E. C. Koch Teletype to Dr. Kenneth W. Smith on a Warning for J-Spray Bags (1960)

A one-page teletype message of October 10, 1960, from E. C. Koch to Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, J-M's medical director, held for his arrival at the North Bay plant, with copies to A. L. Fisk and K. F. Greene at headquarters. Passing on an "urgent request" from Art Jenssen, Koch writes: "we need data for warning message on bags of J-Spray, J-M's asbestos spray-on fireproofing material." He describes the product as 23% asbestos fiber with mineral wool, bentonite and sodium nitrite, sprayed by outside contractors onto ceilings and steelwork, and notes that "some dusting results through incomplete mixing."

What it shows

In October 1960 people inside J-M were preparing a warning for the bags of a new asbestos product used by building contractors, and asked the medical director for the facts to put on it. Within a month the company decided to put no caution label on the bags at all (Parkinson to Smith, November 3, 1960). See Spray-Applied Fireproofing.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Teletype message to Dr. K.W. Smith from E.C. Koch; Date: 10/10/60. Koch makes an urgent request for data regarding warning messages on bags of J-Spray, J-M's asbestos spray on fireproofing material. Seeks advice of counsel.