Johns-Manville Board of Directors Minutes on the Celite Dust Abatement Program at Lompoc (1953)

Four pages of minutes of a special meeting of Johns-Manville's Board of Directors on April 29, 1953, called to consider the "Celite Dust Abatement Program" at the diatomaceous earth mines and plant at Lompoc, California. Arthur Elsenbast, vice president and general manager of the Celite Division, told the board that before the early 1930s neither industry nor medicine knew that diatomaceous earth dust was a hazard, and that over $1,600,000 had been spent or set aside for dust control to date. In 1952, after California articles described the Lompoc dust hazard "in somewhat sensational terms," the state had ordered the company to cut dust to set limits within a short time. Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, J-M's medical director, said the company faced "an entirely new occupational disease" and could recommend no protection "other than by absolute dust control."

What it shows

Smith told the board "there was no question that the Company was being confronted with a very real hazard," and that the dust should be treated "with extreme caution" until more was known. Elsenbast discussed J-M's past and future liability for compensation claims and estimated another $2,000,000 would be needed. Director E. M. Voorhees said "the health of employees should come first," and the board agreed the program should have top priority. Elsenbast's account of the 1930s leaves out that J-M's officers had decided in 1935 to fund experiments on diatomaceous earth, and that the California health department had issued a bulletin on diatomaceous earth pneumoconiosis in 1952.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

On 4/29/53, the Board hears a report from A. Elsenbast and Dr. Smith regarding the dust control program at Lompoc. The letter discusses that at the time J-M acquired the Lompoc plant in 1929 and into the 1930's, neither the medical profession nor industry were aware of health hazards of diatomaceous earth dust. Once they became aware of the hazards, he stated J-M sought the advice of experts, instituted a program of pre-employment and periodic medical exams of employees, installed dust control equipment and engaged the services of independent agencies to conduct experiments. During 1953, 1.6 million had been expended or appropriated for programs to improve dust conditions.

Mr. Elsenbast also reported that the Lompoc plant had fully complied with all recommendations by state health authorities regarding dust abatement. In 1952, additional pressure had been generated by state health authorities as a result of media attention; consequently, the state issued a mandate that the company reduce dust concentrations to specific limits within a brief period of time. The company accelerated its program accordingly. At the same time, the company provided a stronger medical department at Lompoc, conducted an intensified safety, employee protection and cleanup program and provided for future claims.

Dr. Smith pointed out that regarding diatomaceous earth dust, industry and medicine were confronted with an entirely new occupational disease. Smith was unable to recommend any means of adequately protecting employees from the disease other than by absolute dust control. Since the human reaction to the dust did not follow any known pattern, he considered it essential that the dust be treated with extreme caution until scientists could conduct further experiments and clinical observations in order to increase management's knowledge.

Elsenbast then discussed J-M's past and potential future liability for compensation claims. He estimated an additional $2 million would be required within the immediate future if the program as outlined was to be made effective. Board discussion followed. The chairman stated the officers sought the best possible means of dust abatement at Lompoc -- no matter what the cost. Mr. Voorhees commented that the health of employees should come first, and that the question of money should not be allowed to enter into the planning required for the proper abatement of diatomaceous earth dust. The Board agreed the dust abatement program should be given top priority and approved $2 million to complete the project. They recommended that if once the program was begun, a better method was found for accomplishing the objective, that method should be used even though additional costs would be incurred over and above the amount originally earmarked for the program.

Editor's note: J-M's description says the Board approved $2 million to complete the project. The minutes record agreement that the program be approved in principle and given top priority, at a cost "presently estimated at $2,000,000."

Related documents

• Johns-Manville Officers Board Minutes on Dust Problems (1935)