Paul W. Chapman and H. M. Jackson on the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries' Requests at Billerica (1970)

Two memos. On October 13, 1970, Paul W. Chapman at the Billerica Plant wrote H. M. Jackson that Dr. Heinrich Brugsch and an inspector of the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries, Division of Occupational Hygiene, had come to the plant without notice on October 7. Brugsch asked for a list of current employees with hire dates, job titles and dates of last X-ray, and a list of past and present employees who had filed claims for lung disease "which may be related to Asbestosis," and he suggested the plant buy equipment for simple lung function tests. In his reply of October 19, Jackson agreed to provide both lists, "within legal limits," and asked Dr. T. H. Davison to advise on lung function equipment.

What it shows

Chapman noted that Brugsch did not ask for medical reports or X-rays, saying he could get what he needed from St. John's Hospital; Chapman believed the state could not see them without J-M's approval, "since they are our property." He also learned that Dr. Gaensler of Boston University was studying the past and present work force of another asbestos plant in the Boston area for Brugsch. Jackson wrote that lung function tests could give "indications not available through X-rays alone" and asked Davison to meet Brugsch "to establish a professional rapport." The second file includes a Billerica list of 17 past employees, most of them deceased, whose lung disease cases had been settled or were pending before the Industrial Accident Board. Billerica's chest X-rays had been reviewed in 1968.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

On 10/13/70, the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries requested certain information from J-M's Billerica plant: a list of all current employees, including date of hire, present job title, and date of last X-ray; and a list of employees, both past and present who have filed or opened claims with regard to pulmonary diseases which may be related to asbestosis. The Department of Labor also suggested that the plant purchase a Time Capacity Meter and a Flowmeter for preliminary pulmonary function studies. Jackson recommends that the requested information be provided to the Department of Labor and that Dr. Davison evaluate the recommendation to purchase pulmonary function equipment. Dr. Davison recommends that a Jones Pulmonar standard unit be purchased for Billerica. 10/19/1970 Jackson replies

Editor's note: J-M's description dates the state's request October 13, 1970. The state officials visited the plant on October 7; October 13 is the date of Chapman's memo reporting it. Dr. Davison's recommendation of a Jones Pulmonor unit is not in these two memos.