Document mqEE0EZrd7DqMwN0NnkokmmOO

FILE NAME: Oil Industry and American Petroleum Institute (API) DATE: 1954 Mar DOC#: API178 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: The Medical Bulletin - Men on Construction - Three Categories ( *1 II'/ W--'s M/ | 3 101W 40 \ *5jj L II /\? > / if r a > I H O N A I l d?J'' y. \ a? AflQNAI, THE MEDICAL BULLETIN MEN ON CONSTRUCTION \DR. A. WARD GARDNER and MR. A. H. GREEN Esso Petroleum Company, Ltd. n 1093 FOREWORD BY DR. D. C. RENNIE In considering the following report it is felt that a short description of the decisions reached at the start of construction and the overall arrangements made for medical attention, would be of interest. The first question to be decided was the form the medical atten tion should take and the responsibility for carrying this out. Fawley is a rural area 17 miles from the main Southampton hos pitals, with one local General Practitioner and three residents some 4 to 5 miles away. It was estimated that some 6,000 men would be eemntplRoeyfeidnearyt twheaspemaakdpeerreiosdp.onTsihbeleMfeodrictahle DwehpoalretmMeendtitcoalthSechpermese for the construction period and for the camp, which was to be built. This arrangement had three big advantages :-- ^ 1. The existing X-Ray and other ancillary equipment would be available for all employees, Contractors or otherwise. 2. The staff engaged could be offered a permanent job with pen sion, since the Refinery population would increase as the construc tion population fell. This enabled us to get staff who were keen on binedttuesrtrtiyalpemtehdeicreaflowreortkhaanndthwe amntaend wtohorewmaasinmienreilty. tWakeinggota atefmar porary job for the sake of the money. 3. The Medical Officer already with the Company, knew the area, the hospital and health authorities, and the local practitioners, and could, therefore, make necessary contacts straight away. Under paragraph 1 either duplicate equipment and staff would have had to be acquired and extra accommodations provided, or considerable time be lost sending many cases unnecessarily to hos pital for X-Ray, Laboratory checks, etc. 46 Under paragraph young enthusiastic Diploma and wanted Under paragraph J (a) Local hospita assistance particulai operations and the p carried out by the 1 advantage to the rum (b) The Camp wh Doctor and a hospita the Medical Officer < blessing. Again this point of view and Department. co(nct)acTtehde alnodcaulnDd eorct for members in the < This functioned well to which they were e: This Report gives further remarks are n 1. The Safety Engi Inspector, and thus f Aascttsheanmd atihne Creolnetvraacni aTnhdiscoguelndtlenmotanbeceoxoppei and thereby added to ab2le. Tmhaen. DTohcetofraacptptef available within min gave a feeling of safei Lastly I would like dhoenigehtast, ceovnesnidueprabtloe V compressed air sickness ; to being in a hurry and to ! d down in the Admiralty i ion of the divers was en- ' esulted. ; ols, "amateur fixings", etc. rise. (Several unexploded ng excavations). uniting, acid splashes, ce- ns, jestos). tc. xavations, etc. nonis.sing, inadequate or out and hoists,* ndling. xtct.s,, wleeraedisnegentoin naumfewbneinss- ietal, wire ropes, etc. INST OBJECTS: :es of wood, etc, t ground. M IN ON CONSTRUCTION VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS: (a) vehicles colliding, (b) vehicles colliding with men, (c) men falling whilst attempting to board or leave moving vehi cles. W E LD IN G : (a) arc-eye, (b) metal fume fever. A few cases of this, due to welding or flame cutting of galvanized metal, were seen. In each case, the welder did not know there was any connection between the fever and his work. X - xA N D GAMMA RAYS: cAhlelckperdesbsuyreradvieastsioelns phhaodtotghreapwhyel,dainndg the supervision of the crews was under taken. 1,000 milligrams of radium was in use at one time, although radioactive isotopes are now being used as a gam ma ray source. The normal radiation protection methods were employed. The selection of personnel, blood counts, test films, results, etc., were the medical responsibility. Supervision of crews on the job and methods of work were the responsibility of the super vgiasmormaofrawdeialdtiionng.wNeroe oefbfseecrtvsedofinX-peorr sons employed in this work. Remote risks: (a) ASBESTOS: From sawing insulation material. As a risk amongst construction workers asbesiosis is a theoretical possibility. The insulation used consisted of 85% magnesia, 15% asbestos in block form. This was applied to the various structures and wired on. A very small quantity of dust was produced in this operation. W et asbestos containing pug w^as used to fill in cracks and to mould round flanges. No dust arose from this. (b) EFECTS OF PITCH AND TAR: Electrical conduit pipes coated in pitch were used. On warm sunny days men handling this pipe were seen with tar erythema ("smarts1) A few cases due to ss