Document EqdKz7gNmYd7R5LKnDJgambzj

FILE NAME: General Electric (GE) DATE: 1929 DOC#: GE113 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Plan of Sandblasting Hazards Study to be Conducted by the National Safety Council [Revised] Lnder the fair use provisions of the copyright law of the United States (17 USC 107), this single copy was produced for leference use onW-m i - <' from material in Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library, P.O. Box 208240, 128 Wall Street, New Haven CT 0652C-824C. All Uornplelasscepderinmitshseiocnolilsecgtriaonntsedo,TnOeiit^hfetristhflisAciot^pfytWnomr tih^eiiwiMor1d^s on it may be: Hazards reproduced in Study to any Da form; used by an Conducted unauthorized by the person; ' National Safety Cuncil (Revised) It is now well established that the inhalation of large amounts of dust containing free silica produces a disease of the lungs known as silicosis. This disease is most often encountered among workers in dusty trades. The duration of occupation necessary to produce the disease is dependent in some measure upon the physical condition of the worker. The most important factor however influ encing the rate of production of the disease is the quanitative dust exposure and the percentagecr amount of free silica in the dust. In the studies made by the United States Public Health Service at Barre, Vermont, in a dust containing approximately 35 per cent of free silica, it was found that the exposure to less than twenty million particles of dust per cubic foot of air was relatively safe, whereas exposure to dust concentrations greater than this was found to be hazardous. If we contrast the foregoing with the ex posure to a dust-containing 85 per cent of free silica, such as is found in South African gold mines, a concentration of more than eight million particles per cubic foot of air is found to be hazardous, and in a dust containing 90 per cent of free silica such as 1b the case in the Austrailian sandstone works, the exposure to over six million particles per cubic foot of air is hazardous. In sandblasting operations the percentage of free silion is in all likelihood approximately 85 to 95 per cent. The object of the present study is to make a survey of sandblasting opera tions in the United States in order to determine how conditions in this indus try compare with standards based on the South African or Australian experience since these are the best available standards for use in connection with dusts of this high free silica content. By this means it will be possible to evalu ate the relative degree of hazardousness of sandblasting operations as conducted in this country. Should this study disclose the fact that in certain cases Under the fair use provisions of the copyright law of the United States (17 USC 107), this single copy was produced for reference use only from material in Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library, P.O. Box 208240, 128 Wall Street, New Haven CT 36520-8240. Unless permission is granted, neither this copy nor the words on it may be: reproduced m any form; used by an unauthonzed person; or placed m the collections of any institution or individual. Under ihe fair use provisions of the copyright law of the United States (17 USC 107), this single copy was produced for reference use only from material in Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library, P.O, Box 208240, 128 Wall Street, New Haven CT 0652(^8240. Unless permission is granted, neither this copy nor the words on it may be: reproduced in any form; used by an unauthorized person, or placed in the collections of any institution or individual. --2 ~ sandblasting is conducted in very low dust concentrations, we may urge the gen eral adoption of this means of conduct for the pursuit of all sandblasting oper ations. In such a case as this where dust concentrations are very low and work ers have been engaged for a period of years, it would be advisable to procure x-ray pictures in order to verify our standards. In general the following would be an outline of the study! 1, Type of blasting and plants. a. Sandblasting in open rooms, closed rooms, barrels, cabinets, outside work. b. Artificial abrasives. c. Carborundum. d. Building and monumental trades In general, thb process is to be studied in excellent, good and bad types of installations, if possible, 2. Information to be obtained. a* Sanitary surveys of the job with sketches and dimensions and photographs (obtain plans and blue prints), b. Ventilation data. Sketch showing ventilation devices with measurements of ducts, fan sizes and Velocity measurements of air. Static suction in hoods. Recirculation of air. Minimum requirements at level of workers' face, c. Complete data on sand blasting equipment and methods used, d. Dust counts. Samples obtained with the irapinger apparatus at the breathing level of workmen. This will make it pos sible to compare these findings directly with those of the Australian, South African, and-the U. S. Public Health Service investigations. Size distribution on representative samples. e. Chemical and petrographic analyses of pooled dust samples. Complete data on type of material used, Fand, its source and write to Sand Company for analyses. (U.S. Geol. Survey Pullman Laboratory) Under the fair use provisions of the copyright law of the United States (17 USC 107), this single copy was produced for reference use only j'. j] from material in Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library, P.O Box 208240, 128 Wall Street, New Haven CT 06520-8240. J/ Unless permission is granted, neither this copy nor the words on it may be: reproduced in any form; used by an unauthorized person; A3 or placed in the collections of any institution or individual. Under the fair use provisions of the copyright law of the United States (17 USC 107), this single copy was produced for reference use only from material in Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library, P.O. Box 208240, 128 Wall Street, New Haven CT 06520-8240 ' oUrnplelasscepderinmitshseiocnolilsecgtriaonntsedo,fnaeniythienrsttihtiusticoonpyornionrditvhiedwuaol.rds on it may be: reproduced in any form; used by an unauthorized person; -3 - f. Occupational analysis of the workers with the history of ex posure and complete history of occupations. Actual description of the nature of the work being conducted at this time. g. Medical and statistical data showing the illnesses and deaths in the occupations at the plant under consideration. Also data on labor turnover in the sandblasting operation. h* X-ray pictures of the chest to be obtained only in those cases where a reasonably long exposure to low concentrations of dust has obtained, in order to serve as a check on our standard. In a few cases where a severe dust exposure has been the rule, it might be well to have Xray pictures as a contrast. 3. Studies on helmets and respirators. a. In industry - by taking samples of du^t while the worker is us ing the helmet, , b. In the laboratory - on thoe devices which appear satisfactory to the members of the investigating staff, tests will be con ducted. The National Safety Council cannot afford the expense of testing all of the devices which will be offered by manu facturers. 4. Literature and Statistics. By letters of inquiry addressed to all state departments of health labor, vital statistics, or insurance organizations, all available information is to be collected. Under the fair use provisions of the copyright law of the United States (17 USC 107), this single copy was produced for reference use only from material m Manuscripts and Archiyes,_Yale University Library, P,Q. Box 208240, 128 Wall Street. New Haven CT C652Q-824Q. ____ Unless permission is granted, neither this copy nor the words on it may be: reproduced in any form; used by an unauthotized person; or placed m the collections of any institution or individual.