Document XOGwLyMbdVYD588M36V4Gj774
jlA T E D e t h y l c o m p a n y l i m i t e d JlegistemdOffice:THEADELPHI, LONDON,WTC2
IJdressall communications untilJurthernoticeto-
ARTILLERY HOUSE, ARTILLERY ROW; LOMDOIsT, S.l
Jkrectors*
f f t t e f f l OM: A B B E Y 3 9 7 4 - 7
N .A .G A S S l_.N .H A M IL T O N (U .s.A .) U .S.A U G K E S S L E R (NETHERLANDS)
G. LEGH JO N E S F .G .C .M O R R IS
R .W . S E L L E R S D .A . S H E P A R D (U .S.A )
A . O. S I N G L E T O N E . E .S O U B R Y T . R . A . B E V A N f J ' f f t f t i J y i Hg)
f f cl f J f f t t mS: ETH Y LR O R T, SO W E ST , LONDON
OUR REF. ST/3/310
YOUR REF.
1 s t F eb ru ary 1945
D r. R.Kehoe, U niversity of C incinnati, C ollege of lied icin e,
P T ^ ^ T V J T t -.''. r n - r
Dear Bob,
I en clo se one copy of a re p o rt prepared by D r. C a s s e lls on h is re c e n t v i s i t to Falm outh to in v e s tig a te cases of a lle g e d p o iso n in g amongst p erso n n el employed in tank cleaning o p eratio n s.
HE 0021513
-41 `` m - c iijs iu a iic A t f a l mo u t h
D g sca x p rioR Og m&JSXSSL
the tanks to be cleaned were: f iv e underground tanks
which had. c o n ta in e d le a d e d g a s o lin e * Nos. 26, 24, 23 had h e ld
87 o c ta n e f u e l 5 Ho*23 had h e ld 100 ocfene f u e l and Ho. 27 had. h e ld
100 and 150 o c ta n e f u e l .
.
The ta n k s w ere c i r c u l a r - 118 f e e t d ia m e te r z 20 f e e t
high - 4,000 tons ca p ac ity , w ith supporting p i l l a r s a t in te r v a ls .
The bottom and s id e s 'w e r e o f s t e e l w ith a c o n c re te ,ll i n i n g n along"
the bottom and fo r a height, o f approxim ately th ree f e e t up the
w a lls . The r o o f was o f c o n c re te *
.
I'anlc H o ,23, w inch 1 e n te r e d , had a m anhole 2 - f t . l 0 - - i n ,
d iam eter in the r o o f, which was open, and by which one gained
ac ce ss by means o f a p e rp e n d ic u la r la d d e r to the f lo o r o f the
ta n k . . I u n d e rs to o d 'th a t th e r e w ere two m anholes i n th e r o o f o f
each tank.
'1
Emptying o f th e f u e l from the tanks was b eg in on the
3.5th O ctober .1948, and f in is h e d by th e - 1 0 th Kovemher 1945* C leaning
on th e f i r s t tank (H o .26) was begun on th e day a f t e r i t was e m o tie d ,
h u t the o th er tanks had bean ex tracted (by fans in the access
chamber sucking, th ro u g h the two 1 0 ,f m ains w hich had; been
-
d isco n n ected in the access chamber) w ith both m anlids open fo r
...
two weeks b e f o r e c le a n in g began,
.
lO CV2 o o
tu he o
ooVTOvf
The p ro c e d u re i n the c a se o f tank No,. 26 was a s f o llo w s . . .
On 1 2 th November 1943 the A s s i s t a n t S u p e rv is o r (33r. Thompson)
'
entered, the tank and removed the in v e rte d su c tio n p ip e (4 d rain )
o v e r the sump in o r d e r to make room f o r th e ru b b e r tu b e o f th e
'.
slu d g e pump, ancl a ls o o u t in th e l i g h t s by whi ch th e work was to
be c a r r i e d on. He was i n th e tan k f o r 'a b o u t an h o u r and a h a l f ,
and no o n e 'e l s e was i n on t h a t day. * he men e n te r e d th e fo llo w in g
cay. 'w earing w h ite o v e ra lls ,-g u m b o o ts and g lo v e s, and equipped wi th
b lo w e r-ty p e h e lm e ts . The e x p lo s iv e t e r gave th r e e NIL r e a d in g s on
t h i s day - 1.3th November' 1945. The. b lo w e r-ty p e h e lm e ts were -worn
f o r th e f i r s t two o r th r e e d ay s d u rin g w hich th e men c le a n e d th e
bank-bottom , u sin g ru b b e r squeegees ab o u t 3 f e e t lo n g arm b a ss
b r i s t l e brooms.
'' '
As much a s p o s s i b l e o f th e w a te r and slu d g e on th e ta n k '
bottom was' sucked up by >th e s i udge pump from th e w a te r d r a in to -
th e sump i n th e a c c e s s cham ber, whence i t flo w ed to th e i n t e r c e p t o r
a t t h e bottom o f th e s i t e . The men s t i r r e d up th e slu d g e with*
the squeegees and brooms so -as to keep i t in suspension fo r 'the _
pump to ta k e .
*. 1 ..
The re m a in d e r which- th e pump couldn* t ta k e was. sw ept a lo n g i n f r o n t o f each man u n t i l th e r e was s u f f i c i e n t to sh o v e l _ , i n t o a b u c k e t wi th a b r a s s shovel* These b u c k e ts , when' f i l l e d , -> 0
s to foe c le a n e d w e re :.fiv e u n d erg ro u n d ta n k s
eh bad c o n ta in e d le a d e d g a s o lin e . W as.26, 24, 2d had h e ld
87 o c ta n e f u e l 5 Wo. 25 had h e ld 100 o c tn e f u e l and Wo. 27 had h e ld
100 and 150 o c ta n e f u e l .
.
.
jjhe ta n k s w ere c ilo c u la r ~ 118 f e e t cti am eter x 20 f e e t
h ig h - 4,000 to n s c a p a c ity , w ith s u p p o rtin g p i l l a r s a t i n t e r v a l s . .".-f
The bottom and s id e s w ere o f s t e e l w ith a c o n c re te l i n i n g 0 a l o n g - ; i
the bottom and fo r a h e ig h t o f approxim ately th re e f e e t up the ; ; ^
w a lls . The r o o f was o f c o n c r e te .
'
. .. ' A
Sank Wo,23, v;Mch 1 e n te r e d , had a m anhole 2- f t . - 10 - in * ' f
d ia m e te r i n th e r o o f , which v/as o p en , and by w hich one g a in e d
-.
access by means o f a p e rp e n d ic u la r la d d e r to the f lo o r o f the ` . 1
bank. . 1 u n d e rs to o d t h a t th e r e w ere two m anholes i n th e r o o f o f
each tank.
''
*
"'
*
'
'
M p ty in g o f th e f u e l from th e ta n k s was begdn on th e ' /.
1 6 th O cto b er I 945, ' and f i n i s h e d by t h e 1 0 t h S o v aab e r 1945* Cleaning."'
on' th e f i r s t tan k (Ho. 26) was begun on th e clay a f t e r i t was em ptied., /:g
h u t the o th er tanks had been ex tracted (by fans in the access
;
ch am b er'su ck in g , th ro u g h the two 10 m ains w hich had been
' -:
d is c o n n e c te d i n th e a c c e s s chamber) w ith b o th m a n lid s open f o r ' 'Ab'A
two week/; b e f o r e c le a n in g began.
'
. . /?
. ..
.
:_
She p ro c e d u re i n th e c a se o f tank h o . 26 v/as a s f o llo w s . :
On 1 2 th November 1945 th e A s s i s t a n t -S u p e rv iso r ( h r . Thompson)
h
en tered the tank and removed the in v e rte d su ctio n p ip e (4 d rain ) 1
e v e r th e sump i n o r d e r to make room f o r th e ru b b e r tu b e o f th e
1. .'
slu d g e pump, and a ls o o u t in the l i g h t s by which the work was to ' A
be carx u ed o n . He `was i n th e tan k f o r a b o u t an ho u r and a h a l f ,
and no o n e 'e l s e was i n on t h a t day. JDha men e n te r e d th e fo llo w in g
cay. w e a rin g w h ite o v e r a l l s , ' .gum b o o ts and g lo v e s , and. eq u ip p ed wi th
b lo w er-ty p e h elm ets. fne ex p lo siv e te r gave th re e iilL re a d in g s on
th i s day - 1.5th November 1945 The b lo w e r-ty p e h e lm e ts w ere worn
f o r th e f i r s t two o r th r e e d ay s d u rin g w hich th e men c le a n e d th e
tank-bottom , using rubber squeegees about 5 f e e t long and bass a
b r i s t l e brooms.
"
'
;
As much a s p o s s i b l e o f th e w a te r and slu d g e on th e tank "
bottom was sucked up by th e s i uctge pump from th e w a te r d r a in to
th e sump i n th e a c c e s s cham ber, whence ife flo w ed to th e i n t e r c e p t o r
a t th e bottom o f .th e s i t e . ih e men s t i r r e d up th e slu d g e vdth" .'
th e sq u eeg ees and brooms s o - a s to kee'p I t i n su sp e n sio n f o r `th e .1
pump to ta k e .
..
"
*. ' . ..
- The rem ain d erjw h ich .-.the. pump couldn* t ta k e was. sw eat
v
a lo n g i n f r o n t o f each man'- u n t i l '7th e r e was s u f f i c i e n t to sh o v e l 'A
i n t o a b u c k e t wi th -a b r a s s s h o v e l, --fhese b u c k e ts , when f i l l e d ,
'were em p tied i n t o a heap on th e f l o o r u n d er th e m a n lid , and when
s u f f i c i e n t 's l u d g e had aecu.mu3.ated - a b o u t 7 to 8 cwfcs. - i t was
f i l l e d up in to b u c k e ts , p u lle d up through the m a n lia , and b u rie d
a b o u t 2 f e e t deep i n a tre n c h some d is t a n c e away.
'.
ih e men w ere i n th e tan k f o r f o u r to f i v e h o u rs each
day, and a t the end o f th e day th ey had a b a th p ro v id e d b e fo re -
changing in to th e ir oan c lc tie s .
Ih e same c le a n in g p ro c e d u re was ad o p ted in th e ca se o f
2.
'each tan k j e x c e p t t h a t h a l f way th ro u g h th e c le a n in g o f th e
th ir d tan k (K o .27) th e slu d g e was sip h o n ed f r o a th e w a te r d r a in
to th e sump i n th e a c c e s s cham ber, i n s t e a d o f b e in g pumped-, and -
the .sludge was hosed and swept by squeegees in to the w ater d ra in
in s te a d o f b ein g brushed*. This was done a lso in the case o f
Tanks Nos*24 and 23.
"
B low er type h e lm e ts were worn o n ly f o r th e f i r s t two days
in th e f i r s t two tanks* A f te r th e y w ere d is c a r d e d c i v i l i a n ty p e
r e s p ir a t o r s were worn f o r 2 days and th e se were replaced, l a t e r by
box* r e s p i r a t o r s , s e r v ic e ty p e , each man h a v in g two. One o f th e
men was iaade r e s p o n s i b le f o r c le a n in g th e f a c e p ie c e s w ith 1ZAL
a t the end o f each day.
PhhSQMiSi^ ... `
''
The fo llo w in g men were engaged i n th e work f o r v a ry in g p e r io d s o f tim e u n d e r th e s u p e rv is io n o f Mr. f . A, SOMPSOI! : - '
.
_ `was more o r l e s s in c h a rg e o f th e squad from 13 th November 1<H3 u n t i l he w ent o f f si ck on 29sh November 19 4-5,
was then in charge and a lso during^ the absence o f
o r . phomp son from 22nd to 27 th December, and from 28 th December to
I;> '/ th Ja n u a ry 19*46,
-.
I i m i I G : ?KOGRAiiME
'
' .'
- The tanics w ere b o tto m -c le a n e d in th e fo llo w in g o rd e r:-- 26.
V ; 24, ancl 23 -
' '
'
lan k h o . 26 from 1 2 th to 14 th Noverfoe r i n e l u s iv e , Mo. 25 from 15 th to 17 th. November, bo* 27 from. 19 th to 2 4 th November^ No .2 4 from 2 6 th to 29th November.
c ,. f io r o was then * gap o f a week -.dien oho man were n o t i n ti
' -^are w orking on fcho v a lv e s .
'
,j,;i pi
re-commenced on Sank No,,23 on 3 th D ecem ber,and
-pn p -- th e p r e s e n t tim e (8fch J& nuary~1946) wd Sh th e
. * f ';.vlj*?r i semas week, when no work was done, ih a men w ere
*? 1*54,Vs ienk ilo 2p u t th e tim e o f my v i s i t ~ 7 th and '8 th
&***<oeV.
.e-*n i then engaged 011 s c ra p in g th e w a lls . None o f
' ** "I/
v, v.w*j
j. 4. My* iiia<v wcl vwi' u feu. u
the sump i n th e a c c e s s cham ber, i n s t e a d o f b e in g pumped, and
.e slu d g e was h o sed an a sw ept by sq u e e g e e s i n t o th e w ater d r a in
in stead of being brushed
i b i s v?as done a ls o i n th e c a se o f
Tanks b o s 24 and 23
B low er type h e lm e ts were -com o n ly f o r th e f i r s t two days
in th e f i r s t i,v;o tanka* A f te r th ey were di sc a rd e d c i v i l i a n type r e s p i r a t o r s were worn f o r 2 days and th ese were re p la c e d l a t e r by box r e s p i r a t o r s , s e r v ic e fcype, eacn man h a v in g two One o f the men was made r e s p o n s i b le f o r c le a n in g the f a c e p ie c e s w ith I2AL a t the end o f each day
L?;;k3m m > t.
.
The fo llo w in g
were engaged In the vifork f o r v a ry in g
p e r io d s o f tim e u n d e r th e s u p e rv is io n o f H r. JhA. Ll}G&PfcpKi~ " .
P was more o r l e s s in charge o f the squad from I p t h b o v aD er^ K L y u n t i l ho w ent o f f si els on 29 th November 1945
was then in charge and a lso d u rin g ; the absence o f
Jr. rhompsor^Trbiu f in d to 2 7 th iki comber, and from 2 8 th December to
2 th Jan u ary 1946
"
m m m < L ikm m
The ta n k s were u o t tom-clearned In th e fo llo w in g o r d e r ; - 26.
25, 27, 24, ana 2;j -
.
'
a n k h o .:>6 from -.2th to 14 elf November i n c l u s i v e , Ho. 25 from 13 th to .17 ch November, Kuo. 27 from 19 th to 2 4 th ' November.? do 24 from 26th to 29 th November, 1
I'lfere was then .tt gap o f a week when th e man were n o t i n the
tanks, b u t were working on the v a lv e s.
'
G lea n in g re-com m enced on lawk No,,25 on 3 th December*ahei h as continue- u n t i l th e p r e s e n t tim e ( 8 th Ja n u ary " 1946} w ith the o:>;.ocp lio n o f O hri s cma s sueok, whan no worn was donc. liai men were s t i l l a t work i n Tank i-icw. up a t th e tim e o f my v i s i t -- 7 th and 8 th J a n u a ry 1946 -- b e in g than engaged on s c ra p in g th e w a l l s * bone o f the o th e r tanks nave as y e t been scraped '
The le n g th o f
sp e n t by each man i n s i d e th e ta n k s
I s y:i v<i?i in th e accom panying cable
'
A c c o r d i n g a; s t a t e m e n t s by some o f the men., t h e r e y/as
:. s m a l l In o n e o r two o f the tank s (N o s . 2b, 25 anci p o s s i b l y 2 7 )
v a r i o u s l y b a s e r i b e d a s .* s m e l l o f upi r t w, 5u. s m e l l o f o c t a n e " ,
!;no t p e t r o l but a scon t o > sm s l i , s o m e t h i n g l i k e a d o c t o r * s s u r g e r y -
One man ( Shi Ti) s a i d t h a t when s t i r r i n g up the s l u d g e a s m a l l
c o u l d be f e l t even through the halm et, ana i t gave r i s e to a t a s t e
i n the mouth " l i k e a poor a p p l e 9.
liv e ry t h i n y seems .:> >'w o ;io iw veil un t i l Drury r e p o r t a i s i c e on 25 th November i . /i b , , f e l l a wen by Wi. c h o l i 3 cn the s o l . l c v i n g
5.
day*3 0 til November 1 9 4 5 . A s ta te m e n t b y D r. G . . Wrig u c d a te d 8 th
December, 1945, v;as su b m itte d i n th e c a s e o f
giving in flu en zal
e n t e r i t i s a s the cau se o f h is in c a p a c i ty f o r v/ork (copy a tta c h e d ) .
Some tim e l a t e r i n December, D rury s u f f e r e d from d e p r e s s io n , and
d e v e lo p e d m e n tal symptoms. He was seen on J a n u a ry 32*4,1946 by
D r .S ta n le y Copeman o f th e C ornw all M en tal H o s p ita l, Bodmin, who
c o n sid e re d him to be v ery i l l m e n ta lly , and recommended h is
adm ission as a v o lu n ta ry p a tie n t to the M ental H o s p ita l.
E l c h o l ls s t a t e d t h a t h i s d o c to r c o n s id e re d he ivas s u f f e r i n g from !Tn e r v e s " .
2 was inform ed o f th e se c irc u m sta n c e s by the P etro leu m Board,London, and arran g ed w ith M r.C oles to v i s i t Falmouth on Tuesday, 8 bh J a n u a ry 1946.
ftE 0021518
U
EPICAL REPORT igea 43 y ea rs
4
3 M e lv ille Road,Falmouth.
\
Corninsnceo. t a n k - d e a l i n g on 13 fch November 1945 an d , b e in g
an e x p e rie n c e d man, v/as more o r l e s s in c h a rg e o f th e squad u n d e r .
Mr Thompson.
He s p e n t betw een 5 and 6 h o u rs d a i l y i n th e ta n k s ,
ex c ep t S a tu rd a y s, when work sto p p ed a t 12 noon and he d id n o t work
on Sundays* He v/ore o v e r a l l s , gum boots, tr e a te d g lo v e s , and no
headgear* Vlien th e g as c o n te n t was h ig h a s shown by th e e x p lo s im e te r ,
he wore a b lo w er-ty p e helm et - a fte rw a rd s changing to a s e rv ic e
r e s p i r a t o r * He s t a t e s t h a t he worked s e v e r a l tim es f o r two h o u r
s p e lls 'w ithout any r e s p ir a to r a t a ll,a n d th a t thus happened in
more .than one tank, B a th s w ere a v a ila b le a t th e end o f each d ay Ts
work, b u t he o n ly had tfa o i l y good w ash'1 beea u se he found th e
.
w ater too co ld end the tow els too wet*
A week p r io r to. November 28th 1945 h i s d o c to r s t a t e s th a t
he had been s ic k one evening and sta y e d away from work the fo llo w in g
day.
There i s no evidence o f th is absence in the tim e-T able
g iv e n ms by Mr.Thompson. : A p a rt from t h i s h e f e l t q u i t e w e ll, no
headaches,no g id d in e ss, a p p e tite good and sleep in g w ell.
On Wednesday, 2 8 th November 19-45, he had d ia r r h o e a and
v o m itin g , and some f l a t u l e n c e 3 he was p e r s p i r i n g said sh a k in g ana
had d if f ic u lty in f a llin g asleep , aid spent most o f the n ig h t
ta lk in g to h i s w ife and sm oking. Ho was i r r i t a b l e and e x c i t a b l e ,
and u n ab le to c o n c e n tra te . fie was seen by h i s d o c to r on the
f o lio vdng ay,, and thought to be s u ffe rin g from in flu e n z a l gas to
e n t e r i t i s . Re s p e n t 4 o r 5 d ay s in bed. .And seemed to improve,-
alth o u g h he was s t i l l n o t sle e p in g w e ll; H e .e o u ld M t f a l l a sle e p
u n t i l .la te on in the n ig h t, end h i s sleep was d is tu rb e d by dream s:
ha a t t r i b u t e d t h i s h ap p en in g to th e & &'B t a b l e t s which h e was
ta k in g f o r h i s' i n f l u e n z a . ' ..H is w ife s t a t e s h i s h an d s tw itc h e d
during sleep*. "
O
`f -
.
A fte r 4 o r 5 days he was sle e p in g a l i t t l e b e t te r ,b u t
s t i l l n o t v re ll. He f e l t d e p re s s e d and a s though som ething was
p r e s s in g on h i s h e a d . Ha f e l t h e could-?.? t o in i n p&ying c a rd s
as usual w ith h is fam ily.
'
K t 002151
On one o c c a s io n when on h i s way to' se e th e d o c to r M s
w ife s t a t e s h i s m anner was p e c u l i a r . .He was ta k in g lo n g s t r i d e s
in a- g r e a t h u r r y , and h i s w ife had to ta k e h i s arm a s h e was
unsteady on h is f e e t - going too q u ic k ly f o r h is le g s to c a rry
him . He d id e v e ry th in g in ' a g r e a t h u r r y ; e . g . , u n d r e s s in g f o r th e
d o cto r, and he shouted An stead o f ta lk in g q u ie tly as u su a l.
:
N 24609.02
H istory:,
Commenced, ta n k - c le a n in g on I p t h November 19^5 `an, b e in g
an ex p erien ced man, was more o r l e s s in charge o f the squad u nder . ,
. Mr.Thompson.
,
'
.'
He s p e n t betw een 5 anc. 6 h o u rs d a i l y i n th e ta n k s ,
e x c e p t S a tu rd a y s , vihen work sto p p e d a t 12 noon and h e d id n o t work
on Sundays. He wore o v e r a l l s , gumboo t s , t r e a t e d g lo v e s , and no -
h e a d g e a r. -Alien th e g as c o n te n t was h ig h a s shown by th e ex p o sim e t e r ,
he wore a b lo w er-ty p e helm et - a fte rw a rd s changing to a se rv ic e
r e s p i r a t o r . He s t a t e s t h a t he worked s e v e r a l tim es f o r two h o u r
s p e lls w ithout any r e s p ir a to r a t a ll,a n d th a t th is happened in
more .than one ta n k .. B aths were a v a ila b le a t the end o f each day' s
-work, b u t he o n ly h ad "a j o l l y good w ash'1 b e c a u se h e found th e
-
v/ater too cold and the tow els too w et,
A week p r i o r co November ' 28 th 1945 h i s d o c to r s t a t e s t h a t
.h e had been s ic k one evening and sta y e d away from work the fo llo w in g
day.
There i s no evidence o f th is absence in the Time-Table .
g iv e n me by Mr. Thompson. \ A p a rt from t h i s h e f e l t q u i t e w e ll, no
headaches,no g id d in e ss, a p p e tite good end sle ep in g w e ll.
.
On Wednesday, 2 8 th November 19^5^ h e had d ia r r h o e a and
v o m itin g , and some f la tu le n c e ^ he was p e r s p i r i n g and sh a k in g and-
had d if f ic u lty in f a llin g aslee p , and spent most o f the n ig h t
ta lk in g to h i s w ife and sm oking. He was i r r i t a b l e and e x c i t a b l e ,
and u n a b le to c o n c e n tr a te . He was seen by h i s d o c to r on th e
,
follow ing day, and thought to be su ffe rin g from in flu e n a i gasto
e n t e r i t i s . Ee sp en t 4 o r 5 days in bed and searned to im prove,
a lth o u g h he was s t i l - l n o t sleeping; w e ll. He. co u ld n ' t f a i l a s le e p .
tin t i l l a t e on i n tone n i g h t , end h i s .sleep was d is tu r b e d by dream s:
he a ttr ib u te d th is happening to the M & B ta b le t s which he was
ta k in g f o r h i s i n f l u e n z a . E is w ife s t a t e s h i s han d s fcwi tolled
during sleep.
. .
A fte r 4 o r 5 days he was sle e p in g a l i t t l e b e t t e r ,b u t
s t i l l n o t w e l l ,, He f e l t d e p re s s e d and a s though som ething was
p r e s s in g on h i s h e a d . He f e l t h e c o u ld n 1t j o i n in p a y in g c a rd s
a s u s u a l v;i til h i s f a m ily .
'
On one o c c a s io n w hen'on h i s way to se e th e d o c to r h i s w ife s t a t e s h i s m anner was p e c u l i a r , .He. was ta k in g lo n g s t r i d e s in a g r e a t h u rry , and his. w ife had to-*take h i s arm a s he ras u n ste a d y on h i s f e e t - ''g o in g too q u ic k ly f o r h i s l e g s to c a r r y him '1. He d id e v e ry th in g i n a g r e a t h u rry e. g . , u n d r e s s in g f o r th e d o c to r, and he shouted'jinsbea-d o f ta lk in g q u ie tly as u s u a l.
One day - 2 9 th December - he su d denly went s t i f f in h i s
O
C\2
c h a ir and k ep t saying stran g e th in g s, and qu o tin g the S c rip tu re s . H is w ife , who to ld me t h i s , s t a t e s t h a t s h e - f e l t f la b b e rg a s te d ."
He vas q u i t e n o rm al q u a r te r o f an h o u r l a t e r .
S12 0 0 . 3
He h a s d ev e lo p ed th e h a b i t '.o f r e a d in g th e B ib le f a i r l y
f r e q u e n tly , anci l i k e s to be a lo n e when d o in g so .
He h a s l o s t betw een 1 and 2 s to n e s w e ig h t s in c e
28th November 1945.
.-
.
On J a n u a ry 2nd 194o h e saw D r .S ta n le y Coleman o f th e C ornw all M ental Hospi t a l Beamin', v i s i t i n g p s y c h i a t r i s t a t Truro
5
ta lk in g q u icfely (as d e s c r ib e d above) and h i s jaw s w o rk in g . On that, 'day., D r.Colsnsn. th o u g h t him men t a l l y v a ry i l l v.d th c o n fu sio n '. and d e p re ssio n , and d e lu s io n a l id e a s , and .recommended h is adm ission to the Mental H o sp ita l as a v o lu n ta ry p a tie n t, o r f a ili n g th is , by certificatio n .
19 16 .
I exam ined t h i s man a t h i s home on iu e s d a y ,6 th J a n u a ry
. He was q u ite p o - o p e r a ti vs and talked, f r e e l y . Re wore an an x io u s lo o k , and h i s . fp.es was th in and hi s eyes r a th e r s ta r in g . He was r e s tl e s s " w h ile he ta lk e d wi ch v a rio u s p u r p o s e le s s movements
of h is hands and arms and fa c e m usclos,and h is a r tic u la t io n was n o t . alw ays' c le a r , a s though h e e o u ld n 1t ta lk ' q u ic k ly enough bo keep p ac e w ith h i s thoughts. H is c o lo u r was good,
H is p u ls e r a te -w a s 48 p e r m in u te t h i s te m p e ra tu re S!7--2F
. H is blood p re ssu re was 90/58-
The C r a n ia l n e r v e s a n re a re d n o rm al.
The p u p i l l a r y r e f l e x e s were norm al H is abdom inal
-
r e f l e x e s were in c r e a s e d i n a l l seg m en ts, Hi s deep r e f l e x e s w ere
a l l p r e s e n t and slSghfcly in c r e a s e d . The p l a n t a r re s p o n s e s were i'Xaxo
1`h e r e was no trem or o f the tongue n o r o f th e h a n d s ,b u t hand movements w ere clum sy, s l i g h t l y .spasm odic,' _
'M uscular power in arms, and le g s was good.
*.
~ .. 't
M uscle tons was a lso good,
'
`
A blood, film taken a t tills time and s ta in e d l a t e r
showed no .abnorm al! by.
.:w m,
I n c o n v e rs a tio n ,, he seemed to me to b e a r a grudge
a g a i n s t h i s p re v io u s em ployers - The S h e ll R e fin in g and M a rk e tin g
Comp.nip- - and .blamed them on s e v e r a l c o u n ts :-
'
(a) He c o n s id e re d he was u n f a i r l y t r e a t e d a t S t an low . On
. h is r e tu r n from work on the South C oast to Stsnlov/ he
f e lt, t h a t h s was charioted . He s t a t e d t h a t he was
.
# f o m e r i y a f o r enum, and when he com plained o f n o t
* g e ttin g back h is jo b , he re c e iv e d an in s u ltin g l e t t e r
from h is manager,
'
(o) * Me s t a t e d t h a t , w ith o u t h i s know ledge, M s s u b s is te n c e
HF 0021521
an d * d e p re ssio n , and d e lu s io n a l id e a 's , and .recommended h is adm ission
to n ile ' enfcal Ho sp i fcel a s & v o lu n ta r y p a t i e n t , o r f a i l i n g t h i s , by
c rti fi cation.
;,
I exam ined t h i s man a t h i s home on -iu-esday,bth J a n u a ry
. He was q u i t e p o - o p e r a ti ve and ta lk e d f r e e l y . He wore an an x io u s lo o k , and h i s . f a c e was th in end hi s ey e s r a t h e r s t a r i n g . He was r e s t l e s s " w h ile h e ta lk e d w ith v a r io u s p u r p o s e le s s movements
ox h i s hands and arms and f a c e m u sc le s ,a n d h i s a r t i c u l a t i o n was n o t . a lw a y s 'c le a r, as though h e ' coition* t ta lk ' q u ic k ly enough to keep pace w ith h i s th o u g h ts. H is co lo u r was goad.
. H is p u ls e r a te - w a s 4.8 p e r m inuteJ h i s tempera-bure '97.-2F.
. H is b lo o d p r e s s u r e was 90/55-
.
The C r a n ia l n e rv e s a p p e a re d n o rm al.
''
he p u p illa ry re fle x e s were normal H is abdominal
r e f le x e s were in c re a se d in a l l segm ents. H is deep r e f le x e s v/era .
a l l p r e s e n t and s l i g h t l y in c r e a s e d . The p l a n t a r re s p o n s e s were f l e x o r
I h e r e was no trem or o f the tongue n o r o f th e h a n d s ,b u t hand movements were clumsy, s li g h tly spasmodic.,' _
M uscular power in arms, and, l e g s y;&s good.
.f
Lius o le tone was a ls o good.
.
'
A blood film taken a t th is time and sta in e d l a t e r
showed no ab n o rm al!ty .
.
.
I n c o n v e rs a tio n , he seemed to me to b e a r a grudge
a g a in st M s p revious em ployers - Ihe S h ell d efin in g and M arketing
Company ~ and blam ed them on s e v e r a l c o u n ts ;-
"
(a ) He c o n s id e re d he was u n f a i r l y t r e a t e d a t S ta n le y . On
! h is r e tu r n from work on the South C oast to Steniov/ he
f e l t th a t he was dem oted. He sta te d , t h a t he was
.
_ fo rm e rly a fo r exam, and when-Ire' com plained o f n o t
" g e t t i n g back h i s jo b , he r e c e iv e d an in s u ltin g ; l e t t e r 11
from h is manager', '
-
' .'
(b) ` . ,
(c)
* He s t a t e d t h a t , Avi th o u t h i 3 know ledge, h i s s u b s is te n c e allow ance was n o t p a id him w h ile 'working in the Couth, and he o n ly knew o f i t when cheques which he gave were r e tu r n e d H efer to D raw er" . One such cheque was s e n t
to a woman who l i v e s w ith in h a l f a m ile o f 'h i s own home and he was u p s e t about what she h i lb s th in k o f him, lie s t a t e d he had to s e l l f u r n i t u r e fco'meeb th e ch eq u es.
. '\
He l e f t a c a r b eh in d i n the S o u th v/hen he r e tu r n e d to r e tu rn e d to Stanlow , and in h is absence tyres,dynam o, b a t t e r i e s , e t c . , were s to le n from i t . He a p p lie d to iioruan House fob p e tr o l coupons to take the ca r back to S tanlow and was asked f o r re a s o n s why i t was n e c e ssa ry ., T his d is g u s te d him , s in c e i t was h i s c a r and ,th e
/
$
firm had no tiling to do w ith i t , and he d id n ' t r e p l y co th e l e t t e r . .
(0
VVliile on th e South C o a st giob he had to u s e a e a r , and was p a id o n ly 2| d . p e r m ile , which d id n o t co v er
running co sts.
.'
He had v a r io u s o t h e r 'w o r r ie s :-
'
(a ) He was f i n a n c i a l l y em b arrassed d u e, h e s t a t e s , to
unem ploym ent.,
'
.
(b) He l i v e s i n f u r n is h e d a p a rtm e n ts . H is own h o u se i s l e t and he can' t g et the people o u t.
( c ) He a c c e p te d a new jo b and then d id n ' t go to 1 t a s
p ro m ise d . He s t a t e d th a t he c o u id n ' t r a i s e th e
f a r e to go a l though i fc was a good jo b wi th a w eekly
wage o f 8 . to 9.
(d) H is d a u g h te r' s p o s itio n w o rrie s him . She had an i l l i g i tigiafce baby to an Am erican s o l d i e r who h ad prom ised, he s t a t e s ,t o m arry h e r, but was a lre a d y
m a rrie d , ih is happening was a g r e a t shock to him,
He i s q u i t e fo n d o f th e baby b u t i s w o rrie d t h a t i t w i l l have no l e g a l cla im to i fcs f a t h e r ' s e s t a t e i n 0 S. A.
.As r e g a r d s h i s dream s, he dream t t h a t ho was i n
a cage and couldn' t g et o u t,
...
He dream t gain ch a t h e was g iv e n co m p lete c u s to d y o f th e c h i l d . He had one n ig h tm a re when he dresimt th a t a l l . k in d s o f octopus., were tr y in g to c a tc h him . He. fo u g h t them o f f , had to chop o f f some o f t h e i r t e n t a c l e s ana f i n a l l y e s c a p e d .
He woke up v e ry r e l i e v e d th a t he h ad o n ly been dreaming.*-
He s t i l l b u s d i f f i c u l t y i n f a l l i n g a s le e p b u t " i s
feelin g b e tte r every day",
.
He s t a t e s he h a s n e v e r been i l l i n h i s l i f e b e f o r e
exeeot fo r a touch o f rheumatism w hile a t Stanlow .
.
A sample o f u r in e o b ta in e d a t th is time showed the fo llo w in g when a n a ly se d ] o h th e Courfc&uld I n s t i t u t e ;
. Volume
200 m is.
. . - ig.Xead in sample .043
lig .le a c i p e r l i t r e - .'213
Sp. C-vavity
1 .0 1 4
OPINION:~
Ehi s man, so f a r a s we know, was qui te w ell and in good health* up to 28th November 1945.
Prom th e 13 th to th e 28th November h i s ' o c c u p a tio n was one i n which th e re i s a known to x ic (lo a d ) hazard un less precautions are scrupulously observed. '
A ccording to the man' s 9m statem en t he d isre g a rd e d th ese p re c a u tio n s f o r a s u f f i c i e n t le n g th o f tim e to make i t p o s s ib le - f o r him to develop to x ic symptoms,
'
. Exposure tp le a d h as o cc u rred to the e x te n t th a t le a d i s p re s e n t i i v a specimen o f u rin e in a c o n c e n tra tio n o f .2 15 m gm s.per l i t r e n e a r l y s i x weeks a f t e r he sto p p e d work.
The n a t u r e o f h i s i l l n e s s on th e 28th November
1945 i s c o m p a tib le w ith t e t r a e th y l le a d p o is o n in g : h i s
c o n d itio n on th e 8 th J a n u a ry 1946 v/as c o m p a tib le w ith t h i s
d ia g n o sis.
.
'
On th e o th e r h an d , h i s i l l n e s s o f the 28th November 1945 was diagnosed a t th a t time as in f lu e n z a l g a s tro e n t e r i t i s , and h is subsequent manic d ep ressiv e s ta te a ttr ib u te d
to p o st in flu e n z a l d e p re ssio n . H is f in a n c ia l and dom estic w o rrie s may be c o n s id e re d to have a g g ra v a te d h i s d e p re s s io n
and to have contributed'* to h is p re se n t m ental i l l n e s s .
A fter ciue-consideration 1 cannot escape the
conclusion th a t he has had the op p o rtu n ity o f co n tractin g
t e t r a eth y le a d p o iso n ip g ~ though ijn-i-s also reaso n ab le to
accept th a t h is fin a n c ia l and dom estic w orries have played a
p a r t i n d e te rm in in g the* n a t u r e o f h i s I l l n e s s .
*
HE 0021524
- . r'\
.
..
* 8.
Aged 44 y e a r s 1 1 0 ,The T e rra c e ,? e n ry n .
a ig b o ssi
..
'' ;
. ...
Ee commenced b a n k -c le a n in g on '13 bh'November 1945, and
worked on a l l f o u r banks (E o s .-26, 25, 27, 24) s lu d g in g th e '
bottom s and p u llin g up the "buckets o f sludge through th e .m an lid
end b u ry in g them., .
'. .
. '
Z
.
. lie wore o v e r a l l s , gum -boots .and t r e a t e d g lo v e s . He isor e '
'a bloV er-type helm et on - f ir s t en terin g a tank w hile the sm ell
o f s p i r i t was about. Ee s ta te s he n ev er wore any. o th e r type o f .
resp irato r.
;
'
;.
Ee s ta te s th a t he had itc h in g o f the face and n o s tr ils
w hile on the jo b , and a te r he went home, and th is o cc u rred
a f t e r h e lp in g to "c arry Away th e slu d g e . D uring th e l a s t week
ho ' was a t work - he r e p o r te d s ic k on 30 th November 1943 - he
f e l t s ic k w h ile w orking'. On s e v e r a l o c c a s io n s he p u t hr s '
f i n g e r s down h i s th ro at.; in o r d e r to make h i a e l f v o m it. D uring
t h i s same p e r io d o f tim e ho had d i f f i c u l t y i n f a l l i n g a s le e p ,
;.ad had two o r th r e e v e ry r e s t l e s s n i g h t s . He f e l t g id d y and
unsteady on h is f e e t .
,,
' Ho s t a t e s th a t he l o s t w eig h t f a s t d u r in g - th e f o r t n i g h t
he was ta n k -c le a n in g , aha th a t where h e was l i v i n g he dicin' t
g e t enough to e a t . . ' ill's a p p e t i t e was good up to th e l a s t week he was w orking. .
.
. Ee took i l l on b h s 2 y th November 1945 - f e l t , co ld and. '
s h iv e ry end had on. i t c h i n g s e ris a tio n i n s i d e th e n o s t r i l s . Ee .
s t a t e s th a t h i s d o c to r told, him he was s u f fe rin g from n e rv e d
although he h im self says he did not fe e l nervous in him self w hile
a t work, b u t he fa n c ie d he h ea rd sounds - someone ta lk in g o r '
someone w alking behind him. '
-.
" He con tinned, to s le e p b ad ly f o r ' a week o r two a f t e r '
sto p p in g work - t h a t i q- f o r a m o n th -o r j u s t o v e r, i n a l l . He .
had no dream s.
''
'
'.
Exam ina tio n : -
'
*
.
1 exam ined t h i s man on t h e '8 t h Jaauarjy 1 9 4 6 ' '
. . Ee was q u ite c o -o p e ra tiv e and' expressed h im s e lf as'
.
an x io u s to. s t a r t ;work a g a in . ' Ee was slow in h is .speech and.
d id n o t s t r i k e me a s a p a rfc ic u T a rly i n t e l l i g e n t m an /1
- -
E to ld me th at. h e was how f e e l i n g f i t f o r w ork. He
was s le e p in g v /e ll: h i s a p p e t i t e was good: he was now p u tti n g
on w eig h t a g a in n ic e ly i. .-
, ,.r , f
~
.,
t . '
KF 0021525
nisfcorvi.
Ee commenced ta n k - c le a n in g on CLJth November 1945, and
worked on a l l f o u r banks ( E o s .2.6, 25? 27? 24) slu d g in g th e '
bottom s and p u llin g up the b u ck e ts o f sludge through the.m & nlid '
and b u ry in g them.
... -
lie wore o v e r a l l s , gum -boots .end'- t r e a t e d g lo v e s . He wore *
a blow er-type helm et on f i r s t en terin g a tank w hile the sm ell
o f s p i r i t was about. Ee s la te s he n ev er wore any. o th e r type o f .
resp irato r.
' :.
* Ee sb ates th a t he had itc h in g o f the face and n o s tr ils
w hile on the jo b , and aber he went home, and th is o ccu rred .
a f t e r h e lp in g t o 'c a r r y dway th e s l u d g e . D u r i n g th e l a s t week '
he was a t work - he r e p o r t e d ' si ek on yDth November 1945 - he
f e l t s ic k w h ile working* On severa]., o c c a s io n s he p u t he's - '
f i n g e r s down h i s th r o a t* i n o r d e r to make h i s d e l f v o m it. D u ring '
t h i s same p e r io d o f tia r e 'h a h ad d i f f i c u l t y i n f a l l i n g a s le e p ,
sn d .h a d two o r - t h r e e v a ry r e s t l e s s n i g h t s . He f e l t g id d y and
unsteady on h is f a s t .
,,
1
' Ee s ta te s th a t he l o s t w eight f a s t d u rin g -th e fo rtn ig h t
he was ta n k -c le a n in g , lid th a t where h e was liv i n g he d id n ' t . '
g e t enough to e a t . 8 i f s a p p e t i t e was good up bo th e l a s t week
he was w orking. .
Ee took i l l on -the 2ybh November I/'-ip - f e i t c o la and. '
s h iv e ry end had on. i t c h i n g s e n s a tio n i n s i d e th e n o s t r i l s . Ee .
s t a t e s t h a t h i s d o c to r t o l d him he was s u f f e r i n g from ' n e rv e s *1
although he him self says he did not fe e l nervous in him self w hile
a t work, b u t he fancied-' he h eard sounds - someone ta lk in g o r '
someone w alking behind him.
.
' He c o n tin u e d to s le e p b a d ly f o r a week o r-tw o a f t e r '
s to p p in g work - t h a t i j f o r a month o r j u s t o v e r, in a l l . He
had no dream s.
''
.
h ^ in ^ tio n _ r_ '
'.
1 examined t h i s man on th e ' 8 th J a n u a ry 1946 ' .
. ,. -He was q u ite c o - o p e r a tiv e an d e x p re s se d h im s e lf a s
an x io u s to s t a r t work a g a in . ' Ee was slow i n h i s .speech snd.
d id n o t s t r i k e me a s a - p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e l l i g e n t man.
..
1q to ld me t h a t h e was how f e e l i n g f i fc f o r w ork. He
v;as s le e p in g v e i l : h i s - a p p e t be was goods he was now p u t t i n g
cn w eight again n ic e iy i
...
d "'
,
tie o c c a s io n a lly f e e l s an itc h in g in s id e the n o s t r i l s s t i l l
B is- p u ls e r a t e 1was op p e r m in u te .
'
E is b lo c a p r e s s u r e was 155/ 80.
i:he C ra n ia l n e rv e s ap p eared n o rm al.
. .The p u p illa r y r e f le x e s were norm al: h is abdom inal
re fle x e s were very b ris k in a l l segm ents: deep r e fle x e s wsre
norm al and the p la n ta r resp o n ses vtere f l e x o r . .
.
9.
Xiiere were no trem o rs. M uscle pov/er and tone were good.
A Dlooci f ilm taken a t & i s tim e showed no abnorm al! 'ey
when l a t e r s ta in e d ,
.
, - A sample o f u r in e was 1 siren., and on a n a ly s is a t the
''Courtvale. I n s t i t u t e , i t showed the- f o llo w in g :-
-'
<
Volume '
173 m i s ..
, M g/leaa in sample - ' .0415
.
hg /lead per ,, 'litre - -
.240
.
Sp.G ravity' ' . -
1 .0 1 8 '(.\ir. 1 . fL Smi th) .
ills d o cto r (D r.ile ia ,. Tregea H ouse,?enhance) inform ed
mo fry .te le p h o n e t h a t hm c o n s id e re d i i i c h a l l s shov/ed an a n x ie ty
s t a t e ':;hm' seen a t th e ana. o f November 19 ^5
"
O p in ion:.--
I c o n s id e r t h i s man -h a s had. a m o d erate .le a d i n t o x i c a t i o n
a s e r i deneed by th e p r e s e n c e .o f le a d i n th e u r in e i n a
co n cen tratio n o f .240 m gns.por lib r a n e a rly s ix wears a f te r
h is exposure ceased.
..
'
H is symptoms o f n a u s e a anc. s le e p le s s n e s s , and h i s lo o s in w eig h t ul r `n e r v e s .55 a r e i n k e e p in g w ith th is , c o n d itio n ,
- 1 conrduerad i'UchoXIs f i t to resume work b u t advisee:
the S u p e rv iso r a t fh lm o u th to give him o u t o f d o o r'w o rk ?where
th e re s o u ls foe no c o n ta c t wf th le a d e d .m a te r ia l. -.1 a d v is e e
a g a in st h is resuming
c l e a n i n g ._
1 f e l t t h a t h aa t h i s man been c o re i n t e l l i g e n t h e
would h av e had f u r t h e r i n f o r n a t i on e .g iv e as 'r e g a r d s h i s
symptoms. I made b o a tte m p t to e lu c id a te in fo rm a tio n by d i r e c t
q u e s tio n in g , -a s 1 should n o t have known how much c re d e n c e to g iv e
to the answ ers, b u t I f e l t th a t th e l i t t l e he had to say was ~
trustw orthy; '
4 ,. r
Kg 0021527
10* iiged 52 , H olland V illa , Ire v e rv a , Budock.
Commenced bank c l G iving l p t h November 19^5 and was i n -
a l l fo u r banks (N os. 2 6 ,' 25, 27, 24) .
,' ;
fie s ta k e s t h a t i n t a n k ' 25 b e cftcn* t w ear a b lo w e r-ty p e
helm et but o n ly a box r e s p ir a t o r , - and th a t was where the
tr o u b le s t a r te d 11. - - "
:
He c le a n e d o u t 5 barrow lo a d s o f d e p o s it from the sump i n th e a c c e s s chamber o f tank N o .27 u s in g a s h o v e l. He wore no ~
re s p ira to r a t a l l w hile.doing th is i although the sm ell o f octane was* p r e t t y s tr o n g 1'-. Ehe f a n s w ere ru n n in g a l l th e tim e.
. 'what was l e f t i n the tank sump was a ls o c le a r e d o u t by shovelling the sludge in to canvas buckets.
iv h ile s h o v e llin g o u t th e slu d g e from th e sump in the a c c e s s chamber o f tank b o .24 w earing no r e s p i r a t o r s , the sm ell
was s tro n g , so they l e f t i t and went to work on the v a lv e s o u ts id e .
A f te r a week on th e v a lv e s , work was resum ed on ran k 25
f o r two d ay s, a f t e r which he r e p o r te d s ic k on f r i d a y , 7 t h December
19 4 5 . lie r e tu r n e d to work on I u e s d a y , l l t h D e c e m b e r,b u t'd id n o t go '
back to ta n k -c le a n in g .
,
He s t a t e s t h a t f o r th e f i r s t week o r two on the ta n k s
he s l e p t b a d ly . He couldn*b f a l l a s le e p 5 .when h e d id s le e p i t '
was broken and r e s t l e s s , end he began to have n ig h tm ares a g a in .
He would wake up w ith a s t a r t o r a scream and sw e a tin g p r o f u s e ly .
He c a n 1t remember h i s dream s.
-
*
He u sed to h av e n ig h tm a re s f o r a tim e a f t e r le a v in g th e
sea - he was trap p ed in th e am munition m agazine o f a m erchant
c r u i s e r , and s u f fe re d from n e rv e s and l o s s o f memory a f t e r t h is
ex p erien ce^ he l e f t the; se a i n November 1943., and was n o t allo w ed
to s a i l a g a in . He had been f r e e o f n ig h tm a re s f o r a t l e a s t a
year and a h a lf u n til he began tan k -clean in g th is tim e.
On one day a f t e r , b ein g i n a ta n s (? la n k 24) a l l m o rn in g ,
he developed, a tin g lin g and i tellin g round n o se, fa c e , eyes and neck
in the a f te r n o o n . On th e same clay h e had s o u rn e s s o f th e stom ach,
f e l t s ic k b u t c o u ld n 11 v o m it, and when he w ent borne t h a t n i g h t h e
took s a l t and w ater a s an e m e tic . He f"i n a l l y vomi te d and f e l t
much b e t t e r . H is w ife th o u g h t he had
d rinking because o f the
sm ell o f h is b re a th - at p u trid smell
He h a s n o t f e l t i l l a p a r t from t h i s d ay .
E is a p p e tite h as'b een 'g o o d throughout.
KE- 0021528
Hi s boryt ' ' , ' v -
/-
-._
Commenced tank c le a n in g 15 th November lQ 4p and was i n a l l fo u r tan k s (N o s .26, 25, 27, 2 4 ).
He s t a t e s t h a t i n tank 25 h e d io n ' t w ear a b lo w e r-ty p e
helm et but o n ly a box r e s p i r a t o r , and th a t was where the
trouble started .
'
He c le a n e d o u t 5 barrow lo a d s o ' d ep o si t from the sump i n th e a c c e s s chamber o f tan k N o .27 u s in g a s h o v e l. He wore no ~ re s p ira to r a t a l l w hile!doing th is , although the sm ell o f octane
w as*pretty strong-. The f a n s w ere ru n n in g a l l th e tim e.
. `2h a t was l e f t i n .the tank sump iras a ls o c l e a r e d 'o u t by shovelling the sludge in to canvas buckets;
W hile s h o v e llin g o u t th e slu d g e from th e sump i n th e
a c c e s s chamber o f bank N o.24 w earing no r e s p ir a to r s * the sm ell was s tr o n g , so th ey l e f , t ' i t and w ent to work on th e v a lv e s o u ts i d e .
. ' A f te r a week on th e v a lv e s , work was resum ed on la n k 23
f o r two d ay s, a f t e r which, he r e p o r te d s ic k on f r i d s y , 7 t h December
19 4 3. He re tu rn e e , to work on fu e sd a y , 1 1 th D ecem ber,but*did n o t go
back to ta n k -c le a n in g .. _
.,
He s t a t e s t h a t f o r th e f i r s t week o r two on the ta n k s
he s l e p t b a d ly . He c o u ld n ' t f a l l a s le e p ; .when h e d id s le e p i t ' was broken and r e s t l e s s , and he began to have n ig h tm ares ag a in . He would wake up w ith a ' s t a r t o r a scream and sw e a tin g p r o f u s e ly . He c a n ' t remember h i s dream s.
He u sed to h av e n ig h tm a re s f o r a tim e a f t e r le a v in g th e
sea - he was trap p ed in the ammunition m agazine o f a m erchant c r u i s e r , and s u f fe re d from n e rv e s and l o s s o f memory a f t e r t h is e x p e rie n c e ; he l e f t the' se a i n November 1941., and was n o t allow ed
to s a i l a g a in . He h ad been f r e e o f n ig h tm a re s f o r a t l e a s t a
y ear and a h a lf u n t i l he began tan k -clean in g th is time.
O n'one day a f te r , being in a tank (? rank 24) a l l m orning,
he developed, a tin g lin g and itc h in g round n o s e ,fa c e ,e y e s and neck
i n the a f te r n o o n . On the same day he had s o u rn e s s o f th e stom ach,
f e l t s ic k b u t c o u ld n 11 v o m it, and when he went home t h a t n i g h t h e
took s a l t , and w a te r a s an e m e tic . He f i n a l l y v o m ited and f e l t
much b e t t e r . H is w ife th o ught he had been d r in k in g because o f the
sm e ll o f h i s b r e a th - ,1a t p u t r i d sm e ll .
'-
'
' He h a s nob f e l t i l l a p a r t from t h i s d ay .
His a p p e tite has been' good throughout.
'
'
lie has been sle ep in g a l l n ig h t again sin c e the end o f December - a f o r t n i g h t a f t e r c e a s in g work on th e ta n k s.
'fh e re has been-no lo s s o f w eight.
Exam ina t i on.:
He i s an a l e r t , i n t e l l i g e n t man - n o t . i l l . Normal o u tlo o k
KH 0021529
1,
!
.--T" >
11.
rand q u i t e c o - o p e r a tiv e . He h a s a good c o lo u r.
H is p u ls e r a t e was 54 p e r m in u te.
, H is b lo o d p r e s s u r e was 115 / 65.
.
C ranial nerves appeared norm al. ^
R eflex es \vere a l l p re s e n t and norm al. P la n ta r responses were fle x o r. ^ - '
. 'A blood f ilm , s ta in e d l a t e r , showed no a b n o rm a lity .
' A specimen o f u rin e , an aly sed in the C ourtauld .
I n s t i tu b e , . showed the fo llo w in g :-'
''
Volume
lig /le a d in sample
}ig/lead per l i tre
Sp.G ravity
-
179 m is. - .0405
.225
1 . 0 21 (ilr. K. B. Smi th)
.He i s now q u ite 11 t a g a in .
O pinion:-
-'
''
h is man h a s had a m ild le a d i n t o x i c a t i o n as shown by disturbed, and d i f f i c u l t sleep and the fe e lin g o f nausea.
- fhe c o n c e n tra tio n o f le a d in u rin e - .225 mgm.per l i t r e one month a f t e r a l l con ta c t v.-i th l e a d h a s c e a se d , p o i n t s to a hazardous exposure having occurred.
.
fie sh o u ld n o b .b e employed on work which in v o lv e s any
e x p o su re to Lead, however s l i g h t , f o r a t l e a s t two m onths from
the d ate o f th is -r e p o r t, and then only i f the le a d co n cen tratio n
o f the u rin e has reached a normal fig u re .
'
2 !
'1-5.**. >
./
Kg- 0.021530
12.
o r were p re se n t in the tanks in a su p erv iso ry c a p a c ity .
S ince they ex p erien ced e i t h e r m ild symptoms o r e ls e
none a t a l l , I have g rouped .thorn t o g e t h e r 'i n my r e p o r t , and 1 s h a l l
o n ly r e f e r to in d iv id u a ls in c a ses where symptoms w ere p r e s e n t, o r *
where working c o n d itio n s c a l l f o r comment. /-
'
and V H B H H t have worked in a l l the tanks from l y t h November 1945 up to th e p r e s e n t tim e, w ith th e e x c e p tio n o f two weeks, one o f which was sp e n t on v a lv e s , and one v/eek' s h o lid a y
cu rin g C hristm as week.
Aged 48 y e a rs . .
.
__ >had d i f f i c u l t y i n f a l l i n g a s le e p f o r ab o u t a uson th . tie u s u a lly s le e p s from 9 .5 0 p.m . to 5 . 4 5. a.m . hub f o r t h i s p e r io d h e - wasn*-1 d ro p p in g o f f to s le e p 1 t i l l so m e 'tim e betw een m id n ig h t and 4.& .au often when he w ent to bed a s e a r l y a s 7 o O ,p .m . which he d id v /ith t h e 'o b j e c t o f m aking up f o r - l o s t s le e p . He had
dream s b u t n o th in g - f r i g h t e n i n g o r odd - he u s u a lly dream s now and then
A f te r h i s weex on v a lv e s and a f t e r C h ristm a s week he began to sle e p a l o t b e tte r ,a n d i s now s le e p in g w ell a g a in .
A f te r th e f i r s t two days i n Tank N o .27 h e f e l t o u t o f
s o r t s -- n o t s le e p in g , a bad t a s t e i n h i s mouth ( ,!i i k e a p o o r a p p le ")
and a s lig h tly sore th ro a t.
"
H is a p p e t i t e rem ain ed good a l l th e way th ro u g h and
he s t a t e s th a t he h a s l o s t no w e ig h t. He h a s had no h e a d a c h e s,n o
giddiness or unsteadiness.
'
r h i s man i s a s te a d y ty p e o f workman who- would obey o r d e r s u n q u e 's tio n in g ly . .Be h a s had e x p e rie n c e o f le a d b le n d in g , and
in ' t h i s way he h a s been exam ined by me on f o u r p r e v io u s o c c a s io n s when h i s u r i n e was a ls o a n a ly s e d f o r l e a d . 1 found no d if f e r e n c e in h is h e a lth on c lin ic a l exam ination, b u t the c o n c e n tra tio n o f lo ad in the u r in e was much h ig h e r.
- A specimen o f u rin e analysed a t the Courbauld
I n s titu te gave the follow ing r e s u lts :-
--
- Volume
-
m g/iead in sample-
fig/lead per l i t r e -
Sp,G ravity
-
254.m is .041
3-75 .
.x
1.015
(Mr. E. E. Bmi th) .
U'SIZOO J3H
___ i n . can*-cleaning o r Were p r e s e n t i n tn ^raS k fM L n a: s u p e rs ! so ry c a p a c ity .
' S ince they ex p erien ced e i t h e r s l i d symptoms o r e ls e
none a t a l l , 1 have grouped them to g e th e r i n my r e p o r t , and 1 s h a l l
o n ly r e f e r to in d iv id u a l's in c a se s where symptoms were p r e s e n t, o r *
where w orking c o n d itio n s c a l l f o r comment.
:'
^H H ^ncl ^ |H ^ H fe h a v e worked in a l l the tanks from
i p fch November 1945 dp t ^ t n ^ ^ f r e s e n t tim e, w ith th e e x c e p tio n o f two
weeks, one o f which was sp en t on v a lv e s , and one week' s h o lid a y
cu rin g Chri stmas week. .
. '
Aged 48 y e a rs . : . .
had d.iffi cu lty in f a llin g asleep , fo r about a
m onth. tie u s u a lly s le e p s from 9*30 p.m , to. 5 * 4 $ .a.m . b u t f o r t h i s p e r io d he* -wasn' t d ro p p in g o f f to s le e p ' t i l l some; tim e betw een m id n ig h t and 4 .a .a u eizen when-he v/ent to bed a s e a r ly a s 7 *30. p.m. which he d id w ith t h e 'o b j e c t o f m aking up f o r - l o s t s le e p . He had
dreams b u t n o th in g f r ig h te n in g o r odd - he u s u a lly dream s now and then.
A fte r h i s we ex on v a lv e s and a f t e r C h ristm a s 'week he began to sleep a l o t b e t t e r , and i s now s le e p in g w ell a g a in .
A f te r th e f i r s t two d ay s i n a n k $ 0 .2 7 he f e l t o u t o f
s o r t s ~ n o t s le e p in g , a bad t a s t e i n h i s mouth ( ''l i k e a p o o r a p p le ")
and a s lig h tly sore th ro a t.
Hi s a p p e t i t e rem ain ed good a l l th e way th ro u g h and
he s t a t e s th a t he h a s l o s t no w e ig h t. He h a s had no h e a d a c h e s,n o
g id d in e ss Or u n s te a d in e s s .
'1
T his man i s a s te a d y typ'e o f workman who v/ould obey
o rd e rs u n q u e stic n in g ly , fie has had experience o f le a d b len d in g , and
in t h i s way he h a s been exam ined by me on f o u r p r e v io u s o c c a s io n s
when h i s u r i n e was a ls o a n a ly s e d f o r l e a d . I found no d i f f e r e n c e in
h is h e a lth on c lin ic a l exam ination, b u t the c o n c e n tra tio n o f load in
the u r in e was much h ig h e r,
- A specimen o f u r in e a n a ly se d at. th e C ourfcauld
I n s titu t e gave the folio-wing r e s u lts :-
-
Volume
-
mg /I e a d i n s a n p le -
fig/lead per l i t r e -
Sp , G ravi ty
-
2J4. mis .041
.1 7 5
1 I0 15
(Mr. E. R. Sm ith) .
A blood film shov;ed'no ab n o rm ality .
;`
H is p u ls e r a t e was 63 p e r m in u te .
H is blood p re s s u re was 105/70.
.'
There was no a b n o rm a lity o f th e c e n t r a l n e rv o u s system .
0n in ion:
T his man h a s h ad a m il ci i n t o x i c a t i o n from w hich h e h a s
He 0021532
ae a gooar.re c o v e ry .
Xhere would be no o b je c tio n to
.<
n cin u ed employmen t i n s c ra p in g th e ta n k s whose b o tte s ts have
teen clean ed , b u t he should n o t.b e employed in b o tto m -clean in g
f r e s h ta n k s f o r a t l e a s t two m onths from th e d a te o f t h i s r e p o r t ,
and o nly then i f the lead., co n cen tratio n o f the u rin e has dim inished
satisfacto rily .
Aged 21.
On'one o ccasio n w hile in the f i r s t tank (H o.26)
when pumping i n the a c c e s s chamber - pumping slu d g e from tan k
sump to th e sump i n the a c c e s s chamber - he d id n o t w ear h i s
r e s p i r a t o r and. f e l t giclay. He p u t h i s mask on q u ic k ly end k e p t
1 1 on the whole time a f te r th a t.
.
rhe tank a t ; t h i s tim e was being' exhausted o f p e tr o l ; vapour th ro u g h th e 10 H m ains w hich had been d is c o n n e c te d i n th e . a c c e ss c a m b e r, and th e re was p ro b ab ly a r a th e r h ig h c o n c e n tra tio n at
o f iie tro l vapour in the a i r .
T his e x p e rie n c e may h av e had th e b e n e f i c i a l e f f e c t
o f im p ressin g upon him the d e s i r a b i l i t y o f w earing h is b re a th in g
ap p aratu s. C e rta in ly , a p a rt from th is tem porary g id d in e ss, ~
Jen n in g s appears to have been f i t throughout the e n tir e p e rio d .
H is a p p e tite h as been good and he h as s le p t w ell from 10 p . s .
to 6 a.a. every day.
*
_ He e x p e rie n c e d a few dream s - he saw h i s s i s t e r who c lo d a y e a r ago r i s e up o u t o f h e r c o f f in end co m e'back. He
rem em bers, i n a n o th e r dream , f i g h t i n g vri fch someone who was u sin g the handbasin in a p a r t o f the in s ta llir ti on where he had no rig h t to be. He boesn* t remember any o f th e o th e r dream s, b u t none o f them was f r i g h t e n i n g .
H is p u ls e r a t e v/as 6y p e r m in u te .
H is biooo p r e s s u r e vas 1 po/ ' / 5 .
.Cao abdo minal - r e f l e x e s were v e r y b r i c k i n ' a l l s e gme nts ,
but the c e n tra l nervous system shooed no o ther abno rm ality.
A specimen o f u r in e , an aly sed a t the Cour ta u ld
I n s t i t u t e showed the f o lio rin g i -
^
Volume
-
U g /lead i n -sample.. -
. - mg/laao. p er l i t r e -
Sp, Hr avi ty ' "' v' f ;
420 m is
.065 '
-
. . 200! . ' .i f . ; ; -.
1 .0 2 4 f (H r, O.H..Smith).
. Opinion?
k blood film showed no ab n o rm ality ,
; .
f -;
'
. p:
;
.
t _ f h i s man h a s had ex p o su re -to le a d a s ev id en ced by the
c o n c e n tr a tio n o f le a d in* th e u r i n e , b u t i t h as h o t been o f
.
s u f f i c ie n t i n t e n s i t y a s to g iv e r i s e to u n eq u iv o cal symptoms o f
react i n t o x i c a t i o n . He i s ' f i t and th e re i s ho o b je c ti o n to h i s
coninued employment in s c ra p in g 'th e tan k s whose bottom s have be
c le a n e d . He sh o u ld n o t be employed on c le a n in g new ta n k s f o r a t >
l e a s t two m onths from the* d a te o f t h i s r e p o r t ,a n d then o n ly i f the-
le a d c o n c e n tr a tio n o f h i s u r i n e h a s come w ith in n orm al l i a i t s .
/T*^Ai *-*' * -
AX
v- \ ;
j
/* *.*
r o
:**'..< j r;-iER rAflK c l e a n m is .
-i .;;-b *"
Aged 50*
14.
__ s u p e rv is e d th e c le a n in g o f the ta n k s , and
, l e p resS i'it on th e s i te* f o r . m ost o f th e tim e, he d id n o t spend
as many h o u rs i n s i d e th e ta n k s . He was away from th e s i t e from
22nd to -27 th December and from th e 28 th December 1945 to *?th.
January 1946.
,'
'
,
He h&o. no symptoms a t t r i b u t a b l e to le a d p o is o n in g .
H is p u ls e r a t e was 87 p e r m in u te .
H is blood p re s s u re was 135/75*
a blood film showed no abnorm al! by.
.
A specimen o f u r in e , analy sed a t the Courfcauld I n s t i t u t e ,
showed the fo llo w in g :-
Volume _ lig /le a e in sample
H g/lead p er l i bre
Sp. Gravi ty
276 m is,
.027
.0 98
X.0 2p
(M r.S.B .Sm i fch)
Q-o .in iio n :- -
i
_____________ shows no s ig n s o r symptoms o f l e a d .
in to -x ic a t i o n . i'he co n cen fcratio n o f le a d i n th e u r i n e p o i n t s to
exposure to le a d , and i s j u s t s h o rt o f the upper l i m i t o f s a fe ty
(0 .1 m g.per l i t r e ) .
.
The th r e e raer
agen, ,42i
_____ _ ff-ed;_ .2 1
have a l l had a v ery much s h o r te r p
x tank c le a n in g_
C-tumbles sp e n t two d ay s on bottom d e f in in g i n Tank H o .2p.
had done no bottom c le a n in g , only sc ra p in g .
aged 24 and
They were a l l q u ite l i t on c lir ic l ex am in atio n .
-SJ*
-cm
io
A sample o f u rin e o b ta in e d from J .H a ll was an aly sed a t
the Courfcaula I n s t i t u t e , and. showed th e f o llo w in g :-
V.
C\ 2
o
o
Volume
2 '.;-
424 m is.
lig / le a d i n sam ple - . .0 152
h g /le a d p e r l i t r e . . 0 p6
-Sp.G ravity
. - 1 .010 (^ r.Iih R . Smi th )
V
- 1 d id n o t e x p e c t to exam ine a s many. a s .n i n e m en / and 1
haci n o t enough b o t t l e s v/i till mo to o b ta in m ore fcheh seven sam ples.
1 co n sid er however th a t theysam ple o b ta in ed from J .H a ll i s orobably
ty p ic a l i o r tne group i n <mich i- h a v e in c lu d e d him .
`5
:M^R2-
15.
k - c le a n in g afe Falm outh
f o u r o f , them c e r ta in ly >
ana probably
'and symo toms o f t e t r a e th y l
lead poisoning of a varying degree o f in te n s ity .
The e x p o s u r e ^ a l l f i v e to th e r i s k o f i n t o x i c a t i o n by le a d i s shown by th e c p n c e n N a tio n o f le a d in th e u r in e on a n s ly s i
fh e two men Bjpre s e v e r e ly a f f e c t e d
______
show a h ig h l e a d u r in a r y co n c e n t r a t i on s i x v/eeks a f t e r th e la s !
known e x p o s u re . One man
m o d erately a ffe c te d , shows a .
s im ila r c o n c e n tr a tio n f o u r w e e s ^ a ^ e r . Iwo man m ild ly a f f e c t e d show
a s lig h tly l e s s b u t s t i l l , h igh co n c en tratio n w hile rem aining a t work.
DISCUSSION.
'. '
,
'
-
,: ;
I t i s reaso n ab le to assume th a t
and
_ had h ig h e r u rin a ry le a d c o n c en tratio n s a t" the time they - r
ceased ta n k -c le a n in g and " th a t th e se m ust have r e s u lte d from g reater.
exposure to le a d in the co u rse o f th e ir work, f u r t h e r , i t would
;
seem t h a t th e y co u ld o n l y h av e e x p e rie n c e d a' g r e a t e r e x p o su re th ro u g h
n e g le c t o f the p re c a u tio n s they were in s tr u c te d to tak e, and which "
they s ta te d they u n d ersto o d (se e copy of. the form which they sig n e d );
____ s t a t e s - t h a t lie a id n f a c t , work 'w ithout any
re s p ira to r on sev eral occasions,
s t a t e s th a t he wore
n o th in g e ls e than a b lo w e r-ty p e he , wiuch ap p ears to mean th a t
he a ls o m ust have worked w ith o u t a r e s p i r a t o r a t tim e s. A lso he may
n o t have r e a l i s e d th e to x ic - n a tu r e o f th e slu d g e w hich he 'was
p u l l i n up o u t o f th e tan k and b u ry in g , and he raay have had some
ex p o su re from t h i s . iia tth e' w s admi ts to c l e a r i n g the slu d g e o u t
o f the sumos in to a w heelbarrow w ith o u t .any r e s p i r a t o r b e in g worn.
ih o o th e r two
and a s s e rt th a t they
n e v e r worked w ith o u t some t y p e ^ ^ h r e a t h i n ^ p r o c e c t i o n a t an7/ tim e
(w ith the ex cep tio n o f the v ery b r ie f s p e ll adm itted to by Jen n in g s
when he came g id d y ).
they have experienced only the m ild e st o f
symptoms, ..
-
1 t would seem th e re fo r e th a t th e in c id e n c e and the '
s e v e rity o f i l l n e s s have been m ore,or l e s s in d ir e c t p ro p o rtio n , to
the degree of exposure.
-
~
. .'
. t.
'
l b should n o te d th a t th e e a r ly symptoms in th e se
.
c a s e s w ere s i m i l a r to thqse. o f th e men a f f e c t e d a t Fareham.. N ausea ~
was, com plained o f by. tw o -o f th e men - f e l t sic-k b u t c o u ld n ' t vom it;-
one o f th e men p u t h i s f i n g e r s down h i s t h r o a t and
the o th e r took s a l t and w a te r a s an e m e tic . One of th e men began :
h is i l l n e s s w ith an a tta c k o f g a s tro e n t e r i t i s ( c f ^ B B I d u rin g
h is week-end a t home).
... .
.
.
D i f f i c u l t y i n f a l l i n g a s le e p was a symptom i n fo u r c a s e s ,
o r e l s e s le e p was bro k en and r e s t l e s ^ a n ^ d r e a m i n g o c c u r r e d , fwo .
01 th e men wore more i r r i t a b l e
them
v/era an x ious enough about them selves to sto ^w o ric
and
c f . th ree of th Fareham men).
HZ' 0021535
suG ^snotS j.
. ':V:'
16.
I t '^o u ld seeszt d e s i r a b l e i n the l i g h t o f th e s e d
o c c u rr e n c e s bo have some M ed ical s u p e rv is io n o f ts n k - - c le a n e r s '
w h erev er o p e r a tio n s a r e b ein g c a r r i e d o u t. The d o c to r concerned -
sh o u ld be' made aw are o f the n a t u r e o f the. symptoms., end i n t h is
c o n n e c tio n ifc sh o u ld be em phasised t h a t th e r e a r e no blood ch an g es,
e . g . , s t i p p l e d c e l l s , such* a s o c c u r in in o rg a n i c lo a d p o is o n in g . '
he d o c to r concerned* sh o u ld make h i m s e l f 'f a m i l i a r .;i bh the ..
viorlcin condi tlo n s by e n te rin g a , tank h ea rin g a l l the equipment '
corn by the men.
ft'
'.
The men sh o u ld be. m e d ic a lly examined once a re e k a n d 'a
record kept of -
.
',
Body /eight
, '.
-
Pulse R a te and feme e r a fcure ' .
.
Blood P re ssu re
' '
y-
S leep ~ number o f -hours and vdiether w ell o r b ad ly ; dreams!.--
A p p e tite - ' any- a n o r e x ia , n a u s e a , -or g& stro i n t e s t i n a l
"
u p se t! number o f bowel movements d a ily ! ony bad ta s te .'
' G en eral Condi tio n ~ a n x ie ty , n e rv o u s n e s s , change ;in m anner,"
tire d n e ss, fe e lin g o f weakness, trem o r,p allo r.
.Analysis o f u rin e fo r le ad should be c a rrie d o u t,
ilia a b se n c e from. work o f any men sh o u ld be r e p o r te d i mas d l a t e l y to th e d o c to r! so o u g h t any c o m p lain t o f i l l n e s s , 'ho w ev er, t r i v i a l i t may sees,m ad e by any man w h ile a t w ork. -
i
JDhe type o f man employed i n ta n k -c le a n in g sh o u ld 1 j o c a r e f u l l y c h o s e n ., He sh o u ld be a s te a d y w orkm an,cf m o d erate
in c e l lig e n c o o n ly who w ill .do- what he i s to ld arid who w ill pub up v.l th some in c o n v e n ie n c e d u rin g h i s vorjr -wi th o u t w o rry in g too"much* ' bout i t . -any men o b j e c t to' w earin g an a i r l i n e mask o r a box ' r e s p i r a t o r , o r e l s e remove i t when .su p e r vi s i on i s r e la x e d ! o th e r s ' eon. f-t m ind i t and c a n . be t r u s t e d to c o n tin u e wearing- i t .
>
. ; j - - q : . I h e more i n t e l l i g e n t ty p e o f man may be too . im a g in a tiv e and may f e e l ; s t i f l e d in . a 'r e s p i r a t o r ; o* h e may chink t.-iab th e Aanagemenfc i s e x a g g e ra tin g th e n eed f o r p r e c a u tio n s , i n oo th tn e s e c a se s he te n d s to .n e g le c t to do a s lie i s b id .
K g" 0021536
_ bhe m ain b e l l i gen t man i s a ls o to b e ; a v o id e d . He may n? t tro u b le aoout th e 'c o rre c t f i t t i n g o f h is fa c e o ie c e o r u n d erstan d toa.0 no must- r e p la c e i t i f i t becomes conbam inated; he may c o n tin u e to -wear c o n ta m in a te d c l o th in g ; he does n o t u n d e rs ta n d th e ' r e a l ~
h a z a rd o f h i s jo b imp. c a l l s f o r m ore s u p e r v is io n than can b e g iv e n '
ii.t-L 1
'
--
iris 1 \J X
.. uyawted ^-o, see t h a t -unciers ta n a s .fcaat s a u.imseli.-'sefcs a gooa
.fheeix-as.vmopraklnieag;;o;oriib-stssme rtthvhs.pe*ev4',-af'fHliilrers-s.ttschnoeccuooinnpfrsr-seii
c a u tio dor a ti
ns, on ]
2 t would seeat d e s ira b le in the l i g h t .o f. th ese
o c c u rre n c e s: to have some m e d ic a l s u p e r v is io n o f ta n k * -clean ers
w herev er o p e r a tio n s a r e b ein g c a r r i e d o u t. The d o c to r concerned
should be made aware o f the n a tu re o f the symptoms, and in th is
connection i t should he emphasised th a t th e re a re no blood changes,
e .g ., s tip p le d c e lls , su ch 'as occur in in o rg an ic le ad poisoning.
he d o c to r co n cern ed should make h im s e lf f a m i l i a r v;i th the
working -condi tio n s by en te rin g a ,tank w earing a l l the equipment
worn by the men.
',
file men sh o u ld be. m e d ic a lly exam ined o n ce a weak and a
record kept of -
.
Body h e ig h t
. '.
'
P u ls e fat and femr. e r a tu r e
Blood P re ssu re
' -
Sleep - number o f hours and^.shethen w ell or badly; dream s.
A ppetite - any anorexia, nausea, or gas tro in te s tin a l
.-'.upsets number o f bowel aovasen fcs d a i l y ; sny bad ta s te ."
" G eneral C ondition - an x iety , nervousness,change in manner,
tire d n e ss, feelin g o f weakness, trem o r,p allo r.
A n aly sis o f u rin e fo r le a d should be c a rrie d out
Iia a b se n c e from -w o rk .o f any man sh o u ld be r e p o r te d
im m ed iately to the d o c to r; so ought any co m p lain t o f i l l n e s s , 'h o w e v e r ,t r i v i a l i t may sees,m ad e b y .a n y man w h ile a t work.
'
Ih e type o f iiian employed i n ta n k - c le a n in g sh o u ld j o c a r e f u l l y chosen- He - sh o u ld be a s te a d y w o rk s a n ,o f m o d erate r e e l li g e n c e o n ly who w ill do what he i s to ld arid who w i l l p u t up
v.i th sera in c o n v e n ie n c e d u rin g h i s work w ith o u t w o rry in g to o'm uch' .'.bou't i d any men o b j e c t to w earin g an a i r l i n e mask o r a box
a s p i r a t o r , o r e l s e remove i t ?/hon .s u p e r v is io n i s r e la x e d ; o th e r s j ; n l -fc lain cl i t and can be t r u s t e d to c o n tin u e we&rinv i t .
fi le more i n c e l l ! g e n t t yp e o f man may be too . 1. *: i m a g i n a t i v e and may f e e l , s t i f l e d in . a r e s p i r a t o r ; 0.4 he may th in k
th at the management i s e xa gge ra tin g the need f o r p re c a u tio n s . In both- th e s e e a s e s he te n ds to .n e g l e c t t o do a s lie i s b id .
_ Ih e U n i n t e l l i g e n t man i s a ls o to be "av o id ed. He may no t tr o u b le a b o u t the `c o r r e c t f i t t i n g "of h i s f& c e o ie e e o r u n d e rs ta n d bnat ha m ust r e p la c e i t i f i t becomes c o n ta m in a te d ; he may c o n tin u e
to wear contam inated c lo th in g ; he does*not u n d e rsta n d th e 'r e a l h i s jo b anp. c a l l s f o r m or s u p e r v is io n than can b e g iv e n
uh
^ ie te r s s ...;s h o u ia be a men who- can be
-" -
^**ri ^ ^
f
f.tj*t*t1'e *.
all.^the p recautio * iilp*3s tHcoonulrci dk<er'artino
n 3, who nc\lr*iaeifdu i
ho
t i d il y o f ihQ h o u r s o f uuv o f sxcch .v r o s - g i- f ir :- nru. 2 1 *.'Mt
fi.ee p ie ces are cleaned d a ily , in slu e , ana th a t they con c n a in a te d . He s h o u ld 'e n s u r e t h a t clean, c lo th ! n s
arc replace.: i s aval1able
j 4*
XX
when r e q u ir e d ,a n d th a t th e b a th s a r e ta k e n .
""
..
'*
,
. _ " t snoulc. be fcne d u ty o f th e Management to p ro v id e o.v. ..n c l o th in g a t s u i t a b l e i n t e r v a l s and to p r o v id e warm b a th s , soap
gw 7 d v j towelSo . B a th in g snoulc. be c a r r i e d o u t i n d o rk s tim e, i'iclx an hour being alxoved f o r th is purpose'.
The g r e a t e s t - r i s k o f le a d p o iso n in g seems to
a r i s e from ;c le a n in g - th e ''ta n k -b o t tom s . D uring t h i s o p e r a tio n ,
th e r e f o r e , a i r - l i n e masks should do w o rn ,'' a s th ey sh o u ld he when
c le a n in g o u t sumps c o n ta in in g slu d g e . .'For th e l a t e r o p e r a tio n s
o f s c r a p in g , box r e s p i r a t o r s would seem bo a f f o r d s u f f i c i e n t
pro tecfc.ion,provided th e ir period o f u se fu l l i f e i s n o t exceeded
The sam ples o f s c ra p in g s taken from la n k S o . 23 showed 21 p a r t s
per m illio n o rg an ic le a d and 1.1 mgias.per l i t r e o f w ater in the
s;:,::ipie(ldr. U. ft. Sffii bh) .
.
Presum ably the methods employed in ta n k -c le a n in g
have received, c a re fu l con si d e ra tio n by a l l concerned. I t i s
hoped the fc t h i s o p e r a tio n K ill c o n tin u e to be th e s u b je c t o f
study, ana th a t e f f o rts , to find'm eans o f ca rry in g i t o u t more
s a fe ly w ill co n tin u e to be mads. in the meantime ib seems as
though safe working can only be achieved a t the p ric e o f the
most c a re fu l and thorough su p erv isio n - such su p erv isio n as
may seem o u t o f a l l p r o p o rtio n to the im p o rta n ce o f .the type
*of work, 'y e t which i s w ell .worth w hile i f i l l n e s s o f a
p a r tic u la r ly c tis tre s s in g c h a ra c te r i s to be avoided.
(Sgfi) D.A.K.CASSILLS. IS.
0021538