Document 0J9N1E8XRB1wX2LkBvN8JKKRb

FILE NAME: Kohler (KOH) DATE: 1945 DOC#: KOH004 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Unpublished Internal Report ANNUAL REPORT . OF THE INDUSTRIAL HEALS! SECTION | j 1945 J >*r.AMT SUWiKTS The Laboratory o f In d u stria l Hygiene conducted s ix ty surveys of health conditions la the plants o f our Croup policyholders These consisted of S'li'voya o f non plan ts, as v e ilas rseboek surveys in plants of & nunber of oiu- policyholders which request that vs make those perio dic checks to de- f * to !, ^bother or not eny aev health hazards have developed end, I f so, how thoy can ba controlled. They also wanted to know I f the funs and dust eon- ; tro l systems in sta lle d on our racosmmdatlon are e ffic ie n t. 1 | Tho rollovinc Instance of aartrleo any bo of interest to show how tha > j vox'!: o f tho Metropolitan L ife Insurance Company in the fie ld of in d u stria l S ! hygiene la accepted by management, employees and the D ivisio n s o f In d u stria l t Hygiene of the State Deportments o f Health) Sxe Bates Manufacturing Company o f Hast Orange, 8 . J . requested a survey o f health conditions in th e ir plant because th e ir grievance eeamittee, - i | co n sistin g o f reprasantatlvss of nsaagemcat and lab o r, vented such a survey ! VCS. I | soda to uaa as a guide in inproving conditions in tha p lan t. I ****" mi-- ; | Mr . H, Q. Hazard, D irector o f tha In d u stria l Hygiens Div isio n of tho j | Department o f Health o f Haw J ersey was ordered by the Bar Production Board ! | to make an investigation, o f the plant of tha Johna-M anrlUe Corporation at j j ManviUa on tha b asis that there sore a nnsbnr of nnhsaitbgr working conditions I '.i in tho plant accounting for a largo labor turnover. Due to the Tact that we have periodically boos surveying thin plant, Mr. Hazard ecked that rc make l j i the ;urvoy. Our investigations indicated that the asbestosia hazard woe ! ---- ; .'deciuateiy controlled and had been for a number of years. Mr. Hazard accept I j- ed our findings and node hie report to the Var Production Board. Tho eace wco closed. Hie Ruborold Company of Gloucester City, N. J. also asked for a survey . j of their plant at the suggestion of Ur* Hazard end our findings cere eeoapti ed by the New Jersey State Department* The Industrial Hygiene Division of tho Department of Health of Alabama wc3 planning to survey the Iron ore nines of the Republic Steel Corporation in Birmingham, Ala. and the Company asked us to sake a check of conditions prior to the state's study so that they would have a clean bill of health. Mr. Dyktor, Director,of the Bureau of Industrial Hygiene of the City j of Cleveland, Ohio mode e visual survey of the Corrigon-WcKinney plant of the I Republic Steel Corporation. After learning that the Metropolitan was super i vising the plant conditions affecting the health of the employees, Mr. Dyktor ! ! said that it would not bo necessary for hie. Deportment to make e survey. ;; I The Rational Carbon Company of tho Onion Carbide Corporation at dove I i 1 1 lend, Ohio asked tho Metropolitan to conduct e survey of their Anslgam Mixing *nd Drying Department at the tine the`State Department was conducting on . ! investigation of working conditions. However, tho State Department.did not i ; j have the properequipment nor the personnel to toko the teste and the j Metropolitan was asked to couplet those studies*  ANNUAL REPOT1? FOR 10/t sL THE INDOSTRIAL HEALTH SECTION ** # PLANT SURVEYS During tha year 1941, 3 0 different industrial plants employing , approximately 15,706 eoployeaSi vert studied* Fima engaged In manufacturing\ heavy metals and printing plants comprise most of the firms studied this year* The industries studied may he classified as follows Metals 0.0? Printing 40*0J( / Chemicals 13*4$ Cereales 3*3% Textiles 3*3? The samples collected necessitated making lt112 separate analyses i 1 in tha laboratory* A msnber of different aubataaces which offset unfavorably \, tha health of exposed vorkars was detected, such os dusts (silica, lead, arscniCi sine, guistor, nsngansse)| carbon monoxide} benzol, methyl alcohol,! carbon tetrachloride, etc. Xt'has always been believed that employees la isolated locations in the plants, as for instance crane operators, ware not exposed to gases and fumes, at least to concentrations not as high as tha workers nt the breathing level of the operation* However, we found that on certain operations whore gaa is given off that tha crone operator has a higher exposure than those on the floor level, especially In connection with tha lighter gaass which tend to f pi; s to coilins height. This was particularly evident In crono operators c.b;i over the gas-fired soaking Jilts in steel mills and over fjnlvanlstn;? pipe operations where the men wero exposed to excessive concentrations of cine end load fumes. In addition to ttao above, the plants of three Group policyholders were visited and advice given regarding hasards or medical service. Our policyholders have continued to send in for analyses, costly for free and total silica, materials constantly used in the plant, ns, for instance, bricks used in blast furnaces, pre-heating furnaces in steel end iron foundries, as vfcill as abrasive powders used in the plants. We have also during the year analyzed materials used In our Hone Office buildInge Requests for plant surveys and information ware received from Group policyholders and others in ell lines of industry. Some of the more important firms which wo have served are Aliia-Chalmara Mfg. Co. Milwaukee, Hie. Union Carbide & Carbon Co. Hew fork City Combustion Engineering Co. Inc. New fork City Idaho-Marylond Hines Co. Grass Valley, Calif. Swa-Roebuck & Co.Chicago', H I . Strndnrd Oil Co. of H.J. Hew fork City Armstrong Cork Co. Lancaster, Pa. Otis Elevator Co. Xonksre, H.X. United States Leather Co. Hew lark City Electro-Metallurgical Co. Alloy, IT. Va. Rochester Gas & Electric Co. Rochester, H.X. Coagoleu-Haim, Inc. Seamy, H.J. Electric Storage Battery Co. Philadelphia, Pa. Clearwater Kfg. Co. Clearwater, S.C. Continental Baking Co. lew fork City VS f d / Caterpillar Tractor Co. Chrysler Corp. Poorio, X U . Detroit, Midi. / Monsanto Chemical Co. Ralston Purina Co. St. Louie, Mo. St. Louis, Mo. Gencr.il ELoctric Co. Now York City St. Joennh Lend Co. Now York City Curtis-Hright Corp. Caldwell, N.J. Colgato-Palmolivo-Pact Co. Jarsoy City, N.J. Cerncfjin-Illlnolr'-otaal Corp. Pittsburgh, Pa. Certain-Toad Products Co. Now York City General Motore Corp. Detroit, Mich. Mew York Employing Printers Assoc. Inc. Haw Ioric City Requests for assistance were received iron thirty-two states of the United States, three, provinces ef Canada, Aron China, Santiago, Chile, end from Honolulu, Hawaii. TRAVEL CREDIT Althouvg.h our budgetary allowance for travel during the year 1941 j amounted to 4,000, our actual expenses for travel amounted to 92.T9.47. Our gross expense for travel amounted to $3,3o6.85> bat credits received from Group policyholders for incidental expenses incurred while in the field amount to $3,127.18, making an actual expenditure of $239.47. RESEARCH STUDIES \ A method for tbs determinatioVaf aniline was developed in order to -------------------- ----------- - deternlna the exposure of oeployees in a dye house at a cotton mill insured I under a Metropolitan Group plan. ^v % One of the large Groups engaged in the manufacture of steel usee bricks of a high amorphous lilies content for furnace linings. Methods for the determination of cryatalH a a free silica are fairly well defined, but the / y ANNUAL REPOST FOR 1942 of THE INDUSTRIAL HEALTH SECTION * * * PL,.:.! -RVEYS During tha year 192, nearly twioo aa many surveys v.ire conducted / as in 1941. The number of different industrial plants studied in 19/2 was 53, / I <ls caopured to 30 la 19/1 As in 1941, firms engaged in manufacturing heavy I. metals comprise the major part of the studies, with ore mines second. The industries studied may be classified as followst Hetais 62.1* Ore mines 15.5 / Coal mines 8,6 Asbestos plants 8.6 /" j ~Chemicals 1.8 quarries 1.7 j Wood 1.7 100.0% The samples collected ln the plants necessitated making 1,536 separr t.e analyses in the laboratory. Analyses have also been mode, ns in tho past, of materials shipped to the laboratory from planta of our Oroup policyholders. These tests were mostly for free and total silica. A number of materials used in our Home Office buildings has also been analyzed. In eddition to the above surveys, the plants or offices of three policyholders were visited and advice given regarding hazards or medical service. Requests for plant surveys and information were received from Group policyholders and others in all lines of industry. Tq give an laeu of the variety - 2- /?S2. s/ of firms which request this service, the following era some of the more importsnt firms which we have served! 1\ Armstrong Cork Company / Ruberoid Co. Consolidated Gas Electric Light & Power Co. Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines American Viscose Corp. Continental Bering Co. Higgins Corp. tins Powder Co. Idaho Maryland Gold Mines Corp. H.Y. Telandone Co. American Polling Mill Co. Standard Oil Co. International Business rischine Corp. Union Carbide Co. 3r*dcn Copper Co. American beating Co. florida Power & Light Co. Humble Oil & Refining Co. Lewisfaurg Chair and Tennessee, Coal, Iron & R.R. Co. ' Furniture Co. Blackwell Zinc Co. Norton Company Republic Steel Corp. U.S. Leather Co. Kohler Co. Virginia Electric & Power Marshall Field & Co. G Vickers, Inc. Caterpillar Tractor Co. -- Johnfr-Manville Corp. National Enameling & Stamping Co* Baker fcTiylor Co. I'&ntgomery Ward Co. Bell Telephone Laboratori Bethlehem Steel Co. A.P. Green Fire Brick Co* Pendelton Ship lards N.Y. Employing Printers Norfolk & Western Railroad Asese. Ine. General American Transportation Co. General Electric Co. Kimball Piano Co. Monarch Machine Tool Co. General Motors Corp. Asbestos Textile Corp. ~~E/?.CH STUDIES Due to the increased number of requests for plant surveys resulting Trow the speed up in production, due to industry's victory effort, more routine work has been loaded upon the laboratory. This additional work has left little time for research problems. The laboratory staff did design and construct a J new type of centrifugal pump which could operate on A.C. or D.C. current o f/ 110-220 volts. TRAVEL CREDIT _ I The amount of money expended for travel in the Industrial Health Section during 1942 amounted to $4507.57 However, of this amount $4047.63 was paid to us by the Group policyholdars for expanses incurred by our men in the field while conducting plant surveys. Therefore, our total expenditure for travel for the year amounted to $5 9 .9 . AHNHAL REPORT INDUSTRIAL HEALTH SECTION 1946 ;lurvcvji The Laboratory of Industrial Hygiene conducted forty surveys of health :oiUiittoaa in the plant of our Group policyholders. Although this ie a re duction in the nunber of plant3 surveyed last year, the individual plants surveyed were larger and employed a greater nunber of employees. Also, the initiation of a very large project - the surveying of approximately one hun dred and twenty plants of the General Electric Coauony - as roll ce surveys of several other companies could not be included in this year's schedule due to ths transportation strikes which held up for weeks trunks containing equip ment and samples collected in the previous surveys. A typical plant survey report includes a description of tho procoaaoo, plant construction end layout, plant housekeeping and personal facilities; discussion of methods of sampling end analyses) chemical analyaas and other findings of tho osmplas collected) end recommendations for control of ary health and safety hazards found. Attention is also colled to safety hazards. A section of the report discusses the health hazards found - symptoms, toxio concentrations, treatment, etc. The samples collected in tho plants and sent to the Hone Office Laboratory necessitated talcing^2,494-separate analyses. Exclusive of such environmental factors as defective illumination, inadequate local and general ventilation, and sanitary defects, a total of 42 different sub.-.tcr.cee known - 2- /fd l to nffeot ndveraoly the health of osqwesd aoriiern v.u/i netooted. These eon3 luted of Uunta, oueh aa allien (which in by far tho most prominent), nshontoa, ranngoriouoi aolvontn, nuoh aa carbon di.'iulnliide, totmcliloi*ol.lwmo, trtchlov cbb.-mo, triciilorcthylane, bonzal, toluol, ;!tlyl, methyl nil butyl acntAto, wyl (oid ethyl aootata, naphtha, aa wall aa hydrofluoric, hydrochloric, and sulfuric acids. A number of new instruments were purchased for the Laboratory during Car year in order to facilitate and expedite the aurvrey work end to attain the best possible accuracy in datemining hazardous exposures. Those are a mercury vapor detector, a sound mater used to dsterolno noise levels, and a Geiger-iiullar meter for Manuring radiant energy. J I A ventilution engineer is now available for consultation in planning new /entilation and exhaust systems or necessary revisions of thoso in use. Harr..* Offlco Incnactione The Industrial Health Section and the Laboratory of Industrial Hygieno has continued to mate periodic sanitary and industrial hygiene inspections of the feigaissary Division. Those inspections include methods of preservation of food, refrigeration, food handling and disposal, dish washing, vermin con trol and cleanliness generally. The office has also continued to bo of assistance in such work opera tions as point spraying, lead soldaring, welding sad other operations hero solvents and toxin materials are employed throughout the building. - 7- /& < * Another paper by Dr. McConnell entitled "Summary of Twenty-Two Tri nitrotoluene Fatalities In World War II" appeared in the May 1946 number of the "Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology11. Coni' renccs Durirv tho yeor, Dr. Lunua hold aixty-two conferences r-nl Dr. MeConneLl hold eighteen, in tho offico with repreaentativoo of our Group policy holders end others from health organisations.. field Trios Dr. tunse. visited tho plants of twelve of our Group policyholders end conferred with manegement regarding nursing service, poor claim nxperionco or other matters of Interest. Among policyholders visited were the Coming Glass Company, the General Electric Company, the General Motors Corporation, ^Johns-McnviUe Company and tbs Aaarioan LaFrance Fonmito Company. Dr. Lanza* -ndo thirty-six other field trips luring the year for the purpose of *conferring with the executive staffs of health organizations. Government Juxecuo, universities, other insurance companies, etc. regarding .methods of improving the health of industrial employees. Some of the more important of these trips were for the following purposesi Be had a conference with Dr. Dudley Irwin in Pittsburgh concern ing the future activities with respect to tho aluminum treatment of silicosis. He visited a number of Group policyholders on the Pacific Coast during the first part of July when he attended the annual mc-eting of the American Medical Association at Sea Francisco. ;TTJ'-- /rof l'*OR iq/i OK -ORK OF INOSTKt/.kHEALTH section Surveys conducted by Industrial H/cicna Laboratory ......... ..... . 40 Analyses made in Laboratory..... ............................ 2,494 Ilo.^e Office Inspections ............................ ............ . 62 Ir tv e l Credit ................................................... ..........................................$2 ,405.26 Spooid inquiries handled by mail or conference....................675 (An increase of approximately 125? over 1945) Literature sent (Industrial Health Series) ......... .............. 3,684 Publications completely revised .......... ........................ 2 Publications slightly revised ................................. . 1 LeePlats revised .............. .................. ............... 2 Other publications written and published ............................ 3 Conferences in Home Office ........ ....... ....................... 80 Field visits to Croups ................. ................... ..... 14 Other field visits................. ................... ......... 36 fiactiaGs attended by staff ...................................... . 61 Dr. Lance, has been made a member of the Board of Trusteea of the Trudeau Sanatorium and Foundation. 4 ventilation engineer is now available in the Laboratory of In dustrial Hygiene for consultation in planning now ventilation end exhaust systems and necessary revisions of those in use. L'o have secured tho eervioes of another chemist in the Laboratory. The following are a few of the more outstanding research jobs con ducted by the Laboratory. - 2 - / The jlocliestcr Gag and Electric Company wee vi.-.itcd by ..;r. iY.'-jiol to nutl Lne fad supervise a program for tho study of atmospheric i.nil gen !>o M ntion. Win company io planning to oroct n now ntcnm rlnntrle prnrrntinr ilii.t r.iilch will take about two yearn to build Tho i'ntropoliUin i. to innV.c studies otxch season of the year of the normal dust counts mid supervise tho ;tuev of the dust foil and sulfur dioxide concentrations in th City of ioci1aster before the erection of tho plent. After completion of tho plant .-nd then it is in production, ve are to supervise check studies to see if the plana causes any pollution of the air which will be detrimental to the health of people living in the vicinity* of the plant. The Metropolitan was asked to uo this work by the Rochester Gas Company on the advice of the Republic dtecl Corporation for whom similar work has been done. A study was made of the possible exposure of employees to hydrogen fluoride generated by the addition of sodium fluoride to molten steal when twiring rim heat. The study was made over a prolonged period to doLcrmino t,-.e extent of the exposure of employees before this method of making steel ..as nut into operation. Recently a strike was called at the Ford Motor Conpajiy due to comply lute of employees bo had been exposed to the irritating fumes of hydrogen fluoride generated at a similar process. t is interesting to note that before say nee process is developed or any nev materials are used in the plants of the Republic Steel Corporation, the company requests the metropolitan to make a study to dotermino tho existence of any possible health hosaxds. Teste wore conducted on certain days of tho week for throe consecutive ..oaks is the carding room of the Iknville, Hew Jersey plant of the Johns- ' * - 3- /? /( uvlUo Corporation to detnnaino bho diwt pollution t.lwt cnulil bn expected F *" -- - ---------- -- - ' " >::;er. c:irdln;: and spinning four different mlxturo:i of nr.bootoa raid cotton. This. In cnotlier cKaanlo of testa bainc node ay the Industrial Hygiene Uibor- w r y of contosnlated processes in the plants of our Group policyholders be fore being nut in produotion to eliainate any potential health hazards. Triethylene Glvcol Study In certain areas In the now building (Unit 1} the air supplied to tho sections is treated vith triethylene glycol as a method of air sterilisation. v:e have token air samples in the sections with the impingers and absorption tubes and made quantitative triathyloae glycol determinations. Considerable ifork ~as dona in cheeking and adapting the analytical method used. By adapting a special filter, we were able to use our Electrophotomotor in the analytical work in these determinations. The results of our study to date indicate that the concentration of triethylene glycol vapors in ths atmosphere is not at the optimum quantity mul, therefore, no pouitivu rosuite ore indicabod nor con they bo expected until the triattylene glyool concentration is increased until it reaches the bactericidal or billing range. I i,tNEAw CS * C * U B u C 8u'*i9iM0 * A..! <il.fTHotta ,v m v infila Annaiar w 1 Tabruary , 1334 Or. A. J , L u u , Aas't. Mdiati Idractor Matropolitaa Lifa Inaurane Coapooy Hn Tork, N. T. D r Dr. U a u t Tbara ha a baan caoaidarabla discussi ob t thla offica during ths past fa* day ss to fast posltloo ahould b* taksn on ths aubjact of ths lndusloa of all 1posi aad othsr lllsd di aasta la th occu pati osai dlsaaaa aohdui of th various coapansation seta la ordar to avold ths thraat of eoaaoa la liabIli ty la auch aattars. I auld lllcs vsry ameh to gat aa sxprsaaloa fros you oo thls subjact. W -V'* Yoo of courss kaov ay positioa a axprassad bao you aro in th offica, naaaly, to graat auch a ooncassioa In Illinois or aay othar individuai stata ould lt dosa th bara for a flood of stal lar lagialatica all w t r tha Country. Z do not knov of o h stata hieh has aa occupatioaal dlsaaaa act bar thar ara included d i3 o h j u of thla charactar. Tour furthar cosami a un tna jubjnct v i l i ba rafatly appredatad. Jiary t r i l y yatir:., *%J :'tt A Assia tuat sanarsi .-.tini*; '.putiie taal Cor.-ui*!'