Chrysler Corporation
Chrysler made some of the brake linings for its vehicles in its Trenton, Michigan plant starting in 1958 with full scale production starting in 1964 until 1988. Even before then, asbestos was one of the raw materials used at the plant. Before the plant was completed, potential hazards were considered by occupational health professionals including the Medical Director John Pendergast and medical consultant Kerry McCord. They recommended a ventilation system where sacks of asbestos were opened and loaded onto a conveyor for use in the cement ceiling product. They advised that workers unloading sacks of asbestos from freight cars to wear respirators. Other designs in occupational safeguards were considered. Protective clothing, gloves and overalls were to be provided and showers installed. The question of separate lockers for street and were clothing has been suggested but Chrysler management has not accepted this.
Edward Dart, director of industrial hygiene, expressed agreement with management though not for medical reasons explaining that doing the right thing once could lead to having to do it again as a matter of policy:
"It is my opinion that although separate lockers for street and work clothing may be desirable the provision of such might establish a precedent which might cause some difficulty. Therefore, considering precautions which have been taken to include process and prevent exposure to chemicals, it may not be necessary. Lockers can be installed later if the need arises."
One wonders how much it would have cost Chrysler to provide separate lockers to substantially prevent workers from coming home to their families with asbestos and chemicals on their clothes.
The company had designed other sanitary provisions at the plant for the many dusts and chemicals that could cause dermatitis and systematic poisoning like methanol chloral benzene, high lead compounds, etc. Dr. Kerry McCord participated in a medical evaluation of thousands of workers in dusty trades and was a medical consultant to Chrysler at least in the years 1937 to 1949. He regarded asbestos dust as a menace to health and life. As the Trenton plant was about to scale up commercial production of brake parts, Michigan State officials expressed concern about potential asbestos hazards and asked to be informed when the processes were conducted full time.
An area of the Trenton plant where brake linings were formed was tested for airborne asbestos using midget imitator sampling and in May of 1963 three samples were taken were recorded as showing 0.321.0 MPPC half airborne asbestos dust concentrations. Michigan Department of Health found that a worker removing linings from a forming machine and stacking them was exposed to 6.7MPPC; others were exposed to levels from .5 to 4.6MPPC. The State officials returned in 1969 recording workers breathing zone dust counts of a 5.7MP PC, half at the loading zone thrust per disc brake pads and 6.5 MP PCF for a brake lining grinder operator whose ventilation line was disconnected.
Chrysler industrial hygienists agreed that the ventilation system at the grinder should be placed in operable condition and that the exhaust ventilation at the disc brake lining press needed to be increased.
All in all it shows there was a total lack of regard for the workers at these plants. These companies knew about the increased risks and did nothing about it.
If you worked in the Michigan Chrysler Motors plant and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestosis please contact us so we may file a personal injury claim on your behalf. Call Paul & Hanley today at 800 933-2244 for a free consultation.
