Document rpJMmEYnBJ8bbVzY6Lr3gwZ9v

FILE NAME: General Electric (GE) DATE: 1922-1924 DOC#: GE033 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Downs Collection - Schenectady Museum, NY Swope Files Vol I & Harvard Report of Inspection D O W N S COLLECTION S W O P E FILES O N INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE A N D MEDICAL CARE OCT. 31, 1922 to NOV. 24, 1924 VOLUME I SCHENECTADY MUSEUM, N E W YORK G E M U S E U M 00152 \s,, M 0 W SWOPE FILES ON INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND MEDICAL CARE October 31, 1922 to Nov. 24, 1924 G^' GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY GENERAL OFFICE SCHENECTADY, N. Y. In Reply Refer to lJovember 1 9 th , 1924. M r. G erard Swope , 120 Broadw ay, Hew "York C i t y , H . Y . Bear Mr. Swope, Thank you fo r the l i t t l e hook record in g the m eeting of the Conference Board of P h ysician s in In d ustry. I h a v e ' read t h is th rou gh , I might say w ith in te r e s t hut there is very l i t t l e of the unusual or p a r tic u la r ly h e lp fu l inform a t io n in i t because i t i s a summary o f the u s u a l p r a c t ic e s t h a t we fo llo w in S ch en ecta d y and I b e lie v e most o f our P la n ts adhere to . It is e n te rta in in g but not p a r tic u la r ly in s tr u c t iv e . I t would be a good re fe re n ce bool: for th e p h y s icia n s in our variou s P la n ts to have in t h e ir lib r a r ie s so th a t I be l i e v e i t m ight be a good move to o b ta in some c o p ie s and d i s tr ib u te them as you s u g g e s t. I re c o g n is e in i t some o f the worl: o f D r. R e c to r who made a v i s i t to us in th e co u rse o f a t o u r to o th e r p la n t s in the country w h ich ,togeth er w ith the expressions of the various members o f . the C o n feren ce Board and g u e s ts .sum m arises v e r y w e ll a b a s ic sta n d a rd p r a c t ic e t h a t an in d u s tr y sh ould be busy w ith in th is day and age. My o n ly i n t e r e s t in g comment c o n s is t s in n o th in g r e la tiv e to th is l i t t l e p u b licatio n but considerable' perhaps r e la t iv e to the Conference Board which I have alw ays o b je cte d to on the grounds th a t i t is so th o ro u g h ly b u r e a u c r a t ic . T h is q u a lit y no doubt i s determ ined by the h a b its and p r a c t ic e s o f some members o f t h i s Board w hich in i t s e l f , fr e e from th e se b u r e a u c r a tic i d e a s , c o u ld , I sh o u ld t h i n k , be developed in to an e x tre m e ly u s e f u l body to in d u s tr y a t la r g e in the same way t h a t we b e lie v e our Hew Y o rk S ta te A s s o c ia tio n o f I n d u s t r i a l P h y s ic ia n s is u s e f u l to Hew Y ork S ta te i n d u s t r i e s , and a very potent fa c to r in flu e n cin g le g is la t io n in th is f ie ld o f work. I do not th in k th a t t h i s C on feren ce Board o f p h y s ic ia n s in In d u s try as i t sta n d s can g ive us much u n t i l i t is fr e e from the ideas involved in bu reau cratic p r a c tic e s . Very tr u ly . BGS :c G E M U S E U M 00154 Anril 1C, 1924 3c'inn oc tadv Dear i'r. Steever: Ih*. Swoiie h-i looted over the X-ray Tfiioto^raplis th..t you sent him and has ashed, ne to roturn t>n, under separate cover, in accord ance with tiie request in your- letter of Atari1 17th, He las considered the .-uostion of talrirty these with him to Cleveland for the next *Ianufacturine Com mittee n^etiny but has decided he can discuss the natter without the aid of these X-rays. Very truly yours, G E M U S E U M 00155 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE 'PR 8 24 Schenectady, K. Y . , April 17, 1924. Tear Mr. Swope: If you decide to have the X-ray /j "silicosis" photographs posted at the ^ ' Manufacturing Committee Meeting, Wednes day, April 23d, I would appreciate your having them mailed Special Delivery that evening to Mr. J M. Sampson, Care C. S. Dixon, of the Pittsfield Works, for use there of the Meeting of the Foundry Committee. If you decide not to use these pictures at the Manufacturing Committee M eeting P lea se have the m returned here so that I can oaive them to Mr. Sampson for use at th e P ittsfield Meeting. We pu rp ose forming a Joint Subc ommit t ee of the Safety and Foundry G omm i1 1e es w ith the Bese arch Laboratory repress nt ea, f or the purpose of going into th i s ma tter and dev ising a better method of tak ing care of this hazard. Very truly yours, EEL. , To Cerard Swope, President, General Electric Company, 120 Broadway, F ew York City. "Z_ . e z s /f e b G E M U S E U M 00156 HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH THE GENERAL ELECTRIC CCMPANY ACCOUNT RECEIPTS Schenectady Survey (Jan. 15-16, 1923) Fittsfield Survey (Feb. 27-28, 1923) Lynn Survey (Hay 14,16,17,31, June 7, 1923) PAYMENTS Travelling expenses to N.Y. forDr. C.K.Drinker Expenses Schenectady trip Pittsfield " Services, Schenectady and Pittsfield surveys " Lynn survey CREDIT BALANCE DR. 57.13 210.81 90.79 550.00 325.00 1016.27 2250.00 CR. 1000.00 500.00 750.00 (3/29) (4/l4) (7/30) 2250.00 G E M U S E U M 00157 Paym ents f o r s e rv ic e s in c o n n e c tio n w ith th e Schenectady and Pittsfield surveys, General Electric Co., at a rate of $25 per day. Dr.' C. K. Drinker 1100. Mr. Philip Drinker 50. Dr. Alice Hamilton 75. Dr. Roger I. Lee 125. Prof. Edwin B. Wilson 100. Dr. Wade Wright 100. $550. Lynn Survey Dr. C. K. Drinker Mr. Philip Drinker Dr. Roger X. Lee Prof. Edwin B. Wilson Dr. Wade Wright $75. 75. 75. 75. 25. $325. G E M U S E U M 00158 Hew Y o r k , a u g u s t 6 , 1223 Mi. M* J. IkihLiHd, Hiver works, west Dynn Dear l&r ihrlingJ- 1 am enclosing two copies of the report made by the bohool of rublio health of harvard University If you wish additional copies 1 can supply you with one or two more. After you have given this careful consideration and analysis 1 should be glad if you would advi se me what, if any, changes you plan to make as a result of this report. as-H huolosure Very truly yours. d--i'AhD bVt'Ox'h G E M U S E U M 00159 GENERAL STATEMENT WEST LYHlf AMD RIVER WORKS OF THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. On May 14th, Dr. E*B.Wilsoit, professor of vital statistics; Dr. C. K. Drinker, associate professor of applied physiology; Dr. Wade Wright, instructor is in dustrial medicine; Mr. Philip Drinker, instructor in ap plied ventilation and illumination; and Dr. Roger I.Lee, professor of hygiene, all of the Harvard School of Public Health, visited the River Works of the General Electric Company in Lynn and spent the day at the plant. Subsequent ly various individuals of the group made other trips for the purpose of studying in detail certain features of the River Works Plant, and also went over the plant at West Lynn. Professors Wilson and Lee visited the River Works on May 16th, and the West Lynn and River Works on June ?th. Professor Drinker and Mr. Drinker visited the River Works on May 14th and l?th, and visited the Wee# Lynn Works 0 May 31st. Every facility was given to thw Harvard group by Mr. Darling, gen eral manager; his assistant Mr. Wilson; and by Dr ,Sohubmehl, in charge of the medical nark The reports of profei? or Wilson on medical stat istics is appended as appendix ( i h the report of Mr.Drinker and Dr. Drinker on ventilation, illumination a:id toxic hasards is appended as appendix (3). In hie report professor Wilson suggests the possibility of further study of certain employees classified under the present system, looking forward to a better olaseifioation of prospsctive employees, and to the better + -j -- .-- - -- -- - _ - ^r- m icci im nm6 -2- Wilson was much interested in some admiral! figures of Mr. Lei toil and would appreciate those figures for his eonfi&ental use. Dr. Dr inter and Mr. Drinker made one very definite suggestion at the West Lynn Worts, hut os the whole found conditions very staisfaotory from the point view of their l s H M t e t # interest. The general plan of the ae&ioal department for the care of the sick and injured employees was observed with considerable care. Representatives of the Harvard School of Public Health have now had the opportunity of study ing three plants of the General Electric Company, in all of which the medical department is organised on not only dif ferent lines, but with a different viewpoint. As we have pointed out in the reports on the medical departments at Schneotady and at Pittsfield we fully recognise that in dustrial hygiene and medicine is still somewhat in the experimental stage, and we also fully recognise that local conditions are often determining factors in many of the feat ures of the medical department. On the other hand there is now adequate experience with industrial medicine practice, so that a general "basis has been determined and it is possi ble to construct a somewhat ideal gkaaxal plan. Such a &en- 1 plan similar to the plans previously submitted in the Sol ectady and Pittsfield report is appended 4s appendix (S), A survey of employees coming to the dispensary at the : Iver Works shows that the eurployees of the General Eleotrio Company really utilise the dispensary only for in- r t c M I IS FU M 00161 -3- 3-dries a vsry alight extent for illness. It is of interest that these injuries may not always be aoqnired in connection with their work. Tabulation of the dispensary cases shows again that the surgical problem In the General Electric Plant is the treatment of injuries of the extreeu itiea. Sr. Smith, of the Sohnectady Plant, has particular ly studied this type of injury and it would seem to be most desirable for the information of the medical department at Lynn, and for the welfare of the employees at Lynn, that the Lynn plant should have the benefit of Dr. Smith*s valuable study of these rather special conditions. The fact that apparently few medical oases as opposed to surgical oases come to the dispensary is import ant. It is probably true that in the absence of any apparht toxic hasard there are net concealed under the headings of ordinary illness cases of industrial poisioning. Neverthe less, it is a part of sound industrial medlo&l-practice that medical oases should clear through the dispensary wherever possible, and should return to work by the dispensary. Such a procedure enables the medical department to have some con trol over intercurrent epidemics, and at lea'.t to have immed iate oogniaance of the incideriOe of any disease that might possibly be spread among the employees. The medicai department at Lynn was rather con vinced of the value of the first-aid kits scattered through out the factory. That is a matter of opinion and we do not agree with th. idea that the advantages of such a procedure do out.sigh the disadvantages. g e m u s e u m 00162 An Interesting experiment is being developed both at the River Works and at West Lynn. A number ol dentists and optometrists visits the Plants on schedule. The em ployees are permitted to employ these dentists and optom etrists at more or less nominal rates, -but without loss of time as far as pay is concerned. Such an arrangement seems to possess inherent dangers. There is no question but that the visiting dentists and optometrists will legitgitimately build up a private practice by this means. The Company is in a sense responsible and ia granting a concession much like any other concession that the Company might grant, with the exception that this particular concession means the beginning of a considerable professional practice, and in that sense cannot be terminated by the C o m m n y after once begun. It is true that the teeth and the eyes represent the greatest need for special medical attention, but this experiment established a procedure for the inauguration of all sorts of visiting spec ialists, who are to be paid by the employee, and the time is taken out of the Company!s time. This is very different from the plan of having dentists and optometrists on the dispensary sta;: i who see employees under the same conditions as the other nibe of the staff. The physical examinations were physical inspections rat. than y;hysioal examinations. It may well be that such physic inspections are 11 that the situation demands. As suggest*, in professor Wilson's report there are not the data upon which to form any very definite opinion. If at any time the situation was such that the Company became financially responsible f o r many common disabilities, it i s certain that a more thorough physical examination would be necessary. Of considerable interest was an experiment being conducted and developed at the lest Lynn Plant in connection with the employment office, along the lines of attempting to determine the vocational aptitude of new employees, This is a premising and progreeeing experiment in a new field and there are good grounds on the basis of many experiences for the expectation that such a procedure may successfully be adopted a a supplement to the physical examination. It seemed to ur; that the Plant at West Lynn was short of continuous medioal supervision. In fact, the re sponsibilities of Dr. Sohubmehl as head of the department with supervisory control over not only the River Works, but lest Lynn, and also the plants at Windsor, C*nn., North Easton, Tadnton, and Everett, are so great as to ify his release from much of the detailed routine whi ch he ,vas to carry. It seemed to us very likely that an inofea' d staff would result in greatly inoreaeed use of the me cal department by the employees and in the {justified fee' .ng on the part of the employees that there was; more d e f v ite efficiency in safeguarding their health. It has be--. our experience that employees will utilize tha medical -apartment up to its ordinary working capacity and no further. Without any particular design the available medical service usually de termines the limits of usage. g e m u s e u m 0016 elation of the various safety devices. There is a place fox careful consideration of the seating problem from a hygienic point of view; there seemed room for oertain sanitary improve ments which demand the expenditure- of time and energy rather than money. We refer to roller towel, an occasional tin cup, etc.etc., in which most large institutions, including the Har vard Medical School, are usually occasionally at fault. We were glad to note that the installation of bubbling drinking fountain was apparently progressing* It is the policy of the medical department to send serious surgical cases, or eases requiring special treatment, to the various available specialists and institutions which are abundant in Lynn and in Boston* Some of the cases are sent to the Lynn Hospital, some to the Massachusetts General Hospital, and apparently an abundant use is made of all the available special .opportunities* A further utilization of these special opportunities, mere particularly the laboratory facilities in connection tlth the Harvard School of Public Health and the clinical opportunities of the industrial med ical-clinic at the Massachusetts General Hospital would beyond question lead to the organization of these facilities bo to be of even greater service. In conclusion, the River Works and the West Lynn Wc..'* represent an illustration of a somewhat perfunctory attac.. the industrial medicine practice problem. It does not ap eu- to be an excellently operating medical department, to which th graduate physicians who come to thw Harvard School of Public He th might be sent In order that they might see an exceS-lent illustration of sound industrial practice, which a|ght serve thorn as a KodeX in their future work. Hoger X. Lee Wade Wright Edwin B.Wilson Cecil K.Drinker Philip Brisker  w O "i*. * . f -3 |: i . .. O s* ty m r ./, IV.' k ,::| f -4 *rt t t-* n ' > f c .0 i" 'V < :* O fvV *1 < 7; *" ?4 3 fj fe ,. g .fe ; 4 * .fe .f k : ..< j. s- * ^ *M w ; ' < C '! 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In ray o p in io n ^ a l>ny th C&rriny ne rn o f --in in v e s ti.- a t ie n n v e rh ^ n tl=o ris f c t n -n 0' r o b t .1 ' 1. Fror; tits .">oin; of vio .f ;;rvon tire ssedioirr nd hy^iene it mr/dd fCtoc 1a intereeting to fol lcr; u; v.rtiolarly tb.:; olrxa of eiaploye-; ratod as f. r*- Ol.wK i , nbo vnnf teYmi Ofi by thfl Gfa;asny r&:> f fo r any m.;; .-.i . -nt# but br'* :>n ,.::JT r Z y -iiQ lll'J in non e t li'r rsctpecti. X? tbf H s I f prsfeeurs r?crs put upo.: iL In oaos o f iml*- -h ie l, te, svr:? ;*u $ upen undev&XoiHid atudonta .in u~ e c llo e e a . t n i y l t >? four.' thnt the>- old tul-a auob oar o f tionnel-ren ar to m io e t f f i e arating t ol&nn ( * } . Xt t. o f rrnet ittptMPttmoe,n>ft or&y to ti. o and baj-oin-ii?- o f t - o os .n u n ity but te tao in d u s t r ia l e ffio io n e y o.f $: b h le yo b s, t e nu'sr & a n^eportion o f thor- &r; p . riib* ti.",ro-.v^1.y fit -smd \ip i r na*. I e*m tre.ry <*0X1 im d o ^ ta n ,: t h ,, f tbs doii^awjr n lg h i vsry n c t d^mr te uadrialc any a y stism iitj a n r porm nent TBfeti?rati<m alone ti -: l i n .:-. o f th e follo'tw up f cla n ': d) ur.t i?wntlojief|!i but In t^ r e s ii 3 rsrsult; isigh t &j*s-in r^rbapn be btaim d by a proosrly cya& lifisd studen t 'rkln** a rfcseareh in In d u s tr ia l hy* &n$ fo r i;?o %rm o f Botor o f P u b lic flaaXSfc. Th queso <m an t o *si*o$by und^r preeent onditiors; th nsploye*? w c *i&Uattig tr o lacra (3) indo c la s e ( "O oovf . rbbnb- Xy '>'.; anewered by a efp't&in myfbor r-i ree-$nninntXcnn c f : '@vb;onn ratee! a*? cian (n) rhen sm. ?ye-:l$ biit ibe m t i e r o f undeftaS rine to p ersu a d e iho s n y l ...s e e o f t),.s im prtanos i- t;.fc-K af tdkine ruoh stev:< e wenf. i aln thelr ratin ;;* i o o s fin tiV -ly one o f do it lii" ib - aiiploy^os by tho r ht - i n " s :; : <:;;' . ~-.n'n urn? nc.nnr tho -rr';' : n tur1.I l y be t reat nf in ti.-- o jyxtirno oote-:tteen o f ti <> timployaoB, G E M U S E U M 00170  %jm .....ini mmi Tm m ~ t itlcti and ne ;:1>.2 nbride 1: beino t! -e bont hav fl%on aay^lr-;, Sha 'tatistia&I t?wx ori industriai morbidity pron;,: in t &-o be and thio ee~nr fev ho & fg*n*al stata f pjbv.iro at pr^-ont In induntry: aao'ienti? aMshou;gfc they sane: & $3,:,-.li pnrt o t tha Xe?-tiHo mid im flcie n o y ? ile mploysen, i>:vr te** o? atient-on., r*e2h&7& la r^ sly on aooounfc *>f t ; o n;>vyalioi! ii-e oorr ?>;.tior Isatfr* i?iiare.u.n i l l n e xfr.ctn orna, b;/ fa r t:..o rdeator suaoant nf lo n t-ti and in eifie t-an y*. Io net rane tfte? libri ot; ot &ny c&rniful inveat-igation, and l;i tabea are e incoiar -as Ifc ia ta'-^a Gane o , In a aoaev<;'^t barh&are fnrion. Candi fioriti in f ilo respsot .-ili re ito* prenml only ,," i ( ) Tmt govarnrsent pi rea?: upon th induotry th oblt-iation te do nos?thinr, or:(il) The Induetry l i s c i brtCo:w-. u ffia ie n tly oonrnond t?at io do onntbinr: paya roc V't-.xrri 1 dallar-- and cpritn. Edwin B. Wilson G E M U S E U M 00171 # APPENDIX NO. 3. REPORT QU TmWTLtm-'t ILLUMINATION. AND TOXIO HAZARDS. THE RIVER AND WERT LYNN WORKS OF THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, THE RIVER WORKS. On May 14th. and 17th. the following buildings and processes were visited: (i) Turbine plant. (3) Iron, steel, and brass foundries. (3 ) Drop forge. (4) Wire enameling and fabric impregnating. {5) Fabric Gears. (3) Small rooiots. {7) Gasoline, benaine, oil and paint storage. (8 ) Enameling, (9) Punch press. {10) Lacquering. The pattern and carpenter shpps were not visited. In general both the ventilation and illumination were good. In operations suoh as buffing and grinding the operatives were adequately guarded against dust by exhaust fans, "'here goggles were needed as a protection for the eyes they were, in general, worn. The few exceptions in the latter were in operations involving fine grinding and here the e:c "it fans vvere eliminating practically all the dust. G E M U S E U M 00172 3~ Br. Sohubaehl and. Mr. Sanford mentioned a complaint from a crane operator in the steel foundry regarding fume fron a core compound. This building was inspected further on May 3ist. The fume in question is a source of annoyance to two orane operators and probably arises from an oily coinpound used in the moulding sand. On burning this oil one ob tains a white acrid smoke rather Irritating to the eyes. A certain amount of this smoke appears during the aotual pro cess of casting and much more is given off when the molds are broken up after hardening has occurred. We are inclined to regard the situation presented rather as a nusiance affect ing relatively few men than as a distinctly injurious prac tice which should be eliminated at once. If the crane oper ators can be provided with suitable masks for use at certain times it would seem to us that this situation had received adequate treatment. In the small motors building two men were cleaning housings by pouring gasoline on castings and blowing off the gasoline with .compressed air, a procedure designed to remove such grease as was dissolved by the gasoline. The air blast probably d- luted the gasoline fumes to suoh a degree that they were rendered harmless but the process seemed to be a crude one and one to expo.-: the workmen to a possible hazs-.'-d, In the enameling plant the method of hydrochloric acid pickling for cleaning the metal parts, prior to applying the enamel, would probably have to be ohanged with Increased pro duction. The ore sent method requires the men to scrub off firtlA 1aamawAJ U.. +KA . 1a.. Vi A Aa r :c M l IKR1M 00173 3- eafe&oaally to get their arms or hands wet with hot acid. W h ile the work is not hazardous from any toxic properties of the acid fume, there seems no reason why the process could not be carried out as in the pickling of sheets or tubes in the steel industry. In the punch press house one man was engaged in a paint spraying job. Am adequately ventilated hood was conveniently located and the spraying shouJUL have been carried out in the hood but the faeilitiee were such that a short man was taxable to get at the top of the piece to be sprayed. It would be advisable to remedy this, and en force regulations requiring spraying to be done in the hood intended for the purpose/ Gasoline, benaene and paint storage did not appear to present any dangerous hasard. Benzene is used in very small quantities, there is but little paint mixing while we .a no varnish cutting. GE MUSEUM 00174 In the fabric Impregnating plant the ventilation seemed adequate, particularly in the new units for wire enam eling. The heat coming from the fabric dryers probably reaches unpleasant proportions, particularly in warm weather. A new unit under construction will completely enclose the fabric whiles it is drying. This should prove a saving in steam con- x.'Spticn and should make the working conditions more agreeable. Considering th River Works as a whole we wish to t. hasize the fact that possible hasards from operations seen v i invariably limited to a very few men. In a plant of this,- character we feel we could be of more use in advisiner uoon lew nrooeuagH hflfnre thsv n/ra fitft-rtart nn on santal or large scale, rather than a f t e r sack prooeases have 'bash put into a production basis and troubles from inadequate ventilation eliminated by the slow course of iasprovehwnfcs attending alterations of elaborate install ations. WEST LYNK WORKS . This plant was visited on May 3ist with Hr.Sanford and Ma*. Walters. With the exception of the department concern ed with mixing electrode material the general conditions of work were ideal and cannot be too highly commended. T$ls com mendation should also be extended to the management of the whole problem of accident prevention, which was clearly most effective both in this plant and in the River Works. The department given over to mixing electrode mat erial and to filling electrode casings is a marked contrast to the rest of the plant and indeed to anything seen in any plant of the General M e o t r i o Company so far visited. Even when the department is idle the air contains a large .amount of very fine dust and $he general^atrangements for dust re moval are most unimpressive... A sample cf the dust was obtain ed and apparently oontaine a rather small and somewhat varia ble amount of silioa. Even though this element is relatively lnoonspiououo it would seem to us that this department pre sents a true dust hazard, and that plans for thorough remod eling should be considered. Ceoil K. Drinker -Tiii-.a 4A 4an*T Philip Drinker G E M U S E U M 00175 APPEIIDI3C (3). A GENERAL PLAI? FOR THE I3EDIOAL A C T IV IT IE S. OF TPP RIVER WORKS ARP THE WEST LYNN WORKS OF THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. Thi3 plan only covers the River Works and the West Lynn Works, which were the plants visited, and does not cover the other plants nor; operating under the supervision of the head of the medical department of these two plants. In the absence of exact statistical data only approximate estimates can be made of the future demands. It is recom mended- that the program include the same services as pro posed for the department in Schenectady and Pittsfilld Plaxfcta, namely, physical examinations of applicants for employment, annual examination of Key men, frequent periodic examination of workers exposed to any possible toxic agents, dispensary service to medical and surgical cases, the clearing through the dispensary of all workers leaving the establishment sick, and the clearing through the dispensary of all workers re turning through the establishment after absence on account ::? sickness of more than three days duration. On the basis of total of 12,000 employees for the two Works, experience in an.-.-ther large establishment would justify the assumption the i llowlng figires: G E M U S E U M 00176 -2 Phyaioal Periodic Key wen examinations upon re-examination Total erpi oyrnent 6,000 1,000 500 7,500 Surgical cases, net; injuries Re-dressings io tal 5,000 15.0CC 30,000 Medical Gases, non-disabling nett cases Revisits Total 30,000 13,000 32,000 Disabling, clearing out Clearing in Total 13,000 6,000 18,000 Grand Total 77,500 If the head of the medical department has supervisory responsibility over various other plants, at least one additional physician would be required. If the physical examinations are to be more than medical Inspect ions, the service of another full-time physician would be require?. One fill-time physician ought to be able to cover the medical examinations and the dispensary work at the West Lynn Plant. There should be more dispensary -pace* both &A West Lynn and at the River works. More adequate waitlug room facilities ought to be provided. There should be better facilities for the separation of clean and septic cases and also for the reception and care of medical, oases, An addi tional nurse ought to be present at both L'-'ut Lynn and the River Works. A further recommendation which has been made for Pittsfield and Schenectady la also applicable to Lynn. It is recommended that a record of physical examination be tiled in the dispensary and be considered the beginning of eaoh employee*s radical rsoord. The use of four groupings iron the physical examination would be of value and would assist in any further special study in regard to the prob lem in the placing of labor applicants with physical disab ilities. 1. Physioally fit for any employment. 2. Physically undeveloped, or with some slight anatomical defect, otherwise fit for any work. 3. Fit only for certain employment when specifi cally approved and supervised by the medical department. 4. Unfit for any employment. Rejects. It is desirable that the employees who leave through, illness report at the dispensary and report again or- return in oase the absence is over three days. A system by which daily report of absenteeism is forwarded to each de partment and then to the medical department, such a report stating the probable reason for absence, has been found use- fill in some large establishments. The sending of doctors and nurses to the homes of employees known or suspected to be sick is now considered an essential part of sound indus trial practice. Well done, it presents few dangers other than those of apprehensive speculation and affords information of g w at value regarding sickness and absenteeism, and facilitates the 3...re of sick employees. It is recommended that the dental and optomet- .. experiment be carefully scrutinized as to potential dangers. It certain that s o b form of dental and optometric service shou. u be carefully considered, but presumably in connection with the or. diary medical and surgical service in the dispensary, and as a < integral part of it/ G E M U S E U M 00178 ,4. It Is recommended that the question of mu tual bsnifit organistIona fee further studied and developed so as to bring a unified body in close working association with the medical servies. It is recommended that prompt' attention be given to the matter of proper seating, especially of the female employees, and that this question be investigated before purchases of equipment are made. The expenses of the sasdioal department at Lymi in gross are not great. It is reasonably certain that the benefits derived from the rational development of the medical department would be large and would rapidly develop. At present the only activities are those urgently demanded by obvious injury or disease or required by law. The addi tional expenditures could easily be justified by the pro vision of services really important t o .sick and injured employees and by the prevention of. some of these illnesses and accidents. Roger I. Lee Wade Wright G E M U S E U M 00179 UV.'j h- i ii * LYNH MID RIVER WORKS OF THE GEHERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. On May 14th, Dr. E. 3. Wilson, professor of vital statistics; Dr. C. E. Drinker, associate pro fessor of applied physiology.; Dr. Wad Wright, Instructor in industrial medicine; Sir. Philip Drinker, instructor in applied ventilation and illumination; and Dr.. Roger I.Lee, professor of hygiene, all of ths Harvard School of Public Health, visited the River Works of the General Electrio Company in Lynn and spent the day at the plant. Subsequent ly various individuals of the group made other trips for the purpose of studying in detail certain features of the River Works Plant, and a'so went over the Plant at West Lynn. Professors Wilson and Lee visited the River Works on May I8$h, and the West Lynn and River Works on June-7th. Professor Drinker and Mr. :Drinker visited .the River Works on May 14th and 17th, and visited the West Lynn WorkB on May 31st. Every facility was given to the Harvard group by Mr. Darling, gen eral manager; his assistant Mr. Wilson; and.by Dr. Schubmehl, in charge of the medical ^ork. The reports of professor Wilson on medical statistics is appended as appendix (i); the report of Mr. Drinker and Dr. Drinker on ventilation, illumination and 'Xio hazards is appended as appendix (3). In his report . `S3or Wilson suggests the possibility of further study of 'tain employees classified under the present Bystem, look! forward to a better olaseifioation of prospective employ- 3, and to the better utilization of apparently hand- G E Ml JfiFl IM nrn l o a d e d labor. Professor nilson was muon interested in serve admirable figures of Mr. Leitoh and would ap preciate those figures for M s confidential use. Dr. Drinker and Mr. Drinker made one very definite sug gestion at the West Lynn Works, but on the whole found conditions very satisfactory from the point of view of their immediate Interest. The general plan of the medical department for the care of the sick and injured employees was ob served with considerable care. Representatives Of the Harvard School of Public Health have now had the oppor tunity of studying three plants of the General Eleotric Company, in'all of'which the medical department is or ganised on not only different lines, but with a different viewpoint. As we have pointed out in the reports on the medical departments at Schenectady and at Pittsfield we fully recognise that industrial hygiene and medicine is still somewhat in the experimental stage, and we also fully recognise that local conditions are often deter mining factors in man;/ of the features of the medical department. On the c-.her hand there is now adequate experience with Indus. .rial medical practice, so that a general basis has bec-i determined and it is possible to construct a somewhat ideal general plan. Such a general plan similar to the plans previously submitted in the Schenectady and Pittsfield report is appended as appen dix (3). g e m u s e u m 00181 A survey of teployees coming to the dispensary at the River Works shows that the employees of the Gen eral. Electric Company really utilize the dispensary only for injuries and to a very slight extent for illness. It is of interest that these injuries may not always he ac quired in connection with their work. Tabulation of the dispensary cases shows again that the surgical problem in the General Electric Plant is the treatment of injuries of the extremities. Dr. Smith, of the Schenectady Plant, has particularly studied this type of injury and it would seem to be most desirable for the information of the medical de partment at Lynn, and for th welfare of the employees at Lynn, that the Lynn Plant should have the benefit of Dr. Smith1a valuable study of these rather special conditions. The faot that apparently few medical oases as opposed to surgical oases come to the dispensary is im portant. It is probably true that in the absence of any apparent toxic hazard there are not concealed under the headings of ordinary illness oases of industrial poisoning. Nevertheless, it is a part of sound industrial medical prac tice that medical oases should clear through the dispensary wherever possible, and should return to work by the dispen- vy, Such a procedure enables the medical department to L some control over intercurrent epidemics, and at least to .. ; ' immediate cognizance of the incidence of any disease that i. it possibly be spread among the eirployees. The medioal department at Lynn was rather oon- G E M U S E U M 00182 . 4- vinced of the value of the first-aid kits scattered through out the factory. That is a matter of opinion and we do not agree with the ida'that the advantages 3 such a procedure do outweigh the disadvantages. An interesting experiment is being developed both at the Elver Works and at West Lynn. A number of den tists and optometrists visit the Plants on schedule. The employees are permitted to employ these dentists and op tometrists at more or less nominal rates, but without loss of time as far as pay is concerned. Such an arrangement seems to possess inherent dangers, There is no question but that the visiting dentists and optometrists will le gitimately build up a private practive by this means. The Company is in a sense responsible and is granting a con cession very much like any other concesalon that the Com pany might grant, with the exception that this particular concession means the beginning of a considerable profess ional practice, and in that sense cannot be terminated by the Company after once begun. It is true that the teeth and the eyes represent the greatest need for special med ical attention, but this experiment establishes a procedure for the inauguration of all sorts of visiting specialists, who .are to be paid by the employee, and tire time is taken out of hie Company's time. This is very different from the-plan of having dentists and optometrists on the dis pensary staff vfho see employees under the same conditions as the other tm:-. hers of the staff. GE M U S E U M 00183 / --5-- The physical examinations were physical in spections rather than physical examinations. It m y well be that such physical Inspections are all that the sitrua- v tion demands. As suggested in professor Wilson* s report there are not the data upon which to form any very defi nite opinion. If at any time the situation a s such that the Company became financially, responsible for many common disabilities, it is certain that a more thorough physical examination would be necessary. Of considerable interest was an experiment being aanduoted and developed at the West Lynn Plant in connection with the employment office, along the lines f attempting to determine the vocational aptitude of new em ployees. This is a promising and progressive experiment in a new field, and there re good grounds on the basis cf many experiences for the expectation that such a procedure may successfully be adopted as a supplement to the physical examination. It seemed to us that the Plant at West Lynn was short of continuous medical supervision. In fact, the responsibilities of Dr, Schubmehl as head of the department with supervisory control over, not only the River Works, but '?ot Lynn, and also the plants at Windsor, Conn., Worth Easlaunton and Everett, are so greit as to justify his re- le: - from much of the detailed routine which he has to carry. G E M U S E U M 00184 * - rs ,, . 6* ' It seemed to us very likely that an increased staff would result in greatly Increased use of the medical department by the employees and in the justified feeling on the part of the employees that there was more definite efficiency in safeguarding their health. It has been our experience that employees will utilise the medical department up to its ordinary working capacity and no further. Without any particular design the available medical service usually de termines the limits of usage. In general cur survey indicated an adequate appre ciation of the various safety devices. 'There is a place for careful consideration of the seating problem from a hygienic point of view} there seemed room for certain sanitary improve ment a which demand the expenditure of time and energy rather than money. We refer to roller towels, an occasional tin cup, etc., etc., in which most large institutions, including the Harvard Medical School, are 'usually occasionally at fault. We were glad to note that the installation of b* .-'ling drink ing fountains was apparently progressing. It is the policy of the medical department to send serious surgical oases, or case$ requiring special treatment, to the various available specialists and insti tutions which are abundant in Lynn and in Boston. Some of the cases are sent to the Lynn hospital, some to the Massa chusetts General hospital, and apparently an abundant use is made of all the available special opportunities. A fur th e r utilisation of these special opportunities, more ge museum 00185 particularly tie laboratory facilities in connection viitk the Harvard School of Public Health and the clinical oppor tunities of the industrial medical clinic at the Massachusetts General Hospital would beyond question lead to the organization of these facilities so to toe of even greater service. In conclusion, the River Works and the West Lynn Works represent an illustration of a somewhat perfunc tory attack on the industrial medicine praotlo problem. If does not appear to be an exosllently operating medical department.,, to which the graduate physicians who corns to the Harvard School of Public Haalth might be sent An order that they might see an excellent illustration of sound i n - . duetrial practice, which might serve them as a model in their future work. Roger I. Lee Wade Wright Edwin B. Wilson Cecil K. Drinker Riilip Drinker G E M U S E U M 00186