, wife to ndnudstthseeeupnslirini,n~dcesffooirtc the tip;l1t!y keep it out. ts of his Tn uow 1944, cigllt Louis rrnrt yc:irs olrl his wife were nncl their one chilc1 ,ofe)i"cLfersol~lIc<rlfeslh<N' itcllc'OssYllicnnces,espalnadcends on the public usual hy w:iy Thercnftcr, this familv ''. received from thi~ somee n monthly check when the n!l1ount of $20.00 was raise up to OctolJC'r 1!'J 17, ther 1i:is fonnrl 11alr d to $30.00. The mo- bl'ini:i~ Louis' in n few time rlollnrs. consultn Twhoerkfaimn iltyheis\'vi1cl~:iygcl,lonncl i<n'inac.r~lctlhileioynhn\c tiporncss<w'riihtehrl dhoac\t'oersbenenndcxthpe<'nmcorlri:- ho11ght one other in -expaenndsiwvehopactaenntblmnmede ihciinme - sivc; he has taxes il on tdheespheurmathelehodpweeollrinbgetotwernme<ent. rifler an)!unicipal y arc 111oncy nearly to pay three them. ~cars l ovcrrlttc: Theref hv !he famlh~re is nn faced since twhieth'.:t\hluenipcriroaslpeCct or ore, the soon losing f;1111ily is its homr, when taxl's arc mol'c lohnnnncitlhl'euesuynellayrsfoorveecnlohs1ecs. Do!.sicr No. 87 hroAk<elnt'ladrdownQuma:lmrc, v\i'<n'rg:vt~irllpt i> n co111plc!i-ly of rlenlh :il !he J\rtelnn! was :u{c or in rxC fifty-ll:111111c! rd. ose lo the point went to work plan!. Tlirrc :it the is 'rllc11t Queller Ahsch:cilstlhn~wrh.ornrpohre:i!fiiornst n1lo\j~ T!C' was ifnir5h! isc1nn1p0llo1h1c0r'.rc~eor:ri1c1l1iloyf, p1!1111onary tnl>C'rrl!' in hi.~ f:1!hcr's. The work of such 11n.I dossier. yc1l in a 111a11 lhc will pla Ile nct!casscr:iih<"h'r:l1girn~cr". S11rfiric11t to s:t~ here th:it tile !hi< ;.  ' " (l fi/ I ~j: r 1: l l! 11 ;1 !j ii 11 i I ' .; t I r1 ' ~ '! ' #t'!"f!11't.jTJ!+U"trt;:eyzr;:J'!t1ft''!!tt'""'ii~---------------------------------------------:-- ,,r , 1 ~.:,r1.< .1 :ill jol~s day, six in the mine days a wcr.k, un~ plant.. Athl::ird la- for x-rny examination. After n while, he repaired to !he elinic, whose report was forwnrdcd to his cil.,cc~l1'c,~c 11 uously conl:uni nncl nnlo brc:1thed cl !Jy an deeply ia :m at-. infinite number local doctor. iAdllard wns then told llint he had 1 n111( 0ySjP,j/J/e ancI .I 11\'.JS1I)1 e nar'tIC Ics 0 f ns IJCS lOS (IllSt. n "veil" <ivcr his lungs, nncl that his mnlacly wns not contngious. (Asbestosis alone is not co11tag- lie .~:i.1s llial !hr d11sl was M> thick in the air that io11s.) ,,awl inte<; h<' could not clearly sec ohjc'Cls ten feel nway. llis home was situated so ns to rc- Although markedly ill, AdC!arcl hnd nil through C'C'i1c a full share or lhc dust hekhcd out by the this phase continued at his work; the rn:rn lt::icl n planl. Th11s for eight yc:irs, never a breath or wife and a houseful of children, some of them ill, clean ni1 while :1t work; :incl for most of the to support. But the lime cmne, some two or three I imc not n hreath or <"lc:rn fresh nir while nt home. years lnler, when he had lo f:iYc up work alto- I .\cli'.l:trd, til'C'<I of his joh after ci~hl yenrs, gave it up, :ind went to work on a farm. J\bonl ten gether. Ile could no longer walk the long paiaf11l rand of "le enlvairc" without iiccoming so 011~-nf I ~cars late1. he returned to work again :1t lhe Que- brealh thnt he could not work for the rem:iindcr bec J\sh<'slos Corpcwation pbnt. This lime, he of the 1lay. He ng:iin repaired to the Thetroru I w:1s set lo work 011tsiclc the plant, on what ls ~lines clinic. This time he was tolcl that he h:-td called "le cahairc'' hy French 'Canadian work- henrt trouble :rnd t11berc11losis, allll that his mnla- men. Thi~ wonl "cahaire" is n corruption of ~ the Englisl1 word "culvert'', nncl never has the ge- '-'Y wns eontngious. According to Ac\~lnr<l, none 11 ol' the cloclors whom he eonsulte!l ever mentioned nius or th<' F1c11ch C::111acli:111 ordinary people for Frcnehifying English wonls Jicen employed more the word "asbestosis" to him. His cough hat! Jong ngo become wet, ancl there he sits ancl lics to- ~ aptly (lnngu:1ge professors, tnkc note) day, e-0ughi11g :ind spiltiw 1ofusely, !lre:HHnlly ill, in a rnmslrnckel house that is ns lightly closed To work "sur le calvaire" means to work nlong ;1s possible against the avalanche of dust clescend- n11il nt the e111l of n sort of road atop the gigantic ing upon the village, - pile of rcjcctccl nshcsto~ ore seen outside Quebec No cloctor, municipal or iirovincinl go\'ern- :1shrstos 111occs~i1rg plants. Along the ridge of mcnl official, or Compnny officinl hns ever l sud1 11iles there is a con\'cyor !lt:tt cnrries rekd- JJl'ealhcd the word "compensation" to J\dcbrJ. r1l m:itcri:il f1om the Diani, nnd dumps it at the He knows nothing whatsoever abont "La Com- f:tr encl of the Jlilc, which in time becomes mount- mission 'lies Accidents", and hns never applied ni11ous in sizl'. flt lhe \'Cry encl of "le calvairc", for compensnlion either to it or to the Cornp:iny. .snlhe two lrnnclrecl and fifty feet 111> in the nir, About a yenr ago, the name of his family was ins- Aclel:ircl met his fin:1l <100111. The continuous ' cribed on the roll of "Les ~lcres Neccssiteuses". i clumping of the rcjcelecl 111:1terial onto this pile, Let us then sec how U1c fnmily has fared. :incl lite act of sprcacling it out 01 shovrlli11g it The eldest dnnghlcr keeps home for the family, dnwn inlo spncr, proclucl'1l a dense c:loucl of du~t the mother having died of nulmonary <lisc~sc whirh wns blown h:1ck sharply into J\clcl:lrrl's f:ice hy the high winds generally prc\'aili11~ nt the I :10011t six years ago. A son aged nineteen has high cnrl of "le c:dvnirc". Al 110 lime clicl lhe C:om- I now been in a sanatorium these last tht"ec months; he ~oughs a good deal, and nccort!ing to panr provi1lc him wilh nroleetion of any kincl :1g:1inst the dust. He bougl1t n pair of go;rnle<> to report, is s11ffcrin~ from "pleurisy", nnd infl;11n- nrolrd his cvcs. He cli<I not know that it was 1nalion of the .Jungs. .Another son, suffering Crom pnlmonnry disease of some sort, entered a. I rfnngerous lo inhnle the dust, hut since breathitrg in it wn~ not too p!rasant, he would periodicnlly I s:rnnlol'ium when he wns twenty one, tired of tlle i huy a mouth nnd nose mask at the villngc store. confincrnent after three ye:irs, and returnee.I home, \\'here he has been these fast three years. I He hnd to discnrcl these mnsks, since he could not When I visited him early Inst September, he wns clo his work while,wcaring one. shockingly ill but still on his feet. (Two or .\flcr some six month.~ "sur le calvairc", Adc- three weeks Inter, he died, supposedly of pulmo- I Jard Legan to feel ill effects Ile noticed a I nary disease). marked out-of-breath feeling nrtcr exertion; he Two of the older sons arc now working "in the felt vngue distiess; he tired en~ilv and he began woods", slate of health unknown to me. A son to cough frequently - a clrv congh, He consulted oged sixteen remains nt home; not workir.g. n local doctor :incl was told he had heart troulilc. Three other small children nrc still at primnry ., Jic was nclvisecl to go to the Thetford !\lines cUnl~ school in the village, -26- -27- _., ;- ..... ; r !r . ; ,1,1 ; ,' I i . 1 I '1i .,.: II l I _1Jl IfJ itiii' !~l! 1 I,1.f.l1j\ ' ; 1: ' I lj: ,I' Ii ' r.: ~-'??::rett t It.Mt &:dss --- -~~~~~~;,;.~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~ ,,,;,,.,.,,....,,,,,,,,,,,;""""""""""""""'"""'"""""'""'"~,~,~~r:=:r.:'~---:T:"!~ .. - ... -... ..". ' t:i o.-~.t;) !,. sz .:z:e:::a :: 0: :)!!# .<.,_u;::J::d\ tm: c:c :t;i!.L:tttltit1%:kM M 2.-.C::- '\ The la~t lime [ visilell this fnmily was in Sept- cmher of HJ.lS. ll was on n Thursday :tfternoun of a cold dny, and the wind was !Jlowing a thick storm of dust upon the house. All the windows were tightly closed, and hnd been conlinuously for !Je s nea tos r Jy dus f t our n hnd ig se hts ep.c a1Hl u in -d to ays th . e Nevert bouse h ele it s l s, ay asin visible degree on wrn<low sills nnd 1ierc nnd there on the floor, although the home wos clean <.>thcrwise. The air inside the kitchen-Jiving room in which we nsscmlJlctl was warm and op. pressiYC. The poor father, Adclal'll, sot Ly.the stove, nnd despite nil efforts tc U1e contrary, c.ouglletl :111d spat. The son, who was to die of higl1ly contagious disease a few weeks Inter, stood and swayed in front of the stove, coughing ant.I spitting. '1'11c three smnll children hnd co111e in froin school and hatl lJ\ought nlong some of tl1cir little friends; nnd in n corner of this room of pestilence, the group of seven or eight hncl settled down to the busy occupations of children. "' Conclusion re dossier~ detailed here. Asbestosis nearly nlwnys lends to pulmonnry tuberculosis or to heart disease, and frequently . to both. According to medical nnd government records, these workmen arc ill or hnve died of pulmonary tuberculosis or of henrt disease. Uut if proper consideration is given to the dusty conditions in which they worked for five, 10 and up to 25 years, one may say in all certainly that these men are or were victims of asbestosis and its complicnlions. It is asbestos dust that shortened their lives. These "orlrn1cll, ill or dead of :in occupational cliscasc, hnYe ncYc1 received compensation, although tl1cy were fully entitled to it )Jy way of both common Jaw antl of the 'Vorkmen's Comp cnsation Act of Quebec. They neYel' recci vccl com pcnsntion )Jy way of common Jaw hceausc they never brought suit for d:1111age :1gninst Ille CD111pnny; :111!1 they never hro11ght suit against tile Company Jiccause no one hns c\'el' informed lllem rcgnrdinr-: the nature of nsbeslosis. None of the numerous persons inlet 'icwcd, workmen presrntly ill, wit.lows, mid children of clr:id workmen, seemed to know anything nt all rc{-iarcling this cliscnse. Al lhi.~ point, the doelo1s in the :ishcsios reRion of Quebec IJlll.\t face their re~ponsihilily in this ( wlioJe ~iluntion. IIow can they explnin that t I,,.... ,, : ,1 " ... ' .,, , ,., ,. ,, 1 I,,.., ..., .. , .-._ T. ~ r f' ' J ;f ll 1 or workinl{ in this 11d11c and pl:mt? How c:in llicsc tloclors explain that they <licl not tell ll1cse \Yorkmen they were ~uffering from nsbcstosis, is) and that, consequently, tliey had right to comp- ensation? '\Ve do not know the answers to these quc.\tions. But what we do ~u10w that not long ago one of these doctors s:iiu, "lf /\we told the workmen of Easl llroughlon that they were affcctccl by as!Jc~tosis, it woultl cost lhe Company too much llloncy". The workmen of East Tiroughton, or their widows, ha\'c never !Jro11glit suit for c!11111:igc :1gai11st the Co111pa11y. Ant.! if they hacl tnkcn s11el1 nction, perhaps it woultl have given rise only lo other "l'roccs des \'cuvcs de .St-He111i cl' A111hcrst", the lesson of which should not he forgotten. The workmen of East Broughton, or their families have never received compensation from i.a Commission des Aecitlcnls de Quebec". T!Jc Ycry few claims they addressed to the "Commission" were side-tracked. Tile refusal of the "Commission'' to ;-i\vnrd co111pe11sation wns bused upon rnacccplahle pretext. For example: one of these workmen, ratally ill of an occupational disease, was told by a responsible official of "La Commission des ,\ccidcnts": "The government nwards compcnsntion in c:iscs of 'double silicosis', hut not in rnscs of 'simple silicosis'" This term "double silicosis" docs not exist in medical literature. There is no disease recognized .as such by the metlicnl profession. In outline, these cases arc like yery many of those at St. Hemi d'Amllerst: a Company abuses :111 employee }Jy mninlaining conditions of ,vork that must eYcntunlly and inevilnbly bring nbout his prcmnture death; the Company escnpe5 !ts responsibility altogether; the pro,i11cinl govcrn1ncnt sits by idly, Jrnowing of these conditions; the pro\incinl government rejects the employee's cl;dm to co1111)c11s:ilio11, ghing one fdYolo11s reason or nnolhcr lo justify its arlion, a111l llten c0n<le11111s his family to hopclc~s poYcrty by sane limoniously inscribing its name on the relief roll of the proyince. There arc liternllv hundred5 of such ea~cs in Quebec. Hesponsibi.lil~ for their c:dstcnce rc1ts 11po11 the Companics that tnke :uh:intn;;e of tl1c i1~norancc of tile porrnlnlion in mc:_clir~l mntlcr.~: \llJOll certnin cloctors who nre not fnlfillin~ lhrir // (/ II I . j ~ ,. ........ . .: I !,,, 1: I 1' I i' I JI t I i(l t!:ij' ~1 , ~' ~I ,fl.i ~ i ~uclt :d111sts; 111111 t1po11 socidy, which docs not i:1ist its voic<' in cffccti\'t' protest. Therefore, the mnin oh.icctiycs in this siltwtion :1t Ens! llrou~hton mar he simply oullined. Socilly as a whole must force the Comp:rny nntl the go,crnrncnt (1) to 1epai1 :is far 11.<: is po~siblc lltl \\Ton~ perpclr:itr<I upon thl'sc families, nntl (~) lo climi11:1tc ashcslo'> <ln<;l from the !lir being inhak1l hy tht''i<' people. If the second objective i-; not :ill:iinl'1l. trn;.:e<liC's such :1<: those dctnilC'<l hen wil! mnltiply in number in the very ncnr l'ut 111<'. '. I '' -IV- THE BAGGERS Twenty-four men who work in the plant operated by the Quebec Asbestos Corporation, but who ore not employees of the company. The <lustiest, :inti therefore the .most cl:rngerous, ta<.ks in this plnnl arc accompli\hcd by men 4~ or who nrc not rmployets the Quebec A'>h1stos Corpornlion. S[nce the work lhc<;c men do i<; :in ntl-import:mt anti intr~ral part or !lit' \\'!1rk tli:it l. must he done in tlw plant, why arc tltcy not em- ployees of the Comp:my? Surely, there mmt be an nnswer. \\'hat then arc the facts in this e:-;trn ordinary situation? Tbese 21 men nrc known in the pl:mt :is "bar.:gers" :ind "pilers". Their story will he told here l>Y wny of the story of n "ha:::gcr" whom, for the sake of conYenience, we shnll cnll Josc1)h. Jose1ih is n stron,:i. well-IH1ilt and vi~orous ~oung mnn nged nbout 25, a cnpable worker in excellent health. He hns worked in n lnrge room or on the first floor the Qur.liec Asbestos Corno- rntion nlant for these Inst four years. Into thh l room there enters many o;hutt>s from whi<'h a<;- I ohcmstoly.c; wCltith1nc thrcen1nl.lv:u1ftoirs "ihn:10gg1i11c1rga"tiofnal.loA; t cov1a1rlii1o11u1s- plaecs nlong n wall of this room, the fibre nccum ulntec; in great piles, nt the etlgc of which Joseph stands, n shovel in his hantl<:. He bends down I cl0~e to the pilr, scoops up a great sho\'cl i full of the fibre, turns :11111 clumps it into a hnr- lap hng h<.'ltl out widc.op<.'n tD him by a frllow. worker. The fnllin::: of the fihrc onto the floor \ n11cl Joseph's shovdling comhine to relcnsc into tile air n wry lnn:e nmmmt of <lu~t. in which Joseph is working with lowered hcn1l an<! breath- ing deeply. For this is :i strcn11ot1<; ioh, and more- over, he is working nt top sprc<l, sin('c he is -31- .. .., ' 'I. ,. 'I',:._,\ !r ' l I:. !. l "1i;: '1 ' I 1 i::i: :1!I 1 ,, ':i I'!,.. '!l'[ii 'i: j !, I I I ! 'I 'I 'I i' 1 'f~ I' 1 I I ___,..../ ,,/ paitl nccording In the 1111111hcr of.. lrn1::s he tilts. After he hns filled fifty hags or so, he ch:i.nr.:cs places with his companion, who tnkcs a turn nt shovellinA', while Joseph holds the bng> open lo receive lhc fi11rc. As n hag is lieil'lg filkcl nn<.l the fihre slrnken down compnctly into il, consitlernhle dt1st is shot directly up into Joseph's face, since he Is st:111cling over the !mg nnd looking down info it. When n bag has been fillecl lo its proper limit, Joseph, who has heen hol1lini:t n nccillc In hntHI, sews it up in n few deft movements. 'l'hc hag is then picked 11p hy n "pilcr", who slncks It on ot the room. Fifty or so b:igs others at n f:ir end Inter, Joseph returns to shovelling, {llld so on throuRh his working hours. It hns heen menlione<I previously lhnt the ns- lir~los dust on the i.lnirways nncl floors of the plant is JJerioclicully collcclctl hy "clcnners". This parliculnr dust ls CY!'ntually <lcpositecl in n lnrge clwmher, ahout SO x GO feet in size. '~ Twice n week. lite "baggers" nncl "pilers" must enter this room lo bag the clusl it conlnins. For this dust is sold for good n1oncy. All of the dead ly dust :it l:lrgc in the plant or belched clown I ' upon the Yil1:1ge is Yaluable nn<I salalJle. Aud . or since devices to c:wture practically all il nt its point of origin hnYe Jong exislecl, it must lie conclucled that frtilurc to imhll them is clue lo n mnle\olence or to n stupidily heyoncl compre- hension. Aflrr all, purchase nncJ installation of ' .~uch devices colllcl he paid for by sale of the <lust they capture. or At any rate, Joseph and his companions work at top-speerl in the "clust cltn111her" for hours :it a time. twice a week. When they first enter the l'h:\111!Jer. tlir elm! p:id;ccl clown upon tlte floor is more than knee-high, :rnd into it tl1cv wade an(l work actinly. Every movement the'.~' mnkc stirs tll) the (Just, :incl the nir they hrcatl1c is filled with visible and invisible particles of the 111i11crnl to a point th:it clefies cle.scrip!ion. Finallr, the men slngr;rer out of the cirnmher, choldng. coughing :incl snittin[.!. their clothing, 1 hands ~nd faces. cncnislrcl hrnYily by clmt. They shnkc off :is 11111ch it ns they can. n111l rrlllrn lo fliC'ir 11.~11111 nl:icc of worlc. not much Jes~ dnslv than the "d11sl chnmher" ilsclr. or .To~enh :incl hi.-; 2:J co111pnnio11~ ate rrnl pro- ''icled du~!. with protPclion of n11'' TltPre is 110 nl:ice in kind n~;ii11$t file i111111edinlelv oul- ~iclr tl1r 1>l:111! In which llt\'Y l':111 retire fot: t'\'Cll nnc hrtnllr of 1lr:i11 frrsh nir. Tltr 0111~ li1111 lhrv - -------------- -- ,, gel nwuy from i11crcdil1ly lic:ivy co11cc11lrnlio11.~ 1 of clusl cl11ring working hours h wl1c11 t11ey cal their midworking dar 111eal in the foul :111d di~ \ ea!:ic-producinl{ "dini11g-roo111" previously clc- spclnric!cJedcn, l!oercl wnhetoniletht eryoormet.ire to the a!Jo111innldc 1 After his work, .Joseph walks cl0wn lite hill lo ! his ho111c. Some of tlt1~ cf115l he !t15 inli:ill'cl <luring his working lrours ha.s mixed \\'ilh lite 111oisl !ieerclions inside 111c !ta.~ hnrdl'ncd, :ind hi!! no.5tril.5. This r:tl;cd lite in~idc 111i:\this 11f . nose so thickly that he can hardly brr:1llte " tl1rougli it. \\'hereupon, he rnnst stick a fmgi:r ti up his nostrills, and di~ out Ilic cakes of h:lnkn. r cd clust - a process th:1t frequently injures lite lining of his nose, start.\ no~clilccding, ;ind opens I the way widely, or rather, invites i11fcctio11. CJ11 arrival home in his <lmt-laden clothing, Jo~cph mually finds the hott\e tightly closed a;.:Jin~t I the storm of du~t oubidc. :'l!ueh clust ha' 11e\e1- thclcss St'<'ped into it, ancl he lltercfore inhalr~ ll!Ol'C Of ii. Presently, .Josrph is iu c:-.ccll~nt hcallh. Ile cough<; very 11111ch 111orc frenqllcnlly llt:i11 docs :111 l1tallhy 111a11, hut this docs not bother .hint too lllllCh, since he is \llla\\':tl'C Of ifs ~ig11ifica11ce, About a .Year ugo, he caught n touch of the "grippe" and becoming <darrncd rcpnirecl to the <"linic :it Thclforrl :\liill's for x-ray cx:i111in:itio11. Ile was tolcl th:tt e\'CI') lliing wns i 11 goo1l (lrckr. .lo'icph is 111nrriccl; he supports n wife, lti.5 f:ithLT, und !tis brother's child. Joseph's brother, whom we shall enll Arthur, is now 2ti ve:trs old. He ltacl worked "in lite clllsl" nt the Quebec AslJl'stos Corporation pl:int for :1'>011t n )'car and :t half wl1rn an :1e11te ntl;1ck of "plcllrisy" knockt'd lti111 out. Arter rc~linl{ :it home fo1 .SOllll.! lime, lie rel11rncd to l1is work. Four more Jllonlhs "in lite dt1\I" w;15 sufficirnt lo l<noek hi111 out pcr111a11c11lly, :111d he was sent to u sanalorit1111 where he is locl:iy: cliJw1osis, "pleurisy", pulmonary disease. Arthur co11glis a soo1l deal, :ind nceonlinf.: lo reports, is still hring- ing up out of his respir:ilory ~y~tcm "le colon". Tlte men c:ill aslic.slos fibre "le colon", and have learned to rceogni7.c il.s presence in the gluli11ot1s massC'~ they .snit out. 1\flel' At lllur's trn;.:edy hnd takrn cllfinile form, pul111011:iry Ill !Jerculosis t11>on, she~ Jll:111ifeslrd iointtl lii111 ilscff in his wife; thrrc a~ i11111~le of lltr .~:tnnfo riu111. Jo~eph recci\'C'il !tis !Jrolher's rllilll into his home, which l11Q11gli .rnmcwhnt <lu\ty, pro. vi<lc<l ;i roof ove1 ifs he:id. ,,. ... ; ;. J I . l 'l (, L. 1:), r i1i ~ I ilIiljl1: I; Ii!~ ii:, If LI~~!r,il ,, I i ~. r or ?\o one bee hns lw!1li11~ position nf m1thurit ht'~l>s .~OlllC is Cd\:'l1'1I'1~tcorlodusJotsot'phli\s thhcantllihnhulntiyoninof(.\t:iics- thnt the yonni.:cr Ilic 1lnst oilsdenr olwo<rlknenruseroinus,t.he Ile s:1ys fhal J)laat insist ytloliusngscorew. orTkheirss Jnorcsepskhepitsical but thnt nnd tmeasy the on ro111pa1m1iaonns; an cl the s:wie in work. T m u n y f }Jc ine sni d i nte of llig hi.~ ent :.!3 the tl'ulh of th< c o t H l i t i he ons group hearin do i:: cs nol down know sliyet.ehneBitt-rhct raoitnudgishtohbueetrgei.nniAngndtothdeismcoosvter1iirtolmwb.phazuaprcoln- t1hleet'Ppr:rr<n>dcrsvtuhhortnheaug1goeur1>- is the ing !Jcginning nn emo sign of a ncco1111ilislt11:11elino!ns i C tlw of tltn l t i fe, nr c n ncl soc i t h a t tion vital to can lcncl to t nngu is kept under c:iollnytroclo.nslrucli\'C Death on the installmcn~ plan :\Ian\' "plll'rs" i1n1n1I1bihs apvleanwt orlcl'c! us "baggt'l'.~" :mil 1no11thc;. n c:n1sc they yc:ir or coulll lwfoo.r anns1lshloiarvt en tpheerniodl 11s ~iaxs wIs e nt ' ll l ipnhyl ys i cr ea:lilsyD ntl: t hnloe lo lo nger ~!nncl ! :t.\su111e llrnl eft he dust the~c . h cIt lltt111 m:mv ll'tXinlrdaso.rcFleinwnril:1.\1'11s:uigse1elepltoih1l1c dn:rec lo infe lliat 111en left dili,;ns for out conlrac a pcl'imoieln ocf11nfhw'rorlok uItn'ldl 1:r succtihoncsono.f prenwturc ling n11 clcalh. ashcslosis that years with will lead lo f:et us return or which exemp to the specific case Should he :inotlicr t colniftiicn'u\ ethteo cwasoerkof "tihne 23 .Joseph, other mrn. for J o s e pwho , i st h rfei lel eodr four with years, thtielero<aldustn",hcfaodr jmoiinses ryhisnnIJdrotnhhcjrc,clnlspooverty tbmemfoerreitcchle dfiisneaalsley, the To tghreaYJcJC, rls\focndiwcalliolitcr:1!h1e1aredei~d rirecipitous!y full of such c for tchriartnlitfhiced tipnryoghniot sis would given qh1e1raer,rclwwe ilmh igthhitsafuens-. rnml in :my the life of an pinr1o1gocnoeof1s1idso,uls>htoulhldnt exists in snY It, ns be clL~rcgnrclcd: :it stalcc. t man 1111<1 of his fllmily is an Dionrdliovrisduwahl oun1tciflt1sxc-rto reconnize 11~bestosi-; 111 nnrtcruien psicrrliuotr1c~ o<f'l'wl'OhI'a, tX-n1y,1syscodnofinrmot its tircscncc nlwnvs ~lvc .w1 lhteoa\i'nYhaplreospooyrtcironn perihondnpoef ntsimtoe o the nir clnodn!tvu1icnl1i1na~l uo trhe<vyeatl!othneotonresveet aol rii.l~ifteasb<leisstcoassc:dunsnt<;I !hey frecrnc !IOI progress or even its nllv. exist- -34- '11'. f ... t._ icm11pnoratat natlny,nwdvh:einnccxd-rsnlar;s.:r. /.\lorco\'cl', :ntd 111ost 1'-1'111ucccholfoothelntdei,setoase in nn inddiovidc1o1n:iflirimt isthe cxbt h T is he r m e aln is r ly hu t h a > dboechoimme aninyc1u-r(0nohdl;c!Jy tno l:ite, that time, fp:irloaulllycmill of aosnliee>tion<\;cisll.i,qJcon<t>epnhppro:icnhn<l tof:1tthael. the 11 d u s t " . H_hc con Elimina t t in e ues \he to work dust \\'ill nntl to become live "in 1t11t - contr:td arc and this this ran disease. he 1!onc whos from his - :ind lie cnvironwill nut or difficult to scpnr:ilc x-ra oonfteenfriormnpos~eioclcom-p-litcoutrcedcofgonrimzes y techniques. the other .Uy way of :iL'o\"uht aatsbheasstosbieseins cscariud in the above p:ir:1gr:ip The rather go\'crnmcnt mixed lo my reaacltliyonnsnnloirca!tJhlec tPorosivlicosh!.i ~ htielre";llchlnattioonnse", ol\f:i:ricrlhicHleM"SL)n cSninlincootseh"e (puLil1i1~ll'ital gcncrnl i11<'0111pclf('JHthermof !sIciin.~cgsov In illu\!rdac!ct:tiIllcitcl cn with new gtohveervnrmoebnlct meoronfmio>ccupntioll a1l111tci 1i <1>!e.l1osc~d. eal stn<!y the ~io11 has Jic A t Cofom:1sm1Jicsss!ti>sil<>;.l'l;bTlrhnet fOi rf s tsiJnineotH~il<J.l,l.lec:1r nJ d cn set 11p lo !ll'C\tllll:dJ!V <g'oOvllefCrm'rcncnotn ewmnpslolyo t.socnLclonndopnrominenmtovdeocotforthi1i1s wschlsiccdulccn!c.es Thoins ioscct1h1ep:1stiaomnnl nnddi.<;Pea:ist'ci<-;;, wwheerrce h of the four plieteopgloeveorfnEmn<e>ntt lhlla'<o;umg eet 0111 tile- prhoulnr~ktnlwioinths tl'ip nyflecnrrs:.moAthnenroubnycrt.mcnt hton for of one more tl1an cxncnsi, ltloic hpcnrrb,licth. ewree, and nee d e v e ;ovcrnmc rywhere, nt ::ill f u n n a cl ic i l o 11a fo1 r i e c s out one galore ])cforc sillglc effec !ripno:rtnrls:iay(.terPrtorimp,ishesu by passed the dust being ti\'c ad to inhnlrd by tehleismeinvactoepor to t ncYcr ctintrol <llT'tnilaendpsroibmlmemcrl:iint teEast lJroughton lc. is ncule ploco1v>ahr' ioofusE:1dstisBl:rnt nnocintitosn,1'fnotthedelruaxrte , 111111 \'Oy:igl'S tshise,irtuhbornrrtorlosis, rohuegahrttonc!inscrensrci;ddthleed byh:.1sl>Tl.h~toc . knows nnd l'n llli~.r nArcmpalveaila:nibdlc,nuntnhd the facts in :ill government \ / g hnl:ition ion inc of tring lit nslwstos ernlu dust rc ha on !ohreilsnutibvjcect11o1cfdicin:1-! (/~ \ 111~iloy fnvt1il1eil:igliolc\clron1i1t.1cnt I T s for ybeeaerns,in01theh:1Jc);O~~ll>'r~c'in ' here runs disc:isc is !ihnceuirnnehslCeapa!Jhlrenurd;::rh:oiinnt: liIdl<le; lil(rnture rc!>u forms, not; it issonmtelisoefn.~wc hic' hnnndrc fat:il; it f:imilinr t.1l;rs :rnd lting m:my tltnt cnn he prevcntetl others b; ron- -35- i i J 1 I I l/ ;I ' ~"' .., ... ,;;. .i I: uy Lllros'llien1l1!viMro11mc1e1lti;mmincantninsgsothe dust In the.work. he applied. cessary nnd These few immediate to facts do exist, indicate n111! the cnn ne- Quebec Asbesto rtchgenrpcrlninbglctmhe artefhinaenmd. Ansytepksnotwoletd:1gkec ntoequsoirlcvde rnngcmcnt set him up w11.~ scoCnocrlupdoeradtiwonh.ereAbnydththe eCreom1111 ar- ... 1L1o1cnndt othnnlnnmiu~lPitarwis coennfetsreonfcethseisdisaenaseemubteltlhiesshe cntrncily bag nil ns in business as "contractot"'. :n:\fr". cNoandtrc:~icutor". pany Jn his i.llps have !Jcl!n ell wnlt taken. until after the ohvions For <n:nocml pt:orntsheet atshhecslboasgsfib:irsei1lnerofdourccsdhipinm tnhgercJc)dhn!tt',) to the tla menn plant, whilc, where Jose the ph is fitnre tru of d g i n g u1> the hill af0n1 nerarchy hl:1ig~reoc!fI fliobrnenynrchpinmrC':1i lsmfonrll comenn1ti. ~sTiohne I ily lo his life, make n which pnymcnt of n it contr:1cte1l fel>we:iutholmlnerestsuphoimn noood d:aiyn'gscmnacyntfotrhnhtimJs)eerlmf, itleBrul t h:\im sIhnincmo<ll'encl t - n 'J';' h:ileonff.i(r~ttheWll"innlestoofw:omrkintshtearlelmefno1t n-lan s-omcwwhhe;nit 111oncv lo work doi1c. 1rnv Whe Il re ic up me on, n I 11crc~.>:I1rr. yNtnod lic c.iu ~cl kHl lite lo Com Ij,;.: I ls is even now running exchanging; \cry short soo . of lhTchcisomyom11o1d1gitymhane lwngiwveeelk\!sr.<lNuraindie.!authen !iclhlleccikn nt Ilic nran1d1y ofagcraccchil nllo~ctl1 er. n he will nm out of it wa:o; in fo "uhnnogn~rrIlsi"c r ce - ! 1111101111l l i e h s e i ze of t wo11l1l which he chec nc<'<I ! k hr to cnntr: clcpc ict nd Why are not Joseph, the "bagg wown comm:imsscilo"nn. ilTrnl11"1satnlrmth-erenetn rntlcos. rnnl1v1~ !hliise I eek ncriorl ~incc d of c:ich t ;Ir "pilers" employees of the ers" and the Quebec Asbestos C"coomnptrnnncyl.orH"e. he 11:i.'il\!rrr.crNiv:f-i'dcfl'atnt chhaesck!Jferroomme!wao ',I/,I' I Corporation? nays his his own men i tu n rn ca s s h t . his the che am ck ou ln nt l l o ef t n1011ev, ov he and ' I shall not nltempl to ans 1 not nclunlrlcym1:r1n11irnrndfeiop1e1n. di\efnr.t Nhnurslcau !l1rerdrohrl~'!iniRs .i, i toirodni.naBruyt aI rrcaonngteemll etnhe precisweeref!fhecetsnbthoivsc eqxutreas-- fhre:icit<o; r"finh:yincthcde Cfhormounf.{hout hi.;; icnaerseserrna:isn, s~icnonre bJoecseAphsb:e:mstuosofChoirsp23 ct ohmaspaunpioonns,thuepofnortthueneQsueo-f nsct"-1c1opntrfnrocm!or"which Lnuncvie.n JNnadoethaeur cwmoredr!~{.csthnis 1: cial J(Ovcrnment. oration, and upon the provin- for him arc is n fake. legally his Uni Ilic men employers. who s work dgeearsu" Jao!sldep"hp.ilaenrsd",thaarct eismplolosyneyes hoere the "bag- is The nrofit suffic-icnf lJo\frs. uNnnn1olerat11ltrirollrcls :is "ronlractor" . Jf Lucien Nade:iu is f Lucien Na- cnnornmlooyrcec.sTwheirtehfolrheC,' hnerois unnsarlbflea1Hlol nfarmoli'li\il.o nlnlicsJ Quebec Asbestos ;i the T'l:mt for som a former Corporation. employee of Ile worked the in lwigiesnhcecs. tof\Iao\'rociodvcsre, rihous cflcrncr!glocns olfiecrlinmlli'inf.nl ifnehge I1;1 f acm:ipoancgitnthlced vfiolrlnw~coerrs2k0.thyacIttnriss, gaenndertahlelyn tb1e1cHalcmrseloiond :tbOllf tJie he knows dangers Of relatively einnoJkti:nhioJianwl~isonrcolrat:hl~c!JlCy.\fnO~otdh11i~nIg; J .' hy Ilic "si w lic on o l s is". (Throu "nshc.~losis" g h f\Ir. out tNliacdeaasbuesistosaffrlei~citeond cwluhsitchheicnog11lifnl haclliminnlc or nhout the dnicps control !his deadly I '' ; the men contract <liscrimi!1nlcly ca ia thesememinsestaabnodo. pTlahnets iilslneinss ndiicdkeJli:-ityoe such lerndowhylcdhgics. ehnemlodyoeces~:no:tin1d if he hlc tile or silico~is: illness to 1l1le1dcn!li1o1n1Jocrrrt1nlnoysis woorrdhetayritn !rn1t-- stallation. pay for their cost of purc11nse 1:1\'e n :me! in Snrh thdr C\'asion f:unilir nsbcstos being serves lo keep grncrnlly g up :ivoiclcd. tile wodrn1cn lfrenalrnt!ioJincy(IflllnrtssV!Jiehnavleinree, r.swinrdciengiLlhnelladvasngwerha!cnv1rurl stos Enter Mr. E. months E. Spofford who was up to a few dust.) Of ill '' '. After he hacl h""n ,,,., nr ().,t"'IJ..a"_go ~ge neral manager of tfi,.. '\. ~ ,.. ,O' po,,tion. l\fr. ~-~::', . . Donnell, son - 1n - .~~~~~:*;':l~~~:~j:')?i;,P~J,~~t~~T'~tj~~~~~~'r~:T.,~~;:"(;:t:~:~,~ -;''.,;~i:~~~y"~ .J,-.,,::t1}\~~f}\. ~~.;,, .~1;;t'1 t..w to tho Primo ( Minister of C.1nJ \'1-1'>~'$i~_'t<'\>ct'~~,l>ib'<.'._,f.1'.}~I,,,J~,\~/,t q:',!(.:j~..Ic,l tni /i:d~~;~~:'; \,~~ >t d:>, Mr. Louis St. L.1urent, acted as 1; lcg.11 ,j-'~1/~o/~; ~'":~Al,~"t..\\.i'frri.'~,~~Ft~;\!.~.,;,-f~~,f;':'.\,-,t~f,~~:<~E;,~~sf>.~;2,;~~~'~tll~..ii.~;'~'1,/:>'.~1; f."';,'~ counsel lo '.. , vt the "TI m m i n s :' l"i group" implicated ~ r":' ~'.,~,$~;,,; ~,-~; ~'""' f,u'}~'\Z\<~":ift:l-r~!j,lr~.~..~~~~(-,;:,11\~f~&~:<1tc:1l;~'/,~, 1 J.if ,) ~ ~, in tho I : . Jff.iirc". "silicosis T ; ; ~ ' '< ,jf<.,~_,...._~, r ,i:/.'\,1.i..:'r"~'f'.,.l"'<''y.'~ . ,!P:..:1W~! .~,,:~)ol::i,.<.n~ . ~/.;'~.( I c.1llcd he so"rectifica- ~ .. . ' ' '~~l':1,-',kt~1;.' "_.,.,,~~,:\;",~~r{~<v.. 1} t~:1 !,J !~ft"! ,;t..},;,).~. ~- 1' " \~j::.'i:':.p<.::\<I.',\1.i.>: '."'.><' L?~-'~14 tion" of my ;ir!icle 1 ~' ".,.,,,. ''~;,,.. ' " '" ~( ..... '~(, "L.1 Silicose, de St. >' -~~- .. Ji', < ' U'. J,.'.:"i"'i :'.;, \<>jl,'",,' a ' ,. ...:J,,1;'"' ' Reinl d'Amherst l'Ung.w;i" by "Re- ... .,i ~,. ~: j. ~'"A,,.uJ.1-'-,:--,7""*''' } ', .;."r..<.~)J'.f>!\''y, 'W -{,'1"'.fJ'.'t',',./,.~.l,.1,t, .'":'~,.,>,f-i:),;.;.',,:~,"~J'..;.1~~;~J:>~-~".,'!.,,' "'--~'"1,{ "' J ~ t"- 1' I -. ,l(t:-~,~;>. c\>{i-~: I. lations", and tho subsequent refus;il ) t1 \ , ,.'n~' y-,'U.,,r-;J/';ti;-<1."H~1V-~""';/'.f~/,.~:1.",,'',~;'"'\''.t<,:,.,~-~',>,.(d/I.l/I,,i~"., r'\''f: : ' l ,.f;.,'t>\.. : 1. of "Rcf;itions" to pri<11 t any reply by ;~n$14 ,,J, .. ~1\~~~f~~1t~,.J/"!4~~,l.~"~"t,;::-t f.f;_~'r1(:f.;\. ' !l Yl~.:,,:-., ~ I mo to cled;it;itions ' I ~ , " " ..., J I:, ~ . " .-f...,)...)..'~.'-..,,t1,;.-; ' '~ );''.-J."~""~ mJdo either publi- : ~~ cly or privJfely by : .~- .~.~...<"'- ;1--~'.~ the " T I m m i n s ;t . .... \f ,,_,~'A/;4,~J').)'1('fi'i A/": "-1.,.._~n j,.~,.;/ }' ,.. (' ' .. \ ' 1 'C)'{ ~": f ~. j.l ' ,{.,,:,L, group'', wero M. Hugh O'DONNELL, K.C. brour,ltt ;ibout pcr- ~\"~ flhei.t1sypsisohnc:ihvifoeofrlbyseoebmny ewMyere.lal-Orks'.nDoownnneltlo, wthhoosoC;binrialdlilaanncelca~anld parboi-- ~I f e On llow occ -\vo n> rlc io cr n s s h in av e t he p:rst, Jo co1111ilainetl seph :tl){)llt and liis work co11dilio11s lo l\!r._ !)paffor11. Joseph tells me ing that _ p"oYonro:ltilhlieorlsone''n, oooctcr wn"soiIorkndsof, onr'lt\ltrh.kenSo(pw)nufefyohorecucl",Ahs:hiscslursepClioerd- !. nothing- 1 1>0-;ition lo is do with you". unimpcacliuhle. 01 "I l\fr. Sp:iffor11's But one 11:1\'c legal wtir:nilcke:1dgot,oJo:1s1e10p11h1,11h apvairntg offin.itshletepdl:hmi~ clay clay's so111cwo1k, JHrlling' n il. It is dgar!.'Llc 011! forhidden to of l11s t, 111cn[1\\'l!ile poeket an<I l1ghl1ng smoke in ~ JSop<:;1efpfohrrsl,mockominign-gnunlionncgidennt t Ilic this JJ!ant. 1110111cnt, l\lr. saw lo Joseph hcing fired hail rcpnirell to tllc from Com that Jell promptly his job. After Joseph four times, l\Ir. Spaffor,!] pany oCfic-es finnlly tol<l him three or he conlcl iI fgoonJlinhcnks ttohewooorkw. crAtnorJhrsiongnpapbaoruetn!lliyte, }s.uJrm. mSp::i1rfy I , ' dismissal of though they these men, or ~o arc not legally lus ch1i1r1eplotyh~eesm. , nl- Nntur:illy, 'I plaints 11pon the men tlo !heir JPg:rl not vress cnmloycr, thc~r co~u- Lur1cn 1 I ilt'atr. ~Ht is as litlplcss :is llH'Y :ire. Nu- l . -38-- '. ""'".i1eaW.P'4iif-~~;pao;>PCSU::uilt IQ I U.P Nri"C bAit~-=u> .. Occupational dis!!ascs in the United States. or Tile these next men fac.:tor or imporl:111cc re the ~t;1tus should !Jc introducc<l by way ans cp:iinrat~hrenpUh n oi tne dt hSet a theiss.t o r Tyh eo fs uolc!cjuc1cJt:-oitiron:1! u{ tlis- crns Ilic trndc<> has occupied Arncric:in people for tile clo~e da1Jglrnllention of n101c titan ,i\nn<tIhewUh.iSl.e arwcorfkai1r11fr-o:1Jc1ointldciatli,onYCs't'Yhere JU years. allll l11ere lt:is licc11 111:i1le in sirnhlc remit hns solving the great prolilclll. been :1chievc prngr ns Tlti<> ill part Jiccausc rights to )iring wu!'lrn1e11 have tl in very exercised da111ngc suits nga large t11cir who m:iilllaincll in his place of unhcnl!l1y business. in\t nn e111ployer working co11t!itio11s found hi!Jlself bdng suc<l l\\'O 01' ns !Jl:tllY :1s JO, Such :in e111ployer in Culll l ]Jy one or of pfo i11g yees :rny :lllcl wltcr t e heir from 15, 23 fa111ilic.>. e 01" ach llJOl'C or tl1e111 hi~ C'lll el:1i111- In i 11 innt1111cralilc f:1vor of cnsc$-1;,5 ,s0u0c0l t l os u$i~tGs.OwOOr r cn nddec! lilcOlcr!ci the sf:mding l>y :111d t111ploycc.~ .~inc employee<:, encouraging socict v 111e:rnwliilc <;t1d1 ;1clion l>y Ilic 1\e1yonc society 111:11 c il w f1erc as rccog11izccl w:1,<; nclion Jiy !Ital p r:1clic:illv Jiendilcd parfics. a<; n whole, Tile crnployer ns well got out no; lite of the inlcrco;led trrullI a> hr.~! lie roulll pel'i('JJC'C in 111:111y cnsr>. JllC'>'> lie krd a \'1ry ex1JL11sive exlie :tl~o 111ad~ ft111pt low:rrcl cli111inalion of tl1c dilions lhal hnll !Jrought di>n">lcr :111 :1lworkin" ton- ployccs, so :1s io avoid .\nrl ii' ht did 110! lta1c rnorc St'nsc suito; en upnn l17s c111in tlic f11!11re. ~trp that of hi.~ own nrcord. the h:1nrllrd his lrn~incss i11\o1u1rgnhnclco ctoa11k1e11:t1h11iys in no 11nccrt:tin rnnnnrr. nrudded ltirn into it News of such dc\'ci))J 1!1l1le.\1n1hrnnsep!.'rcurcol111r:pi:pinidyl:voffaimeio:inlsg, intlllstri:ilists :ind rn:rnr of whn1J \'ol11nlaril:v look steps 1 pJ:1c!.'s of Jrnsinc~s dan1:1g-c suits down conldoitciloinrn~int:l1it:1e! in !ILC'il' O\\'!J might !iring in~ the rcoo1111cnltirtiyo.11asndin111u1pcnosnclytheimmo. rn1Ascdr!.t'shumltu, !.';\l'1n0rkut- !Yrnse :rn<I an r<lnc;equcnt incalcul:1!Jle :rn1ou11t lr:igedy nvcrterl. It i~ of disenlirr- snfe lo 1ns11r:rncc Sr<ol:mI' pl:hr:nilicnsil oAf m:i1c1ryic:cmonseemqpuleonyceers haa1v1<el been 11hout ftolrte.n~eowmnmll(n'rnsy. :vcnr.~ co111plct<.'ly infnrmcrl Nullification of common low in Quebec. , The nr,rnn C.orpornt1on gmen :md t hclwec Lucien n the Naclc Qu nu ebec ,\<>br\fos de~poils "bnggcrs" nncl "pilers" of the rii;ltt which the Amer- -39- $-A $ CL--- ' I''! j; r'. : . 1~r f. j ; I " ~ I I ' ... .p 0 p ~,j fi: 'i I " ~~~LL-------------- 1;;cruus ..c!i sal11tarY 11 rc 1\s!Jc~tos occ11pulio11s have excrclsetl effects: In other words, t!1c tacli and all of Ids "e111ploycr.\ r11:t1111t/;,0'c~ll1le1c1o1rnpklclyCporroplcocrla_cti<o~ n.hYhnws nbyeeonf, nnd lliis is, ar- a m1111her lllOrc, the of praclic:tlly ", penniless mrn set-up as "e lh:il is I> ~:iy, 111c11. Furtltcr- liy 1l1c from 111cn who tile poss11J1llly lrnvc prcp:ired, r>1cp;11inu. nslJc~to.~ of or dumnr,:e who urc sllils now lhlciacnA~llllicr."~ll1o:s1gCgot"rrps'o' r:uaJtCiIon"paimlrecpl1o1yrnenrlsly" 1b1y111tchlteoOldntc:r- plan!. Aud let men who pe 11s filJJ'c for remembe r s hi111 that nenl thes o e ut :i o re f its tl1c 11re men who, incnpaci t:1fe<l like J.11cie11 for work. rs"; \'l'l'Y often llr.'Y Nacleau, l1avc l1rco1ne mrs work inrftohremptlialne!.dustiest ml.LI most clungcr- is even one or now srriously ill rnol"e of .Joseph'.~ One such "c111ploycr'' at East Brou:.:h!on. Tltus BrTouhgehrelonarcwhmoanhynvmc enlcgiintinthwis category at Enst prouaLly !Jc cle;HI ill enough lo .\lie hy "emplorcrs" rnny quite the filllc Joseph hcc>nics mon I:1w fo1 irrep:1raulc lhem, and conditions in tc dnmngc elnims in conimittcll comupoa it is vc1r for c!iffic11lt to <lamn:.:c auai11 rl:1111:1gc. To rnnkc good snr n Ilic lc:i~t. clnint for itnhetihre nnuomt hdei1stanwtilflu be suthbestnpnlatinntllayrcausugmchenthteadt .\I hrnr the other pronounce a dead m:111, side of the since the Court lllt1st story bdorc it C<tn j1 ::1tulreeahdny\icnliged,dcthrir rtiugrhe.ts~otronebroinf gthseuseit mfoern dhnamve 1dg111cnt. One 111igl1t say tlr:il .lo.\ep r\'en if :rny lind the of vtlotelvscr.clpru:ipcotincnltlhyeinrcnfnaimleislisesp. roUpultc, ill, s11e w!10!e th lot e Ot1eher. of his "c A~hcslo> lllp li coulcl, C:Mpor c111 atio !Jeco111ing n :111d tile 1!011btrul )Jring 111oncy lo lhnt . nny pay for legal lawyer would services, it Lindcrtakc is to 1~r11l1m11oe~tlimaney. laTwhyise is a lporyocsrpsr"c, t:i!llhanft woon1e1lc:!mc11l 1I:illcice <lama;:;c suit on their bclwlf. To illustrnlc the nbovc: Jct l ifnohr a:!mntvionclnomf nagscbrt~hrl:1oftsaimn!nyourlorimg-ehLlolleJo;~iwepnhsilCJirloimty Josc1>h ng:ii11. lhe next fire ycLnerst , usorassumeusth:u1stesothmeetci:misee ion! thnt he wonlcl of eollecting hnvc prd:imclticlatnllsy!J1c10rncshoanccliesn:e1rtseaclll . co next ten ycnrs, Joseph work and fntnlly ill, becfoomr e~soiondc:ampaecaistu:irtec,u the for ~-. Lnw drsign even a penny by lo prolrct basic way of lrnman C1rnrls ri.!:h t~. of tinues to he hns lic inhale as he asbe~tos surely will if he condmt in the rr11nntity Co Jwohseenp I1heu'eebcn1ecci1noehalloinIg>rtlhllef!seu'IanmstaIf:ocurSlYll'ctnr1s11. S(h' oultd .o T<> str 111 ltf> nclusions 'flie . cpalaseyear,gaLiuncstien!lmlrNeasdielal,u.heBumt uifsthseueshhoiusldlewgailn euhmris-, Qnrh<"c ~~~u.l. ~". Asbestos . C o r i > 1o1lr'rnnt'11 g C' m edn l s ' !0 I>e l l"wecnt 11 1tc " 1111 sue l con r~c $15,000 to the-Courts $25,00. 0N:ninddcamu,orheeuscuaanlnlyotawco:m!IPl1.c!td the hy Lucien ~ Nadeau hnng about the follow mg Na1le:i11 a small in docs nsoutchhacvnesetshein mthoeneUy .St.o, since 1[r. pay even ,,hi:1) buf,h;dcenCoomr.pparnoytcds1n1.v1rgs money Ille by throwing change fpoar rtlifoef sonrr.hhesnultmhs. , Olinttele meingohutghsnyin tehx- n pnlulemnberfroofmdtmr1n1h1a1yln"licomnJJolofynsbes"tbon~gi.d:uersst" anll upon Joseph again.st could tlicn lhc Quebec institute A~hestos suit for Corpor at rl<llll:tgc I cnn ass11mc thnt burrlen. 2) Tlic Compan crs", none 0f wl10111 frnlll itnheg Cthoemrerrbnynyt.o BcsuttahJloisshephjo'sinltegrcsJlOantisoihni,lilsyeeokf- !!-l'<ls!l1t11lc i!c1larCnagc ysuiit.s<:nlwmhoiscthcotmhepsleetemlyennrmoficgchtt- he infinitely more complicntecl al problem than that. will Lucien Nailcau hu.~ been nn 1ss1!e hnv111J{ ourt ng:tin.sl ii, lhi~ bccomr rnt:rnglrd wl11d1, if not in~u1mountnhle, nspect of the in Jcg:ililir.~ Aonsll;vcsnlosshoCrotrrtrinmren.llonAs n "employer" for "lrnggcr" nt the (lucbec m:rnr yenr:~ of. cosli)' li.tigalion wonl1l rcqnirr lo clise11t:111glr. hweorkbeecc!omfoers tihllrrhce suwcihl1>"lnenmt,plJooyseeprsh", hnnnsu nhlrccfaodryc 3) !'!!ell 111 TnfhelhCr'n~nll'1c"111.in:li1glget'rr.1~"gli:1l11.cl!o nrotcclion which "Jlilers" pn~-;e~~r~ or three more bility for nny such. dnnrn~e l nrobnblv Therefore, work legal for two resnon<;i- ot common la.w rvcry step Ill is urossly the game. \'JOl:1ll'd :incl nullificcl rest upon other such incurred by L"uccmipelnoyNca~csl"c.nu :incl four, Joseph five 01 will six :1) llus These tlirongh 111e11 an 110 fault ro111plclrlr hrlple\~, of thrir own. nncl 5) 'V for damage to n Com!, JosTeophprwei.sllennt eehdis clnim to .SllC such to 11sorJth~uy~i, en1cNsu:iecclrta:ibulcnrncnll~r~mreIrinl.o~ riuonu~ rncn ols to visit nlrnse upon their fellow-wworiktteirnsg. -40- ~~ewJ:~r.11'4itiiiiY..~"-~ISll~.,_~lf\..,-.C- -41- ..,., awa:s zzscazc::co e q =- I 1 , :' j I1, ~ . .......... .. " j: Another group of men who work in the plant operated by the Quebec Asbestos Corporation, " : but who ore not employed by the company. : 0 .This group of eight men known ns "loatlers" ' 1wthoerkCofmorpa.nnys.pccTihnleirclujmomb yis elmoJhJlnonycelrlcsetthue pbnbgys . fillr1I with :u,beslos fibre from the time they leave I the IJ:1ggi11~ room up to lhc time they lrnvc licen I Jo:1dc<I on frrigltl cnrs. This is strenuous work, I t! :111d 11111~1 IJr cl:lssificd :is n111011g lhc mos! danger "J rn1-; in the plant. These men nrc not 1irovidcrl with mnsks or other protl'ction ng:dn~t the dust, ~~ and - hul there is 110 point in telling the dismal i; !.Lory again. \\'hnt has been written here nbout I '"bagger~" nnd "pilers'' applies equally tn the ! "loadL1s". '"~ -V- EAST BROUGHTON, A SEM'l~OLOSED TOWN The pattern of rule that h:>is prevailed nt Ensl Broughton wns set some twcnlv five yc:1rs n~o by Ilic gcnrrnl mnn:1gcr of the Qnehrc Asbestos Corporation, :\!r. E. E. Spnfforcl. At thnt time, none of the \'ilbgers Jiad the slightest inldin~ llwt tJc.e dense cloucls of :isbcstos clnst that rollccl down upon the vill::igc were tlnngerous to their health. Jlul this dust wns nn cnc1vnli11g 1111is.111cr, a11d it dirlil'cl their homes, insi(k nnd oulsicle. A worthy citizen of the villn~e. n :\fr. Eleuthcre c;ro!enn, hnd lrnilt upon his proprrty n small Luilclinf{ in which lie preparer\ m:iplc syrnn :rntl rnnplc sngnr for m;irkrt. He nn(I his frimily dc- penclcc\ in part on this smnll hmincss for livelihoocl. But no rnnller how tightly close(! he kept the windows and c\oors, nshestos clnst siflctl into thr lniildi11g, f!o! inlo his .... ~Tllll :111rl spoi!tcl brgc !~ l h:tlcht's of il. i\flt'I' !!tis n11isa1H't' hacl ;.:onl' on f111 some lime, 7\Ir. (irolr:111 n1111ounrccl lhnl if it were 4' i '' nol stoppccl, he woulcl hring rln111;1g(' s11it :igninst j: I< !ht Company. tli.., deC"lurnlion 1'prl':1d lhrou;.:!1<1111 lhc vill:i.!.(t', and httamr known In 1111 n1:111:1~r ;'['~ ~ I. mpleannlt ocft'ntMhe:clCoonmcpr:nrntiyo.ns'\a'hherurenullpvo. n,Anmd intherou:tgtHhI- 1:; out !he ranks of !he vilhgers lltC'1:r sprl'acl 111~!.fr:r I iou~ly, or othrrwisc, lht n1111or ll1:1t 111i11c a11cl nl:111t woultl not hr rcopencrl until :\Ir. c;rnlr:111 h:11! renot1l1C'C'rl his inlrnlion lo !iring ~uil. Tl1t' situation held there for n fe,, cl:t\'S, :11111 11nlil ;i \:ir:;:c number of the workers thro.wn out 0f their iohs go! together an<l rtPJ>crirrd :is n t:rn1111 lidore ;\Ir. Grolcau's 1loor, clcmrincling lh:1! hr witl1rlr:1w hi.~ complninl. Under !his kind or prc~surc, :\Ir. l ! ~J \ -"'- Grokritt neccdccl to their 1km:111d. Thcnupon, mine anrl pl:inl reopened, the 111en went h:iclc to work, :i11d ;\fr, Grolc:it1 continuecl to pocket his iosM'.~ ns l11st he roulcl. -43- .... ~ .- ~ ~ ...,. L ~ J l I q~ ~l ,; J ----------------------------- Tlii~ oplrit111c h:1s had 111i important ing l'ffrrl 11po!1.thc psychology '?f th~ and last- ;r1a1l11\1'7.lihlcl~irfefaanr11oIfHlso. sin1g'hctlylcihta \weosrkin. ceS1o1vc\tl\i9nrkpcars- ~o 'drci.~ive w:1s Jhc Company's action swift and that it has 11t\'1r fo1111<1 ii and pl:111l :tgai11 11tccss;11y :1<'lllally in ordl'r to im1iose lo clo<>c ifs will mine upon J/Je people Co111pa11\' of East Uroughton. I\cports would c.-lo~t its mine :111tl that plant the l1avc Jicr11 sufficient lo tc111platc1l hy the s111othc1 workers nl hirtb any idea conto bctlcr thci1 concli- lions. Through fc:tr inspircll the Company has hecn nblc to by rule such reports, the town :ibso- Jutely insof:tr rernrcl. ns its own interests have been con- ! '\: lh:Tithneompo~otlitnicma:lizlcin:igdc1fc:oi!furcanyof tdheisscsriitpuation is \ i e\er told the people of ing indisput:1hlt f:icls: East Tliis Broughton 011<'llec A tion has the follow- ' puration is ownc!d hy the PIIilin shcstos CorCarey l\!fg. Co. l wlii anti eh, to c: l.:in:icl:i. irr i~ y a nn bso l its ute vn ly st Jrnsiness cJ.cpcntlcnt in np o th n e U.S. thens- l :!1Jcsbsteosslops,rothdiuscePchl iilnipECas:itrcByro;Utifggh. tCono.. - Without assets that now '27 millions pile till the tloll:i1s--could not h:ivc ,cry large vcndy JJrofits continued to it h:is in tire n:isl; it conic! it nrccled from noottheervepnroldi:uwccerbsoiungQhtuethbeec:iosrbcasntyos- I l where else, and ~1t the s:1me position against competitors lo lime havc held ifs its products. There 1 l1as the r.1cvcr trmc 1 exist mclcr ed re the view sligh that t e st Ili p c ossibili Quebec t y A c sl l l uring cstos Corporation more llrnn a would closc its mine :ind \'cry short time inclcccl. plant for , l is th This sittr:ilion U1c life blood pl'e\:tils forl:iy. Asbestos of the Philio C:ircy Co. fi'lwc Any \ 1\ l rc:1t to C'losc i!s und simple. For minc and plant is :i hluff, pure the carTying out of that thre:it, :m111rc:linhsoltdhiengcollJo::iiptscfoor fmthoere Phtihlaion a short Carey Co. time TJJC i \rincchigliinllosrthilolurulneoxfploEit:ci-sctl Broughton re~cnrs of is extremely this valu:ihlc / rthntinc~rl:iiglhliln'slimpmm~rinbsielidlyemtha:n1trl.cxpAlnoictl ;1tlhieorne is of not this I t1hw0e1o1rCr:1(ot mmopfonsntJn.y1niPts1eHllfo1f1os r wmeoarl.tch wthilaln hnc mlwollnet1hl ob~r,. I Thcre readers may he a to 1ll:i111e tcnclenc:v on the p:irt of ::i few the Jll'01>lc of East nro11ghton, since !heir it is nnrl c.-Icnr that eo11ld in simple clelcrminc-cl action on a \'cry sliort lime h;i.ve brought lhis Quebec hinc under control. i\-;l.Jcslos-Philip C:ircy com- nut, no one has told these proplc the facl'i nrcr.s.snry for them to know be- ~-44- fo1c thty can l:dcc lntdll;:cnt :1dion. /Jools ancl Ji!Jr:iric<> in wliiclt they ~t:w.... p;1pcrs, could Icnrn the facts li:t\'e not !Jecn 111cn ll:1\'C l:irgc farnilirs av;iil:ihle to lo s11pporf, them. These :ind the one ir1c1c:ilitllyrntlhelyi:is1<1111opwpcw:1ercll1li'i olnlrC' I'lPicedllricresohf o1!1de:1or-ffa!sl1o- 111:111y (Juehcc ho111l's The parnphcn:ilia of during tlil' clclllocr:icy J:i\t r.;('ncr:itions. - elections, re. p<r:la'sne1:i1d!i:1atnio1P1adini:itmhecnQtu-ebehc:1Lse;1j1is1ll:eirtltyucfairlnedd in lhe them, :mcl this ocracy. tUhnroduegr hthneosef:tucillrco11f11l1li~rl:ninrceo<w;,n tohreyof:tdlo<J:lJlcl ccoreualdtednoat tIlEe acs.xt pIcJcrtocu1Ighlotosnoh!Jye the !he social problem Quebec Asbes- tos-Philip-Carey comhine. Harbinger of revolt (?J of Tile :inalornv of rcvolt1lio11 lirllc has been the object since Liie of m:inr beginning scientific tu<lics. and has c111c1gecJ one of ic; th:it the primary conclusions women nrc usually at the th:it bot- itnomvaroiaf brleyvotlhuetioren..milSionfce:i!rJcu\s'coltuhtiaotntshraeracte:inlsnioosrl 1:: de~lroyJ; lhc lives of e1I llrat wotnln will the abused, it n111<>t !Jc pl:iy lJy far the 1110~1 cxp.~ct nent rolc_in lin1 function ionfspwiroimngenthtoemc.:irFryorneitwis 1iro11lithe pccu- lp'erontteecrct dexuipstoinngthliafte. fuTnchteioirn.prrncipal lire ancl to drives :ire Eac;t Broughton run true to The women of form. Xonc of these people uf E:1~t cd regarding lBheroudgnhmtoangearccacuo,emdplcctClir'lly'clilnyfonn- indirectly by asbestos grave damage to life dmt. U11t they suspect is hein!.! llrottg :incl !hat lhe dust, :tnd !he won1cn outspoken about this th:in have have l.Jee11 the ht about lJy much more pir.iolls of :iboul what the womcn were rncn. sufficient must he termc1I r;i.clic:il The susto J1ri11g tonsidcring tlJ.c custollls :ind rnore> ::iction indcccl, of Quebec. TJ1ere w:is great excitement in on the day of :'ll:iy 7th, 1015. E:ist The Dro11~hton ~ft1n1cip:il ;:. Council ing that w:is schedulccl evening. These to J1olcl its monthlv meetmeeting> arc opcri to the puhlic, but group h:id so for no wom:in or been known lo attend women in a them ::it E:1st Liroughton. Early ,Oil three or four women tlie lllOrning of th:1t c.l.1}', circublcd srp:ir::ilrly in! ~ntlln1urnrliircuiirpmg:iemldetdhieatwe onemi~alndrnorfl!tohoril1,!0J11;.n~oc clkocd:ill:cii11ddoothrse, llon be Council meeting, t:ikcn to put .in rncl bcstos dust :ind drm:ind that lo the nicn.1cc of ac- / ::is-, ot East Brou:;ltto11. I I - 4 5 - . .~ ,- .... .,. ,. " l j I I l l .<11 -- ~ ~1 !I~ I ~''I 'I \J.I.l I i l' /r j I~ . .----~-,...-1 ----- --:x..,,w. ' { In ; wi.sc nrt ho111 or eirculalin.it lwo, lior.cns of women were lhroughoul lhc village, cacJ1 like- bent ; 1' I01ll1e gsnp!oh1c1r!i:n11g1erielycrnttJiwlsn, y:sindprtehseenmto1ci1n11ernet vaoslsuutmioe<n!. ; ~\\l':o:rieyo!r,owf ltihoe, 111orr111e11l n:1clicr! according to !'<'port, lhc cars of lhc was displeas'cd 1 and set women up a cottntcr-11iovc111c11t. A were persuaded to circnlnte very few the viJl;i I and And 1wgt~ other women no! to nltend ;ill lhrouglt !he day movement the r,e, meeting. dhcuyosnlrn.utmero-mrsonynemd canrtg,uwmheinltes tahse ittowwnhasawtblakysdaassabgfeaisilntleosdst Thnl eYcning, :tlJotrt r.d into tllL' .i\[unicipal scvlnly-fivc women march Conncil Ch:11nl1er, and look lhdr places in ii .i\lost o( r1s were absent, because tl1e wives of of fo:ir their lhl! work- ln1slrnnd~ would al!t'nd loose were Llleir jol>.s; but Ille women wlio did secure in Ilic know!C'dge th:1t their ;rdion met ing number with the approval of workers' wives. of the The overwhelmCouncil w:1s 1 C'nlled to order heing present. hv All the l\Iayor, all the of thrse men were Counsellors greatly sur- _ ,;p01l'1i1s1tdofhythtehmesrees1r1111a~t~tdapwplewatratnhceey i11tru~ion. of wo111en, anrl consitlered an i1n11 go! up One after a11olher, tci1 or twelve woon their feet :ind addrcssc,f the C:oun- ril i11 110 acC'ounts, 11nNrlain terms, they spoke well. and acconling to all Proceedings thrnugh- out :1111! ,wnc Yoices orordseerhlyig, h.bulLadteehi:nilcthewamxeeedtin-g;p, iorlnteedolfy ut hpeo nC!ohuen sOeul lcohrcsc i1A1s1b.reosdtuocsrdC o rap or er astoilount i ot on calling :unclio- l,.uatlieontl1we adsu:sitppcroon\'dcittliohn.\'s thceaursne:dijohrlytyito. f The resothe Coun- :..dlors, :incl luwing: the eopics were sent Quebec A:..hcstos to each of the Corporation; fol- ol'fhillilreJ:dCtha,rey:11,1\ldfgt.hCe oC., o!uhnetyprolvliunrceiannl the llcpartment Aflrr which everyone went home, of Hygiene. all agreeing ittfhhartothuetgilhwe.oremsoenluthioadn wnootulbdeennot hparveesebnetent.oapppursohveidt A d:iy or Broughton so :iflenvards, the i\!ayor of East cvidenlly vbil<tl Ille offices of Sn::ifforcl. On returning l\!r. fron1 the interview, lie npo1tcd (in the hearing of 11Ps\e.sl that Mr. .Sp;1fforcl had 11 n11111!Jer of wits:iitl c.\~enti:1ll\' pf<e>nlloewdi11\\1'1h:en"!EJloeutthhecsree pce;rooJpcl.1e11 foprrgoteetslwchc:l:i:lig'ahiatnhpsel- dust eo11dilio11s?" lhe re\1il11tio11 or which I close was lo .say, "wilhdrnw rnine and pbnl"'. Few in E:i.~t Broughlon ni~hlfnll. had not heard !he warning by -16- 011 lcll(T ~f:ly 21st, lhc :\Iiinidp:1l Council from :Ill', .Spnfforcl. a~lting wli;1L rceci1ccl :1 proporlio of !he nopul:ilion was compl:iining about lhc n dust. <d1:\innd uoltni11:1\[antuy1121ltflrio, mtheM;r\.fuSnpiC:1'fifpoa1ldCoIhuan!ciwl arsccpechn- er:illv \\'oufd tnkt'n lo llll':111 hi' dosed, if the lh:it !he 111i11e anrl rcsolulions W!'rc not pl;rnl W drawn. So far as can !Jc lc-arned, Co1111C'i! did not reply offici:illy Ille' illi ;\lunicip:d Idler.~. to .:\f1 .Sp:1ffnrd':\ At the next meeting :igain lll:JIThcd into the of the Council, women Co1111cil Cha1111Jtr. They uumlJcretl about hnving taken its tl1ir!y, rlisconra~emenl and fc:ir toll. 13ut this tinir, the women were sulted l . n ily Th an ey gry, wer and e ask much er! to more wait; exc nnd item lhc ent :\l:i reyor tllrcalcned to lcmJ Co11ncil resign if meetings. worncn continued E1cryone went to nthom 1-:ood and 111acl. Ilut as time went 011, fewer e :ind fewer whole wllolO11\1'rcn111e1o1tttcpnr<tkcrdeclthue11fm, etehtiisngllsc.inganhdelptehde :C:loomngpahnyy thceoupldhnntoctda1f'1f1o11r1d01lotoin!~hte:ilelffdetcJtst thealitm!ihne- -'!. l:i!clianlglyclee:v\liil:i'r1s1,slseidn, ceanud.slt>heasttosthdeepmoisnites were could praconly rbeesonlpuetrioatnedwafos reavnenottuharlrlyyclniurrroicr ctlw"o'itahtomutosbte. nThe of public ceremony . efit rrCI'ltionwolnnll(dCnbebya Ilsicerwiooumsc1m1 isotfakEeastto Dd1isomugihsstonthaiss a lrfri:il mainder l'illage incident of the nrovinc.e. of 110 Tl1is conrern lo is !he way the re1iolcnt re\ol11tio11 )Jegins. n1e11l i11iti:ilcd hy That 11!1.~e the spo11f;1neo1'1s women petered movcout :ilmo.\t To rite customary in early stages hut one example: !he 'yom of is rcYolution. J1arl hcen inspired sel !Jack thek men a 1111111!Jr1 of to tear down e11 of Fr:ince lilllcs licforc they !he lfa~ti!Je li.Y stone, lottes". and then set into motion "Jes stone sans-cu- ' ttlhr-IedCsrecHwoIno-dmhiatecinokn.osfanE:icr:lieswtaillllllroown1o1etgdhlitleoondgcwoniiloclncrl.encsotvheeryfrnorme, :-' .. ~~..... .J ~ .. ..I :. ~ It I I..t. ' d~~.~~.:.::._.w.~~:.... *~~:;.-.-.~.;_~'," ' ....~, ..... . ..,..t:M""t'$ *".~.">L1'-~. ~~,"~~~......._- -VI- PROOF OF Cbl-APANY AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSI Bl'LITY I cannot tell exactly how many years the Quel1cc Asbestos-Philip Cnrcy combine nnd the provincial government have knc,wn the essential facts rcg:1rtli11g the situation at East llroughton. Jf Ly a11y chance, they shonlcl claim they have not known these facts for many years, they arc merely supplying us willi cvidl'nec of i11co111pctc11"c so grave that the one should be deprived of its li- cense to cnrry on business in Quebec, nnd the other of its office. _ Fortunately, I Jiave in hand iITcfutable documentary evidence tlrnt Company officials, and tirovind:il government offie1nl'l, whether Union :\ntionalc or Liberal, were fully informed rcgard111~ conditions in East Broughton for mo1'e than these last four years. I3egin11111g l!JH nnd conti11uirig lo this Inst summer, citizens of East llroughton, individuals or groups of ten to eighty, have literally hombardecl the Company and the l'rovi11 ci nl governmcn t with com plaints rcganli ng ashc~tos dust at large in villngc, mine and plant. These complaints were formally answered J;y evasions of many kinds~ and by promises that dust ronilitions woul<l he moclifiecl. But all during this tiinc and up lo lhe writing or this urticle, never one concrete and JJl':tctical act designed to put an encl lo ev-cn n part of the whole abuse tics 1,;rihcd in this article. On the other hnnd, open anti outright acts of terrorization have hccn visited upon these people of East Broughton: witness lhc section "Ilarhingcr of Hcvolt ( 1)" in this nrlicle. Jn l!JH, l!H!i nncl HHG, complninls rna<lc .by cith~cns of East llrnughlon were nnswcrcd formally in the name of the government chiefly hy way of -48- n: lc!!ers sif!nrd by llr. F.J. To1:n1ni.:t:n1. di! l l !11- of tile Division of !11clusL1i:1l Ilygicnc, ~Iini\lrr Puhlic \\'clf:1rc :ind llc:dth. Evn>inn, and 1r,Jnlis('S of hcltcrment piled up one 11po11 :1:ill!\1.-r, so11H? ttn 111 1110n ldlt1s filled with w:1.l :or\ gl'11en1lly kno\\'n in 011t'licc a~ "chinoiwrin", :11. tliongh it Sl'l'lll~ a nity lo associate such bch:ivi_)11r with the dist:rnl Chinese people about wh'>m \\'~ know rcl:1livcly Jillie. On August lnt, HJ 15. Dr. Jc:1n Gregoire, So::1- :IIini\trc, :\Jinhtry of PuMic Welfare anti llc~d\li, }1egnn to try his hancl :it p!ac:1ting the people or East Dro11gliton; he followed the s:1rne line pur- Slll'1l hy Dr-. To11r:1ngl'all. In tire 111ea11li111t', g11\ r cr111n<nt do!'!ors, nnd a go\'ernmenl en~icr<r na111etl Sarto Plamondon, visited the villn['.c on n 111m1hcr of occasions. All through the~e cpi1adn, lh<'sC governll!ent :111tl1oritics were in cor111rn111i- tation with :\Ir. Spafford, 111an:1ger or the Ql1cbcc A~IJcslos Coqioralion, :incl with the Philip Carey :\Jfg. Co. . From the C'Orrcpondenec in my pos<;CS>ion,l lhesc govrrnmcnt offici:ds emerge n~ glorified mc~scngcr boys of the Qnebec Ashcstos-Philin C:irey combine. For their line w:is to spre:id nbout :Ile 11~11:d n1e1llC'y of proniist-~. now ninfo1ccd h? ~- pt1r1o1pw:1igll:irnngcnlcas<s;ulpopoi~1c1dslbyll jdueslvifiyciens.!.t!ht:hite wCooumldpncnoynstrol or eliminate Ilic nsheslos cln~t :it large in \illage, mine ancl plnnt. E\cnlual!y, the proplc of En5t l3ronghton tired of this pot-ponrri o promises, cv:1sions, ::incl Comp:my propag:incla, ra>scd out by go\ernrnent officials; protesL1tio11s and demnncls rose in lone and in volume, all excuses for failure to remedy conditions being re- jccletl. During the first half of l!J.17, Dr. Tournngem1 continued to carry the ~ovcn1erne11l's burden of replying to tlcmnnds macle hy East Broughton cit- izens. In this particular period, hr wa, forc:d to ~encl no less than lwehc letters of expbn:ili1in for failure to act; hut since these letters wc1e n1crely a stale rehash of old promises nnll cv:i- sions, they wer<' l'C'C'Cill'il with ron~i1lrrahle clis- ~ tl1h1evsoer Iinnstthttw evlivlleaglec.llcAnppc:x1hr:cmnlsltye,d lhcDrw. rTitoinugrano-f gr:rn's rr~onrrrs. anil he thrrcaflc1 bowed on! of the sit11:1Jion. \\'IHJ't11non, Tlr. .1l':111 (;rcgoirc, Dr. Alhiny Paquette, :\linister of Public lll':1lth, :ind :'11:111rice Duplr.~sis, Prime l\!inio;te1-, took OYCr the burden t() 11. of nplying In !ht pl'oplc of East Brough- Drs. Gregoire an cl P:HJuette followc<I the line/ csl:ihli.<;hecl hy Dr. To11rangenu, whifl> ~Ir. D11pks-1/ -49- ~ I ..*~ ,,. - ,." ' 4 ___.., rtteenw. ("*"' t ; { I zn4WWWa::tCtWM!!!li~l:'!M~~ -=mx--- ,_.,,, 1er.;i.~~----.-....,..-.-..,.. ----- - .._ i! I' if /j 11 I l l.! ; i ij ll I I lI1. , l:I ' ! i j !; . :~'I' ' i .i11 . or ! ~L~ answcrcli lh<' rncrits of with "L llH~<litH:\c political sp fltc Jra1Jrr, Jfc:ilth, D1'. 'Unio upon the Alhi n 1 Nati lcvot ona inn le" of , of his w 1 eech hich es he on is so , rilTso otfhefoirrmcte'r LniyhcPrnalqugeotvtee,rnamndenl1ts1.)0n \tlhienisdtccmr ocf hlwa\rcicas1,>qnarth: hEa!d>lidDlrhocu,vh1lok1s1crlilhwc t:1~s11b1cystos 1lust co1HJi. !w.!cnrncrnnmotcnotvcrc-arlwitc, ctlhe hpveoleptlteersoffrEoamst llrough!on 1\~pli officials. :1 such hig at once. with the 1spcd the i\lorcovcr, full Lile ~uardinnship implication doctors csp doctor should of their story ccbllr clJ 10th <'ls!Hw7e, rDe rs.eGntretgoo:\Ir.11D11uspnleesrsnisl. hoOtnn1S1edplt'enmn;-ihhk vmearnifyiedti11th1cesi. r story In on tohfensupholti.cnhoetaoltnhlyrno Q:J.irceb;ccdc - nothing that he :1bout all had sen tihreislmaolYpcclayrc>dvrionten(cpwrsivateblye)r :giella1I1l,icJcr:~lslclnlGi:r1eIgoiortehearndwo,\r!d!Jsi,nDyi-.P~.aqFu.-eJt.t nce bttt Tournn- nAysl1wesalsoscaClolerdroraliotnn. n u1tim:-tlnm to lt seems thnt o the th pnpers Quebec n e iEnnsIlticBrvoilul:gighctoan, facts knew winh:itthedu\~\t'hocloendisituea,tioknneawt Iwlihcn"tn1u1i1sraansncrer"s it to specify propnsccl within to tnkc fiftc~Gno1.<111npy:1s to khanlenwtiownelol rliale dnedadlyin cftfhceC'l>n1hir1o11e1:g11h1trJ tions were plnnt, and ing Dr. fGroremgoihlsepl:tnct:n:1i.tscEcl:ishtyIltrhoeugahstboens.tos (']1111111atc clust issu- :\1\1'1hda twthhalt' l l shdoisdb etshteoys r!u~l over do; wh:1t t:1lidperi:oibdouotf btyimine.- p:111y who wo11ld h linppcns wrote, th e Tcfrrc<I e to who the le Al cnse lornc Othe of the y-G r wise, Com 11l1! lhl'y have clone? they not c:lo; W himself. On Octob to be no less thnn :.'ilr. cnern1 Duplessis hat Drs. and Tourongcou, Poquette Gregoire h(npnridvsatoeflyth) tehrn1t 5tthhe, c1a!Js1e7,!tadDrb. eGenregoire wrote I ~ villf:nigtchne,irt corrcsponclcncc witdhid. nnknown e to ng:iin nnn Jm\tet,orpnecryh-aGpcsncfronrl. goFoorpsloamceed rienastohne o o7nly with , i'lloi;i1.n thheesaesbdCo'sctotos rcslnstconnocuer rnEedast tBhcromuscglhvtco~n iy c nImppealrrbneleln~tnrtkimlehnrcr. dA(npdrhlhalterelyl)hc tc1arnsdte msrele!'>cahsurnec,tiohne efforts caused thr pla11t. \\ill he mndc Ttohecylimtelilnalhe1stctlvoiwllnagienrtsoththnet Jiy asbestos tr the "nu 1to!rron1c1-vh-oclr;.enwrrhaelr, r sln<'l or cptite ipno.~Isliichly]1ai1n11!lshro. flsthteodAnYt, ~~ i''nnlrliosn:inncccet"iobnciwn1~ a dust strn at ng l::irgc c wor in d the indc isnn Yillagc c cc - " lVa:c-.nt veeis~hrtlr y:Se:t.irsH.eemthi edn'Aomw hcfnalm" ohu:sis r"ePsrtoesdcacmtshe cpleis- 1!1 !his denclly d11st. What Drs. cl lo use ese The !>Cclion <.locnmcnlary unc evi1lcnre cons ond PoqTuoeuttreandgiedoun,otGdroe.goire, .sto1y or in Onrh overs ltctrayal mofupchuhmlicorienltchrarnstanidoetrheedr in this clrenry riliI1ncnths,eitrhecsoe1--crespondc11ce with E:isl ec. TlH' into information :11111 com hy politiri:ins guish in the hetwcen mine :in duloscttorrosndnioltioonnslyin f:iiled Ilic Uro11plito11 lo distin- E;1.\l wilh ll:hl1rtsohuep~g1lhuolsvoin11dr:i1llizDrncsp:1irlctmaltrnpftloarinotrs Itlhraatllhpo1fr1orem1l i1n1hnia1l1:fiotri1o1n1cdofp:r1ncsl'p!Jlpresla!nlite. CT,\l.\iCryll!i:ft:liilfc:dicLt~oviltle:ilil::cth:emsell los f'l'g:1 ;oinndly Js)c]ntnot1. utaridl1y1st weinthnd<itIinostnscoinndtihtIlele vliallraggeer, p:macrlt What Drs. dust. 1di111{ :r1ig~lcidli1i1ng 1t1o1a1p1y1r1o1tethrte thmenii1r1,prolphrrr~hr, wciiohtinizsensin wmeinree and PoquetTteousrhoonuglcdouh,ovGe reclgoonier.e, l'o-h':ui1tlthht>h; elldiiel'!p~l:1n1wu1ila.~y:nsrnnc1rl1cythhtrheoyeungwshrcr.c~lon~l~ocltctcsohl nbicsrclrnchlracnm1dl- __ , Eli1:iTsthBesroe11dgolcittoonrsth~:hitouthlde hn\e : tolll these people 111ously at isheslos d11~! :il111o~ ... , oIncr:1os;;ricopncs1t!hci.nvlntlitdheciarllhoa1l1t1rrns. hJl!Oab"wouc\tchr,yotnhemr:lilnlsyl l:ige wns a large serio11s habitants, rs idn: i nligtleT wtoe sItleicr nh re:n d of t con:he Yil- Itlh11l'1111,1l 1h1her:1rcll1h>11c:1spcc-l!-. oflilohne iwn hgorlnecr,;:j\llwt1elriomn~. dhe:watchsadodferth! etphcyacctirnlllh:tys ldhucstrhiwld;lr>cn.h:iiTl~tthhcenyoifngsiltlsoninld- I dl\irroaulgmht:o1nltnrisli1In.rntsalmhkhscurlf'dfictliwen! tlnvonrde11orr:1tthrdrricn E:ist ~lhiro.1s1l!n1slish:awncd by go oythmeranpyul1:1il1r0cn:i:diryy :diiff~lei:c1l~lr'c.l b:v the ~s I '" . l!!rs or inhnlation of w:isihtth~InO<.;ilh.l.uNsit.l'\'Norn\'('lt'h!IeHrl1lrn1"1n"r--. cd ;15 crrtain l'C':JlCI'.~ h cif ne i o,m,,,e.si;i nto ,a..nd thL\ pt: l'illnc~r hlir " ' :11111 ' They c:on<l<'tn"- ... ,- ;... .....~...... ~....; ,- &!:.. _.,,.-- ' \., ' I . j ' 'i :f I ;~ !I! "rJon" :i"o h:ivc conucmnctl as highly nnsanit~r)' the ~~~l~~io1i1011sc thnt lies in the ontll of the :i~!in tos 1(11\l !Jckllccl out hy the plant on the J::il. 'I hc-1 sho11lL in fact, lmve condemned tl1c wli,Jc ,,ninn crJ(l of the village ns unfit for hal.Jit.1!iPn 111 :111 or )lcasl. These doctors E:ist llrougllton should have tolcl thnt the asbestos these dust sp3etomp:l1e1i11nf~ thc nlmosphcrc of the mine nnd pl:int is :in ln- fi11ilely greatcr peril to their \vclfare th:in i1 t!1c dt1\I tolit at all J:1rgl! these in the people, village. They and especially shonlI h:n c the \\'trl.~r~. tile p-;senlial r:1cls reg:lrding i11h:11:1ti~n nr ;td'~~ tos dust O\'C\' a pcriocl of tirne. They sh:':1Ll 11t:1\'C told these workers that co11tlili111n :it t!:c (.lucbee Asbestos Corporation mine :inti pl:1!1l :ire 1prHluctivc of )i1cn:-ulosis to a atesrbreisbtloysihsigahndtlco~frecp.uTlmhoeyn:i~r!)1'ou1ltul- , have encounigccl the~e workers, who h.1,c l1ccn 1jiarnl)'7ell by an unclcrstand:ihle fc:ir :rnrl l1y n \ ack or ncc [1mme1,Iiate ura n,q t i c o i n nfo to rmali on pro!ecl , t to hei Pk e d r li\'CS r:i.!i :inti r.1~:1in1.H1cl )of their fanu!Jes. All this shoultl h:l\'e bcrn \:ilfl puhlicly agnill anrl ngain in clear, simple tcrnu which these East llroughlon ncoplc coul1! 11111\rr- sland !Jy men such as Drs. To11r;111r,r:i11, l;rr;:nirc and Paquette, who enjoy the :i11llw11ty, the prestige ancl the rewards of high o!lirl', or hy eqnally informetl .medical men wltom tlwr co11lrl have nominated. These doctors, especially :incl conr!u\i\'C'l)' charged hy l::iw to protect the health of tile 1n1blic, should likewise haYe forrn:ilty :i111l :i1r11r:drly informecl U1e (lhmicip:il Co1111ril d F:i<>l Broughton, antl also, all officcn :111d pcrso11ncl of "La Fcdi."I':i.Lion cje l'Amiantc". -is Tllcrc noC-tii-e -;;[ig-htc~t- Intention here, or cYen inclination. to sit in j11'1;;1ncnt upon tll<' hc- havionr of the doctors ch:irgcit with the :iilmi- nistration of the Depnrlmrnl or !'11hlic l!P:llllt in Quebec. l3ut no one cnn fact: gross m::ilpr:icticc of 1ll1o111l:d:1rcincthie~ Cullo\\'ing one or tile causes for much of the 1t:igc1ty or E:i\l Brou~hton. The l :ire tishseume~di\s'tChSe rreefsoprnen~ic!kJ:lirr : eit rcI' h~ellrl'ht hnc 111 a doctors !pr:1cticc I 1 oylfrnmd edthiceiinre,coonrtrpool lihti:ci~o-pirnc:ivnrcnl:tinl l m1tl1orilY llethi:m frcnn lTprhnicsliics ina~ 1t1h\ealitrcrprworhri~r \hiosnh onu( 'lrdn r dcinn~ia. :grto i\\ tile irillro:~lcls,. immediate nnil riul.Jlic nllention or "Le College des ~1ctlc:cins de Qucl.Jcc". -52- :... f ~- r ~VII - THE QUEBEC ASBESTOSPHILlP CAREY COMBINE The Quebec Asbestos Corpor:1tion i~ entirely owned by the Philin Carey ~If~. Co. of Lockl:.nl (near Cincinnati) Ohio. Orfinal reports rcg~1rtl ing the exact p1ofits ilcri\'ed by Ilic Quebec As hestos-Phi'lip Carey combine from operatio1\ o[ the mine and plant at Ea>t Broughton ::ire not availal.Jle to the public. Nevertheless, one may make the following statements, secure in U1c knowledge that they cannot !Jc succcssfullv contradicted. The Philip Carey :\lfg. Co. bas drawn enormous profits from the asbestos mine and pl:mt it owns nt East Broughton. This company stnrtccl upon its career on a relatively s!ll:1ll amount of c:ipital. Its stockholders h:we hccn rewarded from time to lime with very large stock or capital clivitlctHls; they have also receiveu exccedrngly generous cnsh dividends. In addition, the :isscts or this Company have slcntlily and largely increa-;e(l in value, anti now re:ieh the stun or 27 million dollars. Annual net profits helcl :it high levels during the war, averaging about $775,000. !Net profit took a very big jump upvrnrds to $2,M!l,411 for the year HMG nnd then took another jump upwards to $2,80G,GD2 for the yc:u l!J.17. This is a very prosperous Companr. Not nil of the profit :ilrc:uJy disbursed to Its stock nnd bondhol1lcrs lJy the Philip Carey ~!fg. Co., and not all of the capital gnins now part of the assets of the Company. flow front its operations at East Broughton. llul a large part, perhaps tile largtst part, of holh tl1t\c two l':rtt:-:111 irs of profit c!o flow cliredly fro1t1 the :1~lH.'.,to<; film.: procltH'l'<I :1l Ea~t Bro11ghto11. It i~ !J1lirl'<'d licrl' that few persons in Quebec, or for that n1:1ttrr in Cnnad:i nnd in the U.S., would oppose the idea of the Philio Carey 1\lf. Co. rollcctin~ a prnfit -53- ~VL.': ,_ - ---------------""--- x. 2- ~ ..; :1 ";'"j! ' :1! ;:11 l'1 111 ! ill ! ;'; I ( ! I 1'1I : . ,I., I l~ .ri,' 'I' or u. fr~n1n11ol ifLshcoplsc.r~:l1lClioh1eure:;tl thE:e1.~hls1J1lreo1I1s gChlllolCn. But tltnt propor- tion. 111cnt For in its sc:ircl1 for 1Hofil, Lhr ;\!a11ai;eof this Con1p;rny has lost :ill sense of clcccnt propo1tion. Without its own existence, or in :iny even its w:iy very c11dan~cri11g J:i,rgc :111nuul p1ofils. lo have t.h~ipse11Clont1hpe:11IH1yOIHco'Y11!1n!cchc:ls\~'enrey:i~lioly :i[forcled s:iftg11anl lhC' .. on health and Ji\cs it~ pre111ise~ :it of tile n:cn \\'ho E:ist Ilro11r,Jlito11. h:ive wot Blindly Ju:d :ind grcec!tly, tctl such the :\lanagrmcnt of tie Cornp:iny rcJeean idc;1. This is not :1 str:i11gc phc110- 111cn will in human 1'1111 wile!, rd:1tio11~. 1111lcs~ the\' ::\!:in, or groups :ire held t1nclcr of mrn, -control by law, clearly defined :incl enforced. grave shortco111i11;ss, the J:iw in ()t1chec is Des pile cle::irly enough defined to lo have kepi this h:1\'r c11al1kd Ille Government ()ue!Jrc J\\ucslos-l'hilip Carey combine under -control. ll11l the law has not been, J:lililldi t yi sf onro tt h ehcih11igd-cceHnI~f o~ricl1e1d:1. liTonh eur en-df oe rre ,s t ur edsyp ohnesrie- r1r1!1-clsnt :iassmi1i1dd1olu'spo11npo1t1hethQe11Q<'hueecbpecroAvisnhcrisatlnsg-oPvhcri1li1p- C:;i rcy co111bi nc o r :'lllll:h incor of po the r;ite litcr:it11rc cri d COlll)l:tlliC'S tic in : il of !!Jc C:1nada beh :111cl avio the ur lJ. S. is spri11klcu prof11stly with the pa;:11ic nnonrme" nnd "the soulcss tcn11s "co111corporation". The rirst term is e111olionnli.~111, ;me! n legalism, nncl 11se of cill1cr or the second nn both :ire hand- icaps in effort lo remedy conclilions under stu- dy. This Qucbrc Ashc~lo.~ nl facndc, h;ick or which Corpor:ition is n lr!ga certain small and known furlhN" egnrotr1e1npehnefclmbeenhinopdera::niollcJ.icT~rlwlcs2eal11f1c;i1c1 :id:icn;~ the Philip C:ircy ~If;<. al East Bro11ghton, it Co. will To lie remedy conditions necessary lo llis- rC'gnrcl these legal without violation fneuclcs-:ind this of existing Jaw - can be dr,ne nncl carry . the balllc directly to the ;trolli11g the combinccl men mnnnging ancl concompnnlcs. In other words, certain these two corpol'ntions arc the tools of known men, ancl !he real husinC'ss of the Qneliec used J,y people is not with the tools rrenled ancl these men; it is with the men themselves. -- I \\'ho then arc they? The men con~lilule a clirccling the Philip r.nrcy Mfg Co. grnup of irl'cl11.~lrin!isls highly rcspec- lccl in lhc llnilecl Stales. c:in:ihle, c11lighlrnccl, :11HI They nrc recognized ns Jiighly successful opcr-. :I1Jll'oyrosn, c:l111trhl eth(e)iurc:ltile'cli,ii\!si)eJ~C':Silnoc.l~-iPnhitleir1>estrs.:irraenygecofmar- liinc. They :ire in I portant inclu:-.lri:1l fact :rnd :1.~:-.0ci:ilr<I with many imeclucational cnlerpri-ics in , - 5 4 - Ohio, nn1l in OlllC'I' par(~ or ci:1lio11 hclween the l'hilin lhr C::1rr.\' !';. The n~,'l ,\lfg. C:n. Proctor & G:unhle, one :<:oap manufacture.rs in of the two or the U. S., h 11HI three l~rt:r:t p;irticubrly close. -Some of the more prominent and directors of the Pl1ilin C:ircy ::\lfg. r.n. !11f!11c11tial :t!~o nc-cu- py positions Of equnl import:inec rlircctors of Proctor & Goimhle - Oil the :i .~f;i[r !Jo;1nJ or nf :iff:iir~ .! that has prev:.rilccl for mnny yr:irs. l'roctr>r ,\ Ghuanmwbnleitaisri:riennotrwc0n1!e1d11etnhlroouri'iihtsouctmlphloeyelL'..sS.. for i1' :Uy inforrn:ilion rcg:ircling ~!fg. Co. is not qui le so ele:ir, the Philip insor:1r as it~ Carey optr:i- lions in m;1y he the U. S. me conccrnc-rl. But s:iicl. The plants opcr:itecl lJy this this much com- pany in Ol1io lin11dll' !Jcslo~ fibre, :incl this a vrry large amount or n~ without cloullt rep1c~<'11h a potcnlinl hr::ilth h:i?.arcl :i; can bl' :isC'crt:iinccl, for its cmployrcs. opl'rntions of this So far compa- 11,\' ill Oltio h:ne not proc!ucccl hcslosis - :incl this must mc:in nny thnt easrs of nsthe ~rnn:igc- 111cnt lnlces measures to protect ployccs from the disease. its Amrric<ln rlll- ~~'.... Jn 111r11 st1111111ary: n t'C'rl:ii11 s111:ill havr m:iintnin<'d '\\'Orldng sprcific- urn11p 11f ronrlition~ in the ,. plnnls it ci11ction rn:rn:is-cs in Ohio .~o of asbestosis in ii~ a~ to ;1\'oid emplO)'er~. the JJl'11On thl' othC'r hnncJ. lliis pcrmiltcrl in its .~alllC' s111;il! group Q11chee mine :incl of rnrn h.1vc plant ronc!i- tmioonnsarwy hliucbhcrhc1aivleosipsroocnlucaecll:irn~scbcscstaoles.is Wh:in~cl rullhrn this discrepancy in h<'h:1vio11r?. ,' -. 'l'hc S, and nnswrr i.~ as '.simple :is spccifir:dly in Ohio. lhc A-1.l-C. In !he tr. A111crican !'o"ern- 1th11iesnt:;::rion11rl1> poefopoleurhraa\t'oCrsc. nafonrderchla\t'ehecirnmwpilrlllcudponit ~ tu maint:iin ht'::tithY lu:ition is othcrwi~r. \\01ki11" rnnc!itions. Tlir ~i in Ouchr<', "-here !Iii' ~rn11p of llJen lt:is imposcri ITS will upon lhc ~O\'C'rn lllcnt. To re111C'dY ~::iry for lhc people thi.~ .~ituntion. nf ()11l'brc lo it will li<' lll'l'l'~ rou~r its gnvcrn- 111r.11t 0111 cxhlt11ce of of !hr lc!h:ir;.1~ fli:it Ji.1~ prrmi!led :i human .-.laughlrr hou.'e up on !hr 1111 hill :il En!it Broui;h ton. Burton LcDoux -5'.J-