Johns-Manville Supervisors Manual of Policies, Trial Edition (1937)

The trial edition, dated October 1937, of Johns-Manville's manual of employee policies for its plant supervisors, about 60 small pages photographed two to a sheet. It sets out the company's rules on hiring, discharge, seniority, hours, wages and plant conduct, with an index. Under "Health Policy" it tells supervisors to "report unhealthy conditions to your superintendent" and that the Industrial Relations Department "should be notified of any employees who appear to be in poor physical condition."

What it shows

The manual opens with the company's six employee policies, among them "to provide for every employee safe and pleasant working conditions." New employees, and those rehired after a long gap, had to pass a physical examination, and "a good health record and good physical condition" were "requisites in securing employment." Its safety rules deal with machinery, clothing, goggles, fire and housekeeping. Neither the index nor the health and safety rules mention dust, respirators or any disease from the materials the plants handled. Accident compensation is described as paid "according to the laws of the state in which the factory is located."