Document 4vG3Lo8VVodkXX0r6vzE8qB4N

SUBJECT Dust *rd Tta s<lotion to-Qi;r Poerotjgr.s. JUN \ 3 tsss Sr. ?. J. Reisring Tories Ifcgmggr. Desroi^ BILL. . C.tLCAGO izzh Z 1933 / AO f* Tie are situating hereto aa. ercellent paper on tie subject of Pars and Its Relation to our Operations* oiiich 12?. J. S. Qffutt prepared Tar preaentation at tie recent operating contention. Cto preblen of dust and ita central la teconing of continual ly increasing inrartanca. Cony states na.ro legislation along liee3, taint places definite 1L<-- a--cas upon, us, under strict no nsict operate. T* suggest tint 70a study this purer carefully in relation to tie conditions at your plant. If you into any cuosticns no si.all to glad to hare you costas': us. d?:lU Ttis latter sent to all planta end warehousea in tie Cue rating Dorartssnt, including Canadian fills and tie liarine Departs:at ritt aotrio a to each. Production lianago r, lir. H. . Pulnar and Hr. J. s. Offutrt.' Dtr;T A?rp ITS PS.L'ATZCX TO OtTR Of^ATTOKS CCCTrATTOffAL QTS~AS~ T.ATTS "-sLATUrG *TO PPST Events in recent years hare created a widespread interest ia the affect of in dustrial dusts upon tie worker. Already la aoae states laws hare been enacted compensating dust diseases. Other states are considering siailar legislation; Under these laws compensation is granted far disability frsa breathing iaraful dust created or present la the wording environment. the laws usually give power to the state labor departaent .ta set up rules and regulaticas relative ta dust and dusty operations. csmctt LATT A auaber of states hare no specific laws relating to disabilities alleged to hare been caused by hartful dust, la these states there exists the right of aa employee ta claim under cosawn law that an injury is due to negligence of the ecployer. Such a case is tried before a regular court before a judge and a jury, lie employee aust sheer by a preponderance of evidence that he was in jured due to the negligence of the employer. Coaaon law cases are expensive far us to defend. Any failure an the part of managers ta keep dust collect ing equipment aaiataiaed or follow good housekeeping principles can be troughout in a caeca law action. Dusts nay be divided into (1) harmful and (2) non-harnful dusts. Silica and asbestos dusts are definitely known ta be harmful under certain conditions. Tinder these conditions they produce, over long periods of tine, fibrosis of the lungs which car. be disabling and even cause death due to cexplications frsa tuberculosis and pneumonia. Uoqc dusts'do not produce fibrosis or disability -- they era absorbed in th s body fluids. Gypsum. line, clay, nice, aarble dusts, if they are relatively pure, are classed as harmless dusts, nevertheless, excessive concentrations cf any dusts have been condemned by soae medical authorities. Already, in several states, saxtmwa limits of dustiness, for even the harmless dusts, have been set up. These regulations have not affected us so far in our gyp sum and lime operations, but they will not permit us to operate in a cloud of dust- The limits, however, are low for operations involving silica and ashes _tos dust, while they are such higher for gypscajasd lime;. to AT !S CC'.fTvC- T? ITT ST ITCT TT.A?Pf TT ~a nay expect regulation on. permissible dustiness in practically all of the states sow having comprehensive workmen's Compensation laws. The u. S. De partment of Labor is bringing such legislation before the states or.d recom mending enactment of rules and regulations. Medical authorities are con- 9 deeming high concentrations of industrial dusts and joint to high incidence of respiratory infactions in the dusty trades as-?rsof of thair contentions. 'The enoloyer is held responsible for the dust in the nan's working environment. If this dust injures or disables hist,`the eaployer nay hare to pay--whether it be through compensation or eomon law. yrrpynr ~y_Z DCS? rROgluh X dusty plant Carnot be changed overnight into a clean plant. TTe rust begin new. The ceapany has already installed dust collecting equipment in pest of its plants where it is needed. This -equipaent nust be aaintained at maximum efficiency. It aust not be allowed to deteriorate due to poor or inproper . . naiatanance. A dust collecting systan is designed for a specific job and if the conditions change or additions to the system are nade.^tha entire_systea should be checked for collecting efficiency. The effectiveness of dust col- ' lection at one point can be entirely eliminated by dust leaks in conveyors, elevators, aimers, etc. It is a simple natter in tost Cases to stop dust leaks. Control the dust at the source. Eust collectors should be given the sane consideration you give electric no-tors. - If, after fallowing good housekeeping principles, stopping dust leaks in ecuipaent and putting present dust collecting equipment in good operating condition, dusty conditions still prevail, then authorities for needed col lecting equipaent should be prepared and presented an the basis of dust elimination. 2ut first let us sake the best use of what we have. Then changes are aade or new equipment installed, the question of dust must be given consideration. So installation or change is complete without taking care of the dust generated by the operation. If collectors are installed, the authority should not be closed until approval of the installation by state authorities is obtained (if such is required). If standards are sen up by the state department without requiring official approval we should be as sured our equipaent meets such standards. Some Infrequent operations are dusty. It is not practical to install col lectors to take care of these situations. Respirators should be available for use on such jobs. A plant nust always be in position to supply a nan a respirator if he asks for one. Sene states do sot remit respirator: to be worn for protection against dust arising frua regular operation. In exposure . to dusts which contain little or no asbestos, respirators are for the com fort of the aen. In dusts containing high percentage of silica or asbestos, the respirators should be required to protect against the haoard. -Medical authorities, however, point out that`control of the dust at the source is thepreferred nethad of protection. j, The laws relating to dust vary in each state, hair/ new rules and regulations relating to dust are being set up. The responsibility of knowing wu: is re quired by state laws or regulations rests wiih the Torks hanager. It is part, of his managerial responsibility to comply or explain why compliance is lapossible. hany general regulations on dust exist, but if the manager is aware -3- of these he can operate with a knowledge of the regulation la aind. An inter pretation can always he secured from our attorneys as to what constitutes cospliaace with the statute. ?STTggS DCS? zZPCSZR- C? ?TaT UglCTssS The occupational experience of new snployees aust he carefully scrutinised for exposure to silica or asbestos dusts. 71th the enactaent of occupational disease laws, a ember of nenwith silicosis or asbestosis hare been thrown " out of eenleyaect. Eiese nan. nay seek analoyaent at our plants. If.you hare reason to suspect exposure to silica or asbestos dust in high concentrationsorer sorsral years, the safe thing is to hare the can X-rayed and hare the X-ray referred to Chicago far interpretation. Foundry workers, hard reck - nicers and sand blasters are apt to hare lung fibrosis due to dust. carer w ,-r -err 2ony of the Connery's products are rarely dust put into containers and sold. Therefore, potentially, win careless operation the conpacy's plants can be eery dusty places. Social causeiausrsss has been awakened to the hazard and njisar.ee of industrial dust and we hare no altemacire but to recognise this and control the dust rade in our plants. Control of dust rust, therefore* be considered as a saferr orohlea and dealt with accordingly. It represents a cost of r&rufacturs wench we carrot arose. Thereby it beccaes nasageaent1s responsibility to do the job well and do it eeonoaicaliy. 7e comaend to your attention Bulletin 4-3-1 on the SIIninatioc of Custy Conditions. The aanagensent requires conpliarae with these regulations by your forsaea, your workers and you. CHOID l l i /9