Johns-Manville Executive Bulletin on Protective Clothing for Workers Handling Asbestos (1977)

A one-page Executive Bulletin, No. E 772-2, of November 15, 1977, signed by Dr. W. R. Paul, J-M's corporate medical director, and W. A. Sells, corporate vice president for production and engineering. It says J-M plants operated at or below OSHA's limit of 2.0 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc), but because fiber counts at such levels were only reliable to plus or minus 70 percent, J-M had set 1.2 f/cc as an "action level." Production operators had to wear protective clothing and respirators where the last four industrial hygiene surveys showed levels above 1.2 f/cc, and all maintenance workers around asbestos equipment had to wear protective clothing.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Executive Bulletin No. E772-2, 11/15/77, regarding protective clothing for workers handling asbestos. Production operators are required to wear protective clothing and respiratory equipment in areas "where past history indicates fiber levels greater than 1.2 f/cc." All maintenance workers working around asbestos are required to wear protective clothing and wear respirators where levels are greater than 1.2 f/cc or in any unusual assignment where dust conditions are suspect.