Document myNDGxOpNXjL5nRX9x84ydqJ

FILE NAME: Shell (SHEL) DATE: 1970 Oct 20 DOC#: SHEL016 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Confidential Memo from K.B. Gates RE Asbestos & Health - Shell H f - f r . EBO/LC To:- \t\xZ.(R fr Y * * .u u ,S. confidential 20th Ootober, 1971. Asbestos A Health > Shall You U 1 recall that Mr. Edmonds and Or. Holmes wore to mast Dr. Broughton and Dr. Lemon this week; to try and exploit the low dust-counts reoorded, by an Independent authority, at the application and removal of FORTEX d o t h if0? f *i*ulated lagging operation. Shortly, I understand that the discussion was not successful, Dr. Broughton evidently talcing the view that discontinuing the use of asbestos has not posed problems of any significance In fck* oanoer-rislc whloh he believes exists (while evidently recognising and aooepting that asbestosls Is only a minor problem). His attitude Is that If no risk attends the use of-FORTEX materials, "^ n i t is our responsibility to seoure some dispensation . to that effect from the Factory Inspectorate. Though we had feared we might aehieve no more than this at this stage, the outoome is nevertheless very disappointing. I oannot fault the loglo of Dr. Broughton's attitude, observing that it Is substantially the same as that of a B.F. company authority recently approaobed by Mr. Edmonds In the same oontextf indeed, it would not greatly surprise me if there had been discussion between the senior medical officers of the major oil companies and the determination of this as a oommon attitude. However dlffloult the task, I think we must accordingly attempt to wring dispensation of some kind from the Faotory Inspectorate, and Dr. Holmes has this under urgent consideration. Our interest in Shell's attitude has been much loss, you will recall, for the sake of our turnover with Shell than with the Influence which their specifications exert upon other areas of our trade, and we have felt it In some sense unfair that Shell's stipulations about their own quite modest requirements should have suoh a profound effeot upon our Industry. I gather Dr. Broughton fully reoognlses this but believes it does not relieve him of his responsibility towards Shell employees In all X - 2 part* of the world, soma of than perhaps barely lltarata and not to ba rallad upon for avan ordinary oommoneanaa in thalr housekeeping. This doaa not saam to na readily oontestable, and I an foroad raluotantly to tha oonoluslon that no good oould ba expected from an approach to aoma hlghar authority In Shall! auoh higher authority would, In ay view, ba extremaly unllkaly to overrida tha fira recommendations of tha profaaalonal advlaara, especially whara tha loglo of tha adviae la apparent even to layaen; further, auoh an approach night well block what oontaot wa have with Dr. Broughton and that oontaot la likely to ba oritioally important if wa are able to aaoura anything of value fron the Faotory Inapeotorate. (It la a very oonaldarable operation to affect and promulgate ohangea in Shell'a M.S.S.C. documents, and wa might wall find ourselvea blooked by Its bureaucracy unless we had tha support and aotlve goodwill of Dr. Broughton and his nedloal assooiat&a]i . I i.-l S. B. Oates i 1 t i i i * aoe i t i n \ gOHTIDSHTIAL 20th October, 1971. Asbestos h Health : Shall You Mill recall that Mr. Edmonds and Or. Holmes ware to M o t Or. Broughton and Or. Lemon this waalc to try and exploit tha Iom dust-00unts reoordad, by an Indopandent authority, at the applloatlon and removal of FORTXX cloth from a simulated lagging operation. Shortly. 1 understand that the dlsousalon was not successful. Or. Broughton evidently talcing the view that discontinuing the use of asbestos has not posed problems of any slgnlfloanoe In relation to the oanoer-riak which he believes exists (while evidently recognising and aooeptlng that asbestosls Is only a minor problem). Kls attitude Is that If no risk attends the use o f fORTSX materials, then It Is our responsibility to secure some dispensation to that effect from the Faotory Inspectorate. e Though we had feared we might aohleve no more than this at this stage, the outcome Is nevertheless very disappointing. Z cannot fault the loglo of Dr. Broughton's attitude, observing that It Is substantially the same as that of a B.P. company authority recently approached by Mr. Edmonds in the same oontext* Indeed, It would not greatly surprise me if there had been dlsousalon between the senior medical officers of the major oil companies and the determination of this as a common attitude. However dlffloult the task, I think we must accordingly attempt to wring dispensation of some kind from the Faotory Inspectorate, and Dr. Holmes has this under urgent sonslderatIon. Our Interest In Shell's attitude has been much less, you will recall, for the sake of our turnover with Shell than with the Influence which their specifications exert upon other areas of our trade, and we have felt It In some sense unfair that Shell's stipulations about their own quite modest requirements should have such a profound effeot upon our Industry. I gather Dr. Broughton fully reoognlses this but believes it doeB not relieve him of his responsibility towards Shell employees in all oont'd .... \ part* of the world, s ob * of than parhaps barely literate and not to be relied upon for even ordinary oommonsense In their housekeeping. This does not seem to me readily oontestable, and Z am forced reluotantly to the oonoluslon that no good could be expected from an approach to some higher authority In Shells such higher authority would. In my view, be extremely unlikely to override the firm recommendations of the professional advisers, especially where the loglo of the advloe Is apparent even to laymen; further, such an approaoh might well block what oontaot we have with Or. Broughton and that contact Is likely to be orltloally Important If we are able to secure anything of value from the Factory Inspectorate. (It Is a very considerable operation to effect and promulgate changes In Shell's M.JS.3.C. documents, and we might well find ourselves blocked by its bureaucracy unless we had the support and active goodwill of Dr. Broughton and his medical associates} B. B. Oates