Document VJe9zXYj7mQOmk03E6KND74NZ

February XI, 19^4 19 COHFlDErriAL Mr. E. W. Webb, Ethyl Corporation, Chrysler Building, New York City 17. * Dear Mr. Webb* X vish to report to you the results of my observations made at the tetraethyl lead manufacturing plants in both Deepvater and Baton Bouge, since my report to the Board of Directors of the Ethyl Corporation, on Monday, January 10. I yisited the Dye Works plant on January 12 and 15, at which time I went through all of the buildings carefully and surveyed the complete records of all of the men about whom any question of incipient illness or dangerous exposure had a r i s e n A pre liminary discussion with executives of the du Pont Company both in Wilmington and at the plant signified their willingness to follow the recommendations made by the medical group in complete detail. An attempt was made, therefore, to cover the entire situation, and to make such recommendations as were necessary ...concerning further work that was to be done as well as the dis position of the personnel. The survey of the plant demonstrated that striking improvements had been made in the conditions with respect to exposure. With out going into detail on what has been done or what remains to be done, it is fair to say that these plants are in better con dition t h a n l have seen them at any time since the resumption of my visits to them in 1942, when Dr. Machle went on leave. There are difficulties that require correction. A program has been set up for accomplishing these improvements, and I have every reason to believe that the changes will be brought about as rapidly as it is humanly possible to;do so* . , . ' 'Ui - - . . .. .: With respect to the condition of the men, Dr. Evans and X re commended the removal of several men from their present work, the transfer of several others to work involving less exposure* and the return of several others to work in which they had previously been engaged. We had every assurance that these moves were justified, and from the fact that matters have gone smoothly among the men since that time, I feel that what we did was satis factory. .At. least, there.isfno evidence that we made any pro found mistakes of judgment. A group of the men are under weekly Mr. E. W. Webb - (2) * February 11 1944 - medical examinations and a considerable amount of analytical work is being carried on in order to check the lead exposure of other men about whom we have no cause to be worried, but who might be suffering more exposure than is good for them. I expect to return to the Dye Works for a further check up within the next two weeks. By that time ve shall have a great deal more information than is now available and we should be able to see the results of the improvements that have been made. I visited the Baton Rouge plant on January 19, 20, and 21, carried out the same systematic examination of the plant together with a survey of the condition of the men. ;. The situation with respect to lead exposure at the Baton Rouge plant is not much different from that in Deepwater. Whether because of the shorter period over which the present conditions have existed, or because there ha3 been somewhat less uniform progression in the lead exposure at Baton Rouge, the condition of the men there is not as serious as that at Deepwater. It is fair to say that completion of the present improvements in Deepwater will put the plants there in better condition than they are in Baton Rouge. Qn the other hand, if the improvements at Baton Rouge are carried out with the same thoroughness and zeal that is being shown at Deepwater, these plants will be better than those at Deepwater. There are a number of factors in the two places that are somewhat different. Because of the present status of the men at Baton Rouge, I am not as much concerned about them as I am those at Deepwater. On the other hand, it will be necessary to examine the conditions at Baton Rouge just as frequently and just as care fully as those at Deepwater The management has shown every willingness to do all the things tixat are necessary to bring about the desired improvements. I have no doubt that these will be done as soon as it is possible. There is one other aspect of this matter which may be reassuring to you and the Board of Directors. It has been agreed that I shall make quarterly reports on the situation of the lead plants to the executives in the du Font organization and to Dr. Gehrman, the medical director. It has also been agreed that copies of these reports are to be forwarded to Mr. Schaefer so that he can be fully informed as to what is taking place and what the condi tions really are. There is no reason, therefore, why you should be taken by surprise in the future by the hygienic developments in these plants. Very truly yours, RAK ef Rob er t A . iteh oe, M. 'D.