Document pjdNrD6E2Xe4Vey7G7ybd056

FILE NAME: National Safety Council (NSC) DATE: 1941 Oct DOC#: NSC244 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Excerpt - Transactions of the NSC - 30th National Safety Congress TRANSACTIONS ^ 30th J NATIONAL SAFETY CONGRESS GENERAL SUBJECT AND INDUSTRIAL SESSIONS CHICAGO OCTOBER 6-10, 1941 NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL, INC. 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago Copyright, ty il, 5*1, Cowdl. Inc. Foreword THE Transactions of the 30th National Safety Con gress and Exposition of the National Safety Coun cil are published in two volumes. Volume I contains the General Subject Sessions and the Industrial Section Ses sions. Volume II contains the Street and Highway Traf fic, Commercial Vehicle, Transit, Child Education, Home Safety and Farm Safety Sessions. Volume I is distributed automatically to the industrial members of the Council. Volume II is sent to those mem bers who are believed to be interested chiefly in the ses sions it contains. However, other members of the Council may obtain Volume II upon request. All types of Council members have found it advantageous to distribute these Transactions volumes to foremen, supervisors, executives and other officers of their organ izations, who make use of the information they contain in organized accident prevention programs. On page 9 of this volume some practical suggestions are made for the profitable use of these Transactions. Extra copies of Volume I may be obtained by Council Members at the following rates: 1 to 10 copies at $2.00 each; 11 or .more copies at $1.75 each. Extra copies of Volume II may be had at 75 cents each. The Transactions are a condensed record of the proceed ings of the Congress, reproduced here for reference pur poses. The papers, addresses and many of the discussions have been edited to delete extraneous matter and empha size those parts which outline ideas of particular useful ness in safety organization and all other accident preven tion procedures. The volumes are, therefore, a somewhat abridged version , the original manuscripts, however, are available in the hies of the National Safety Council. The National Safety Council, at its Congresses, seeks to eliminate from discussion matters which are not pertinent to the a;ms of the Congress, or which may be contrary to the Council's policies. However, it cannot accept respon sibility for all the views expressed, either in the matter presented or in the discussions based i pon these papers NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL- Inc. 20 North Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois Coni N ational Safety Council,Vine. HONORARY MEMBERS A ssociation o r Jm s am Steel E n c n m u Ro u s t W . Campbell Lew R, P alm b OFFICERS (1941-1942) Cot. John Stilwkjl, President Ned H. Dearborn, Vice-President for Education I. W. Millar, Vice-President for Finance and Treasurer G. T. H ellmuth, A sst Vice-President for Finance and A sst Treasurer W altes S. P aine, Vice-President for Industrial Safety L ew R. P auses, Vice-President for Transportation A. V. Rohw edb, Vice-President for Home and Farm Safety R. T. Solensten, Vice-President for Membership Leslie J. So*enson. Vice-President for Public Safety Roy V. W eight, Vice-President for Community Councils W. H. Cameron, Managing Director and Secretary EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (1941-1942) Caw . F rank E. A mes, Marine Section J. I. Banash, Past President C. W. Beegquist, Past President H. R. Bixler, Union Carbide & Carbon Corporation H. W. Boggess, Sinclair Prairie Oil Company Karl Brecht, Safety Div., South Bend Association of Commerce W. H. Cameron, National Safety Council, Inc. Robert W . Campbell, Pst President D. B. Chant, Ontario Pulp & Paper Makers' Safety Association N ed H. Dearborn, New York University Lewis A. D eBlois. Past President C. W. Dempesy, Liquid Carbonic Corporation Marcus A. Dow, Past President H arold F. E nlows, The American National Red Cross D. D. F ennell, Past President H J. Griffith. ASSE-Engineering Section E. E. Grover, Columbus & Southern Ohio Electric G>mpany H arry Gcilbert, The Pullman Company J ('lien H. H arvey, Greater New York Safety Council \V. A. H azard. Construction Section Dr. T. Iale H azlett, Westinghouse Electric & Mig. Co. G. T. Hellmcth, Chicago Rapid Transit Company W alter G. Kino, Past President J ohn E. Long, Past President C. H. Longman, Chicago & North Western Railway Company J. W. Lord. Commercial Vehicle Section T hos. H. MacDonald, V. S. Public Roads Administration 4 -M t fety 942) lo m m erce soriation tpany b. xmipany tion O F F IC E R S 'C O N T O .) R o u s t A. McArthur, Public Service Coordinated Transport B. B. McC ulloch, Bureau of Safety, Inc. F. R. McLean, Petroleum Section I. W. Millard, Industrial Gloves Company H arold L. Mixer, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. PiiiLrp M. Morgan, Massachusetts Safety Council : Worcester Safety Council Hox. Eliot Ness, Director of Public Safety, Cleveland E. J. O'Brien, Jr.. Louisville Safety Council Walter S. Paine, Aetna Life & Affiliated Companies Lew R. P almer, Past President C. E. Pcttibone, Past President G. H. P feif, General Electric Company R. J. Reiceli-th, C. W. Blakeslee & Sons H. A. R e x ts e a . Past President A. V. Rohwider. Duluth. Missabe & Iron Range Railway Company C. J. Rutland, Street & Highway Traffic Section H rxrv G. Schafe.ver, Erie Safety Coimcil Carl L. S mith, Greater Cleveland Safety Council R. T. Solexstex, Elliott Service Company Leslie J. Sorenson. City Traffic Engineer, Chicago H. J. Spooler, Metals Section Col. John Sthweil. Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. C. P. Tolkan, Past President George G, T racer, Greater Chicago Safety Council Dr. C H. W atson, Past President A. W. W hitnev, National Conservation Bureau Rov V. Wric.ht, Railway Age Magazine Arthur H. Young, Past President V. A. Zimmer, U. S. Department of Labor BOARD OF TRUSTEES (1941-1942) W inthrop W. Aldrich, Chairman Board of Directors. The Chase National Bank, New York G ty Morgan B. Brainard, President, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Hartford, Conti. Howard Coonley. Chairman of the Board >{ Directors, Walworth Company. New York City. Benjamin F. Fairless, President. United Stales Steel Corporation. Pittsburgh, Pa. W. S. Farish. President, Standard Oil Company i Yew Jero v. New York Gty W alter Gifford. President, American Telephone & Telegraph 'm- pany. New York City E. R. H arri man. Director, Union Pacific Railroad Company, New York City T homas I. Parkinson, President, The Equitable Life Assurance So | ciety of tiie U. S., New York City A lpi ed P. Sloan, Jr.. Chairman of she Board. Cctn rai Motors Cor { poration, New York City O F F IC E R S (C O N TD .) T homas John W atxm*. President, International Business Machines Corporation, New York City Chari.es E. W ilson, Prsidait, (encrai Electric Company, New York Gty DIRECTORS (1941-1942) H. Aldrich, Spaicer Kellogg & Sons, Inc, Capt. F rank E. Ames. Marine Section ' T, O. Armstrong, Springfield Safety Council; Hampden County Safety Council C. W. Avery, Detroit Industrial Safety Council I. 1. Banash, Past President E rnest W. Beck. United States Rubber Company C. W. Bercqci-t. Past President R. E. Rio'.ek-, Cliattano ga Safety Council H. R. Bixler. Union Carbide & Carbon Corporation E. F. Blank. Jones & I.aughlin Steel Corporation H. W. B<*a;K'S, Sinclair Prairie <til Company F. S. Brown. Standard Accident Insurance Company (). C. liotLF.AC. W'Hid Product* Section E. G. Borslsune. Kansas City Safety Council C. B. B o n n . Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Clayton O. Braate. Paper & Pulp Section Karl Brecht. Safety Div., South Bend Association nf Commerce Edward H. Brink, Grand Rapids Safety Council Joseph A. Broth y, Elizabeth Safety Council \V. H. Cameron. National Safety Council, Inc. I. . C. Campbell. The Koppcrs Coal Gmipany Robert W. Campbell. Past President Raymond A. Casj.y, Evanston Safety Council Robert I. Catlix. Aetna Casualty & Surety Company D. B. C u t NT, Pajier & Pulp Section Charles A. CitvPPEiL. Safety Div.. Syracuse Chamber of Commerce I. ammot duPont fiira.AMi, Delaware Safety Council J. E. Ct luney. B. tlilehem Steel Company John D 'A miiri - a. Sr.. Rahway Safety Council N ed H. D earborn, New York University laa i< A. DeBiois. Past President C \V. D empesy, The Liquid Carbonic Corporation F. W. Dennis, Chemical Section M nton W. Dobrzensky, East Bay Safety Council C. R. Dooley, Soconv-Vacuum Oil Company. Inc. James B. Dorm as. The Philadelphia Gas Works Company Marccs A. Dow, Past President H arold F. E nblow*. The Atr.eruan National Red Cross R. S. F aLv M, Rubber Section D. D. F ennell. Past President Dr. H ast E. Fisher, Chicago Rapid Transit Company Edmcnd F itzgerald. Saf.iy Div., Milwaukee Association of Com merce 6 Mariant New Y ork len County omroerce of Commerce ipany ss ciadon of Com- OFFICERS (CONTD.) V ictor B. F itzpatrick, Richmond Safety Council H oward B. Fonda, Burroughs Wellcome & Co. (U S A ) Inc. Arthur C F rey, Worcester Safety Council L yle H. Gift, Peoria Association of Commerce Safety Council 0 . F. G namnger, Steam Railroad Section H kxby J. Corkax, Blackstone Valley Safety Council W. A. G ttm ur, American Telephone & Telegraph Company H. J. Griffith, ASSE-Engineering Section F. E. Grover, Columbus Safety Council H arry G uilbert, The Pullman Company D. T. H arrington, U. S. Bureau of Mines F rank H. H arrison, International Harvester Company Jt'UEN H. H arvey, Greater New York Safety Council W. D. H aseltok, Mining Section P. L. G. H asskarl, Public Utilities Section R, C. H aven, Food Section Idiots Hawes, Rochester Safety Council W. A. H azard, Construction Section Dr. T. Lyle H azlett, Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. G. T. H elim uth, Chicago Rapid Transit Company Harold G. Hoffman, Unemployment Compensation Commission of New Jersey Dr. Ralph H. H oughton, Kenosha Safety Council W it. F. James, Philadelphia Safety Council Jasper B. Johnson, Madison County Safety Council T homas P. Kearns, Industrial Commission of Ohio W alter C K ing, Past President W m. C K noci k, Milwaukee Safety Commission C. !... L s F o rntai.ve. Great Northern Railway Company Roy Lee, Contra Costa County Safety Council John F. Long. Past President C. H. Longman, Chicago & North Western Railway Company J. W. IvORD, Commercial Vehicle Section Eber S. Lusk, Refrigeration Section T hos. H. MacDonald. V S. Public Roads Administration R. A. McA rthur, Public Service Coordinated Transport R. B. McCui.loch. Bureau of Safety. Inc. F. R. McLean, Petroleum Section Roy S. Marshal! , Seattle Traffic & Safety Council C. M. Me v -e. Meat Packing, Tanning & Leather Industries Section D avid L. Mh.lar, St. Louis Safety Council 1. W. Millard. Industrial Gloves Company H arold L. Miner, F. I. du Pont de Nemours S Company H. H. Mohler. St. Joseph Safety Council pHtt.rp M. Morgan, Massachusetts Safety Council; Worcester Safety Council R. B. Morlev, Industrial Accident Prevention A-sociations C. L. Murray, Mason Gty-Cerro Gordo County Safety Council Hon. E lko Ness, Director of Public Safety . f Cleveland Frank S. N ewell, Toledo Safety Council K. J. O'BurrN, J r , C-uisville Safety Council / O F F IC E R S (C O N TO .) Gh ge C. A. Oi*p, The Detroit Edison Company John M. Orts, Transit Section W alt* S. P aine, Aetna! Life & Affiliated Companies Lew R. P almer, Past President David A. Patton. Newark Safety Council C. E. Pettibone, Past President C. H. r*nar. General Electric Company D. W. P ontius, Greater Los Angeles Safety Council W. M. P owell, Cement & Quarry Section Albert S. Regula, Industrail Relations Counselors, Inc. R. J. Reigixcth. C. W. Blakeskte & Sons H. A. Reningeh. Past President J. W. RevxottK, United Pacific Insurance Company A. V. Rohw edo, Duluth, Missahe ft Iron Range Railway Company C. J. Rutland, Street & Highway Traffic Section Henry G. Schaffner. Erie Safety Council E. C. Schultes, J r,, Power Press Section Earl S. S hartter, Utica Safety Council Frank T. S heets, Portland Cement-Association John R. S herwooo, Baltimore Safety Council Dr. L. A. S houdy, Bethlehem Steel Company Leslie R. S ilvernale. Child Education Section Adolph S kinner, Safety Dept., Nashville Chamber of Commerce Carl L. S mith, Greater Cleveland Safety Council C. R. S mith. American Air Lines. Inc. R. T. Solenstex, Elliott Service Company Leslie J. Sorenson. City Traffic Engineer of Chicago H. J. Spohier, Metals Section F. C. Spring. Philadelphia. Pa. T homas I. Starr. Employees' Publication Section Ci.. John Stilwell, Consolitated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Edmund C. Stone, Western Pennsylvania Safety C* unci] E mery E dward Stone. Berkeley Traffic Safety Commission Paul S. Stef-CKER. Automotive ft Machine Shop Section <,forge. S. Stroud. Des Moines Safety Council H ugo Swanson, Superior ft Douglas County Safety (,'ounci! J. M. S v ivest . Lehigh Valley Safety Council Arthur M. Tour, Consulting Engineer C. P. T human. Past President <,forge G. Tracer. Greater Giicago Safety Council W ilfred E. Volger, Albany Safety Council I)r. C. H. W atson. Past President W. B. W eaver. Textile Se.-tion G W ise W e-c.itt. Safety Dept.. Autonw-bile Club ,f Rhode Island T. A ngus W hite. Safety Div.. Rirmingliam Cnamlier of Commerce S. E. W hiting, l.itiertv Mutual Insurance Company A. W. W hitney. Natona! (onservatiou Bureau Rov V. W right, Railway Age M agazine Arthur H. Young. Past President E. J. Zauet. Safety Bureau. Duluth Chamf* r of <.'otnmercc V. A. Zimm-ji. U. S. Department of lab o r 8 The lished in the prev chiefly public cussions the ex pc lives, organized programs Do not volume, what you organized given . located Note, of t on! in three ions ; fei the ' the ( The i diately were sc! est to all many coi Howes' Industriai sions on prove vat Note ranged 1 that whe ( as in tb are arra: and caler Now, session, I'iscussiol o u ts ta n d In the prehensit alphabeti the m ate 152 30th National Safety Congress Essentials of Healthful Industrial Environment By MYRON A. 8NRLL Suporvisiag Eogfamr, Hartford AccMsnt 4 latl-- Ay Co, Hartford. Cowl In i.WO occupational accidents were re sponsive tor 17,000 killed. 1 6 # perma nently disabled, and 1,350,000 temporarily disabled. Altltough the recognized diseases of occu pation are responsible tor only a compara tively small proportion of these industrial injuries, many other factors in industrial envin intent are partly responsible for them. The jiersonal habits of the individual as well as tb< nature of his home environment must also he charged with their share of this respo isibility. It s known that the incidence of the com mon liseases of life which arc not due to the occuiation is higher among industrial work ers than among the balance of the population. Consequently, the life expectancy of the in dividual employed in industry is approxi mately eight years less than for the nonimiu trial worker. There is no doubt but that "onsiderable improvement would result thro'igh the elimination of all on the unsatis factory conditions to which workers are ex posed in industry. T ie Metropolitan Life Insurance Cornpan; conducted a study which revealed that appioximately 2 per cent of all workers are incapacitated all of the time on account of illm ss. This means that the estimated 50 million workers in the United States lose four hundred million days annually on ac count of injury and illness, resulting in an average direct loss of wages at $5.00 per day of two billion dollars. The Air Hygiene Foundation of America are engaged in a study of "Sick Absenteeism in Industry." Their records show that more th;n eight days arc lost per male wage earner per year and more than twelve days per female wage earner per year because of sickness. A considerable proportion of this cost is assumed by the employer through lower production and poorer earnings. Many companies have already discovered that a large proportion of the employees with poor health records also had poor sa ety records. These employer* are spendiiv.r money to improve the health of the em ployees through die elimination of unheahhful conditions at home as well as on the job. They receive a large return on the invest ment, not only through the reduction of tune lost from the job through sickness but also from the reduction in the cost of indastral accidents and disease*. Industrial Haahh Although progressive employers recognise the importance to them of healthy, satisfied employees, it is unfair and unjust to impose upon them the legal liability for any illnesses or diseases among the employees that are not actually caused by the employment Oc cupational disease laws should be carefully enacted and justly administered so that the employer .will not be expected to provide general health insurance for his employees. The industrial environment is actually re sponsible for only a small proportion of the time lost from the job by employees Every employer should, of course, be re quired to provide his employees with a safe and healthful place in which to work. Such an environment car. be achieved only through a study of every condition of industrial life followed by an adjustment of these condi tions to the health requirements of the indus trial worker. Atmospheric Contaminants Employees should not be subjected to the inhalation of atmospheric contaminants in sufficient concentrations to cause disease <poisoning, nor even in concentrations suffi cient to cause any market degree of dis comfort. Polluted air is undesirable even though the foreign material in the air is not present in harmful quantities Workers who are satisfied and contented with the working environment arc not only Sappier and more efficient but healthier as well. Many indi viduals imagine all sorts of ill effects even from trivial industrial e>i<osur< s. and may even worry themselves into an actual case of illness which was not caused by the en vironment but from the mental attitude of the worker. -- of unheahl ; ** * ^ 1 ** on the jol Lr* J * B th e i i m i * redaction of tin richness but all 1th e coat of industri a Hwkfc * aoplojrert recognise at of healthy, satisfied ` fa d unjust to impose bilhy for any illnesses le employees that are f the employment Ocrs should be carefully m m istered so that the : e s p i e d to provide K e for his employees, nenent is actually re m an 'proportion of the ' by employees. mid. of course, be reemployees with a sale w hich to work. Such achieved only through itio n of industrial life uncut of these condilirem ents of the indus- ot be subjected to the teric contaminants in j^ -to cause disease or i concentrations suffiark ed degree of dis- is undesirable even terial in the air is not ntities. W orkers who ited with the working nly happier and more as well. Many indi rts of ill effects even exposures, and may i into an actual case mt caused by the enm ental attitude of the Industrial Health 153 Atmoepherie contaminants in industrial plants may consist of solid dispersosds, liquid disperseids o r gates o r vapors, Solid dispenmicb may be divided into duett, fumes and smithes, Liquid dispersoids may be di vided into *# and fogs. Industrial dusts are mechanically generated by many different proceeeea and oper at ions. Typical eaauipln arc drilling. Masting and crushing in mining and quarrying; polish ing, buffing and grinding in metal finisfamg and stonccatting, polishing and abrasive blasting in the granite and monument indus try. The dust generated in every case is of the inorg anic or mineral variety. Animal and vegetable dusts are known as organic dusts and are generated by such operations as the processing of cotton, the working of wood, o r the polishing of skins. From the health standpoint, industrial dusts of above ten microns in size are of no importance because they are too large to be inhaled into the lungs themselves. Dusts below ten microns in sice are not visible to the naked eye but can be seen with a micro scope down to about two-tenths of a micron in sice. Dusts containing sufficient percent ages of free silica and asbestos may cause diseases known as silicosis and asbestosis if inhaled in sices befow ten microns in suffi ciently high concentrations over a great enough period of time; O ther dusts, with the exception of the metallic dusts, do not re sult in diseases, but many of them do result in certain changes in the lungs which are evidently not of great importance. Never theless, workers should not be allowed to in hale high concentrations of any kind of dust, regardless of its composition. Permissible limits or maximum allowable concentrations for these dusts have been es tablished by various organizations, but as yet there has been no complete agreement for dust concentrations in workroom atmos pheres. The American Standard Safety Code for the Protection of Heads, Eyes and Res piratory Organs recommends "that no worker be continuously subjected without a protector to an atmosphere containing any form of mineral dust in quantity exceeding 50 million particles per cubic foot of a size less than 10 microns." The National Sili cosis Conference in 1937 suggested that the f r i-- permimM e concentration should be found by multiplying the percentage of free silica by the total dust count. If the result is under five million, the condition may be considered permissible. If the m u lt is over five million, the condition may be considered too high. , California, Connecticut and some other states allow no more than five million par ticles of dust running high in free silica. New York State, in the Industrial Code adopted September 1,1941, for the control of silica dust in the stonecutting and stone fin ishing industry, allow five million particles if the dust contains more than 70 per cent free silica, 10 nullum particles if it contains from 10 to 70 per cent, and 100 million partick s if it contains less than 10 per cent free silks. The State of California has established a permissible limit of 5 million particles per cubic foot of a ir for asbestos dust. Metallic dusts may also be generated me chanically in such operations as weighing and mixing red lead and litharge in the manufacture of paints or storage batteries. The permissible limits for such toxic dusts are the same as for the fumes of these metals. Fum es and Smokes Inhalation of she freshly formed fume of any metal in sufficient concentrations may cause the condition known as "metal fume fever." also known as zinc chili: or shakes. Although this condition causes a great deal of discomfort and may be alarming to t h o who are not familiar with it, it is actually not a disease and has no permanent effect on the individual. The inhalation of the dusts or fumes of the toxic metals can also cause systemk poisoning if inhaled in sufficient quantities. As yet there are no definite standards established for most of the toxic metals. The American Standards Association's Sectional Committee on Allowable Concentrations of Toxic Dusts and Gases is developing stand ards for cadmium, chromium, lead and mer cury. They also propose to develop standards for antimony, arsenic, manganese ami zinc. All of these standards will probably be avail able in the near future. The Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxkology in the June, 1M), issue published 154 30th National Safety Congress a "Code for Safe Concentration* of Certain Common Toxic Substances Used in Indus try ." T his code was prepared by a group of five expert industrial hygienists and con tained a list of suggested permissible limits tc be used as a guide until the time that the .American Standards Association's committee h id completed the standards for the subs ances mentioned. The maximum allowable concentrations for certain of the toxic metals were as follows: Cadmium 0.1 mg. per cu. m eter; Chromium 0.1 mg. per cu. m eter; head 0.15 mg. per cu. m eter; Mercury 0.1 rag. per cu. meter, and Zinc 15.0 mg. per <u. meter. Very little work has been done on maxi mum concentrations of smoke which can be tolerated without impairing efficiency or lousing marked discomfort, and no limits lave as yet been established. Mims and Fogs Mists are formed by the mechanical dis integration of a liquid by such processes as spray coating of paints or vitreous enamels. They usually range in sire from about 50 to 100 microns. Fogs are formed by the condensation of vapors. They vary in size from 5 to about 50 microns. Wherever hot alkaline cleaning or pickling vats are operated in a workroom in which the temperature is quite cool, the water vapor is apt to condense in the form of a fog in the room in the same manner that ordinary' fog is formed in the outdoors. A mist which may be inhaled in spray coating operations may be rather complex in nature. In the case of spraying paints, it usually consists of a mixture of organic solvents of a varying degree of toxicity together with solid matter in solution or in suspension. These fine droplets in the t'orir. of mist may hold in suspension lead oxide as a pigment or other particulate matter of a toxic nature. In the spr .y coating <>f vitreous enamels a water vehicle is used but the particulate mat ter in suspension may contain toxic metals in the form of oxide, such as cadmium, lead and manganese. In addition, they sometimes contain finely divided particles of tree silica in the form of quartz or flint. The maximum allowable concentration in inspired air containing mist is Lhe same as tliat for the vapors, fumes or dusts of the sibstances contained in the mist. Vapors and Gaass W hile vapors are composed of the gaseous phase of substances which usually exist in the form of liquids under ordinary condi tions, gases exist only in the gaseous Mate under ordinary conditions. Vapors and gases are frequently but incor rectly termed "fumes." For example, "ni trous fumes" instead of nitrogen oxide gases. A liquid organic advent such as carbon tetrachloride will evaporate from an open tank in a workroom ami the vapors of car bon tetrachloride collect in the surrounding atmosphere. Thus the .carbon tetrachloride can exist under the ordinary conditions of the workroom either as a liquid or a vapor. On the other hand, the oxygen and carbon dioxide gases in the air of the workroom cannot exist under such normal conditions in any other state. There are a vast number of organic sol vents in use in industry and the number is increasing each year through the discovery of new and better solvents in the industrial chemical laboratories. The extent of damage to the health of workers through the inhala tion of the vapors of many of these solvents is not known. American standards have been established this year for benzol of 100 parts per million parts of air. carbon disulfide 20 parts per million, carbon monoxide 100 parts pier mil lion and hydrogen sulfide 20 parts per mil lion. The American Standards Association's Committee on Allowable Concentrations are at present engaged in the development of standards for acetone, carbon tetrachloride, diethyl ether, formaldehyde, hydrofluoric acid, methanol, nitrous gases, detrachlorethane, tetrachlorethylene. toluol, trichlorethylene and xylol. Tentative suggested standards for these as well as for about 23 additional gases and vapors are given in the June, 1940, issue of the Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, as already men tioned. A tm ospheric Pollution The only definite method of determining whether or not a concentration of atmos pheric contaminants exists in the workroom that constitutes a health hazard is by means of collection and analysis ot air samples. These the se and lit equipm as indi for the In a 31 ind many do this request c h u s e tt D epart U. S. supply i of the units i correct proper 1 The pois* mi toxic V by a lu lu the toxic s Kata two the sec JN'IISOIH almost men ta r' the the smj stream hver. i tested Moil to In tin with lea ImuHtv :*> co rate of lire day but OIK may sW an*n cause x* A few ethyl lea may q i the sku of ti* Moms * e W i UMsiljr exist hi 1 tm & m r **- d r d w gaseous state Ht i n f , r e fraqtw w lf but iucor- For exasnpk, "rtt e l m trogan oxide cases, d i* Mdi as' o ftm rvaporatc iro n ax s p a a an d th e vapors of car* Ucet * th e surrounding th e .carbon tetrachloride - ordm ury conditions ef r a s a liquid o r a vapor. th e oxygen and carbon *e a h o< th e vrorlcrooxi udi norm al conditions m nu m b er of organic sotu s try and the num ber is r th ro u g h the discovery K ttvcats in the industrial s . T h e extent of damage -h e rs through the inhala>f m any o f these solvents tt s h av e been established o f 100 p arts per million n disulfide 30 parts per to x id e 100 p an s par milso lh d e 20 parts per * 3 - S tan d ard s Association's M b it Concentrations are in the development of me, carbon tetrachloride, m aldchyde, hydrofluoric ro w gases, detrachlorehylene. toluol, tn ch k c1. T entative suggested a s well as for about 23 l vapors are given in the d ie Journal of Industrial eoiogy, as already men eric Pollution . method of determining concentration of atm m exists in the workroom ealth hazard is by means analysis of air samples. Industrial Httdth 155 These atmospher ic poflation studies r equire m e scItiou ov isbidcoi no B R n u b h w o iip and the use of proper field and laboratory equipment Many private companies as well as mdividwds are equipped to do this work for themselves or far others. In addition, there are at the present time 31 industrial hygiene units located in that many diflerent slates, who are prepared to do this work for industrial concerns a t their request. la all but New York and Massa chusetts these units are opera ted by State Departments of Health fat cooperation with U. S. Public H ealth Service. In addition to supplymg the plant owner with an analysis of the health hazards in this plant, these MuSdmiOuB m m Lmi^vHahmlMoshKu tqggcfuoos n r metf correction o r dam nation th rough the use of proper engineering control methods. Ingestion of Tank fnh Misuse The vast m ajority of cases of industrial poisoning occur through inhalation of the toxic substances rather than by ingestion or by absorption through skin, for two reasons. In the fiirM place, the principal exposure to toxic substances in industry is through in halation and not ingestion or absorption. In the second place, in those few cases where poisonous substances are swallowed, they u t almost entirely eliminated through be ali mentary tract without being absorbs* into the bloodstream and a large percent.- ?* of the small amount absorbed into the blood stream is further eliminated through the liver. Consequently very little of the in gested poison gets into the general circula tion to cause damage to the vital organs. In the case of an employee who is working with lead oxide in die manufacture of storage battery plates, he is inhaling any dust which may contaminate the working area at the rate of 16 times each minute during the en tire day. On the other hand, he usually eats but once a day on the job. In addition he may swallow at other ti nes during the day an amount of kao which in itself could not cause poisoning. paratively rare and most of the known toxic substances do not readily o tter the blood stream by skin absorption. Approximately tw o-thirds r j all occupa tional disease claims, however, are for derma titis and other skin affections. Industrial employees come in contact with a consider able number of substances which invariably result in the development of a derm atitis condition. In addition, there are a great many other substances used in industry which cause abnormal skin conditions to develop in certain few individuals but not in others. This highly specialised subject has been given a great deal of attention in recent years and much information has been pub lished about it. There are two methods of prevention available. The first involves the use of skin tests to determine individual reaction to sub stances which are generally known to came derm atitis. This is done before employment in the exposure, and employees who show a positive reaction are placed in other jobs. The second method consists of preventing contact between the individual and the harm ful substance through complete enclosure, exhaust ventilation, the use of rubber gloves or other protective clothing, or protective skin cream. Personal cleanliness also is an extremely important factor in the prevention of industrial dermatitis. Infectious Disease* A considerable number of industrial case of anthrax, glanders, undulant fever and tularemia are reported every year. These diseases of animals are invariably contracted by man through ignorance or negligence on the part of the employees or their super visors. Industrially they are easily con tracted thruugh contacts with infected hair or hides or the diseased animals themselves. Practically every such case could have been prevented either through sterilization of the animal parts themselves or through the use of protective clothing on the part of the employees. Skin C ontact A few of the organic liquids such as tetra ethyl lead used in leaded gasoline and benxol may cause poisoning by absorption throcqgh the skin Such cases, however, are com M iscellaneous Diseases Theie are miscellaneous conditions to which industrial workers may be exposed which are responsible for a considerable number of actual cases of disease. Cat- J 156 30th National Safety Congress pressed air illness or caisson disease results from too rapid decompression after working nder pressures greater than one atmos phere. Tim e and pressure tables have been established for maximum rates of compres sion and decompression which should be fol lowed in all cases. In some states this is reqt ired by law. Radiant energy when used in industry may result in serious consequences if adequate safety precautions are not taken. W orkers should not be exposed to harmful amounts of radioactive substances or X-rays. In e y case the protective measures published by he National Bureau of Standards should be religiously followed. Both ultra-violet and infra-red rays have certain beneficial effects on human beings if they are absorbed by the body in moderate amounts. Light rays produced industrially, ho sever, may have a serious effect upon the health of workers if proper personal protec tion is not provided. Cataract may result from exposure to the heat and glare of molten glass. Serious eye and skin bums may result from undue exposure to the bright ar.- produced in electric welding. The use of grggles with properly colored lenses, face shields, gloves, and proper clothing afford ac equate protection. Pressure, M otion and Shock Synovitis, or tenosynvitis, or bursitis, or cellulitis of any of the joints of the body may result from any occupation involving cont nual or repeated trauma, vibration, pres sure or friction. Examples arc the diseases suffered by workers who spend many years in handling pneumatic tools used in such operations a', riveting and drilling. If postible the employees of concerns engaged in such operations should be rotated so that no one indiv dual is exposed to the harmful efects of conditions such as these for long reriods of time. Tem perature and H um idity The average comfort zone in the winter time is from 63 to 71c E. T. (Effective Temperature 1. 60 E. T. is the most popu lar effective temperature as adopted by the American Society of Heating and Ventilat ing Engineers tor individuals at rest wear ing customary winter clothes living in the broad geographical belts across the United States in which heating of the convection type is generally used during four to eight months of the year. It doesn't apply to rooms heated by radiant energy, rooms with excessive glass area or those with poorly insulated or cold walls. In densely occupied spaces somewhat lower temperatures may be necessary. Satisfactory comfort condi tions for men at work have been found to vary from 40 to 70* E. T. depending on die rate of work and the amount of clothing worn. In hot industries 80* E. T. is consid ered the upper Limit compatible with effi ciency and whenever possible this should be reduced to 70* E. T. or less. In the summertime the average comfort tone is from 66 to 75* E. T. with 71* E. T. as the popular average. This is 4 to 5* higher average than in the wintertime. The tem perature differential between in doors and outdoors which should be main tained depends on a number of factors. A drop in temperature of 10" F. or more may be extremely harmful if it occurred suddenly, especially when the skin and clothing are wet with perspiration. No standard has been established for 'he proper amount of humidity. It may vary from 30 to 70 per cent without discomfort. The air should be dry rather than damp. The common belief that dry air in itself ex erts a harmful effect on the skin and mucous membranes has never been proved by con vincing evidence, although there have been numerous investigations on the subject. The addition of moisture to the air of occupied rooms by any practical method has not been shown to have any beneficial effect upon health and comfort. Experiments have shown that the respiratory membranes of industrial workers exposed to hot, moerf air are dis tinctly more abnormal than those of workers exposed to hot, dry air. The maximum air movement should be 50 feet er minute with not less than 10 cubic feet per minute per occupant <.f the room taken from an outdoor source. Mr. Yaglow states that "an air movement of not over 40 f.p.rn. is permissible under present engi neering practice, when the temperature of the air current is 2 F. or less below ordi nary room temperature. Current velocities as high as 200 f.p.rn. may prove desirable m bo* indust than this a r and may bkn W ork in th sible for a m merits, tlte be haustion or I use of salt ta industries ha ability and di a few years i Since the perature of < has been sbo physiol >gical ciety of Heat has suggest: of one-ha If qualified by p to work in h, half degree n the limiting t. The A S H environment < the requireme fort without factors com:e temperature movement if and mean ra rounding surf e 'es are at reseai. h prog: ing minimum tinning for ir teptahli to <-v. Misci .'U'l't.rnuii i effect u;mn m Milt m dean, condition;,. Hi tarns a talde levels under v levels var) in nsg on the sou reported that ` a level of sij posure to mon pairs hearing, disturbances. s HTicy, itn<| lie traced to are more susc :n ihe United section ) eight ply to is with poorly ccopied a my condimmd to 158 30th AMtional Safety Congress nation may not at*/ result in poor d Srieacy but also in a high accident frequency. The number of foot-candlcs fo r proper industrial illumination varies ap to a point beyond 100. I w y are pudusmb m HPM sona Mr fin o w occnpstioas in Safe Practices PsmpM rt N a 22 on `'Industrial Strap L ighta." O ther Factors which d o s id he considered in the subject of industrial health are srorictfif p o m sT ti n o m proper stjq ok boot covering. Standing o r walking on m w r ttf o r other hard surfaces produce *stig*f and may even be harm ful to some is d m d n h in prolonged exposuna. The G f tia h Inter national Committee on Industrial Fatigue place g n a t stress on the harm ful effect* of impr oper posture among industrial workers. The use of proper -chatre eliminates fatigue The comfort and rSU nm ej of indaotrial workers are aleo affected ty the colar cheme of the r *1-- -- *. the h i g t of the work ing hours aad the met periods used in con- OflfMSMiSQttBOKldCfcKBaaHOo f jdaBfp WMteWMPIp SIMlleliOM t t d CMlhf f j f flilTt, m ediad farflitfas aad Ip proper pmrk k m for rrnatrrm Most of fhftt, boatemr, feavp t*iwiekdhe-hopokaola--clap*u--onnr--fmb^ae-drttm-srd-vf-o-i-cK--rnK'aprioa tfat -adard ADJOURNM ENT ' !<!!! II! ti %cntila- nts requires a nccntration in bablv fam iliar ator for testing mine if an ex it it is safe for The indication t is a wanting if acute poison asphyxiation, tpor coocentraidicated on the more sensitive e M.S.A. Bena le readme of 20 P.P.M. per id, this instrttir determining rkroom air. It calibration for rdobexane and ty combustible tr y netful in tor incipient pump gaskets. it h iodic tests be peesaily during wd I n any (Bating gatp. o t the solvent Steam Railroad Section Officers 1940*1941 General Chairmom--}. R. Timmst, Western Maryland Railway Co., Hagerstown, Md. Viee-Cknirmm--O. F. G tuam tm , Bight Joliet It Eastern Railway, Ca, Joliet, I1L Secretary end Newt Letter Editor--J. E. Lotto, The Delaware ft Hudson Railroad Corp* ABtny, N. Y, Program Committee P. F. B e a u t (Ckabwtm), Chicago, Bnrlingtoo ft Quincy R. R. Co., CMcagtallL f TX Bneos, G h ie ^ Rode bland ft FUcttc Cow, CUcagD, U . J. M. Gena, IM en FUette Raftroad, Omaha, Nbr. MeaAerMp C nw iffw Ra-- t Soorr (Chairatm), A ftu k Coast Line R. R. Co, WU- m iton .N .C ' ' ' A. V. Ronw a n , DafMh, Mbaebo ft Iraa Range Railway Ca, Dehnt, Mian. Statistics Committee--T. H. Caaaow (Cheim m ), The Pennsylvania RaBraad, Philadelpliia. F u%#DDRaAm0VBBap 009000 OELt JMUbCmBO. EMftJImPOOBi:Eufpt0najft0a8^ 0|F9wMuL D. G. P n o u rs, Wabash Railway Ox, S t Leak, Mo, Contest Committee--C L. LaFountam* (Chairman), Great Northern Railway Co., S t ft%WMI|| aMrtfl--B, L. G. B n m ir , The Chesapaakr ft Ohio Railway Ox, Richmond, Va. G. W. Eunx, ja., Baltimore ft Ohio R. R. Ox, BaNance, Md. L. R. P a u a a (Secretary), Equitable Life Assurance Society of U . Sn New York Oty. J. J. SitA m v, New York New Hawn ft Hartford Railway Co., New Hawn, Conn. Pester Ceanmttee--L. J. Boreon (Cheiraam) , Chicago, MBwaafeee, S t Paid ft Pacific R. R, Cd, Chicago, UL C H. BtAUMoas, Norfolk ft Western Railway Ox, Roanoke, Va. W. R. L om e, Chicago, S t Paul, Mimwapotis ft OmahatlkBway Ox, S t Paul, Mina. Sefe Practices Paar t et Committee--T. K. Gmc fC tsin iu s), Chicago, BurHngtoa ft Qaiacy R. R. Ox, Chicago, III W. J. FujtmCAX, Northern Pacific Railway Ox, S t Paul Minn. G. C Jam ais, Atchison, Topeka ft Santa Fe Railway System, Chicago, 111 Nominations and Elections Committee--\L A. Daakb (Choirmon), Erie R. R. Ox, Cleve- M. T, F u u ss , Kansas City Southern Railway Ox, Kansas Gty, Mo. E. L. Haxav, Chicago ft North Western Railway Ox, Chicago^ m HemNA Committee Da. L S. Cumm (Chairmen), Chicago ft North Western Cff t Chicago^ IB Da. Haavcr I a h u , The Pennsylvania Railroad, Philadelphia. Fa. Railway OffiocK 1941*1942t Goatral Ckekmem O. F. GKAaomaa. Eftdn, Jettet ft Eastern Railway Ox, Joliet, IU. T. A. B ase* Chireg^Boch Hbad ft Pacific RaRway O x, Chkagtx HI le tter Editor H . A. O M n f t h Rafinud Ox, Ch w land, Ohkx -ff. A. Bobos, (Chnkmme), Qik a p , Both Island ft Pacific Railway. Chicago m. Md. r}. I GNi 30th National Safety Congress Membership Committee--Roamrr Scott (Chnirm m ) , Atlantic Const Line Railroad Co., Wilmington, N. C A. V. Rohw do, Doloth, U inabt ft In Range Railway Co., Duluth, Minn. Statistics Committee--T. H. Cabov (Chairmm), The Pennsylvania Railroad, Philadelphia, Pa. F. R. Bu d n u , Boston ft Maine Railroad, t o t o a Mat*. D. G. Phillips, Wabaafa Railway Cfc, S t Load, Mo. Contest Committee C. E H tu, (Ckaiemaa), Mew York Central Sjitwn. Mew Yerit H. Y. L G . B fT U T , The Cheaapeahc A OMo Baflwey Co, Richmond, Va. ^ R . Palm (Secretary), Equitable Life Aasmanm S od s* of i n U. S , New York, J. j- Shawlt, New York, New Hawn ft Hartford RaDroad Cm, Mew Hawn, Cmn. Poster Committee--W. R. Logman ( Clmirmm), Cfcfaago, S t PML Mfoaeapfllh ft Oraalw Railway Col, St. Paid, Minn. G. M. Dcmpsby, Chicago, Mifnadtee, $ t Peal ft Padfic RaDroad Cm, CMraws ZD, O. Ashwooth, The Atom RaDroad C&, Bloomiafton, ID. Safe Practices Pamphlet Committee W, J. F u a n u i (Chairm en). Northern Padfic Rail* way Co., St. Pad, Minn. J. R. Ttourcv, Western Maryland Railroad Gx, Hagerstown, Mid. R. C. Hklwic, The Delaware ft Hndaoo Corp, Onemrta. N. Y. Nominations mat Elections Ccmmnttee--E. L Hjwbt (Chessman), Chicago ft North Western Railway Co., Chicago, IQ. M. T. Fultoh, Kama G ty Southern Railway C o, Kansas G y , Mo. M. A. Leahy, Chicago, West Pntknan ft Soother RaDroad C o, Chicago, E Health Committee--Da. L S. C on ( \), Chkayo ft North Western Railway Co, Chkayo, 111 Da. Havtey Baara*. The Pennsylvania RaDroad, Philadelphia, Pa. TUESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION October 7.1941 Presiding:--QtatOM. Chaomak J. R. Taamnr, Superintesxlent oi Safety, W eston Mary land Railway Conpuqr, Hagerstown, MA Grade Crooning Accidents Presiding:--Chas. E Hill, General Safety Agent New York Central System, New York Gty. The Highway Grade Crossing Accident Situation as Viewed by the Railroad Claim Departm ent By W E J. HOLDER . rural 1, 0. in 1940 over MOO poople were kfflsd end ynde GO) injured in grade crossing att idsnts a and 'for the first am months of 19, M i ' mpMm irilisat and 4RNMEP '|nMHd_ . ' * in Sto'tAitod Stale* cack The ran, if wn hdfom tifoisn k. t* " i Jfflimi.ML... There are IIIR * 'd<-iu>:c ' platitude* torisi tu will avail undervtan and lace wilting t< dual obi i; well as tl p a rt. The pr of the ax of the r the prhril It is a b raDrond highway same tini of the In with the of the ti not attoi The viol contest undertyh dents. ! reali>ati< bility ar not be i most a reiterata dnties o road a r the otto lie n crossine safety j the rigf the rail ciate th grade < theory should of us i when the re> Commi sta* dents a gan. enough right ~ >1