Industry Trade Organizations

The asbestos industry’s trade organizations produced a surprising number of periodicals, reports and other documents. Even in recent years, the world asbestos industry has been formally united through the Asbestos International Association, headquartered in London, with member firms from more than 30 countries. The larger industry trade groups produced published reports and organized committees that held conferences on such topics as industrial hygiene, workers’ compensation and warning labels. These manufacturer groups also sponsored research that in some cases was not published at all or even alluded to in the published literature.

One of the earliest asbestos trade organizations was the Industrial Hygiene Foundation, founded in 1936 under the auspices of the Melon Institute by a cross section of large industrial companies. The Industrial Hygiene Foundation was promoted by industry as a “creature of industry” and the one institution upon which employers could rely completely for a sympathetic appreciation of their “view point.” Other major trade organizations included the Asbestos Textile Institute, Magnesia Insulation Manufacturers Association, National Insulation Manufacturers Association, Asbestosis Research Council, Asbestos International Association, Resilient Floor Covering Institute, National Safety Council, Asbestos Textile Institute, Asbestos Cement Products Association, Asbestos-Cement Pipe Producers Association, Friction Materials Standards Institute, Asbestos Information Association, Asbestos Paper Manufacturers Association, Asbestos Brake Lining Association, Thermal Insulation Manufacturers Association, The National Safety Council, The Chemical Manufacturers Association, and many others. All told, there were over 100 such associations that served the asbestos industry.