W. L. Ruff's Notes of a Manville Union-Management Meeting on Dust, Noise and Examination Results (1968)

Two pages of typed notes by W. L. Ruff of a union-management meeting held February 22, 1968, at Johns-Manville's Manville, New Jersey location, attended by plant managers including Heinz Engel and union representatives including Marshall Smith. Ruff explained "the position the company is taking on the dust and noise hazard": wider use of ear protection and respirators, with "disciplinary action" for employees who objected. Smith was "very adamant" that "following periodic physical examinations, we do not inform the employee of his condition; but, wait until the condition becomes so bad that it is too late for the employee to do anything about it." He was told the matter was "under investigation."

What it shows

The union's complaint, recorded in the company's own notes, concerns a practice that runs through J-M's earlier papers: not telling workers what their examinations showed (see Dr. Kenneth Smith on telling Waukegan employees their results, 1954 and Dr. Edwin Merrill's later testimony on holding back abnormal X-rays at Manville). Smith also asked whether J-M would join labor in seeking tighter state and federal laws; the managers said they could not answer.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Typewritten notes from Union-Management meeting, 2/22/68, prepared by Ruff. Union representative (Mr. Smith) adamant over the alleged fact that following periodic physical examinations, employees are not informed of their condition until the condition becomes so bad that it is too late for the employee to do anything about it. Smith was assured that this would be investigated.

Related documents

• Dr. Kenneth W. Smith to Boyd Mulder on Telling Waukegan Employees Their Examination Results (1954)
• Deposition of Dr. Edwin D. Merrill on Holding Back Abnormal Chest X-Rays at Manville (1979)