“WHY ASBESTOS?” 1970 ASBESTOS INFORMATION COMMITTEE PROPAGANDA FILM XD52424

Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website This film, “Why Asbestos?“ was presented by the Asbestos Information Committee, displays the benefits and uses of asbestos in everyday products, and argues that the product is needed to prevent fires. The film was part of a propaganda campaign created by the asbestos industry in the USA and UK to push back against growing public and regulatory sentiment against the use of the product. The AIC and several other organizations were created in early 1970, just as the USA’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began looking into regulating the industry. The goal of the AIC and similar groups was to counteract the growing public attention to and government regulation of asbestos as a serious threat to workers and consumers, to shape public opinion and regulatory policy. Eventually the campaign produced results, with OSHA stipulating that asbestos could continue to be used in a wide variety of consumer products without any warnings about the danger of cancer. This was despite a rich historical literature on asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma dating to early in the 20th century. This is a Unit 7 Film and it was made in association with The Film Producers Guild Ltd. This film opens with burning buildings and smoke billowing (0:23). Flame burning the side of a bag (1:06). Asbestos rock (1:33). Asbestos rock fibers (2:18). Asbestos rock fibers under a microscope (2:25). Single asbestos fiber (2:39). Scientific instrument/scale calculates PSI (pounds per square inch) (2:48). Scientific instrument showing asbestos fiber (2:56). Asbestos fibers washed with water (3:12). Pot with a fire (3:22). Cloth with asbestos covers a burning pot on the stove (3:26). Machine produces fabric with asbestos (3:28). Machine threads asbestos into yarn (4:08). Colorful long sleeved shirts (4:33). Machine pressing down on shirt (4:41). Asbestos cloth made on a machine line (4:47). Asbestos inside a steam valve (4:51). Pipes with asbestos (4:57). Oil heater (5:03). Machine weaves asbestos fabric (5:11). Welder wearing asbestos gloves (5:20). Steal worker (5:21). Glass worker in a suit made of asbestos fabric (5:30). Firefighters putting out a fire in suits made from asbestos fabric (5:41). The words, “Safety Curtain ’’ (6:14). Industrial faucet spewing water into a slush (6:26). Foamy substance mixed with cement (6:29). Asbestos cement (6:36). Boats on water (7:05). Siding of a building with asbestos (7:17). Roofs made with asbestos (7:24). Tunnel (7:45). Pipes (8:03). Building materials (8:08). Machine making a pipe with asbestos cement (8:13). Asbestos pipes (8:33). Pipe being lowered into the ground (8:57). Building with steaming pipes (9:04). Worker installing an asbestos cover (9:06). Industrial building (9:11). Roof of a pool that has been treated with asbestos (9:24). Man diving into a pool (9:46). Asbestos getting mixed (9:53). Asbestos pressed into smooth boards (9:56). Inside of a massive building (10:02). Inside of a supermarket (10:09). Ships (10:27). Asbestos in insulating boards on ships (10:32). Telephone (10:43). Large pipes (10:45). Asbestos board nailed into place (10:49). Cutting and drilling of asbestos boards (10:52). Clock on wall (11:07). Door opens to a room with a piano and sheet music (11:14). Bedroom (11:25). Piano and sheet music (11:33). Fire burning furniture (11:39). Fire burning down a building (11:46). Man with clip board observes (11:56). Fire consuming a home (12:09). Man standing on a ladder (12:16). Crane carrying logs (12:32). Crane (12:36). Asbestos bearing (12:42). Satellite (12:53). Rocket taking off (12:37). Jet pipe of a rocket (13:02). Aircraft engine starts (13:08). BAC One-Eleven plane landing (13:10). Propellers on a large ship (13:17). Ship propellor (13:29). Life boat storage rack (13:31). Trolley (13:35). Bottom of a locomotive (13:44). Gears on different machines (13:49). Dump truck (13:57). Man operating machinery (13:59). Steam rollers (14:00). Man presses a button (14:02). A machine moving rapidly (14:14). RPM gauge (14:22). Brake light (14:23). Machine gears catch fire (14:25). Cars moving on a busy street (14:28). Race cars on track (14:46). Morris Minor car (15:15). Car battery (15:28). Engine smoking (15:45). Morris Minor driving (15:49). Car battery catches on fire (16:00). Foot presses down on the brake (16:07). Car catches fire (16:17). Asbestos cloth puts out the flames (16:36). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
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