Document XvO7bLpOVQ1LqxZ8027NwgRx

i 1I1UCC& W GENERAL lEETING Asbestos Textile Institute June 4, 1965 lotel Le Provence, Thetford Wines, Canada IN ATTENDANCE: *n AMERICAN. ASBESTOS TEXTILE CORP. J.W. Weber J.L. Rainey G.S. Fabel J.W* Christenbury Wra. Kaaskant D.F. Quealy ASDESTOS CORPORATION LTD. G.F. Jenkins P.E. LeClerc (A.C.S. Ltd.) E.L* Alexander (A.C.S. Ltd.) IV.W. Oughtred H.F.Carson A.L. Penhale G.F.A. Drink M.C. Pharo N DELL ASDESTOS IT WES LTD. G.W. Smith F. T. Smith IVlJf ?}* OilIX L li R. Dodds-Hebron Norman L. Darr CASSIAR ASBESTOS CORP. J.D. Christian 11. Gritzulc T.T. Tigert R. Parson (Ontario Research Foundation) II.i;. ITiRTER COITAiJY, 1HC. J.T. Griffis J.D. I'cCluer D.E. Childers RAYDESTOS-i Ai IIIATCAW, IHC. J.A. Drown, Jr. L.C. Williams J.P. Wronski l-'.W. Oliver R.D. Smith J.W. Hawkins TALLMA1J-MC CLUSKEY FABRICS CO. Ted D. McCluskey TURNER t NEWALL LTD Dernard Lincoln U.S. RUBBER COITAWY A. C. Link D.T. Austin. Jr.^.' . S.J. Teele, Jr. B. D. Hubbard ^ J.II. Wolfsie (Dr.) BRITISH BELTING & ASBESTOS LTD. J.L. Mitchell CADWALADER,W3CKSRSIIAI' & TAFT T.Jay Flockcn (Legal Counsel ) JOIIUS-rANVILLE CORP. IV.S. Hough E.A* Schuman W.C. Atkinson C.L. Sheckler Dr. 1C.VI. Smith ASBESTOS TEXTILE INSTITUTE H.E. Sunbury (Exec. Secretary) SOCIETE AMOHYI'E PRANCAISE DU FERODO Monsieur Collineau " Decaestecker LAKE ASBESTOS OF QUEBEC LTD, 7y" U.S. TUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ^ r.J. liessel Dr. L.J. Cralley E.A. Far re'll I * K.W. Nelson JOHNS-MANVILLS CO. OP CArAUA LTD. H.W. Hendry ** GUESTS ** Karl V. Lindcll, Chairman, Canadian Johns-IIanvillc Co., Ltd. J .O.Eby.Vicc Pres.ft Genl.I gr.,Jef frey Mine,Can.Johns-i'ami lie Co.Ltd, R. Gagnon, Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd. L. Tiuze, Mine Mgr., Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd. I .J. 1`essel, President, Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd. A.L. Tcnhale, Chairman ft President, Asbestos Corporation Ltd. V G.F. Jenkins, Director, Asbestos. Corporation Ltd. linutcs - General Me--ing - continued: Guests: - 2- L. iontpetit, Manager, Hicolet Asbestos Idnes Ltd. ( Ivan Sabourin, O.C., Montreal C.n. Drown, Dell Asbestos Mines Ltd. J.A.D. Tarcotte, Director, Asbestos Corporation Ltd. -Dr. R.J. lerrill, Mgr., Carey-Canadian Mines Ltd. F.P. Hodgson, Manager, Flintkote lines Ltd. T. Lachance, n.A.i'.A. Dust Engineer, Thetford Industrial Clinic R.S. Coleman, Manager, National Asbestos Tines Ltd. Dr. L.J. Cralley, U.S. Public Health Service, Cincinnati, Ohio Dr.K.W. Smith,Tcdical Director, Johns-Manvi lie Corp.,New York, N.Y. Dr.J.Il.Wolfsie,Medical Director,United States Rubber Co.,New Yorrk.NY Mr.N.L.Barr,Director,Bell Asbestos Tines Ltd.,Sdles Igr.,Atlas Asb.Co. Dr. R. Marson, Director, Ontario Research Foundation NY Gritzuk, Asst, to the Genl. Tgr., Cassiar Asbestos Corp., Ltd. Dr. Paul Cartier, Thetford Industrial Clinic, Thetford iines Geo. S. Fabel, American Asbestos Textile Corp. A. Collineau, Socicte Anonyme Francaise Du Fercdo T. Decaestecker, " ' " In addition to the above guests we were privileged to have thirty ladies accompany their husbands to our luncheon on Friday, June 4th . -----Minutes of the Meeting --- 1. The meeting was called to order by President J.A. Drown, Jr., ' who expressed our appreciation for the opportunity of holding th is meeting in Thetford Tines, and thanked our hosts, Asbestos Corpora tion, Ltd.; Dell Asbestos Tines Limited; Canadian Johns-i anvi lie Co., Ltd.; Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited; and Lake Asbestos of Que bec Limited, for their v/onderful hospitality and meticulous handling of the many details incidental to the meeting. The miners' committee who handled the local arrangements consisted of l!.r. Carson, Asbestos Corp.; II.W.-Hendry of Can. Jolins-Manville Co.; Roland Gagnon, Lake Asbestos of Quebec; Wm.J.W. Smith of Bell Asbestos Tines representing Cassiar Asbestos Ccor p.; and F.Parke* Smith, Bell Asbestos . incs, who was Chairman of the committee. To all of these gentlemen we extend individual thanks for a job that was exceedingly well done! President Drown then introduced a number of the special guests who were attending this meeting, following which he explained that due to the fact that some of the nen had to leave before noontime in or der to catch a i-iidaf ternoon flight out of Montreal, the usual agenda had been reversed to enable them to hear our several guest speakers. 2. Our first speaker was Tr. M.J. Messel, Presi' ent of Lake Asbestos of Pucbec, Limited, who welcomed the r.enbcrs of A.T.l. with these re marks: "President Brown, Members of A.T.l., Guests: It is a pleas ure, on behalf of the Canadian Asbestos l iners, to welcome you to asbestos country with its *nan-r;aclc mountains and to tell you how 'pleased and honoured we are to have you hold your meeting in Thetford lines. . While I have not been very active in A.T.l., *1 have followed its work very closely through the reading of the fine and comprehensive re ports which your Secretary so ably puts together. I have also^fol- lowed closely the cooperative work which your technical conmttccs p have been doing with the Quebec .Asbestos lining Association, winch Minutes - General fleeting - continued: - 3 - is much appreciated and mutually beneficial. I know the work of an association such as yours is a difficult one due to wide range and complexity of problems that have to be dealt with and wish to con gratulate your association in the splendid and effective way that it conducts its affairs and copes with your industry problems. As yet there is no shortage of Group 3 spinning fibres from the mint1 in Canada, as I cun still see plenty of order-takers around. How ever, there are indications of possible shortages in some of the as bestos cement grades. At one time the spinning fibre grades were the mainstay of the asbestos producing industry, but this has now been supplanted by the asbestos cement fibre grades together with expanded uses of the shorter fibrest During 1964, the Canadian Asbestos producing industry employed over 6000 people and exported approximately 1,333,000 tons of asbestos with an approximate gross value of $155,000,000. Of this total only 34,6^7 tons were crude and spinning grades with an approximate total value of $14,000,000. The U.S.A. market consumed approximately 14,600 tons of crudes and spinning fibres wi tli a value of approxi mately $6,400,000, and this has remained rather constant for the past 3 or 4 years. The only other large suppliers of spinning fibres are Russia and Rhodesia. The figures we obtained during our visit to Russia would indicate approximately 20 to 25 thousand tons of spin ning fibres out of an estimated total production of 1,600,000 tons; so Canada still holds its dominant position as supplier of textile fibres. The cooperative work that is being carried on for iiiiv/.cd fibre test ing ire thods and standards should lead to a better understanding betiveen the producing and consuming asbestos industries. I*r. Sabourin, as attorney for A.A.r.A., will tell you somethiig of the work that is being considered with resncct to the health of the workers in our industry. I feel there should be room for cooperative work between the A.T.I. and .'.A.i'.A. I hope your visit among us will be a most happy and pleassn t one and will result in a better understanding of our mutual problems, aid 1 know the Local Committees of A.T.I. and the Canadian Asbestos Miners have done a splendid job in malting your stay amongst us both happy and memorable." 3. President Drown then introduced Dr. Kenneth VJ. Smith, Medical Director of Johns-Manville Corporation, who stressed the desirabili ty, indeed the necessity, of the asbestos industry telling the truth \ about the health of its employees and giving me aningful reports as to company experience. He pointed out that some of the more prolific writers on so-called "asbestosis" have relatively little background of actual "cases" on which to base their theories or conclusions, as compared with our collective and also individual company experience over many years time. Dr. Smith urged full cooperation on the part of various companies to open their records, and full cooperation with the work of the U.S. Public Health Service. He stated that the gen eral overall health of Johns-Manville longtime employees compared favorably v/ith industry in general, and pointed to the steadily ex panding membership in their 25 year club as evidence of this fact. 4. President Drown then introduced Mr. Karl V. Lindcll, Chairman, Canadian Johns-Manville Co., Ltd., who expressed his pleasure at hav ing the opportunity to attend this meeting, and*.said that he would like to have Mr. Ivan Sabourin, '<.C., attorney for the Q.A.1 .A., tel 1 ' ------ *---------- nrntect the* Minutes - General Mr ting - continued: - 4 - health of asbestos workers, and about the outline planned for the newly formed Q.A.fi.A. program for Research in Kining Pathology for the Study of Respiratory Diseases as related to Chrysotile Asbestos, Some of the very interesting points brought out by Sabourin were: In the year 1935 the mining industry started X-raying their employes at regular intervals in order to safeguard their health. The North Carolina State Board of Health was contacted to compare methods fo.*: dust counting and for X-ray procedures. Also worked with those hos pitals in Canada that had compiled background experience in the field of resniratary diseases. Taid tribute to Dr. Taul Cartier of the Thetford Industrial Clinic, pointing ouc that Dr. Cartier had contributed many valuable papers and reports on asbestosis over a span of many years. Also that Dr. Grainger of Canadian Johns-I-anville Co. Ltd., Dr. George Wright of Cleveland, and Dr. A.J. Voiwald of Detroit deserved much credit for their work and contributions to the increasing fund of general knowledge regarding asbestosis. Stressed that the mining industries reouire their doctors to keep up 7with the worj: being dene by others on pneumoconiosis research, and ' to attend meetings both here and abroad. and participate in the dis cussions at those meetings. He sTated with great emphasis that the knowledge possessed by the industry's doctors on the biological ef fects of chrysotile asbestos was not surpassed elsewhere in the : world. Mentioned that contacts have been made with doctors in Rus sia, East Germany, Finland, Italy, England and other countries. J Expressed his belief that cancer is not necessarily involved due to ?.?cori?.'v.or! with asbestos. T>ai n + tfH A I* appeared only about two weeks ago was not convincing - only informa tive - indicates much further work is needed - regrets adverse pub licity that results from such articles. Expressed the opinion that while the welfare of the worker should be \ the. responsibility of management, we need to know more about the worker's environment after he leaves the plant. /Explained that the Q.A.H.A. program is still in the formative stage. They seek alliance with some university, such as licGili, for cxmpls, sc that authoritative background for publicity can be had. The pro gram will start modestly, with competent men coming into it - men with a vast background of actual experience. They recognize the need to consolidate experiences, and also having traveled widely in other countries, they find that research units are usually located adjacent to a h rge, well equipped hospital. Frequently, the worker has a condition that is not attributable to association with asbestos, dis covered through cooperation with the hospital staff. In'conclusion fir. Sabourin expressed the thought that it would be wonderful if the Asbestos Textile Institute could join their efforts to the Q.A.ii.A. program for the benefit of all - deplored the isola tion of efforts-and pocr liaison between research laboratories and research units. Suggested that a common-council as a governing body might be the answer and result in more rapid progress. 5. The next speaker was Dr. L.J. Cralley, ofthc U.S. Public Health Service, who for the past several years has been supervising {he cx" *t 2nsive Environmental Study of asbestos employees in textile plants in the U.S.A. Dr- Cralley said that the Stucb' was going well, and fine cooperation from both management and employees has been exnericnccd. The U.S. Public Health Service is now extending their worl; into other asbestos industries such as asbestos-cement, etc. Feels ^ that the results to date certainly justify the program and its furj, v liter expansion. '* Minutes - General ing - continued: - 5 - ) In other areas of activity the U.S.P.H. Service presented a paper it the recent American Industrial Conference at Houston, Texas, which summarized their study experience in five plants. Draft copies of two papers were distributed to our Air Hygiene Committee on June 3rd The first paper by Jeremiah D. Lynch of the Dept, of Health, Educa tion and Welfare, titled "Asbestos Study - Procedure and Findings" and the second paper, titled "Relationship of Impinger Counts to Fibre Concentration by Membrane Filters in Asbestos Textile Pla nts". (Doth of these papers are covered more fully in the report of oir Air Hygiene ft Itfg. Committee which is attached to these minutes.) Dr. Cralley plans to speak at Seminars frequently in the future, such as University of Texas, insurance companies, etc. Menti oned that since the conference on "Biological Effects of Asbestos", held in New York last October, the New York Academy of Sciences has now established a "Division of Environmental Sciences". At the conclu sion of his talk Dr. Cralley answered several questions from the audience. 6. President Drown then asked Hr. W.W. Hendry, General Salcs Mana ger for Canadian Johns-ilanville Asbestos Limited, to report for the Fibre Committee. Air. Hendry stated that inventories of spinning fibre are ample but substantially below the levels of one year ago. Demand for Group 3 fibres remained relatively flat in 1964 in most countries of the world vith the exception of the U.S. and Europe. The increase in demand in the latter area was considerably Treater than in the U.S. Dusiness conditions in Japan are fair, Italy poor, Germany fair, United Kingdom good, and the remainder of Europe relatively good in the asbestos textile and asbestos-cement fields. It is expected, however, that the second half of 1965 will show an improvene nt over the first half in those areas of the world in which business condi tions have been below average. The average reduction in the -200 mesh HcNctt content of spinning fibres from 1953 to 1965 is in the order of 50 - 75 per cent. New asbestos fibre production projected from new properties in Cana da includes the Clinton Creek' property of Cassiar in 1968, Asbestos Hill of Asbestos Corner ation in 1970, and the possible Reeves proper ty of J.H. in Northern Ontario. This new production will supply the asbestos-cement market principally. Russian production in 1964 at 1,600,000 tons exceeded that of Canada for the first time and this trend is expected to continue in the forward years.