What Asbestos Magazine Told the Industry About Dust and Disease

Johns-Manville's notes

1. Oct. 1919, p. 30 summary p. 4

   "A rule of law governing an employer's liability for injuries to employees, is that a worker assumes all risk of injury which are naturally to be appreciated by him, considering his experience and ability to discern the dangers, but that he does not assume risks not appreciated by him because of his inexperience and their latent character. - From U.S.S. Court Decision."

2. Nov. 1919, p. 20 summary p. 4

   The Pennsylvania Compensation Rating & Inspection Bureau has completed its work on the revision of compensation rates in Pennsylvania to take effect with amendments to the present compensation act January 1, 1920. The specific report applying to the Asbestos Textile Industry is being prepared and will be published at a very early date.

3. Dec. 1919, p. 25 summary p. 5

   The Pennsylvania Legislature greatly changed the law governing workmen's compensation. Copies of the original law are now obsolete.

4. July 1920, pp. 13-16 summary p. 8

   Arizona Asbestos - "Mining of Asbestos is not everywhere as unromantic, dust producing and character spoiling as it is in the Eastern Townships in Canada." Shipments from Globe contain crude asbestos No. 1 and No. 2 of very superior quality, with an extremely strong, silky fiber. "Arizona Asbestos excels in tensile strength and flexibility anything that has yet been produced in Canada."

5. Mar. 1923, p. 44 summary p. 19

   Asbestos, Ltd. of Bound Brook, NJ is preparing a grade of asbestos spinning fiber which contains no shorts and is ready for spinning. The spinner "will not experience any loss in preparation, as the shorts and dust from the fibre are entirely eliminated."

6. July 1924, p. 31 summary p. 21

   "At a coroner's inquest at Rochdale, during March, a statement was made by one of the medical expert witnesses that an employee of an asbestos plant in Rochdale had died from asbestos poisoning. The opinion was arrived at after a microscopic examination of the lungs."

7. Jan. 1928, p. 43 summary p. 29

   "Pulmonary Asbestosis. An important Article on the subject appeared in the British Medical Journal of December 3rd, and the December 10th issue of the India Rubber Journal contained a digest of the article with slight alterations. A copy of the India Rubber Journal article is in our possession and will be lent to anyone interested."

8. Sept. 1929, p. 20 summary p. 40

   Thetford - "The Grey City". "We sit down in Thetford for a few minutes, … and a fine grey dust is noticeable on our clothing." "This dust covers everything in Thetford … grey dust settles over all the roads, turning even the grasses a greyish hue." More than 10,000 have their homes there.

9. Mar. 1930, p. 20 summary p. 42

   "Pulmonary Asbestosis - Some attention is being given by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor, to Pulmonary Asbestosis, a disease resulting from exposure to asbestos dust. The Bureau urges the establishment of efficient exhaust systems and the introduction of other safety methods." "This disease has been noted in England, an much has been written concerning it but this is the first time, to our knowledge, that it has been offically discussed in this country." "The statement of the Bureau of Labor Statistics refers to an article published in the Bulletin of Hygiene, London, in December, giving the results of a study of the clinical and radiological record of 15 cases of pulmonary asbestosis occurring among workers in an asbestos factory." "It is said that the asbestos dust causes a pulmonary fibrosis, attacking the bases of the lungs, and, like silicosis, it is frequently complicated by tuberculosis."

10. Oct. 1932, pp. 2-13 summary p. 50

    Article on asbestos mills by a consulting engineer. Describes the process and states "It is true that this dry process … creates a considerable amount of dust …" Modern design reduces this to a minimum, and secondary suction removes most of the dust. Discusses exhaust fans, dust collecting chambers.

11. Dec. 1935, p. 40 summary p. 65

    Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc. formed by various industries to conduct investigations of and to stimulate research on problems in the field of air hygiene and to gather and disseminate factual information relating thereto. Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, Pittsburgh, has begun a comprehensive investigation, under support of the Air Hygiene Foundation, in which the hygienic, technologic,and economic aspects of air contamination, especially by dust in the industries, will be studied.

12. May 1939, p. 40 summary p. 84

    Chicago Eye Shield Co. has new 48-page catalogue listing a variety of goggles, respirators, masks, etc.

13. Nov. 1939, p. 18 summary p. 87

    "Dust Respirator made in England uses asbestos as filtering component (20% asbestos, 80% merino wool).

14. Dec. 1939, p. 35 summary p. 88

    Canadian J-M has installed Cottrell Electrical Precipitation dust collector in an effort to control asbestos floats.

15. Oct. 1940, p. 34 summary p. 94

    Nat'l. Assn. of Manufacturers - several asbestos industries actively involved regarding the defense program. Lewis Brown and J. E. Begert involved in committee work. Keasbey & Mattison's president is on Committee on Healthful Working Conditions.

16. Nov. 1940, p. 29 summary p. 95

    J-M's general safety engineer, Fred Lippert, has been drafted by the U.S. Dept. of Labor to administer a government health and safety program to conserve manpower in NY defense industries and prevent potential accidents due to the defense production pressure. He will be paid $1 per year, his time being contributed to defense work by J-M.

17. Apr. 1941, p. 24 summary p. 98

    "Coming - an article by John Roche of the National Safety Council on 'Safety Problems of the Insulation Contractor'."

18. May 1941, pp. 22-24 summary p. 99

    "Safety Problems of the Insulation Contractor" by John Roche. "What are the special hazards involved in the application of asbestos insulation on pipes and boilers?" Burns, heat exhaustion, heights, cuts, eye injury, etc. No mention of asbestos hazard.

19. Sept. 1941, p. 40 summary p. 103

    Air Hygiene Foundation of America changes its name to Industrial Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc. Its sixth annual meeting will be held in Nov. IHF, in collaboration with the USPHS, is studying sick absences in industry.

20. Apr. 1943, p. 30 summary p. 131

    Insulation for Safety - describes early reasons for insulation as well as recent practice of insulating to keep hot pipes from causing burns to the workers.

21. Sept. 1944, p. 16 summary p. 144

    Ninth annual meeting of IHF to be held at Mellon Institute in Nov. The IHF is "an association of industries for the maintenance of healthful working conditions". The program for the meeting will be on sickness in industry, problems associated with absenteeism calling for post-war solutions, and employing the disabled veteran.

22. May 1946, pp. 4-12 summary p. 159

    First in a series of articles written by R.E. Cryor of Unarco after his visit to Germany: "Asbestos Textile Industry in Germany". Germany had a scarcity of asbestos during the war; fiberglass and mineral wool were used extensively as substitutes. Textiles were not standardized by grade or content. "No new developments were observed in the control of asbestos dust. Progress in this field is considerably behind American development in design of equipment and in the variety and originality of dust control." Quality of packings and gaskets low. Thermal insulations are widely used but are generally inferior.

23. June 1946, pp. 5-16 summary p. 160

    2nd part: "Asbestos Textile Industry in Germany". Stocks of fiber were short during the war. One plant's list of purchases is given. Dust Control Equipment. All plants had either cyclone collectors or cloth stocking-type collectors. No cloth screen-section collectors were observed and no wet systems. The equipment that was examined seemed to be well designed and reasonably effective but in no way unusual. Oil or processing agents for control of dust are not used.

24. Dec. 1947, pp. 16-18 summary p. 168

    Dept. of Commerce has issued report prepared by UNARCO's G.M. Bloomfield entitled "Technical and Scientific Developments Related to the Asbestos Industry in Germany". The report discusses the German method of opening asbestos spinning stock, describes certain machines, and discusses development of synthetic asbestos, and elaborate precautions taken to prevent dust and protect workers against silicosis in German plants.

25. Jan. 1949, pp. 18-24 summary p. 175

    Excerpt of article "Asbestos Resources of Japan" issued by Natural Resources Section, Supreme Cmdr. of the Allied Powers - Mining and Milling Methods in Japan (Second in a series) - All open pit. All large chrysotile producers employ a dry milling process patterned after the important Canadian mills. The most effective wet milling process is used at Seimi. The staff originated the process which obviates dustiness.

26. June 1949, pp. 4-16 summary p. 179

    Article "Recent Trends in Asbestos Mining and Milling Practice" describes those processes. "DUST COLLECTING. In asbestos milling, which is a dry process, considerable dust is created in the various operations, together with a large amount contained in the air from the fan exhausts, as the fibre collector is really only a partially efficient separator. Some shorter fibers escape into the fan, and these, if recovered, have commercial value. In the past, this air has usually been sent through ducts in a large settling chamber, where the heavier material is dropped because of reduced velocity and returned in a special circuit or department in the mill flow. At the end of the dust building, there is a chimney for the exhaust dust. In one instance where this dust has been objectionable one company has installed a Cotrell system. However, a recent successful development has been the application of bag type collectors with automatic shaking devices, which usually can be made to fit very nicely into the top of the conventional mill building. These units not only recover the valuable fibre, but also the dust, so there is a very small amount of exhaust dust in the atmosphere. Some companies are experimenting with the possibilities of recirculating this air. About 98% efficiency by weight is claimed for these units, and at present, there are many installations under way. The cost is approximately 20 cents per cubic foot of air, and about 1 sq. ft. of filter cloth is necessary for filtering 3 cu. ft. of air."

27. Dec. 1949, pp. 14-16 summary p. 183

    "General Observation" on a European Trip by Weaver of R-M. "I visited one large factory in the north of England at Rochdale, where I enjoyed a very pleasant visit with Turner Brothers Asbestos Company. The clean operating conditions in all departments were impressive. The removal of dust by preventing its escape from cards, looms and other equipment, to the surrounding air, is highly effective, and the working conditions are excellent. Particularly noticeable was the absence of particles of fibre on the hair and clothing of the men and women employees, many of whom were well advanced in years and appeared to be in good health."

28. July 1950, p. 2 summary p. 188

    J-M is erecting a new mill in Munro, which should be operating in two or three months. The mine and mill are relatively small but contain the latest equipment for maximium dust control.

29. Oct. 1950, p. 44 summary p. 190

    Vineyards cover the slopes of most of the mountains in Cyprus to a height of over 4,000 feet. Clouds of asbestos dust stream from the mill cyclones nearby, and this dust is carried by the prevailing wind into the valley, settling on the vines. Both leaves and fruit are covered with a thick layer of this very fine grey dust. Yet the grapes produced in this area are of excellent quality, and the vinegrowers never complain of this apparent nuisance. They were in the habit of dusting the vines, as often as necessary with flowers of sulphur every spring to prevent an attack of Powdery Mildew, but during the last war no sulphur was available. Heavy damage was caused by this Powdery Mildew all over the Island except in the valley south of the Asbestos Mines. Rumor went around that the asbestos dust protected the vines and grapes, and growers from distant parts of the Island asked for a supply. The Government of Cyprus is at present making experiments and results should be published shortly. In the meantime the growers are firmly convinced that the Asbestos Dust serves the purpose of the sulphur and saves them money and physical effort.

30. Feb. 1951, p. 48 summary p. 191

    Pangborn Corp. issues 50-page booklet "Industrial Dust Control Through Exhaust Systems".

31. Mar. 1951, pp. 18-24 summary p. 191

    Report on ATI activities. Lists officers and describes its four general committees. Air Hygiene Committee - studies industrial health hazards which may be encountered in manufacturing operations involving asbestos materials. A comprehensive survey of the health and hygienic problems within the asbestos textile industry has been conductd by the Committee in recent years, and the results serve as the basis of the Committee's activities. Asbestos dust problems, as they occur in industry, are for the most part well controlled by the individual manufacturers, but ATI provides for its members a clearing point for new developments in dust control.