Dr. Kenneth W. Smith to K. J. Whalen on an X-Ray Machine for the Stockton Plant (1956)

A one-page letter of October 18, 1956, from Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, J-M's medical director, to K. J. Whalen, confirming that he had recommended an X-ray machine for the medical department of the new Stockton, California, plant. "Because we shall use two potentially toxic dusts, silica and asbestos," Smith writes, every employee would need X-rays before hiring and once a year. Taking the films in the plant would cost less than sending men to a local hospital and keep them off the job for less time. He also recommended soundproofing the examination room for hearing tests.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

In a letter to K.J. Whalen dated 10/18/56, Dr. K. Smith recommends that an X-ray machine be installed at the Stockton plant. Since two potentially toxic dusts, silica and asbestos, will be used in manufacturing there, it will be necessary to have pre-employment and annual X-ray examinations for all personnel. Dr. Smith indicates that it is cheaper to have the X-rays taken in-house than at one of the local hospitals.