Document MMzL13eg5o7dQVkbK4Y7L6yDL

ANNUAL report INDUSTRIAL HEALTH SECTION 1950 Field Work of the Laboratory of Industrial Hygiene Surveys, were conducted in the plants of thirty-eight (38) of our Group -- policyholders, affecting thousands of Metropolitan certificate hollers. Four-thousand sixty five (4,065) separate analyses were made in the U' laboratory. These consisted of airborne contaminants, materials used in industrial processes, and biological material. Many tests were made directly in the field in order to determine the degree or extent of contamination of gases, solvents, and other airborne contaminants. These are not included in the above figure. The following is a list of some of the plants surveyed during the past year. In many cases, individual surveys were made of branches and sub sidiary plants: Republic Steel Corporation Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (District Office, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada) National Lead Company (Titanium Alloy Division) Armstrong Cork Company Otis Elevator Company Corning Glass Company North American Aviation Company Union Carbide and Carbon Company Ford Instrument Company Bausch and Lomb Optical Company Universal Foundry Company Universal Rundle Company Four Wheel Drive Company Hickok Manufacturing Company Johns Manvilla Company In addition to plants requiring complete surveys, a number of Groups were visited to give advice regarding a hazardous operation or assistance in establishing a medical program. While Dr. McConnell was on the West Coast attending the Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association, he visited -2- some of our Group policyholders, at the request of Dr. Shepard, to observe their medical programs and discuss any problems they may have had. Travel Credit The incidental expenses incurred by our Field hen for travelling main tenance in the Field, were bom by the Group policyholders for whom the surveys wens made. The amount received during the year from these policyholders amounted to $6,522.51. Special Inquiries One thousand four hundred and ninety-five (1,495) requests for advice on health matters were received during the year. Requests for assistance came from large"and small industrial firms and local and national health organiza tions. They covered a large variety of subjects. The following list will give some idea of the nature and variety of the types of information requested: Industrial medical programs Industrial nursing * Reduction of high claim experience y Value of air conditioning Effect of fluorescent lighting ^ Toxicity of rock wool and glass wool " Health hazards of Pentachlorphenol and water soluble resins Photographs of third degree burns for use in a brochure which was being prepared by an advertising concern for civilians in case of atomic attack Toxicity of'certain substances used as insect repellents Effect of night work on health v" Advisability of using antihistamines in treatment of common cold Effect of noise on health ^ Physical examinations of employees and executives t-" Toxicity of sodium dichromates Number of hospital beds required in a community Toxicity of orthodichlorobenzene Toxicity of cerium fluoride Hospitals in New York City with special, eye and physical examinations and diagnoses Value of aluminum therapy in treatment of silicosis is" Triethylene glycol vapor control of colds, 3- - Health hazards involved in submerged arc welding ^ Substitute for carbon tetrachloride for use as degreaser Health hazards of the electro-plating, polishing, and buffing i/- industry Ammoniated tootbpowder and its effect on tooth decay ^ Carcinogenic preparations of tars and pitches Medical aspects of vacations. Since 1935, the Industrial Health Bureau has been surveying plants of a company which manufactures cork and linoleum products with branches located all -over the United States. The Bureau has also analyzed all new substances used in their plants to determine whether or not they are harmful to the health of their employees. Since that time. X-rays of the chests of the employees have been interpreted by the Bureau. It is interesting to note that as a result of the survey work and the recommendations made, not one new silicosis case has developed. Not one of those already showing evidence of silicosis at the time of the initial X--ray has shown any progression. In 1941> a trade union of the national printing industry in New York asked the industrial Health Bureau to make health surveys of the printing plants in their association to ascertain whether or not a health hazard \ existed in the offset spray process. This was done and a standard set for the non-offset 3pray materials. Since that time a large number of the plants send in to the Metropolitan an analysis of the materials to be used in the offset spray and the Industrial Health Bureau decides whether or not any of the ingredients could be a health hazard. If the spray measures up to the group1 s standards, a label is affixed testifying that it has been "Approved." An article in a recent issue of "American Pressman" states that since this plan has been put into effect, complaints of injurious effects on workmen in plants where the Group's material are used have progressively decreased 4- - In addition to requests for advice on matters dealing Y.ith Industrial Hygiene, the Publication Division and the Coordination and Advertising Division referred to the Industrial Health Bureau all letters requesting medical advice which cannot be answered by sending a booklet. These requests cane from every State in the United States and many foreign countries, as a result of our radio and magazine publicity. Representatives from health organizations of foreign countries also came to the Bureau for advice during 1950. Visitors came from France, Curacao, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Greece. X-ray Interpretation The Bureau has continued to interpret x-rays of the chests of employees of Group policyholders. Literature Twenty-four thousand seven hundred and ninety two (24,792) copies of our health publications, both general and industrial were sent on request. Every month a list of the names of non-policyholder industrial firms requesting literature is sent to the Group Sales Research Section for follow-up. Publications During the year, complete revisions were made of the following publications: Air Conditions and the Comfort of Workers Methods of Testing and Protecting Eyesight in Industry (On Press) 5- - Partial revisions of the following booklets were made: Health Protection in Welding First Aid. Dr. LtcConnell reviewed the "Personnel Handbook" to be published by the Ronald Press Company, New York. He is a member of the Board of Consulting Editors. He also contributed a chapter on decompression sickness for the "Merck Manual." Meetings and Addresses During the year, members of the Staff attended 22 meetings and gave addresses at some of these, i.e.. Dr. McConnell took part in a Panel Discus sion on Pneumonoconiosis at the Postgraduate Course in Pulmonary Diseases and Their Relation to Employment. This was sponsored by the American Trudeau Society in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health and the Industrial Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc., at Pittsburgh, Pa. At the 20th Annual Greater New York Society Convention and Exposition in New York City, Dr. McConnell gave a talk on "The Role of the Nurse in Detecting Health Hazards." Ur. Fehnel then gave a demonstration of techniques used to determine certain health hazards. Ur. Fehnel was also one of the participants in a panel discussion on "Chemical Phases of Atmospheric Contamination." Ur. Fehnel attended the meeting of the American Petroleum Institute. The subject of the discussion was the New York State Code on atmospheric pollution, sulphur-dioxide due to the sulphur compound, and solid and liquid fuels. I -6- 1 Committees Members of the Bureau were asked to serve on the following new committees: Dr. McConnell accepted an invitation to become a member of the Headquarters Committee and the editorial Committee of, the,.American Association of Industrial Physicians and Surgeons. He also accepted an invitation to serve as the Metropolitan representative on the Z4 (Safety Code for Industrial Sanitation) CommitteV^of the American / Standards Association and was elected C1 hairma-n of the Committee. Dr. McConnell accepted the position of Section Representative on the American Public Health Association Nominating Committee for Governing Council Members of the Industrial Hygiene Section for the year 1950. Dr. McConnell accepted an invitation to serve as one of the Medical Advisors to the Committee on the Code of Minimum Requirements for Comfort Air Conditioning of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers. Dr. McConnell accepted a request to serve on an Advisory Committee to consider a proposed revision of an existing Industrial Code Rule No. 12 of the New York State Department of Labor entitled "Rules Relating to the Control of Dusts, Gases, and Fumes." Mr. Fehnel accepted an invitation to serve on the Arrangements Committee for the 1951 Annual Meeting of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, which will be held in Atlantic City during the week of April 21 - 28, 1951, inclusive. Mr. Fehnel was elected Chairman of the Industrial Hygiene Section of the American Public Health Association. The Industrial Health Bureau held an exhibit at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Industrial Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago in April. This was a display showing Industrial Medical, Nursing, and Safety Services available through the Health and Welfare Division. Pamphlets and literature for industrial physicians and nurses were distributed. 7- - The Bureau also demonstrated equipment used in determining industrial hazards at the annual convention of Managers held in the Home Office in February. The Geiger Counter, the Carbon Monoxide Detector, the Mercury / Vapor Detector and methods of collecting dust samples were demonstrated. Testimonials Attached are a few of the many letters expressing thanks for the materials sent and the service rendered 1