Document byq37K03j23MDxxrwNOL5yGqO

i f.Uo-j-co % : - V. rA1_N7 DFT. OWENS-CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION . r- i ' i - t) 1C*i i INTRA-COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE r L Genera! Office* - Toledo, Ohio Xaj 23, 19U Auentioo of Mr. Harold boeecbenetein Subject TKF P. St* Louis, Monday, Vay 19, 1941 Chic-jO, Tuesday, Hay 20, 1941 Hoilt?. Aspects of riborgi* a ci Hr. W P. Llavwcrsan Mr* X. J. Xarwhall ttr. C. fi Xtoelln ^ Xr. T t* Xoger* Mr. X* J. Xoott Mr* W* X* Thcsae - St.Louia The detailed trip report follows* Results! ; 1* Assurance by Hr. Bartley that Local Ho. 1 will taka - do action befoi-e June 3 im.' practical assurance that tlie result will be faiprubl*. . 2. herelation that the anion's concern Is with the poaaibility of a ailieosis haserd and that the dermatitis ha sard la secondary and not nearly wo Jj^ortant as we had boon led to believe. 3. Collate satisfaction of the questions raised by the A.I.H.1. section. 4* Contact established with Keiional Safety Council and -way paved for eerrying out a helpful progrrrja with then. 5* Discovery of the role of Dofeoee CweaLuloA invertLg*ton in re fibergl&a nateriale and *Conserf>tion of Hasp0**2*" progran. At the request of the newly formed St* Louis section of tbo American Industrial Hygiene Association, the following Qwena-Comir^ repre sentatives reached St* Louis Monday, Hay 19, prepared to discus* the health aspect* of /Iberglas products 1 Xdvrard C* Aea Dr. H. V. Cespbell Owen Morris Tyler Stewart Rogers X07 J. Scott Carl 0* Staelin* Present also, rep resecting the St* Louie office, werti George Booker V* X* Tbcsae Mr. Uocscherurteln -2 - May *3# 1941 and, representing A* G, Brauar Supply Co^aoy, St. Louis aarfcstere Industrial Insulation mrketerai Oscar Brausr Williae ThQBpson Three other represent*tivee. i A suits (ftocc 434) was engaged at tbs Fbreet Ptrk Hotel, ehieh was selected as beadquartare because tbs dinner seating sf the A.X*HA* v&s echediled In thot hotel at 6il5* Shortly after arrival, te tslsphoosd Ur. Killian H* Bartley ' i of Bartley t Mayfield (CHsstnutf 7163). Mr* Bartlsy la attorney for Local ho* 1 of the Asbestos Workers Union* Be eonfiraed bis accept ance of our invitation to his and the Mahers of tbs Executive Co&nlttee of the Union to sect with a* In the suite. Shortly before noon Mr* Bartley arrived with Mr* Qua 5ch*itter business agent of the union local, and the relieving effloers and eeabers of the Union's Executive Coosittees Ur* Gerry O'Connor, President Mr* Blayter, Becretary Mr, Btadleun Sr* Poepler Sr* Brahivan Sr. Block Ask} osm other Before their arrival, as^le displays of Beth wool and textile pro ducts were arranged abcut the suite, together with oersted pictaree shoeing sezmfasturing proceeeet and appUeatlooe* In the Mantis*, Sr* Anas had telephoned Sr* S* A* This--nn, Suite 1744, Pierce Building, Bt* Unis - (Tel* Kiln 5540) President of the 0t* Louis Beetle mt the A*X*IU** te Mgfoet proft. oedure for handling the evening setting* Sr* Thiown, she Is engl- a**r with the St* Louis office ef the Hertford Accident and Indeanity Company, agreed to soon te the hotel during the afternoon to disease the setter farther* Mr. Eoeachenrtein -3- May 219U xhlhlt C >d bit p 2a tha meanti-cm, too, Messrs. Strelln and Thcoa* visited the office of Dr. Roy Philip Scholx, 3t, Louis surgeon who ha* bawl me log Fibergla* for surgical suturing nsterial for three year*. Thsy reported that Dr. 5eho2& agreed to fumiah us with a statement about tha result* ha fed U on having with the meterinl# To Mr. Bartley, Mr. Arne* gave tha greeting of Mr. Marshall, aai it va* evident thct Wr. Bartley ha* a high regard for Mr. Marshall, Mr. Bartlay anphaaiaad tha favorabla Impreeeion that Mr. Marshall ha* ufeated upon hla by hi* willia^iest to mele information svailahle. H* reiterated cany tio8 hi* rtataoent that hla interest extend* only to th health aspects of our materials. H va* eapbatie la hi* sontefitlon the t compe titive propaganda, actual or implied, ha* no boaring whatsoever on hi* deteradnstiui to ask.* an objective and disinterested appraisal of tbo subject, and that if wo could provt to hi* satisfaction that no oem*-' pationAl iiaaarde Jeopardise the health of workers applying Fiborgla* materials, be will recora.tond that jfciiion meabers gc ahead and work with riLerglai a* thj work vitn other insulating products. for approximately two hour* the gathering va* Info real. Conversations In group* of two* and three* and four* aoncemed principally the samples and photograph* on display. The atmosphere va* oo* of comfortable, good-natured relaxation. Mr. Bartley 1* a florid-faced, portly, white-haired gentleman approximately 55 ywrs old. Re ha* a professional manner and appears to dominate the ler*l business of tii* A.F. of L. building trade* in Bt, Louis* Me ha* excellent political connection* in Jefferson City, being a Member of several state board* devoted to worker** welfare. Re is easy to talk to, straightforward, incorro. tible. The union maabert look to him to arti culate their perplexities, and they regard him a* their champion. Ris influence among them Is paramount and hi* statement that they will act enly on hie recommendation, said in a matter-of-fast manner mltma any *ugge?tioc of poopouxneea ar boasting, Is borne out by the confidence that they manifest toward him* While a buffet luncheon v*.s being served, Mr. Bartley, Mr. Behaitter*, and Vr. Ames drew apart at Mr. Bartley's cuggestloe. Mr. text!*/ re viewed i*i* inter at in the subject and took from his brief case a marked copy of tha reflation relating to fibcrgla* that appeared la the April Issue of the Asbestos Korfcer. He disoiseed as almost mseorthy of timwient the so-called deraatiti* hatard, citing the fast that many Cement workers are allergic to ingredients of cement mixture* and have to acquire some toe* hem" In handling last they suffer skin Irrltatiom. Me stressed mt. Boeachenotein -4- My 23, 19a the tact th*t daruaiitia la 4 eotiaon aca^lftlnt In Meny of the building trades and that when as individuikl is found to be allergic to 4 ntorial ba ought to find 4 Means cf lirelihood vftere be la cat obliged to oxpoee himeolf to the Material, stick Ioq^ enough an a yob to oondltion hiMealf and derelop jjuounlty toward the Malarial* Uppermost In l'r. Bartlay'a thinking ia tba jftoaeibility af ao-tallod aillooaia haxard In banulin,'; Pibarciaa* M# requested InfonaaUoo about that, pointed cut that be *aa looking forward to the presentation at tba A,I*H*A* Meeting, and auf^uaiaac tn*t he tad been la touch adth Hr* fhiOMAja, af wnofii be had requested penaission for Masolf and tba eatecxjtire a o--ittoo maabara to att;x., not uitb tba thought of introducing ontrorersy Into the abating but because ba eoasiderod the aseting a good opportunity to becose tnforaed, Vr, Aaw inforued Ir. Bartley that *f vara looking forward to haring tba union rpr*ae.nt*tiTfts attend tha dinner an our guesta# Ka took a poll of tha representatives, toe they agreed, Mr, Anaa pointed out that tba attitude of tba union representatives and that of tba AIJ!*A* vara partllal on the question of finding A tha trua fltuatloa in ra a pooalblo hasard, and tharafora va were looking forward vary such to tba opportunity of put ting all facta at their disposal. At approximately 2i30 Ur, Bartlay *.llod tha Union group to order, to introduce the subject ha pointed out to tba Union representative# that ha vaa yr&tiflod ttat O^ana-Corning abuild be willing to aot tba Issue with fairness and frankness, Tha resolution JCroa tbo jigbogtos Woricsr was read, and at that point kr, Scott Intsrrupted -- to oot tba roaord straight -- by reading the letter froa Consolidated fdlsoa to tba affect that they do not regard Ftbergias aa a haaerdou# Material sad kaoo Of no affects deleterious to health. The interrupt ion 'had a good affect, for it illustrated that va vara propared to conduct a frontal action, c unterattseking allegations with doctcaentary proof. Then Ur, Avas spoka, pointing out that although flberfflaa la a moo Mat erial, it la already basic In hundreds of different applications, Bo sited hao&niUrirn uaaa like tba use of ribergls* by Dr, Schols in sur gical futures, bottleship iasulstio, inner aelea for poli#*Meafa shoos and oil refinery insulation, tracer threads in surgical apaagoa and oarloeda of glass vcol for refrigerator Insulation, Bo jaanti aood airplane asea and amgr and navy uses. V Ur, Boeschatutaln - 5- Bay 23, 19U Exhibit f Exhibit C Exhibit H He pointed out thit it is right and proper that 14700* met few1 liar with riberglae should inquire about health tsp*cts of the material, that we had received aurserou* Inquiries and had answered than all to the satisfaction of the interrogators, that Insurance eowpaniee, state departments of welfare, m&nufacturers, industrial phjsielans, eafet7 engineers all wanted to know * .t Ur. Anes want toned Dr. Erazs at daPorrt, Dr. Mclllvaln at fiodd, The Pennsylvania Safe Practices Conference which published Ur. Eogers1 address as Bulleton Bo. JC. Be tailed attention to tbs fact that we are not amateurs in the glass business and that althcxigb our eoopany is eooparatively mi, it etass from the research and development acti vity of two established glass cvt^.nln which were pioneers in the work of encouraging medical investif* tions to protect their people egsinst the dread disease silieosis* Be said the danger ef silicosis exists only where free silica is in thefetr, and that when the fusion of silica and the other wlner* 1 ingredient* ef the batch takes place, silica ' boeones a silicate, ha eos^-ared this phenomenon to whet bappens whan eodiuu (e highly corrosive jset'l) eoabinee with shlorins (s poison gas) to **ke sodlua thloride or eoaoon table salt* Be coopered it also to what happens when hydro gen (a highly explosive gas) eoabinee with oxygen to make water, without which sen could not live. But, he emphasised, even though it n kncmn to be true that a sili cosis haaard exists only where free silica In Infinitesinally fine particles is likely to be bresthod, good business sense told us that we ehoild anticipate questions about this versatile new glass and dote mine whether in it* fibrous fora glass sight conceivably raise an unknown ha sard. Accordingly, he add, we enlisted the eerrice* of the oost eminent medical authority In the field of lung disorders -- Dr. Leroy U. Gardner, director ef Saranac laboratory, whoa* experiments not only reassured us about the absence of any sillcoals haiard but made it possible for ua to go ahead with an absolutely dear eonscienoe as regards the welfare of eur own production employees and the e^>leyees of menufactorers or contractors applying the materials as well as re gards any possible liability that night jeopardise our business. Ur. Anas also pointed out that cor own group insurance rates are lew and that we enjoy an industrial eca^enantion rata (95f per $100 ef payroll for wool workers and 664 for textile workers) ae cohered with |100 for asbestos aanufaeturers, $1.10 fer magnesia manufacturers, $1.60 slay products manufacturers, etc. At.this point, *r. Staalin was introduced end dleeuewwd fir. fiarAaer** research. Mr. Awes then recapitulated Ur. fitaelia's remarks, telling attaation to tba final aenteoee in Dr. Gardnar's report. shlbll J eaut Uhit > libit L Mr* Boeectensteln -6- . Trusting these finding* may tilAy tny - _ scepticism u to t theoretieel haaerd Involved froa the handling of (Ui wool, I u *.*" . May 23, 19U Mr, Ajms then introduced Dr. Campbell who bore testimony to the Health program at the Betr&rk plant* Dr, Campbell had assembled figures hoeing the Incidence of various kinds of diseases among 1055 production eaaployees* Be pointed out that although the average age of the anployed group studied ic 31 -- the age where the inci dence of tuberculosis ie high -- there were fever lung disorder* among our people than among other average groups* Re said that as plant physician he is such sort concerned about good housekeeping to xv>ko sure that ship; log clerks do not fall froa loading docks and break legs than about lung or akin disorders, that new workers saoe- tirees are concerned about skin irritation until the; becoot accustomed, to handling cur products under thd tutelage of older employees on the basis of shoes experience we drafted cair reconroended practice* set forth in Fiberglns Standards f 4*2*1* Dr* Carpbe 11 mentioned Dr. Evens1 statement to following a visit to the Newark plant in June 1940 that the difference between handling of Fiberglas by duf-oot eoploycc3 and b* Fiberglaa employees w* one of attitude* Dr* Campbell cited aa excerpt froa an article by J* K* Hiller and R. & Sayers on "Response of Peritoneal Tissue to Industrial Dusts" froa the American Ceramic Society's publication Tol* 20, Vo* 5 (Bay, 1941) reprinted froa U*S Public Health Reports. The article lists glass wool among the inert dusts that eante no pulwonary fibrosis* Mr, Rogers then spoke about other sdneral wools, and he tampered the* to Pibtrgla* in regard to cleanliness sed dusting* Be described his . experience before the Pennsylvania Safety Practices Conference* Mr* Ames was called froa the roon at this point to Met Mr* Thiemann* The conference ooctimed with Mr* Scott presiding, and the discussion turned into an informal questioo-and-enswer cession* When Mr* Awes returned about 5*30, Mr* Slayter (the wnioo secretary) congratulated us on the way we had "put cut the information" end assured Mr* Awes that they were well satisfied and "shea they decided to see fibergla* they'd keep en using it until the end ef tine*" X& his discussion In Boon 431, Mr. Anas prevailed span Mr* Thiemann te defer the business session sod discussion cf cosrrenticn papers until the Kberglas dicoos sion was coexisted. Be was persuaded te do so en the assosption that the union men would become rustless if they vers sbliged to sit through an hour and a half ef ceovestioo reports* This agreement was fertunate, far it meant that we were to have the oppor tunity ef tailing our story Iwaoril ttely after dl*nr> when the swMcnfs was fresh* . xJUbiti: Vr* Boaschenstein - 7- **y 23, 1%X Approximately 75 parsons at'.anriad the A*I*K*A* seating* The fixup Included plant physicians, industrial flursaa, safety en^lneera, insurance' ooop&ny del a. agents, personnel non from the ft* Uidi era*. Stated at the head table vara Dr* Campbell, Hr* Regers, hr* /mi, Ur* Thirymn and Rise Agnes Babbit (pronounced RAThit) h who Is sacraterj of tha section* 5he la an Industrial jurat at Anheaser-Suach* It. the audience alto were* Ur* Viliam, Aetna aafety engineer * Ur* Toung, Aetna data agent Dr* Theodora Hanaer (or Ba/tsar), Anheuser- i Busch plant physician) - Ray K* Seeker, Anheuaer-besch pereonael and safety director following tba dinner, Ur* Thlaaann turned tha meeting ever to Ur* Ism, who covered approriostely tha eaae points acre rad with tha vaion representatives Airing tba afternoon. be recognised, however, that the audience v*s technics 11/ minded, add we diacuaaad tha Gardner report In greater detail* Ur* Staalln read tha latavt Inhalation experi ment progress report >ut received fro* Dr* Gardner, Dr* Campbell ag in discussed the health record at tha bewark plant, Ur* Refers discussed quality eontfol of ths batch and made tha point that fiber- fit* Arterial* are a highly refined fora of rook and slag tools with whleh industry has bean faalMar for fifty year*. Hr* Seott spoke of ths psychological handicap which our products my have because they are known to be (lass, and tailed upon Ur, Aaee to road tba talagran pointing eut tha fact tbst tha Ohio Industrial Cosed* sion baa fins us a rating lower than that tajoyed by other ln&astrlas# During tha question paiod Mr. hartley asked for sements by Jjwuranee eoq^eny representatives od thair rating and sBperienee oa wortare h*i*n<g glass wool* Xr* XUlaan, tha Aetna asa, responded, saying that fiber* flat is not oonaidared a hsaardoue setarial and that thar* Is no sep arata elssaiflcatioa Is sdiich rlbarglaa Is pvt as being axy nore mr last hasardous than othar insulations* Ba said that Aetna had found tba Alton oaployeea e Oweae-IlllQol* to be excellent risks and that Aetna does net oensidor glass aazaifastvr- lg enployee# to ba subject to any spealal haaard* "They Asa'i require as high a rata as fer asbestos,11 ba said, and although ba was speaking of a bottle aanttfietnrer, be said hit 1 applied sloe to Peons Coming beaausa there is oo silicosis hasard beyehd tbs bstoh bsneo exhibit I acfcibit 0 Exhibit P IxMblt . Mr. Boesc?>engtci.n . -8- *y 23, 19U Maaben ef the audience m invited to coi to 434 following tbe eeetinc to-ase our displry* Mr. Bartley um and asked for a copy ef the Gardner report, dtted Kay 5, 1?36 as well as F*4*2*l cad the PenrsylvBnl* Bulletin, Mo. 58* Mr. gteelin had supplied hi* with t ao; 7 of Dr. Gardner's Interim report of May 14, 1941* So told Ur. Anee that the union was to hero a seating May 20, but that they would talcw no actio without his reoonseodatlon* Al though ht said he was convinced as a result ef our yretoatstion that there Is no bsalth baa&rd Id hand] lay ttbergl&s, hs Said be was to ba in Jeffereon City eo May 20 and dssired to aback with the Kissouri Department of Health to ewe If they had any further informa tion. This was an obvious face-aaver* He asserted that there would be a decision by the local at the following meeting, acboduled for June 3, end although he did not eosnit hluaelf, be lotiaatod etrongly that the decision will be favorable to Fiberglae* Dr* Kanser brought with Kin to *rd euite - Mr* Dpshew assistant general amegar of the toheuser-Boech plant, who was reportod by one of the O-ane-Coming wen to have asked Dr* fUneer whether be would perait use of Plberglas at Anheuser-Rusch plant* *1 m ecepletely satisfied," Dr* Raneer Is reportod to have replied* Ur* Seeker also waste sp, as did the followings W. X* Jhaoerifth, safety engineer Uwbemons Mutual Casualty Co* Hallway Exchange Pallding, St. Louis John Bacall, chief engineer Industrial Hyglem Service 8t* Louis Health Division 59 Municipal Courts Building, ft. Louis Mr. Seeker's presence gave Hr* Awes an opportunity to discuss with him a letter which had been handed to Mr* Awes at dinner* Tbs letter was written by t. B Sorrell, general aanager cf eperatiana Tbe Carey fall Ce^any, Hutchinson, Kansas* Mr* Sorrell la a nesber of the National Dsfenee Canaleslan far the ftete of Kansas* Rle letter asked Mr* Seeker hoe Seeker was progressing cn the "difficulties encountered la tbe use of fiberglas ct Anheuser-Busch / \ Hr, Boeechensteln 9 - hay 23, 19U xhlblt R and whether a satisfactory solution had been found to the preble** It to happens, Ur* Horrell** letter eontinued, that on a recent In spection trip for the U, $, Labor DepartMnt, he visitsd a eo*$>*ny ailnr Fibergiae to insulate tead-trailer* being senuf&ctured for the . tar Department* (The reference apparently *j te Truehauf In I*neat City). R. nld be had been told that two en were In the hospital due to an Infection eaoaed after working witi} spun glass insula ttoa. He said he had been told that do eolutloa had been foad and that the only thing they could think of w^s rotate the employee** The letter **id he had written "Air* Guilbert* but had had no definite answer, and he was suggesting that GoLibert take wp the natter 1a Washington arv- eoe if some other notarial could be substituted for Fiberglts* This in turn," the letter added, "would be of fre t sendee to wan, facturers using this material on Oovwrwoent contracts*" The letter aaid also that he was writing "Kube Forney* to see whether be had any data, end it promised to send along tfo Seeker any further information, kr* Seeker told Ur* Aiaee that Rube Fqrney is R* L. Forney Director, Industrial Division Hatiocal Safety Council 20 Worth Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois and that Hr* Ouilbert is Harry Oilbert (spelling not certain) The Pullman Company Chirgo. Gilbert, Seeker added, 1* a dollar-c-ye&r *aa 1b the Rational Defease Co elision's pro gran for the Coossnratioo of Harpower 1a Industry and Is in ofaerge of the Ten-state region eafcrscing Kansas* In Chicago Tuesday caning, May 20, Hr* lees informed Hr* Uimtiwa ef this situation* Hr* Klmerean suggested that It was better te appro*ch Hr* Ouilbert ttrough Guatin-Ueeoa, bet with Hr* li#*rwu* approval Ur* laws visited Hr* Faroe/, who sailed Ido the eonfereoee Hr* 0* *. Boras JUttenal Safety Ceusell Chisago Hr* 1nee did not Motion the Horrail letter, introducing hi--si f by entionlng his seating In 3t* Louis the sight before with Kr* leaker* That was se. Hr* Faraay said, because the Rational Safety Ceenell ,ibit S hibit T yr Bo scherstcln - 10 - Hay 1941 recently had received isany inquiries about the besltb aspect* %t....... l*ibrgL&3. He*points out two on hi* deskt on* fra kr. Sorrell of Carty S&lt (obvioualy * duplic1t* of th l*tt*r sent to ltr. Seeker which Ur. lacs had seen in St. Louis) end on* froc Dr. Itelltt (sp*l~ M^g uncertain), plant physician of testinghouee in &*t Httsbargh. The Teslinghouse l*tt*r had sables of tap** and braided leering attached, end hr. Forney indicated that thd inquiry was abcut deraatitle. lr* conference i&atec an hour anc thr* quarter*. Both k'r* Forney and Fr. Bums wintined a constant interest in the subject, and a thorouefa presentation was Bade. Inrec results aaj* eor.e fron this aeetlnr. 1) kr. Forney indicated t^at he My relay to us copies of the inquiries received ao that w* w; euggeat replies to appear in the Council's nonthly publication. 2) The editor of to* Council** publication will be interested in obtaining a popularised account of Dr. Gardner*s findings to appear this c&tuan after he h&a published his report in one of the aodie&l Journals* 3) Suggestion was node that we participate In the Safety Council** liatimsil convention this October by talcing a booth where we ean dieplay our product* and eaphaaisa health aspects for the benefit of personnel nan and safety engineers who coot to the convection. (A proposal already ha* been reoei^d free the Xatloml Safety Council on this subject)* It la not unlikely that we nay be able to engineer a place an the Convention progrun for a diecuasioc of the subject. hr. /tees then returned to Toledo Tuesday evening with ^r. Seott.