G. A. Wall to J. G. Moore and Others on Dryer Standards at Manville (1964)

A two-page confidential memo of June 25, 1964, from G. A. Wall at J-M's General Headquarters to J. G. Moore, C. H. Grote and R. Wyllie on a union grievance over the production standards for pulling dryer cars and unloading pipe covering at the Manville plant. Wall listed the changes since the standards were set in 1946 and 1956, among them the change from oil to steam heat in 1951 and the replacement of the old magnesia process by precision-molded Thermobestos in 1956. He noted that "a 10% respirator allowance was added across the board to all unloading standards in 1959," and that in 1964 it was reduced "by applying only to the elements where the respirator is needed and worn."

What it shows

An allowance in a work standard is extra time credited to a job; here, for working in a respirator. The memo shows that respirators were part of the unloading work at the Manville dryers from at least 1959, and that in 1964 the time credited for them was cut back as the standards were tightened.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

G.A. Wall (GHQ) in a memorandum to J.G. Moore, et al., 6/25/64, discusses various dryers job standards in effect. Wall states that a 10% respirator allowance was added across the board to all unloading standards in 1959. "The allowance was reduced in 1964 by applying only to the elements where the respirator is needed and worn."