R. B. Von Wald to G. E. Parker on International Asbestos Labeling (1974)

A one-page confidential memo of June 14, 1974, from R. B. Von Wald, a J-M attorney, to G. E. Parker, copied to J. A. McKinney and S. R. Heath, Jr., on labeling asbestos for international shipment. Von Wald reports facts from that day's Asbestos Environmental Committee meeting: J-M was getting labeled bags for fiber shipped abroad, following Philip-Carey, which had labeled export fiber since late 1968, but "no labeling is currently being done on international shipments by any company" of products containing asbestos.

What it shows

"I find it indefensible to label products in the United States and not label them internationally," Von Wald wrote, and urged J-M to review its position. J-M had decided in 1972 not to label fiber shipped abroad (Poutiatine to Parker). Two months later W. B. Reitze reported the same concern from J-M's Asbestos Committee (Reitze to Kotin).

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

R.B. Von Wald memorandum to G.E. Parker on 6/14/74 regarding asbestos labeling - international. Von Wald notes that with respect to products containing asbestos, no labeling is currently being done on international shipments by any company. Von Wald states that he finds it indefensible to label products in the United States and not label them internationally.