John W. Kane of the Asbestos Workers Union and the Industrial Hygiene Foundation on Insulation Hazards (1955)

Two one-page letters. On August 13, 1955, John W. Kane, corresponding secretary of Local No. 2 of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers in Pittsburgh, wrote to the Mellon Institute for help, saying "seven of the last nine of the members of our Union, the Asbestos Workers, (pipe covers) have died of lung disorders." He knew asbestosis was an occupational disease but was most worried about newer materials such as fiberglass and mineral wool, and asked about prevention and dust control. On August 26, Dr. C. Richard Walmer, managing director of the Industrial Hygiene Foundation, sent the letter to H. M. Jackson of Johns-Manville.

What it shows

Walmer told Jackson: "We did not feel that we could reply in correspondence to Mr. Kane, and therefore invited him to the Institute for a conference." The foundation told Kane that information was available on the safe handling of "practically all insulating materials, and we supplied him with sufficient data to allay his fears." Walmer added that he would like to discuss the matter with Jackson later. The letters show an Asbestos Workers Union official raising lung deaths among insulators in 1955, and the industry-supported foundation keeping its answer out of writing and reporting the inquiry to J-M. Around this time J-M's medical director was writing that the term "asbestos worker" was used "too freely" for union insulators (Dr. Smith's chapter on asbestosis).

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Kane (insulators union) writes IHF on 8/13/55, seeking information re potential toxic occupational exposures. Kane is aware of asbestos risk, but is more concerned re fiberglass and mineral wool. IHF allays fears, decides it is better not to respond in writing, and notifies J-M (HMJ) of inquiry and IHF's response.