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Photocopy of a brief history of Turner Brothers Asbestos Company Ltd, based on a paper delivered to the Rochdale Literary and Scientific Society by Mr N A Morling, 19 February 1959 and published also in ‘Transaction of the Rochdale Literary and Scientific Society’ 24 (1960): 49-64

Photocopy of a typescript ‘A history of J W Roberts Ltd up to 1964’, n.d.

Correspondence and papers re testimony submitted to the HSC Advisory Committee on Asbestos (Simpson Committee), its conclusions, and T&N's reaction. Includes:

• typescript summary 'Advisory Committee on Asbestos' (n.d. and of unidentified provenance)
• photocopy of the final report of the committee, 'Asbestos: volume 1: final report of the advisory committee' (1979)
• correspondence about the activities and reports of the Simpson Committee, 1976-1979, and press reports 1976

Also contained in this aggregation was a photocopy of 'Selected written evidence submitted to the Advisory Committee on Asbestos 1976-77' (1977). This was disposed of as it contained no annotations. A copy of the original text can be consulted at http://atom.lib.strath.ac.uk/oeda-selected-written-evidence-submitted-to-the-advisory-committee-on-asbestos-1976-77

The Simpson Committee effectively reviewed the 1969 Asbestos Regulations. However, it had only the power to make recommendations, not to pass regulations or laws.

Correspondence and papers chiefly re dust count surveys at TBA Ltd factories, Hindley Green and Rochdale.

Includes copies of minutes of meetings and reports of the Study Group to Investigate Dust Control, 1965-1968. The Group was originally chaired by Dr S Holmes (Head of Physics Research at TBA Co Ltd, Rochdate) and included W P Bamblin, M Nowell, A Austin, F Dobson and A G Spencer.

Corporate correspondence and papers re media coverage on the asbestos industry, in particular the Yorkshire Television documentary ‘Alice: a fight for life’ (broadcast 20 July 1982). The programme was named after Alice Jefferson, who developed malignant pleural mesothelioma thirty years after working at an asbestos plant for a few months as a teenager. The film documented her last days and explored the health issues surrounding the manufacture and use of asbestos products.

Includes

• formal complaint to the Independent Broadcasting Authority by Wilfred Penney (Asbestos Information Centre)
• T&N's extensive point by point refutations of statements made in the documentary, among them the allegation that T&N had removed four pages from the evidence it submitted to the Advisory Committee on Asbestos (Simpson Committee) in 1976-1977; presumably the tables 'Airborne asbestos dust survey results' 1961-1972, see http://atom.lib.strath.ac.uk/oeda-turner-newall-tables-to-aca )

The bulk of the file dates from 1982-1983. Covering correspondence with Chase Manhattan is dated 1993.

Photocopy of an account of Turner & Newall Ltd, issued by the directors of T&N "so that the shareholders of the company may be acquainted with the nature and scope of its operations". Appeared while the company was still chaired by Frederick Stirling Newall, who died 1930.

Correspondence documenting T&N’s efforts to persuade the Northern Ireland Hospital Authority not to ban the use of asbestos products in its hospitals.

Correspondence and papers re the use and production of a slide / tape package to provide refresher courses on asbestos and health for shop stewards and supervisors.

Correspondence and papers, chiefly re a visit of H C Lewinsohn (Chief Medical Officer, TBA Industrial Products Ltd) to India, November 1975.

Includes

• memoranda on T&N occupational health and safety policy
• instructions to T&N companies overseas to take up dust sampling and medical examinations, etc., 1972 onwards
• photocopies of index cards relating to information about overseas companies
• a little material 1965-1967 relating to the Asbestos Research Council Subcommittee on Health Precautions in the Insulation Contracting Industry, whose membership was recruited from the asbestos industry (mainly Cape Asbestos and T&N)

Correspondence and papers (foliated), 1928-1991, chiefly re asbestos injury cases and compensation claims brought against T&N. With a telephone message from Michael O’Connor (Chase Manhattan Bank), 25 May 1993, inquiring whether copies of the T&N material had been received and offering more.
Includes:

• inventory of the papers
• copies of T&N Board meetings and Executive Committee meetings
• correspondence on T&N factories at Hindley Green, Armley, etc.
• documents relating to inquests, lists of deceased, newspaper articles, lists of asbestos-related deaths and claims (containing date of birth, cause of death), copies of medical records and autopsy reports
• research papers
• account (incomplete) by defendants' law firm Richards & O'Neil, addressed to the magistrate judge in Chase v. T&N, detailing progress made by T&N in complying with court's orders re disclosure
• affidavit of John Mason Atkinson (25 August 1991), in Chase Manhattan Bank v. T&N plc et al., United States District Court, Southern District of New York. J M Atkinson was the Group Solicitor of T&N plc, 1966-1988

Corporate correspondence and papers on asbestos and health, including information leaflets on the topic, and safety labelling for asbestos products. Predominantly 1972-1986.

Company correspondence relating to lung cancer, 1947-1952, in particular research at the Saranac Laboratory of the Edward L Trudeau Foundation, New York.

Correspondence and papers re asbestos-related diseases within TAC Co Ltd / TAC Construction Materials Ltd. Covers mainly sites at Trafford Park, Tamworth, Dalmuir, Rhoose, Ditton, Widnes and Erith. Includes:

• multiple lists of asbestosis cases since 1929, lists of formal legal claims settled or still proceeding, also copies of death certificates (1980-1990)
• quarterly reports on health (incomplete series), minutes of the Tamworth Health & Safety Committee 1976-1980
• correspondence re a project ‘Mortality study of chrysotile asbestos workers’, to be undertaken by the MRC Pneumoconiosis Unit, Penarth
• documentation of the company’s Asbestos and Health Communications Group and its 'We fight back'-concept, started 1976, to take more control of the public image of asbestos.
• updates on the activities of the Simpson Committee 1976-1979, memorandum on steps to insure compliance with the Committee’s recommendations

Turners Asbestos Cement Co Ltd (TAC) was formed in 1929 as result of re-organisation of the parent company, T&N, to administer the Trafford Park works and former Bell's United Asbestos Co Ltd companies. In 1970 TAC absorbed J W Roberts' operations and formed Turners Asbestos Cement Construction Materials Ltd. In the intervening years, TAC's sites included factories at Tamworth, Dalmuir, Rhoose, Ditton, Widnes and Erith (in addition to the Trafford Park works).