Document YjDgmQzGNKya0QyEk8xmxy4ME

COPT MBKDRANUH ItR. L&coia PRESIDEHT July 20, 1950 I alight transmit a fw coamenta concerning tha termination of the Indus trial Hygiene Laboratory aerrt.ce, about which a decision was reached this morning. With tha Group Division, we will workttoward tha curtailment of this serrt.ce to tha point of termination on July 1, 1951* On August 1st the matter will be discussed with Dr. McConnell, when ha returns to tha Home Office, and also with tha Laboratory staff. In view of opportunities elsewhere, particularly at Hew IorJc University, I don't anticipate great difficulty with staff placements outside. Is August Mr. Campbell plans to discuss the matter with his staff and with Groups especially concerned, principally Republic Steel. In the fall a limited announcement will be made to interested individuals and agencies. In tha meantime, we will work with Dr. Lansa as regards the disposition of staff and equip ment. As a matter of record, one should cite the basis for this step* X. The Laboratory constitutes an outstanding demonstration, it h-^wg bean tha first one of ltii kind ever to be established. It has lad to tha establishment of similar . facilities under various auspices, public and private, in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Saranae Lake, Washington, Hew lork, and alaawhare - agancles from which interested industries can now purchase service. 2. During tha recant period, the volume of work by tbs Laboratory has shown a tendency to decrease. Our commitments at present are few. The service is used by a very small percentags of Group policyholders. (On the other hand, if it were aggressively promoted end extensively used, it would Involve prohibitive costs.) 3. Closing the service will aeaa a saving la the Industrial Eygiane Bureau budget of between $70,000 and $80,000. 4. It seems a good tine to taka tha step, allowing practically a year for staff and insured Group adjustments. It happens to cans at a time whan a number of tha staff can be taken over by Dr. Lsaaa's I.I.U. project, and Dr. Ltnsa has asksd for the privilege of purchasing tha entire Laboratory equipment. We will, of coursa, aaad to aaka some revision in certain of th4 Industrial Health Bureau publications, such aa tha attached summary of services, which featurws the Laboratory in its illustrations. This needs revision anyway becanes of its reference to tha nursing service. <- We will oontlnue tha Industrial Health Bureau under Dr. McConnell, where consulting and advlery work through correspondence and field contacts, and through health educational activities brings many benefits to a large number of Groups, certificateholders, Industrial policyholders, health and medical and labor organisations, nan-insured industries, etc. This Bureau is concerned with advice to management in matters of currant importance, such aa ventilation, triethylane glycol air control, tha use of vitamin a in industry, vaecinea. 1231 1 I' -2- eta. It m&Jcea use of a number of publicatiane for management an such topic aai PROTECTION OF WORKERS EXPOSED TO CHROMIUM AND ITS COMPOUNDS SILICOSIS HEALTH' PROTECTION IN WELDING AIR CONDITIONS AND THE COMFORT OF WORTHS PHTSICAL EXAMINATIONS IN INDUSTKT FIRST-AID SERVICE IN flfAT.T. INDUSTRIAL PLANTS METHODS OF TESTING AND PROTECTING ETESIGHT IN INDUSTRI INDUSTRIAL DISTAL SERVICE etc. Through the Policyholders1 Serrlce Bureau, this Is supplemented by extenslT# use of <artifi ceteholder educational literature prepared in the Health and Welfare Division with the advice of the Industrial Health Bureau, and amounting now to an annual distribution of 2,200,000. % This advisory and educational work is augmented by the activities of the Safety Bureau in the industrial field, through a consultation service, through field surveys, sad through the use of such literature as: A series of lO'pamphlets having to do with Industrial safety, and with such subjects as: THE FOREMAN'S PART IN SAFETX, MOBSMEN'S SAJETI COMMITTEES, SAFETZ ACTIVITIES IN SMALL COMPANIES, ate. DEVELOPING SAFE IMPLOTEES FOREMEN'S SAFETZ CONFERENCES OFFICE HAZARDS etc. At the same time safety work among employees is promoted through the use of popular educa tional literature, such as: FIRST AID, DO IOC TAXZ SAFETZ HOME WITS TOUT, and other publica tions. Both the Industrial Health Bureau and the SsifetF Bureau answer numerous inquiries from insured Groups and other agencies regarding various problems of group and individual health and safety. No doubt our advisory service on medicine in Industry can be somewhat strengthened. Dr. McConnell should be able, through correspondence and through field contacts, to give more attention to the gr.wing needs of larger groups In the matter of adequate medical, nursing, and first aid facilities in industry. This will become mere pressing if a acre intense war situation develops. For this Sr. McConnell, with hie past experience, is highly qualified. We also have proposed for future consideration, as a new activity, a community demonstration somewhere of awthods of meeting the medical, nursing, first aid, and health educational needs of the greatly neglected field of --n inAmtriaa. Such a demonstration could be carried out under the guidance of the Industrial Health Bureau, with the cooperation of ooamunlty agencies, such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Health Department, the medical society, and other agencies, at small cost, but with promise of great benefit to a wide variety of smell ladumKlea, many of which are insured with the Company. Bile proposal will be submitted subsequently in more detailed fora. D. B. Armstrong, M.D. Second Vice-President Health and Welfare