Document jg3oexO013VOwEqYXVaXJ9qep

JUL-28-2003 03s09P FROM: | U* ( I A stand in the path of a dust or fume cloud When they could easily avoid it; and many other practices that should be obvious to you if you arc thinking of industrial hygiene when you walk through the plant. When you see expensive health protection equipment battered, inoperative, or in otherwise poor condition you might encourage the maintenance foreman to correct these oonditions. Naturally ho is busy with operating maintenance and the plants must make money or none of us will have a job. Because of this you may not got results immediately but by prudently and continually encouraging, progress will be mado. Years ago, when we first made industrial hygiene surveys in our plants we were received in some instances with suspicion, then tol erated, later welcomed, and now the plants frequently call on us for help. That didn't come about over night and in your effort to foster industrial hygiene you may pass through a similar metamorphosis. Hygiene like safety requires a continual effort. In regard to process changes, you being in tho plant dally should know of them. The manager or superintendent does not always remember that he should notify the Medical Department about them. Some yoara ago, I walked into a plant and quite by accident found out beryllium castings were being made. The plant people were totally unaware of the dangers involved in handling beryllium. We could have had some serious effects. Again another plant started to do shell molding and the Medical Department did not know about it until a case of dermatitis was reported. The resins used in shell molding can produce dermatitis in susceptible persons unless proper precautions are used. Other plants Installed Industrial x-ray equipment without in forming us bo that proper shielding could be provided for. In another case, one superintendent decided to sieve old cores by hand because he wanted to reuse this material for now cares. This created an extremely dusty condition that we found out about by chance. These are typical or some of the things that happen and you are in a very fine position to suggest to tho superintendent that In the interest of good industrial hygiene, it might be well for him to notify us so that control measures can be applied before the health of our workmen is involved. Naturally tact is always requlrod. The principal hazards to health In our company are as followsr Acrolein - All foundries are involved. This gas forms in foundry operations from the thermal de- compostlon of core oil. It is very poisonous but has adequate warning properties. It is so irritating to the eyes that man cannot tolerate a concentration.that would permanently injure him or cause death. It may be classified as a nuisance gas rather than a toxic material because in 85 SPNY000155