Reynolds Metals Company

January 4, 1973
"At this time, we have no asbestos counts and no serious estimates as to what the counts might be in our various asbestos using areas." --Dr. Irby to Reynolds Plant Managers, notifying plants of OSHA regulations limiting exposure to asbestos fibers. Dr. Irby acknowledged that Reynolds needed to measure asbestos levels in the casthouses, machine shops, and wherever asbestos insulation was being installed or removed. Dr. Irby stated that he "hoped that the obvious portions" of the Act would be complied with.

March 1, 1973
"One of our Reynolds' plants has recently received an OSHA citation because of employee's exposure to asbestos fibers in excess of standards in the carpenter shop." --Dr. Irby to All Division Production Mangers. Dr. Irby acknowledged that Reynolds did not have a standardized technique for measuring airborne asbestos dust and therefore the company could not know whether or not it was in compliance. "There is always the possibility of [more] violations of OSHA standards," Dr. Irby wrote.

November 29, 1983
"In the early 1960's, RMC recognized the inherent breathing problems associated with overexposure to asbestos containing materials and recommended that exposure be controlled to within the threshold limit value." Industrial Hygiene Bulletin No. 121 to Reynolds Plant Mangers. Question: how could RMC have known whether they were in compliance with any exposure standards if they did not perfect techniques for measuring airborne asbestos dust until some undetermined time after 1973?

December 5, 1990
"The health and safety of all Reynolds employees has always been a major concern of the Company. The Company has monitored the developing medical evidence on asbestos exposure, and has acted over the years to eliminate or minimize both the use of, and employee's exposure to, asbestos." James Ogborne, Alabama Plant Manger, to Reynolds Employees or Retirees.

September 1, 1995
"We didn't start seeing any serious asbestos abatement jobs at Sherwin until the late 1980's." Safety Committee, Local 235a.