Union Carbide Calidria Sales Call Reports on General Motors' Asbestos Policy (1971-1979)

Fifteen pages of Union Carbide Calidria sales call reports and telecon reports, dated between 1971 and 1979, about contacts with General Motors divisions. They record GM's reluctance to accept asbestos-containing sealants, adhesives, plastics and friction products, GM's industrial hygiene views, fiber-count methods, and a 1979 report of a GM decision to eliminate asbestos in friction products by 1985.

What the document holds

• Page 1: Report of call, 8-6-71, T. P. Norris: G.M. Tech Center (Paul Sandoz); SG-210 sampled in sheet molding compound; GM production people's concern about asbestos
• Pages 2-3: Report of call, 1-4-73, T. P. Norris: GM Delco Moraine (Jim Miller, Dr. Bill Krebs); tracing the rumored asbestos 'GM Ban'; brake lining evaluations
• Page 4: Telecon report, 6-21-72, T. P. Norris: GM Fisher Body (Harold Beckerleg); RG 144 lead solder replacement program rejected because it contains asbestos
• Page 5: Telecon report, typed 8/13/73: Dr. W. H. Krebbs, GM; arranging a meeting with Castrob on products containing asbestos that are cut or abraded
• Page 6: Report of call dated 8-10-73 (per OCR): meeting with GM Industrial Hygiene staff (Konn, Krebs, Castrop) on the alleged asbestos ban
• Pages 7-9: Update report of call, 8-14.73, T. P. Norris: history of GM's asbestos problem, rejected RG 144 epoxy lead solder replacement, and concern about R&D on RG grades
• Pages 10-11: Report of call, 3/20/75, H. B. Rhodes: telecon with Dr. W. Krebs on fiber-count and SEM analysis methods
• Page 12: Customer call report, 10/20/77: Dr. William Krebbs and Margo Parker; objective to rescind the Fisher Body ban on testing new asbestos-containing products
• Page 13: Customer call report, 9/19/79, E. J. Kleber: Fisher Body (Henry Johnson); GM policy of accepting no new asbestos-containing sealants
• Page 14: Customer call report, 2/15/79, E. J. Kleber with J. L. Myers: Fisher-Body (Jim Collins, Ted Lasko); position on asbestos-containing sealants (continuation page marked OVER is not in the exhibit)
• Page 15: Customer call report, 1/15/79, E. J. Kleber: General Motors Research (Ed Miller, Tom Flaim); GM decision to eliminate asbestos in friction products by 1985

People and organizations

From T. P. Norris (Calidria Asbestos sales (report author on 1971-1973 call reports)); H. B. Rhodes (author of the 3/20/75 report of call); Edward J. Kleber (salesman on the 1979 customer call reports) to R. E. Byrne (cc on the 1971 report; addressee on the 1975 report); W. C. Thurber (cc on several reports); J. E. Walsh (cc on several reports).

• Edward J. Kleber (author)
• Tom P. Norris (author)
• Harrison B. Rhodes (author)
• Robert E. Byrne, Jr. (copied)
• William C. Thurber (copied)
• Jack E. Walsh (copied)
• Calidria Asbestos (its organization)
• Union Carbide Corporation (its organization)
• General Motors (named)
• H. B. Fuller Company (named)
• Mortell Company (named)
• Ohio Sealer (named)
• OSHA (named)

Related pages

Pages on our site about what this document covers: Calidria · Industrial Hygiene · Michigan Asbestos Exposure Sites: Worksites, Industries, and Trust Coverage · New York Asbestos Exposure Sites: Worksites, Industries, and Trust Coverage · OSHA · Ohio Asbestos Exposure Sites: Worksites, Industries, and Trust Coverage.

About this copy

This is document UC-546 of the Union Carbide documents, documents produced and used as evidence in asbestos lawsuits against Union Carbide, 15 pages.