Document penray80QmyVXMLyZ5r0LXOek

* ' |a \ /J/^O THE NEW TORE* -- > - ;PUALjp-tIBRARY * ths* 625202 ? * >' A1St^^OO+Fm, -LINOvS0*A7M*O0*4`'- R v -^1917 '; n I ' v* .-. * ; . Xi* f i ?rtsnttb to both gouscs of garlianuitt hg (Eormnanb nx Jjis'JHsjEstg. .;! . vV*: ;. s-s .., ." . J * :* s -* . LONDON: ' * * PUBLISHED BT HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.' . To be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from WYMAN A2TD SONS, Limited, Fetter La>'E, E.C., and 32, Abingdon Street, S.W*.; or OLIVER k BOTD, Yxeeddale Codbt, Edlvbdrgs ? or E. PONSONBY, Ltd., 116, Gjufto.v Street, Dublin, (JOjNtTxVTS. iL'REPORT ... : NAL ..REPORTS Superintending Inspectors of Divisions:--. South-Eastern . ... ' ( juth-Westera *.... ... - Midland # Appendix Sms* Casting North-Eastern Northwestern Northern ... ... * ... Principal Lady Inspector ... Inspector of Textile Particular* Inspector for Dangerous Trades Appendix L Air Samples . . ft IL 'Certificates nnder Regulations or Special . n IIL Earthenware and China Works * . lt T7. Samples referred to the Government _' 7. Report on use of Power Gas for Heating Electrical Inspector Medical Inspector L REPORT' Illumination in Factories (Hr. D. R, Wilson) Sadler v. Roberts Seal v. Trustees of the British Orphan Asylum 3- ' L; Staff ... '' 2. ' Inspectors' Districts, 3. Persons employed in Factories and Workshops, 4. Complaints received 5* Contravention Notices isined to Oconpiers 6. A. Notices and Reports received *?.:290 '*W' ti f Imp -V iasp 3.- Defects found " C. Outwork forac . D. Other matters............. .0. Poisoning : Reported cases ___ .......... ....... t _ _ >:earii ..1. Accidents: Causation .. 2 ,, Injury, Age, Sex ... .3. ,, Industry, Age, Sex ... A. Industry, Causation ._ ... . -- v . ... :* -- ' ... ... * * ... - ^ 298 * -*.' Tr'limr *;, ..^V`,A2A9o8-v*.\l; ;**.*' . 299--;*$.;' lr'* i _ rii~ r-been ** disti. .5. w Docks, Wharves, Quays ... ... ... ... "... . ... ... 5, :i5 a .6. ,, Reportable to Factory Department, but referred to the Board auto .7. Locomotive Accidents: Causation and Occupation1 ... ... ... ' ^ " disti ,3. Causation and Hour--Monday to Friday*--Saturday 312. Day of Week, Hour ;rV *unde Age, Occupation ' ... ... ... . :*:? 305 .t \'.} . "V .*"*! the : .:l. Month ... ... ... * ... * . .... * ' ... '* 'v.^. .* ; *306 eepa: 2 Age, Injury .* r 307 '.3. Age, Hours of Work before Accident--Monday to Friday _ 308 .. ,, :5. Automotor Accidents Caneation and Occupation n Saturday... .......................... ... ' ... - .. : 309 3X0 * ' *"*--... 5. ,, Causation and Hour--Monday zo Friday--Saturday .... > 3X1 .* . * / .* 1 13. 1391. il. n i, 13. Prosecutions Day of Week, Hour ... ............... ... ..... .. T312 Age, Occupation ... .......................... ... 313 Month ... <m ... ... ... ... '... .... 314 . v wI&iQ_ rT _ ft . *ft- a 3_a > ft__l .es f__ ** . 315 316 Saturday... v 317 Offence, Number, Result .............. 318 *. 'f4; ; . . and ***' * / mak . Dept . `T*.' ft - . Reg . belo* District, Offence.......................................................... .0. Industry Offence.......................................................... : 320 321 .. .. - requ 5. under s. 116 (Particulars) ................................... 7. Orders of Courts................................................. . afAoe ^ ------------ . 321 . 322 has is nr .--.-c, .ana m otners a icnocx on tae door is sufficient to call attention to the fact that someone is inside. So far as it is known work is never continued in the chambers for more than half an hour at one time. Means for shutting off the - refrigerating process in particular chambers is adopted in two works. In all cases the men are selected for the work; no casual labour is employed. Floors are good. Mr. Lauder'.(Newcastle) reports that the recommendations have not been fully adopted in his district, the important omissions being those dealing with meal and cloak-room ' accommodation. He Ends it is a practice for the men to wear warm clothing, and that the spells of work in the cold chambers are not unduly prolonged. The suggestion 'as to. the selection of workers has, to 6ome extent, been adopted, and floors' are kept in .very good condition. -v - * J ' Dust removal.--Mr. Arbuckle (Sheffield) again refers to the dust given off. from pearl cutting and sawing, and the means that have been adopted for the removal' of it. He describes how the saws run in water and give off fine sprays of dust resembling' steam. Considerable difficulty arose at Erst in designing a hood to catch this dust,- but it was overcome when the exhaust could be applied to the under side of the saw-table. He adds that the dust arising from filing spoons and forks, from grinding file tangs, file snapping, and that from buffing, and in many cases from brass polishing and, finishing has been dealt with satisfactorily, out the dust from stag horn and bone .cntting still has to be.considered. Mr. Wright (Leeds), Mr. Taylor (Bradford), and.Mr. Owner (Hull), write that exhaust appliances have been installed for removal of dust in wood 'working machinery, Baud papering, bobbin making and cardboard cutting, and' Mr.. Lauder (Newcastle) says that fan exhaust has been applied for the removal of fine dust and hair in three*furriers' works with satisfactory results. Mr. Taylor (Leeds) remarks -that the removal of the fused outside shell of old plumbago crucibles gives .rise to considerable quantities of graphitic dust, and that exhaust plant has been: provided. L He farther, writes u An ingenious type of dust separator has been installed is connection with the exhaust plant for some grindstones. The separator consists of..a .series of canvas tubes arranged radially along an axis, the dust laden air is forced into' the tunes by a fan, and the dust is retained inside. As the axis carrying the tubes slowly revolves, the ends of hat set of tubes, when in a vertical position, are tapped by automatically .worked hammers, and at the same moment the air current is reversed in the; set, the dust falling into a small worm conveyor." :. Card stripping.--Mr. Younger (Halifax) reports that 'steady .progress has been made, and that proper appliances have now been provided in a large proportion of the cotton mills in his district, and that orders have been given in others- The appliances are of various designs, and in one of the' latest the strippings as well as the dust are removed by exhaust draught, and conveyed to a small machine from which they are delivered into a hopper free from dust, the dust being blown into a collecting chamber. Mr. Younger thinks that a more difficult question to be dealt with is the stripping by hand of the cards in certain cotton waste mills, and possibly that the cleaning of the waste by a similar process to the above might solve the difficulty. Mr. Butler (Huddersfield) reports progress, though it is somewhat slow, and he thinks the most effective system he has seen is in two mills where' the dust is drawn from the swift and aoffer by traversing nozzles connected with a powerful vacuum pump. He quotes another instance where the installation has proved a failure, and a different system will have to be adopted. Both Mr. Wright (Leeds) and Mr. Taylor..(Bradford), in whose districts there arc very few cotton mills, say that exhaust ventilation has been or is being put in all the mills. The latter also mentions an asbestos factory in which similar appliance has been installed. Beer bottling.--Mr. Hunt (Leeds) describes a new and simple device, patented, for . preventing the necessity of sucking the bottle neck in starting the syphon fillers on beer ottling machines, which has been found very rapid and efficient in operation. It ;onsists of a copper bowl with an indinrubber tube fitting to a pipe leading from the bottom of the bowl. The free end of the indiarubber pipe is fitted with a cone-like flap, the point of the cune being towards the bowl. The bowl is fixed on the back rod of the syphon machine, and the rubber pipe is pushed over each syphon tube in turn. The svphon tube opens the cone, and beer from the previously filled bow] fills the syphon. When the rubber tube is pulled off the svphon, the cone closes and prevents ,,r -t,,, i--c----- .1.- i--i * Tamable informationwui oe obtaiuaoie. Ateacifvisit I' aha" toe workers take great interest in the anemometer tests and the fact that an anemometer remains stationary at the month of-a duct is a convincing proof of defect to the most sceptical manager. ' . /. . Fortunately the taking of the records is arousing interest - not only among Workers rmd managers, but also among occupiers, and in the current year a first step has been taken towards letting them have copies of the record taken in their own works, I look forward to fruitful results in diminished disease from this work if it is carried on widely and steadily. A good illustration of the amount of work to be done yet in securing installation of exhaust is sees in the conditions found by Miss Squire and-.Miss Whitlock in cotton waste factories. - , ;*.#* ( Miss Sjutre.--Very conditions were fonnd'ln a factory where the sweepings of weaving sheds are sorted, mixed with a white powder'and tom up in teasing . V7* found about 40 women and a dozen men working in a thick haze of white powder, the floor being deeply covered with the same. The bales of sweepings having been opened were spread by women upon the floor, men shovelled fine white powder upon the layer of cotton ana women covered it with a second layer, the process being repeated until the stack was complete--the cotton was then gathered up in baskets by the women, the powder with which it had been mixed rising about them in clouds. The contests of their baskets were tipped into the teszing machines, the rapidly revolving teeth tore up the material, and again clouds of dust and white powder escaped into the air. A fan in the roof above the machines seemed to draw I very little of the dust The occupier was required to box in each- machine and to provide an | exhaust pipe to each connected with a fan--this has made a very great improvement. The . white powder which is used for restoring the colour to soiled cotton waste and also for giving it weight is powdered gypsum or plaster of Paris. Dr. Legge. examined the workers and found the injurious effects which follow the inhalation of dust which; harmless in small amount, is present in great excess. - . Miss Whitlock visited nine cotton waste factories and made a close1 enquiry into the health of the workers and found a good deal of bronchial trouble.' She found it difficult to dissociate the effects of the dust from the poor physique of the casual workers employed in such unpleasant surroundings, though the evidence clearly pointed" to aggravation of the bronchial trouble common among the elderly. She was also struck by. the occurrence of three cases of pneumonia in two factories where the dusty conditions were worst. Dr. Legge, on examining women workers at one of the factories found an eczematous condition round the margin of the nose and chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane. ^ Very defective provision for exhaust in the dusty processes in. asbestos manufacture was found by Miss Whitlock iu most of the factories she visited, and in some cases no provision . had yet been made. Fortunately, so far not very many workers liave been yet employed, and long before any possible further growth of the trade (the .material coming largely from Canada) I hope that exhaust ventilation will be effectually, applied at the points of origin of the dust. She visited 24 factories employing in all .1,075 workers, of whom 555 were female and 520 male. She found a good deal of respiratory trouble in one form or another amongst the workers. Men are employed -mestly in the preliminary of the quasi-textile processes where u free fans are practically useless," ; in one factory where women were doing this work she found all of them suffering from coughs and the two youngest also showed the soreness of nostrils and upper lip associated, with dust inhalation. In the carding processes in which both sexes are nearly equally employed, men more often, Miss vVhitlock also found evidence of phthisical trouble and pneumonia. In the spinning processes women predominate and the dust inhaled is much less. It*is greater in weaving where men again are more found ; amongst the women weavers there was evidence both of bronchitic and gastric trouble. In "mattress " making (for engine covering), a very dusty process, women are chiefly employed and phthisis and^ throat trouble were found. Here the difficulty of providing satisfactory exhaust is much greater owing to the wide area from which dust arises and probably the aid of suitable respirators is needed. All the occupiers are under direction as to installation of effectually applied exhaust, some having the matter already well in hand. Any further action necessary must belong to the cuiTent year. ^ Very marked proof of injury to all workers concerned was found in a small lace tinting business for dressmakers by dry methods in Miss Slococks district. Dr. Collis's aid in examination was obtained and be found not merely the significant redness about the nostrils and in the pharynx, but also detected phthisical result from the use of finely divided dusts, shaken out by hand from the laces by the workers. Here the occupier subsequently at great expense provided efficient exhaust ventilation *.* 1 <* rtA mflwne, -n nvr\i/4 nil snaL--Kv hanrt ViV *Knca enquiry into the occupation of the patient ; and extension :: c tnuisory notiacati elsewhere should make the same information available even"*>krs i Humidity and steaming.--A good deal of steady work has been done both in* Belfi and in Preston so far as was possible by this small branch in. checkin* and prevent! excess over the legal limit of moisture in flax and cotton industries. Miss Escreet poii out that in Preston there are sheds without any of the recognised humidifiers, where 1: steam is introduced in ordinary jets. Her experience and tun: of otner Inspectors poi: to the exhausting erect of active work carried on in atmospheres charged with moisture .or above the legal limit. . ., if ' Miss EscruL--l paid a visit to one $aed--consfiaufcly found ice fell limit of homid::; . during cleaning time oq Saturday.^Thoasa introduction of rss.v. had ceased a few mint . earlier, the effect of the atmosphere, combined with the very hard wrrk was nnmistaka' and all the workers, from, adnlts to children of 12 and 13 years cld. hid perspiration poo; down their faces. 4% ' * Similarly Miss Meiklejohn reported a case where during the dinner honr the Iii of humidity was exceeded and steam was pouring into the wearing sued while abou: dozen women were taking their meal there. The records showed nn: the full limit humidity had been reached on many occasions. A. statutory candor w-as sent in; this s another meal time case. . ' Heavy or constrained or unusual work, weights, hand p-ssses.--^z is reported by M Pearson that workers continually employed on hand presses hi nr. box works te: especially if the operator is above or below the normal hsighn to become crooked z that the effect is not noticeable when the operator is able to cpence :he press alterant with the right and left hand; she also found that blistering :i the palms occurs if handle is vertical but not when they are L shaped. Cases of -*czk or an unusual character women noticed were, women unloading carts heaped up with heavy talas of material, w in slaughter vards of a bacon actory~(Ireland), stacking end loading crates of bottle: breweries. Heavy weights lifted, pushed or carried by w^mer or young workers w observed during the year by the inspectors in jam and sweet memrias, biscuit.factor textile factories (especially weaving sheds), glassworks, pottertes, breweries. Samples s (1) two women carrying a copper pan full of syrup weighing led lbs. and auot couple 12 L lbs. The'accident register iu this factory recorder recent accidents women lifting pans and jars; (2)' in glassworks women ;m usuries carry boxes d with "fired" glass to the warehouse which weigh 34 lbs. and over. Miss Squire nc in one factory chat the boxes weighed 1 cwt. 6 lbs. and than empty iron trays, large unwieldy in shape, weighingS2 Ids. were being carried at intervals ri 10 to 20 mini across the glass house ; recommendation was here made that trolley* should be provic (3) Women are still found lifting and adjusting their loem weighs, which weigh ut 60 and *0 lbs. apiece, and some managers remain in favour r: this method, as allow more oscillation of the beam, rather than any automatic is--Ice. Hiss Squire ^consic that serious risks are incurred by delicate women in these ts^ss. hut aids :-- ; * jiffs* Sgw're.--It is encouraging to find that progress has teen mine m substitutingautoir * motions to looms tor the more primitive weighting by means tf tied by cord to beam. One firm with over 7.000 looms having 5.000 of these wis:ed in the old way, while experimenting with new devices, made arrangements hi of all weights 70 lbs. aud to substitute weights of 50 to 00 lbs. This will be a great relief to the women giris, yet two bad accidents were caused by lifting 56 lbs. weight*. (4) Cut carrring or carrying of heavy pieces of clerk fror. wearing shed warehouse still continues, chough for workers under 14 zzz msmer can now be ^ controlled under the Employment of Children Act, and --os under-15 years the help of certifying surgeons. Miss Marcindale found case; :: women required to c: cuts and carrying them up to 70 lbs. weight. Miss Mctrt-inrinU.-- \\* bulky nature of the cloth hanii'd added greatly :o :he diSc of carrying it. In the drawing-in shop of one factory I z-isi - ria :: 1* years of age, had just completed drawing-in a beam and was about :o remove is. By means oi cb from above, she aud another gjri lowered the beam on :c z .:mis r^c-wheeled trolley wheeled it into another room, where they lifted it on tc * irms. .hey placed the :rc under the frame and lifted it a few inches ou to the frame- I has :ne beam weighed the weight- was 200* lbs. The same giris then lifted cmd rrilsd another beam to original frame, and by means of chains placed it on to :h= trams. I drew the attentic the' manacer to tins matter, and he informed me that mor. ^ere esr-ized tc do this " ,.' <#~ '' i ;> . .; . <1 PLAINTIFFS .-fe V~- ANNUAL r.`REPORT CHIEF FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS! i. * For the Year *' .* ; ; 7 * `' .. . ?***.."** . . * yy^ <| / *' r ?,. * * ** %'. ^ V. **.L-*i . . i^ - -s*;^ u,.': . ..* 4- ', . U< ` r , * `i-v"**'. '* rscntd ta both otrses of igariisnintt bp QDnrnnanS nf Jjjis''^HajEstB. .. ' Vy' '' : V.** V-fr; '': . - : . . : vU- ` i.iTs.v-f'i ' . I- . ...... *: -,t. ** * - f. . LONDON: -- PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.' . To be purchased, either directly or through any Bookeeiler, from `WYMAN akd SONS, Limited, Fetter Lake, E.C., and 32, Abikgook Street, S.W.; or OLIVER & BOYD, Ttozddale Cogrt, Edinburgh ; or E. PONSONBY, Ltd., 116, Graftok Street, Dubiazt,. KJ KJ IN 1 Xj IN i. 6 L 'REPORT m AL REPORTS aperintending Inspectors of Divisions . South-Eastern ................. ' ... . ^"outh-Westem ... . ' ... ... idland ... ... .. ,,. Appendix. Brae* Casting... *--... North-Eastern North-Western ............... ^ Northern ... ... * ... . ... rincipal .Lady Inspector ... ... *' .M nspector of Textile Particulars ... \ ^ nspector for Dangerous Trades M. w Appendix X. Air Samples ... ,,. . n II* `Certificates under Regulations or Spedal n XXL Earthenware and China Works * . . ' i IT. Samples referred to the GoTernaes ' n T. Report on nse of Power Gas for Heating Xeetrical Inspector ... Xedieal Inspector ... . REPORT.-- ' Domination in Factories (Mr. 3/ . adler v. Roberts <al v. Trustees of the British Staff ... / ; Inspectors* Districts, ~ . Persons employed in Factories and Workshops, . Complaints received see ee .* Contravention Notices issued to Occupiers A Nonces and Reports received ... B. Humidity records: Reported Tnfawm-- . v fcices to District Councils r.,. ; Ww- ileal Examinations ' -_ A For Certificates of Fitness ... -A B. In Dangerous Trades... ... Annual Reports of Medical Officers of Health A. Inspections ee eee ' B. Defects found............ .. *. ... ' C. Outwork ... A * ... D. Other matters.... Poisoning: Reported eases A Accidents: Causation ... . * Injury, Age, Sex .... ,, Industry, Age, Sex ... ,, Industry, Causation -- ** *--. .-Sr** 'r.-` " /- .oistm. ,, Docks, Wharves, Quays ... ... .... an Reportable to Factory Departmenl v_____________j n-.-.-J m____Ji. -3. .-lit-:- . i.y. .r. . . -_____._______ Locomotive Accidents Causation and Causation and Day of Week, Age, Occupation Month ... ... Age, Injury ... Age, Hours of Work before Accident--Monday to Friday - _ 308 ,,n Saturday... :?> 309 Automotor Accidents Causation and Occupation .......................... "... ... - _ 310 Causation and Hour--Monday w Friday--Saturday . > 311 Day of Week, Hour ... Age, Occupation ... Month ... m ... .......................... ..... .. ...#yT "312 .......................... ... ... . 313 ... ... ... '... - ; >314 fa. and T make Age, Injury 315 Depa: Age, Hours of Work before Accident--Monday to FridayA*. 316 Saturday... 317 Prosecutions Offence, Number, Result .......................... ... ...... 318 Begn below District, Offence............... .............. ............. . . ... 320 Industry Offence.............. ... ... ............... A 321 requi: under s. 116 (Particulars) ................................... . .... Orders of Courts ... ... ... ... ... ... ... for Offences in factories reseated within two veara............... 321 322 322 has 1 is no* ._2uwC,. ana ;n otners a xnocx on tne door is sufficient to call attention to the fact that someone is inside. So for as it is known work is never continued in the chambers forjpore than half an hour at one time. Means for shutting off the-refrigerating process in particular chambers is adopted in two works. In all cases the mea are selected for the work ; no casual labour is employed. Floors are good. Mr. Lauder'.(Newcastle) reports that the recommendations have not been fully adopted in his district, the important omissions being those dealing with meal and cloak-room accommodation. ' He finds it is a practice for the men to wear warm clothing, and that' the spells of work in the cold chambers are not nndniy prolonged. The suggestion as to. the' selection of workers has, to some extent, been adopted, and doors' are kept in -very good condition. ' -v.. * >' . ' Dust removal.---Mr. Arbuckle (Sheffield) again refers to the dust given off. `from pearl cutting and sawing, and the means that'have been adopted for the' removal' of it. He describes how the saws run in water and give off fine sprays of dust resembling steam. Considerable difficulty arose at first in designing a hood to catch this dust, but it was overcome when the exhaust could be applied to the under side of the saw table. He adds that the dust arising from filing spoons and forks, from grinding file tangs, file snapping, and that from buffing, and in many cases horn brass polishing and finishing has been dealt with satisfactorily, but the dust from stag horn and bone-cutting still has to be considered. Mr. Wright (Leeds), Mr. Taylor ^Bradford), and.Mr. Owner (Hull),, write that exhaust appliances have been installed for removal of dust in wood working machinery, sand papering, bobbin making and cardboard cutting, and; Mr.. Lauder (Newcastle) says that fan exhaust has been applied for the removal of fine dust and h-ir in three*furriers' works with satisfactory results. Mr. Taylor (Leeds) remarks -that the . removal of the fused outside shell of old plumbago crucibles gives :rise - to considerable quantities of graphitic dust, and that exhaust plant has been: provided.L He farther, writes " An ingenious type of dust separator has been installed in connection with the exhaust plant for some grindstones. The separator consists of <a -series of canvas tubes arranged radially along an axis, the dust laden air is forced into the tubes by a fan, and ibe dust is retained inside. As the affis carrying the tubes slowly revolves, the ends of that set of tubes, when in a vertical position, are tapped by automatically .worked hammers, and at the same moment the air current is reversed in the; set, the dust foiling into a small worm conveyor." / - . . ; . Card stripping.--Mr. Younger (Halifax) reports that 'steady .progress has been made, and that proper appliances have now been provided in a large proportion of the cotton mill? in nis district, and that orders have been given in others. The appliances are of various designs, and in one of the* latest the strippings as well as the dust are removed by exhaust draught, and conveyed to a small machine from which they are delivered into a hopper free from dust, the dust being blown into a collecting chamber. Mr. Younger thinks that a more difficult question to be dealt with is the stripping by hand of te cards in certain cotton waste mills, and possibly that the cleaning of the waste by a similar process to the above might solve the difficulty. Mr. Butler (Huddersfield) reports progress, though it is somewhat slow, and he thinks the most effective system he has seen is in two mills where* the dust is drawn from the swift and aoffer by traversing nozzles connected with a powerful vacuum pump. He quotes * another instance where the installation has proved a failure, and a different system will have to be adopted. Both Mr. Wright (Leeds) and Mr. Taylor..(Bradford), in whose districts there are very few cotton mills, say that exhaust ventilation has been or is being put in all the mills. The latter also mentions an asbestos factory in which similar appliance has been installed. Beer bottling.--Mr. Hunt (Leeds) describes a new and simple device, patented, for Preventing the necessity of sucking the bottle neck in starting the syphon fillers on beer oottling machines, which has been found very rapid and efficient in operation. It consists of a copper bowl with an indinrubber tube fitting to a pipe leading from the bottom of the bowl. The free end of the indiarubber pipe is fitted with a cone-like flap, the point of the cone being towards the bowl. The bowl is fixed on the back rod of the syphon machine, and theVubber pipe is pushed over each syphon tube in turn. The svphon tube opens the cone, and beer from the previously filled bowl fills the svnhon. When the rubber tube is nuiled off the svnhrm. tip --*- ' . ramaole iaifarmaifon'Vfii oe'bbtaiuaoie. " Ac eaca'TisirX'"iiiicr:ioe''workers cake greac'inceresc in tiie anemometer tests and the tact that an anemometer remains stationary at the month of a duct is a convincing proof of defect to the most sceptical manager. .; -. Fortunately the taking of the records is arousing interest not only among Workers nnd managers, but also among occupiers, and in the current year a first step has been taken towards letting them have copies o the record taken in their own works, I look forward to fruitful results in diminished disease from this work if it is carried on widely and steadily. A good illustration of the amount of work to. be done yet in securing installation of exhaust is seen in the conditions found by Kiss Squire and .Miss Whitlock in cotton waste factories. : , ;\df* - ' * ` .': Miss iStfvtre.--Very had conditions were fonnd'ln a factory where the sweepings of weaving sheds are sorted, mixed with a white powder'and tom up in teasing machines. We found about 40 women and a dozen men working in a thick haze of white powder, the floor being deeply covered with the same. The bales of sweepings having been opened were spread fay women upon the floor, men shovelled line white powder upon the layer of ootton ana women , covered it with a second layer, the process being repeated until the stack was complete--the cotton was then gathered up in baskets by the women, the powder with which' it had been mixed rising about them in clouds. The contents of their baskets were tipped into the teazing machines, the rapidly revolving teeth tore up the material, and again clouds of dust- and white powder escaped into the air. A fan in the roof above the machines seemed to draw /very little of the dust. The occupier was required to box in each- machine and to provide an exhaust pipe to each connected with a fan--this has made a very great improvement. The . white powder which is used for restoring the colour to soiled ootton waste and also for giving it weight is powdered gypsum or plaster of Paris. Dr. Legge. examined the workers and found the injurious effects which follow the inhalation of dust which; harmless in small amount, is present in great excess. . - j- * ' Miss Whitlock visited nine cotton waste factories and made a dose; enquiry into the health of the workers and found a good deal of bronchial trouble.' She found it difficult to dissociate the effects of the dust from the poor physique of the casual workers employed in such unpleasant surroundings, though the evidence clearly pointed" to aggravation of the bronchial trouble common among the elderly. She was also strode by. the occurrence of three cases of pneumonia in two factories where the dusty conditions -were worst. Dr. Legge, on examining women workers at one of the factories found an eczematous condition round the margin of the nose and chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane. ** Very defective provision for exhaust in the dusty processes in. asbestos manufacture was found by Miss Whitlock iu most of the factories she visited, and in some cases no provision had yet been made. Fortunately, so far not very many workers liave been yet employed, and long before any possible further growth of the trade (the .material coming largely from Canada) I hope that exhaust ventilation will be effectually, applied at the points of origin of the dust. She visited 24 factories employing in all 1,075 workers, of whom 555 were female and 520 male. She found a good deal of respiratory trouble in one form or another amongst the workers. Men are employed mstly in the preliminary of the quasi-textile processes where " free fans are practically useless," ; in one factory where women were doing this work she found all of them suffering from coughs and the two youngest also showed the soreness of nostrils and upper lip associated with dust inhalation. In the carding processes in which both sexes are nearly equally employed, men more often, Miss Whitlock also found evidence of phthisical trouble and pneumonia. In the spinning processes women predominate and the dust inhaled is much less. It-is greater in weaving where men again are more found ; amongst the women weavers there was evidence both of bronchitic and gastric trouble. In "mattress " making (for engine covering), a very dusty process, women are chiefly employed and phthisis and_ throat trouble were found. Here the diffiimlty of providing satisfactory exhaust is much greater owing to the wide area from which dust arises and probably the aid of suitable respirators is needed. All the occupiers are under direction as to installation of effectually applied exhaust, some having the matter already well in hand. Any further action necessary must belong to the current year. * . Very marked proof of injury to all workers concerned was found in a small lace tinting business for dressmakers by dry methods in Miss Slocock's district. Dr. Collis's aid in examination was obtained and he found not merely the significant redness about the nostrils and in the pharynx, but also detected phthisical result from the use of finely divided dusts, sunken out by hand from the laces by the workers. Here the occupier subsequently at great expense provided efficient exhaust ventilation -Via in * mnnnp? rr> avoid all shaking hv hand bv those enquire into the occupation of the patient; and exsenstcu c: compulsory aotiacati elsewhere should make the same information available everj^hers sr time. - ^ . fTumidity and steaming*--A good deal of steady work his been, done both in- Belfc and in Preston so far as was possible by this small branch in check:rz and prevent! excess over the legal limit of moisture in fiax and cotton industries. Miss Escreet poll out that in Preston there are sheds without any of the reccrmsed hzmidiners, where 1: steam is introduced in ordinary jets. Her experience and mat zz omsr Inspectors poi: to the exhausting effect of active work carried on in atmospheres charred with moisture .or above the legal limit. . ,. Miss EscrceL--i paid a visit to one shed--constantly found as he fill limit of homidir . daring cleaning time on Saturday.^Thoagh introduction of steam had ceased a few mint . earlier, the effect of the atmosphere, combined with the very herd weri was nmnisMical and all the workers, from adults to children of 12 and 13 years old. hid perspiration poor down their faces. ^* Similarly Miss Meiklejohn reported a case where during the dinner hour the Hr of humidity was exceeded and steam was pouring into the wearing -shed while abou* dozen women were taking their meal there. The records showed rime the full limit humidity had been reached on many occasions. A statutory caution vras sent in. this a another meal time case. . ' Heavy or constrained or unusual loork, weights, hand jp-esMi.--It is reported by Pearson .that workers continually employed on hand presses in tin. box works te especially if the operator is above or beiow the normal height, to become crooked z that the effect is not noticeable when the operator is able to eperatsthe press alterant with the right and left hand ; she also found that blistering :: the palms occurs if handle is vertical but not when they are L shaped. Cases of --erk oz an unusual character women noticed were, women unloading carts heaped up with heavy miss of material, w in slaughter yards of a bacon factory (Ireland), stacking and loading crates o bottle; breweries. Heavy weights lifted, pushed or carried by w^tneu or young workers w observed during the year by the inspectors in jam and sweet memriss, biscuit.factor textile factories (especially weaving sheds), glassworks, potteries, breweries. Samples a (1) two women carrying a copper pan fuil of syrup weighing led lbs. acd anot couple 121 lbs. The accident register iu this factory recorded recent accidents women lifting pans and jars ; (2)* in glassworks women in ccuues carry hoses with " fired " glass to the warehouse which weigh 84 lbs. and oven Miss Squire nc in one factory that the boxes weighed 1 cwt. 6 lbs. and than empty iron trays, large ; unwieldy in shape, weighing 32 ifis. were being carried at intervals zz 10 to 20 mint across the glass house ; recommendation was here made that trolleys should be proric (3) "Women are still found lifting and adjusting their loom "^righn. which weigh ur 60 and "0 lbs. apiece, and some managers remain in favour this method, as allow more oscillation of the beam, rather than any automatic device. Miss Squire tconsic that serious risks are incurred by delicate women in these cases. hut aids :-- ; * Mis* Squire.--it is encouraging to find that progress has been made m substituting*autotr # motions to looms for the more primitive weighting by mean* cf vaults tied by cord to beam. One firm with nvp 7.000 looms having 5.000 of these vicccs-d in tbs old way, while experimenting with new devices, made arrangemects get rid, of ail weights 70 lbs. aud to substitute weights of 50 to GO lbs. This will be a great relief to the women girls, yet two bad accidents were caused by lifting 56 lbs. wv.ghcs. (4) Cut carrying or carrying of heavy pieces of c'.cth frur. wearing shed warehouse still continues, though for workers under 14 :ne maser can now be t controlled under the Employment of Children Act, and ::: cues under-16 years the help of certifying surgeons. Miss Martindale found cases :: waxen required to ex cuts and carrying them up to 70 lbs. weight. Miss MartiiuinJe.-- The bulky nature of the cloth hand;"-, added greatly to the diSc of carrying it. Ia the drawing-in shop of one factory I ::t?i a rir.. :: is years of age, had just completed drawing-in a beam and was about to r;u:"? By means of ch from above, she aud another girl lowered the beam on :c z litcis r^c-wheeled trolley wheeled it- into auothcr room, where they lifted it on tc * frame, -hey placed the tre under the frame and lifted it a few inches oa to the frame. I bar :ce beam weighed the weight was 2GG* lbs. The same girls then lifted xt relied another beam to original frame, and by means of chains placed it on to the frame. I drew the acteniio the mnnncer ro this matter, and be informed me that mir. --ere sirred tc do this -a and that- he wonici see that in future they did it. On rT^-sccur a worker the same eve