Frank H. Zimmerman of National Gypsum to C. L. Sheckler Opposing the Asbestos-Cement Health Safety Booklet (1968)

A two-page letter of April 17, 1968, from Frank H. Zimmerman, director of safety at National Gypsum Company, to Clifford L. Sheckler, Johns-Manville's manager of occupational environmental control, giving National Gypsum's position on the booklet "Recommended Health Safety Practices" discussed at the industry council meeting of April 3. After talks with its legal, sales, production and industrial relations departments, the company "strongly oppose[d] the publication and distribution of the booklet." Its reasons: no risk to the public had been shown, there was "no scientific evidence" of danger from handling asbestos-cement sheets, and the booklet "creates fear in the minds of buyers, users, and workers without justification."

What it shows

Zimmerman added that the opposition had "the full concurrence of the top executives of our company, including the Chief Executive Officer." The letter shows one asbestos-cement maker blocking an industry-wide safety booklet for building workers in 1968 because of the fear it might cause buyers and users.

In Johns-Manville's index

Johns-Manville's legal department indexed the Motley 1,000 in 1984. Its index describes this document as follows:

Frank H. Zimmerman letter to C. L. Sheckler (Manager of Occupational Environmental Control, J-M, N.J.), 4/17/68, regarding the booklet, Recommended Health Safety Practices for Handling and Applying Asbestos-Cement Products. Zimmerman states that at the Council meeting of 4/3/68, it was agreed that he would advise Sheckler by 4/19/68 of National Gypsum's position relative to the printing of the above-refered booklet. Zimmerman states that National Gypsum's position, after discussions with its legal, sales, production and industrial relations departments, is that it strongly opposes the publication and distribution of the booklet. The reasons given are: 1) No risk has been shown to the general public from exposure to asbestos-cement products manufactured for use in the building and construction industry. 2) The proposed booklet points to dangers to health from the handling of corrugated and flat asbestos sheets when there is no scientific evidence of such dangers. 3) The booklet creates fear in the minds of buyers, users, and workers without justification. These fears would be damaging to the entire industry. Zimmerman states that National Gypsum agrees with J-M's position paper of 1/15/68 on asbestos and health, subscribes to the concepts of the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health in Montreal, and is extending full cooperation to the U.S. Public Health Service in its study of asbestos in processing plants. Zimmerman states that he would be willing to meet at any time with Sheckler and other asbestos-cement manufacturers to discuss health and environmental problems relative to their industry.

Duplicate of Motley Document #842.

Related documents

• C. L. Sheckler to Frank H. Zimmerman on Agreement over the Asbestos-Cement Health Safety Booklet (1968)
• F. H. Zimmerman to L. B. Crowell on J-M's Health Safety Booklet (1968)
• C. L. Sheckler to F. H. Zimmerman on a Joint Meeting, with the Asbestos-Cement Health Safety Booklet (1968)

About this copy

These are documents 842 and 911 of the Motley 1,000, from the set the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust's records facility certified as true copies, pages CRMC-Motley1000-Subj-004547 to CRMC-Motley1000-Subj-004548.