M. W. Burleson to W. D. Gaches and Others on Routing Customer Health Inquiries to C. L. Sheckler (1970)

A one-page memo of July 23, 1970, headed "Hazardous Labels," from M. W. Burleson at division headquarters to W. D. Gaches and five others. Any inquiries "from customers or others concerning the health hazards involved with cutting, machining or using our products containing asbestos and/or silica" were to be forwarded to C. L. Sheckler for reply, and all letters, bulletins and notices on health problems were to be reviewed by Sheckler's group before release. "In view of the highly sensitive atmosphere concerning these problems," Burleson writes, "all concerned must take every precaution necessary to protect the company."

What it shows

Burleson was general manager of the Industrial Insulations Division, and the memo came three weeks after his order to put caution labels on the division's asbestos products. It placed the company's answers to customers' health questions under one office at headquarters.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Memorandum from Burleson to Gaches, dated 7/23/70, urges sensitivity in responding to inquiries from customers or others concerning health hazards involved in the use of J-M products. All such inquiries are being re-routed through C.L. Sheckler "in view of the highly sensitive atmosphere concerning these problems all concerned must take every precaution necessary to protect the company."