Document 20Jk82pQzE1yRqpg1nGrjDdR

FILE NAME: National Safety Council (NSC) DATE: 1936 DOC#: NSC478 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: NSC Presentations [9] by Hunt, Templer, Stratton, Drinker, Newton, Lanza, Meller, Jones & Waters f Cm C || s , (fa * r h * \t U, , T ^rZ U , ((h , j^ O lU L L 'j C J f f t r ^ 2 5 th M a t io n a l S a fie iY i- I C o n g re ss NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL, Inc. ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY OCTOBER 5 to OCTOBER 9, 1936 mention 10 statis- `ctly. Get statis show you where . ` -p au ses it. , can stimulate ^ 7 because deep man honestly bc"od as somebody lOW it. he meeting is ad- "V. J Occupational Diseases FRIDAY MORNING SESSION _ October 9, 1936 7 V r; Fdi* h c r r v L p r " Co d0tU f r Hca!th' N`toal Safety Council, SuTM ' Chi ^apid Transit 'Vl> prcsided- "rodudng The Lesser Known Pacts About Conunon Occupation! Diseases Ti/r a ' i a j ByX>R- R o b e r t b . h u n t A avuo,, American L i ^ ,Prc',->.alflIV)' . ttlIllfci ]lae;nwdIae^r !in itt|.)_c parad. e of_ ndustnal diseases is an acute or chronic ddeermSlaitti?tis.10VTh-is ^disea,UsenmWayhicphresentit . self m any type of shop, factory or foun- which Acom PaS-tC' P"'dcr' XTM or liquid nlm t'c i " COntact the cm P jee s skin, even the water supplied bv he town which he lives or works . d i s t u r b a i i Pc c !C n t' a l f SUch a sk i'1 J , l,V VMc diversity of causes together en r M rj;,ns susccptibilitv of differ- ' Si < Mutli investigation is under wav to determine why one person mnv h c' sus- eeptiblc to a certain substance while an ttiimmeess t1ha?t 0at' poisonous*'cscu"bstl'arnocvet'dfomrmanedv witlmi the body bn, bee, able lrt ,ro) the aetmn started |,y some external inlhi cnee. A punter developed a marked dermatitis from ink which persisted for 1 y ears, kmally food tests were made and showed that he was susceptible to cttucc, winch, when removed from his tV l * SW"' returned io his usual occupation without a return of sym ptom s. 01 lnrA,lr Ca-SCS.0f dcrmalitis cannot he cured J chmma mg offending toods, but fur ther investigation along these t;n,, ? ve * chic With whicl o 1 ssen^he oss of time from work and the d L c o t fort; now produced by industrial derma- . , Acad Metals T h e d istrib u tio n of lead poiso n in g IS nuitc extensive. b T h e skin of the body is a protective " ct Hit dioesaUatl gaoSod.l0j.onRb exceipl t rior..atihrer scahs,e? o tetra e th y l lead, w hich is used in Idend- P gasoline ami which is rcadilv absorbed hrm igl, the shin, having a tendency to Y r V ' : :" r , tl,c nervous system t i n t I 10' 1 0t, 1Cr ,o rl,,s o f lc<1(l- `lirough th a t avenue ofen tran ce, is practically ml, which explains th e extrem ely low poisoning rate in typesetters, pain ers and 2 r :,,s ;lcr f a,,y co",c " - - "pi; The poisoning of allergic substances is usually an accumulative process. It takes tune to produce a manifestation of dis ense, but let any other substance cause the disease, and the irritating food may be of sufficient strength to magnify its action. 11 (lie b oH .,CVl:nlUa" ^ ^ (I.I, .i t c d w ill,. : <rs, a n d if the ex p o su re is rcinnv^^ m #y 3,50 /rcc lhc em ployee of all sig , 117 118 Twenty-fifth National Safety Congress l and symptoms of lead poisoning. But imagine the surprise of that supposedly cured person when years later, perhaps follosving some type of infectious disease or the excessive use of alcoholic bever ages, he awakes to find that he suffers ' the aches and pains and paralyses of an acute lead poisoning. As the body fluids alter lead that it may be deposited, so may those fluids attempt to de-lead the bod}', and too rapid absorption may pro duce the original disease with all its dis comforts. One can readily' see, then, that in some cases investigation of previous occupa tions is quite necessary to determine the . original contact with lead. Heating of molten lead causes a black scum of lead suboxide to form on its sur face, and the heat from the metal dis burses the fine powder into the air. Hence, in the process of smelting ores such as zinc, copper and silver, mixed with lead, we find a rather high lead poisoning rate. Those engaged in the manufacture of lead wire and cables, batteries, glass, pottery' and rubber industries, plumbers and users of dry colors offer their share of lead poisoning, Probably- the greatest source of lead poisoning may be found among those who sandpaper, scrape, chip or burn lead paint, for the dust and fumes caused by those activities are rather rapid in their action. Such workers may become in capacitated in a few days because the inhalation of lead dust causes the maxi mum amount of absorption into the' blood stream in the minimum space of time. Chromium Chromium is a metal widely used as a foundation for colors, and dusts, from its various salts may produce lesions of the' skin and mucous membranes of the nose. Chromium plating by electrolysis may cause fumes which are similarly irritat ing. Although chromium poisoning does not usually cause death, the number of days of absence from work on account oi incapacity which it caifses is gradu ally increasing. Other Metals The most efficient portals of entry of foreign substances into the body are the nose and mouth. The smaller the du5, (the size of smoke particles (or example the greater the speed of absorption the blood. Fumes from hot nteuls cam. not only poisons but numerous minut, dust particles. This explains the nc,. parities occurring among those engaj^ in acetylene and electric cutting ^ welding. When men are so employ^ over a prolonged period oi time, n , constant inhalation of fumes and dust might produce symptoms of the nieta! upon which they work. In the ship! building trade, particularly in the coostruction of metal ships, we find occa. sional e a s e s of metal-fume fever. "Brass chills" and "spelter shakes" from* zinc are names applied by the lay people to such diseases. The terrific heat ap plied to some of our common metals andalloys by acetylene torches produces suf ficient iumes to cause a temporary inca. i parity in 24 hours. Permanent disability from such causes is rare, however, Diseases Due to Dust Twenty-five per cent of alt swrkers . exposed to high concentrations'"tfMnorganlg.. duet are expected changes within their lungardtnMfo that agency. W e are at a loss tcr-explriq" why the- other seventy-five per cent are not so- affected. Miring;"-' qui?fymg, foundry w o r k , grinding}- sandblasting', abrasive soap manufacturing!- asbestos work, the mak ing of em ery and carborundum products and* many^'ether occupations offer op portunities for employees to inhale mic roscopic dust particles and create t foun dation' tor possible future incapacity. We are interested particularly in those men who work with sandstone, quartz, flint, granite, and sand, because they ex I pose themselves to silica, and the chem I ical changes between that dust and the l body fluids, in the presence of tubercu losis. may and usually do lead to a fatal ending. ft is safe to say, in light of our present knowledge, that the action of other In organic dusts is much less virulent and incapacitating. That, however, does not allow us ti^wsVcn the vigilant methods to improve M st control and protect em ployees. "tjmeause" all dusty occupations ' are potential trouble makers. .o ii0k= ja<j ciu* #dcr C'Zi? -rsxi> a mw* s:ut I 0000,^ Occupationel Diseosct 119 Although the actions of various dusts differ within the body, the exposure to asbestos fibres, present in the weaving and grinding of dry asbestos material, offers another type of dust which may cause fatalities among workers. The organic dusts from cotton, silk, wool, tobacco, flour and similar sub stances are practically hirntiess. Such dusts rarely reach the/lungs but may cause irritation of the windpipe and larg er air tubes and result at the most in a mild bronchitis.' The factor, which should be borne in mind, particularly when dealing with silicosis and ajbestosis, relates to the progression of such disease, When changes occur within the lungs as a re sult of the presence of such dusts, nature forms scar tissue to heal such lesions but may fail to stop when the job is finished. As a result, the continuation of that heal ing process may lead to such structural changes within the lungs that partial or total Incapacity', may follow months o r. years after the employee has been re moved from his dusty occupation, Benzole.-Benzene Benzol is a distillate of coal tar used extensively in industry. It is an essen tial ingredient -in the manufacture of ex plosives. It is an excellent solvent lor grease, oils and cements, and because of that "property It is important in many phases of the rubber and cleaning indus tries. In the manufacture of shoes ben zol may "be an ingredient of the dressing applied to the leather and of the cement which fastens the heels and soles. Not only in the shoe trade but in other branches of industry where employees work with gummy, `sticky material, the workers soon learn of the solvent and cleansing action of this liquid and use it freely for that purpose upon themselves. "The subsequent outbreak of skin af flictions may be the first indication of such unauthorized use. - Benzol is extremely poisonous, enter ing either through the nose or mouth or absorbed through the skin. Its action within the body is varied and may pro duce a multitude of signs and symptoms. The hone marrow becomes affected which n turn alters the character of the blood: hemorrhages are common: it may cause 'death. ` The fumes from benzol are heavier than air and lie near the floor, which is an im portant point in the engineering prob lem of ventilation. The members of the benzene group are absorbed through the skin, and more cases of poisoning are found when men perspire than when their bodies are cool. Probably the answer to that is that the fumes may solidify as they cool and the powder may settle on the skin. The sweat on the body may dissolve this dust so that it is more readily absorbed through the increased surface blood supply, Chlorinated Hydrocarbons This group of petroleum derivatives has been known to science for years but during the past decade its advance into the industrial field has been widely dis tributed and most important. Led by carbon tetrachloride and its chemically associated members,- it has furnished in dustry with refrigerants for ice chests, excellent solvents for rubber, wax, oil and grease, thinners for lacquers and a very fine household' necessity for the re moval of spots from clothes. Hospitals have been using it more and more for the removal of adhesive plaster. Due to the non-flammability of car bon tetrachloride, it is used in fire ex tinguishers. The rapid evaporation pro duces fumes which may smother a small blaze, but we must not forget that ex cessive heat of the actual fire may bring about combustion sufficient to produce such biproducts as hydrochloric acid and phosgene gas. Like its associated mem ber, chloroform, it may produce sleep when inhaled by an individual and only 1/330 of an ounce in a quart of air is necessary to produce such action. That thought must be remembered when a large quantity of those liquid products is spilled on the floor, perhaps accidentally. Action should be started at once before the liquid gasifies, and employees should be notified to keep their heads up to avoid the low ceiling of gas. Chemists have developed - and intro duced to IndustfjT many new products, the basis of which is the chlorinated hy drocarbons. These derivatives of petro- 1 OOOC'.i 120 Twenty-fifth National Safety Confess `v .u ,to 7 i0n * " combined blc chcn.i.al cDn' b - ^ i n n / 0 T h T v '^ v e' oihcri q{ dancer ev-_ / if0TM ,he Poisonous gas at the damage actually done bv the ,,,P<:riai .'*Iuh i,, permanent physicai *"*. of bc cLmiVVr:trbnle,h0i) creating change, i,, ,he liver a*,, ? f Infection the^hbodylnJaina 7ntccUon tremely efficient js long as 77* " rtm . **- We among two others, re * n t. but allow it to bo broken or tured. introduce bacteria f UCe- ensues between the ,,"*' nd 2 bat-J. : Carbon Monoxide . ' Vou remember the adage, "Where ' i ' / ' 'S *molie- `here is fire." We might add to that. "Where there i, fire th?re i , carbon monoxide." This .odorless but poisonous gas mav occur it, any industry or in any home, but binofdevctioTn bal n d'hteh edeLfe*nsive 'p' 'owers of ti<.e ooaj. The xvmning of sueh , .. 1-5 may determine tjte oresene * str,,fS-; incapacity. ^ n c e cf throughout industry, but uTM - r w ;v s fnV,1f r o ^ n f h r a v nZ ~ il1-feC,ion " Chan ,hea VtmiUtion tl>e better he chance of producing physical incapacity, of that disease defv ,u ' j . rfle Btnss ' a r t i t - s r " i w h o ' *u* adv'?m of ,he mo,r car. hhiigghh aase 6' ^%a"o,!t cPa,Prblonm4myonPo0xUidre,fowrteh ar5e1 Tanners, wool sorters'TMdPC|w'-<,S f. i lhat B*s' Particularly in crowded cities. The ordinary passenger r liberates about two cubic feet per minute, and one. can readily estimate the phjsical damage that may be done if mmeeaatt aan,,ddffiSishKarpeac'krce,r,su'ann"dy thfosmedenagmagoendr ddoooorrss* ooff *arpoISoral,lyl0'Vv*ednt*ilatfeUdn g"air,hagine thoer n deep sea fishing. Although d * hop. Fortunately, serious cases of such poisoning are not common among those employed in public garages, but many of Ootf lheeaadda'.cThe a5'ned? rfaairnetness at t,h0e ceonmd Po,ifina s work, especially in colder weather when doors and windows remain closed indaltr>-- wb` re gas is used as the heating agency in the blast fur- ninn c a re .,,n|,5t be used to provide proper ventilation. Within the mines workers are warned to allow enough time' f lo w in g blasts for the escape of Z S riH * S i--- S 5S3 'Summary = S Being a colorless, odorless and taste- man bn I f a5tlon "-''bin the hu man bods, the mamtestation of the verv first sj mptom may 1 too late to save a answers to two questions: business?"' 5' Ur produel. * W or p X / T a , h ir:U1 r ,OUl in" paci' y H e n i t i r ^ m f * the unable to help himself or iv w to warn' answers and nhvi; ^ 5 -P U a..h o n e-_ sufficlc" ' chemicsf 1u e s,io nkr^ Tjrirmnqhjc,tC. XTI!hiaa;tltii0n."'mS-j-i0atc' iurcr 'TV Sical wcwh . 'CCGSi & tlSC heuir lift i c oi tiz;-.-. er.s'ie tin : ss.rr\ S2 n am tri b?:ics P tc=cria thrrju ertivst 7rh> r:>,t erze* ' - F tor; v i :-.r. tir*t iz* t i?f '.0 yt w. U**; i:ui Octnfotienml Diseases 121 i*-c!J reiponiibte tor the is r.j:: by the -it of his liroduct and -:a can guarantee its safety, it h it ^ in induitry. Too many lives i,,.. tits lost or jeopardized by too ^t^wiedpe of a product s action ior. it who handle it. Tr.i incidence ci lost time due to 11 _js aid injury in industry h at been L as: lessened by the many agencies Tonatif along linej of safety. W h jh in dustry has been made tool-proof by the substitution oi non-toxic preparations for those now found to be lurmiul. and when each employee is imbued with the idea that constant thoughtfulness and care arc most necessary for the maintenance of health and happiness, then, and not un til that idealistic stage has been reached may vigilance and perseverance to main tain and preserve health, limb and life be lessened. pr*-Employment Examination as an Aid to th Control of Industrial Diseases By DR. W . C. TEM PLER Medical Director, Com ing Glass Works, Corning, N. Y. l!I \Yc may well aik whether or not phy death rate due to tuberculosis. I n `fact, sical crimination is of any value to the in the treatment of all epidemic-type , Toric at large, rather than limit the dis- diseases that have so far been eradicated, assim to the control of industrial di the examination of patients to determine suses. In the conservation of life and the severity of symptoms and the im atalth much progress has been made in provement has been of foremost value. die emlication or control of such diseases Knowing that the average span of life a ocrar in epidemic form, as well as has been increased eight years in the last aat ;r?e of disease which is not truly quarter century and assuming that the qiidcnic, but occurs in such frequency above mentioned factors have had some at pmeral health programs are neces- bearing on it, could we decry, the value ary. Ifuch has been done to control of physical examinations for the general eh Qsabling illnesses as heart disease. population? me.ru-sclerosis, kidney disease and dia- If we know that examinations made by ietes; and something has been accom- insurance companies and their associating iBshet in the control of morbidity, which examining institutions, the clinics run by 2aei :o. at least, make people happier the United States Public Health Sen-ice. inroupa good health, even though an in- and the great mass of physicians, who all stasal span of life Is not gained. carefully examine their clientele, _ have Physical examination has played a large bmeaeyn woef nvoatlueassiunmtehethcaot netrxoalmoinfatdioisnesasten, rule h accomplishing these things, bc- industry will help control the incidence atueiz was through physical examination and ptysical observations that investiga- alanrdly exwtehnetn oftheindluifsetriaelxpdeiscetaansec,y poarfticiun 3 vtre led to exert themselves to find dustrial workers is less than that of the ei breesm. eSdymaflol-rpothxeIscanuoseloonfgesrucphrevcaolnednit-, general population? ' i t t: such observations, which led to In fact on April 14. 1936, at the Na is cintrol by vaccination. Malaria and tional Conference on Silicosis and Similar yellow fever have been brought largely Dust Diseases, called by the Secretary of aider control, and knowledge is now Labor, Dr. R. R. Sayers of the United *raiia!le in the control of venereal di States Public Health Service said, "Pre-_^-,., teases if the proper physical examination liminary and periodic-physical a n d jo e c j;---- tad moratory methods are used to arrive genological examination should be made a tiagnosis. We are all familiar with of all employees engaged in industrial a e -suits obtained in decreasing the processes where there is a potential if ft 000 Cl-8 [ 122 not actual exposure to excessive concen trations of silica in the atmosphere." * must be correlated as to lime s?Rlt , li the hazard, although a period of one r ** T Naturally in the e arl/ work of industry, IS, perhaps, proper for persons who only basic materials were used, ingredients in good health and have no complal^T l hid not arrived at a state of development or who are not working in toxic '5 and complexity, when intricate chemical stances or with other materials a-hja T: compounds and other toxic materials were would under some conditions impair th2 . * even known of, much less used. At the health and usefulness. j present time over 500 materials are listed which can, under certain conditions, cause industrial disease and the list is by no means complete, inasmuch as experimental work is being done by the personnel of practically every plant or industry to im prove or enlarge its manufactured products by taking advantage of the great amount of knowledge science has given us; The objectives of prc-employmcoi aet post-employment examinations are ti, same, that is: the establishment or ; physical standard in which the employe can pursue his trade or labor, havieg'o, discomfort or ill effect due to indenrt:. exposure to harmful products, Sati" i products and materials are, as we 1* ' mentioned, of great number and varior. 1 Industrial examinations are of' two Attempts have been made to clusSr' -' kinds. First, the pre-employment ex workmen as to age, sex, color and m- amination, which consists of a very care tionality. W hether or not any of these ful history, not only of the family, but also of the previous occupations with length of service in each, previous health classifications are of value, it still remains I that the primary effort is to have healthy ', workmen and the benefit is oi as gres ' and illnesses and present habits. Naturally value to the workman as to the indasur. such a history' la of no value unless truth The benefits of Individual and comezaasft fully given and a reasonable amount or good health are numerous and obriontr time must be taken to acquire. details, and the benefits o f good health to iadnruy which are often vague in a workman's . are equally important. The employe wE mind or considered by him to be unim be more productive, receive higher warts portant. The physical examination, o: and be happier. The labor turn-over res course, varies with the type of industry, because of poor health will be lowered as and should be given with the knowledge will the costs of insurance. The working of what the man's exact occupation is to personnel will be more efficient and con . be. and by a physician familiar with the tented. and will dislike to be exposed c industrial processes in which he is to be the overt acts of people who are epileput- employed. In this way selected employ insane or who disregard communicable , ment can be obtained for men who have disease, and will use their endeaverr k ' tome basic disqualification for one job. work safely among hazards they have but which does not impair their ability been taught to respect, j ior useful employment and the conserving The harmful exposure to each hazard u- ; of health in another. of course, different, ranging from a srr i days as, for example, an acute poisoainl < The physical examination must be from toxic gases, to that of 15 cr -- j thorough, ft should include all methods years in some of the less toxic cusci: j of determining a latent disability or one therefore the period before re-examinannr I that is already present. Many examina for each class of employee will be -- j tion forms are available from insurance ferent. However, individuals differ companies or other health services, which and it is hard to state a definite p rin f j have been designed entirely for industrial which may be satisfactory for each em work. .It has been the experience of mer. ployee in a single class oi hazard. 5 interested in this work, that all the special visors can often be of great value ir. irnc- senses of the body must be tested as well ing employees out for physical eximua- as the measurement of motion in all joints-. ' lion whenever there is a change in i `- The cardio-vascular system is of great fH pince or work atulisjn--or jvben-er' importance as is the respiratory and &ye been olf on account of some ii'.r.cfs- gastro-intestinal tract. feeh as those self-diagnosed as ccmnj.m Re-examination and periodical checks, idl'd,, lagrippe. cough, sdre throat cr _-':h because of particular industrial hazards. limitation. Such obscrvaiions shc-riit ?. 0 0 0 0 ) ] Occupational Diseases 123 fMUsrW. "here there is not a full-time !'r -:cy--. end they ire of the greatest lli-e - the early determination of a i-xtzrtiility to or the beginning of in disease- ! T e ere fortunate in having had a large ' -jj.tr: of research work done on' ina --3. diseases, until at the present time, from acetaldehyde to tine .are uteii together with the processed in ; h they are used and the symptoms -.h they cause, and an estimate of the ---,-ure of exposure in nearly every ease cszistry to produce symptoms. It is -rail? nit too much of a problem ior an ' rrxrsrsti physician to accumulate a sup- -:yc: uch knowledge, particularly when 'K' the processes involved during ib* tsmtfacturing procedure of his in- c sry . It -thus beeomes relatively a rreccaz matter of observation, together !' .fd lam ination for specific signs or ; ij=pta=s at the time of the periodical ' -r*-*va---natinn, to obtain some degree of cocrti of the hazard. o T e cannot disettss the benefits of pre- E uplryutent examination and periodic reb caedadon without mentioning some of r. 'tb- ejections to it. If a man has a dis it- st. he naturally is anxious to keep it 'to iiuieii, and in some easts we find ft, ta r i e workman is disinterested to a b' ;pefai that We would rather not know of if a suability even though he has'it. Cer- oa'}.:cai groups regard each man as p." trsiad to employment whether he is i peyiaCy fit or not, on the assumption C tlat Industry hires labor, not health.'and j! ta r rejection because of physical dis r. ii'-frr causes a class of artisans to become c Prejni-eed against and become charity t cues. It is also alleged that the quality jj. < tu-itcal service in industry is such g ths; v.- results of examinations are mis- jf iadiar and of no value. Another objec* r dca -j voiccd by labor unions, it being S Mired that pre-employment examinaH lk-aj lre t,, ej to discriminate against S Uh>r cr.ion workers or members. Many S' " act leaders realize, however, that pre MpItTtr.ent examination and periodical 5 'Sie'i-cpi are the only means of preventp. 'aI disability from certain industrial " " -'is. Competent and honest medical ft trv-es renders ai) these objections quite " Potir.t; for if 'an endeavor is made to properly place employees, such a small' percentage is finally rejected, and that percentage is so obviously unfit to work, that no fair-minded person can fail to see the justice of it. These c-rjeetions, however, are being noticed by legislative bodies, and in one State a law is in force which says: "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the legislature of this State, in enacting this article, to prohibit through every law- ' ful means available, any requirement as a pre-requisite to employment which com pete an applicant for employment in any occupation coming within the purview of this article to undergo a medical examina tion." This statement is in a paragraph labeled. "Prevention of Silieosis and Other Dust Diseases," and the logic of it is entirely nrtt-understandable, even though at the present time there is no lawful means available to enforce the stated policy. . If physical examinations are of benefit to the population at large, they certainly must be c? the industrial workera, who may be exposed to special hazards; periodical check-up examinations are necessary ir. any hazardous work or trade, in order :: protect the. workers as well as the industry; and the benefits to the workers proper and fair-minded ex amination!. in all ordinary cases, outweigh the objcc:::ns. I have purposely omitted any reference to the eecuomies oi pre-employment and periodic .'-examination, which apply either to the individual or the industry. However, one of the g reat public health problems :f today is the question of the cost of ir.-.iical care. If industry assumes some of this cost by periodical examina tion in connection with the prevention of industrial fisease, it relieves the individual of this responsibility and allows more room in fits budget for the care of his family, The benefits to industry, of course, are those of a better personnel and a lower rate of insurance. This rate, due to industrial disease hazards, is in many States very high and the logical conclu sion is that the real remedy lies in the prevcmicr. of {industrial disc*--by--any method, tr.e af$ .which. I believe, is preemploytr.r.tt and periodical examinations. 000070 Vai V I /' 124 Twenty-fifth National Safety Congress What Can the Engineer Do .to Eliminate the Hazards of Occupational Disease's? . By R E U E L C. STRATTON Supervising Chemical Engineer, The Travelers Insurance Co,, Hartford, Co if I were asked, "Can the engineer pre vent the majority of occupational disease cases" my answer would be, "yes." Ob viously, with the exception of those diseases brought about through a sudden or accidental contact with a poisonous material or a virulent disease-producing . organism, if the exposure were controlled by. engineering technique, then there would be no occupational disease. The engineer must rely upon the medical director to place individuals capable of working in hazardous occupa tions and to assist him in controlling these individuals through periodic physicalexaminations when the men are exposed to occupational disease hazards; but the engineer alone is responsible for reducing generation of harmful substanees and for the control of employees' contact with processes using harmful materials. The ascribing of many and new occupa tional diseases to industrial environment has produced a problem for him. The engineer generally works with materials which he can see, but the study of in dustrial disease control may require the handling of invisible materials. It is a common fault to focus attention upon one obj'ect to such an extent that others of equal importance may thereby be rele gated to obscurity. Today safety en gineers and industrial hygienists are con centrating their attention upon diseases caused by the inhalation of dust, but I do not believe the safety engineer is war ranted in confining himself to the preven tion of diseases caused by dust alone. His consideration should extend to include all materials produced in any manner that they may cause an effect upon a worker. The question of whether a material exists as a gas, a vapor, or a dust_is but one of particle size and chemical,make-up. He must not forget that many such diseases arc produced by exposure to vapors and gases as well as to dust, and that the control of these industrial diseases may lie brought about by the application of certain fundamental principles common to all. While the problem confronting vtdual safety engineers varies aer-- to the industry, there are certain Y--- mentals common to all such prs'-leans which provide a workable ba;Ys~ ~ -ct0 which an occupational disease p r e re ^ n program may be developed. Or.ce thse fundamentals are set in motion tosrzr5 a safe working environment, contierara'lo much the same whether the engineer s ' engaged with a large organization or vrrtn a small one. The fundamentals foi'.cw tsa sequence: (1) .An occupational disease inver-tw is required. ~ * (2) A plan for correction of tie ex posures shown by the inventors- re-- re development. ' (3) A concentrated attack upon c major exposures first, following until ail are corrected or eliminatei ' An inventory or ail materials usee ;z z. plant will astound the average e c rirrr- He will find many items about which ee. may have little cr no knowledge. Hr. may be confronted with items he sac --r. recognized previously, even though he css been associated with the plant perries many years. When this inventory is r --plete, he should card index it, placing against (he name c: the material the h c i3 hazard associated with it both tretr a material and a process viewpoint, i n i a card index should contain the e x ponent parts or constituency o: e x pounds. ' Process exposures should be st-eiiei h conjunction with hazardous material. Assistance in compiling such data r i " 'c obtained in the bulletin "O ccepir." Hazards and Diagnostic Signs," prepare: by Dublin and Vane ot the Metre; .'-ear Life insurance Ccmpany, and in a peri cation of the L'nitee States Public Her-H Service, Public Health Bulletin N r. "The Potential Problems of Ince.-- -- Hi'SiCKjn a Typical Industrial Area the ffefnited States.'1 --.-- -- ____ *. ijt'.addition the engineer should r'rc x \ all raVaiiabie information upon the : tcrijHs he is required to study. I 000071 " res r.r.mg Ir. :i- s a.: j tats. h z i i - !? vrtblems bases u;ca Or.i-.i eie n r.rsird .timuture is enguuter is .icr; : r with :iii c in--tr.rury o; ex- .ry -N- uu.;-u the tig -_-.rjugh ina:. u* ,z l t - rinser. : tvr.::h he iedgi. He he ,:.ii set ueu hi has at : rrhips sry : : :c it. : .sriug ! th t sills-. :h rr.-m line. Such the ::= c : MS- i:t:i;ii ia m istrials. ata may be OecryieiJa prepared lotrer-.-litsn in a ' pucliJlic H ill* a .V.-. 215. Ir. isitriil al A r i l in uld .-bilia i th i mady. New Occupational Diseases chemicals, solutions, dusts, degreasing agents, condensation products, paints, lac quers. dyes, abrasives, and other products too numerous to mention ire being placed upon the market daily, and the average engineer's knowledge of their possibje effects' upon health is slight. Academic research determining tlje effect of these new materials upon hurtians is progressing slowly, and serious injuries may be sus tained In industrial application long before the toxicologist is able ,to determine the properties of the material and the maxi mum permissible amount to which a worker may. be exposed. In seeking this information it is essential to determine in so far as possible the maximum per missible amount of contaminants which may exist in a work place without causing an occupational disease. Armed with this information, the en ' gineer is in a position to- locate properly in his own plant the process and the operation in which the exposure may exist. The engineer should study together with the plant physician the length of employ ment of exposed individuals and they should jointly determine the normal ex pectancy or average length of employment for the specific exposure. From such data may be developed a factor of safety, and the maximum allowable period of em ployment in certain areas may be assigned. Naturally this study should be focused upon the mote hazardous locations first, and when these are corrected, attention turned toward minor conditions. Housing. One of the most important considerations in attempting to control oc cupational disease is housing. W henever practical, any hazardous manufacturing process should be separately housed and Isolated; every effort should be made to arrest harmful substances--dust, vapors, ' or gases--at their source of generation. Buildings should be so constructed that accumulations of dust may be avoided, , When physical separation of depart ments is required, such physical divisions should be dust or vapor tight. Floors should be tight to prevent transfer of materials to floors or departments below. The engineer should give study to the complete enclosure of machinery or Process units as individual units and, if so required, vent each one separately. The transfer of hazardous operatlqns into the open air docs r.ot always eliminate the danger; in iac;. it may. increase the number of workers inected. Proeea* Revision. To reduce transpor tation of materials and exposure to harm ful substances it is desirable to have all processes mechanically continuous and, it possible, enclosed. When this cannot be accomplished, suitable physical divisions should be provided. The engineer should consider the substitution of wet processes for dry processes, providing at the same time for the disposal of the moist col lected material in a safe place. He should consider the su b statio n of automatic operations for hazardous hand work or machine work. A change of abrasive material will often reduce the quantity of dust produced. I can cite an example of how a little thought can cure a hazardous machine operation with little or no expense: A plant producing a finely pulverized material created large amounts of dust in bagging the material, using porous sacks. This high concentration of dust, not neces sarily toxic, inconvenienced the workers. The cost of ventiiiting the department would have been prohibitive. By careful study the engineer determined that the fall of the material into the sacks forced the air out through the interstices oi the material,- carrying with it a quantity of the pulverized product. His problem, thus, was to provide a means whereby this air could he harmlessly expelled from the sack prior to filling. Study led him to suggest and apply the use of a collapsed paper hag which contained little or no free air. The problem was solved. Dust generation was practically eliminated by this simple change. Many hazardous processes in ordinary manufacturing opera tions may be cured in like manner If the engineer exercises his ingenuity. Ventilation. Pr-.per ventilation is of paramount importance in the control of any occupational exposure. Most of the chief occupational diseases other than dermatitis arise through the inhalation or the ingestion oi fereign material. If ven tilating equipment :an reduce the concen tration of contaminating materials to. a safe limit, the problem is solved. The en gineer should Isiu-iy-each process sep arately and ve/ttili-.c each separately. It is seldom wisd to rely upon general ven- f 000072 ti "I <BU 126 Twenty-fifth National Safety Congress illation. Instead, high velocity ventilating apparatus should be installed, functioning as closely to the point of generation of the harmful substance as is possible. Individual machines should be so equipped if poisible. Baffles may be in troduced to prevent air stream disturb ances or to increase the Intake efficiency at the nozzle, Down-draft systems should be preferred for the collection of dust or gases of high specific gravity. Even after the installation of exhaust systems, the engineer must study the type of maintenance required to keep them operating at peak efficiency. Kqzales should not be' permitted to becqme covered nor moved out of proper, posi tion. Exhaust piping must be kept dust tight. Blower efficiencies must be con stantly checked to insure that intake, ve locities are proper. The best ventilating system is a false protection if it does not function properly or if it is so poorly maintained that it falls below its designed rating. The engineer must exercise ex treme care to provide a clean source of replacement air for 'the work place. He may find it necessary to install filtering and heating devices. The. engineer must study the proper disposal of the collected or expelled material to be positive it will not drift back into the work place. Employee Protection. While the pri mary engineering means of protection against possible occupational diseases should be mechanical correction, the en gineer will find instances where even the best. systems must be supplemented by individual protection. He must carefully study such exposures to provide the high est efficiency of protection, yet obtain a device easy for the operator to wear con tinuously. When the engineer has been successful in obtaining such a device, he must educate workers to use it. Sanitation. Clean washing facilities and toilets should be provided. Lunch rooms should be not only clean but also well lighted and attractive and should be un der the supervision of the plant physician. Scientific Tests. Up to Jlijs point the engineer lias deduced that an exposure exists, and from accumulated data has devised his means of prevention. How ever, the engineer interested in ls taming not only exposure but alio ciency of control should realize cooi^" cannot be fully effective nor the e ta e i.^ 01 any protective device, determined out scientific tests. Assumption. - . rj work, unscientific procedure or appi^-L, have no place in an engineering prcjrjT The engineer must test each step uaieji a has been previously proved, careiui'.y culating in advance to avoid false pk0. " tion. ' . He must be familiar with dust cottseqair sampling, and chemical analysii tech nique, haying such determinations cifi: by established and proper method*, if such tests are beyond the scope oi hh ability or equipment and if the eng-ise-- considers such tests absolutely eftcttizl then his executives should permit him tj obtain experts qualified to make such sur veys as his problem may require. Tie need for an accurate engineering approach to any control measure cannot be over emphasized. Conclusion. Every engineer realize; control of any industrial disease expo sure is divided, part of such control f i l ing within the jurisdiction of the iadastrial physician and part within hii owe engineering province. Medical knowledge is invaluable In the detection oi ear'iy symptoms and in the administration n suitable preventive treatment. The en gineer should gladly obtain tile services of an industrial physician to make t study of the.plant, to assist in the r:a;?>- fication of the hazardous operation; anc working locations. By such coordination he will speed control of the exposure. Each individual occupational disease exposure must be studied, analyzed, and controlled individually. While gectrai data may be available upon common ex posures. the solution can be found :r_'y in individual treatment. Such exposure; cannot be compared to ordinary aicry engineering efforts. A circular saw i; a circular saw wherever it may be or scar ing. but industrial disease exposure vans; within plants and certainly varies between different manufacturing establishments- even thotSTT' they may produce a product oc'*artic!e. . ' I ' A D I G U Nx m e n t I " 0 0 0 0 7 ' 'X u  v -l:ci. a./..-, ycd ;ar..t r-.c a iiiMi: of ir.ri r: - " a f:r- i;zg ^-ht ;c w ,i? rd.i =i;j=L;;ia? 3 r.a?" i :a s?sr=j. -de rr:3 uck. sad le l e a s estc ? le 3 1 S3 Zi'.- ef r-apeimizt of v.-.se >f o zi!: n : ' tors :: o t r --J:e he <: :ncr=J-'! cars:, ib .nei :ai re1 I fr.rs 1 as: cene uu/ y equipm ent Respiratory Protective Equipment for Use Against Dusts, Fumes and Gases By PH ILIP DRINKER Boiton, Mass. appears to b$ some confusion as to the distinction' between dusts, and one can see large plants for recover- iumes, vapors, mists, and gases, with the mg lead fume--a dry powder. Obvious result that respiratory .equipment for pro- ly. one does not want the same kind of tectipn against them occasionally Jj respiratory equipment for two such dif- wrongly applied. The respirator manu t.tn *r ^bsfances yet the customer often facturers have many examples of such asks for a respirator to protect against tumes. misunderstandings and often are blamed for errors which result sotely from con Lead fume happens to be very difficult fusion in nomenclature. to filter out so that the ordinary respir Dusts include ail types of dry earthy ator which catches dust particles mav be particles small cnough to be blown about inadequate against lead fume. The acid by ordinary air .currents. Dust suspen fumes., containing both .liquid particles sions may be generated as the result of and gas, require a filter to catch the drop a grinding, blasting, or comminuting pro lets and a gas absorbant to catch the cess: or they may result from the han- gaseous constituent. Therefore, it usu dling of finely divjded materials as in ally happens that the respirator manufac mixing processes, in sweeping, or the turer. in self protection, advises the cus blowing about of wood flour, plant pol tomer to use an air-supplied or air-line lens, or common road dust. There is no qreusapteirlaytoprrobteecctaeudsewhheethweirll thtehefnumbee iasdoef "cdhuemst"icawl hliilme ittahtieonrainmgpelieind bsiyze thoef tdeurmst ioltd particles, like lead, or a liquid and particles extends from the sub-microscop aSctslymwixhtautret.he Isfusthpeencsuiosntocmoenrsisstteadtedofeoxr ic to small sand grains. Such materials told how it was generated he might be can be caught very effectively by the modern type of dust respirator. able to use less expensive equipment. Fumes embrace two definite kinds of .vapor is a gas which can be con atmospheric suspensions. It is uniortu- certed into a liquid at ordinary tempera W e that such double-naming exists in tures and pressures. Thus, water vapor is Vie trade but one had best admit the fact. a common constituent of the air and is Thus, "lead .fume" is a very old term contained in concentrations which vary "ted to describe the visible dark grey with atmospheric conditions. Respira suspension which evolves from lead tory protective.equipment is used against r.eated, to high temperatures. The ma- ow concentration; of a great many va brial in such suspensions is mostly tiny pors arising from common organic solv- ?articles of lead (and lead oxide), much tnts such as benaol. Many such sub smaller in size than those of the average stances are absorbed by activated char -ust, with some lead in the gaseous state, coal as m gas masks. There is a small ,Vhen ,such a mixture is cooled down to ccaarrttrriiddggee istypfielledreswpiitrhataocrtivinatedwhcichharcothael cl-oentpamoiinntanwt heisre thitencanthebe lebardeatphaerdtictlhees tor absorb ng a vapor such as benzol or lone without any gaseous fead. ~..wjm soda-lime for absorbing an acid gas The word "fume" is also used to de- such as carbon dioxide. Because these ':ribe the mixture of gas and mist which small cartridges contain comparatively xtlc of the absorbant their use Is lim -' , y come from a bath of hot nitric acid, ited to very low concentrations. They 'r example. None of the material in should not be used for emergency rescue suspension is drv--it is all in the form work. * ,, * tru* nst (liquid droplets) or as a yet it may have a thick brownish col- l i , p n' buys fuming sulfuric acid (a 'I-) from any chemical supply house A mist consists of a suspension of li quid droplets together with the gas from which tlte droplets condensed. The com monest example i. atmospheric fog, 00007 1 . rf*' 'j 1 I.'S--'*-*:11 '" V w 1- 146 Twenty-fifth National Safety Congress Droplets of mist ire n e c e ssity micro- scopic in sire or they would not remain in suspension. As soon i s several drop lets collide and form a large drop the li quid settles out. Therefore, it is possi ble to dispel a true mist very readily by simoly stirring up the air--ventilation or dilution! Is unnecessary. Mist droplets can be filtered out by or dinary dust respirators--that is, the visi ble portion of a fog is easily removed by filtration--but the gaseous constituent may pass through the filter. If the mist happens to be corrosive to fabrics the re sultant effect upon a dust respirator is bad. Paint spraying generates a mist and a certain amount of vapor. Protec tion usually consists of an air-line res pirator but it is not at all uncommon to use cartridge respirators containing acti* vated charcoal and a filter. _ A gas contains no solid or liquid par ticles under ordinary atmospheric condi tions. T he filter units of any of t..e common makes of respirators are inef fective against gases. Respiratory P*o- tective equipment which catches gases i|. ways consists in some chemical agent which either absorbs, the gas or convent it into some other substance which cm be absorbed. Because one can rarely be sure oi the gas concentration to be en. countered it is common _practice in ex. pioring man holes, for instance, to use devices supplied with air or oxygen in order that the wearer may be safe, re gardless of the conditions he finds. The gas mask, however, and its outgrowth, the chemical cartridge respirator have i definite place in industry and are in wide use today. The U. S. Bureau of Mines has helped in the manufacture and use of respiratory protective equipment greatly by its issu ance of specifications for permissible equipment Their present schedules do not include the air-supplied respirators such as those used in paint .spraying or sand blasting but both the Bureau and the American Standards Association will issue such specifications presently,. Discussion following the address Mas based on these points: 1. W hat protection is provided aga:..st a dangerous accumulation of air pressure in the ordinary fresh air hose mask The helmet is not rigid. Air win leii. out long before a dangerous pressure ac cumulates. or a safety link. l)r '',d' G_ some types oi hose mask, will blow c-u 2 Would a protective mask appre. ea for lead dusts filter out zinc oxide. Yes. However, almost any type oi mask will filter out zinc .oxide, since these particles are easily trapped. 3. Wilt the simple lace mask filter out ordinarv smoke or will it absorb it? It is impossible to answer such a ques tion. There are as many types of ordinary masks as there are ordinary dusts. A mask must be purchased to fit a specinc need. This is not difficult, however, since all types are available. turi .veral .-.o th inn-reo c Uvee. 'O n : outsvaan that Sir W proie-t th ewr tarisivai cacicocriiuion inai' oirn-id pr'odi eye. "bis c^a'ancc . .* lottnt * a i e irci n ihe ite r ' `a. he ::nn Ve* adde tbicirte c tl tir'-encf (aciirc oi -Ci lheun fa:', .ac cictsieiy ce c*---oole*- u thi tetrv u/rcct Ir---. . .4 ir. ined er: -csearr-v- 'try br ccrr x z i shc"r *-.-^ -mcoct li e r. :cn ;r-n ; n r..r. ihs m :r. L Ir. Is--*' Glass U sed for the Protection of the E yes A gainst Injurious Radiation . By E. D. TILLY ER Sourhbridge, Mass, -e oqetr.ivrr ;a r.i TM v: 7.= hrr-i-a The effect of excess visible light on eve is immediately felt, if there is ::o rtiuchr airi-one except the dim gazers mediatclv turns away, closes die eyes ir seeks some kind of reliei. There ! a tendenev to use too dark glasses m we.litits. inherited from the days when r m ,he blackest glasses gave practically - i pre-lection from the insidious m " i - j ' radiations. A proper rule . a l-` ztr which gives good, immediately 'enable vision and insist that f*"'.'* i give protection against tite iitvt;n< < ninns. . , , :e ettects of the ultra-violet and j.'V i-red raciationSMisc. not as qutes.:- :ed as the visible! NYe cannot W* ,o said ir the S'isiblu, "get good iaieiv eomfortelll* vision" becaitfS ' -I.. '"Jtkcd effect of- the ultra-violet is&s) L- : m Safety Exchange i bound to be i sc in handling. which, in ell :nt to more thu be added to tbe General Round Table portance, fit the 'y among differ TH U RSD A Y A FT E R N O O N SESSION .'w ' foot should be the proper silt O c to b er 8, 1936 curate and tiaple can be obtained ;er who sella lie :er feet have difr r new shoes. W-. as a large alien, rs. hammers, and .sing shoes. This shoes other thu asionalljr hurt ftt. hardly to be t a number ol e iving an occasion! m t. jet fit the shoe (re* nek. the sure om VGs hTeh is" the ^ 0lul*re that are fitted * m ?e of shoe I' % under wh.ch " ^ >r eomposlt O' ^ Las, e?- hen w ort JJ fv ^ Q ia irm a n Smith: We will try w m - American In*11* - oi lh lt invest!- .1 Oak leather ^ f?\s iwer 11 the questions we can in the neers ^ ^ " t Doetors Williams -,sily w1he"h`er` ,eld* liiJrt bave. S Om question submitted is* andKlnfi of ^Columbia: U r. Spence and ^ perspiratw"; & ta&?Asiuming that the voltage is the same u t* both circuits, is a D. C. circuit n- . j.iiaeroui than an A. C. circuit Irom the in" Ur M kf'Vih-aUrraird-.lMo-liiiiec point-oi-view?" ^ ? n "our* study we were priTM*Vj*, Cc r. ` ?-U- P. Ferris (Beit Telephone L*aboriai- J ,h th t eitects of 1** 1 . t ;i *Jdse)i): Ahout ten years ago the Bell ,Le 6** , .^Tpelhepohnonee System entered into a COOP** !:-bTTe investiiration noi eUlercttrriiecal *sthl ock w .m ^ ' on the hear-., 1 " ^ 1 more wc (oUnd that t'r.e^current * . utenSityi* ;,,njficant in its er.ects than t '< :phanretni oi Physiology oi Columm voitaBe. ,,tvcurrent.be- "&>.. The-object-of this iiivcs?- A s w e r a i s e , h e ^ ^ ^ rea5llt5-u . _ wt to obtain iundamcnial intorma- ginning at a ollU where . *n that might serve as a basis lor d<- ' .th a hoc Wient ol beticr proteclive measures *' Vactices. 151 OC'OC < Safety Exchange : working cone gel unite j in much tavor. gentlemen. IS11 of the most im- v of you face, when we think ,ny mechanism, uisville eonvea- had there. Cer small pilot will ms and a book govern the im properly. Yoi s and you ha ve some speciil u special instroe* eadership of Vf? or' "'i the Wl j o put this ' -ta ve considered all the facts and my to you are thafithere shall not be more accidents, and I mean it"--when I:- " ' management takes that point of view, ` erv employee understands. It then bcA comes a duty of the plant organization. -iV-The foreman is the man who is closest to 'i'the men and Who should direct them in , vtelliaently. He Is the man who explains .<'--erything to the men. W hy should the 'Seen have to go to the bulletin board to iin d out what they should dor ,2 L t . E. Lightfoot (Koppers Coal Co., ^ P ittsb u rg h ): I don't think that you can r'ri'dtsregird any of these various means of -iwrettiiii information to the men. Personal ' `contict. of course, is the most important, i?.viad whether you have the giit of an i^eeito r or the giit for "button holing a StielW and telling him what you know, it '"`"doesn't seem to make a great deal of.dtf- '^faer.ce. You can't ditch one in place of ireulirt. but thii there is alwayt .ho has inAuen v be sc-.eone i* . "tav be a bIO<! .dent. - this ** tformatwe to t- at leaderihip level 'h l 1'"", meetir.it 1 !'. will do a real P . quef-im * * > -terdav. inf dtp: another. -In'' Some men have to be "button holed" to Mpet Ihe information across, and others are ,'v eared by oratory, if you wish to call it that. ' . At the same time bultetin boards and ( 'i, a n s of'that type have their place. It f n a broad subject and it Is a deep sub- jret, and you have to tackle it according to the type of men you have to deal with. ' f._. - * Many in this audience have entirely -P*.v.'di5erent types of men to deal with, but I v-.-,.wouldn't put up one method against the 7. Our thought is, "use them all-- ***** they applj-." ton W id tht; .. . I, . . Ch*aaifremtyanengAininesewr odroth:to e"oWr.-.hroalt dsuhsotulidn |-. .industry-- A fellow working on this platform acci dently fell backward and hit a piece of iron. He broke his neck and died within ten or fifteen minutes. That is why I would say all scaffolds should have guard rails. . Chairman Ainsworth: "When should brakemcn ride or when should they not ride on switch engines used in yards to move cars?" Mr. Hanko: No, as far as the yard crew is concerned; they don t have any right in the engines. T hat is why we have foot boards on the wings. Only the firemen and the engineers are permitted in the cabs. Chairman Ainsworth: "Is there any efficient way to safeguard a guillotine paper cutter?" Mr. Royer: I have had this problem a number of times, and I don't know the answer to it. Practical printers and paper cutters will assure you that if you have a reliable non-repeat clutch, so that the knife will not descend when the work man's hand is under it. and then if you pull down your holding bar or a similar mechanism with your foot, you can t have amputation. The high speed jobs, where the bar and the knife descend under power, are protected by two-handed de vices. and l should say that they are rea sonably safe. The guillotine paper cutter that causes me to worry is the old timer. The clutches may repeat and they are not equipped with two-handed devices, and 1 certainly wouldn't like to put my hands under the kniie. 1 was hoping that some V*1. ' ' uut .*C SSi*. me vi" ........................... --- . . . . tional device that had to be reteased with r-' . or ' Wl>and then forgotten. v j*:.wvtnann -AAli:nsworth: "ihould all one hand. On the electrical or the more modern devices these are buttons and rails;f."fpaidlcjc of the:: Die, have connected in scries so that the operator V vi!"4` W*. HHankn (Pittsburgh ite c i Co.. must manipulate two dincrent pctr.ts. 1 '* 'had1' . i,l: f 'lc expcr:;r.ce that I y." make mo say -yes''. Some Mr. Royer: la it true that you cannot have an injerry when the holding bar is 1 '~aV;"m 4<f had 1 piatii,-;;', used as down on the slocx: The printers say {ail some two foot from the ground. that is impossible. Oo you know wacther ". " .VJ . I Giemical Section .vliiclt takes the |Ci mity safety will ivorably in the pub'fj e an even greater The naimcnancc . cordial relations and industry is an , he success of the .hat the plans fer th : will he developed j R1< nber-inlerest g ro w /, course, will be able ic mi of program is ht.t The Association wiii ; the program and v.f.| itise through which tin ige ideas and discsis :ig. the program. yecs' families, to sclnv.1 to the public at targe, wev !s strictly of an an further care it is referred lo Ids fair- .chigh Portland Cement 'a,, said that his "tes upon the men d;r safety news to thetr nployecs who drive w n driving carelessly 1:1 is. caution signs writ n an employee violate* tions, he is called i';> .tatter is discussed wim Officers 193S-36 Chairman--A. L Armstrong, Eastman Kodak Co.. Rochester, N. Y. % t.a w in m i in Charge of Program -H. L. Mis sa. E. I. duPom dc Nemours i Co., I'.Vcic/ieiniioii ill'1Charge of Engineering--Raimi L. Rogers, Jr.. Tennessee Eastman Corn., Kingsport, Tenn. , secretary--Ralmi O. Keeker, Aluminum Company of America. Pittsburgh, Pa. Letter Edilor-E. L. Root, Celluloid Corporation, Newark. N. J. Jfinbcrt/ii/' and Publicity Commiite.^CIwirman-S. D. KirkkAtrick. atcmtcal and Metal *lureic?) Engineering >.'w York. N. v c .Oeenfalianal Disease Committee Chiiinnan-- Dr. Leonard Greexbcro, New York ,,tate Dcoartmcm oi Labor. New York. N. V. . jlalistirs Committee Chair,nan-R. C. Stratton, The Travelers Insurance Co.. Harttord. . Conn. ifemhers at Large-- ................ _ vv F. E. Clancy, Jr.. Malinesen Alkali Works. Inc.. Niagara Falls. X. Y. F. W. Dek-xis, Hooker Electrochemical Co.. Niagara Fa is. Mra V. Kepxer. Pennsylvania Salt Manutactunnff Co., Menominee, .Mien. * .. E. F. Kixc, Lever Brothers C~ Cambridge Mass- , . . H. P. Lewis,. E. I. duPont do .Nemours & C a. Wilmington. Del. Toux Roach, Deputy Commissioner o( Labor, Trenton. N. J. C E. Sevens, Merrimac Chemical Co.. lue* Boston. Mass. John S. Shaw. Hercules Powder Co., Wilmington, Del. Plummer W'limsR. American Cyannintd Co.. Lnucn. N. i. S. E. WniTtNc, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.. Boston, Man. ... Officers Elected for 1936-37 Cot,-ref Chairman--H. L. Mixer. E. I. duPom de Nemours Si Co ^ i'TMin| ' 0"m cl^ orp I n-ChoiruHm in Charge of Progra,ii- R alpii L. Rogers, Jr-. Tennessee Eastman Uorp.. Charge of Engineering-}. J. B. Fo-ENWlosa, Hercules Powder Co., MSfrrsui'yliiLpH 0 . Kerfer, Aluminum Company of America. v v Letter Editor--V. \V. Dennis. Hooker Electrochemical L.O.. Niagara ITjUls, A. :i. -fjarl'm/it/! and Publicity Committee Chairman-- C. E. bEvnexs. ..ernmac Chcmic 1 . :')''!'aCnual''b\lease Cmmniltee Chairman--Dn. Leonard GleeNburc. New York state /WtmcRt of Lab-.r. '"rr ntjur.iiifr C * Xcw *K York. N. V . l.. Root. Celluloiidd CCor,rmpoorarla..l . Newark. X. J . '"iMii't Commit!re vVi.iiVn.M--U. C. Stkatt*n\ The Trave.! ' oi*.. * fi?.....' 0000G U \ y J. i o f f * -# y-m *.'& M j 226 Twenty-fifth National Safety Congress chemical workers, handed down irom ihc agb when chemical leaks and drips were frequent. 61 The chemical operator should realise that the control features on all chemical equipment are there not only for operat ing purposes, but. In most cases, for safety! and in the event that any pressure or vacuum, gag*, thermometer, or what not indicates abnormal change or a had condition, tie should take steps Immediate ly to rectify the condition as specified by his superior, usually hy reporting the con dition promptly. However, there arc emergencies when he must safeguard the situation before reporting. It is takcu for granted that these emergency'conditions are provided for in his training. It ,s im possible to do more than generalize on this without the danger of misunderstand ing. " 7. While "a little knowledge is a dan gerous thing," the tnorc the worker knows about the reasons for following prescribed methods, the Letter worker he is. He should acquaint himself with the reasons, and, if possitit. he famjliar with the sim ple chemistry Mid physics of his job, and not lie afraid to ask questions: hut lie should never emeriment without the ad vice oi proper -.uthorUy. Chemical control should not be treated lightly. Any :i:angcs to be made in the chemical prcceis should take place only after the careful consideration and direc tion of those competent to make stick changes. 8, When leaving his work, or outlin. tng his duties to another at the termina tion of his shift, the chemical wocktr should fully familiarize his successor with the condition of the equipment and the. status of the chemicals in process. This should he in writing in a log book of op. eratious. By no means should he leave any questionable condition whereby his fellow worker may meet with a mishap. It is his full responsibility to live up to this and to consider it as sacred as any thing in life. The slightest deviation from this practice, whether deliberate or other wise, has meant disaster to chemical workers and monetary loss to plant owners. 9, Tile chemical plant is no place for monkey business or horseplay. It must he remembered that the practical joker in chemical work may lie a potential killer, t I have known chemical workers deliber ately to plug condensers ill order to see if their fellow workers could quickly dis cover and locate the trouble. Such meth ods should not he resorted to, even with only water in '.lie equipment. 10, The chemical worker should thor oughly appreciate the fact that iaiety sacred, that the safest method is generally (lie best method, and that the best method always embraces the safest way. W EDN ESDA Y M ORNING SESSION O ctober 7, 1936 Employers' Added Liability Under New Occupational Diseas Laws in New York ' By J. W. NEW TON Compensa-.ion and Claims Departments, Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N. The N'ew Y*r.:k Stale Workmen's Com- pensatimi La ,v. adopted in 1014, covered only accidenti injuries arising out] ` in the course \.i employment, anJ . discar-.cs or i:' Actions n;t tim<ht ill l- nod tmavoid*';.`y result therefrom, Occupational diseases arc not aC.^c|(ie<l injuries and '.vere, therefore, not * roui* in the cover:- of tli^N^orkm eti * petiAfttniV L a \ `. ** ` V " i i j ib< In 192(1 i!ic Legislature ...tioiiv law to include 21 specified, occur diseases, arii-*'* of certain h processes. I'1 n-is amended. or p ro c e s s > number of di> (iw stood at o statement to to medical sac traceable to. * arise out of. included in th Act. with th- similar duit *h The annual cases under O' the state wa- being added t one per cent \ roll, and in a hazard wa.* not in eKcc.-b * of payroll. '1* State of New .cent of the A few vcur> in this countr led in the death of c:m* lions havine * tarly granite | A seriou? | many indu.tr that another catted *'allitu bill was actsw and took cua Under this were: Would ease" be con i elude any di>' \ iS the em\d. ' n occupation . dude the con . kt fever, or How would !' , Pfct the law Pretcd to itu*! ; only disease.' ' nature of an , v;hieh the lu dly. exist, ih l occupation increnn- ; `*vv to any i . frcient co>t. ' dust. May . 00003i  / i 1V lici, "f tl,. * ``Tltsijii. I worker i f\tir with i nu* th* .... Tim ,'tU ui op* <l fili li\c t ,rrrUy |;J$ * J<U\luji. li /n U|l to .'4 as any. . 'iftioti (;om i. t.r uthtr. i liiiim.il in |>lan; . |,Lce fr.r , ll mutt il.al joker . potential , ; > ilelilicr,,l< r W Me pi. My <l!s- PlCtll. i onn with ,, ,,| thor.1 safety .. generally method ; /disease !' v ,i el'icnl*^ ;. eld{i ' , / i Com* .. ..-i-si'*!:0^s Chemical Section 227 arising out ci ami in the course designated employments or " " . from time to time the law " i0C-mended. increasing the occupations o'1* __ , covered and increasing the o-' u .r oi diseases covered to 27 as the "'"rood at the end oi 1034.. It is a fair s" "rent to say that every disease known ' ' 'medical science, which could be directly '* cable to. or was,'definitely known to aitii*udoeud.t oi. a process oi employment was .in the_ tWi o*rkAmneni 'ns eCnomt peetnlsa/titon U\ciei with the exception oi silicosis and jmilar dust diseases. / TPe annual cost lor occupational dis under that law- to the employers of ,. Mate Was comparatively small, there added to premiums in most cases .--.c per cent per hundred dollars oi p iv iali and in a few industries, where the hazard was greater, a cost varying but -i0t in excess of SI .00 per Itundrcd dollars navrolL The totai average cost in the State'oi S'ew York was not over 1 per cent of the total premium, , A few vears ago the medical profession r. this country became particularly Inter ested in the causes c i the disability and death oi employees engaged in occupa tions having a silica oust hazard, partirti-, larly granite and foundry workers. A serious problem was presented to many industries In the state by the fact that another piece of legislation, the so- ealled "all-inclusivc" occupational disease 'will was actually put ott the statute books and took effect September l, 1933. Under this law some of the problems vere: Would the term "occupational dis ase" be construed by the courts to in clude any disease which might arise dur ing the employee's employment? Would 4n occupational disease under the law In clude the common cold, pneumonia, scar let fever, or any communicable disease: How would the courts of this state inter pret the law? If the law were inter preted to include as occupational diseases, only diseases peculiar and incident to the ture oi an occupation or process in `''Hich the hazards oi such diseases actu- liy exist, then it was thought the cost 't occupational disease coverage should "Mincrease by virtue of this all-inclusive to any considerable extent overwrite resent cost, except f.`r silicosis and sinti- ` r 'lust diseases. On M -y si o.is. Industrial Cuir.nii.*- .otter Andrews Issued a statement rela tive to the probable elfect and cost of the all-inclusive occupational disease bill which became effective September 1, 1933. In this statement, the Commissioner said that the experience itt New York Stale and in states having an all-inclusive occu pational disease law, indicated that the new amendment would add less than 2 per cent and perhaps less than 1 per cent to the insurance eost of workmen's com pensation insurance in New York State. It is my understanding, however, that the Commissioner did not mean to in clude in this estimate of 1 per cent and 2 per cent, the cost of silicosis and other dust diseases, b u t'th a t the Commissioner referred to diseases brought under the act, other than dust diseases. But whatever he meant the amendment has not been in operation long enough for an accurate accounting to be made as to the actual Increase in cost of occu pational disease compensation. When employers examined this amend ment making alt occupational diseases compensatable, the first feeling was one of alarm, and the insurance companies, apprehensive almost to the point of panic, added to this alarm by cancelling cover age on certain plants, and notifying others that their premiums would be drastically increased- When, however, the new silicosis and dust disease law (which will be described itf a moment) was enacted after a great number oi con ferences among employers, insurance companies, the Department of Labor, and employees, the general alarm greatly sub tided. Another important cause of the subsidence of this alarm was the pro nouncement oi the Industrial Commis sioner that it was not proposed to bring under the occupational disease classifica tion every illness or disease suffered by an employee. _ To be compensatable, he said in effect, a disease m ust be shown to be a real occupational disease of a type peculiar to and caused by the oeeupation in which `.he worker was engaged. If the Com missioner's interpretation Is sustained by the courts there may he some justifica tion tor this occupational disease amend ment since an ftrciiunhnnal disease SO de nned :'i gencrallflSSFreifult of oondizintts, Impot'fl on liimSKfi^is-fetni'loycr, eoj^diIons over wliic(^08r)jijjs no contrnl.'yfiml. 00003 i' ' v.'>f -S ' - t V*, ; : : ''S'-! -A$ : iSji - *ii* am i :.:",,al;sk5isz -v - ifi-* - * f.*>.1 isr M K !' M s;'1 $Sgl\ I wenty-flftfi ** ::\>ual Stiicty Congres from which he cannot escape, except ;y leaving his job, The employer, thcrei.-re, it may be agreed, should be solely :. sponsible for most of such occupational diseases, and in all justice should accept the responsibility (or injuries sustained. The more one studies this occupational disease amendment, in the light oi the Commissioner's pronouncement, the mere difficult it becomes to find any real occu pational; disease that has been added to compen'satability under the Workmen's Compensation Latv other than silicosis and other dust diseases. Before this amendment there were in the statute 27 named diseases coupled with descriptions oi processes, and it seems probable that the only real occupational diseases added by the amendment are silicosis and other dust diseases. Undoubtedly in time, be cause of newly discovered processes and hazards in industry there will he addi tional occupational diseases discovered that are not represented in the twentyseven scheduled diseases, and these new diseases will automatically be brought un der the law by the amendment covering all occupational diseases! Following the adoption of this inclusive amendment a new silicosis and . dust disease bill 'was introduced in ilte State Legislature in 1936, and was fina";.enacted June 6. 1936. This bill was in troduced primarily at the behest of the employers oi the State because they in : strongly that the inclusion of silicosis and other dust diseases in the all-inclusive amendment placed an undue burden up :r. industries particularly subjected to `.'m dust hazard. The reasoning was that the dimculties attendant upon the corr<.:: diagnosis of these dust diseases would open the way for numerous doubt:-:! claims unless some extra requirements' were placed upon physical examination-. and special limitations put upon the amount of compensation payable for the various stages of these diseases. The hill as anally enacted is known as Art:<-'.i a of the Workmen's Compensation Lave, and section 322a of the Labor Law. The first paragraph of the Act is s declaration of policy and reads as follow;: "it is hereby declared to lie the policy : :he legislature of this state, in enacting this article to prohibit through every law ful means available, any requirement a a prerequisite to employment which com pels an applicant for employment in in occupation coming within the preview s this article to undergo a medical cximi- nation." This measure was included ov-- the strong objections of many employe^ in tiie state who felt that any such pro vision was a step backward in the use o' medical science in industry and if fop lowed out would be in the long run detriment to employee and emplovtr alike. T he declaration remained in the bill in spite of these objections. The Act itself provides that no comptn- sation is payable, for partial disabilitv. due'to silicosis or other dust diseases. For temporary or permanent total dii- ahility or ior death from silicosis or other dust disease, if disablement or death occur during the first calendar month in which this act became effective, S500 is payable: if disablement or death occur in the sec ond month $330 and for each month thereafter the payment shall increase at the rate of $5(1 per month, but in no event shall payment exceed an aggregate oi $3.000, . Medical treatment and care arc pro vided for a period of 90 days from date of disablement and may be extended for an additional period of 90 days upon order of the Board. The liability prescribed is in lieu or any other liability whatever. If death occurs and there are depend ents, the benefits will be the difference between, what lias been paid and $3,1-.but never more than $3.000. It there no dependents, payments cease, nothin..' to be paid into special funds as In the case of accidental death from other cos- pcnsatable causes. If, for example, total disability com menced ill August, 1936, that j?. lhrr; months after the law became affective-payment of $650 would be made. J' : then compensation at two-thirds oi wift* as long as the disability lasts, hut 1,01 excess oi $3,000. Where the last exposure was September 1. 1935 and the date this * became effective, a claim is barred `3 filed within ISO days from the day 1 " law became effective. An cinpjlwpw^shiill be liable i*'r ^ 1 . peusation fcwien disability' result# " one year fiScr" the last exposure: Jl'* .' vase of (qjglUr.is liable If death re within in c y disability. The employe employee was (or compensati o( compensate employees. New, I am s in regard to th laws on the c. take a look at fore the all-inc effective, and w cai industry is occupational di: poisoning and o suiting tram coi cury, phosphor benzol and its phide. and any nickel carbonyl nitrate and acet. preparations, c! mineral oil, par; these substance phuric, hydro-c. acids, petroleum dermatitis from and oils. Out c 13 belong in the In my opinion, practically every ease in the chcni Gas Detec Defic Chic Dtrectc . M erest in pul *rni explosions diseases froi demanded the e 1cctors, indicator tHat arc su ** tta industrial and vapoi ^ to r y procct --Athe, delicate, O) Vr,b?Wt'udnelecfol'r"i Iployincni ,, , |U. '.in the preview i a medical exan:;. was included e1-J r many employ^ iliat any such pro. ward in the u<e Q: .iustry and if f,,|. in the long run a ee and employer u remained in 'iht ijeetions. ics that no compc',1. r partial disability, or dust diseases, ermanent total <J:sm silicosis or other .lent or death occur .ar month in which ve, $500 is payable; h occur in the secd for each month ;t shall increase at nth,' but in no event i an aggregate of, and care arc pro* .i 90 days from date may extended for I 0 days upon crilicd is in lieu ol atever. ' 1 there are depend i! be the differem'f cn paid and $J.0w fj,000. If there h< jnts cease, noihtnv :al funds as in .tii front other tore- otai disability cent1956, that is. hecame affeetivs. - mild be made, w two-thirds of "acelity lasts, hut no: .osurc was bo`.vvtcf'1 id the date tin* ; aim is barred . from the d3.1' . be liable ,Vr. . iiility results . "* * . ,le i; drain ' Chemical Section jillilll live years iVlowm eonimsious ^Thc einplover in whose employment the ^loyce was bs. exposed shall be liable I.- conipcnsadon. There is no splitting \ i cuinpensatien between two or more ,-itWccs. ,, Vow I am suppos'd to say something ' itWard to the efieet of these two new tw o the chemical industry. Let us :nh a look at the statute as it stood beIwe the all-inclusive amendment became ' Mitclive. and we will find that the chemi ni Industry if welj taken care ot. In the ,,cupatio.ial disease section are included boning and other deleterious effects re eling from contact w.th lead. zinc. mer-Hfy, phosphorus. arsenic, wood alcohol, lyntol and its derivatives, carbon bisul fid e , and any sulphide, nitrons fumes, iwktl carbonyl, solvents for cellulose ''..Urate and acetate, formaldehyde and its 'Reparations) chrorn:c acid, tar. pitch. Vpiincral oil, paraffin or any compound of .' these substances, methyl chloride sul : |.liuric, livdro-chlorie and hydro-liuoric Kids, petroleum products and their fumes. ; dermatitis from handling acids, alkalies '.and oiti. Out of 27 processes described >18 belong In the chemical industry. ." "la my opinion, based upon the fact that ..Wtctically every known occupational dis>'se In the elieinica'. field was specifically covered 1. the Xcw York law prim i.. the adopt i''11 oi tl,e ,wo mciulm. i u . which I luiv*t described, and assuming th-u Commissi''* Andrews' definition^ "occupational disease under the all Inclusive"'amendment is sustained by tin-, courts, tlirr.1 Will not be any great m crease in <miipcnsation costs to eiiuuii. nl manufacltii'-rs on account of these iw,. amendments, other than nithOM m. " tries which are definitely subject to a ilu hazard. T licoretically, I think this i. true but m closing I want to point mu that* them i ' no assurance whatever tli.u the refere-s who conduct the hearing m the courts will strictly and uniformly nply Mr A'l'lfcws' conception, since tlii-i. Is. no definition of "occnpational dlsv.ii.v' in the ftai'itc- Jdgin.g by leiideneic m the past 'here will be a strong ami su. tained eff'/ct made to have the phrase terureted more liberally In the nitm-M of the cli'im3llls* al,d '< `I" 5UCC<:s<Is' lUl` "all-incl.ifi-'t" amendment may open th.- door to all sorts of cb!ras wh,' h , nd true r'!`iun t0 ,llc bgiws ,e burden, of n d u .tr/- In sucl> ' ve,u ,lle 'dustTM mav be forced Into the role oM ieahh insurers t " `H<* employecs and the rm . of the cr'dnoycrs of New kork Stnti .i. to the tr'i/iendous expense to be plaviv, UDOII inrl -ftries, chemical Mid othcrwiw liv this .'''Jtc. would be realized. Gas Detectors for Determ ination of K.'ammabilitj', Oxygen Deficiency and' T oxicity in R oom s and Vessels By . E. W. GILLILAND Chief Chemist, Mine Safety Appliances C.. Pittsburgh, "... WILLIAM P. YAtrr .. .' Director a: Research, Mine Safety Appliar,/.** Co., Pittsburga. . iJ^West in public and industrial safety capiosinu* and occupational injuries 'eases from gases and vapors has . ,'1. '"I the development o: pas de- ^V ;,.^'liraliirs- and analysing cqttip; ,'f _-tJt arc sukii.lc for use a: the site .mdtwirial >:;-iatioits in which the , ; v;,l"ir> '.:ctir. T he ordinary . . ' r tiroee.|e.-.j ,,rc usually cumber- v P'-.-able only in the bands . ' t-vliiiir:!..-i. and require coiuid- f-vr -' lug cieter::-.:r.r.-.iji*.s. a Ml:<;,:.!c device for most field si tions it. bc readily r.ojtable, niggw easlfv ir a ;.-itaincd in condition for usv, n- li'ablc y ruble by the personnel at h.p,, to giv' e tion, quired .' tion. i resuli. avoid '! tins wr.r rapid 1 iults and the desired inform , the accuracy and sensitivity i .' the situation under investi.- , many uses, it is required i- obtained tiirewi.s n ordvr oloug ha-u . uji; a)t to .tv ,.. ',* coutauv 00008 eUmil.o(ic; S--;vj.il'c"m11 0 j. hM ioESd ^ : rt Construction Section l,tr3r' - .nd in ..(ion l,, *<; Com, N`Nn*vvi 2'-.epical Outlet,-!, .lienor* ,/w Aircraft, >, i. *. 0It.. 1Jvr/rsoprii*, In*rY aj.;a v*ynKolvtUcc,r,cr aw. AUfa itarei? Vi l Mi .I'b'*mt*K fr uni EC.ar\sVs.rrManocnio*x.idel&i t|, Vr,!, t* p. 236, Ittt. *'i., .' Continaoui rate, /ctorjr Mutual O' Kcr-.rt .Vo, 975r, ' J. V,\ j>*ui I#t c *'. i.^rnu of Min np iv-uble for He::Vr , :` , n. Hooker, n. Ae./er*. Dureiu cl I ilifci i-f Detcctiuc r At*iie and *. linrea" Mine TP- Carhnn Monoxide 1 llurreil. J|. Seibert, Hureaa r.l Mi TP* .U'atreiaff Mice iml |g aioios* tcm. U. \ Vim, F. A. 'i'Jja' B"' v Stirva; 1- : , Utility ivji.St. /. Officers 1935-36 r,turret Chairman-- W. A. S.VOW, Associated General Contractors o( America. Inc. 1329 "E" Street. X. .'.V,, Washington, D. C. pite-Chairmau Jr Heazy Ccuslrnaicn and Railroad Contractor]--R. J. Rugeiuth. C. W'. Blakcslcc & Sons, ;S u'avcrly Si., New Haven. Conn. " ce.-Chairman for Hipineay Construction-- F. I. Rowe, W. L, Johnson Construction Co Hicksville, Ohio. ^ {'ct-Chairmit {or V. S.^Exoiiirer Dehcrtment--Major Eixiott Vaxdev-a;cte2. C. ot E., Office ot the Ottet ot Engineers. Washington, D. C, `({Chairman {or Building Constrncticn--Chester \V. Wright, Wright & Kretuers. Inc., Niagara Falls, X. V, Secretary--Ro.iert McKinlev, General Accident Fire 5: Life Assurance Cerp.. Detroit, ' Mich. ArVtw Letter Editor--G. 0 . Gam-i.v. Dravo Corp., Neville Island, Pittsburgh. ?a. Engineering Committee Chairman--E. X. Goldstine. San Francisco, Calif. ilemhersliig Committee Chairman--7 HoMAS Bextley, The A. tientlev & Sons Co.. Toledo Ohio. ` 1 Coitcr Committee Chairman--R. A., .vow, Carolina Power & Light Co., Raleigh. X. C. procram Committee Ci:airm;ti--V . J?. A iiearx, National Sand & Gravel Asia.. Munscy Bldg, Washington, D. C. . Publicity Committee Chairman--W, P. Co.VN, Editor, "The Constructor," Washington, D. C. Statistics Committee Chairman--C, K. Black, Stone & Webster Engineering C-sr?.. Boston, Mass. PiJit General Chointwi:-- JJ\ F. Austin-, Detroit. Midi. ' E, X. Goldstine. San Francisco Calif. John- Rujsku. Jr.., Public Service Electric & Gas Co., Newark, X. J. Officers Elected for 1936-37 General ( /iu;n/j(;ii--\ \ , A. S.vow, Associated General Contractors of America. in^un. D. C. Wash- I lee-Chittnuait /,, H eavy Cunstruxii --7s. J. RekiKLUTH, C. \V. Blakcsl U r. -n?. Xew a hi, (..mi, . .. _ . ^ urntttn fi? fli^ iv a y Cons:ru.:/,<?--F. I, Uowr, \V. L Jolmsou Cor.i'.rvction Co., ftWKsnlJc. Oliio. 'Lha!rni.m f.'r < .`7. /:: Hii'iif--M.\ mu F lliott VAN'iiEvaxT:-.:* C. ot JKv o< the t hiri a: 1!Y^tnccr*'. V.'.'i'iiimrtoii. D. C. t*;ara f-.ills, X. Y. `t , tv W. 1 <U\: T''.; .sL\'i`iv:i:, Fir.- ! A.'.*;:r:i5iec i."- ' r-.t: fcH 2-H : I ; .. 0 0 0 0 . 3 'I : ..... w j I-i. t-vcS fl i: : ; ' ,-i V "'vs" v S ' *1'.-3 lli&f, f SVJ 'liW i*? m r w /' . -* 'i?4' n tfi * iW #i 244 Twenty-fifth National Safety.Congress ternlly improve accident records in the construction industry- is that, which other inidmuusstirnies nhave bueen using lfor so long., accident record. . . maintenance of'plant a conm leu'm ed^l p--r-o--g-r-a--m- and th ep orinrinci.o,onP le..t.e me.dicwall ! Ipust D iseases A s T hey A ffect th e C onstruction In d u stry 1 By A. J. LANZA, M. D. . Assistant .Medical Director, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York City With a possible single exception, there Is but one dust disease and one dust causing that disease with which the con struction industry is concerned. The disease is silicosis and the dust causing it is dust containing free silica (SiO,). Dusts containing silica in combined form have not been shown to cause disability or disease, with the exception of asbes- tos which u a silicate. The outstanding facts witn regard to siiicosts have often been detailed and will be only bnefty summarized here. The dust must be in a fine state of subdtvt- sion to reach the lungs. The particles which do the damage are less than ten microns in diameter. In this country, the amount of dust in the air at any loca tion is determined by the standard meth od elaborated by the Cr.itcd States Bureau of Mines and the Caked States Public Health Service, using the im pinger. the results being expressed in minions of particles per cubic foot. In ordcr to estimate the hazard, tve must know the number of particles and the percentage of silica, because a dust containing 100 per cent pure silica would be more harmful than one'containing SO per cent silica. When we know the amoun: of dust in terms of averages--the amount of sil ica. and the extent of expoicre. we are in a position to evaluate the `seriousness of the hazard. We know tha; silicosis is a chronic disease, taking usually years to develop, and as we see it :r. American industries, causing little or r.o disability unless there is superimposed upon it an infection. This infection is most often tuberculosis, to which the individual with silica damaged lungs is very <usceptibte. The tore severe the silica -iamage, the more apt tuberculosis is to develop. W e do not as yet have permissable or safe standards of dustiness. There is such an extremely wide variation of in. dustrial processes and environmental fac tors that any elaborate system of standards would be impracticable! but a simple workable standard is hichlv desirable There is a rough standard, which is based largely on the work of the Public Health Sendee of ten million particles of dust per cubic foot. This is a convenient Urget to shoot at when dust control meas- ures are undertaken in an industrial plant, That is not to say, however that s threshold of ten million particles of a highly siliceous dust is safe. This stand- ard was based oil exposure to granite dust, containing about 35 per cent pure silica. The construction sectiou of this Con gress embraces many types of Industry and i multitude of processes. It is not pr.acticable, the-r-e-f--o-r-e-, --to .p.r..e.s.e..n..t ,,a vcwom,,,*- P et* sfbente of all the hazards in these industries. We can, however, attain our " ,ecr in * sufficiently satisfactory man- n ir By considering first, materials, and fecnd. the processes in which these ina. terials are used. The construction tndus* try uses enormous amounts of certain well known materials, Lime, gypsum, cement, sand, occur to everyone's mind when you mention construction. Many of these substances arc used in processes which involve considerable amounts of dust, wherein lies the possihilitv of a health hazard. ' ; There is *lio silicosis without silica-- tree .*:!ica. So right oft, the tnaitufac- - surer or company has the fir.*: c.ear-cut ffite:''ot the potejrriel-harnmd;.- ness oi which may be causing coneern $jrm ?>or his cmplovecs. Doci OCC0 -r.ti'i *ty ~IZT7 * Of iil in is* c .nd:np:4s 'ibiic; asced jiitth Im an* 'auu. .t -J' si 'A anu;nhte u:re -om:$try * runt oinv he u*air :*,aw amd ina* dusrriann <uim. tiirnd iamy S * >r a ca--r .u'uu:nrrit iifuil:#iir Jou. Construction Section cent*11 silica in appreciable lished industries. Where a tunnel is be ing constructed in a highly silicious rock, tlie dust hazard looms very large. ^ V h at is *n appreciable amount? Prob- It is similar to hard rock mining and M y in excess of 5 per cent'-, At least. Ast is well on the conservative .side. everything conspires to make the con trol of dust difficult. It is interesting to Von-silicioiis dusts may be a nuisance ?[ note that tunnel work in various parts of a annoyance to employees or .to neigh the world has been followed by similar Lring communities, but they are not experiences. concerned with silicosis. If the employer The report of the Director General of Joes not know whether a dust to which Public Health for Mew South Wales in employees are exposed contains silica Australia. 1924. details an investigation _ .h jt s the first thing for him to deter concerning ventilation and sandstone dust mine. Should he find that the dust does present in the air of certain sewer tunnels contain free jiliea. in a determined per- in Sidney, Apparently there was an ex "n u g e . then the next step is to ascer cessive amount of silicosis and tubercu tain the amount of such dust present in losis among these tunnel workers. the air where his employees work. A report of the South African Institute We are frequently asked whether dust for Medical Research, April, 1935, details arising from gypsum, cement, lime, a severe silicosis hazard among sewer marble, talc, rock wool, mineral wool tunnel workers in South Africa. and manv other substances, may cause We are justified in concluding that tun silicosis. We say to the inquirer. \ o u nel work calls for extraordinary precau know the materials' you are w-orking- tions for safety and health with a super with. Do they contain free silica. ^ He vision of the health of tunnel workers may reply, "Mo." er "Only a trace. The comparable to that followed in other in conclusion then is obvious. There is no dustries. 'Grinding or pulverizing sand, eilicosis hazard. . . . . . . gravel, and other highly silicious materi The tvpe of process m which the dust als are processes that need very careful is generated is of great practical import control and supervision. . ance. If the process is conducted in a The control oi the dust hazard is an confined place, with poor ventilation, it engineering problem and in the main de is apparent that the hazard is much more pends on an effort to entrap the dust at dangerous than ii it were in the open air, its point of origin by using watei\ or because in the confined place, the work suction exhaust systems, or both, vl ncc man gels a much bigger dose of silica. , the dust is in the air, reliance is placed Recently I saw some X-ray films of upon further use of water, and o r dilu brick masons. These masons handled tion of the silica dust by increased ven only fire bricks--made from a highly tilation and oh protecting the individual silicious material - and they were em by a suitable mask or respirator. The ployed in lining kilns and furnaces. Vnited States Eureau of Mines now cer Their films show*-} well developed sili tifies respirators that are saie for silica cosis, Their job c:nsisted in breaking up dust. The use of respirators should be the worn-out linen? in furnaces and build restricted to exposures which are inter ing new ones. They were continuously mittent or temporary. . exposed to a highly silicious dust in a Where ventilation equipment designed very close, confined place. The same to remove dust from the- air is installed, material could ;robably be handled in its efficiency should be checked from tune other types of rtnstruction work with to time by dust counts, using the stand little or no hazard. ard impiiiRcr method. As with other Tile mention :i close and confined protective devices, there is always danger places firings mind tunnels, about that this sort of apparatus becomes which there lias recently been much agi greatly impaired or useless because ot tation. Without going into details con failure to maintain it properly. cerning this su:.;ect. the lesson to be I mentioned an^xception to the state learned is clear. The digging of a tun- inent that only fiS gatK ? dust will pro ' del is not a permanent undertaking in any locality but *.r.c work should be safe rmiuiceee tdmiswea^saec uoif wP.Mfefcju?.n, fe1- .ThivrfXt-C..r tion is ashcstosJ.'Ptnafenesiimi silicate guarded as in more permanently cstnb- OOQq 2-46 Twenty-fifth National Safety Congress . The inhalation of asbestos dust produces i condition of the lungs similar to sili cosis. The pathology is quite different and the appearance on X-ray films is distinct from silicosis. Asbestosis ap parently does not predispose to tubercuIpsis and in this country has not been shown to cause much disability, though a few deaths have been recorded. In the manufacture of construction material, as bestos is usually combined with other ' substances which, by reducing t h e amount of asbestos in the dust, tend to mitigate the hazard. A matter of great concern to the em ployer is w hat disposition to make at a t e s of silicosis among his employees. If active tuberculosis is present, it is to the interest of the individual and his fel low workmen that he be removed from his occupation and given proper care, if infection is not present, there wilt be little or no disability and the employer should I protect the individual from further (a. \ posurc through methods suitable to the , situation involved. The important item to remember is the nature oi the material and the process in which it is employed. Consideration of these two items will enable the employer to ascertain whether a silica hazard i s , present and to act accordingly. Again ' ? let me emphasize that where workmen are exposed to a highly silieious dust in confined places, the situation is extreme ly 'serious and calls for energetic and comprehensive measures of control led continued medical supervision of the men. Dust samples should be taken frequently and the men should be examined fre quently so that serious disease will not occur. , Physical Examinations of Construction Employees on Public Works Programs QZ oae .ff* 7 -:r* "JO z: *.* C -t V Urrt nm a Cr.t `-cr Ir C'z t >icr. . 0 - t Hii win ' O zt -vin wit: C--c wit: b:t: rd ' One ? an;: >; tz-7 7w ; um jr.T ti:t vor::: r . a : : hv4 bactrai* c=T=r-ei'h-' cr. r.-run Citv.r :rr By L. M. DEARDORF . t Superintendent of Construction, W. L. Johnson Construction Company, Hicksvrlle, 0 . If ttere ever was a tme when em ployees on rublic W orks projects should be given physical examinations before per mitting their names on the payroll. It is now. Any .contractor who secures a Public Works project with the Highways. PWA. the 1_". S. Engineers, or any of the other department of the Federal Government is required, as a part of the labor regula tions. to submit a requisition for his em ployees to the National Reemployment Service. The National Reemployment Service is dominated by tTte W PA or ganization to the extent that all semi- -killcd and common labor arc furnished only front relief lists. In the majority of eases those unfortunate individuals who ire still on relict arc.there only by reason of a mental or physical deficiency. They have done very little work during the past live f.r MX years and are pretty thorough!;.' demoralized mentally; physt- call}' they have permitted their bodies to be run down about like an old paver that has beer. Handing alongside the road for a corresponding period of years. Our procedure in carrying out physical examinations for our employees is as fol- , lows; The contract having been award ed, and the superintendent assigned to the project, one of his first important preliminary instructions is to talk to the doctors ir. the vicinity of the project and explain them the problem which we "face ir. ecuring competent .physicallyable workmen. It the M. D. shows any sympathy in our problems and troubles, we itcgc rate for mass examination of the employees. The price paid for the exam ination :* fromSi.OO to id.30. The r.r.dlp'pyiiiive been very interest' ir.g on fcauttous- protect* as- the iollow-!" ini fact, tvjfeistU y. j . it :.rri *ittU fSf.- *fh&xj rrr. - . . 0 0 0 C 6 "J Ta-ciily-fiflh Xalional S.:ft'ly Cougrttji to think, inability to draw a personal les son irons the experience oi others, over confidence and a desire to make good on the job. These can only be overcome by careful and systematic handling on the part of (he supervisor. His is the respon sibility of putting over to the worker the value and advantages resulting from a close observance of rigid safety inspec tions. Systematic Organized Safety Effort There should be little need to make a pica for more concerted action along this line. As safety men. we know how easily the small employer could be put out of business as the result of even a few accident losses. The lamer i t well, cannot afford to overlook^C ^ lion--his losses, through w ,, .^ ' ,, fcH bc< money and materials, will s e r i o u ^ ^ * `A f 5 hts profits and hold his comp,"/ ^ . 4 '* the public as a very inefficient I J ? . * - f non. The ever increasing c s t 2 * ^ ^ !!y" wO- * pensation insurance will u n d o u b t ^ ^ i l - '^ l - * - lber factor in forcing more Considerat^. 1" / w--e--ll o--rg>a--n-i-z--e-d- -s-a-f-e-t/y w- ork-. PersoL sIjfii' ys,b**' ( I emphasize the side of humanitv ,h e dollar and am satisfied Iroro j * d ier perience that where humanity nn, profits will be satisfactory. Where safety program is followed, without i i efficiency and economy of the highest ii& t tI .J , than `hl i<- Silica oc der will also prevail. . . . P*t*i s!nh /a k Kite < I', Oose the : wbi. hi- Wg&f.- pfflUar to The Present Status of Control of Dust and Fumes in Industtjggr kb" 15 ' B..y...H......B.....M.. EL.LER .S 3 > i l H ' IP4tti * " Managing Director, Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc,; Head, Air P o n d i .tiioil m Investigation, Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, Pittsburgh, Pa. . J s elltu s sierons The problem divides itself naturally into medical, preventive engineering and legis lative phases, and includes consideration of the responsibilities of employer and employee to each other and to the public. It is axiomatic tuhtat, in ecase omf phny/s,,ic-*al, disorder, impairment of function or dts- ability, the more thoroughly the cause and course of action are known, the more certainly can possible remedies be applied or preventi-ve m--e--a-s-u--re-s -ta-ik--en. In the diseases or affections under con sideration, there are facts upon.which pre ventive methods are based, and upon which further studies now in course or contemplated are, at least in part, predi cated. During the development of the present state of knowledge of the influence of some air contaminants on health, natu rally many theories were advanced that later scientific work has modified or dis placed. Howerer, not .always has he' correction been as widely and thoroughly disseminated as was the original theory; this condition, perhaps, has led to some contusion in the minds of many who have not followed loo closely the evolution of knowledge in this field. Clarsifieation of Dusts There are available different pubiuhU;^ classifications of dusts. 'Included in ludt-S classifications are dusts, the exposure loSI inhalation of .which arc, or are bTselr MTgg be, occupational. Those that are iubefa^j;. ently toxic when inhaled or otherwise sorbed and which cause systemic pouonr^j. fig, include lead, arsenic, mercury, ganese. Examples of dusts which h a je ^ . the ability to penetrate the deep lung tis-.v sues and to be retained there are quartz,.^; flint, chert, asbestos, talc, coal, iron, " JijjK slate, and other t<'pes of rock dust. V% Attention here will be centered #P* this last group and upon pneumoeomou* the general term used to designate >"* y conditions caused by dust. Silicosis, ww is caused by the inhalation of free 11 has been prominent recently in the P# :: press, sometimes in a way that made m understanding possible. If not probable - Aside irom silica, many of the 'ns0 ? . , , mineral dusts may bring about *" in the lung tissues, which m>> , ` gHtd on--tlw-fttoaptgenogOlllni , . pHo^iffca in the dust that is mha Jj ^rpajsis known today, most of--me . k the es " h long > war 4* 1 Uneon . semplica tnpa'irrn icrioual; uoced treitty Silico ifi, th illy toi . lion. 1 tnee oi ceptibil adult v culosis, prdlcs li is \Y tuctiv oi the Usion possik colics indivi thoul * lishei not '''TWijV *3?.- ; sis&.,1y-ki y,; yrcyyy y y ri .Melali Section 313 Ability of Dusts to Cause Injury has been established that the potenof silicious dusts to cause lung "'r.'jge is, with few exceptions,, depend- of the silicotic process toward the stage of disablement except through limiting or preventing further exposure to silica dust. _ N'or has medical science found a way to ' prevent tuberculosis from being super upon their content of tree silica imposed upon silicosis, except through ton:.. i;Oi). The development of silicosis de control of contact. The course of silicotherefore, upon the concentration tuberculosis is chronic and is very diffi 'j dust containing free silica in the air cult to influence by treatment, according -rraihed. In other words, the total to phthisiologists, Ilnunt of free silica breathed'and reained seems to be the primary factor; e length of time necessary for a sufficent accumulation is* important, but less Medical Control. As a basis for intelli gent determination of the physical fitness of a man for a job in a dusty trade, physical examination, with stereoscopic than the total lo ad .' roentgenograms of the chest, is necessary. Silica occurs also in chemical combina- Along with this study goes, naturally, the c:n in silicates. Some of these com preparation of an occupational history - vjnds have been proved to be relatively, with detail as to the exact nature of previ harmless to health, some are still in the ous work and of exposure to industrial rtaim of doubt, and one--asbestos--may dust--not a valueless recording of occu m-'se the industrial disease called asbes- pations as "laborer," 'machinist," etc. ^sis, which is the result of lung damage Dr. Sayers, of the U. S. Public Health iir.ilar to, but not identical with nor as Service, has developed a method of secur Sirious as, that produced by free silica. ing information for a proper occupa Importance of Particle Size, The sice tional history; among others, Cummings, -i dust particUs in the air which an indi of. Saranac Laboratory, also has worked vidual may breathe is Important. Not out a pseful history blank. ;:ten are particles larger than 10 or 12 Standards have been developed for the =icrons found in the deep lungs, except diagnosis of silicosis. There is also a h the ease of asbestos dust, where fibers suitable technic for taking roentgeno as long as 200 microns have worked their grams of the chest in order to bring out tray down lengthwise. . the characteristic lung changes. Uncomplicated Silicosis. Silicosis, un From the considerable amount of work complicated by an infeetton, Is more of an that has been done, it is possible to fore- Impairment than a disability. It is not cast with a reasonable degree of accu seriously disabling until it reaches an ad racy the silicosis potentiality of various it!:' ooocus vanced stage, and does not of itself dusts, neatly shorten the life of a silicotic. , Periodic physical examinations, includ- Silieo-Tubereulosis. When a silicotic ing roentgenograms, are essential if em ties, the immediate cause of death is usu- ployers are to be enabled accurately to lily some type of intervening lung infee- earn the effect of individual exposure coa. It is* not known just why the pres and intelligently to transfer affected work ence of silica in the lungs increases sns- men to lower dust concentrations before etptibility to tuberculosis, but when an serious injury has been done, or to work aiuit with silicosis is exposed to tuber- out a system of rotation where indicated miosis, an active infection may occur, re as desirable in order that exposure may Tardless of the previous state of health. be intermittent. Such examinations are ;t Is thought probable that silica dust can helpful also in showing the^ efficiency of activate healed tuberculous lung lesions engineering control methods. ' the adult .type: how long after such The ability to place responsibility in letions have .healed the reactivation is case of claim for injury is no small part ; visible is not certain. Exposure of sili- of the value of suclt initial and periodic ;--.tlcs to tuberculosis or of tuberculous examinations. ____ individuals to silica dust is serious and Asbestosis. C J u ttS p ^ p c ric m m ^ e rr !could be avoided. After silicosis lias become well estab shown that the tnhMaBWwf * sttfgaertt lished in the lungs, medical science has amount of asbestos g S itip U se s a-3&ious Cot found a way to arrest the progress type of fibrosis, whiSftM pot accompanied if n * 314 Tu-niiy-pfth X eliaitai Safely CattarejS by an unduly high incidence of tubercu losis. Other dusts and silicate compounds so far studied produce, at most, only a mild non-progressive reaction in the lungs, provided there is no significant amount of tree silica In their composition. While m*S' .mWmooarr*ttaaIlIliittUya1from occupat"ionmalordbiisdeia`yse,*ntdo tions in air are recorded gravimetri .. as milligrams per cubic meter O h? 1* (as silica, where sire is a factor 7nT ` lem m ing dangerous particles) are ` by count. N-either method `gives^'c" hole Story, but in both cases it " possible to secure the information n.* r y for the purpose. " nec" - *T n one T t h UrP01' - " 'r `nhoerdeouohc. cinu rtsi,^. i_i ^.:e.am.^TM! nt*` '1"' JTTih,e'i"r'li' hir>s the'eeffffoorts to study and control dust dis eases of the lungs, are non-existent , ln concluding this section, the follow, m g quotation from a court decision in Wisconsin is pertinent fSchaefer v. Industnal Commission, 365 X. \y_ 390 (Supreme Court February, 1936)); . - 'ill be necessary to distin guish carefully between medical or patho logical disability and actual physical in capacity to work. The medical experts apparently ignore this distinction, and so increase the difficulty of arriving at a just result under the law." ' * * * d n st-sam p iC r/n ^ estimating methods that they will h aAmr einnd#ed and changed__f_r_o_m time. .to i"lmic'. A t the present writing we wocld . ^ e the use of the simplest possible procedure Where dust control aione is in question If one wishes to obtain'values which can be compared with published data it i, generally necessary- to copy with consid erable care the technic used in the oriei- Th,< another way of admit ting the annoying tact that results by one method are usually ,,ot comparable.1 to those obtained by another method" . in another place, the report says* aJt Preventive Engineering is very doubtful if any useful purpose is " served by determining accurately ex- It would be needless repetition to dis tremely dense dust concentrations--the cuss m a technical way the engineering only excuse for such data is to show the ' phases of dust control. All interested are skeptic that the workplace is much dustier fduVf D ust" hy Drinker ,u Cl` 'vh,ch deals comprehensivclv 1 h the subject; U. S. Bureau of Mines than it should be. . . . . It is probable that any sampling pro cedure which fixes concentrations in ' Information Circulars 6810 and 6818, bv groups 100 per cent apart is sufficient and Harrington and Davenport, a review of that the results of any attempts to come --.j literature on "Prevention of Duse Dis- closer to the concentration at the moment fV-CS 1 1 V1'LS' ? ubl'C Health Service Bulon "Tb7, nX Blo?mfield *d DallaVaile. t . e?TM i*,,on ind Control of Industrial Dust"; Report 29 of the Amer- of sampling are simply misleading. Thus ; ranges such as 0-5, 5-10, 10-20. 20-40, etc- 1 suffice for dust control." -j As dust particles in the lungs are of : S' ,nd>rds Association; and to the the order of 1 micron, with rarely a 1', U. S Bureau of Mines for a list of ap particle over 10 microns, dust control for ' proved protective devices. hygienic reasons should lie aimed at parti be s*id. ,l`1`> m general, the cles in the size range found to have been engineering specialist can and will devise breathed and retained. Again quoting: the necessary equipment to meet the eon- . . . if one could avoid use of the dusts ditions specified to him. But the setting of 1 micron or less or exclude them from of limits of permissible dust concentra- the dust which passes a 325-mesh screen, siibbi?llibtyv.n0TT,hhe,S ebnUg*in.'eheer Pi,1s-co1nc"e'rnerdespwoitnh nearly at! dust diseases would be elimi nated." . .... keeping dustiness to or below, the limits at present considered satisfactory. ---- Dust Elimination Obviously, it is better, when possible. ,, Methods of Determining Dust to purchase equipment already supplied. Some dusts fas 1 "i t h exhausl-hhooooddii-rraatthheerrr-tmHTmirttoo h**v*e byy ccnheemmiiecaall mmeetthhooddss aanidd t.h1?e dceotenrmc e,^n ^ p'j5j*g?n!. 'evdorrtJo' *be fhi`ooodned.to Tehquuispmtheentrenspoot ndsei- -lity for ^jnuiset" There 1 ,,(orntatio tifte desie Engineer" Feundatio , tabic of lure certs granite c spraying, .elding). For pre respirator helmets, ; iormatiort of the U. reau of Standards Usuing s equipm en -here apt Of cou hie, dust source, a where thi There : and are 1 hie dustii ' It should were not quiremen good pra from a s In Sot gram pc: per cubic million p Dr. La Mo., dist practice, liters of The U study in 'anil, to' cubic foe coarse d cubic foapparent attained. The fi cubic fo cent qua 'be Vert .. Public I 000094 M elali Section - ft '' ire iive,, . ?,v' 5 lhe ' 11 my h. n i* d.., t r|ir1 1 her*. i, ,ne fmi|fjr T *nd dustr win t,t nle *o time, 5Uld adviit procedure n queion. Which can diti. it i, ith eonsid. ; the origi' of admit* results by -ompanibie method." say; "I, purpose is rately . .ttons--the ` how the ich dustier '.pling pro-atio' in ' ^icie .d to come - moment ng. Thus 20-40, etc, is are of rarely a tntrol for I at partiave been quoting: the dusts ;em from h screen, be elimi- possible, supplied to have * not de responsi- i-'tiaitr (or Ptent'jl 's upon the available comparatively little 'iii(!m a tio n upon which to base the scieniyj" design of hoods. The Preventive i -vneipeering Commiitee of Air Hygiene 1 ipaundltion includes in its recent report l ' ' t abl e of minimum air velocities to eaph;-fore certain industrial dusts (for use in ^ i o n i t e cutting, grain elevators, pain* 'JyJjjyjng, sand pulverizing and electric "('elding). , . . , For protective equipment such as dust ('''respirators, air supplied masks, sand blast " helmets, and goggles, very complete in- 'formation is available, because of the work '.'-of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, the Bu- ly.reaa of Standards, and /the American T:;.-Standards Association in ' preparing and issuing specifications t o. be met if the .'.'equipment is to be used under conditions 1/ 'where approval is necessary. '. o f course, all agree that, where possi;.ble, dust should be controlled at the $; source, and protective, equipment used If-'where this action cannot he accomplished. '' Permissible Dustiness There are various figures that have been ind are being used as guides to permissi ble dustiness where free silica is present. It should be noted that many of the data ere not determined as the medical re quirement, but as being attainable in good practice and apparently satisfactory from a safety standpoint. In South Airica the figure is 1 milli gram per cubic meter (or 300 particles per cubic centimeter, or approximately 8.5 million per cubic toot). Dr. Lanza found in 1917 in the Joplin, Mo., district that, with good engineering practice, a figure of 1 milligram per 100 liters of air could be attained. The U. S. Public Health Service, in its study in the anthracite resion of Pennsyl vania, found that 50 million particles per cubic foot with : per cent quartz in the coarse dust and 10 million particles per cubic foot with 3; per cent quartz were Pparcr.tly satisfactory and often were attained. The figure of '.0-20 million particles per cubic ioot for granite dust with 33 per c">t quartz content is oiten quoted front ftc Vermont granite studies of the L". S. Public Health Service. Some metal-mining companies have gone further, setting the maximum of permissible dustiness at 5 million particles per cubic foot, Certainly, there Is a degree of air clean liness that is saie. from the standpoint of concentration oi harmful dust. But the engineer may find himseif in the position of practically being forced to control any dust, harmful or otherwise, if he would protect his employers against suits at common law and the possibility of award of damages to men who have breathed dust containing little or no free silica. A dusty workplace ia difficult to defend in court. Neither courts nor compensation boards, and certainly not juries, have seemed to be greatly impressed with a low silica dust count in an otherwise dusty atmosphere. Quoting from one of the reports re ferred to: "Each state is a unit--a sover eign--and it handles its problems in its own way. Uniformity is lacking, although of course the statutes of many states are similar. The courts of the various states follow such precedents as appeal to them; consequently, On any important question, there is likely to be a divergence of opin ion among the courts, and often the courts fall into two or more groups, each group following a different theory with respect to the same legal problem." Workmen's Compensation Acts Workmen's compensation acts have been passed in 46 states (all except Arkansas and Mississippi) and the Dis trict of Columbia. These acts are com pulsory' as to private employers in 15 states and elective in 31 states. Insur ance to cover the risk is compulsory in seven states. A state fund, out of which compensa tion is paid, is maintained in 18 states; in two of these the employer may, by proving financial responsibility, carry his own risk with limited contribution to the state fund for the expense of administra tion; in It more of this group of states the employer is not required to avail himself of the privileges of the state fund and may provide compensation otherwise. In 28 slates then state compensatioi Administration is vested in a coi vfe?. y-'7 'V.'j S wa iisryi ; ' .V..V' 316 Twenty-fifth Xationnl Safety Congress . commissioner in 40 stales: in six states the acts, are administered by the local courts. Again from the report: "The guiding principle in the early acts was the award ing of compensation for accidental injury, meaning thereby traumatic injury," (Traumatic means of or pertaining to a wound or wounds.) " In those years, the importance of disability due to occupa tional disease was not generally recog nized. It however became increasingly apparent that `injury' might be suffered gradually, and that the result of such gradual breaking down of the strength and resistance of the employee was more serious in many instances than traumatic injury. Courts therefore, in some states, wrestled with the problem of construing 'injury' so as to include disease and bring disease within the compensation acts." In one state a diseased condition is compensable under the act if caused by the negligence of the employer. Occupa tional disease is compensable, to some extent, in 1$ states and the District of Columbia; In lire of these states silicosis is not included among the compensable diseases; in one state silicosis is the only occupational disease made compensable. There is a legal obligation on the part of the employer to provide a safe place to work, and usually the m atter of ventila tion Is featured. The mining laws ap proach uniformity as to air quantity and as to equipment for mechanical ventila tion. The right, at common law, to recover for occupational disease due.to negligence of the employer, is important. In three states it has been held by the courts that the right never did exist: in three states the right is extremely doubtful; in 12 states it probably exists, although there is some doubt; In 12 other states, the right seems well settled, but Is limited In eight of this group; In the remaining states and the District of Columbia, no court de cisions can- be found .'which decide the question as to whether or not such com mon law right exists. It should again be noted that occupational disease is com pensable in three states in this last group. "With the adoption of Occupational Disease Acts, new medical problems arise and more adequate provision is required for medical examination and treatment. This is especially true with respect to dust otseases, which call for diagnosis i skilled `Specialists experienced field." ln ll> Examination Before Empioyme,,, 1. Under Compensation Acts; tl New Mexico Act contains a provision n quiring the workman, at the time of hii employment, or thereafter at the request I of the employer, to submit himself to in examination. Tile New Vork Act of 1936, covering silicosis and other dust diseases, provides in 'the opening paragraph: ' "It is hereby declared to he the policy oi the legislature of this state, in enact ing this article, to prohibit through every lawful means available, any requirement as a prerequisite to employment which compels an applicant for employment is any occupation coming, within the pur view of this article to undergo a medical examination." '.; The North Carolina Act, effective Marcli 26, 1933, contains a provision re quiring examination both prior to employ ment and from time to time during em ployment. ' In the compensation acts of no other states were found provisions with resped to examination prior to. the time of em ployment. 2. Under Other Statutes: Five states (Louisiana. Maine, New Jersey, NewVork arid Pennsylvania) have statutes requiring physical examination before an employee is permitted to work under compressed air or in caissons. No ,i:inr J C acts. imim In US. West been sort eullv ind occw idm) t<sp< suit Ti euss !. com M sous peri tom timi ual Examination During Employment The five states mentioned in the prt* eding paragraph require' periodic , lations during the course of ernplo)m nder compressed air or in caissons. 1 Missouri statutes provide for on, as often as once a month, by a c . IS' etent licensed and reputable pbys' j C ' i all employees who come into i . ontact with certain poisonous age r injurious processes. . ,, Three states (New Jersey, 01,10 t 'ennsfiRShtw^-require employers to c . .. - , bcinSm inet! at I f c i T W * ,n^ S S gaged in any work of P , ss CHnifsnig tliem"''i<y-ntod<;,`*uS ' -- -iw ifea d solutions. -ja . {3? ooooyi; -!i I- t . , . The pv'*on :!h.ne,ereq(uehitt ''self t0 a ' coverirjf ' Provide tj1* Policy m act. 'ugh eveiv quiremcn! m t which syment Ik the pur. a medial effective vision re. to employ, -luring eir,. :ve slates ey, Kew statutes ictore aa k' under Metis Section 31/ _ jnarion After Claim for Disability n*' Arises s-0 t,vo state acts contain identical pro. . '..,,5 but in all (including the District rf Columbia) that have compensation is th;--ere .is p- ro, v.isio,n for physical exunlnation after claim for disability arises.. In five states (Kentucky. Massaehu'.cits, New York, North Carolina, and \Vcst Virginia), definite recognition has been given to the importance of some sort of medical board Composed of spe dsliv qualified physicians and surgeons, and charged with the duty of diagnosing occupational disease anti of advising the administrative board or commission with respect thereto. The laws of these five stiles are quite different and should be studied separately ior details, but in each occupational disease, including silicosis. is compensable. The importance of roentgenograms in any thorough physical examination for pneumoconiosis is well-known. This importance is recognised in the Acts of j .gw j erseyj New York, North Carolina. ind W est Virginia. Medical Treatment In the 17 states (including Maryland) in which occupational disease is, to some extent, compensable, the acts usually en title the claimant to a limited amount of medical, Surgical, and hospital care, meas ured in money cost or length of time covered by treatment. These points were nised in the dis cussion following the addresses: .1, How much time is required for completing a training course? Mr. Davison said that the training course in their plant ordinarily covered a period of one and one-half years, but that some students completed it sooner. The time required depends upon the individ ual. ' Z. Is it advisable to limit the number of students per teacher? Ten students per instructor is a good ratio. ' 3. Which gases present the greatest harzards in welding? Silicon gases are the most harmful. The risk, however, has largely been over come by manufacturers of welding sup plies. * ` Iti- .1 4 '.if & W ment the pre:c examiloyment ons. .xaniinav a comhysician. o direct agencies !iio am! to cause month, r prof. t. lead THURSDAY M ORNING SESSIO N O ctober 8, 1936 Metals Section Safety Contest Two hundred anil two units were reg istered in the 1936 Contest of the Metals Section. During the Contest period 267,793 employees worked 3*il.788,a79 man-hours with in average frequency rate of 8.030. a decrease of 4 per cent from the 1935 rate of *8.354. Ninety-nve '-'nits completed the Contest with a fre quency rate below the average, and R Per cent of the units finished with per fect record}. Nineteen plaques and eight certificates were awarded in the Contest. The plaques were presented by John B. Gibson. Publicity Director, Hawthorne works. W estern Electric Company, Chi cago, and Vice Fresldem ior Community Safety Councils. National Saiety Council, as follows: ' Steel Mills Division, Group A--Conti- neiltaj Steel Corporate Kokomo Divi- ion, Kokomo. Indiaj AOn nian ... hours, 12 injuries. tfcl3 f f i p y r t . Vi `l.-riVi -..I 000007- Quarry Section if (onus and wear a pa;r . :s and goggles. Ths ^ Jge hammer does not does not wear gloves, tv jive him a better grip <,,, ^ :ier handle and without !c,. ble to see more clearly struck. operator uses an electrical mall piece ol work it st in a vise. Under no 6, should small work be held j, - it should be either made ha ,r clamped to a work-bad. ule applies while filing suul .t all times they should V Officers 1935-36 - sf _ r . . T. . [ Warner Co. Philadelphia^ Pas 'frttd C,ia,Vmar ' AUXARTrvr The Marble ClM Qwrries Co., Columbus. K. Bovp, National Crushed Stone Assn.. fit c. ; . F m a basis, u . S. Bureau of Mines, y ; Continuit Chairman--W . W . AB*MS< * Ohio. Easton. Pa. Washington. Washington, a portable electric grain, i be taken with the leads b ipingi the man should simp , ries. An accident occwni "employee used this type d properly. H e made it fat * d used it to Sharpen a tooL ti i away the wheel exploded, ,'e entering his gr'"- J ^ ;d been placed on board a , to the board. Th-s goards. as of aluminum and would sa jrd. much protection em ...t .Uced the opposite mf .gation it was found that was not operating and " * the wheel was about two two tould have been. K ! V k Z < . Xatiuital Sand and Gravel Asm.. Washington. D. C. K Officers Elected for 1936-37 ' Til Warner Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Ccunl Cfcainnai--Alexaxoi* Fo , **I / A a iff Q ^ r r id Co., Columbus, Ohio. fr,-CTrmon-Uuss*u. R a . The Marble Cl B ^ ^ pa_ Unttry `K1 tetter E J / r Y om , The General Crushed Stone Co, Easton, Pa. tlitr Committci C W m < m -H . F RY<^ National Crushed Stone Assn., Wash.ngton, Mieily Committee Chairman-}. R. Boyp, ,%auona. D. C. . ,, . ,, w W Adams, U. S. Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C. iuuitVr CofHiiu/ia^ Chairman at Large-- .... j Atm Washington, D. C. V. P. Ak a w . National Sami Gr a v d A sn.. NXas gx Wouam H. Bake*, J - E - . Crushed'Stone Co.. Easton, Pa- 0 . M. Graves, The Gmieral Cruswa oi Washington. D. C. A L Wo"J en? New Ha` TraApSW k Co.. New Haven. Conn. W ED N ESD A Y MORNING SESSION ' . O ctober 7, 1936 .................. - . * * J? jtoeral Chairman Alexander Foster, J r , `ner Company. Philadelphia. P a , who sa s r a a . LRulii.'jl IS' 6 |! . -Hi Hazards tit and about the plant are dis cussed and corrections recommended. A short study oi first aid is covered at each meeting. If time permits.^ some interest ing article front the National Safety News is briefly covered or some new safety device is placed on display for consideration. j The personnel and safety department jssues a monthly "Foremen's Bulletin" which is distributed to all plants. Each issue contains an editorial; a first aid in struction page; a Voice of Safety experi ence page, containing illustrated safety devices that foremen have sent in, relat ing to some accident problems and how they were solved. This* is followed by several pages showing competitive stand ing of foremen according to severity rates. The last few pages cover a sum mary of all lost-time and reported acci dents during the previous month. Employer-Employee Relations If an employee is happy with his work, bis comrades, and general surroundings, he is proud of his company. He has been given a chance lo help develop the safety program. -Perhaps the company's house organ has honored him for a note worthy suggestion. Maybe he was in a group picture of no-accident workers. These are subjects of conversation when he is out wi;h Iv.i friendt. He is not only proud hut interested in Ills sur roundings. He ie part of the organizj, tion. -.and that iceling of responsibility encourages co-operation. Good Housekeeping Every saiety program contains a few thoughts on this topic, but it is one practice that is seldom seriously consid ered. It is so hard to use valuable time to dean up yard and plant. We have learned differently. About a half hour each day is spent in keeping our plant ship-shape. Our walkways are kept free from sand and gravel, lines, worn plates and screens. The spaces between the railroad tracks are cleaned so that the brakenten and firemen will run no risk of injury iroin falls while shifting ears. The decks of our tugs, scows, and dredges are kept free of material and lines arc properly coiled and placed to prevent one from stumbling, W here no other protection can be given, hand rails are placed on tugs and barges tci prevent men irons falling overboard. The plant is thoroughly illuminated lor night openlion. Floors, steps, and other .walkway -urfaecs arc kept tree of oil, water, ice, and snow. Material- are piled so that they will not easily fall or be displaced by vibration. tpntained free siiic*Frequent the literate which are 0| their si', arc true s taken to n n these I fully expo employers work wit! ilici har though al potential'.' measures -ha'iard P' more pre occupano'. hazardous exposure. 'Ah Ab Bl: Br Co Co Fe Gl Gl G H ----------------------- THURSDAY MORNING SESSION October 8, 1936 5 I -c " \ in a dustria' per eet in oect hazard Vane1 000104 43J Quarry Sedie He is not in his sur. ihe orginiu. responsibility .ng ntains a (tv ut it is one ously considvatuable time it. W e have a half Hour .ng our plant are kept (ret .. worn plates between the so that the run no risk shiitins cart scows, and orial and lines ed to prevent ere no other and rails are a prevent men The plant is - p'-M opra it' vaikway oil, ..ater, ice, piled so that ic displaced by 000 men were then working under condi g a in e d an excessive concentration of- tions which were harmful to thoir health from The viewpoint of silica inhalation but such a statement does not mean that this number of men are doomed to die X e X ^ o u s because from the effects of such exposure. Mam ' w0Jh"tLhe'i'r ssiilliiccaa exPposure. These cnaonndoot ubbet 2 tn* employed \ 'VtL \ t TAdes or industries are harm- iti lb , r.. soj^l fw of the fully cxp . * he cit(f<| industries we ** processes contributing to a vsiolif*t 'H' Mazna,,rdT. tTnn ^oothe^r ^ nstadnucIetys, lni ,bough a V^ , effective contro pmoeteansutiraelsly are n ,,oopcerraattiioonn ^and no refaele of these workers may in the near TM,ure be working under different conditions, either because they sought employment elsewhere, or because the easting haz ards will have been controlled. Occupational diseases are reportable by law in but a few states. As a ' " `t, ac curate information regarding the inci dence of silicosis is not available. Based upoh.the data furnished by fie)d Stud es and census reports, various estimates biaard Present' more proper to , e thP t the following , potentially S S S ? 1 - n SS Viewpoint of silica have been made as to the number ot workers potentially and actually exposed to a silica hazard. Less than 2s per cent of the employees in the zinc and lead exposure Abrasive-powder makers mines in the Tri-State Area,1 ^ o l t h e workers in the hard coal mines of Penn Abrasive-soap makers sylvania,' were found to have developed Blasters (sand) Brickmakers ' silicosis in any form. In Massachusetts, according to a report of a Special Com Coal miners Core makers Foundry workers , Glass makers mission.' less than 23 per Cent of repre sentative granite workers examined and less than 12 per cent of representative foundry workers had silicosis m any form. Glass mixers . - Granite quartieri Causes of Silicosis Hard-rock miners Metal grinders Pottery makers Pneumatic rock drt.lers Polishers Sanders Stone finishers Slate quartieri Slate finishers Sand pulvtriaers Tunnelers Vitreous enamelers T he mere contact with sill dust does not. of course, result in silicosis. The development of silicosis in an individual s' dependent upon: the concentration ot dust in the air he breathes: the amount of free silica in the dust; the `" of the silica particles: and the length of l.me the worker is exposed to the dustj at mosphere. Some contributing forces .re the presence oi other rotating dusts and active pulmonary infection. _ The lung with impaired lymphatic drainage result In a survey carried out in si tyP j| f ing from previous infection can !e-S dustrial area.' it was iound. ' h/ ' , ^ ' ei ?er tilnsh where ar potential silicosis readily eliminate the silica particles in haled. and thus predisposes to a more ex tensive accumulation oi silica in the lung. In the final analysis, only dust containing Vane' estimated, m 1934. that abou - - ,bor Standards :io. for a tu.i" ,cd in an *; ;hcy br*ik ferculfltM ' Mines Cl \*t\ ifcjCwnnii*'!*- cl non r. H 434 Twenty-fifth National Safety Congress ire silica has been shown clinically and experimentally to be capable in itself of producing the nodular fibrosis character istic of silicosis. Our knowledge regarding the harm which may be expected from working, in specific dust concentrations is rather lim ited. The question of muted dusts has provoked considerable discussion. In field research and experimental studies to date, however, it has been found that the injury produced has closely paralleled the percentage of free silica present in the dust. In a general way, the greater the silica^con tent, the greater is the damage. Obvious ly, the inhalation of any dust in sufficient concentrations might exceed the ability of the lung to eliminate it. Fifty million particles of dust per cubic foot of air seems to be a rather excessive concentra tion. However, workers in the anthra cite mining operations who were exposed to air which contained concentrations up to that amount, the. silica content of which ranged up to S per cent, experi enced no more respiratory* trouble than industrial workers generally. Moreover, these anthracite workers did not develop silicosis despite prolonged exposure to such concentrations. In the haulageways of the anthracite mines, where the silica content amounted to about 13 per cent, a corresponding safe limit for workers ap peared to be between 10 and IS million particles of dust per cubic fo o t For the rock workers In these mines, where the silica in the dust ran as high as 35 to 43 per cent, a relatively safe concentration of dust was judged to be about 10 mil lion particles per cubic foot. This latter finding compares with tbe 10 to 20 mil lion particles per cubic foot which was shown to be a reasonable safe maximum concentration for workers in granite,' where silica constituted about 25 per cent of the dust inhaled. Only the very fine dust particles can gain entrance to the alveoli of the lung (small terminal air sacs), but these par ticles that do get into these tiny air sacs can be eliminated only by means of the tissue cells (dust ceils) carrying them away via the lymphatic circulation. Par ticles of silica longer than 10 microns in their longest dimension (a micron is 1/25.000 of an inch) cannot gain entrain;, to these small divisions of the lung, ln<1 those which may be present in the air inhaled are arrested along the upper res. piratory tract and upon the mucous mem. brane lining the trachea and larger bronchi. From these areas they are eliminated along with the mucous secre tion. However, research studies' have shown that about 60 per cent of indus trial dust is made up of much smaller particles, with an average diameter of be tween 1 and 3 microns. In fact, only about 7 per cent of Industrial dust par ticles are of an average diameter greater than 3 microns. Thus, a large propor tion of industrial dust is of a sire which can penetrate to the finer divisions of the lung. ' The irritating and toxic effect of these fine silica particles retained in the lungs is first to produce an inflammation in the tissues where they accumulate. Following this inflammatory reaction, young fibrous tissue eells, which harden as they ma ture, gradually replace the delicate lung tissue, forming a scar. This dense scar_ tissue is functionlcss as tar as aiding in respiration is concerned, and not only decreases the lungs' ability to obtain oxygen to pass into the blood but also, what is more important, lessens the na tural resistance of the iung tissue to in fection. The length of exposure to silica-con taining atmosphere necessary for the de velopment of silicosis is very indefinite. It would vary with the concentrations ot silica to which an individual is exposed. Signs indicating the presence of silicosis might appear more quickly if the worker has previously suffered from extensive pulmonary infection, or if the pulmonary infection develops during the period ot employment, Where the exposure ts ex cessive, typical silicosis has occasionally developed in such brief periods as 1/5 3 years. However, except where mlection has hastened the process, in the ma jority of cases silicosis is seldom c5ta fished in less than 10 to 15 years, an rarely develops lo the point where me urabie disabling effects are noted unm after 15 to9rr*ajs' exposure. public Health Bulletin 'No. 21?. The deternunaiioa and coattl . industrial uit. T! tune ;,Sn dm* be iuftt Ear less mor thin >PP* care At onl; '.he nio: mai lilii dtv chz tos* qui qui dc\ not u (or tirr hal ph Cli pi; th sp di si in si tl a* >. 3 ln the * upper rti. :ous mem. nd Iirgt. hey ot5 secrt. diei' hare ' of Indus. =h smaller ter of *. only duet pir. ter greater 3 proporsize whieli ions of the- ct of these the lungs tion in the Following ;ng fibrous they ma- .licate lung dense scar s aiding in 1 not only to obtain >d but also, ens the na- silica-contor the de indefinite, titrations of is exposed, of silicosis the worker extensive pulmonary i period oi ssure is ex* occasionally Is as V/t to .-here infecin the ms'dom cstabvears, and vltere mess; noted utttii Quarry Section 435 ' Clinical Signs and Diagnosis Considerable discussion has been cre ated by the question of the manner in ' rhe diagnosis oi silicosis may some which silicosis contributes to disability, ' c he most difficult There are no l'nlCS r symptoms exhibited by the tn * ? * , with silicosis which may not also and the methods used tor determining the degree of disability. Detailed studies made upon large representative groups oi * found upon examination of persons Offering from other respiratory diseases, t , n the development of silicosis, un- i l , the condition is complicated by pulnnary infection there is little, i t any- workers have shown that in a majority of cases, a condition accurately diagnosed as silicosis may exist and yet there is no measurable decreased capacity for work. Therefore, it is important to remember '.tog, in the affected individual's general that a diagnosis of silicosis does not al : iran c e .to suggest the disease. The ways mean that the individual is dis 'iftddfinal symptom i.-s s-h..o..r.t.ness oi breath. abled. Individuals with silicosis have it the beginning, this may be apparent been shown to be more susceptible to Inly following exercise, bt as fibrosis of pulmonary infection; and for that rea the lung increases, shortness of breath Is son, simple silicosis may be considered ore marked and eventually may become as contributing to disability which is pri manifest upon the least exertion. When marily ttie result of a pulmonary infec . silicosis is definitely established, the in dividual usually breathes in a manner characteristic of those whose lungs have lost elasticity. Normally, the time reouired to inhale is longer than that re- ouired to exhale. The pulmonary ' developed in the person with silicosis will not permit the lung to collapse as readily as the normal lung. The time required (or breathing out may be two or three times greater than that required for in halation. In the advanced silicotic, this phenomenon may be as marked as in the case oi chronic asthma. tion, The fact that X-ray findings are so important has led to the erroneous con clusion by some that a positive diagnosis may be made by examination of the films alone. Such is not the case. Careful consideration of all the evidence avail able is essential, before an authoritative ante-mortem diagnosis may be estab lished. A complete occupational record should be obtained. The medical history and the individual's complaints are of limited but definite value in all cases. The progress of the pulmonary changes Commonly, the silicotic individual com serves to indicate the role.played hy in plains of a dry cough, more marked m "- Ecction. Since silicosis predisposes to the morning and following exercise. The pulmonary infection, particularly tubercu . sputum may sometimes be blood-tingea, losis, every effort should be made to de especially following severe coughing at termine if the infection is tuberculosis. tacks. Excessive coughing, with the rais In many instances, this will call for ing of muco-puruient sputum, usually in more than simple microscopic examina dicates infection* When the person with tion of the sputum. Guinea pig inocula silicosis develops an extensive complicat tion with the formalin-treated sputum ing pulmonary infection, he will usually will frequently show tubercle bacilli that show constitutional evidence of the inlec are not readily demonstrated otherwise. tion. Digestive ailments, loss of weight Some cases may require repeated exami and strength, fever, and severe chest pain nation in order to rule out the more com are commonly experienced. Particularly mon pulmonary ailments as causes of the when these signs persist, they may gen pathological changes observed. erally be considered indicative^ of serious complicating pulmonary intection. The lung changes shown by means oi the X-ray are the most specific findings oi the disease, but these, too, are similar to the film changes produced by other I pulmonary lesions. No diagnosis ot stlt--- jpasU.jthould be considered established in I the living individual without an X-ray study being mace. Prevention of Silicosis The responsibility for the control of the silicosis haiard in a plant rests di rectly upon the employer^ This differs sharply from the dUtribiRtolt'-oi, respon sibility in the field oi indSprial accidents.' In the case oi aecidentfc&the employee m u st. share some oi tn$&djtponsibi'.ity. -u.. T x iv n t y - jif t li .Vao lia i S a j : t y C o n g r u s Silicosis, imi tlic other hind, docs not de velop iront a temporary or ample expo sure. m d proper supervision of workers offers the management ample opportunity to deil summarily with the careless of fender bciorc serious damage can result. Effective control may be stated primarily to depend upon- the management's atti tude toward a sound comprehensive pro gram of prevention, based upon our pres ent knowledge of the disease. The prevention of silicosis is depend ent upon the application of cooperative medical and engineering methods. Sili cosis itself seldom advances to a degree which becomes disabling, unless the con dition is complicated by pulmonary in fection. Adequate medical supervision, requires that provision be made for: 1. Medical staff with special training. It is not enough that the physicians be basically well-qualified in their profes sion. They must also be familiar with industry to such a degree, that they know what health hazards are commonly as sociated with specific industries. More over. they must know the fundamentals of engineering.control applicable to these hazards, so that they may cooperate ef fectively with the engineering staff. 2. An organized program, including detailed pre-employment physical exam inations; careful periodic physical exam inations. and adequate control and study of respiratory illnesses affecting employ ees; and an effective system o( recording and reporting industrial accidents and oc cupational diseases. Pre-employment physical examinations should be made for the purpose oi placing workers in positions for which they are phvsicallv fit to carry on with saiety to themselves and their fellow-workers. Mo convincing evidence is available to show that a non-disabling silicosis affecting a worker will progress more rapidly if the individual remains at work under condi tions reasonably controlled, than if he is given another type of. work. Therefore, those without evidence of active pulmon ary* infection may lie safely employed in any capacity, provided the conditions under which they are working arc reasonalilv controlled. W e have proof that individuals with active tuberculosis will have their condition aggravated by silica exposure, and that individuals with sili cosis are particularly susceptible to pul manary tuberculosis. When management tails to take the necessary precautions to guard against the placing of men with tuberculosis in a dusty environment, thev Increase the problem of controlling tp. bercuiosis among the population as a whole. Since any pulmonary infection may be such an important contributing factor in disabling silicosis, the relation ship oi the medical personnel to the em ployee should be such that he is assured immediate advice and early treatment, If necessary, for respiratory iniections which may develop during the period of em ployment Physical examinations made at regular intervals afford an opportunity for early detection of any harmful effects due to working environment. Where they are found, plant conditions may be corrected before serious injury results. The fre quency with which these examinations should be made will depend upon the physical condition of the men and the nature of the process in svliich they are engaged. For this reason, it is highly important that the medical personnel be familiar with the condition of the men upon entering employment, and with their later physical condition. They must also know the physical requirements of tlie occupation, the particular health haz ards associated with it. and the practical means tor rendering conditions of em ployment safe. There are many ways in which me chanical or engineering methods can be adapted to insure clean air in the work room. Where possible, dusty operation? should be isolated from other plant ac tivities. thereby exposing as few workers as possible to even a potential silicosif hazard. Local exhausts, removing dust a! its source and preventing its dissemina tion into the workroom atmosphere. *re practical for many operations. To accom plish this, in some instances, may require complete enclosing of the process. Vs hen local exhaust or enclosed processes *fe not effective or ' practical, air filten.4E systems or simple general tvorkroo.- ventilation, removing the dusty air an -"r'-Xtffli I*, with clean air, may serve t keep m ej^uarters safe. "" ` Attxjjn&fcshould be given to the m't*^ ods ffigd'SRing the workrooms. Mu illlWCC- ,cel"r hoiorc .weep' 1 ,,lima- In f I other ' ; ihe du : ione c j partici, mg 0 work. ; source ulaliur strong be dc worki time lowed with mori ' h cena work envir pirat I must ! ment ! the i j Irati1 I divic j such simr suis in sito ; sun Q uarry St'Ctiaii 437 ._,rv dust is created by careless """` ,,. Procedures. Either wetting down .eepii'B P . or t|ie use of moist bi#re. . f i r v u u m cClleeaanniinngg mmeetthhooddss.. ESS ** sourceoi atmosphcric ,,,,huation. water sprays and U, some o p e r i t m i ^ o ^ servetokeep ceive periodic inspection to insure that they are properly maintained and work efficiently- T hat dust which is collected at its point of origin, and ilttst removed from the general atmosphere of the work room. should be so disposed of that there is no chance of its again being circulated in the workroom. other . leJ oUt of the .breathing the dusts' p worj.er. These methods are Ion' adapted to blasting', and load- pifucul* i. * mining and tunnel Substitution of Product Frequently, an effort has been made to eliminate the silica bastard by relying upon substitute materials which contain no silica. W hile this may in rare in stances be both necessary and practical, slating the 1 j ^ xhis work should strongly recTM"l . i(t' or ter regular be done betwen _ lher casCi sufficient working hours. , should be al- A* d" Bg or "h e use of. drills .4 * attached are prae.tca, -n most drilling operations. . in many it h is proven a measure of but little value; furthermore, it can seldom be considered a complete solution of the problem. W e have seen the results of similar attempts in the use of toxic solv ents. Aside from the fact that the sub stitute may be less efficient, often its use is associated with a health hazard equally i. k `- " ' 'r - J ' s T , - > s r s . difficult to control. Effective and prac ,,* * . tical control methods have been devel worker I'ndcr such conditions* rcs- oped to insure the sale operation of most ,f I hey art envifonmcnt. v n a cr aoor0ved type processes requiring the handling of sil highly piratory protection o( *a W " > J iceous materials. It is a far wiser policy to depend upon proper cnntrol measures ment be0 urnfshed will' depend upon and continue being a material whose toxic qualities, in controllable limits, are well tratton and tjp e ot u ,, eriods of understood, than it is to omit the adop tion of control measures and rely upon a t h ^ U s u m . or for produet concerning which much less is known. It must be remembered that oc cupational diseases develop slowly, often only after years of exposure, and the fact ich me can be e work.erations jjs s f-v s r c s " that a substitute material proves safe for a few years is no guarantee that it is altogether harmless. liant ae- workers silicosis j dust at ssemina- w hat * . S m " sis :\ere. ate 0 accotn* ... require MulUkin. Stockbridge & Waters, Baltimore. Md. When the employer was not hv dan- ;5!.es are filtering '.orRtoom air and serve te he met'1' . Much Prior o . t h e a d o p o o t i o i ; '^ " ; ^ : compensation acts b , . t|ic ^ y . " 3 S K = S ;s .... qers of the employiaor.;. . assumed by the emp'.oyee. utor;.' negligence o! the r.eglisencc of hi, g j ^ were similarly avaii:i''Ec; employer. Theref, .--.ai-' industrial dispute hit was -.".r.trib and--- -- crvints the rfS ? 0001' U few - .S^S w 3 ^ f c ^ r a B S ^ ^ ^ 8 v j ^ g gfeES^S i8 8 g t^ w ^ ^ tfe ^ S ^ ^ s ^ c S 5 ^ B fe g r? 6 8 g g ? ^ a.iT^jyp^r^Tvj^vytf HJ*Mw , *d Ella 3 CM! M 4M* `III- \ii S'.) -* :.< : \'iH T? r. : tri. l * , f.t Tt - If. g i. ::i.;1 t| I'i i, , j V * 43S T'icor.x-fifth X allouai S a fety Congress ' legal status employees resorted to actions, at common law lo obtain compensation tor Injuries based upon the alleged neg ligence of the employer. The main purpose of the authors of the workmen's compensation acts enacted by our several state legislatures was to make the remedy granted thereby the exclusive remedy for injuries suffered by employees during the course of their employment. These acts stripped the employer of his common law defenses, including: . ! Failure to prove the employer's neg ligence. 2. Assumption of risk by the employer. 3. Contributory negligence of the em ployee and negligence oi his fellow ser vants. In other words, the compensation acts made the employers insurers of the safety of their employees against accidental in juries. On the other hand, the compen sation acts deprived the employee of his right of common law aetion ior accidental injuries sustained by him in the course of his employment. W e must bear in mind, however, that the workmen's com pensation acts did not purport to cover occupational disease injuries, but solely accidental injuries, that is. those injuries which occurred at a specific place, at a certain time, and which could be ascer tained and determined coincidentally with the infliction of the injury. Forty-six states and the District of Co lumbia have enacted workmen's com pensation acts; Arkansas and Mississippi alone not having such acts gt the pres ent time. Compensation acts which ex clude compensation for occupational dis eases, either expressly or by judicial in terpretation, have been enacted in thirtytwo states. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have (a) W ork men's compensation acts which include compensation for occupational diseases, either expressly or by judicial interpre tation, or (b) specific occupational dis ease acts. With respect to those court's holding that the workmen's compensation acts do not provide an exclusive remedy to an employee, whereby the employee retains his common law right of action for in juries sustained by him in the course of his employment, such ruling is based substantially upon tile reason that since workmens' compensation acts were d signed primarily to compensate u" traumatic injuries, they replace the em[ ployers common law liability solely for those injuries sustained by accidental means. Therefore, with respect to those per sonal injuries sustained by other means' as for example, silicosis, since it is not compensable under the compensation acts, the employee still retains hia com mon law right of action therefor, based upon the negligence of his employer W ith respect to those courts holding that the Workmen's Compensation acts do provide exclusive remedy, such ruling is based primarily upon the language'of the act and the further ruling that an em ployee had no common law right of ac tion for occupational disease injury. Legal Basis for Recovery ' The usual form of declaration contains allegations that the defendant manufac turer caused the plaintiff to work in an atmosphere where silica dust existed: that the defendant knew or should have known that certain materials used by the defendant employer contained harmful or dangerous agencies of silica which were destructive to life and health in the human body: that the defendant was guilty of negligence in ailing to warn the ptaintiff of the danger and in failing to provide the plaintiff with a safe place in which to work or safe appliances with which to work; that thereby the silica became introduced into the plaintiffs lungs and body, causing him permanent injury. The defense pleadings set up the de fense of assumption of risk by the plain tiff, the plaintiffs contributory negligence, the negligence of the plaintiffs fellow servants and a general denial of the al legations of negligence as charged by the plaintiff. T t is nwdtcss ior me to'emphasize .the seriousness ot this type of litigation. Class is arrayed against class. The local press iu those places where the causes are tried-,W|H. carry sensational headlines with respJjSpRri-tlie trial. di-wribj08 `" l terror of ffsKtjiscase and. emphasizing eae complain! Sgumst the manufacturer. Suits are filed, JidijSmgly, but by the dozensThe wlic [Ktsgfipnmnitv wherein the >f" dustrial t ' Tvith the b,, the t ten of` against impossib Need The i of com' found it will rem common that o mated s' some 1c. mate si case inj The V compen tQ his dustrial is enga to. Th sires cc tcred a To a the sul prevent therefo than i certain subject ttentic In t' licit)' t has se ing pl eases I contro You athat ir ploycc and at us by . In * is on . fort o certai hazar ire a' elimir " /spite tion -wit| possi* care EC sm ` o c o i a j ' I / Quarry Section 439 .nation acts were de. to compensate (or they replace the em, law liability solely f0r stained by accidental respect to those per. lined by other means, iticosis, since it is net .er the compensation : still retains his cost. action therefor, based ;nee of his employer, :ose courts holding that Compensation acts do remedy,. such ruling is ton the language of the ,cr ruling that an cot:nmon law right of atnat disease injury. -is for Recovery oi declaration contains -he defendant manuiac- plaintiff-to work in an silica dust existed; that mew or should have :n materials used by the er contained harmful nr es of silica which were lie health in the it . defendant was .see in failing to warn danger and in failing nimifi with a safe plan'- or safe appliances with that thereby the silica cd into the plaintiffs causing him permanent leadings set up the deon of risk by the plaincontributory negligence, i the plaintiffs fellow ;cnefal denial of the al ienee as charged by the or me to emphasize the rills type of litigation, against class. The local laces where the causes rry sensational headline! -.he trial, describing tH* tse and emphasizing eica : the manufacturer, still* :g!y, but by the dozen!' niunity wherein the w- dustrial plant is located becomes aroused, th the attendant industrial chaos, and by the time trial day arrives, event citiicn of the community is so prejudiced against the defendant that it is almost impossible t0 procure an impartial trial. Meed for Compensation Legislation its mechanical improvements for control. However, for their part, those who labor must be educated m the ways and means of protection, to carry out the principles of good housekeeping that employers and responsible State'agencies may suggest, and utilize such protective .appliances that may be offered for their protection. The ultimate solution of the problem 0i compensation for silicosis must be (ound in sqme type of legislation that will removd-.this dispute from the field of common law suits. In the same way that workmen's compensation acts elim inated such actions for accidental injuries, some legislation must be devised to elim inate such actions for occupational dis ease injuries. The honest employer desires to provide compensation for those injuries occurring to his employees as a result of the in dustrial processes in which the employee is engaged and which are peculiar there to. The honest employee similarly de sires compensation only when he has suf fered actual injury. To attempt any detailed discussion of the subject of silicosis in industry and preventive and compensatory legislation fheretor would consume far more time than is available. However, there are . certain basic principles relating to the subject to which I desire to call your attention. In the first place, the nation-wide pub licity that has been given to this problem has served a fortunate purpose in mold ing public opinion to eliminate such dis eases from industry so far as engineering control thereof is capable of doing so, You and I, as citizens, recognize the fact that industry should provide for its em ployees a safe place in which to work, and accept this obligation imposed upon us by law. In the second place, the problem itself is one that calls ior the cooperative ef fort of both capital and labor. There are certain industrial processes wherein the hazard of silicosis exists, and today there are available mechanical improvements to eliminate or control this hazard. Upon capital rests the burden of the installatisn of such mechanical equipment as i will minimize the hazard in so far as is 1 possible. An affirmative duty of constant 'are is imposed upon industry to poriect i If employers and employees alike rec ognize and discharge these duties, effec tive results should be obtained in mini mizing the hazard and controlling dis eases arising therefrom. Again, with re spect to compensatory legislation, occu pational disease compensation should not be permitted to become heatth insurance and upon industry should be imposed only those costs which compensate injuries that are peculiar to the particular indus tries in which the employees are engaged. Form of Silicosis Compensation Acts For many who have given but super ficial thought to this problem, it has been somewhat easy to say that compensation for silicosis injuries should take similar form to that for accidental injuries. The vice of such thought is in our failure to recognize the essential^ differences be tween the two types of injuries, to wit-- that accidents occur at a specific time, at a specific place, in a specific way, under a specific employer, while silicosis and other occupational disease injuries are tlte result o f the accumulation of injurious substances over an extended period of time in different forms or types of em ployment and even under different em ployers. Therefore, the practical administration of the thought to compensate silicosis in juries in a manner similar to accidental injuries has not proved satisfactory and some other solution must be found. We have seen that in considerng the national development of compensation acts, their original design was to cover only accidental injuries: in form and in methods of administration they were not designed to cover 'occupational diseases. It may be true that certain occupational diseases have characteristics strikingly similar to traun;-ek -]mjurics. such as an thrax and lead wher.. tb c jlii^ , case develops mraH||dty after exposure and the develoifigBEjo'f the disease is 0c n 53 - I Li? n ? l si! % S' m f JStf}: V..... ii.v*!?r V), ' 5 V -V 440 T'cnty-fijil, Ktuioua! Sf-.-ty Conarcss S i 1. . |M 4 IP ;);-: rapid and become disabling, fatal or cured uuhi n a limited period of time. On the other hand, there are certain torms of occupational diseases, for ex* ample, silicosis, where the injuries sus tained represent the accumulation of in jurious substances over an extended pe riod of time and disablement may follow exposure to hazards under successive em ployers, Therefore, in considering legis way have betn it i< ai psprsovaal- o.?f>e.m"pl-oyyer to I rifilila. :Vi a1 and .t n ,ii t, l: I e\t?tcn< j" p* '^[VucM.^la't'fon wycltm` dUtry The de !ie uke 111 par,i" 'rested in th is ^ ro b l" ',^ ^ n>5i-on medical iation for occupational d7sees`. `we must s i t i o s i / H L Pr h e c?m Pensation for fills?; Slii: recognize the fact that the problem with nhich we propose to d eaf is, of neces- sirv, diffe-r-e-n--t from the awccwidiuevnhtmali injjuurryy problem and that the administrative pro visions of such legislation must be de adopted S aS IO Vk''" b" n h' retf`e pf ,he s!s vary boil, adn-inistTM` ^ - pProvlisli0ons for nth,e.:ir. iormitv of legislation"! p,den1'tnt' uni- . ( tt-is* to be t problem yCanripo signed especially to handle this particu lar problem. be tar r o( their r r S<1 I am not a professional critic of Work ment th men's. C--o--m- rp--en--sation *L--aws *in ue-mffcewc;t iInn m me state n> Y**.. v* -- / ,v" that he: this co#untrVy,* but one" t'h`inOg is c-Ve*rtla*iln|l,| tirely Sc p ,r i , e d df e t l n ^ may be plovers, none ot them is perfect, Some of their swer m it.. . .. . 0? d,stmcJ from `he an- pitional provisions are perhaps unjust, cither to pver to the problem in California small in the employer or the employee and. cer S a M c tainly, in the administration of these pro ,0 t e id0pled' "><' jicnsauo AVith cies sue* visions, the human clement therein may Public f- give rise to certain inequities. However, o M h i^ ? cf " n" S ta these acts were the result of the need of ` ^ ehminatc unnecessary Indusin: transferring the disputes arising between Ic^UHon, U,lh rCSPCCt lo such PrPi try may able, to employer and employee to some State agency whereby they might be settled, Again, some of our friends who pur- tormanc other than that provided by our courts most ot /, 'y- , From my own observation of cutneaVrioo.f T1bie ' 0r 'ClUcd h3Ve b n *d *IJ-inc!usive" oc- your pa other th J silicosis litigation, I believe that from the t h f 'a nrl*" SV CtS' U ^ judgment, plovers, standpoint oMhc employer, the employee, acts 'i' m.clus!v occupational disease nation, and the public, some agency other than and r'sk i kV,tAb y t0 healll` insurance but it v. our courts of law should be established to the a'imbi?e/hC*D<ar' t71n` charged with determine the liability of employers for c a immistratioo thereof to award com- compen* occupational disease injuries sustained by their employees. * I have mentioned the possible inequi ties that have existed under our compen occur'to'cm nf^ the> TM " " th a tZ cm ploym e,,? yC' S ,B ,hc cour f ph,5C of ' he problem of si'li- The ; brought sation acts and in the administration of their provisions. However, I believe to c m S 11'0,'' legislation is that of ilV Cd . b,l,'y- In most instances where lit c day it is fair to state that any attempt to effect the repeal of those compensation acts would meet .with the combined re sistance of employer and employee alike. Neither interest would desire to transfer back to our courts administering common law, the question of the legal liability of employers ior .accidental injuries sus tained by employees in the course of their employment. have /' " f? " d `h employee. . um" 3tod thc injurious substances of ,t, T tbc,r con<ii'ioii during the term c.. employment before such proposed tem ilat.on.eou become effective With E ' ' " ,h* liability. I believe it tin 4 * ,0 fad<|le the expense thereof , r : i - V d- ' rV a. one given time and some , l! ' 5 1f be found for apportioning " us accrued liability. Therefore, in view of the past admin ,,, A'!?th'i i S F !T`'niP0 rtant element `P b . K i istration I.f our compensation laws, un L "v ^ grtdn'? j b<: drafting of silicosis com- , satisfactory to certain interests as they pensauon Jrfedjation should be a prow ! Sion for tHesppjjfntment of a compete"1 * * w M ui 000112 " tA5v< Q u a rry S e d ia 441 lot unrcasonahlt ccupational diS{J' rlv meet with g, sr and employ^ ;t is reasonable'^ lion may eliminji, nsive litigation th,, the social needs g t this problem. tig compensation fe ave been Iteretef, the states vary bod provisions for thej tty judgment, uni. is not only inipoj. hut distinctly inad 'iitions vary greatly .'ns of the country answer to the prob*.v Yortc may be ec- <tincrfrom the an in California. Any p be adopted mu ticular working couar State in which it A frank recognition iminate unnecessary .'Cl to such proposed ir fs who pur- or ...ve been advo- . "all-inclusive" oc >. In my judgment, ccupational disease to health insurance Intent charged with reoi to award com- poard. Neither lawyer; nor lay- C ' are in the position to pass upon " ` ' l questions nor to determine the lence oi occupational diseases m inf ' t r t nor the disabling effect thereoi. ike determination oi such injuries must sa taken from lay juries and from com missions incompetent to determine such medical questions. ^ Necessity of Prevention I wish to emphasize what to me-seems to be the most important aspect of this oroblem, namely, prevention. From the standpoint of those Who labor, they should be far more interested in the maintenance of their health in their particular employ ment thin in compensation for in|urtes to that health. From the standpoint of em ployers. the cost of prevention of occu pational disease injuries will be bus a small fraction of the ultimate cost of com pensation for such injuries. With respect to silicosis, through agen cies such as your own. the United States Public Health Service and other state and industrial organizations in which indus try may have confidence, there is avail able, to you as employers, scientific in formation as to methods of eliminating most of the silica hazard that exists in your particular industries. If. for none other than selfish reasons. you,_ as em ployers. should make use of this infor mation. The initial cost may seem great, but it will many times repay the cost of compensation for siheosts injuries. I do not believe that modern society will countenance the continued failure oi many industries to utilize such available methods o( engineering control as will tend to minimize the hazard and I hope that in your industrial processes each oi you here assembled will renew your in terest and activities with respect to your own important departments oi industrial hygiene. , . Labor, for its part, must discharge its duties with full appreciation of the haz ards that are present in the particular in dustries wherein its members are en gaged. There must be no half-hearted use. of protective appliances with which labor may be supplied. Similarly, there must be no half-hearted enforcement of factory rules and regulations with respect to the use of such appliances. Again, there must be a cooperative observance oi rules and regulations that may be laid down by safety engineers or state officials with respect to health conditions m your plants. The problem of health must become a major consideration by ail interests in volved and 1 honestly believe that with full cooperation bj* employer and em ployee alike, industry may be well on its way to elimination of this hazard and mav relegate the problem of compensa tion for such injuries to such statutory provisions- as the state may see fit to adopt, reasonable in their provisions, but unnecessary to enforce because of the previous elimination of the hazard. .uman ills that may the course oi their , The Thursday morning session was table discussion on "The Work oi the '.he problem of siii- i brought to a do=e with a general round Quarry Section. .'gislation is that of lost instances where exist, the employee; injurious substance; ADJOURNMENT lion during the term efore suelt propoied me effective. With itv, I believe it if :iie expense thereof given time and some :nd for apportioninc riant .dement to b< ling oi silicosi.- cc*:nfhouid ho a profi ler.: of a comnetent GCi