Document KJzk6OwjdNE8Q4x6GDbGQnpX

FILE NAME: ALCOA (ALC) DATE: 1962 Oct DOC#: ALC081 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Published Conference Presentation The Growing Importance of Industrial Hygiene JOHif . HARPER PITTSBURGH Industry can feel justly proud of the In dustrial Hygiene Foundation. It is encourag ing to me that in an era when the expansive glartaespanodf gcoovnetrronlmmenotries arenadchminogreoupthtaosersegouf economic life, there is a voluntary nongov ernmental research organization to turn to on problems of environmental engineering. The Industrial Hygiene Foundation not only conducts surveys and carries on research for dalesaolinwgorwkisthhathnedseinsehnasnitdivewimthatmterasn,ybcuotmit panies, applying its wealth of knowledge and scientific skills to their everyday problems. The Foundation staffed by people of high professional caliber, has a strong impact on Presented at the 27th Annual Meeting of the Industrial Hvgiene Foundation, Pittsburgh. OeL 24-25, 1962. Vice President, Aluminum Company ot America, 1501 Alcoa Building. 2t the industrial community through its educa atinodnaplucboliucrasteios,nss.emItisnahrsis,tomryeetiisngins, itrseeplofratsn, impressive record of the changing concept of occupational health practice and of the progress made by industry as a whole and particularly by those companies affiliated with the Foundation. This Foundation has well earned the support of industrial man agement. Industrial hygiene today, concerned as it is with man, animals, property, and vegeta rtieosnp,oinssiabwileitsyo.mIetsinpascttoepren aonvdercthhaellyenegarinsghains been transformed from one of curative medi cine to that of prevention of occupational ill ness, injury, and damage. With changing times and the dynamic growth of industrial, political, economic, and social life, industrial hygiene needs have be come very complex and have evolved into matters of grave responsibility for anyone who has created employment. Today, thou sands of people work together in concen trated areas; machinery and materials of pAr.omduuclttiiotundeareofcolmawpslexanadndruelvinegrschraengguilnagte. emmopsplohyeerre aonfdinedmupstlroiyaelea, catinvditythies uwnhdoelre tahte constant scrutiny of government and public alike. The need for an industrial hygiene pro gorfatmhebdeceommaensdsevmenadme obrye einvdiduesntrtyi'ns tnheewligenht vironment. the medically enlightened but apprehensive public, the broadened compen sation rulings for medical disorders and their effect on the employer, and the increased puantiioonnaalnmdedgiocvineernamnednhtaylgiaecnteiv. ities in occu Success in this field requires that manage ment fully understands the scope and im portance of industrial hygiene, the need for a well-planned program, and the benefits which can be achieved. Every such program should have realistic, attainable goals spelled out in terms of better employee and com munity relationships, actual savings in dol lars and cents, and the proper fulfillment by a corporation of its role as good citizens. 412259 0233 EXHIBIT 24 I 3tQ ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH . The scope of a program oi industriai hy giene can be tailored by using as guidelines the number of employees involved, the nature of the work, the avaliability of qualified med ica! hygiene personnel, and the time and money alloted to the program, A most important primary step is for man agemern to make its endorsement of art in dustrial hygiene program known throughout the company so that ah workers are aware of the interest and support backing the ef fort. Next, the atmosphere and contacts which forai the over-ail environment created by the very existence of the work site must be examined and understood. Within a plant there are many potential environmental health hazards ranging from light, toxic chemicals, noise, temperature, and vibration to the very important psychological relation ships existing among employees. Industry's responsibility in our culture is not confined to the welfare of people at the work site alone. Today, there is concern with everything emanating from the plant with which people may be in contact, Industry must realize that anything emitted into the air and the water, as well as products which ehmeaelrtghe hfraozmardtsh.e Tplhaonut,samnadys coafrrydipffoitceunlttiieasl whaavteeraproisleluntiofnro, mandsmfrookme aonthderfuamtmeoss,pfhreormic icnodnutsatmriianlanptrsodauncdtioenle.ments, resulting from is Wstahgitgeersiuncgh, aitwpirdeesesncatspenoofcrheaslpleonngseibitlhitayt cannot be overcome by a management will iwnhgiletoovtaekreseediinregcttheacjtoiobntowfhuelfrielvlmerenpto. sTsihblies requires a constant surveillance of man and his environment. The environmental factors omuugshtlybuendreercsotgonoidzeadn,d,mwehaesruernedec, esasnadry,thcoonr trolled and change! to meet adequate health standards. To do this, ie is necessary to have qualified industriai hygienists oversee the program. The industrial hygienist's job is to study ail aspects of every potential en vironmental health hazard. Working closely with the plant doctor, nurse, safety engineer, production people, and other personnel whose jobs are associated with occupational health problems, the industrial hygienist must con stantly maintain a 2-way channel of commu nication with all of them. The industrial hygienist should collect and analyze the think ing of others and make sound recommenda tions to management based on such over-all knowledge and experience. Perhaps the heart of an industrial hygiene program in the preventive sense is the build itnengtioafl haaczoarndsst.anBt eacwaaurseeneevsseroyof neexiastteanwt opork site is involved with atmosphere and contacts, this awareness can only be built up through mass employee communication. Industrial hygiene should be stressed in training pro grams, house organs, letters to employees, meetings, bulletin boards, and by any other cvoamriomuusnliecvaetilosnofmceothmopdasnyuspeedrstoonnreela.ch the The attitude of every employee is condi tioned by the way in which he gets along with others and especially with those who supervise his work. Healthy attitudes built on happy relationships can do much to im prove the working atmosphere for all while lessening the threat of environmental health hazards. Management is well advised to train its supervisory people in human relations. scrEuvtienriyze einnldiguhstterinaeld hymgaiennaegemasepnetctsshvouerldy closely before making decisions such as the sperloeccetisosneso, fannedwapddlaintitosnistetso, cahnadngeresloincaptiloannst within present plant areas. It is of utmost importance that all problems regarding en vironment and contact be referred to properly qualified personnel who should be authorized to handle them. ouStstiuddeyo, fpltahne, palnadntacatniodninaretheascoimmpmourntaitnyt awsattchheyfoarraectautalthaendwpoortkenstiitael, troAubcloenssptaontst with strong concentration on preventive measures is the key. Out-of-plant problems offer many opportunities for cooperative re search where other companies, industries, and foundations are linked together in a com mon interest. Such cooperative ventures are especially helpful for companies which lack Vol. 6, March, 1963 33 412259 0234 E X H IB IT 191 importance of industrial hygiene the money and manpower to cope with prob lems on their own. There are in existence several govern mental agencies specifically set up to work in the field of industrial hygiene. Many of these agencies have already done extensive and costly research and can lend competent help and sage advice to industry. Certainly their resources should be thoroughly consid ered and utilized to the fullest extent. While considering government as a partner in this work, most of the standards by which a company's industrial hygiene program must operate up to now have been governmentmade. These rules are established primarily by legislation, commission ruling, and court decision. To maintain a position of sover eignty with the power of checks and bal ances against the ever increasing rule of government, it is essential to work out prob lems on an individual basts or in concert with other private interests. Failing this, author ity will be surrendered to the government, and the future will see a centralized control in which we have little voice. surTehperrievaatreeesnetveerprarliswe ainysthoisf fhieelldp.inSgintoceisno many rules are created by legislators and commissions, it is extremely important that iinnfdoursmtreydkseoepthsautchwahuattehvoerirtasttiavnedapredosplaerefuslleyt will be realistic and. based on first-hand kevneorwpleodsgsiebolef, tihnedupsrotrbylesmhsouinldvoelnvceodu. raWgeheirts knowledgeable people to serve on commis sions working for the benefit of industry. The voice of industry can be heard in this way and its interests well represented. In the days ahead--when all signs seem to point to an even greater growth of industry sn and technology, the forces of environment and contact threaten to become even more complex ami challenging. One evidence of this growing complexity is seen in the health and safety clause which is now being written into many union contracts. In essence, this clause gives a worker the right to walk otf a job if he feels that working conditions are unsafe or unhealthy. Thus, it strongly be hooves management to plan for a healthy wholesome working environment. If man agement does not, tire government will. If no industrial hygiene program exists, ionrduwsittrhy thhaescnoommraupnpiotyrtinwitthhisitms oesmt pilmoypeoers tant phase of relationship--health and its preservation. Without a sound plan, com pensation hazards mount with consequent ris ing losses in time, money, and morale. An employer has an obligation to provide a safe and healthful atmosphere for those he hires and should be solicitous toward the ef fect his working site has on the surrounding community. Any industrial hygiene program, to be successful, should be on an individual basis, tailored to the particular needs and problems of the location involved. Tn the long run, industry will be a major beneficiary ofTshuecrhe aar[edamn.any more factors in this wide sincodpuestroiafl choenatlathct isanadn einntveigroranlmpeanrtt. oTf omdaany-, amgamndensta's palannd oefmapcltoioyne;esi't pcroonmceisrne.s aItprodfeit in realistic benefits; it challenges all of in dustry to accept a distinct obligation, and warns that if it is forsaken the price of de fault is ritrid governmental control. John D. Harper, Vice President, Aluminum Com pl*aJ.nyPao.f America. 1501 Alcoa Building, Pittstnireh Harper 412259 0236 E X H IB IT 191