Document qjEje12pJyyYm8mj0JeZ3Y7R

May 5, 1937 Mr* I* Dent Jenkins Harrison Radiator Division General Motors Corporation Lockporfc, Hew York Dear Mr. Jenkins* I am replying to your telegram by letter rather than by wire because I want to point out one or two matters for your consideration* As to masks for your men, I think you would find it more satisfactory, from the point of view of the certain elimination of exposure, to use the air line mask. This would be somewhat more expensive but it would be much more effective. In order to do this, you would have to supply an air pump obtaining your air from a source that could not b contaminated with dusts from the foundry. Your air line could be brought in to some point more or less centrally located in relation to the workmen, so that a distributing line could be taken off for oach manfs use. By this means fresh,clean air would bo sup* plied to each man, and even if the- face piece did not fit perfectly, there would be a leak around it to the outside by reason of the positive pressure. I have seen this type of mask in use in dusty plants where the movements of the men were limited to an area not greater than ten or twelve feet, Th advantages of this system are that the equipment is comfortable In all kinds of weather and will, therefore be usedj in addition it provides abundant clean air so that there is no reason for the inhalation of dust from the atmosphere. Fairly general experience with simple respirators indicates that they do not always fit perfectly and, moreover, that theymen do not always use them unless they are under dlose supervision. They are somewhat uncomfortable in hot weather and for long periods of use, so that the tendency is to become careless in their use, and thus to have inadequate protection. I do not have adequate Information at hand as to the manufacturers and distributors of air line equipment, but I will add this information in a postscript when I have obtained the information I want. As to respirators, 1 think the Willson Ho.l and Ho.2 Dustite Respirators equipped with cotton filters will be about as good a choice as you could N17515 Mr. I. Dent Jenkins fehe name of the manufacturer is Wilson Products Incorporated* Reading, Pennsylvania. If these respirators are to be used, they will have to be inspected periodically* and rather fre quently* so as to make sure that they fit perfectly, and tba t they are kept in good condition. Various Industrial companies have systematized the details of looking after these matters and I think I need not give you specific directions at this time for their use* I should suggest that your choice of equipment here might depend on whether the operation in question Is to be continued for seme time, or whether it is a temporary job. If you have any intention of changing the equipment or the character of this work, the dust respirator might be used as a stop gap until the changes contemplated have been made, after which measures suitable to the new set-up should be incorporated in your plan of procedure. By reason of the convenience of several of my associates, I find it will be advisable for us to be in Lockport on the week of the 17th of May, rather than the 10th. It will be impossible for two of my men to work with me on the week of the 10th, and I assume that this will probably nob make any material difference to you in completing the arrangements for the work. I sincerely hope this is the case and I shall be glad to hear from you as promptly as possible as to whether this is satisfactory. Very truly yours. RAKsis ^o'ijert'"'!'*" Kehoe^'S'ri). 0 o u ! i->