Document zzZjdDXKoG9aDkeay11QyNRKa

* Western Mineral Products Company C. A *ATT vtcc *iaiecNr *723 OISON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY MINNEAPOLIS 72. MINNESOTA L * - August 11, 1961 Mr. 2.3. Lovick Zonolite Company P.0. 3ox 607* Libby, Montana Dear Sari: Your letter of June 14th, concerning the dust problem at the nine, is most informative and ire sincerely appreciate your sharing this information with us in such complete detail. We are particularly appreciative of the effort you are making at the mine to reduce the dust content of the ore. If an effective improvement can be made at the mine, in reducing the asbestos dust, this will of course benefit every plant that receives the ore and will minimize the hazard to hundreds of employees in the various plants. It would interest you to know that we have been requiring new men coming in to our employ to have a physical examination, including chest x-rays, before they start to work for us. This has been in effect now for several years in Minneapolis. We have further en couraged our employees to have frequent x-rays taken at the mobile x-ray unit, sponsored by the T.E. Association, so we are gaining some history here concerning exposure to verniculite dust. We will now share the information from your letter with our insur ance carrier and ask them to again bring their equipment into our plants and check the quantity and kind of dust. We have been mak ing respirators available to our plant employees for soce time but not demanding that they be worn. We will now tighten down on the matter of employees handling ore wearing respirators. GC01'43 iiniiiutoii OPIIaTING PIANT J IN M!NNAPOll$ O* M A N A MllWAUKft OfNVfl ' .tv 2 .. " .* T ... -<* -d'. l.. -a-.; *) . -2- Thanks again for your help. I'm sure none of us want to contribute to a health problem for any employee. Sincerely, WESTERN MINERAL PRODUCTS COMPANY cap ska C.A. Pratt Vice President Gcoi'-l-i