Dr. Kenneth W. Smith to H. G. Brewer on Chest X-Rays and Dust at the Pittsburg Plant (1959)

A confidential letter of July 14, 1959, from Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, Johns-Manville's medical director, to H. G. Brewer at J-M's Pittsburg, California, plant, after a visit on which they reviewed chest X-rays of long-service employees: "Of the 30 files reviewed, 21 showed positive evidence of pulmonary disease." Smith wrote, "I know that you understand the very serious financial exposure to the Company should these cases progress to the point of disability," and that to prevent this, and new cases, "it is essential that all atmospheric dust contamination be removed." He named dusty areas including the scrap grinder in the Flexboard Department, the dry cement operation, the punch press and crusher in the Shingle Department and the veneer machine, and noted that outside the plant calcined Celite was being used "without adequate dust control."

What it shows

Smith also complained that the local doctor's X-ray machine was "old and not too powerful," asked that men be sent to the hospital when good films could not be made, and singled out four men for new X-rays and a full review. The file includes an undated telegram from Smith explaining the code used on the films (X for pneumoconiosis, zero for no disease) and asking that the men's findings be compared with their work stations, and a plant list of July 7, 1959, giving each of the 30 men's department, job, age, date hired and X-ray code. Many of the men had been hired in the 1920s and 1930s.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Correspondence from Smith to Brewer (Pittsburg) dated 7/14/59 discusses occupational disease cases and expresses concern that there will be serious financial exposure if these cases progress to claims. Also discusses poor x-ray equipment and the need to clean-up plant.