S. A. Williams to J-M Plant Managers Asking for a Report on Dust Control (1932)

A one-page memo of December 20, 1932, from Vice President S. A. Williams to the managers of eleven J-M plants, following up his letter of September 9, 1931. Williams asks each manager, by return mail, what equipment had been installed to eliminate dust since then and what it cost, what money was appropriated or requested, how much had been done on physical examination of employees, and what instructions the manager had issued on the use of respirators.

What it shows

The replies give a plant-by-plant picture of J-M's dust control at the end of 1932: Waukegan had spent nothing on dust equipment, Nashua had spent $475, Alexandria did not examine workers' lungs, Asbestos, Quebec had added nothing in the factory, Los Angeles had done nothing about dust, and Lompoc reported large improvements. Williams summarized the plants' spending in May 1933 (memo of May 12, 1933).

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

On 12/20/32, S.A. Williams wrote to the same plant managers as in his memorandum of 9/9/31. He asked for a list of all the dust collection equipment installed at each of their plants and for the amount of money spent in this regard since 9/9/31. Williams also asked how much money they planned to spend on future dust control projects, the status of their physical examination program, and what instructions have been given to employees regarding the use of respirators.

Related documents

• S. A. Williams to J-M Plant Managers on Dust Collecting Equipment (1931)