In June of 1944, Georgia Oxide took over the full responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the trailers, including brakes, lights, seals, springs and shock absorbers. Lead oxide was loaded into the trailers from a hatch on top of the trailer and then would be unloaded at customer locations through a vacuum system on the bottom of the trailer through a four inch hose into a storage silo.
Lead oxide is a power that is made into a paste and placed into batteries.
When Mr. Womack's oral complaints did not result in corrections, he started writing them on bills of lading for each trip where there was a problem. Ken Pratt was aware that Robert Womack was writing safety complaints on the bills of lading, and in December of 1994 told him to stop writing complaints on the bills and to make all complaints di- rectly to himself, Ken Pratt. David Ferguson began complaining daily about safety concerns to his supervisor, Frank Lickovic, shortly after he was employed. These complaints involved the same subjects as those of Robert Womack. Don Richards was angry about the complaints, particularly the ones written on the bills of lading, and stated that if they did not stop he would attempt to have the Complainant's terminated.