J. P. Woodard to L. C. Hart on Dr. Smith's Survey of Men in Dusty Areas (1949)

A one-page memo of August 8, 1949, from J. P. Woodard to L. C. Hart, sending the report Dr. Ken Smith of Asbestos, Quebec, had prepared a few months earlier on the health of 708 men working in dusty areas (the 708-man survey). Woodard wrote that its conclusions "seem unavoidable": "that the dust is causing significant lung changes in many cases, it largely being a matter of time," and "that many cases are likely to result in claims." With a request for money for dust removal at Asbestos pending, he urged "serious consideration" of favorable action "in view of the hazards and cost exposure involved."

What it shows

Ten days later the appropriation, more than $5.5 million, was approved, and Woodard wrote that he had made good use of Smith's study (Woodard to McGaw).

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

A letter from J.P. Woodard to L.C. Bart, 8/8/49, discusses Dr. Smith's study. Woodard states the conclusions seem unavoidable "that the dust is causing significant lung changes in many cases, it largely being a matter of time, and the further conclusion that many cases are likely to result in claims."