Document evxYaEdewyKrLgpvVz6b3VEkE
FILE NAME: RT Vanderbilt (RTV)
DATE: 1974 Oct 31
DOC#: RTV064
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: J-M Memo RE Telephone Conversation with Bob Bacon, President of RTV, who Stated J-M's Talc Labeling Decision is Causing a "Big Stink"
m Johns-Manville
internal Correspondence
lb: F. J. Solon, Jr.
D*r. Oct. 31, 1974
from: R. p. Carter
Copi: File & C
Subject: TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH BOB BACON
Bob Bacon, Assistant to the President, R. T . Vanderbilt Co.,
called me this morning to advise that our talc labeling
decision is causing a "big stink". Vanderbilt's talc
customers are very concerned as to why J-M has decided to
commence inserting asbestos caution labels on all packages
of talc.
'
R. T. Vanderbilt Co. is of the opinion that it is
'
Johns-Manville's intention to hurt their company.
Bob Bacon requested that I bring this matter to the
highest level of management within J-M and indicate that
j
Vanderbilt is "very, very upset" .with our labeling decision,
which they feel will result in "irreparable damage" to
-
them. Bob Bacon indicated that he is going to request Hugh
Vanderbilt to personally call a Senior Officer at Johns-Manville ' `
to voice their concern.
It has been obvious for some time from my conversations with
Bob Bacon that Vanderbilt is very concerned about our talc
labeling decision. Without attempting to characterize the
motivating factors behind Bob Bacon's frequent telephone
conversations to me, their concern may very well be based
on a distinct difference between their "corporate conscience"
and ours. Certainly, our decision in no way reflects any
intention, on J-M*s part to hurt or destroy Vanderbilt, which
is Vanderbilt's current feeling. It is'Vanderbilt's opinion
that based on John Stender's letter of October 9, 1974, to
Hugh Vanderbilt, their talc does not contain asbestiform
minerals such as fibrous tremolite. Perhaps that is true,
and it is even possible that our talc does not contain
asbestiform minerals based on the definition contained in
Stender's letter. Basically, Vanderbilt is requesting,
if not demanding, that J-M reverse its talc labeling decisior
based on Stender's. letter.
'
.
rO
As you will recall, I recommended several weeks ago that we promptly take the following actions in the sequence listed below:
Reconvene a meeting, of the talc labeling group which met early this past Summer to review R&D's analyses of
Vanderbilt's Nytal and to determine J-M policy and action o
? 1 in response to Stender's October 9 letter.
F. J. Solon, Jr, Page 2 Oct. 31, 1974
(2) .Arrange a meeting in Denver between certain R. T. Vanderbilt personnel and appropriate individuals from R&D to review our analyses of Nytal and to inform Vanderbilt officially as to J-M policy and contemplated actions on this matter.
(3) Meet with Jon May and perhaps other NIOSH personnel to review the details of their study of tremolitic talc and their recommendations to OSHA, which I have been told
-were incorporated in Stender's letter. (4) Arrange for a meeting with OSHA, including Alexander Reis
Dan Boyd and Howard Schulte,to discuss the talc labeling situation, and perhaps point out the error in Stender's definition of "fibrous,. asbestiform minerals". I believe this matter warrants our immediate attention.
R. P. Carter RPC/emr
|I