Document XwQ9nvpVDgmeO0DdvmVm88eB

panics in initialling a dutt and radiation control program. To supple ment on-the-spot consultation wlicrc dangerous liatardi were encoun tered, an interim report, describing the progress of die study and presenting methods tor correcting harmful conditions, was issued to die operators in June, 1952. You may be interested in knowing that one of the most important procedures developed was a relatively simple medtod for collecting and measuring radon decay products, which present die most signifi cant health batard in the mines. This procedure enables the mine operators to conduct Uteir own tests ana check die effectiveness of control measures for themselves. Several of die larger o|icnunrs have already obtained the necessary equipment and have been instructed in its use by Division stall members. An area of study with great public health interest is that of air pollution. Evidences of health effects have taken the problem of air jiollution out of die nuisance class and have aroused both the public and health authorities to a new realization of its potential danger. The Meuse Valley, Belgium, the Donors, Pennsylvania, and die Poza Rica, Mexico, episodes have proved conclusively that, under certain meteorological and topographical conditions, unusually heavy pollu tion of brief duradon can cause acute attacks of illness, and death. Attention is now being focused on the chronic, or long-range, contin uous exposures to small concentrations of air pollutants to determine Uteir effects upon the health of man. Some of these answers we hope to obtain from a study under way since 1950 in die Detroit, Michigan-Wimlsor, Ontario, area. This air pollution study was requested by die International Joint Commission, which considers boundary problems between die United States and its immediate neighbors.' Both the Canadian and the United States Governments ate participating. The American phase of tlte study is lieing conducted by the Division of Occupational Health of the Public Health Service, in cooperation with die local and State governments and other groups. During die past year, thousands of samples of contaminants emitted from industrial, domestic, and transportation sources were collected by die mobile laboratory and at stationary sampling site* throughout tbc area. Various analyses were made of these samples ut identify die contaminants. Considerable progress was also made iii die development of stack sampling programs by industry. Plans were further developed for die biological aspects of the sliuly, which represent die next phase. .Some of llte requests that we have received for service have been of an urgent nature--industrial emergencies--as was the case when a radium capsule was ruptured in a Cincinnati plant last year, with resulting exposures of workers ami contamination of the plant itself. Other problems, while perhaps not so dramatic, point to the gradual unfoldmem of the occupational health program, and die need for service in relatively new areas. Tlic held of mental health and human relations in industry is illustrative of this evolution. 8 In recent years, management and labor have come to realize ! problems of interpersonal relations often result in emotional turbanccs and odier adjustment difficulties. Today, it is ettimt iliac emotional problems, not all of which are due to dilficultie the plant, arc responsible for SO per cent of the sickness absentee in many industries. At the last two annual meetings of the Advisory Coinmittct tlic Public Health Service on Occupational Health, recommendsti were made that the Service develop practicable means of stud) (Hoblcms of limniii relations In industry. Following their Cumi tec's advice, wc are now preparing a report that will show the cxi of present knowledge of the problem, how it b related to Itea aliscntccism, turn-over, and other factors, and what steps are h< taken to cope with it. This information will serve as a baseline further indicated studies and activities leading to the dcvclopmen good practices in human relations in industry. Impelled by another need, which is daily mowing more manil the Public Health Service is making greater efforts to encourage establishment of health services in industry. Our work with Health Resources Advisory Committee.to the Director of Deft Mobilization, has re-affirmed our belief that such services are nccest if industry is to reduce its absenteeism rate. At present, it is estimated that sickness absenteeism in indu accounts for a loss each year of 500 million man-days, equivalent two million men out of the labor force every day. It is also knt that the establishment of in-plant health services can reduce absen ism from one-third to as much as one-half. This has staggering im cations in terms of our defense program-in the conservation and n effective use of our manpower and in llte increase of our pi txluctiv Tlic development of in-plant health programs poses a speproblem to the small plants, in which over 70 per cent of the Nath workers arc employed. Handicapped by lack of personnel and fur these plants cannot finance the full-time comprehensive Itealtli | grams found in some of the larger industries. They require guitla In evaluating their needs, together with their plant and comnmi facilities, and in evolving practical plans of operation. We have fra that these plans may' be different in each case, depending on Ic variables. For example, the answer may lie in polling the resnm of ncighbpring plants or in collectively employing a physician a nurses to provide part-time services to the individual partitiiiat plants. In some situations, a more practical solution might lie establishment of an industrial clinic with qualified specialists to sc local industry. A pattern of feasible operation can Ik found almost every situation. Your Slate industrial health division, a through it. the Public Health Service, can help small plants draw suitable blueprints for in-plant health programs. Related to the problem of establishing in-plant health service the question of the amount of nursing service needed in iudiist Since the industrial nurse is a pivotal figure in any industrial Itca or medical program, such knowledge is essential to effective planni; 9