Document BReN8oVJKj1K76xO4ZaNvevXE

tii CiZ<2J J lc fisU ted Office: T H E ADEMPHI, LONDON, TIEO. a jld d rsss a it com m unications u n tilfa rth e r notice to ARTILLERY HOUSE, ARTILLERY ROW, LONDON, S.T fil Of!rj4ier,c: a b b e .'y 3 9 7 4 .- 7 jfelegrant& c t w y l po r t . s o w e s t . u o n d o n - . , Directors: SEOFORO (o.*.A.) U. B. AUG.KESSLER (ETMCALANO#) 80VLE R.W. SELLERS MEATH EVES A.U. SINGLETON GASS E.E.SOUBRY HAMILTON (u.S-A.) T.R.A.B6VAN OUR REF. YOUR REF. Q /G Q . D r. R. A. K ehoe, U niversity of C incinnati, College of M edicine, C in c in n a ti, Ohio. 7th. F e b ru a ry , 1944. Dear D r. Kehoe, Mr . Bevan asked me t o send you th e enclosed copy of N otes of a.M eeting h e ld a t th e Royal Army M edical C o lle g e , M illb a n k on 19th January l a s t , f o r your in fo rm atio n . Mr. Bevan saw th e s e n o te s b e fo re he l e f t . Very tru ly yo u rs, K 000716 71 N otes of a m eetin g h e ld a t th e R.A.M. C o lle g e, M illb an k , on 19th January 1944, to d iscuss the d ra ft prepared by D r. Kehoe on th e summary o f c o n d itio n s r e s p o n s ib le f o r to x ic h a za rd s to workmen engaged in f i l l i n g sm all c o n ta in e rs w ith leaded g a so lin e and in handling packaged leaded g aso lin e to g e th e r w ith th e recommendations fo r th e avoidance of such hazards. Chairman: M ajor-G eneral D.T. R ichardson D ire c to r o f Hygiene P re se n t: A ir Commodore T. M eClurkin D ire c to r of Hygiene, A ir M inistry B r ig a d ie r G. R iddoch C onsulting N eurologist C ol. T. E. Kennedy P ro fe sso r of Hygiene D r. E.R .A . Merew eth er Sen.Med-TT,~ F a c to ry D e p t., f Labour Dr. S. H. W , -do- C ol. M. H. 3 Surgeon Cdr. cVi ia ry H.Q. , A dm iralty L t .- C o l. H. Mr. T. R. A. Mr. G. R. Sm Major R. R. : V OC. C '2 _ " E th y l Co.Ltd. . Army C ap t. J . K. ; , Army Major S. E ll: C o lleg e M ajor H. B. f Iff ic e L t . --C o l. L. G lo e. In tro d u c tio n In opening the m eeting ti. <e th e l a s t m eeting was h eld a t th e R.A.M. C olle _________ . */oT>rol f i l l i n g i n s t a l l a t i o n s in th e M iddle E a s t. H. . . u u u n at m ..some o f th e s e p l a n t s a com bination of circum stances e x is te d which had produced co n d itio n s dangerous to the h e a lth of th e o p e ra tiv es. These included, overloading of equipment and employment o f u n s k ille d la b o u r le a d in g to ex ce ssiv e s p illa g e , high tem p eratu res and la c k of adequate v e n tila tio n . Under such co n d itio n s to ta l evaporation of le a d e d p e t r o l to o k p la c e and c a s e s o f le a d in t o x i c a t i o n c h i e f l y among n a tiv e la b o u re rs had occurred. At Abadan, the cases of se rio u s illn e s s and d e ath s were lim ite d to th e h o t w eather p erio d andjpccurred a f te r about 3 w eeks' exposure. D r. Keho3 had p re p a re d a p ap er on th e s u b je c t c o p ie s of which had been c ir c u la te d to th o se p re se n t and i t was proposed to d isc u ss t h i s paper w ith a view to issu in g appropriate in stru c tio n s to Service personnel fo r th e avoidance of such hazards. A. Recommendations and S p e c if ic a t io n s f o r Perm anent o r Sem i-Perm anent I n s t a l l t io n s handling leaded g aso lin e. Mr. Bevan p o in te d o u t t h a t th e recom m endations co n tain ed in t h i s s e c tio n were ap p licab le only to permanent and semi-permanent in s ta lla tio n s operated by the O il Companies in c lu d in g th o s e o p e ra te d by them f o r th e Army, b u t th e y w ere n o t intended fo r im provised o r mobile m ilita ry in s ta lla tio n s . Dr. Merewether said th a t in th is country where th ese in s ta lla tio n s were HP 0007162 N 7805.01 x 'o a jju u B iu x e :-'l o r . ' to x ic hazards to w ortoen'engaged. In fillin g ';,sm a ll c o n tain ers w ith le a d e d g a so lfn t, .-end i n h a n d lin g .-packaged 'le a d e d g a s o lin e to g e th e r w ith th e " re o o m a e n d a tip n s^ fb r': th e a v o id a n c e ' o f s u c h ;~i. H azards. -f''r-'.Y Chairman: M ajor-G eneral D.T. R ichardson P r e s e n t: A ir Commodore T. M cClurkin B r ig a d ie r G. R iddoch C ol. T, F . Kennedy Dr. E.R.A. Merewether Dr. S. H. Wilkes . C ol. M. H. Brown Surgeon Cfir. G .Southw ell-Sander L t .- C o l. H. N. C othay Mr. T. R. A. Bevan Mr. G. R. Sm ith Major R. R. C leland C ap t. J . K. Latham Major S. E l l i o t t M ajor H. B. Hodson L t --Col* L. G* Huchs. D ire c to r o f Hygiene D ire c to r of Hygiene, A ir M inistry Consulting N eurologist P ro fe sso r of Hygiene Sen.M ed.Insp. F actory D ept., M in istry of. Labour C hief Chem ist, -doO anadian M ilita r y H.Q,. M edical D ep t., A dm iralty D .C .I.S. The A sso ciated E th y l C o.Ltd. -doSn. C orps, U .S . Army Sn. C orps, U .S . Army Chem ist, R.A.M .College A .M .D .5 ., War O ffic e S .T . 2 , War O ffio e . In tro d u c tio n In opening the m eeting th e D ire c to r of Hygiene s a id th a t sin c e th e l a s t m eeting was h e ld a t th e R.A.M. C o lle g e , Dr. Eehoe had made a to u r o f p e tr o l f i l l i n g i n s t a l l a t i o n s in th e M iddle E a s t. He found t h a t i n some o f th e s e p l a n t s a com bination of circum stances e x is te d which had produced co n d itio n s dangerous to the h e a lth of th e o p e ra tiv e s. These in clu d ed , o verloading of equipment and employment o f u n s k ille d la b o u r le a d in g to ex cessiv e s p illa g e , high tem p eratu res and la c k of adequate v e n tila tio n . Under such co n d itio n s t o t a l ev ap o ratio n of le a d e d p e t r o l to o k p la c e and c a se s o f le a d in t o x i c a t i o n c h i e f l y among n a tiv e la b o u re rs had occurred. At Abadan, the cases of serio u s illn e s s and d eath s were lim ite d to th e hot w eather p erio d andjpccurred a f te r about 3 w eeks' exposure. D r. Kehoe had p rep ared a pap er on the s u b je c t c o p ies of which had been c irc ilia te d to th o se p re se n t and i t was proposed to d isc u ss t h i s paper w ith a view to is su in g appropriate in stru c tio n s to Service personnel fo r th e avoidance of such hazards. A. Recommendations and S p e c ific a tio n s fo r Permanent or Semi-Permanent I n s ta lla tio n s handling leaded g aso lin e. Mr. Bevan p o in te d o u t t h a t th e recom m endations c o n tain ed in t h i s s e c tio n were ap p licab le only to permanent and semi-permanent in s ta lla tio n s operated by the O il Companies in c lu d in g th o s e o p e ra te d by them f o r th e Army, b u t th e y w ere n o t intended f o r im provised o r mobile m ilita ry in s ta lla tio n s . Dr. Merewether said th a t in t h i s cou n try where th ese in s ta lla tio n s were fa c to r ie s any q u estio n o f re g u la tio n s would have to be decided by th e M in istry of L abour. He p o in te d out i t was n o t s a f e t o assume t h a t a h ig h te m p e ra tu re was alw ays n e c e s s a ry a s one o r two c a s e s had o c c u rre d among c a r b u r e t to r t e s t e r s in th is country. L t.-C o l. Huoks said th a t m ilita r y i n s ta lla t io n s would be c o n sta n tly changing t h e i r lo c a tio n . They would be of th e m obile o r im provised ty p e and m ight be s e t up in te n ts o r re q u is itio n e d b u ild in g s . I t would not alw ays be p o ssib le to la y on w ater and they could o f course have no co n tro l over th e flo o r su rfa ce . D r. M erew ether c o n sid e re d t h a t some t e s t sh o u ld be ad o p ted even i n m ilita r y e sta b lish m e n ts o th erw ise th e occurrence of c ases .of T .E .L . p o iso n in g ; would be th e f i r s t in d ic a tio n of dangerous c o n d itio n s. 1 ' D .o f H. po in te d o u t t h a t th e e s tim a tio n of le a d ' i n th e ' atm o sp h ere was a com plicated process and he doubted w hether i t would be p o ssib le f o t t h i s to be carried out in m ilitary in s ta lla tio n s. Mr. W ilkes s a id t h a t th e e s tim a tio n o f p e t r o l v apour i n th e atm osphere was f a i r l y e a s ily c a rrie d out and suggested th a t t h is m ight b e used as a gu id e. Mr. Bevan s t a t e d how ever, t h a t an e s tim a tio n o f th e p e t r o l c o n te n t o f th e a i r would give no in d ic a tio n of th e amount o f le a d p re s e n t and p o in te d out th a t th e recommendation r e f e r r e d to perm anent i n s ta lla t i o n s o p erated by th e O il Companies. L t.-C o l. Hucks considered th a t i f n ecessary Mobile P e tro l Labs, might be ab le to c a rry out th e t e s t recommended provided th e n e c e ssa ry a p p aratu s were a v a ila b le . Mr. W ilkes r e f e r r in g t o th e reconm endations in p a ra . 5 c o n sid e re d t h a t m echanical v e n t i l a t i o n was more v a lu a b le th a n any o th e r m easure. L t.-C o l. Hucks said th a t as fa r as m ilita ry in s ta lla tio n s were concerned m echanical v e n tila tio n would be q u ite im p ra c tic a b le and th ey would have to depend upon o th e r form s of v e n tila tio n . I t was however, p o in te d out th a t t h i s recommendation was in ten d ed to ap p ly when c o n d itio n s were such a s to give r i s e to hazardous exposure from s p illa g e and evaporation. B. Recommendations fo r Im provised and m obile c a n - f illin g in s ta lla t io n s handling leaded gasoline. L t.-C o l. Hucks sa id th a t in g e n e ra l th e se recommendations were p a r t of th e norm al S .T .2 p r a c t i c e b u t h o sin g down th e f l o o r s would n o t a s a r u le be p r a c t i c a b l e . D. of H. s a id i t would o n ly b e p o s s ib le to la y down th e g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s f o r th e p r o te c tio n o f p e rso n n e l engaged on t h i s work. The a c tu a l d e t a i l s w hich would v a ry w ith l o c a l c o n d itio n s would have to be l e f t to th e man on th e s p o t. I t s h o u ld , however, be im pressed on th o se in charge o f such in s ta lla t io n s th a t th e y were responsible fo r the health of the operatives. V' L t.-C o l, Bucks r e f e r r in g to the q u estio n o f p ro te c tiv e c lo th in g sa id th a t denim o o v e ra lls were provided and th e se were changed a t th e end of th e day. Magazine shoes o were provided f o r indoor in s ta lla tio n s . D. o f H. s a id t h a t th e recom m endations r e g a rd in g th e m e d ic al s e l e c t i o n o f p e rs o n n e l would n o t a p p ly t o m i l i t a r y p e rs o n n e l who would have a lr e a d y been m e d ic a lly examined. B rig a d ie r Riddoch agreed and s ta te d th a t i t was im portant th a t stu p id people should not be se le c te d fo r t h i s work. L t.-C o l. Hucks said th a t m ilita r y in s ta lla t io n s would be o p erated by tra in e d p .o r H. po in te d o u t t h a t th e e s tim a tio n of le a d i n th e' atm o sp h ere was ` a com plicated p ro cess and lie doubted w hether i t would be p o ssib le fo b t h i s to be c a r r ie d o u t in. m i l i t a r y i n s t a l l a t i o n s . Mr. WiTTres s a id t h a t th e e s tim a tio n o f p e t r o l vapour in th e atm osphere was f a i r l y e a s ily c a rrie d out and suggested t h a t th is m ight be used as a guide. Mr. Bevan s t a t e d how ever, t h a t an e s tim a tio n o f th e p e t r o l c o n te n t o f t h e a i r would give no in d ic a tio n of th e amount o f le ad p re s e n t and p o in te d out th a t th e recommendation re f e r r e d to perm anent in s t a l l a t i o n s o p erated by th e O il Companies. L t.-C o l. Huoks co n sid ered th a t i f n ecessary Mobile P e tr o l L abs, might be ab le to c a rry out th e t e s t recommended pro v id ed th e n e c e ssa ry a p p a ra tu s were a v a ila b le . Mr. W ilkes r e f e r r in g t o th e recom m endations in p a ra . 5 c o n sid e re d t h a t m echanical v e n t i l a t i o n was more v a lu a b le th a n any o th e r m easure. L t.-C o l. Huoks sa id th a t as f a r as m ilita r y in s ta lla tio n s were concerned m echanical v e n tila tio n would be q u ite im p rac tic ab le and th ey would have to depend upon o th e r forms of v e n tila tio n . I t was however, p o in ted out th a t t h i s recommendation was in ten d ed to apply when c o n d itio n s were such a s to g iv e r is e to hazardous exposure from sp illa g e and evaporation. B. Recommendations fo r Im provised and m obile c a n - f illin g in s ta lla t io n s han d lin g leaded gasoline. L t.-C o l. Bucks sa id th a t in g e n e ra l th e se recommendations were p a r t of th e norm al S .T .2 p r a c tic e b u t h o sin g down th e f l o o r s would n o t a s a r u le be p r a c t i c a b l e . D. of H. s a id i t would o n ly be p o s s ib le to la y down th e g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s f o r th e p r o te c tio n o f p e rs o n n e l engaged on t h i s work. The a c tu a l d e t a i l s w hich would v a ry w ith l o c a l c o n d itio n s would have to be l e f t to th e man on th e s p o t. I t should however, be im pressed on those in charge o f such in s ta lla tio n s th a t th e y were responsible fo r the health of the operatives. L t.-C o l. Hucks r e f e r r in g to the q u e stio n o f p ro te c tiv e c lo th in g s a id th a t denim o v e ra lls were provided and th e se were changed a t th e end of th e day. Magazine shoes were provided f o r indoor in s ta lla tio n s . D. of H. s a id t h a t th e recom m endations re g a rd in g th e m ed ical s e l e c t i o n o f p e rs o n n e l would n o t a p p ly t o m i l i t a r y p e rs o n n e l who would have a lr e a d y been m e d ic a lly examined. B rig ad ier Riddoch agreed and s ta te d th a t i t was im portant th a t stu p id people should not be sele c ted fo r th i s work. L t.-C o l. Hucks said th a t m ilita r y i n s ta lla t io n s would be o p erated by tra in e d personnel. D. o f H. c o n sid e re d thfet h av in g re g a rd to th e e a r l y symptoms o f T .E .L .p o is o n in g th e O.C. would b e m ost l i k e l y t o d e te c t changes in d is p o s itio n o f th e o p e ra tiv e s and i t was im p o rtan t th a t such c ases should be r e f e r r e d to th e M edical O ffic e r. Dr. Merewether considered th a t o p p o rtu n itie s should be given f o r th e worker to be interview ed by the doctor p e rio d ic a lly in order th a t any changes in h is m entality could be d etected . D. of H. th e n re a d a r e p o r t fro m th e C o n su lta n t P h y s ic ia n P a if o r c e w hich contained d e ta ils of the c lin ic a l asp e c ts of T etra E thyl Lead Poisoning. I t was agreed th a t a copy of t h i s re p o rt should be sen t to Dr. Behoe f o r h is comments. 1. A ppropriate in s tru c tio n s based jan Dr. Eetoe 's paper should be issued to u n its operating p e tro l f il lin g in s ta lla tio n s ' byS.>i2. 2 . The c o n p le te r e p o r t to g e th e r w ith ,a d e s o r ip tio n :o f the: Q lin ib a l a sp e o ts o f T.EL. p o iso n in g should be issu e d f o r th e in fo rm atio n o f m edical o f f i c e r s . I t was c o n sid e re d t h a t t h i s could b e s t, be done i n th e A.M.D. B u lle tin . 3. S.T.A .4 should be asked t issue* an in s tru c tio n on th e avoidance of p o ssib le h e alth hazards from th e use of leaded p e tro l in p e tro l cookers.'