Document pmYo4B6R76oB48dqkE6krOo2w

FILE NAME: Metropolitan Life (ML) DATE: 1933 DOC#: ML101 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Excerpt of Letter RE Meeting with Dr. Lanza of Met Life, Mr. Seigle, Mr. Vorhees, Mr. Williams & Mr. Vandiver Brown, Meeting with Meeting Summary A meeting was held on Tuesday,Jfovemb&r 28, 1933/in Mr, Seigle's office at which the following were presents- Dr. Larisa of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Hr. W. R. Seigle, Mr. E. M. Voorhees, Air. -S.A. Williams and Mr. Vandiver Brown. The purpose of the meeting was' to discuss the suggestion made by Mr* Simoson, President of Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., in his letter to Mr. Seigle of November 17, 1933 regarding joint action by members o^ the tex tile group of the Asbestos Institute looking toward standardised methods of dust control. After considerable discussion it was decided that Johns-Manville Corporation indicate to Mr. Simpson its willingness to go along with his suggestion; that Mr. Simpson should be allowed to arrange for a meeting of the representatives cf the textile group and that Mr. S. A. Williams, assisted by Mr. Vandiver Brown, would represent Johns-Manville Corporation in any discussions. Dr. Lanza advised the meeting that he was very much interested in completing the study of the asbestos industry initiated by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company approximately three years ago. The complexion of this study would involve a re-examination cf the plants covered by the original reports as well as a re-examination of certain employees who had been X-rayed at that time. He thought that it was very probable that Metropolitan could, by extending somewhat the scope cf its survey in completing this examination, very readily co-operate with the industry in carrying out tie suggestions made by Mr. Simpson. Dr. Lanza was advised that the contemplated program on the part of the industry would involve Johns-Manville Corporation plants at Waukegan, Illinois; Gretna, Louisiana; Pittsburg, California and Redwood City, California, in addition to the plant at Manville, New Jersey and the mines at Asbestos, Quebec, which had been covered by the original Metropolitan report. Dr. Lanza stated that he would prepare a report for Air. Ecker, President of Metropolitan, recommending the completion of the survey cf the asbestos industry and indicating the extent to which it had been enlarged in scope and the probable expense involved. It was thought it might be helpful if Mr. Wardwell would communicate with Mr. Ecker about the time Dr, Lanza's report would be submitted to him, with the view cf informing him cf the importance to the industry and to Johns-Manville Corporation of the contemplated survey. It was decided that nothing would be done towards having Air. Wardwell communicate with Mir. Ecker until we should be advised by Dr. Lanaa that such action was desirable and timely. Dr. Lanza indicated that if the survey should be approved, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company could be counted upon for the fcllOTings (1) Talcing of dust counts at the various plants. (2) X-ray examination of employees. (3) Recommendations as to (a) where it was desirable that stems be taken to eliminate dust and (b) as to equipment which might be useful in eliminating the dust. (4) The training of one of our employees in the technique of the taking of dust counts. It was suggested that Dr. Miller be trained in tais line. Dr. Lanza pointed out that the industry would be expected to pay the traveling expenses of the Metropolitan employees although the persons engaged in this work would still be employees of Metropolitan ani on its payroll so that no charge for their services as such would have to be paid. In regard to (3) (b) above it was thought that' it might be desir able to have some dust engineer collaborate with the representative of the Metropolitan and this point was left for the decision of the representatives of the textile group of the Asbestos Institute which would be convened by Mr. Simpson. It was also decided that Mr. Tfilliams would advise the first meeting of this group as to the extent it might rely upon the-co-operation of MetroDolitan. Mr..Voorhees asked Dr. Lanza if he thought the Metropolitan-lif e- Insurance Company would be willing -to make dust counts at the various plants once or twice.a year at such places and under such conditions as they might see fit for the purpose cf determining progress made in improving dust-- - conditions, Mr. Voorhees* idea being That unbiased reports of this character would be helpful to us, if favorable, in the event we should ever be in volved _in litigation. Dr. Lanza, however, was apparently of- the opinion- tEat such periodical reports would not quite come within the province of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and were matters for which we should preferably engage consultant engineers such as Saranac Laboratories. No final decision was made on this point but toward the end of the discussion, it was the consensus that perhaps we would be better off if we had some ex pert in our own organisation capable of taking dust counts at any time we - thought it desirable and it was suggested that Dr. Miller be trained in this capacity. --