Document Kk8mb7b8dMKewJEXzjBBnx9X

ard Meeting 11th October 1957 Item Wo.11 (15) Supplementary 'REPORT ON MEDICAL APJUNGZHEZ-7TS SCHEME w > . hC-clET'S Xj This report la submitted to the 3oard of J.W.Roberts Ltd., the working of the Medical Arrangements Scheme 1956-57. The work of Dr. Hawbrook In conducting medical examinations id supervising the X-ray scheme continues. 3atches of films .th medical records are sent to me at Rochdale for review, lis is a praotlce which is helpful to both Medical Officers and lables them to achieve uniformity of standards In Judging cases. It has transpired during 1956 that asfcestosis had been jund to occur for the. first time in Sweden and Australia. The ises had occurred in connection with- the use of spray products id it was evident that all the safety precautions developed at eeds in connection with this process had not been used. * In oth countries regulations of a stringent character are being ccught into operation to ensure the safety of the working apulation. These are rather severe and restrictive in their ending but this is not surprising in the climate of opinion iiich prevails today in all countries with regard to the azards cf employment. The standards achieved in working onditions, or claims made with regard to them, have become atters of national prestige.' It is no secret that the U.S.S.R. as made claims to pre-eminence in the field of industrial ygier.e with tighter limits of permissible toxic concentrations han the "Western" countries. These claims are being used for clitical ends through such international organisations as the .L.O. at Geneva. . "in the field of Research seme interesting work has been one ih associacion with the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, his has demonstrated maricod changes in fibres which have been nhaled and retained in the lung for many years and which could e demonstrated by electron microscopy. The co-relation of hese changes with the onset cf pathological conditions in the ung is the aim of these experiments. A preliminary draft of the research work undertaken at leading University by Dr. ?. P. Holt for three asbestos companies .ncludlng T.3.A. Cc. Ltd. has just come to hand. Ho has :oncentrated on the chemistry of chrysotile-in its ability to 'olease a silica fraction under conditions which are comparable Cont'd. Board Meeting 11th Octobov 1957 J.W.Roberts I Item Wo.11 f; \ Continued) with lung tissue and fluid environment. While it is realis that this approach cannot solve Vno problem of human asbestc Dr. Holt is able to conclude that if the chemical breakdown the asbestos fibre follows the same course in vivo as it doe in vitro a pneumoconiosis resembling silicosis would be expected. This is supporting evidence for the chemical the to which we largely adhere. It is to be noted that work al these lines may be useful in helping to assess the fibrotic potentialities of other forms of asbestos. On 11th September 1537 a meeting wf leading executives Turner Brothers Asbestos Co. Ltd., British Belting k Asbestc: Co. Ltd. and the Cape Asbfistos Co. Ltd. with their Medical Officers and Medical Resuirch Workers took place in London at the offices of the Civpa Asbestos Co. Ltd., Mr. R.G. Sooth; took the chair and the formation of a Joint body to organise research into the problems of asbestosis was agreed upon. The three companies concerned were to bear the expenses of th programme equally. It is hoped that results helpful to the whole industry will come from this combined effort. Within the period under revlaw, two important conference on occupational medicine have beer, attended, and I am most grateful to the Directors for making this possible. In September 195 there was a conference in London of the Ir.dusc: Medical Officers Association of Great Britain, and in July l=; an International Conference attended by delegates frem 44 countries was held in Helsinki. In both instances there was a wide ranging programme of subjects within the purview of occucational medicine in its raor.. general aspects as well as scientific sectional meetings for those with a specialised interest. These opportunities for meeting medical colleagues in this country and from abroad in order to compare experience and share the results of preventative measures are exceediagiy useful to the medical officers themselves and through then to "their companies. The- in<*U3trial medical officer who is large engaged inside his Indus; ry has a feeling of isolation and opportunities to meet co .leagues .nllarly engaged do not come as readily to him as to practitioners in the sphere of general medicine. The suspension of 15 workers for asbestosi3 during the ye. cams as a considerable surprise, It has been nooc-d that all were awarded about ICfS disability assessment even though the Cor.t' d Board Meeting 11th October 1957 'I^.Vt^Hoberes Ltd * f . ' Item No.11 (16) lContinued) periods of exposure varied from 8-30 years. Details of age and length of exposure are given in the table below. Years exposure No. of cases ' Average age in ' . years .. 0-9 2 48 10 - 14 4 46 15 - 19 3 50 20 - 24 3 54 25 - 30 3 50 An assessment of 10% disability usually means, in my experience, a border line case. As far as I can Judge 3 cases would merit suspension on ordinary Pneumoconiosis Board standards and these are all cases of mors than 20 years exposure. That 15 border line cases were suspended in one sweep can only mean that all workers in whose cases claims were likely to be made at any time in the future were given a label to establish their rights to further disability awards. . I knew of only one Rochdale worker who has been suspended after starting work as late as 1940 in scheduled areas. In the present Leeds list there are 6 such cases of workers starting in the period 1940-48. While there is seme evidence of increased incidence of asbestosis in the Araiey factory as compared with. Rochdale a factor of this degree is quite disproporticnata. . -Om 20th"'June last I was given a demonstration of the fibre `.spray process by Mr. N.L. Bolbey at Amley. At a later date I was able to see the process in action at the Carriage Works cf Craven's in Sheffield. The safety precautions relating to the process have been very soundly built up and, according to ; personal observation and dust counts obtained with the old type of thermal precipitator the hazard would seem to be under 4 control. -This Is another process which would merit review, with. the new- dust-counting equipment when it"has been' proved. I am -grateful to Mr. N.L. Doibey for making these arrangements. With the diminished activities of the works of J.W.Roberts* Ltd. of Leeds and the gradual transfer of their manufacturing functions to Hindiey Green, a complete transformation of the i conditions of work is being achieved. This desirable result will Vhave-undouted benefits to all concerned. J Knox