Document LKbo7YydO3pMkaVKBbnX3XkK3

ri hB0^ 850 FOUNDATION This nws-l'*tt'*r ts issued monthly to member t companies and trade associations affiliated with Air Hyciene Foundation. Its purpose is to recort FACTS Foundation news and activities. Air Hygiene Foundation is a partnership of Industry and science organized to protect the health of the 15 million workmen in heavy industry Vol 1. November, 1039 No. 4 FOUt'TH FOUNDATION HITS ATTLNU..CE HIGH Abstracted Proceedings attached o__ more than 250 persons avtended the fourth faii rare ting of nir Hygiene Foundation held here November 14 c.na 15 -- a new attendance high. Exactly 101 companies, from N&ssnchusetts to Utah, were represented. Also represented by invitation were, U. S. Public Health Service, U.o. Dept, of Labor, labor organizations, half-a-dozen state departments, universities, institutions and individuals interested in the advance ment of employee health, abstracted Proceedings of the meeting are enclosed. Virtually all aspects of industrial health were covered, from management's interest in costs, "O.D." laws and industrial and public relations, to the techni cian's interest in engineering precautions, absenteeism and fresh medical progress made through Foundatioh researches. The reports were further enlivened by discuss ion from the floor. The discussion of labor's viewpoint on occupation--1 disease pre vention was an innovation that proved extremely interesting. Two rabbits, with "windows" affixed to their ears, were exhibited by research specialists from University of Pennsylvania to illustrate medical studies which the Foundation helps support at Penn, -ith the aid of a microscope delegates were able to look through the 'Vinciow" and see the effects of toxic materials in living tissue. "Sjread the Nord" Proceedings of the meeting will be issued later. Meanwhile, in order to speed the aaterial to member companies, comprehensive abstracts are enclosed for all re ports and addresses presented. It is urged that the fullest benefit be derived from this material. Please route the reports to the various interested departments and individuals within your organization. For instance, while all the material presented is of general interest, "The Viewpoint of an Employer Toward Industrial Hygiene," including authoritative cost and profit figures, will be of special interest to top management. The medical and engineering reports will be of special value to plant physicians and engineers. In dustrial and public relations officials may be interested in discussions in the forum, "impact of Employee Health on Industrial and Ihiblic Relations." The text of Dr. A.J. Lanza's presentation on nick absenteeism is enclosed. His paper introduced a symposium on the subject in which eight authorities participated. Their discus sions will be included in the printed proceedings. "Cookbook" on X-Ray Nearly Ready A new Foundation bulletin will be issued soon giving practical procedures for use of x-ray in physical examinations in industry. This bulletin is the result o research which the Foundation supports at University of Pennsylvania. Dr. S. Reif barren, Jr., summarized the new bulletin. He expressed belief that the report will aid industrial executives, physicians in industry, and roentgenologists. AIR NYOiCNfi FOUNOATIOi 4400 FIFTH AVCNUI FtTTSSUftO* ' 3 Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc., 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. November 22, 1539 vn .*CEt> TO RECENT LITEFA'IURE ON I.JDUSTKI.hu HYGIENE (A) :?cv;s Items 796 OCCUPATIONAL 0ISEcL LEGISLATION OF 1939. U.S. Dept. of Labor, Monthly Labor Review, _49, 156-139 iJuly 1C59). F3 In 1939, three states (Arkansas, Idaho, and Maryland) passed new laws granting compensation for a number of specified diseases contracted in industry. Arkansas compensates for 53 diseases, Idaho for 11 groups, covering 15 or more 3 diseases, and Maryland's law contains a list of 54 condensable conditions. Ohio amplified its law to include "any other occupational, disease." Minnesota 0 enlarged its list of compensable occupational diseases to include those due to the hazaras of fire fighting. The State of Washington amended the basic law of 1957. In claims for silicosis and asbestosis, the worker must have been employ ed in the btato for 2 years prior to the claim and if the inception of the dis ease occurred outride the State, the disease must have been quiescent and non disabling for 2 years prior to the injurious exposure in the State. For other aiseases, the quiescent period is 1 year. The legislature also deleted the pro vision that occupational disease coverage shall be borne equally by employer end employee. New York adopted an amendment providing for the extension of the 90- day period for medical treatment for dust diseases for an additional 180 days A and hereafter it need r.ot bo continuous. Pennsylvania enacted a new and compre hensive occupational disease lav., fixing benefits to be paid, the procedure, etc., for making claims. Lhile the same diseases specified in the old law are covered, the amount of compensation, which previously might be unlimited, is limited to a maximum of '7500. Montana called upon the Congress of the United States to pro vide benefits for silicotics under the social security law and to provide grants- in-aid to St.v.tec compensating for silicosis. A division of industrial hygiene in the State Board of Health was authorized, also the reporting of occupational diseases and inspection of industrial premises. New Hampshire and Oregon author ized appointment of special committees to study advisability of extending cover age to employees contracting occupational diseases. Including the new laws pass ed in 1939, there are now 30 jurisdictions, including District of Columbia, Hawaii, Philiipine Islands and Puerto Rico, compensating for occupational disease. 787 COMPENSATED INJURIES* The Industrial Bulletin, New York State Dept, of Labor, 18, 347 (October 1939). In 1938, compensation awards amounting to ('747,791 were made in : ,366 cases where workers suffered from disabilities caused by exposure to or contact with harmful substances or by certain activities involving continuous rubbing, friction, pres sure, and vibration in the course of their employment. These 2,366 disabilities consisted of 925 compensated as accidental injuries and 1,441 compensated as occu pational aliases. "hen a disability is the result of a single exposure to an injurious substance it is compensated as an accident, usually chemical burns, skin irritations or poisoning. Then disability results from exposure to a harm ful substance or occupational activity over a period of time in employment it is compensated as an occupational disease. The 1,441 cases of occupational disease 0 a . /,// <C - References to Recent Literature - 2. are divided into 701 cases of dermatitis, 341 cases resulting from continuous rubbing, vibration, -ressure or harmful position, 204 cases of systeoio poison ings and a miscellaneous group of 195 cases, including silicosis, other dust dis eases, contflgious and infectious diseases contracted in employment, occupational hernias, etc. The average cost of compensation for occupational disease rose from C290 in 1937 to F316 in 1938. The average compensation for cases listed as accidental injuries declined from a255 to L274 a case. 738 INDUCTS-IL KYDIRNE. A new book by various authors, edited by ;\.J. Lanza, M.D., A.sistant Medical Director, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and Chairman of the Medical Committee, Air Hygiene foundation of America, and Jacob A. Goldberg, i.A., rh.B., Secretary, Industrial Hygiene Committee, dev; York Tuberculosis and Health association. This forthcoming volume of approximately 700 pages, v.ith mary illustrations, was prepared by twenty-two vvriters, each a specialist in his field. Included among this list of contributors are: Or. C.D. Selby, Consultant to the General <;Otor:; Corporation; Or. Harvey Bartle, ourgical Director of the Pennsylvania nailroad; Dzs. ; oayers, Louis Schwartz and '>.?. Von Oettingen of the U.S. r'ubliu H.-slth -erviuc; Or. . .J. McConnell, Assistant Medical Director, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.; Prof. C.E. Turner, Lass. Inst, of Technology; Dr. I. Ogden -.'oodruff, Professor of the College of Physicians 4 Surgeons; Dr. Lewis A. Conner end Dr. Foster Kennedy, Professors at Cornell University Medical College; and others equally well. knov;n in their respective fields. This volume should be of considerable help to industrial physicians, safety engineers, in surance companies, ji'nt managers, industrial nurses and others concerned with the protection of the health of workers, and the prevention of accidents and occupational diseases. The publisher is the Oxford University Press, New York. 789 COMPENSATION FOP LXpOSJKL TO SLUTU OF S0LVZN7S. Ohio Industrial Commission Monitor, 12, 153 (October 1939). An employee of a dry cleaning plant ep lied for compensation for disability after two days exposure to solution of carbon tetrachloride and naphtha. The attend ing physician was of the opinion that the disability was due to the vapors. Al though carbon tetrachloride poisoning was not, at the time of the alleged poison ing, on the list of compensable occupational diseases, the mixture with naphtha made it possible for the claim to come within the provisions of the Occupational Disease net. The claim was allowed. 790 COMPENSATION A. AMD 50f. HEART ATTACK. U.S. Dept, of Labor, Monthly Labor Review, 49, 386-387 (August 1939). The Court of Errors and Appeals of New Jersey awarded compensation to a milktruck driver who suffered a heart attack while making deliveries. The deceased employee had been engaged for a number of years as a driver, and on the day of the attack was forced to travel steep grades in the snow to make deliveries and reclaim empty bottles. The court held it was enough to say that an accidental strain of a heart, even though it was previously weakened, may be compensable when the accident arose out of and in the course of the employment. (Henty v. Janssen Daily Corp., 6 atl. (?V) 409). 7S1 I .HALATION OF LTDi.R DUET H'.LD '!. lOmV.L I..JURY. U.S. Dept. of Labor, Monthly Labor Review, 42, 679-680 (September 1939). The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has held th- t the accumulation < granite dust in the lungs of a stonecutter during the course of his employment constitutes a personal injury, under the utate T.orkmen's. Compensation Act, when causing incapacity to work. In upholding the award of the industrial accident board, the court pointed out that the employee's condition "resulted not from a single incident but from years of work performed under conditions that were open and obvious and known to the employer." (Gustafson's Case, 21 N.E. (2d) 961). HWBB-uuU9853 05 ~-*zj References to Recent Literature - 3. 792 LIST OF RESPIRATOR! PROTECTIVE DEVICES APPROVED BY THE BUREAU OF LINES. H.H. Schrenk, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Information Circular Ho. 7050 (Fourth Supplement) (October 23, 1939). See May 1939 Abstract Bulletin Wo. 344 for previous ao -.roy als. SCHEDULE 141--GAS ..LiEXS. Type A.-- Acid Gas Masks. 2. Acme Chlorine Gas Mask. Approval BM-1421, issued to Acme Protection Equipment Co., Inc., April 21, 1939. 3. M.S.A. Chlorine Gas Masks. Approval BM-1422, issued to ine Safety Appliances Co., May 26, 1939. Type B.-- Organic Vapor Masks. 5. '.'illson Organic Vapor Mask. Approval BM-1423, issued to V.ilison Products, Inc., October 6, 1939. SCHEDULE 19A--SUPPLIED-AIR RESPIRATORS. Type B.-- Special Hose Masks without Blowers. 2. Bullard Simplex Hose Mask. Approval Bti-1916, issued to E.D. Bullard Co., October 14, 1939. SCHEDULE 21 --MECHANICAL-FILTER RESPIRATORS. lype h.-- Pneumoconiosis-Producing or Nuisance Dusts. is. Dupor Slin-A-Cat Respirator No. 40. Approval BM-2129, issued to H.S. Cover, July 5, 1939. 19. M.s.A. Comfo Respirator, Approval BM-2130, issued to Mine Safety Appliances Co., August 23, 1939. 20. McDonald Eustfoe Respirator. Approval BM-2132, issued to B.F. McDonald Co., August 23, 1939. 21. Dustfoe Respirator. Extension of approval BM-2132, issued to Mine Safety Appliances Co., August 23, 1939. Type A and Lead Dust. 7. M.S.A. Comfo Respirator. Approval BM-2133, issued to Mine Safety Appliances Co., October 13, 1939. 8. McDonald Dustfoe Respirator. Approval BM-2134, issued to B.F. McDonald Co. October 13, 1939. 9. Dustfoe Respirator. Extension of approval BM-2134, issued to Mine Safety Appliances Co., October 13, 1939. Type B.-- Fumes. 1. \7illson Respirator No. 770. Approval HM-2128, issued to 7/illson Products, Inc., April 15, 1939. Type C.-- Mists. 3. M.S.A. v'CEfo Respirator. Approval BM-2130, issued to Mine Safety Appliances Co., August 23, 1939.* 4. McDonald Dustfoe Respirator. Approval BM-2132 issued to B.F. McDonald Co., August 23, 1939.* 5. Dustfoe Respirator. Extension of approval BM-2132 issued to Mine Safety Appliances Co., August 23, 1939.* *For protection against chromic acid mist and mist from vitreous enamels whose liquid vehicle does not produce harmful gases or vapors. This approval does not cover the use of this respirator against lead-containing mist. 793 DISABLING MORBIDITY ALONG INDUSTRIAL V.'ORKERS, SECOND CHARTER AND FIRST HALF OF 1939. V.'.M. Gafafer. U.S. Pub. Health Reports, 54, 1878-1880 (October 20, 1939). The records show a large difference in frequency rates of influenza and grippe for 1938 and 1939, the latter year being almost twice that of the former. Both the rates for non-respiratory and nervous system diseases show a very interest ing downward trend. NwBB-tjOU9S!)*i HffBB-ti(f09S55 References to Recent Literature - 4. 794 CANCER HELD COi.iPSNSABLE UNDER NET.' JERSEY LA'.V. U.S. Dept, of Labor, Monthly Labor Review, 49, 387 (August 1959). The New Jersey Court of Appeals and Errors held that although a cancer which developed from a ;sole on the instep of a worker could not be considered an occu pational disease under the State Workmen's Compensation Law, nevertheless such a condition could establish an accidental injury within the meaning of the act. The employee operated a machine used in manufacturing building blocks out of ashes, sand, and cement. In the course of this work a certain amount of the in gredients got into his shoes and irritated a mole on his left foot which later developed into a malignant cancer. The referee found that the condition result ed from an occupational disease and therefore was not compensable under the Work men's compensation law. The Court of Errors and Appeals disagreed, pointing out "it is not necessary that an accidental injury, in order to be compensable, be the result of traumatic force." (Bollinger v. Tfagaraw Bldg. Supply Co., 6 Atl. (2d) 396). 795 INVESTIGATION OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, SAFETY LAiEPS AND GAS DETECTORS FOR SAFETY. L.C. Ilsiey. U.S, Bur. of Wines, Information Circular No. 7087, (September 1939). Obtainable from the Supt. of Documents, 'Washington, D. C. This is a list of regulations governing the investigations for safety of elec trically operated mine equipment, safety lamps, and gas detectors. (B) Pacers on Dust. Dust Diseases and General Industrial Hygiene. 796 INDUSTRIAL RAY PROTECTION, L.S. Taylor. Am. Soc. Test. Materials Bull. No. 99, pp. 23-31 (August 1939). The tolerance done recommended by the International Protective Commission is to not more than 10-^ roentgens per second for a 7 hour day. Designs for barriers are given. 797 TREATMENT OF INDUSTRIAL BURNS V.TTH REPORT OF 350 CASES. H.Poyner. Am. J. Surg., 42, 744-749 (1938). The treatment used for industrial burns is described. The author's experience shows that a less than average economic loss resulted. 790 HEAT STROKE, ITL PATHOGENESIS. L. Derobert. Arch, des raal. prof., 2, 5-23 (1939). (French). Animal experiments revealed heat stroke produced tissue changes similar to those of anaphylactic shock. 799 EXAMINATION OF COTTON MILL MOBKERS. U. Thixy. J.Am.Med.Assoc., 113, 1047 (September 9, 1939). (Belgian). hypertrophy of the lymph glands and high blood pressure is common among young cotton mill workers. Hypotension is uncommon and among the older workers pul monary sclerosis is frequent in occurrence. 800 THE HXGIENIC ASPECTS OF MELDING. F.H. deBalsac and Leroy. Arch, des mal. prof. 2, 225-246 (Hay 1939). (Special Number). (French). Much of the danger involved in welding with oay-acetylene is due to the impur ities present in the commercial gases. Phosphine may be present in acetylene and the nitrogen in commercial oxygen may be oxidized at the high temperatures to nitrous oxide. Coated electrodes in electric welding are helpful in the pre vention of nitrogen fixation. Other health hazards of welding &nd brasing are discussed. 'C"\ I ,rz!\ e> --w c*n 'Z< a References to Recent Literature - 5. 3:;i LtfROVELENT tii GEwtivAL HEALTH THROUGH INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE. Ohio Industrial Hyg iene Bulletin, 1,, Ho. 6 (September 1039). Although tuberculosis as a cause of death in the general population has fallen from first place in 1910 to seventh place in 1938, it still reuains among the chief causes of mortality in th industrially employed. A study ty the American College of Surgeons sho7/ed that the average 7/orker loses fifteen times as much time from work as a result of non-industrial accidents and illness as he does from injuries incurred at his work. Industrial absenteeism is responsible for economic loss to the employer and the state as well as the worker. 802 HEALTH aND SAFETY I.I A LODtr. FACTORY, The Foundry 67, 22-27 (November 1939). A photographic record of the various steps in the entire employee health program and some of the features of safety work in a Muskegon, Michigan foundry. 805 ilA-ARDL IN THE CEMENT INDUSTRY. Occupational Hazards, .2, 10 (October 1939). studies in the cement industry have shown that a fibrosis can be produced after a long exposure. However, this effect is negligible compared to its irritant effect caused ty chemical action. The types of disability encountered are irri tation of the respiratory tract, "burning" of the skin, conjunctivitis, clogging of the ear and various rheumatic conditions, morbidity and mortality rates for respirutoiy disuses, end especially pneumonia, are very high. All of these affections respond very definitely to the proper preventive measures. 804 CONTRIBUTION TO THE IMOELtEGL OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS FROM L/Lu' BLACK. 0. Hubner. Arch. f. Gewerbcpath. 9, 426-434 (1939). (German). This illustrates the danger of depending on the occupational history as given by the patient. This man cl-imed to have no other dust exposure than lamp black ind hence, the diagnosis at death was "anthracosis." Autopsy revealed extensive silicosis of both lung;, and further investigation into the man1 s history showed that he hud worked in a china factory for eleven years. 30G THE PR-SENT STATUS OF SILICOSIS. A.J. Lanza. Ohio State Medical Journal, 35. (September 1939). This is a summation of the problem of silicosis. The general statistics, pre vention, etiology and diagnosis of this condition are ably discussed. One of the important defects in our information on this disease is the lack of definite mortality statistics. A few states require reporting of cases of occupational disease but this procedure is not uniform. ..hen it is considered that estimates of the number of workers exposed to silica dust vary from 500,000 to a million, it can be seen that this is l problem of no mean proportion. The physiological relationship of 3ilica and tuberculosis is but partially understood but practic ally it is of the highest importance as is borne out by evidence of the high death rate from tuberculosis among those exposed to silica dust. The importance of evaluating working conditions in the diagnosis of silicosis cannot be over emphasized. It prevents both the unjustified and the missed diagnosis. Estima tion of disability should not entirely be governed by examination of the x-ray. The author feels that silicosis as a cause of heart disease has been overexagger ated. 806 SILIC0LI5 Ik THE NETHERLANDS. J.am.Med.Assoc., 113, 154 (September 2, 1939). (Netherlands Letter). In a group of nearly 250 sand 7/orkers, more than half of whom had worked at the occupation less than three years, 20% showed signs of pulmonary trouble. Thirtythree had definite silicosis and 8 silico-tuberculosis. In 12, silicosis was doubtful and one had pulmonary tuberculosis. HUB&-Q009856 H M B B -yyo98S 7 a references to recent Literature - 6. 307 DYSFNEA OF alLiCOLIS: HA? CAUSES IT. L.G. Cole ana "'.G. Cole. J.Am.ided. Assoc., ilo, 1216-1221 (LeptenLer 23, 1035). Although the outstanding symptom of silicosis, dyspnea has not hitherto been accounted for by recognized pathologic changes. It is often absent in cases of narked noculation and is, on the other hand, often present in indefinite nodulation. It has been theoretically explained by t;vo pathologic factors.1 (1) nodulation and (2) alveolar consolidation. To these, the authors add capillary obstruction and dilatation. They were led to this conclusion by consideration of the scute manifestation of the disease. Unlike most diseases, which car. be recognized ty morbid changes in small sections, silicosis presents a vast var iety of tissue alterations in various parts of the rang. 308 . dTKCACXIS OR LU^.jjNALY TUBLr.CUuOsIS OF COAL LINERS IN NS< SOUTH '..ALES. C. Eaaham. .,rch. des mal. .-rof., 2, 1-4 (1333). (Trench). A..iong these cool minors, incapacity was caused by emphysema in most of the cases. Tuberculosis was uncommon. The nodules were not as hard as those found in sili cosis. The author raises the question whether these changes are produced by coal alone or constitute a silicosis modified by carbon. 30S SILICOSIS FKOt. SILICEOUS CHALK. E Humperdinck. Dtsch. Arch. f. kiin. Led., 134. 156-162 (Ly59). (German). Three men worked for 10-14 years cleaning wool with "Neuberger" siliceous chalk, a hydrous form of opal containing 86% silica. X-rays showed light to medium lung changes, indistinct lung shadows but no nodules. 810 EXAMINATION OF A C;if OMIUM-SILICOTIC LUNG. E. Letterer. Arch. f. Gewerbepath., 9, 498 (1339). (German). Post-mortem examination of the lungs of a sandblaster in a ferro-chromium depart ment revealed not only typical silicotic changes but diffuse enlargement of alveolar septa and an unknown form of interstitial and alveolar chronic penumonia. It is the author's opinion that these latter conditions are due to breathing the chromic oxide. 811 CENTRAL LINING- RAND JalNEC tiFOUP. HEALTH DEFAETLL NT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1938. A.J. Orenstein. Johannesburg, (1939). South Africa. A decrease in the number of cases of silicosis is said to be of no significance in this report since the rates fluctuate from year to year. Experimental work showed that ozone had a deleterious effect on the general metabolism, raising the blood sugar, uric acid <*nd non-protein nitrogen and reducing urinaiy output. An increase in working efficiency resulted when natives, working at depths of 3100-7000 feet, were given a phosphate sugar syrup to bring up to normal the deficiency in their blood. This aids the carbohydrate metabolism preventing ketosis. 312 HEALTH INJURY FROM INDUSTRIAL LUST. 0. Schulz. Gasmasks 11, 57-66 (1939). (German). This article describes silicosis in a carpenter using sandpaper, lung cancer in men using chromates, and changes similar to asbestosis in the lungs of a man working with glass wool. 813 TECHNIC hi ZXPEf IiXNTAL SILICOSIS AND INVESTIGATION ON THE VALUE OF THE TRACHEAL CATHETER Id STUDYING THE EFFECT OF DUST ON THE LUNGS. C. Naeslund. Arch. f. Gewcrbepath., 9, 414-425 (1939). (German). Dust blown into the bronchi by means of a catheter produces a greater reaction than dust inhaled in a chamber. r=f\ ' V / /' -.a a References to Recent Literature -7, 314 ATMOSPHERIC COL.TAi..1 NATION. A.K. Pfund. Science 00, 526-27 (October 6, 1939). A preliminary report on physical methods of determining concentrations of cer tain gases and vaoors when admixed rith atmospheric air. Only those compounds such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, etc., having characteristic absorption bands in the infrared can be evaluated. The apparatus showed high sensitivity and selectivity. 315 THE JAILING OF .LINE LUSTS -IT:' THE THECAL PRECIPITATOR. H.S. Patterson. Inst, din. ?t Retail. Bulletin Wo. 417 (June 15, 1939). (British). It haj been claimed that the thermal precipitator has an efficiency of 100% against all du^-t particles bet?/een 0.2 and 20.0 microns in size. It has not been used to ary great extent in industry in this country and its possibilities have not been fuily explored. In Great Britaih it seems more popular. This is a description of an improved form of portable sampler for mining, of methods of sampling and examination of hast records. 316 CERTAIN DUSTS PP0DUCED BY . I...LAG r'ROCEGc.-ES AND l.s OTKZn RAYS. H.S. Patterson-. Inst. Min. k Retail., London, Bulletin ilo. 417 (June 1959). (British). Drilling in hard rock tends to form core small particles than drilling in soft rock. In dry drilling many of the finer particles coagulate, but in wet drilling much fine dust may be obtained. 317 "VALUATION OF DUST STUDIES. Ohio Industrial Hygiene Bulletin 1, No. 6 (Septem ber 1939) . It is generally conceded th..t a concentration of dust exceeding 100,000,000 par ticles per cubic foot is undesirable regardless of the physiological properties of the material. Such a condition constitutes a nuisance and may be deleterious to equipment and machinery as well as the worker. According to present standards a concentration of tv/o to three million particles per cubic foot may be consider ed safe regardless of the fibrosis producing character of the dust. Intermediate between these figures are numerous threshold limits for various compositions. 818 REDUCING FLi-ACH EMISSION. J.F. Barkley. Power Plant Engineering, pp.745-47 (November 1039). A comprehensive review of the simple and p--orietary devices available for com bating this ever increasing nuisance. In .is article the proprietary devices have been largely eliminated to form what may be called an introduction to the science of dust collection. The simple devices described are in general appli cable to the smaller plant for the elimination of the heavier particles. 819 RECENT ADVANCES IN DUCT SEPARATOR DESIGN. Engineering and Boiler House Review 53, 207-211 (October 1939). A description of the Howden centrifugal dust collectors, equipment for the Velox boiler, the Modave dust arrester and a brief survey of other designs. 820 DETERi.ilNATION OF BENZENE HYDROCARBONS IN LACQUER SOLVENTS. F.X. Mayer and A. Luszczak. Arch. f. Hyg., 122. -38-137 (1939). (German). A useful method in two steps for the analysis of lacquer solvents. The authors show how the benzene lost in separating the water soluble portion may be evalu ated. The 'cyclic compounds are tested ty absorption-spectro analysis. 821 CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE HEMOGLOBIN IT TIE CIRCULATING BLOOD. K. Matthee and I. Gross. Arch. f. exp. Pathol. u. Bharmakol., 191. 391-406 (1959). (German). An ingenious method utilising the difference in the light adsorption of blood in the red and ultra-red part of the spectrum for continuous and simultaneous re cording of CO-Hb, Oxy-Hb and reduced Kb ty means of a photoelectric cell. HiiBB-0tJu9858 s j - Xi References to Recent Literature - 3. 322 VALUE OF UANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE FOR LEGAL EXPERTS AND FOR I HI OLI^ICaL INVESTIGATION OF CARBON1 t'.Oi.OXlDE POISONING. L. Breitenecker. Lien. klin. Lchnschr., 5,2, 436-430 (1939). (German). Accurate diagnosis can be aided if the blood is examined as soon as possible since carbon monoxide disappears v/itnin 10-24 hours. Ordinary technic will not detect less than 25% CO-rffc, but the spectrophotometer will show as little as 2%. Symptoms begin in carbon monoxide poisoning 'vhon the CO-Hb is from 15-25% and unconsciousness at 50%. 325 LZTV.F..IM.V.T0M Or LEAD BY m"~lJDl.G, ...ODIFICaIIOLS AND LiW.OVEu.IJTS OF THE HUBEATD-CLIFiCRD-''.`1 CHcsAN METHOD Aw APPLIED TO BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL, K. Baotach. Indust. Eng. Chem., anal, ^d., 11, 400-403 (July 15, 1939). tfydroxylamine used in the initial extraction prevents oxidation of the dithii.one and eliminates the second extraction step of the Hubbard method. Other improvements ?nd eliminations have been devised 7/ith saving of time and without loss of accuracy. 324 ErECTROSCOr'IC ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS FOE HEAVY 2LTALS. Armstrong and Eracxett. J.Ind.Hyg. & Toxicol., 21, 448-460 (November 1339). Lpectroscopic analysis by sensitive line emission has very decided advantages, namely, the small sample required for an analysis, and the extremely small amount of material detectable. Hov/ever, biological spectroscopy has presented consider able difficulty heretofore. This article describes in detail a satisfactory technique, together pith certain observations. It was found possible to use as small a quantity as 0.1 cc. of fluid and to detect very minute amounts of lead and other heavy metals. 825 CALIBRATION r.NE USE OF THE GAS INTFEITROriETER. F.A. Patty. J.Ind.Hyg., & Toxicol., 21, 460-474 (November 1939). Th: interferometer may be used in industrial hygiene to quantitatively determine ary gac or vapor having r. refract!vity sufficiently different from that of air. Being more portable, more accurate and more rapid than other physical means, it has obvious advantages and, in th;-: authors' opinion has not received the popu larity it deserves. Its disadvantages -- the removal of interfering substances ftnd the partial sorption of certain vapors -- are also inherent in most methods. A simple method of calibration and simplified data for the computation of vaporin-air concentrations for 40 compounds are presented. 826 THE PRESENCE OF NON-OXYGa-f-COv-iBINING (INACTIVE) HEuOGLOBXft IN THE BLOOD OF NORi.ihL INDIVIDUALS, Marburg. 3cience 90, 372-73 (October 20, 1959). It has been found that in certain normal individuals there is a not inconsider able amount of a l^ind of hemoglobin capable of binding only carbon monoxide. Out of 92 examinations, about two thirds showed less than 5% of the total hemo globin; in only four cases did it exceed 10%. According to these findings, the so-called active ojygen fixation power must be considered a very unreliable measure for the amount of hemoglobin. The oxygen capacity is not recommended in the standardizing ofcolorimetric hemoglobinometers. (C) Papers on Industrial Poisons. Cancer. Dermatitis, etc. 827 ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY COLD TARRING OF BOILERS. E. Hartin. .ed. du Travail, 11, 81-9S (1939). (French). Evaporation of benzene, the solvent used in cold tarring, proves hazardous in unventilated boilers. This is a report of two non-fatai cases. HHBB-uuo98b9 -o 'ij 0 3 a S3w ! j) References to Recent Literature - 9. 928 The folioring five articles on benzene are presented in the October 1939 issue of the Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, Vol 21. They hsve been bound in monograph style and say be obtained for 1.00 from the Journal at 55 Shrttuck t., Boston, Llass. cioonic exposure to bln:.luz ( beilol) . I. TH1. I..DUSTI-IAL .uLi'ECTG. Bov.aitch and H.B. Elkins, pp. 321-330. II. THE CLxflCf.L ASPECTS. F.T. Hunter, p -. 331-354. III. IKE PATHOLOGIC RESULTS. T.B. Mallory,L./..Gall and V.'.J, Brickley. pp. 335-c93. 53M-EME (BENZOL) POISONING IN THE ROTOGRAVURE PRINTING INDUSTRY IN NEV YORK CITY. L. Greenburg, ;.!. R. Mayers, L. Goldstar and Smith, pi'. 395-420. THE HH.ATOLCGICAL ;-.F7LCTS OF BENZENE (BzNLOL) POISONING. Erf and Rhoads, up. 421-43-5. The importance of correlating clinical symptoms, blood examinations, and air analyses cannot be stressed too much. One should not be used to predict the ex tent or effects of the others. On the one hand, the potential hazard may be great v.hile not giving evidence of physiologic effect on the workmen, while on the other, the limitations of the clinical test may not completely reflect the actual hazard. The urine sulfate test, for example, is limited in measuring ex cessively high exposures to benzene. Also a very low ratio, such as 10, indi cates an exposure only 1/2 as great as that of 3055 and only twice as great as does a ratio of 50. IVitn two fatal cases exposed to less than 75 p.p.m. and reasoning that benzene may attack the bone marrow before being rendered innocuous ty the liver, a reduction in the accepted safe concentration is advocated. Al though the various writers disagree' as to the most sensitive index of the effects of benzene, ohe favoring the decrease in polynuclear percentage, the others a diminution in the number and increase in the size of erythrocytes,the evidence seems to show that decreased erythrocyte counts together with leucopenia and absolute polynuclear decrease are signs of more severe poisoning. A combination of leucocyte and erythrocyte count together with a cell volume determination shows an efficiency of over 90 in detecting affected individuals. Macropytosis should always be looked upon with suspicion. Fatal results may be expected un less diagnosis is made before anemia develops. VJomen do not seem to be more sus ceptible than men and tolerance to this exposure does not appear to develop. The fact that the signs and symptoms of chronic poisoning may not appear until long after the exposure has ceased is probably due to a compensated bone marrow break ing down with the onset of even slight infections. This probability, together with the possible causal relationship of benzene with acute leuceoia, raises new problems in industrial compensation. 929 TONIC FOIES -- IN MASSACHUSETTS INDUSTRIES. H.B. Elkins. Industrial Medicine, _0, 426-432 (October 1939). A very useful and complete table of the maximum allowable concentrations of in dustrial vapors, fumes and gases has been compiled by the Massachusetts Dust and Fume Code Committee. Values have been proposed for some 40 substances present in typical industrial atmospheres. The average exposure throughout the day or week and not the momentaxy exposures has been primarily considered. Of more practical interest is the data on actual concentrations as found by surveys of industrial plants. A definite improvement in the extent to which hazards have been eliminated has been observed; a decrease of from 4755 to 3155 of unsafe con centrations being noted in one year. 930 FATAL SUBACUTE OCCUPATIONAL LEAD POISONING. W. Lhrhardt. Arch. f. Gewerbeoath., ,9, 407-413 (1959). (German). Fatal case of a lead sprayer after relatively short intermittent exposures. Autopsy showed liver and kidney dhmage. nwtiB-uUB986U H W B B -O 0O 9861 References to Recent Literature - 10. 321 POSI IBXLITILS OF CONTROL OF LEAD FXPOSUFE BY EXAMINING LESS THAN 24 HOUR URINE SMi'LFS. E.C. Eurnes. J. Ind. Hyg. & Toxicol., 21, 464-468 (November 1939). Difficulties involved in obtaining 24 hour samples of 'urine for analysis of lead stimulated an investigation into the correlation between short time or instan taneous specimens and those for the longer period. It was found that a determin ation of the lead excreted per hour, as found by analyzing a specimen represent ing 2 or 2 hours' excretion during the working day, gives a fairly reliable measure of tho average excretion for that day. No widely divergent values were obtained provided urine specimens of extremely low specific gravity were not used. 822 VOLATILISATION OF LE^D BELOL 800U. Paul F. Rezin and Philip Drinker. J. Ind. f!) Hyg. & Toxicol., 21, 461-463 (November 1939). Curves are given which show the amounts evolved of lead and linotype metal with rises in temperature. Although lead boils at 1620C., it was found that signi ficant amounts of lead were carried off from the molten baths at temperatures be low 3C0C. 833 LEAD TETRAETHYL AO AN AJTI-KNGCK. Scczepanski. Arbeitsschutz, pp. 209-216 (1939). (German). The German regulations governing the use of tetraethyl lead are very similar to those in force in America. It must be colored and used only for a motor fuel. 934 GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, ESPECIALLY DISTURBANCE OF THE INTESTINES, IN LEAD POISON ING. H. Otto and F. Kuhlmann. Klin. Nchnschr., 1, 1081-1084 (1939). (German). Lead has an extensive effect on the gastrointestinal system from the mouth to the large intestine. It causes permanent contraction of the arterial capillaries of the skin and mucous membrane of the lips. Spasms of the small intestine can cause colic and ileus. 935 OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF BONE AAhROW IN LEAD POISONING. S. Caccuri. Folia med., 25, 534-541 (1939). (Italian). The oxygen consumption of bone marrow in lead poisoned guinea pigs was over twice that in healthy animals. This is thought to be a change in the reaction of normoblasts. 836 FATAL ACCIDENT FROM NITROUS GAS. T?. Krauland. Nien. klin. Nchnschr. 52, 493-95 (1939), (German). A description of the gross and microscopic changes in the lungs in this fatal case of nitrous poisoning resulting from dipping brass articles into nitric acid. Nitric acid was found in the lungs but also seems to be present in normal lungs. 837 SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SAFETY IN MINES RESEARCH BOARD, 1938. H. Id. Stationery Office, London, (1939). (British). Experimental studies of the concentration of nitrous fumes after shot-firing in underground workings led to the finding that exposures as low as 0.0013$ of nitrous oxide caused inflammation in lungs of guinea pigs. Noise reduction at air-turbine engines and application of exhaust silencers to pneumatic picks is being studied. Tests of gas absorption canisters revealed that leakage of carbon monoxide was less than a liter in 4 hours, with a 1$ mixture of carbon monoxide and air flowing at the rate of 32 liters per minute. 338 POISONING FROL LEAD TETRAETHYLENE BENEINE (LEAD GASOLINE) AND ITS COMBUSTION PRO DUCTS. E. Starring. Dtsch. Ltschr. f. Nervenheilkund., 148. 262-281 (1959) (German). Report of two cases of lead poisoning resulting from use of leaded gasoline in cleaning machinery and other exposures to its vapors. J* HmBB-uuu9862 References to Recent Literature - 11. 359 VITAMINS I.! INLUSTRY. h. T. Bisbce. Porcelain Institute Enameling Forum, Ohio State University. Visual purple, a substance in the retina which is indispensable in vision, is regenerated by vitamin A. Light, failing on the retina which correspond,: to the film, gradually changes the visual purple into another .-ubstance. On the effi ciency of this change depends the sensitivity of the eyes, with these facts be fore them the managers of the Te3tinghouse plant in Mansfield, Ohio, decided over two years ago to administer vitamin A wherever there was marked eye fatigue. 340 SERIOUS CHANGES OF THE LIVER FROM ACUTE POISONING II, "METALLISING" Ii-. h TaNK. J. Adler-Herzmark. Arch, des mal.orof., 2, 4-28 (1930). (French). Toxic impurities in acetylene and spray coating with zinc produced this intoxi cation showing a light jaundice and glycemia. 341 PROGRESSIVE BULBAR PARALYSIS AMD AUXOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS AFTER CHRONIC ...aNGANESE POISONING. H. Voss. Arch. f. Gewerbepath., 9, 454-476 (1939). (German). Fifteen years exposure to manganese dioxide produced a case of lateral sclerosis modified by certain aspects of manganese poisoning. a 842 THE OCCURRENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL i/iANGANESE POISONING IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY (APROPOS OF A CASE IN A GRINDER Or FERRO-tutNGANESE.) H. Voss. Arch. f. Gewerbepath., , 453-463 (1939). (German). A list of all published material on manganese poisoning is given. A typical case of a grinder of ferro-manganese, exposed to the dust resulting therefrom, is described. 843 SERIOUS MANGANESE POISONING AMONG EGYPTIAN MANGANESE MINERS. E.ff. Baader. Arch, f. Gewerbepath., 3, 477-486 (1939). (German). With the introduction of mechanical drilling, manganese poisoning developed in a very short time (3 7/eeks to 5 months). During the period of hand drilling, the disease appeared only after several years exposure. 844 THE CONCENTRATION OF CARCINOGENIC MATERIALS IN MINERAL OILS BY DISTILLATION PR0cesses. J.M. Twort and h. Lyth. J. Ind.Hyg. & Toxicol., J3g, 161-169 (March 1939). The carcinogenic properties of mineral oils can be predicted ty examination of their physical characteristics. Pathological changes in the organs are produced mostly ty the middle fractions of Borneo crude oil. The development of lung tumors by a fraction has no relation to its cancer-producing effect on the skin. 845 WOOD SMOKE AS A CAUSE OF ASTHMA. B._,. Rappaport and R. Hecht. J.Am.Med.Assoc., 115. 1024 (September 9, 1939). Although negative to skin tests with wood smoke extract, a fireman was subject to attacks of asthma shortly after an exposure. At other work, he proved free fromlhis condition until an emergency required his entrance into a burning build ing. 846 CENTRAL ALOTEiilAS: EXTRAREJIAL UREMIA OBSERVED IN THE COURSE OF INTOXICATION WITH ILLUMINATING GAS. R.S. Mach and M. Naville. Schweiz, med. Wchnschr. 69, 553556 (June 17, 1939). (German). In patients with a nervous disorder and azotemia, it should not be concluded that the brain lesion is necessarily secondary to that of the kidneys. The azotemia may be of central origih with or without nephritis. The emphasis in carbon mon oxide poisoning has generally been on the cerebral effects but this article throws an interesting light on its effects on protein metabolism. HHB8-U009863 References to Recent Literature - 12. 347 POISONING BY COMMERCIAL PROPANE. 71. Gueffroy. Gasmaske 11, 69-72 (1939). (German). Propane escaping through the improper fittings of burners affected five women. Their symptoms were headache, numbness, chilly feeling and vomiting. 348 OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES AFFECTING ENGRAVERS. Uytdenhoef. J.Am.Med.Assoc., 115. 1047-1048 (September 9, 1939). (Belgium.) Hazardous exposures of the engraving and photoengravure trades are due to elec tric arc radiation, acid vapors, and the skin effects of numerous chemicals, mostly turoehtine and the chromates. 349 CONTRIBUTION TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE OCULAR '*'-*\.NGES INDUCED BY HYDROGEN SULPHIDE. H. Sjogren. Acta. Opth. 17, 166 (1939). (Sc. .inavian). This is a report of two cases of keratitis in paper mill workers together with a review of the literature. 950 INDUSTRIAL SKI" DISEASES. OBSERVATIONS IN CENTRAL GERMANY. T. Gruneberg. Med. Klin., 35, 808-811 (1939). (German). In this study of industrial dermatitis, almost a third were caused by turpentine or its substitutes. In making skin tests, the actual material from the workshop should be used. 851 OCCUPATIONAL LEUKODERMA. (PRELIMINARY REPORT). E.A. Oliver, L. Schwartz and L.H. Darren. J.Am.Med.Assoc., 113. 927-928 (September 2, 1939). This is the first report in the literature of depigmentatioa of the skin produc ed by hydroquinone. Used as an antioxidant in rubber gloves, it produced a mark ed effect on hand and arms of workers, especially negroes. Repigaentation has been taking place since this antioxidant was eliminated from the rubber. 852 A TOXICOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS OF SPECIAL STEELS. R.Fabre and M.E. Kahane. Arch, des mal. prof., Zf 269-283 (Special No.) (May 1939). (French). This is a review of the toxicology of the metals coming into more extensive use in the production of special steels. The properties and effects of nickel, chromium, manganese, silicon, tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, vanadium and titan ium need reconsideration. 853 VJELDIKG HAZARDS. C.A. Bonner. Safety Engineering 78, 31-32 (October 1939). There are three general classes of respiratoxy hazards from welding: poisonous substances which may be volatilized by heat, poisonous gases which may be gener ated by the arc or by faulty combustion, and exhaustion of oxygen in air. Care must also be used to protect welders against dangerous infra-red and ultra-vio let rays. nWBfi-uiiUVSb ; 1 Abstract of research report on "Invss-ig?tion.i at t.v- 3r.ri.nac Laboratory," giver, by 3r. ier oy 'J. G.v. :.n; r. liiec.or, The Oarsnac N. Y.} Laboratory, at four oh foil .v.:*ting of Air iyeLone foundation he_c '.it dc.-i.-on Institute, rittslurgr., ..'-arvioda;;, Lov. 15. pdorroct _aia, program r.vision). The- h1'^aro.'.^ut of ..etrog: aoby . stablishec at *he enranac Laboratory ur.aer ; grant from the Air 'fygiene Foundation has contributed materially to its program of industrial investigation and laboratory roscorch, 'ihe reorogn^her has classified some 150 samples of --or., f-.-r le differ'nt industries and thereby contributed necessary inforaiation in the- .-valuation of dust hrrurds. He has tc;n most helpful in the analysis of nin-..r: is r..,oov" red fro;.: t'rr lungs of pei sons dying with various forms of pneur.oconi )sis. particularly in thos:' ..here obvious silicosis exists witn no record of an e/.po.ur- to fr*-` silica. He nr.s supervised the preparation of 50 different minerals tnat hav. bc-^n subjected to animal tests, verifying their composition, checking the particle oiza end o-hor physical properties. Free silica (quarts), if breathed in sufficiently high concentration over a period of y<-art, is responsible for the lung disease silicosis. Only very fine particles can nt..r the luug, particles measured in terms of a few microns (a micron is 1/?5,UC0 of on inch). vVhile nuaar. lungs contain particles as large as 10 microns in largest dimension, evid>nee suggests that they and others above 3, or perhaps 4 microne can be- disregarded in evaluating a silicosis hazard from quartz. Animals infected with low virulent tubercle bacilli do not develop progressive tuberculosis wnen injected with quartz, particles xarger than o microns in diameter. A study has just been completed of the relative settling rates of unit sized particles of different minerals and mixtures of minerals. It is demonstrated that, with particles 5 microns and loss in diameter, factors other than specific gravity govern their settling rate :.n air. Of many minerals investigated, quartz and a ,--n a a ~--ZJ -as, :ner HhBB-HB(j9866 s-'iicit remain 2us.'L-n-*-d longer *hen .ny others, Vr.ls diff*3:-.-; i-.l a-: fling h;.si.:*-s Th:. importance of taxing oust sample,; in th.. <vo: reman1 s thing zone to icttrmiiu tho ' xu nt of t:v. hazard `o -.-hie:. he ray l-' aps u. ixor.ri.utnts ..it;: pn'.ui_ocoocus inf-otion ir. racr.it* having silicosis demonstrate that the pneumococcus ioe s r.ot find ;ij.icotic soil par'iculuriy favorable foi its growth. Type iii yn-umocoocur pneumonias, artificially produced in silicotic rabbits, run a normal course. T1-: _.-r'.: no*; of oovanc'.-d silicosis has r.o influence upon the v.\.il defined immune reactions to thi.' .'rganisr. which c^n he licitcd in normal rab bits fcy subcutaneous injections. Th observations confirm the growing clinical impression that Lobar pneumococcus pneumonias are no more common in silicotic sub ject* than i.r. normal ones and that their course is not unfavorably influenced. Further work is n~ed -d on the non-specific bronchopneumonias caused by other bacteria. another u-poi Mat group of experiments has been started to determine whether individual susceptibility to silica dust is acquired or whether it is due to innate peculiarities of fifferent individuals. The desirability of detecting susceptible subjects in prot-\?..J oyr.snt physical -examination is obvious. -|h -1 .--n a <C s Liberal abstract of address, "The Viewpoint of an Employer Toward Industrial Hygiene," by Andrew rietch.gr of wew York, Vice President, St. Joseph Lead Company, at the fourth fall meeting f Air Hygiene Foundation held at Liellon Institute, Pittsburgh, '.'ed., ;rov. 15. Although probably most companies and individuals will agree that improvement in industrial hygiene is rdvisable from an altruistic angle, there are many who have not had the opportunity of proving that a betterment will usually result in lower operating costa, and therefore an effective exper.liture for improving working conditions is a good investment from the dollar and cents angle. I will briefly tell you che experience of the St, Joseph Lead Company, v/hi^h is one of the oldest and largest mining end smelting companies in tho United States. Twenty years ago, beforo ther-: 'ere many lav;s covering industrial hygiene, the St. Joseph Lead Company reclined th: t, in order to prevent its best men from enter ing possibly more attractive fields, it was necessary to have the best possible living and -working conditions, sc that a man could satisfactorily raise his family by sending his children to good schools and maintaining his and their health. From the following, in which the cost of labor turnover is estimated, it can readily be apireciated *het we v:ere not solely influenced by any legal, paternalistic or al truistic ang^e, but actually by a practical money-making viei/point. In 1918 our labor turnover was 250# per year, in other words, it was necessary to employ 250 new; men each year to keep 100 on the job. Therefore, to maintain our organization of some 2,500 men, we had to hire 6,200 men per year. Based on an estimated direct cost of (20 to .25 to replace one man in 1919, the direct cost of 1919 labor turnover was 1.125,000 to <.,150,000 per year, -hich is the minimum figure, as it is difficult to esti. ate the indirect costs, such ns additional supervision, increased accident hazard, decreased efficiency among older employees because of the necessity of giving attention to ne?- employees, etc., but it is probably safe to say that the indirect equaled the direct cost; therefore the total cost of the labor turnover w/as `,-250,000 per year. I might add that under present day conditions, ..here machinery and brain work is necessary, instead of costing about (21.00 per man, the figure is nearer $100,00 By 1926 labor turnover had been reduced from 250# to 40*# per year, and by 1933 to 4,. Last year it was 3,6/ - just compare this figure w.-ith the condition existing 20 years ago. The actual dollar and cents saving indicated by the above was in part due to the following: By asking our employees why they were quitting we learned of numerous reasons, such as: "poor living conditions", "poor schools", "no churches of their faith", "no facilities for recreation", "working conditions un healthy ?nd dangerous", "wages too low/", "unfair treatment by foremen," etc. nijBti-y6ti986S (B `=3 Mr. Fletcher Before taking any definite steps to rectify these apparent justifiable com plaints, v-e maue a study of our employment, wages, hours, -orking conditions, and also the training, safety, health and living, plus economic security. As - result of our investigations, \e then: Constructed on expensive rater system, Increased cur taxes so that better schools could be provided, and improved company houses. These improvements were completed over a period of a fev/ years, and shov/ed immediate results. But the betterment ;vas not obtained merely through spending money. Fcr example, a system of physical entrance examinations was instituted in order to avoid placing men on jobs for v/hich they were physically unfit. This practice was and is mest beneficial for men and com any alike, as unkno'.m physical defects have been found and also limitations, such as a weak heart, etc. I v.lsh :o emphasize definitely the mutual benefit of initial physical examinations as 'ell as current ones made every two or three years. If a current examination shows that an employee cannot carry on with his job, he is shifted to a new position and he is paid the prevailing rate for the new job, even if it is lower than his form er basis. If no job is available, or if he cannot work with safety to himself and his fellow employees, he is then pensioned. I know of no case here the employee was discharged because of his physical condition* Our Southeast Missouri plants were and are entirely dependent upon the local labor supply. The school boys of today are our future employees. A check-up on the school children revealed 80^ under-nourished, and a study showed it was due to lack of milk. This was overcome in 1920 by starting a pasteurizing plant. Milk was sold at a low cost and given free in some instances, and within five years, the 30# figure of under-nourished children was reduced to Ify. Today the company maintains a herd of approximately 300 dairy covrs. In addition to operating a dairy, we have a plant where ice cream and other milk products are manufactured, and also six company stores, which endeavor to maintain the lowest possible cost of living m the district. Through selling other stores in the district at the same wholesale prices as those on which our retail sales are based, other merchants in the area have been able to show profits without increasing prices materially above those maintained by our stores. Additional mutually satisfactory improvements were: At our smelter there were 64 lead poisoning cases in 1920 in an organi zation of 400 employees. A study was made on the hazard, and as a re sult semi-annual general physical examinations and v/eekly physical in spections were instituted, a modern change room and a cafeteria were provided. Arrangements were made for employees to wear work clothing supplied and laundered by the company, and all employees were advised as to the importance of personal cleanliness in combating the lead hazard. A resident doctor not only examined the men, but also made periodic plant inspections to check conditions that might adversely affect health. As the result of careful supervision, lead poisoning is no longer a problem. As a natter of fact we have not had a case of lead poisoning for the lost ten years. Our miners could not obtain life insurance coverage, except at prohibi tive rates, so a group life insurance plan was inaugurated, -..'hereby each employee was given up to a maximum of ,,-2,000 insurance at no cost to himself, and was permitted to buy ,,2,000 more at a low rate. A. pension plan was instituted and has been revised from tine to time. nHbb-0009869 HhBd- uuu98/U .`cir. Fletcher ----- 3. It was also soon realized that, ia addition to saving money through reducing labor turnover, it would be mutually beneficial to develop an efficient and com petent safety department. The "money" results secured are indicated by the follow ing statistics: Frequency, or number of accidents per 1000 shifts worked has been re duced from .90 to the last five year average of .18 Severity, or number of shifts lost because :f accidents per 1000 shifts 'corked, has been reduced from 1 to 3 Cost of accidents per dlQO of payroll has been reduced from '2.25 to v.1.25. A saving of -,1.00 per . 100 on a payroll of approximately v4,000,000 means a saving of .40,000 per year. After an injured employee recovers from the immediate effects of an injury, he becomes restless and unless he be given something to occupy his time he may, through self-pity, become discontented and consider himself ill-treated, and when he returns to his regular work he is less cooperative and trouble is likely to develop between him and his foreman, '.;e have therefore developed Rehabilitation Departments where injured employees are given work, at prevailing wages, as soon as possible without danger of adversely affecting their recovery. They are thus permitted to earn while they are convalescing and are usually willing and anxious to resume their regular duties as soon as they are able to do so. It has made the payment of accident com pensation practically a routine matter, only rarely resulting in a controversy. The cost of operating a Rehabilitation Department has proven to be very little in ex cess of the value of the work performed by the injured employees. So again an action that was taken purely for the benefit of the employees has proven beneficial to the employer. Another way that v/e have found for making our men more contented as well as saving money is by always endeavoring to make each individual job as "interesting" as possible. *.;e have found that the American employee does very much better and more efficient work if the job is interesting and requires some "brain" work. Along this line we have endeavored to eliminate as much hard manual work as possible. Although I cannot subscribe to the theory that all dusts are hazardous until proven harmless, I do know that working in dust is unpleasant, even if it is not injurious* and I was and am convinced that with just a little thought and comparatively a small expenditure of money, the amount of dust can be enormously reduced. The easiest way to reduce dust is to take dust samples of representative operations at fixed intervals of time, even if only once a month, place the results on a chart and send it to the main office of the company, as this procedure, which costs practically nothing, will result in some executive giving the matter of lessening the dust a little thought. At our Balmat Division in New York State, '"e reducod the dust in stoping operations, for example, from 40,000,000 to less than 10,000,000 particles per cubic foot merely by insisting on wet drilling, Including collaring the hole wet, wetting down before blasting and mucking and increasing the ven tilation by the use of a fan. 'ith the exception of the fan cost, the expense was negligible, and our Division Manager estimates that he would require at the present tine eight or ten additional men per day in a total force of 185 to maintain the present production if a fan had not been in stalled. HMBB-uoU93/l iJr. Fletcher-------- 4. In the sintering operation at our Jesephto-u, Pa., tine srccltc-r, a 'O S3 dust prevention and recovery p.l-_nt '. as installed at a cost cf approx imately 26,000. Disregard for the moment the greatly improved '.orb ing conditions and employee satisfaction, the minimum saving per year is over o,000, ana therefore the installation `.ill pay fer itself in less than six years. But the folio-, ir^ example of r.akin. money is even more satisfactory - at the same Division some vl000 -.-.s expended in improving -.-orbing conditions in the furnace basement, and as the result it is estimated that the recovery in the furnaces has been improved by over one percent. This saving seems very small, but it is one hich vill more than pay for the oper ting cost of the installed.n, refund the entire V13,0CC investment in one year, and shot; a profit of about ` 13,000 each year thereafter. I strongly urge that progressive companies currently obtain information as to dust, fumes, etc., under prevailing -.orbing conditions. It is even advisable to have this data prepared by a disinterested and recognised authority in the medical or engineering field of industrial health, because if the information is secured by the company's o'.n employees, it is often disregarded by Compensation Committees or the Courts on the basis that it is prejudiced, just as is often the case when the data has been obtained by so-called "experts" after cases have been filed, ana when it is necessary to prove that the conditions then found were the same as those pre vailing before or at the time of the alleged "accident." The Air llygiene Foundation is in an excellent position to undertake the "disintertsted" examinations, and if harmful conditions are found, to advise what cor rective steps should be taken. The Foundation can also render industry an extremely valuable service through acting as a centrrd clearing house for collecting, evalu ating and disseminating Industrial health information, and in fact has already done so. It has also been 'productive' in its research and sound and timely bulletins on medical, engineering and legal phases of the industrial disease problem. Another way that the Foundation can be most constructive {provided it has built up a reputation for reliable research and honesty) is to aid the State legislatures in preparing workable compensation laws and codes. As many of you know, during the last fev: years, a number of States have set hygienic standards, which greatly vary, and some of which are so poorly defined, that they are of no great value, either to employer or employee. Codes must be based on actual proven conditions, clinical results and the mechanical ability of available equipment - not first on "impress ions", hysteria, or because of political expediency. In closing I earnestly hope that the present members will avail themselves of the valuable assistance that the Foundation can give, that they will be willing to make some contribution other than their dues for continuing and developing the re search activities, and that they will try to obtain as new members other companies from their own industries, whether or not such companies are competitors in business. I use the word "business" because in industrial health there are no "competitors". All employees gain through improved v:ork-conditions, and all employers benefit through lower operating costs. 'O-ii `g 0> --s C\ Abstract of address, "Lab* 's Viewpoint On Occupational Disease Prevention," by Robert J, -tt. International Labor Represent ative, American Federation of Labor, at fourth fall meeting of Air Hygiene Foundation held At Mellon Institute, Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Mov. 15. ks a representative of the American Federation of Labor I am glad to accept the invitation of your organization. In times iixc these when the slash of savagery ;r.d the destruction of human life isprevalent throughout the `"orld, it is a real pleasure to join ' ith ,\n organisation dedicated to preserving the lives of our people. I have great respect for an organisation '..T.ich, financed by industry is conscientiously seeking by unbi'.sed scientific study to iind and publish the truth about industrial hygiene. Labor eiccm&s sue'', an a;\-roach. V.'s have long preached the need for indus try to find and soive the hazards tovhich the ..orkers in industry are exposed. V.'e believe that it is essential for the community as a thole and for the employer in par ticular that eveiy safeguard be undertaken to reduce occupational accident and ill ness to a minimum. Organized labor welcomes the encouraging initiative which industry has shown in its aipport of the Air Hygiene Foundation, and the resolution which was adopted unanimously by the delegates attending the recent convention of the American Federation of Labor will indicate the interest of our members in this problem. (This resolution (Ko. 3) pointed to the number of industrial accidents, deaths and economic losses involved, stated that "only about 40SS of the workers in the U. S. have the protection intended by v.'orkmens compensa tion laws," end urged organization of union committees to promote safe and healthful working conditions; inclusion of safety and health clauses in union agreements; proper state regulations; extension of workmen's com pensation and the reduction of compensation insurance costs. In focussing your efforts to eliminate inoustrial diseases from industry, you have adopted the very realistic but too often ignored truism: "A man's health is more important than monetary com-oensation." V.e of the American Federation of Labor who have agitated so vigorously for adequate workmen's compensation coverage for industrial accident and occupational dis ease do indorse your slogan without reservation. Our efforts to extend and increase insurance coverage do not represent ary conflict of thought on this score. We believe that the more expensive accident.and illness become to industry, the more intelligent and adequate will be the steps taken by industry to prevent those hazards. Our firm belief is that prevention work can best be handled by impartial institutions such as the Air Hygiene Foundation, the U.S. Department of Labor and similar groups. We beli.ve of course that some form of public health and disability insurance mus.t supplement the work of prevention and cure but I realize that this meeting is concerned with the one issue of prevention. Whether we approach the subject of safety and prevention from an economic or from a humane standpoint, maintain that there is something radically wrong with the mechanics of safety and prevention programs when a state, or even an industry runs a record of fatal injuries that is two or three times greater than the standard accepted as average. HBB-uuu9873  (A 0 ^rg ,r. T.'att----- 2. Just a short tine ago, ny attention was called to an anlaysis of more than five million compensable cases in seven states, and a comparison with the experience stated in the American Accident Table. It occurred to me that even if the basis for comparing the record of these states v/ith the experience of the American Accident Table might be subject to some adjustment, nevertheless, adequate safety and preven tion program- could do much to correct the 'vide discrepancies among these states -- the lowest of '.:hich had 923 fatal injuries per 100,000 cates, and the highest of which had 2,406 fatal injuries per 100,000 cases. Fe are told by experts that occupational diseases are largely preventable, ana with respect to silicosis -- -;hich has received so much consideration the last feu years that it has overshadowed the larger general problem of occupational dis ease -- medical experts seem to be unanimous in stating that this disease, silicosis, is about 95/s preventable. The industrial states that have kept records have clearly established that not more than 2.5# to 4# of all industrial injuries arc due to what be termed occupational diseases, and that approximately one half of these are covered by the term "accidental injuries." It would seem quite reasonable to suggest that there would be very few occupational disease problems if every possible means of prevention were investigated, nd known methods put into effect through appropriate legislative standards, such standards to be supported by adecuate technical and enforcement staffs and maintained by sufficient appropriations. There v.ili always be some employers to whom the saving of human life is a sufficient incentive. They do not wait for the enactment of a law or the promulga tion of rules. But there are others who take a different view and weigh the dollar and cents gain against dollar and cents loss. Then there are others who do not care and who whine about government interference, but -/ho are willing to sacrifice their v.-erkers in the nope of getting the jump on their competitors. So there must be power to enforce and to exercise that power efficiently and reasonably through adequately trained ana enforcing staffs. V.hen i/e jet the laws and the rales, and provide for the technical and en forcing staffs, we may not get results because the legislature refuses to appropriate funds enough. Labor Departments have never been burdened with excessive appropria tions, and I should like to suggest that this is one instance where employer and labor groups couid get together in an effort to minimize suffering and preserve human life. Your slojen "A Man's health is more important than monetary compensation" serves as a good introduction to the subject of compensation which labor considers is one of the fundamentals. It cannot bo left out of the picture when we consider safety and prevention or the problems of occupational disease. A scientific approach will recognize this fact, and unbiased findings cannot result until it is recognized. Even if the safety and prevention programs achieved satisfactory results there would still be industrial accidents. Those accidents or injuries will result in disability, and sometimes in death. So while there should be concerted and continuous effort to prevent industrial accidents and diseases there should and must be coupled v/ith every prevention program adequate provision for com pensating those v/ho meet with injury and suffer disability or death. * niiB&-0u09S7i| K4BB-0mi987b Mr. !.att---------3. Labor "'ill continue to insist that adequate provision doesn't mean merely oassing a "good law" vhich protects both the employer and workers. There is only one iegiti:j?.t; ground for a difference of opinion between the employer and the work er, and that occurs when a lar is under consideration on the question of what should be the maximum benefits. But once a law is passed, the interests of the employer and worker should be as one. The worker is entitled to all the benefits provided in the law, not only because it is the law but because his employer pays premiums for that very purpose. The eraplcyer is entitled to get this protection at a reasonable rate. The State has the power and it should be its duty, to tell the employer that he must guarantee pay ment through insurance, and the State also has the power and it should be its duty to see that the premium rates are reasonable as well as adequate. Tear after year when workers petition for the adoption of more liberal work men's compensation laws, employers have been scared by the warning often repeated "your premium rates will be confiscatory." This has been particularly true with ref erence to occupational disease coverage. The emplcyers have been told over and over that general or blanket coverage would bring in mumps and mearlesl This has all been done despite the fact that the reoord speaks for itself. Let's take the- State of Wisconsin for example. That State has the broadest possible blumcet coverage. The law says ''Injury is mental or physical harm to an employee caused by accident or disease." Yet under that provision, only 2.9Jt of all the compensated cases in 1333 were occupational disease cases, and they represented about the same percentage of the cost of all cases, Under every one of the 47 State V.orkmen's Compensation Laws (no law in Mississippi) the injured worker faces different conditions and terms, different methods of handling funds and claims, and differences in the administration of the law, and in many of the states no preventative measures at all. The American Federation of Labor is opposed to this system. If the conser vative estimate as to the number of individuals exposed to harmful quantities of silica dust may be set at 500,uOO the problem directly or indirectly affects all of them and their families, or a total of nearly 2,000,000 people in the United States. In our opinion it is sheer folly to continue this crasy system, and ignore the necessity of contructive and long range action with prevention as the first step. If employer and workers agree that the laws were enacted to meet the cost of industrial injuries fairly, why should compensation for occupational diseases be limited to workers who are incapacitated ty certain poisons like lead or silica as it is in maty states? Vfty should workers who suffer from other occupational diseases be compelled to bring suit under the common law of employers' liability? There should be only one fair test and that test should be - did the worker receive the injury during the course of his employment? I read somewhere that Ur. Harry Guilbert of the Pullman Compary was asked, "V.hat should be the value of an eye" and his reply was "whose eye?" And that, after all, is the important question. Who met with the in jury, and who were the people that the laws were enacted for? Htfg0-0tj69g76 0 ~<c ~ ;.Sr. v<'att ---- 4. './orkers believe that the laws were enacted for the protection of workers and employers. The worker gets injured and the employer Insures his loss, although we must remember there c-n be no compensation for the suffering. The employer ought to be in favor of an adepuate schedule of benefits, ana be sufficiently interested to see that his injured workers obtain what the lav/ specifies** The workers are certainly in favor and will cooperate with the employers in keeping the costs as low :j possible. But v.e shall oppose those who say we cannot have a reasonable standard of benefits because premium rates will be too high. 7/e will insist that they must first determine why rates are high. Here is one issue upon which employers and workers can*agree. We can do a real job and perform a real service to ourselves and the community- in the field of prevention alone. Workers will willingly and gladly cooperate with you. But we shall continue to insist that workmen1 s compensation lav/s assure the payment of bene fits that have a fair relation to the loss of earnings with a minimum which we shall not go belov/. We shall continue to fight for adequate hospital and medical care dur ing the whole period of incapacity; compensation for all workers through a compulsory astern for all accidents or diseases with no exceptions; joint effort of employer and worker organizations to reduce industrial accidents and diseases, and the enact ment and administration of a simple, fair, law in which there will be no element of private profit. In conclusion let me again express the thanks of organized labor to the Air Hygiene Foundation and to the employers whose financial support makes this work poss ible. The American Federation of Labor wants to avoid the necessity of strife but our people will more and more be seeking this method of winning relief from slow torture unless industry accepts as its responsibility and obligation the furnishing of disease-free conditions of employment. IfftiriHffrlt *~5n