Document g2kyXLbv2yMgKqbgpB6dNV2gJ

FILE NAME Owens Corning OC DATE 1941 May 23 DOC OC068 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Detailed Trip Report Including Union's Concern About Silicosis Hazard - t ath, cee = a Cus Oot Ames: NG | Form 2-60 - CORP & FATENT DEPT 1.8T 1.8T 1.8T 201541 201541 201541 201541 201541 Tr OWENS CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE General - ToleTod leo do Ohio May 23 1941 Attention of Mr. Harold bosschenstein . iN RAIT Subject THI RAIT ec: Mr. W. P. Zimmerman Mr. E. J. Marshall Hr C. G. Steelin - ~~ Kr T. 8. Rogers Aspects Fibergla of Chicago Tuesday May 20 1941 Mr. W W. . Thomas = St.Louis St.Louis Health Health Fibergla r The detailed trip report follows Results . Assurance by Mr. Bartley that local No. 1 will take no action before June 3 and practical assurance that the result will be favorable 2. Revelation that the union's concern is with the possibility of a silicosis hazard and that the dermatitis hazard is secondary and not nearly so important as we had been led to believe 3. Com.lete Com.lete satisfaction of the questions raised by the A.I.H. section 4 Contact established with Ertional Safety Council and way pava~ for earrying out a helpful program with then 5. Discovery of the role of Defense Comission investigators in re Fiberglas materials and Conservation of Manpower program At the request of the newly formed St. Louis section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association the following Corning representatives reached St. Louis Monday May 19 prepared to discuss the health aspects of Fiberglas products Dr. H. h Campbell Owen Morris Tyler Stewart hogers Roy J. Scott Carl G. Staelin Present also representing the St. Louis office are George Beaker W. R. ThoRAS Mr. Boeschenstein Ze May 23 1941 Exhibit A Exhibit B and representing A. G. Brauer Supply Company St. Louis marketers industrial insulation markstars Cacar Brauer . William Thompson Three other representatives s . A suite Room 434 was engaged at the Forest Park Hotel which was selected as headquarters because the dinner meeting of the A.INA A.INA was scheduled in that hotel at 6:15 Shortly after arrival we telephoned Mr. Killiam H. Bartley . of Bartley e Mayfield Chestmit 7163 Mr. Bartley in attorney for Local No. of the Asbestos workers Union He confirmed his accept- ance of our invitation to his and the members of the Executive Com mittee of the Union to meet with us in the suite ~ Shortly before Deon Mr. Bartley arrived with Mr. Gus Schmitter business agent of the union local and the following officers and members of the Union's Executive Committee Mr. Gerry O'Connor President Mr. Blayter Becretary Mr. Peopler Mr. Brabizan Mr. Block And one other Before their arrival ample displays of both wool and textile products were arranged about the suite together with mounted pictures showing manufacturing processes and applications In the meantime Mr. Ames had telephoned Hr N. A. Thiemann Suite 1944 Pieres Building St. Lunris - Tel Mlin 5540 ... President of the St. Louis Section of the ... te suggest pre- cedure for handling the evening meeting Mr. Thiemann who is engi- neer with the St. Louis office of the Hartford Assident and Indennity Company agreed to some to the hotel during the afternown to discuss the matter further Mr. Boeschenstein 3- May 23 1941 In the meantime , too Messrs Strelin and Dr. Roy Philip Schols St. Louis Thomas for surgical surgeon who has suturing material for three years Dr. Scholz agreed to furnish us with a statement ad been having with the material visited the office of been using Fiberglas They reported that about the results be To Mr. Bartley Mr. Auss evident that Mr. gave the greeting of Kr Marshall and it was ley emphasised Bartley the has a high regard for Mr. Marshall Mr. favorable impression that Mr. Marshall has Bart- upon him his willingness to meke information information available many times his statement that his interest created He reiterated aspects of our materials extends only to the health He was emphatie in his titive propagands actual or contention that expe- determination to make implied implied has no bearing whatsoever en his an objective and disinterested appraisal of the xhitit p in groups of twos and threes and photographs on display natured relaxation and The fours soncerned principally the samples atmosphere was one of comfortable influence among them is paramount and his Mr. Bartley is a florid portly haired 55 years old He has a professional gentleman approximately legel business of the manner and appears to dominate the excellent A.F. of L. building trades in St. Louis No has several political connections in Jefferson City being a member of state boards devoted to workers welfare He is straight incorrutible incorrutible sulate their easy to talk to The union mambers look to him to arti- perplexities and they regard him as their shampion Ris they will act anly on his statement that recommendation said in a matter manner aims suggestion of porpouaness or bossting is borne out by the any confidence that they manifest toward him Schnitters While a buffet luncheon was being served Mr. Bartley Mr. and Mr. Ases drew apart at Mr. Bartley's suggestion Mr. viewed his interest interest in the subject and took from his Bartley re- sopy of the resolution briefcase briefcase a marked issue of the Asbestos relating to Fiberglas that appeared in the April Worker He dismissed as almost mamorthy of comment the called dermatitis hasard siting the fact that are allergic to ingredients of cement mixtures and many have sement workers know how in handling lest they suffer skin irritationtoHeaeqsutirreessesdoms oes Exhibit E a Mr. Rosachenstein ~he & Xy 23 1941 e fact that dermatitis is common complaint in many of the building trades and that when an individual is found to be allergic to a terial he ought to find a means of livelihood where he is not obliged to expose himse toltf he materorisatil ck lon eno enu a g jobh to condition himself and develop immunity toward the material Oppermost in Mr. Bartley's thinking is the possibility of salled silicoxia hasard in handling Fiberglas No requested information about that A.I.Hak pointed out that he was looking forward to the presentation at the A.I.Hak meeting and emphasised thrt he had been in touch with Mr. Thieman of whom he had requested permission for himself and the executive committee members to atten not with the thought of introducing controversy into the mating but because be considered the meeting a good opportunity to became informed Nr Anes informed kr Bartley that we were looking forward to having the union representatives attend the dinder as our guests He took a poll of the representatives and they agreed Mr. Anus poimed out that the attitude of the union representatives and that of the A.I.M.A. were parallel on the question of finding out the trus qituation in re possible hazard and therefore we were looking forward very much to the apportunity of putting all facts at their disposal At approximately 2:30 Mr. Bartley lled the Union group to order To introduce the subject he pointed out to the Union representatives that he wan gratified that Corning should be idilling to met the issus ~ ( with fairness and frankness The resolution from the Asbestos Farker was read and at that point Kr Scott interrupted to set the resord stright by by reading the letter from Consolidatod Edison to the affect that they do not regard Fiberglas as a hazardous material and know of no effects deleterious to health The interruption had a good effect for it illustrated that we were prepared to conduct a frontel action e unterattacking allegations with documentary proof Then Mr. Ames spoke painting out that although Fiberglas is a new material it is already basic in hundreds of different applications He aited humanitarian uses like the use of Fiberglas by Dr. Schols in sur- gical sutures battleship insulation inoer soles for policeman's shoes and oil refinery insulation tracer threads in surgical spenges and ear iceds of glass wol for refrigerator insulation Es mentisend mentisend airplane uses and army and navy uses Mr. Boeschenstein - 5- Kay 23 1941 Exibit F Exhibit C He pointed out that it is right and proper that anyone not familiar with Fiberglas should inquire about health aspects of the material that we had received merous inquiries and had answered them all to the satisfaction of the interrogators that insurance companies state departments of welfare manufacturers industrial physicians safety engineers all wanted to know & = Pennsylvania Safe Practices Conference which published Mr. Rogers address as Bulleton No. 50. He called attention to the fact that we are not amateurs in the glass business and that although our company is comparatively new it stems from the research and development activity of two established glass companies which were pioneers in the work of encouraging medical investitions investitions to protect their people against the dread disease silicosis He said the danger of silicosis exists only where free silica is in the and that when the fusion of silica and the other miner1 ingredients of the batch takes place silica becomes a silicate He compared this phenomenon to what happens when sodium a highly corrosive metal combines with chlorine a poison gns to make sodium chloride or common table salt He compared it also to what happens when hydrogen a highly explosive gas combines with exxygen to make water without which man could not live Exhibit B Exhibit But he emphasized even though it was known to be true that a sili- coais hazard exists only where free silice in infinitesimally fine partiales is likely to be breathed good business sense told me that we should anticipate questions about this versatile new glass and determine whether in its fibrous form glass night conceivably mise an unknown hasard Recordingly he acid we enlisted the services of the most eminent medical authority in the field of lung disorders Dr. Leroy U. Gardner director of Saranac laboratory whose experiments not only reassured us about the absence of any silicosis hasard but made it possible for us to go ahead with an absolutely alear conscience as regards the welfare of our own production employees and the employees of memfacturers or contractors applying the materials as well are are gards any possible ability that might Jeopardise our business Mr. Anas also pointed out that our own group insurance rates are low and that we enjoy an industrial compensation rate 95 per 100 af | payroll for wool workers and 664 for textile workers as compared with 100 for asbestos manufacturers 1.10 for magnesia manufacturers | 1.60 alay products manufacturers etc. a X At.this point Mr. Staelin was introduced and discussed Dr. Gartner's research Mr. Ames then recapitulated Mr. Staelin's remarks calling attention to the final sentence in Dr. Gardner's report yo Axhibit Exhibit Exhibit 1 Exhibit L Mr. Boeschenstain . . -6- -6- -6- Trusting these findings may allay any scepticism as to a theoretical hasard involved from the handling of glass wool I an .... Kay 23 1947 Mr. Ames then introduced Dr. Campbell who bore testimony to the health program at the Newark plant Dr. Campbell had assembled figures showing the incidence of various kinds of diseases among 1055 production employees He pointed out that although the average age of the employed group studied in 31 - the age where the inci- dence of tuberculosis is high there were fewer lung disorders among our people than among other average groups He said that as plant physician he is much more concerned about good housekeeping to make sure that ship ing elerks do not fall from loading docks and break legs than about lung or skin disorders that new workers 500- times are concerned about skin irritation until they become accustomed to handling our products under the tutelage of older employees employees on the basis of whose experience we drafted our recommended practices out forth in Fiberglas Standards F 4.2.1 Dr. Campbell mentioned Dr. Evans statement to him following a visit to the Newark plant in June 1940 that the difference between handling of Fiberglas by ont employees and by Fiberglas employees wa one of attitude Dr. Campbell cited an excerpt from an article by J. W. Miller and R. R. Sayers en Response of Peritoneal Tissue to Industrial Dusts from the American Ceramic Society's publication publication Vol 20 No. 5 May 1941 reprinted from U.S. Public Health Reports The article lists glass wool among the inert dusts that cause no pulmonary fibrosis Mr. Rogers then spoke about other mineral wools and he compared then to Fiberglas in regard to cleanliness and dusting He described his experience before the Pennsylvania Safety Practiess Conference Kr Ames was called from the room at this point to meet Mr. Thiemann The conferencs continued with Mr. Scott presiding and the discussion turned into an informal question session When Mr. Ames returned about 5:30 Mr. Slayter the union secretary songratulated us on the way we had put out the information and assured Kr Amas that they were well satisfied and when they decided to use Fiberglas they'd keep on wing it until the end of time In his discuisn sRoi om o43n1 Mr. Ames prev upona Mri . Thl imme annd to defer the business session and discussion of convention papers util the Fiberglas discussion was completed He was persuaded to do so en the assumption that the union man would become restless if they were sbliged to mit through an hour and a half of convention reports This agreement was fortunate for it meant that we were to have the appor- twuansity offreshtalling our story immediately after dinner when the audience xhibit E xhibit Mr. Bosschenstein -7- May 23 1941 Approximately 75 persons attended the A.I.H.A. included plant physicians industrial meeting The insurance company alain muurses safety engineers engineers agents personnal men from the St. Louis 1501. Seated at the head table were Dr. Ames Mr. Thiemann and Campbell Mr. Regers Mr. ; Miss Agnes Rabbit pronounced RATult) who is secretory of the section t She is an industrial mirse at Anheuser In the audiance also were Kr Hillman Actos safety engineer ' Mr. Young Astra clain agent Dr. Theodors Hanser or Hanser Anheuser- Busch plant physician Ray M. Seeker Anheuser personnel and anfety director Following the dinner Mr. Thiemann turned the who covered approximately the same points meeting over to Mr. Ames representatives during the afternoon covered with the union He the audience was technically minded and recognised we discussed however that report in grester detail Mr. Staelin the Gardner ment progress report Just read the latest inhalation received from Dr. Dardner Dr. Campbell in discussed the health record at the Newark discussed quality control of the batch and plant Mr. Rogers glas materials made the point that Fiber- which are a highly refined form of rock and alag wools with industry has been familiar for fifty years Mr. Scott of the psychological handicap which eur spoke products may have because they Mr. are known to be glass and called upon Anse to read the telegram pointing out the fact that the Ohio Industrial Commission has us a rating lower than that enjoyed by other given industries During the question period Mr. Bartley asked company representatives on their rating and glass wool Mr. Hillman the letne man for comments by insurance experiance on workers handling , saying that Fiber- Cc as a ratrae te as for asbestos he said and spea he wkasispenakigng \___ Corning bottle mammfacturer he said his remarks applied alse was speaking ( EES SLR eae te, all, Mr. Boeschenstain Boeschenstain union was to have meeting my 20 bust Pensylvani He told Mr. Anse that the Members of the audience were invited to aseting to see our display f the Gardner come to 434 fallowing the Mr. Bartley same and asked for a report dated May 1936 as well as sopy the Pennsylvania Bulletin No. 58. Mr. Staelin had 7.4.2.1 and with a co of Dr. Gardner's Interia supplied kin report of May 16 1941 that they would take no action without his a though he said he was convinced as a recommendation result of Al- that there is no health hasard in our presentation handling handling Fiberglas be said be would tion This was an obvious saver He asserted be a decision by the local at the that there June 3 and although he did not following meeting scheduled f^,r that the decision will be favorabcloemmitto hFiibmesregllfasbe intimated strongly hibit p assistant general manger of the Anheuser by one of the Corning men to have asked plant who was reported would permit use of Fiberglas at Dr. Hanser whether he satisfied Dr. Hanser is reportedAn tohheavuesreeprlipeldant I am completely Mr. Seeker also came up as did the following Dibit St. Louis Health Division 59 Municipal Courts Building St. Louis Mr. Smaker's presence gave Er Lass hima letter which had been an exportunity to handetdo . discus with was written by as at timer The letter 3. B. Herrall nami The Carey Salt manager at operations Company Butshinson Kansas Hr Horrell is a member of the State of Kansas National Defense Commission for the en the difficulties difficultiHeis suln ettte erre asdkeidnkrthe Soaker how Sooker was progressing use of Fiberglas at abuser Busch Busch Mr. Boeschenstein / - - May 23 1941 and whether a satisfactory solution had been found to the problam It so happens Mr. Horrell's letter continued that on a resent inspection trip for the U. S. Labor Department he visited a company t ag Fiberglas to insulate trailers being manufactured for the K_ Department The reference apparently was to Truehauf in Kansas City He said he had been told that two man ware in the hospital due to an infection caused after working with spun glass insuletion insuletion He said be had been told that no solution had been found and that the only thing they could think of whs rotate the employees The letter asid he had written kr Guilbert but had had no definite answer and he was suggesting that Guilbert take up the matter in Washington and see if some other material could be substituted for Fibergles This in turn the letter added would be of great service to maZI en facturers using this material on Government contracts The letter said also that he was writing Hube Forney to see whether be had any data and it promised to send along to Seeker any further information ne Mr. Seeker told Kr Ames that Hube Forney is R. L. Ferney . Director Industrial Division National Safety Council 20 North Facker Drive Chicago Illinois and that ir Guilbert ia xhibit P Harry Gilbert spelling not certain The Pullman Company Chiego Chiego Gilbert Secker added is a dollar man in the National Defense mission's program for the Conservation of Nampower in Industry and is in charge of the state region embracing Kansas In Chicago Tusaday morning May 20 Mr. Ames informed Mr. Kimmerman of this situation Mr. Zimerman suggested that it was better to approsch Mr. Quilbert through Gustin but with Mr. Rimmerman's approval Hr Amma visited Mr. Ferney who called into the conference Nr G. E. Jarm National Safety Council Chicago Chicago . Mr. Ames did not mention the Horrall letter introducing himself by mentioning his meeting in St. Louis the night before with Er Seeker That was so Mr. Farney said because the National Safety Council 2 ome ee Weer tares MMibitiMbibiit t S zhibit T Mr. Bo schenstein - 10 May 23 1942 recently had received many inquiries about the health aspects of F rglas He pointed out two on his deski one from Mr. Horrell of Carey Salt obviously a duplicite duplicite of the letter sent to Mr. Seeker which Mr. Ames had seen in St. Louis and one from Dr. Kazlitt spelling uncertain plant physician of Vestinghouse in Best Fittsburgh The Testinghouse letter had samples of tapes and braided sleeving attached end Forney indicated that the inquiry was about derma- titis ine conference lasted an hour end three quarters Both Wr Forney and Mr. Burns maintained a constant interest in the subject and a thorough presentation was made Three results may some from this moeting 1 kr Forney indicated that he may relay to us copies of the im uiries received so that we may suggest replies to appear in the Council's monthly publication 2 The editor of the Council's publiertion will be , interested in obtaining a popularised account of Dr. Gardner's findings to appear this autumn after he has published his report in one of the medical ; journals journals . 3 Suggestion was made that we participate in the Safety Council's National convention this October by taking a booth where we can display our products and emphasise health aspects for the benefit of personnel men and safety engineers who come to the convention ^ proposal already has been reseived from the National National Safety Council on this subject It is not unlthi at k we me ay l be ay ble to engi a pn lace e se o tr he Convention program for a discussion of the subject Mr. Mes then returned to Toledo Tuesday evening with Mr. Beatt