Document 71Mq4ZNBO94zqGEqDOVkBwGGe

FILE NAME: Sprayed Asbestos (SPRA) DATE: 1945 DOC#: SPRA006 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: UK Govt Report - Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for the Year 1945 .3* FACTORIES ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF FACTORIES FOR THE YEAR 1945 Presented by the Minister of Labour and National Service to Parliament by Command of His Majesty December 1946 LONDON HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE Cmd, CstjCjT. TRICE 2S. Od. NET 12 these accidents. It is possible to make some industries or processes so itomatic that practically all manhandling is eliminated. An interesting :ample is to be found in the tin-plate industry, which has been a prolitic urce of handling accidents. An old tin-plate works has been replaced by large modem strip mill in which the material is not manhandled from the tie the coil of sheet metal is fed into the machine until the finished sheets e delivered, cut and sorted into piles of, " rejects " , " doubtfuls " and primes" . Falls account for 13.7 per cent, of the accidents. About half of these e falls on the level, and many are caused by stepping or tripping over articles ft lying about. Good housekeeping and supervision, and more care and ought on the part of the individual are the remedies. Defective lighting ays its part in these accidents, and to a greater extent than is generally alised, because, as#onc Inspector remarks, not all are so clearly attributable bad lighting as one reported to him of a man who tripped over a black cat 1an unliglited blackcd-out staircase. Falls from heights must always be. a matter of great concern because the serious injuries they usually entail. Close and continuous watch on ructures and plant is essential to sec that no defective or insecure ladders, ages, etc. arc in use and that platforms and gangways are provided with roper fencing. Now that maintenance staffs can be built up once again, is to be hoped that there will be a substantial reduction in this type of xident. Remembering the accidents which occurred during the application [ black-out, the shaken condition of some of the buildings in the bombed rcas and the nature of some of the strippers used, it was feared that a rgc crop of serious accidents might occur during the operation of removal, hat this did not result can be attributed to the gangways, crawling boards nd other means of access about roofs provided to facilitate the work of the re guards and the more general acquaintance which it brought with roof-work nd its dangers, aided by some timely publicity in the technical press and dvice given by Inspectors during their visits. Overhead Travelling Cranes. Serious accidents, many of them fatal, continue to occur each year to persons working on or near overhead travelling cranes. Most of them could be revented by the adoption of comparatively simple precautions and the exercise f ordinary care. In many factories precise rules have been formulated with he object of ensuring that proper steps are taken to prevent such accidents, tut all too frequently the rules are ignored, with consequences that are disrcssing to everyone concerned. In one such case the Chairman of a Safety Committee neglected to carry out the rules, for the framing of which he had >ecn responsible, and was himself maimed; and in another a workman who vas ordinarily conscientious in observing the rules was severely injured when ic neglected to do so. Far too many accidents result from the ease with which access is obtained 0 the ladders and gangways by which cranes are approached. However good safety rules may be, it is desirable that they should be supplemented when ever practicable by physical barriers or danger warnings. At one large factory, ockcd gates at ground level are fitted to ladders giving access to gangways, and the key is kept in the custody of a responsible official; at another a trap-door at the top of the ladder must be raised, and this automatically Itches cp. red dinner lamps suitably placed for observation by crane 13 When anyone works on or near the crane track where he is liable to l struck by the crane, the statute requires effective measures to be take: either by warning the driver or otherwise, to prevent the crane approach!: within twenty feet. Measures commonly taken are the removal of fuses immobilise tire crane, the use of electro-mechanical devices for cutting off ti power supply to prevent movement of the crane within the danger zon and the mounting of red flags. One warning device consists of a buzzer the driver's cab which is controlled by a switch linked to a rocking arm < the outside of the cab. Brackets carrying a fixed arm are attached to tl girders supporting the crane track at a suitable distance from the place whe the work is being carried out, and this fixed arm engages with the trippii arm fojr the buzzer switch as the crane moves into the danger zone, and tl driver is warned to stop. These safety brackets are placed in position b y pla fitters whose duty it is to test them for effectiveness and record the result < a special log sheet. Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing. During 1945 there were reported 17,667 accidents in shipyards or in shi] repairing in dry or wet docks, of which 92 were fatal, as compared with iQ.qf accidents, n o fatal, in Die preceding year. There was thus a substanli decrease which is in line with the accident trend in industry generally. A estimate made for the Scottish yards indicates a fall of about 14 per cent, i the number of accidents per 1,000 persons employed. ' The end of the war was followed by a period of transition during whic the building of warships gave place to the building of merchant ships, an the repairing of bombed and mined vessels to the refitting and conversion < craft m order Drat Ihcy might resume Ihcir peacetime purposes. A lypic: example was the re-conversion of a large number of minesweepers to trawlci so that they might rejoin the fishing fleets and help to augment the country1 food supply. A noticeable feature is the reduction in the number of womc employed, whose useful work, especially as electric welders, helped at a critics time to compensate for the shortage of riveters. The increased use of electric welding referred to in previous years was sti evident, bringing with it the reorganisation of yards in order to construe ships by this means. In addition to problems relating to the lifting of heay prefabricated parts, this change, together with the increased use of sue inflammable and practically odourless and colourless gases as propane an butane for gas cutting and welding operations in place of acetylene, gav rise to problems concerned particularly with the provision o f adequate vent lation in enclosed or confined spaces and the minimising of the risk of explc sion. The incorporation of a stenching agent with these odourless gases i the near future, in order that their otherwise unsuspected presence m ay b readily detected, should prove a valuable precaution. A further problem is the provision and adequate use o f suitable means t prevent eyeflash, not only among electric welders themselves but also amon others working with or near to them; observation in the yards indicates tha more could be done both by employers and employees by the greater use 0 screens and goggles to prevent this painful indisposition. The considerable development during the war years in the use of asbestos either alone or as part of a mixture, for the purpose of heat and sound insula tion aboard ship, with consequent increase in the number of workers exposec to risk of injury to health through asbcslosis. called for action. If this risk  *4 quircmcnls on the subject when the Factories Act Regulations for construcDiial and other work ia ships are revised and extended. In the meantime, nvcvcr, a letter has been sent to employers' and employees' organisations id others concerned calling attention to the matter and suggesting certain reenutinns, which, since they have been accepted both by the Shipbuilding mployers' Federation amt by the Trade Unions concerned, should by their loption do much to ameliorate Hie conditions of work. The increased attention given throughout the year to methods, mostly exirimental, of cleaning outer bottom plating in d ry docks and the application / spraying of anti-corrosive and anti-fouling paints has been noted,, and icso arc also mailers which may call for some regulation. The difficulty experienced during recent years in obtaining suitable` timber ir staging purposes is now less acute; the position will be further eased by ie tendency to use. steel thwarts, instead of wooden ones, in conjunction ith lattice uprights. An interesting development noted in staging practice as tiic use of brackets welded temporarily to the shell .plating of a ship on ie stocks for the purpose of supporting exterior stages. This arrangement, igcther with the use of trestle staging for the lower strakes of plating, lade possible the elimination of both uprights and thwarts, and special rackets, carrying stanchions, were used at intervals to support staging andrails. The unobstructed condition of the berth thoreby secured facilitated ie assembly and handling of large prefabricated parts. The periodical meetings of Shipyard Safety Officers have continued to be ell attended. The discussion of such useful subjects as the precautions ccessary in connection with the use of tubular scaffolding in shipyards, the nproved design of ladders and staging trestles, better means of signalling 3 overhead crane drivers, together with the exchange between one shipuilding centre and another of information relating to accident prevention, annol fait to be of great value to these officers. One comment, so obvious Iiat it should be unnecessary:-- Unless the Safety Officer is given the proper talus and authority and adequate lime to play his full part and apply in he shipyard the knowledge he has gained at these meetings, much of his >encfit will be wasted, Safety Organisation in Factories. Inspectors' reports contain many accounts of comprehensive accident pre vention schemes which are in operation in factories and of a number of new iafety organisations which have been started during the y ea r,'b u t on the vhole the year has been one of consolidation of ground already gained rather ban of spectacular progress. Preoccupation with the change-over to peace.imc production and the inevitable dislocation which large-scale reorganisation nvolved have not encouraged any striking development. With the return to lormal conditions it is much to be hoped that there will be a further spread of the movement. Factory accidents at their present level are estimated to represent a loss to industry of at least 20,000 workers throughout the year. With the present drive for production, this alone is a strong spur to action, quite apart from humanitarian and other motives. It is fitting that we should express our appreciation of the valuable assistance we have had from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in the special wartime safety campaign conducted jointly with them, and I am glad to think that, although our formal association has now come to an end, very dose co-operation will continue. During that campaign, posters which nave cained an international reputation for their artistic merit as well as t! inliutc been icmiiarly distiibutcJ to nearly 7.see factories; but admittedly posters, while useful in gaining and keeping attention if fi qucutly changed, can accomplish little else alone. Accident Prevent! Bulletins, which have been not only read but passed from hand to ha and thoroughly digested, have also been produced with such regularity staff shortages and printing difficulties have permitted; while booklet a leaflet publications circulated first in sample form, have been purchased managements for distribution amongst workers literally by the million-- j - publications of this character can be regarded as effective only in so far they indicate a driving force in the background. That driving force is p vided by the Safety Officers and Safety Committees in the factories, stimulate it, residential training and refresher courses for Safety Offic were instituted and are still continuing. The lecturers have been pro vif from amongst our own staff and that of the Royal Society for the Prevent1 o f Accidents, strongly reinforced ` by well-known and experienced Saf Officers of large firms and by others whose time has been so generously giv Over 400 students have passed through these courses-- still far too few meet the needs and demands of industry. Applications to attend grer exceeded the number of places available, but it was not possible to h additional courses owing mainly to the difficulties in securing acccmmodati It is hoped that some way will be found of overcoming these difficult I am quite convinced of the valuable contribution these courses can m to the accident prevention movement and that expansion is much to desired. The support given to them is an acknowledgement of the special) knowledge and skilled technique required by these officers and, I he also- of the need for according them the proper status without which t cannot be expected to carry out their duties successfully. Inspectors have continued to give active encouragement to internal sal organisations in factories and have given many addresses to Works Sal Commillccs, foremen and apprentices. They have also attended m; of the meetings of Iho local Industrial Safely Groups at which Safely Ofli< and others meet to discuss their problems. The number of these tiro has increased during the last two years from 12 lo 32, and the three Me politan Groups organised last year two important Conferences addressed Ministers. The Groups have come into existence partly spontaneously partly at ihc instance of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accide and of Inspectors. They act as a focus for the Industrial Safety Moven in the area and their influence is not confined to the actual members tends gradually to permeate throughout the area. A typical instance is tha a firm which, as a result of a visit by their assistant engineer to a j meeting of the London Groups, at once set about forming Safety Commit at each of their three works. The results that may be achieved by a vigorous accident prevention sch arc illustrated by the experience of a large engineering firm emplo; ix.ooo workers. In 1944 a Safety Officer was appointed and a Sa Committee formed, and although the numbers employed remained stc the number of reportable accidents fell from 69 in 1944 to 15 last y The frequency rate at another large engineering factory with an active sa organisation of long standing has fallen progressively during the last years as follows: 3.64, 2.81, 2.68, 2.65, 2.55, 2.11, r.86, 1.67 dowi 1.51 in 1945. Many other instances of reduced frequency rates^ coulc quoted such as from 3.4 to 1.8 in a chemical works, 2.5 to 1.6 in a j works, 4.4 to 2.15 in a copper mill, 2.7 to 1.4 in a light engincc factory'. It is only right lo add that some of the firms which have long good accident prevention schemes have experienced a rise-- though genci quite a slight one-- in the frequency rate during the past year,  stating what the "to x ic lim its" are, so that the engineer may nave lme basts for his calculations. Toxic limits can never be more than rough 'orkiug guesses, but even though they were precise that would still not nd the engineer's difficulty. Suppose that the vapour formed when a allon of benzene is vaporised needs to be diluted with half-a-unillion ubic feet of air to bo harmless; it will pot do for the engineer to pass alf-a-million cubic feet of air evenly through the room for every gallon vaporalcd, because the benzene will not be evaporated evenly through the oom, but only in the local areas where men are painting, spraying, or preading the benzene. In those areas the local concentrations will be higher tian the average, that is to say above the toxic limit. :In practice, he asses several times the calculated minimum quantity of air through the oom in an endeavour do take care of local high concentrations. Wartime xperiencc in aeroplane dope shops indicates that the method cap work afely as far as is known at present. But what is the price? The air as not only to be moved but during much of the year it has to be heated as roll, which is a very costly matter indeed. So for reasons of economy lone, particularly as fuel is so precious, general ventilation should never e used unless total enclosure or " fume-cupboards " or other methods of ical exhaust are quite impracticable. - ! In his desire to save the heat otherwise wasted in ventilation systems irovided to remove dust or fumes the engineer is asking at present whether :C could not pass the contaminated air through some sort of filter that /ould strip it of its impurities and allow it, with the heat it still contains, o be passed through the workroom again. The idea is an attractive one >ut in practice it is inadmissible unless filters of a sufficient efficiency are .vailabie. Much work on this problem is being carried out at the present ime, and the Chemical Section is closcty concerned with it. The remarks made above about ventilation of " fumes ' ' and " vapours " Lpply equally well to dust, except that in cases of dust the problem is coro- ilicalcd by the fact that the harmfuhicss may also depend on the sizes of the larlicles. The problem of the removal of dust from the air has become pressing n the last year or two, as it is now common knowledge that injury may irisc not only from the well-rccogniscd poisonous dusts, such as those of cad, silica and asbestos, but also from a much wider range. It is to be cinembcred, too, that the Factories Act requires the removal not only of njurious, but also of " offensive " dusts. Dhs Estimation. Cotton spinning mills, foundries, brickworks and `potteries arc amongst those factories which have provided problems involving the microscopical examination of dust samples, and for this purpose a projection microscope has been obtained. Electrostatic precipitation apparatus has also .been obtained for the collection of samples big enough for piicro-chcmical analysis by the Government Laboratory. For identification of material in quantities too small for chemical analysis or of complex mixtures of silicates still rather beyond the scope of chemical analysis, X-Ray diffraction methods are being introduced in collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory and the Government Laboratory, whilst the possibilities of the electron microscope and of electron diffraction arc being explored. It is proper to acknowledge here the very great dobt the Factory Depart ment owes to the Government Laboratory, who carry out all the Department's chemical analyses. The Chemical Section also looks to the Laboratory for advice on sampling, on the interpretation of the results of analyses, and on ' .`-'rn'inus inner related problems. Radio-active Materials. The dangers Ifrom X-rays and ifram the radiations from radio-ax:tiv< materials as used at present ju industry arc now receiving close attention Fortunately the solutions have been simple hitherto, whatever the futur m ay hold; where gas or dust from radio-active materials arc concerned the same principles are applicable as for non-radio-active gases and dusts Protection from the radiations themselves is given -by suitable screens, o by working at a suitable distance from the source of the radiation. Th measurement of the amount of exposure is much easier than in the case c gases or dusts; the workers exposed have only to carry in their ciothin a photographic film, or an ionisation chamber to enable a measure o f th total exposure over a given time to be made. Escapes of Gases. Tfyj, considerations above refer chiefly to cases where the poisons ai liberated in the air of the room itself, but the most serious accidents < all happen when the poison accidentally escapes from the plant dcsigne to enclose it, or when men enter such plant. The commonest poison, by far, is carbon monoxide in different gaseot mixtures such as coal gas, producer gas, water gas and blast furnace ga and the ways in which it causes injury follow a pretty constant pattei year by year. Accidental and undetected escape of gas from such plant w presumably always be a source of accident, particularly as in some cas(washed blast-fumacc gas is one example) there is no smell to give warnit that the gas is present. But accidents ought not to happen when it clearly known that the gas is escaping. To quote an example: an accidei occurred at a steelworks where the gas flues run below ground, and tl access doors to these flues are in pits. A mild explosion at the time lighting a furnace had disturbed the luting round one of these doors, ar after arranging for reduction of the gas pressure the foreman dcsccndc into the pit to lute the door afresh. lie was fully aware that the door w; leaking-- it was for that very reason that he entered the pit-- and, as for man he would have been expected to realise the danger, yet he did m put on the breathing apparatus that was at hand, and was dead in a fe minutes. . There are two factors at work that will reduce accidents like this. Nc types of self-scaling explosion doors are coming into use, and more co. venient, more comfortable and safer breathing apparatus is being introduce consisting of a face-piece connected by flexible -hose for attachment at sui able points to a fixed compressed air main lacing the whole plant. A simple but sensitive test for carbon monoxide should prevent mai accidents, and fortunately one will soon be available. The Cbeinic Inspectors therefore look forward to a future when big plants, such a s bla furnaces, will be fitted at many points with automatic sampling apparati that will detect and notify the presence of dangerous gas in any part of tl plant. This is still a dream as far as carbon monox'ide is concerned, b it is a very real fact on one plant where hydrogen sulphide is the dangc The opening of plant containing poisonous gas must always be attended t some risk, unless breathing apparatus is worn. If the part to be opened separated from the source of gas only by a valve, failure of that valve mcai almost certain accident, and the following case is quite typical. A by pass valve which had been repaired was to be returned to its position j a meter-house, and to prepare for this the stop-valves on each side of th meter were screwed down. Owing to wear on the shaft of one of the valve ` AnotlieV aspect which counsels caution is that we have records of at least nfe death which wc ascribed to the inhalation of particles of aluminium; and here arc also some continental observations attributing harmful effects to the nhalation of such dust and, experimentally, the effects of alumina on tuber:ulous infections to which silicotics are so prone is not settled. Evidently, intensive and intricate research on both the therapeutic and preventive sides on a considerable scale is required which is properly a matter ior the Medical Research Council. The problem was therefore referred to sir Edward Mcllanby, and the Medical Research Council agreed to accept tire responsibility for the prosecution of a very extensive programme of research, vith which we will co-operate, of course, to the full. A start has already jcen made, and a number of firms mid organisation are co-operating or have expressed their willingness to do so. For several years past experimental work on the production of asbestosis las been carried out at the British Post Graduate Medical School by Professor >1. J. King. 'Phis research is financed by Turner Brothers Asbestos Company ..united, who have also placed the resources of their Research Department at he disposal of the investigators. Experiments have been conducted with ats and rabbits in which short-fibre asbestos (2.5 u) and long-fibre (15 ti) have wen introduced into the lungs. In parallel experiments aluminium was mixed villi the asbestos to study any retarding effect it might have on the deW'lopnent of pathological lesions due to the asbestos. The long-fibre asbestos showed evidence, on histological examination of the lungs, of a more prorounccd pathological effect than the short. There was more blockage of bronchioles, more retention of the asbestos in intra-alvcolar nodules; more eticulin fibrosis, and not much foreign-body giant cell reaction. With the >hort-fibrc asbestos, there was less blockage, the nodules were smaller and interstitial rather than intra-aveolar, and foreign-body giant cell rcaction-was pronounced with evidence of active elimination of the dust. Aluminium .noditied this histological picture only slightly, but the rats receiving aluminium plus asbestos appear to live longer than those receiving asbestos alone. Special Investigations. The work of the Medical Branch seems to increase steadily year by year in range and amount. It is not possible to detail it fully here, but an attempt to give an idea of the range was indicated in the Annual Report for 1943 (page 44). Mention should be made, however, of some of the more important investigations commenced, carried on or completed during the year under review. These included the enquiries into the health of welders and foundry workers, now in an advanced state; the effects of work with electrically driven vibrating tools; other subjects studied were the crushing of basic slag; " trigger finger the suitability of welding as an occupation for workers disabled by silicosis or other form of pneumoconiosis; the possibility of hydatid infection in wool sorting (negatived on investigation); the effects of work involving exposure to chloroform and ether; an alleged risk of silicosis from the grinding of card clothing (disproved by investigation). Several enquiries involved long and intricate investigation, some were carried out in collaboration with other workers in this field, and the detailed results will be published elsewhere. A number of papers on industrial health subjects were contributed by members of the Branch to medical periodicals. With the return of doctors from war service the Branch will soon be brought up to its authorised establishment, and it should be possible to press on with this important section of the work. TABLE III. ' Industrial Diseases. Particulars of the eases of industrial poisoning or disease notifiable under Section 66 the Factories Act,. 1937, and under Section 3 of the Lead Paint (Protection agaii Poisoning) Act, allowing comparison with previous years, are given below. Disease and Industries Lead Poisoning t. Smelting of Metals 2. Plumbing and solduring............... 3. Shipbreaking ... 4. Printing... 5. Other contact with molten lead ... 6. White and red lead works 7. P o tte r y ............... 8. Vitreous enamel- linf? ............... 0.1 Klectric acoumu- lator works ... 10. Paint and colour w o r k s ............... 11. Coach and car painting 12. Shipbuilding 13. Paint used in other industries 14. Other industries... 15. Painting of build- mgs ............... Phosphorus poisoning Mercurial poisoning ... Arsenical poisoning ... Manganese poisoning... Carbon bisulphide poi- sorting ............... Aniline poisoning Chronic benzene poi- soning ............... Toxic jaundice Toxic anaemia Compressed air illness Anthrax ............... 1. Wool ............... 2. Horsehair 3. Hides and skins 4. Other industries... Epithcliomatous Uicer- ation ... i. Pitch ............... 2. Tar ............... 3. Paraffin............... 4. Oil ............... Chrome Ulceration ... 1. Manufacture of bi chromates . 2. Dyeing and finish ing ................. 3. Chrome tanning... ' "4. Chromium plating 5. Other industries... 1900 i .o s3S-1"1 9 its* 301 377* 2108 11 33 5O1 706 50r128' -- 3 9 22J --- -- -- -- --- -- 37* 10' 129*l 6l -- -- --* ---- --- , , -- -- I9IO 5 5 ** .11* 251 --33* *7l 44* 78" 17 3* >7* 70* 21* 51* 67s -- IO1 7 -- -- -- --> -- -- -- 5 1* 28* 6* M* 3* -- -- -- _ -- -- _ it --- --* - r ....... :,rrf r . - f ,, . , a <*>-r- 1920 289'" 45s 933 l 3* 28 25" 2 47s 9 *3 9 IO1 271 .pi** -- 5 3 -- -- -- -- 6 -- -- 48" 25' 3l 17* I 45* 32 TO1 --3 126 77 434 -- 2 Reported Cases *930 26357*1* 6* 247 10* -l u 23" > 3<* 6` 105 * 5 16* 66** --3 I -- ---- 24 -- -- -- -- 43* 3l I 24* 5* *459434"** -- 97** 95 6 255 57 12 1940 108* II 4 0 -- 21 4 27 6* 1* 5 7* -- I 54 IO 5 2* -- I 64 3* 20* -- 31 37* 17* 2 13 5* 166" 5* 34* I 46" I2X 4 5764 40 1942 72* 3 3 3 I 23 7* 6* -- IO I -- 5* 3 11* 6* -- X 6 -- -- 204 ll 27* 24* 25* 72 25* I 213* 52 33* 28* 89 *4 2 4 -4 45 it'-rrf 'trrrs; 2943 1944 191 46* 42* 4i 7l 2 1 l X . -- i* I X-- -- 9 c> 1 524 2* -- -- ---- ! 4 3u 4 5 ( 1 I 1 ---- I 2 X, 6* 11* - 4' 8* 2 2 t-- 4 2l 37 s -- I I-- -- X-- 79 55 31 1* i l : 16* I2l 7* X2* <* I 27* 1 * 8* 1 0* 3* -- -- s* 4I * 3l -- 16504** 205" 99* 21 s. 57* 61* 9. X-- 48" 22ti J4215, t 93 9 12 1. 4 J 7 2-- 23 187 158 43t` !al c.i~ This recalls the experience of flic Medical Branch some years ago (1930-31) when somewhat similar effects on exposed mucous membranes were found in a small group of men exposed to oil fuel soot in their work of cleaning boiler flues of oil burning ships. A sample of this soot was examined at :he time by the Government Chemist and was found to contain 40 per cent, af water soluble iron sulphate-- derived from the sulphur of the oil fuel. This, on burning, would be converted into sulphuric acid and is then neutralised ay the iron in the flues. In contact with water the soot was strongly acid ind this was thought to be the cause of the irritant effect on mucous membranes. Pneumoconiosis. This subject was discussed in some detail in the previous report with egard to the effect of preventive measures as disclosed by examination of he available data. The tables set out below have been brought up to date >y the inclusion of particulars of 508 deaths during the year from silicosis rith tuberculosis, n deaths from asbestosis or asbestosis with tuberculosis, 0 deaths from byssinosis, and 75 from other forms of pneumoconiosis, that is 0 say, a total of 604 deaths from all forms of pneumoconiosis. TABLE V. Casus Investigated up to end o f 1945. Number of Deaths Average age at Death Duration of Employment in years Longest Shortest Average ILICOSIS. Pottery ;-- Silicosis Silicosis with Tuberculosis Sandstone :-- Silicosis Silicosis with Tuberculosis Grinding of Metals :-- Silicosis Silicosis with Tuberculosis Sandblasting:-- Silicosis .............. Silicosis with Tuberculosis Manufacture of Scouring Powders : Silicosis Silicosis with Tuberculosis Miscellaneous:-- Silicosis .............. Silicosis with Tuberculosis otal S ilico sis.......................... Silicosis with Tuberculosis SBESTOSIS. Asbestosis Asbestosis with Tuberculosis 345392 6505--12 62*0 67.0 25.*8 3348*-86 18 3 IQ O 58-4 56-2 C55o--0o 9.0 50 3397-i 85 177 5537*-75 56*0 530 14*O 35-9 2-8 32*8 54 48.5 28-0 1-7 Z2*0 85 48-1 46-0 2*0 12-7 12 38-* 37-0 2-3 8.4 6 40*8 11*2 2*0 7.0 1 3 6 53*5 57-o *5 22-3 126 50-1 50-0 0.7 24*6 990432 5573-'46 62-0 67.0 i *5 0.7 33t4--3i 134 67 3496-.9o 48-0 29*0 o -5 *4-9 o-8 10*2 TABLE Vr. DeathsPfnreoummoFciobrnoiossisis oafndthBe yLssuinngo,siisn c(ElundgilnagndS ialincdo sWis,alAessb).esto sis, 1940-1945. 1940 SILICOSIS x. Refractories industries ............... 16 53 2. Pottery, Manufacture o f ............... 4 3. Sandstone Quarrying and Dressing * 4. Sandstone m asons........................... 67 5. Metal Grinding ........................... 24 23 6. Sandblasting 7. Steel dressing and cleaning of 4 c a s t in g s ....................................... 5 8. Stone, pebble, flint and sand crushing 9. Scouring powders. Manufacture of -- xo. Abrasive wheel Manufacture -- i i . Glass cutting and bevelling x2. Millstone dressing ... ---- 7 13. Slate quarrying and dressing 14. Granite quarrying and dressing ... 1 15. Tunnel mining (Sowago works, etc.) 2 16. Coal Mining ........................... 17. Gold Mining (South Africa) 23IO2 18. Tin M in in g ...................................... 19. Iron ore (haematite) mining 21 20 20. Lead mining -- 21. Copper mining ........................... -- 22. Barytes mining 23. Clay mining ' ............. ; 24. Mining E n g in e ers........................... ----3 25. Miscellaneous ........................... 2 Total-- Silicosis ............... 522 A S B E S T O S IS ...................................... II PNEUMOCONIOSIS COothalerMIninduinstgri.e..s.................................................................. -- -- B Y S S I N O S I S ....................................... -- OTHER CASES OF FIBROSIS ... Grant Total ............... 650 1.183 1941 12 45 24 58 13 4 9 X --2 --I 6 --I 19*677 4I 3I ----X 406 17 *---- -- 461 884 1942 477 24 42034 9 --_ 2 2 X 4 3 5 230 7 12 7 3 ----2 3 2 427 II -- -- 6 443 877 2943 2944 19 427 326 5i. 25X34I 23276 i3 6 7 4 I X4O - X I xX ---- ----- - 6 7 2 4 4 276 277 3* 4 24 X9I X 5X 7 X I 4 ---- -- II ---- -- 2 4 < 470 445 50! 8 IO I] -- -- 334 6X,] 7 X x< 493 531 52< 978 1,024 2.23; Dermatitis. There was a decrease of over two thousand in the cases o f dermatitis (5,95 voluntarily reported in 1945. Reference to current figures for compensatii for dermatitis would give the clue as to whether a smaller proportion the formerly of such cases was being notified to the Factory Department b y tl present voluntary system but such figures are not yet available. There h: been, however, nothing to suggest that the co-operation o f firms in the volu: tary reporting of cases of dermatitis has slackened. As might be expected from the events of 1945 there were fewer cases fro; industries closely connected with munitions of war and tho bulk of the tw thousand decrease was accounted for by the returns from (1) enginecrin (mechanical) (969), chemical manufacture (including explosives and she