Armstrong Cork, Travelers and Alexander & Alexander on E. O. McCarrell's Asbestosis Claim (1956–1957)

Papers on the workers' compensation claim of E. O. McCarrell, an asbestos worker foreman for Armstrong Cork Company in Los Angeles. The employer's report of November 30, 1956, says he was insulating a boiler when fine particles "drawn into the lungs" caused severe coughing, and that "aspirators" (respirators) should be worn. Letters from February to May 1957 among Travelers, the insurance brokers Alexander & Alexander, and Armstrong Cork's insurance department arrange for Travelers engineers to inspect Armstrong insulating jobs in the Los Angeles area. Armstrong's R. C. Schiedt, Jr., writes that "these asbestosis claims are on the increase" and asks whether "the manufacturers of this high temperature insulation which we use could be of some assistance in the defense of these claims."

What it shows

By 1957 an insulation contractor was seeing more asbestosis claims among its workers and looking to the makers of the insulation it installed for help defending them. The papers do not name J-M; a handwritten worksheet lists insulation products, apparently including Kaylo and Keasbey & Mattison, and the work history notes that McCarrell had worked for other insulating companies.

About this copy

The employer's report of injury of November 30, 1956 (CRMC-Motley1000-Subj-004441), is left out of the copy here because it shows E. O. McCarrell's Social Security number. The letters and worksheets that follow it are published.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Ervey McCarrell asbestosis workers' compensation claim filed. Insulation worker employed by various companies including J-M (CA WCAB files).

Editor's note: J-M's description names the worker Ervey McCarrell and says J-M was among his employers. The papers give only "E. O. McCarrell," name Armstrong Cork Company as his employer and do not mention Johns-Manville.