C. L. Sheckler to H. M. Ball on the Resale of Used Fiber Bags (1968)

A short confidential memo of March 15, 1968, from C. L. Sheckler of Johns-Manville's Environmental Control Department to H. M. Ball, the company's general counsel, with a copy to H. M. Jackson. Sheckler reports that many J-M locations were selling empty used fiber bags that "have not been cleaned and contain considerable amounts of asbestos fibre and dust." Buyers reused the jute bags, some of which had held crocidolite, "for many purposes such as baling nursery stock, cattle feed, etc." He recommends that the sales stop and asks Ball's opinion on "our potential liability."

What it shows

Sheckler points out that once the bags were sold, "we have no control over the use of the bags," so asbestos dust was leaving J-M's plants and going into farm and garden use. He raises it with the legal department before the operating divisions. A month later J-M's senior officers ordered that used jute bags no longer be sold or reused (see C. W. Hite's report of the Senior Officers' meeting).

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

Memorandum dated 3/15/68 from Sheckler to Ball regarding resale of used asbestos fiber bags. Sheckler expresses concern that many locations are selling used fiber bags that have not be cleaned and contain considerable amounts of fiber and dust. Sheckler suggests that the resale of bags be discontinued.