A. W. Garrett, British Chief Inspector of Factories, on Asbestos Insulation Aboard Ships (1945)

A two-page letter of August 1945 from A. W. Garrett, His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories in Britain, headed "Asbestos Insulation aboard Ships." Garrett writes that he is concerned by the wartime growth in the use of asbestos for heat and sound insulation in shipbuilding and ship repair, and by "the accompanying increase in the number of workers exposed to risk of injury to health through asbestosis." He warns that "while asbestos dust may not have any apparent effects at first," serious results "are apt to develop later," and asks the industry to take all reasonably practicable steps even for temporary work.

What it shows

Garrett lists six precautions: following the 1931 Asbestos Industry Regulations for preparatory work such as making insulation mattresses; ventilation, damping down and prompt clearing of asbestos debris aboard ship; approved respirators for every man fitting or removing dry asbestos insulation and for all men spraying asbestos (with no one else in the compartment without one); no workers under 18 in dusty asbestos work; and supervision of respirator care and use. He reports that the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation and the unions had accepted these arrangements. By 1945, the British government was treating shipboard insulation work, not just factory work, as an asbestosis hazard.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Garrett (British) writes TICA (Thermal Insulation Contractors Association) concerning perceived risks to shipyard workers doing wartime refurbishing and ship building. Unknown whether J-M was a member. Garrett report distributed by TICA in U.S.

Editor's note: J-M's description says Garrett wrote to the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association and that the association distributed his letter in the United States. The letter is addressed only "Dear Sir" and says nothing about the association or distribution in the United States.