W. W. Cathcart Notice on a Mandatory Respirator Program at the Manville Paper Mill (1977)

A one-page notice of September 28, 1977, signed by W. W. Cathcart, setting up a Respiratory Protective Device Program at J-M's Manville, New Jersey, paper mill from October 1, 1977. Respirators had to be worn by any employee, supervisors included, feeding raw material to the beaters, cleaning up loose asbestos fiber or Celite, patching broken bags, or working on dust collectors and conveyors. The only approved respirator was the Welsh Model 7170.

What it shows

After a "week of grace," a first offense would bring a written warning, a second a one-week layoff, and a third "immediate discharge." In 1935 J-M's attorney had reported "some consternation" when he proposed dismissal for not wearing a respirator; by 1977 the rule was in force at this mill.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

J-M Notice dated 9/28/77 stating that effective on 10/1/77 a mandatory Respiratory Protective Device Program will be established for the Manville Paper Mill. The Welsh Model G7170 is the required respirator.