Johns Manville was a global leader in asbestos manufacturing throughout the 20th century. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was commonly used in building materials like insulation and floor tiles due to its fireproof qualities. However, breathing asbestos fibers can cause serious health issues like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. While Johns Manville executives knew of the health risks as early as 1931, they hid this scientific data and distorted information about employee health conditions for around 50 years to protect profits. This ethical issues surrounding prioritizing profits over worker safety and hiding health risk information violated stakeholders' rights and trust.

1. Asbestos Case

2. Team Intro
Joairia Alam
Juhi
Homayra
Nusrat
Nusrat Farah
Luna
Najmul Islam
Joy
Farjia Rashid
Farheen Islam
Labiba
Tabassom Miti

3. Case Background
Johns Manville is an American corporation based in
Denver, Colorado that manufactures insulation,
roofing materials, and engineered products.
For much of the 20th century, the then-titled Johns-
Manville Corporation was the global leader in the
manufacture of asbestos-containing products.

4. What is Asbestos?
Asbestos refers to a set of six naturally occurring fibrous
minerals: Chrysotile, Crocidolite, Amosite, Anthophyllite,
Tremolite, and Actinolite.
Among these, Chrysotile and Amosite
asbestos are most common.

5. Uses of Asbestos
Building
Materials
Floor Tiles Clutches
Pipes

6. Health Hazards Caused By Asbestos
 Breathing asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis and result in
loss of lung function that often progresses to disability and
death.
 Asbestos also causes cancer of the lung and other diseases
such as mesothelioma of the pleura which is a fatal
malignant tumour of the membrane lining the cavity of the
lung or stomach.
 All asbestos fibre types, including the most commonly used
form of Asbestos, Chrysotile, causes mesothelioma in
humans.

7. The Facts
• JM executives hid scientific data concerning Asbestos. (For
about 50 years)
• Facts were distorted regarding employee health conditions.
• The senior executives were the only stakeholders JM was
concern with.
• Warning labels were not placed till 1964.

8. Ethical Issues
• Controlling the information flow regarding the
hazards of asbestos exposure.
• The hazards of asbestos exposure were known in the
industry as early as 1931, however, such information
was not notified to the workers.
• The doctors lied intentionally in favor of the
company
• No warning labels were added to the insulation
products containing asbestos.

9. Ethical concepts related to the
Case
 Issue 1:
Morality and Rights
The Principle of Respect
Kantian demand for
fairness
 Issue 3
The Principle of
Universality
Violation of Patient Rights
 Issue 2
The Principle of Respect
Kantian demand for
Fairness
 Issue 4
Principle of Respect
The Principle of
Universality

10. Identify the Affected Parties
(Stakeholders)
John Manville
Corporation
Shareholders
Employees
Families
Consumers
Public

11. Manager’s Point of view
• Unwilling or unable to believe in the long-term
consequences of these known hazards.
• Asbestos being an essential product Managers wanted to
deny the known fact
• Manville's air quality standards were higher than the
allowable limits set by the American conference of
governmental industrial hygienists.
• Workforce managers tried to shift the blame to smokers
within the company to avoid self-blame.
• Assuming Asbestos as an essential fire prevention

12. Outsider’s view
• Hiding the news of asbestos exposure.
• Violating the rights of the workers.
• Remained silent about the asbestos issue for more than 40
years..
• Unreliable attitude of the Doctors
• Not providing safe work environment.
• Lack of interests towards workers safety.
• Focusing more on profit making.
• Not fulfilling any moral obligations.

13. Possible Alternatives
• Using alternatives of asbestos (Polyurethane
Foam, Amorphous Silica Fabric etc.).
• Taking preventive measures for asbestos
contamination.
• Properly delivering the information to the
workers.
• Taking proper medical measures.

14. Consequences
• Loss of lives, incur injury or harm
• Health Decline
• Face legal action against the company
• Compensation to Employees
• Jeopardize the Reputation of the Company
• Face bankruptcy

15. Thank You