Document emM6g5r2LyYnGOzwzKk9xOk5e

FILE NAME: Reynolds Metals (RM) DATE: 1967 Dec 18 DOC#: RM046 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from Liberty Mutual with Attached Medical Examination Recommendations LIBERTY t MUTUAL 10 IM itfiU w n u t , N t York. N*w Y tft 10030 1 Deonbor 18, 196? Mr. Milooab X Biker, Personnel Director TUo Coopiny, Ino. 3^7 Longbrook Averne S t r it iord Connecticut C oir Kr Baken V* reoontlp rorlened kith you the nodleil im n ctM at for your filo p lin t* Our finding to dito end reaoaaonditloae resultin g iro outlined ln tho ttiahod report* Bu m U x oar roon-- nditloni ir e ln 3 ir o n i pregna of n d io el w lm tio n i selection o f i phpeiolin i foiaiU sed fir s t lid pregna* I t I s cur fooling th it. In od or to farther define the direc tion pedicel controls ehcald tik e , enrLrom entil etadlos be aide to id en tify ecepoouro Io n ie la poor production opention * Once th e n ire dene m e ia then define sp e cifically the eoopo of the ae d io il exenlnitlon progne. At the end of the itteohed report la i b rief dieeasslnn of a e d ie il aerrloee fo r poor distribution oenterc* q* V* Oonildson, M.D* Division Modioil Director Ic e s Prevention Med* Dept* JVDape cot Xeaett B. Thoapeon, President X* Ondriek, Vice-President P . J * P lo e lo ll, Oeaeral Mgr* of Kfg* Jaaee X. X id fllla a , X*D. - Medicei D irector^"' Foul 0 S tic k le r, Manager Insurance Real Botate Dept. iitin fn in iM iiM iiK U N n u m m m h ih ih h u iii im m ii ... ............... ...... RMC450002000019B1 mssksmmm. This recommendation is made la .fu ll knowledge of the high turnover reto. I t hes been ow experience that a medical examination progrun often oontroie high turnover by eliminating from employment those Individuila ho are obviously unsuited for the work available. This reoomaendatlon to in itiate pre-plaeement medical araninations is based on the followings The nature of the work. Many of the Jobs require considerable heavy labor. Careful soleotion is Indicated to insure that Individuala with Inadequate physical ab ilities are not placed in these jobs. This is particularly important in relation to the beak, which has beoone sueh a significant* eostly factor la todays Workmen's Compensation experience. Asbestos in utilised in your product. Only recently has the trae significance of the asbeetosis hazard been reocgnised. While only a few of your anploysea are In close approxima tion to thee# operations vldance is aoautnulstlmg that only a alight posare, even at toon distance can be potentially basandone. I t 's particularly important that Individuals with prior respiratory difficu lty bo excluded from auoh exposure*. Moving equipment and vahlcles are in operation in the plant. Operators are not evaluated as to visual ab ility or other conditions which wight interfere with coordination and ultimata safety. Other materials used in production - such as asphalt* mica* trlohlorethylene* represent potential hasarda to individuals with pre-existing d isab ilities or susceptibilities > Ths recent liberalisation of Ceaneotiont Workmen's Conpsnsatlon Laws. This farther emphasises the need for more oireful employee selection. Prior knowledge of an employeee physloal condition w ill be mandatory i f unjustified olaisa for diaafaUltiea or aggravations are to be controverted* The Inodusion of a Second injury Statate w ill offer con sideratile protection to employers In appropriate eases but prior knowledge ct the health statua of the employee w ill be needed to q u a lify for re lie f. I f and when a decision la made to institute pre-placement medicai examinations then the appropriate aoope of the ocanlnatlon oan be defined* Likewise* the aoope and frequanoy of re criminations in selected circumstances oan be out lined. RMC45000200001982 SELECTION OF A TTr' CIAM The most effective reaulta can be realised hen one physician 1* given the responsibility for a ll aspects of the Tilo nodical service* In th is approaoh coordination is attained and management has av ail able a nodical advisor for any related problem vfaich may arise. The physician's responsibilities would include carrying out tbs medical examinations, treating nlnor compensation cases, supervising the fir s t aid program and consulting with management* The recently amended Connecticut Workmen's Compensation Law gives employees free choice In selecting a treating physician. However, management has the right to send them to the physician of manage ments choice far the in itia l emergency treatment (then a designated company physician exists) . By having their own physician! one who is known to the employees from prior contacts, i t should be possible to inflnenoe oontinning oar# of the oase by th is physician. Thig in turn, should mean better aoctroi of le st time end easts* Stnoe the plant population is not large enough to necessitate in-plant physician v isits arrangements should be made with a physician in the near neighborhood. lay physioian selected should of courset tour the plant and learn Its operations. msmmm Present plant >lme does not Ju stify a fu ll time In-plant nurse. (Although certainly a part time nurse eould be well u tilized ). Any further increase in population would however re-open ooasaratlas of this possibility. At present there Is no formal fir s t aid program* The individual currently giving the bulk of the oare has hid no training. Bo rsoordpE.st treatment are kept* Xt isiSfnrmmeudBil that one individual (with an alternate) be given current treinlng (Red Cross) and then assigned respon sib ility for a ll fir s t aid oare, for each sh ift. Complete entries for t i l treatments given, properly signed, axw needed I f future protection for legal reasons la ever needed. RMC45000200001983 3 \ rasumamoH Cftrrma At present apparently no evaluation of any kind la nado of applicant for positions at th u s looatioas. This vculd earn particularly significant In placing Individual in ths job of noohanle* In previous oorrospondenos you wsre provided with a staple soroening fo n for use In suoh situations* This approach could oertalnly bs considered bottsr than no sttenpt at a ll to svaluats prospective enployee*. Bat it should never bo forgotten that physioal eocairinations raprsssnt ths only naaningful nodical approach to oontrol of the vorknan'a ooupeniation experience. Ths growing liberalisation of vorknen1 oonponsatlon law and ths opportunity for re lie f under sscond injury statutes ( onpba also ths inpartanoe of adopting this oonalderation as soon as possible. RMC45000200001984