Canadian Johns-Manville, "Health of Employees at C.J-M" (1953)

A three-page typed account, numbered (12) and apparently one of a series of descriptive pieces, of the health program of Canadian Johns-Manville at Asbestos, Quebec. It says the company had "one of the first industrial health programs in the Province of Quebec," bought an X-ray machine in 1922, started a small hospital in 1927, and in November 1948 opened a modern clinic and hospital. All employees had pre-employment examinations with X-rays, repeated every twelve to eighteen months, and "no one is transferred from one job to a more hazardous one without consultation with the Medical Department." When an employee fell ill, the diagnosis was made at the clinic and he was referred to his family doctor, usually with a copy of his laboratory tests.

What it shows

The account says "medical files are confidential and kept in the Medical Department" and that "medical counsel and health guidance are given to the employee at any time." It does not mention asbestosis, dust or what workers were told about their chest X-rays. The same year, J-M's medical director, Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, formerly chief medical officer at Canadian Johns-Manville, decided that Manville plant workers with slight disease "will not be told of their condition."

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

A report entitled "Health of Employees at CJM" explains that CJM had one of the first industrial health programs in Quebec. CJM bought an x-ray machine in 1922; it started a small hospital in 1927. In 1948 CJM opened a modern two-story clinic and hospital. One of the latest and most powerful x-ray machines was purchased. All employees have a pre-employment exam with x-rays; these exams are repeated each 12 to 18 months. Medical counsel and health guidance are given to employees at any time. No one is transferred from one job to a more hazardous one without consultation with the Medical Department. A carefully supervised card index system provides a constant check on the periodic exams. Once diagnosis is made, the employee is referred to his family doctor for treatment. Usually the employee is given a copy of his lab tests for his doctor. Group sickness and accident insurance claims have shown that over the years only 8% of employees have submitted claims.

Related documents

• Canadian Johns-Manville Memo on the Medical Program at Asbestos, Quebec (1951)
• Johns-Manville Release on the Hospital and Accident Prevention at Asbestos, Quebec (1939)