Document VjnDgweG6Jkg06NKEJJxLkx68

FILE NAME: US Gypsum (USG) DATE: 1974 Jan 28 DOC#: USG 127 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo from AL Hampton re elimination of asbestos fiber from plaster products FROM SU3JSOT I247Q 1270 #247 5151 Elimination of Asbestos Fiber from Piaster Products. r J a n u a ry 28, 1974 co: 1151 ?. l . HenkeIs J. M. Summerfieid X. s. Freeman 1159 E. C. Hobbs #65 Hagersviile - R.C. Nelson #39 Hillsborough - F.Schooley #24 Montreal - W. C. Flemming Since nv letter of August 5, 1973 on this subject, the plants and Mr. Hood have been very cooperative in their efforts to comply with our request to eliminate asbestos from all Canadian building plaster products as soon as possible. It was eliminated from ail US building plaster products seme time ago. By Hillsborough's request, an Operating Bulletin revision dated 1/9/74, Bull. #53-35-1, eliminated asbestos from Hillsborough's regular hardwaii plaster, thereby eliminating our major volume usage of asbestos in Canada. Trial jobs of Montreal ORIENTAL Exterior Finish Stucco manufactured without asbestos have been delayed for several months because of strike activity at the plant. It is to be noted that neither job problems nor lack of customer acceptance have been encountered with U.S. ORIENTAL Stucco since elimination of the_ asbestos, at some plants almost a year ago. Research evaluation of Hagersviile BQNDCRE7S Plaster with and without asbestos, requested by tr.e plant, has been similarly delayed until the next 3CNDCRETE production run. For your information, the manufacture of BONDCRETE Piaster in the States was terminated January even though New Brighton's production was sizeable, because of its consister. t misuse in the field to large risks. Its use as a ! which it is manufactured , has been largely supplanted in the States, . by liquid bonding agents a* It has been agreed, by Mr. Hood's report, to terminate AUDICOTE Acousci Plaster production v/hen the use of asbestos is prohibited. Finalizing the inevitable e limination of .asbestos from all CSC pro cucts has thus been delayed for various wcil-juszi ficd reasons , net the least of which is an apparent lack of emphasis on this problem by the Canadian government. To comply .with the Company's determination to be frse as soon as possible from any potential future liability from asbestos usage, however, I suggest wo sec a cut-off daze, by mucua 1 agreement betv/eer. Product Management, Operating, Sales and Research, for elimination of asbestos from all CCC building plaster products . I suggest March 15th as a cut-off cate. 0-6SI0 U nited States Gypsum C ompany USG119.01 CAB 37 ( r f247Q J. R. Hood 1270 W. F. Hcwe . #247 E. H. Rossell -2- , January 23, 1974 To get some perspective of the impact immediate elimination of asbestos and termination, of AUDICOTS Plaster manufacture would have on profits, we made up the following rough table, based on 1973 - 9 months production and making some assumptions. Please comment. ALH:aae