Document enVwJQ4vJ5DbQJBVaVzpgB39

Great St. Helen's, LONDON E.C.3. Dear Sira, /' '* HHJC POR SPhAY PAINTSBS* We have received repeated request^ through our Joint Sark*' Committee in Mombasa, for an issue aC milk to spray painters* ffe : have turned these down since masks are issued, the painting is done in the open, and leaded paints are infrequently used* Our position, however, has been seriously prejudiced by the action of Dtanvac who in 1S59 started to issue 1 pint of milk per day to r ail tanke r operatives, t- nkcar rilling operatives, oertain luboil blending plaint operatives, and both spray and brush painters. They claim that this has been done on medical advice to oounteruct the dryness of the throat caused by inhaling fumes of leaded gaaalines -aid paints* We have consulted our own medical adviser and the Chief Inspector of factories* fhey explained that about twenty years ago it us thou ht that milk acted as a solvent for any lead imbibed by painters; this was subse quently discounted by the medical profession, but many firms continued to issue m# partly because it is al aye difficult to withdraw a firrn ineos partly in the interest of general health, and higher productivity* Hence the demand by painters elsewhere for similar trestaasstte *1 We feel that the criteria* should be whether milk Is necessary to ounter possible ill effects on, the health at the individual resulting from his particular Job) we issue tank cleaners. Car instance, with nrtlb and bread, on. the basis of ; specific medical advice. If there is no question of health i t- n *- 5' " % N 24691 -3The Shell International Petroleum CoLtd* 3rd* March. 1961* being affected we are reluctant to issue milk as to do so would result in ah increasing demand for it from anyone coming into contact with gasoline and other vapours, and ultimately, perhaps, in a demand for "danger pay"*