Strader to G. P. Loubert on an Automatic Bag Opener for the Toronto Plant (1978)

A two-page memo of January 13, 1978, from Strader at J-M's Toronto plant to G. P. Loubert of the Toronto headquarters, asking for supplemental funds to finish an automatic bag opener. For many years the plant had opened asbestos fiber bags by hand, with respirators required as an interim measure, and the bag-opening station was the only area where hygiene surveys still found levels above the TLV. Because the fiber level depended on each worker's habits, relying on them "does not constitute sufficient, effective control and leaves the company exposed to future compensation claims."

What it shows

Strader also points out that the station was next to a main walkway where employees, "including office staff, walk without respirators," and that this intermittent exposure above the limit set by the company and the Ontario government should be eliminated. He adds that a working bag opener would help J-M's fiber sales by relieving customers' concerns "for their employees' health."

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Strader (Toronto) writes to Laubert (Toronto), 1/13/78, that he wants to install an automatic bag opener as operation is still manually performed. Strader is concerned that the actual control of the fiber levels is therefore dependent on the worker's job and housekeeping practices, and this may vary from worker to worker. Since the final responsibility rests with the company to insure that workers wear safety equipment and perform their work safely, this present practice leaves the company vulnerable to future compensation claims. Strader is also concerned that this work station is near a main walkway where people from the office walk without a respirator. Intermittent exposure here above the TLV should be eliminated.