Document rxNeg9jo2yakyd8vg6pk5Xn2E

FILE NAME: US Gypsum (USG) DATE: August 11, 1972 DOC#: USG118 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1972 Memo to JR Hood from CM Howard re asbestos warning labels Aligns" 11th, 197 2 A copy of your letter to Z. Maynard was forwarded to us by Corporate Quality since it asked about our posture on applying caution labels or. cur product containers. This matter has been a very' live issue fcr over two years due to mounting publicity and governmental intervention. Mere recently, rumblings from trade unions have been detected. Air-herr.e asbestos created through sanding of our products had been measured by Research and was found to fall within threshold limits sec by a 1970 government act. We have resisted placing caution labels cn our containers so far because we felt we met this standard. Also, labelling would probably place us at a strong marketing disadvantage. Meanwhile, work has been under way, with too priority, at Research to eliminate asbestos from cur products. While the task is formidable, their progress is beginning to lock favcrable. Recently we learned that a much tougher threshold limit will take effect in four years. In view of this, Research recently hired a consultant and completed testing of our products measuring asbestos content at the paint of hand and drill mixing, in addition to rec h e o k m g at point cf sanding. The results are currently being studied. Your memo r e f e r s to usa of a f ace m a s k . We are in v e s t i o a t i n g the last r e a d i n g we h a d o n this - and ir.az. was that ec s was r.a ty p e of face m a s k that w a s functional , and cert ified as e onset!.vs. If ch.ere *s ar.v chance in this, it will be d rocer Iv communi c a t e d . CM-::n 4147-2, Pho ? . I n t o 415 L. I * Maynard 4159, r C. Mo c o s 4170-3, R. . L y o n s P ~i 4198, 4247, P. Kite" E H. R o s s e l l U nited.States Gypsum C ompany USG106.2 t a b 3o