Document O1v2KQL9q9KZng3rBvpO6Vqkv

FILE NAME: General Electric (GE) DATE: 1923 Sept 22 DOC#: GE057 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Inspection Report & Comments - Everett Foundry Everett Foundry November 22, IS 23 This i s in many ways an excellent plant and I should have only two c riticism s to make of i t . Th^/health problem seems to be a problem of dust. In sandblasting and in dry molding th e re .is a great deal of sand dust, some of which is extremely fin e . The nine men employed in sandblasting work in small c e ll s , wear a sponge re sp ira to r inside a diver' s helmet. This helmet has a 100'mesh wir e in the opening. Of course the fin est sand, that which is small enough to reach the lungs, p asses through such a wire and i t i s always possible to wipe very fin e .sand from the inside of these helmets. i Thether or not the 'sponge resp irato r holds back the dust I do not know. The method, outlined to-me by Dr. Schubmehl i s certainly, i f carefu lly applied, the best way of protecting these men. He te lls me that they go to the dispensary in Lynn for-examination every three months and that any o f<them who develop bronchial trouble are suspended from sandblasting t i l l they have* recovered.. I t would be advisable to bring under th is same system the men who are cleaning out the dry sand from the machine p a rts 'with an ' v * air hammer. The work dislodges qu an tities of fine sand dust increased by the men' s habit o f using the stream, of air to blow the loosened sand away. The a ir in th is p art of the building i s foggy with dust. The other point to which attention should be directed i s the fir s t- a id room, This 'is in charge of a non-medical fir s t- a id man, and i t i s plain that the work done there i s not of a professional character. The equipment of the room i s poor and incomplete and i t is very doubtful whether proper care can be given to eye cases and minor accidents under present conditions.