Jerry Summers: Asbestos At The World's Safest Plant

  • Thursday, October 27, 2022
  • Jerry Summers
Jerry Summers
Jerry Summers
The article by Dave Flessner (April 2, 2022) about future development of the 88 acres off of Access Road at the former DuPont plant near Hixson Pike is informative but is incomplete as it applies to the above designation as to the safety record of the nylon plant.  It provided excellent jobs, good working conditions, and pension benefits for those who were fortunate enough to work there during its 60 years of operation (1947-2015).  In the time frame that the plant was in existence, it was a pleasant contrast to the other industrial works that operated in the dirty and smog-filled environment that earned the city of Chattanooga the reputation of being the “9th most heavily industrialized community in America.”

Anyone who was fortunate enough to get a job at DuPont would work in an air-conditioned, clean plant, with a full-service cafeteria, good wages, on site medical physician and clinic, and a management staff that sincerely cared about its workers who would show their appreciation by making certain that any labor union was unable to organize a bargaining unit on the premises.

DuPont was especially proud of its “no loss time” record which would enable the Chattanooga plant to earn the title of “World’s Safest Plant” that also enabled each employee to obtain a “safety award” each year that ranged from a wide selection of items based on seniority.  Very nice presents that included such items as ottomans, etc.
were proudly distributed to the three eight-hour shift workers that kept the 5,000 workers producing nylon products 24 hours a day.

The shifts allowed long weekends off during the rotation of shifts but did produce sleep issues for employees adjusting from the 8-4, 4-12 or 12-8 routine.

In spite of acquiring “the World’s Safest Plant” record and recognition throughout the textile industry, as well as the other DuPont companies, accidents did occur that might produce “loss time” gaps and break the highly acclaimed safety record.

Instead of being sent home and being unable to work (and snap the safety record) every effort was made to find a “light duty” spot if they could hobble into work, thus preserving the “no-loss time” record.

The company friendly on duty physician and staff provided equally friendly medical treatment with a warm and caring personality.  He was also ably assisted by an equally congenial personnel staff that supported the medical staff to assure that employees with physical problems were treated.

If an employee expressed some breathing discomfort, they were quickly diagnosed as allergy or related diseases such as non-work-related illnesses caused by the dirty environment that existed prior to the stringent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Unfortunately, after several years it was determined that deadly asbestos fibers were being distributed throughout the plant through the permanent air conditioning system from the insulation shop.

Large blocks of raw asbestos were cut up in the insulation shop with a bandsaw and went throughout the industrial complex.  Asbestos was known as the “magic mineral” which could be used for both heating and cooling purposes.

Some employees fortunately were not affected by years of breathing asbestos.  However, many were and contacted lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and the deadliest disease of all, mesothelioma.

Although DuPont workers were protected from tort liability by the Tennessee Worker’s Compensation laws, a wide assortment of distributors of asbestos products that were provided to the Chattanooga and other DuPont plants were ultimately held responsible and said actions are still being pursued in administrative matters.

The late medical director never changed his support of the company position that there was no asbestos problem at the Access Road facility (he was not a pulmonologist) but the respected personal director, who is also deceased, would later make a candid admission that is beyond the scope of this article.

Rumors of nylon residue and other substances being buried on the premises should not be overlooked by the EPA and OSHA.

However, numerous former employees and relatives of other affected individuals would break the company Code of Silence and help establish from a medical standpoint that the title of “World’s Safest Plant” was a misnomer and inaccurate.

The Chattanooga DuPont plant was a good place to work but was also a deadly place when it came to asbestos exposure.

Efforts were later properly made to remove any asbestos substances from the plant.

The proposed disposition of the remaining 88 acres should and will be monitored by the EPA and OSHA under current state and federal safety regulations.

The opportunity to use the property for a constructive development in the future is complicated but the untrue misrepresentations of the past should not be ignored out of respect for those alive and dead who reported to work under the title of the “World’s Safety Plant.”
 
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You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)

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