Document rpaq7eEZ49nKw9XevmKky3nK7

FILE NAME: American Cyanamid (AMCY) DATE: 1946 Jan 10 DOC#: AMCY009 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Published Article from Chemical and Engineering News M ore th a n 450 p e rso n s a tte ru ie d c/i< 10th annual m eeting o f the Industrie Hygiene F oundation a t M ellon In sti tute. M aj. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey selective service d ire c to r, openeil th* session w ith a discussion o f th e vet eran and his relation to iruiuxtrj GOOD HEALTH FOR INDUSTRY Industrial Hygiene Foundation Holds Tenth Annual Meeting W il l ia m R. B ra dley , Industrial Hygienist, American Cyanamid Co., New York, N. Y . A decade of progress and accom plishm ent in m ain tain in g the health o f m e n an d w om en in in d u stry m arked th e In d u stria l H ygiene F o u n d a tio n 's t e n t h a n n u a l m e e tin g . A c h a lle n g in g t h o u g h t p r e vailed th ro u g h o u t th e conference th a t as th e w artim e in d u strial production tu rn ed the corner through reconversion into new pro d u c tio n a v e n u e s th e r e o cc u rs n o re c o n v e rtin g o f i n d u s t r y 's h e a lth program , b u t an expanding opportunity to a tta c k th e m any new problem s now arising w hich have an im p o rta n t bearing upon the h ea lth and w ell-being of those gainfully em ployed includes mental as well as physical healtl The trouble maker and the grouch may l cases for the Medical Department. It dustrial health in its manifold aspects fundamental for human relations whit in turn is the basis for good industrial at public relations. How can you have g'X industrial relations, for instance, withoi good physical working conditions? ' Oi fact, too often taken for granted, has bet too much attention to things and mu Scient attention to people who make tl things, with their hands-and their idea E xecutives, physicians, engineers, chemists, hygienists, lawyers, and plant managers of the member companies of the Industrial Hygiene ' Foundation gathered at Mellon Institute in Pittsburgh Nov. 14 and 15 for the foundation's tenth annual meeting. Among the problems discussed were those arising when tbe disabled veteran is placed back at work, those resulting from medical studies and from new clinical and toxicological find ings, problems in applying control of industrial health hazards, in coordinating various management groups toward a full health program, and problems of a legal and compensation nature. John F. McMahon, managing director of the Industrial Hygiene Foundation, opened the conference with a report of the expanding scope of the organization's activities. These included more than 56 industrial plant surveys for the main tenance of healthful working conditions, according to Mr. McMahon. "Damage to the health of workers on the home front, and especially to men in supervisory roles in industry,'' he said, "is one of the untold stories of the war. Cases of high blood pressure, heart disorders, and strokes* have mounted particularly." Continuing,' he stated: . .An important development of the war. has been the expanding concept of the all-important industrial health field. Once a narrow specialty in industry--that was the first aid and pill stage--industrial' health has become synonymoui with manpower maintenance and the efficient well-being of people at work. And this Mr. McMahon accepted the Navy certificate of achievement: which w awarded the foundation in recognition work done to preserve the health of tho in war production. ' Major General Lewis B.rHershey, Dirt: \ tor, Selective Service System, deliver! the keynote address of the meeting, spea rag .on the subject "Industry Needs tl Veteran". General Hershey declared; . ,, Industry need 'n o t regard its relatif ship with the returning veteran only as duty, but a* an opportunity ; an opm tumty to use the veteran' fitness, traini i and eagerness to participate in tAjneri ! production. " . ' - ' `Rj1 Veterans are young, the great majoi of them in their teens and early twent i They are well above the average in pb; cal fitness, because selection reqtn fitness, and the veterans' life in the ant forces has increased their physical1 34 C H E M I C A L AND E N G I N E E R I N G NE' 3 4 - 3 'i S i h i / C ; j fc : industry's care of the veteran but to cooperate closely wiih industry. "If criticism of the Veterans Adminis tration is that it isn't active enough, part of it is due to the fact that they are con fronted bv situations which should have been planned three or four years ago," General Hawley said. M edical T echniques . A preliminary report on a foundation field study for the purpose of analyzing policies and procedures of industrial med ical departments, how they are admin istered, and what results are obtained, was given by C. O. Sappington, M.D., industrial health consultant. The full report is to cover several hundred different plants, involving an industrial population of over one million persons and includes both large ami small plants in 30 different states with diversified manufacturing. The full report will constitute a fair sta tistical sample of what is going on in in dustrial medical departments over the nation. One phase of this investigation deals with the effects of reconversion in its relation to employee health. Summarizing these effects, Dr. Sappington outlined: 1. The temporary reduction of work ing forces may be reflected in a temporary reduction of professional medical person nel. However, many industrial plants will enlarge ana rebuild their departments during this adjustment period. 2. Reliable business figures indicate that only 25% of business plants need entire reconversion. 3. There seems to be a decided reduc tion in the number of health complaints, probably because of relief from pressure of war production and the general anxiety generated by war. The results show a reduced incidence of nervous indigestion, insomnia, cumulative fatigue, and ner vous exhaustion, as well as the finding of progressive lowering of blood pressure readings in employees of 45 years of age and over. 4. On the other hand, in some quarters there has been an increase in the incidence of occupational disease in plants which have had no such experience during the years of the war emergency. This may be due to the laying off of professional personnel and termination of employment of others. 5. Thus far experience with place ment of returning veterans has been favorable, for the roost part. 6. In most cases industrial health pro grams will be maintained in the postwar years. 7. The increased interest in industrial health services by organized labor groups will oblige management to give increasing attention to healthful working environ ment. There is no question that medical services in industry will play a greater part in industria' management concepts than ever before. D iagnosis o f Silicosis L. U. Gardner, M .D., director, the Saranac Laboratory; A. Q. Cranch, M .D., Industrial Toxicology Department, Car- bide and Carbon Chemicals Corp.; L. E. Hamlin, M.D., medical director, American Brake Shoe Co.; and O. A. Sander, M.D., 36 T he N avy's certificate o f a ch ievem en t, a new aw ard fo r p ro d u c tio n achievem en or services given, was p re sen ted to th e In d u stria l H ygiene F o u n d a tio n a t th o p ening o f th e m eetin g . C apt. E rn est W . B row n, D irector o f In d u stria l Hygien R esearch, B ureau o f M edicine a n d Surgery, Navy D ep a rtm en t, W ashingtoi hands th e certificate to M anaging D irector John F. M cM ahon member, Foundation's Medical Com mittee collaborated in discussing "Ac curate Diagnosis of Silicosis--Possible Sources of Error". In opening this dis cussion, Dr. Gardner stressed: The diagnosis of silicosis rests on three bases, a history of adequate exposure to free silica dust, the demonstration of a characteristic nodular pattern in an x-ray film of the chest, and a physical examina tion which reveals very few abnormal signs in most uncomplicated cases. One's objective may make him forget that not one, but all three of these factors are essen tia) to the diagnosis.. From the lawyer or the physician representing a claimant for compensation we hear that the plaintiff must have silicosis because all of his in dustrial life has been spent in an industry whose atmosphere contains so many million particles of free silica dust. Y et a glance of the claimant's x-ray films may show nothing to support the contention. From the roentgenologist or the internist of an urban medical center comes the diagnosis of silicosis because the film re veals a generalized nodular pattern and the subject reports that he has worked at a dusty job. Neither roentgenologist nor internist is in a position to obtain the details of the occupational history that will indicate whether the dust contained significant quantities of free silica. Alluding to the pitfalls in the diagnosis of silicosis, Dr. Gardner continued: Unless there is proof that the subject has been exposed to free silica dust for periods measured in years we have no right to assume that a nodular x-ray pattern is indicative of silicosis. Such patterns may be produced by other causea; some of them the result of inhaled materials other than free silica, some to infections or systemic diseases which should be dis closed by a thorough physical examina tion. Among these conditions is the so-called arc welders' siderosis. All substances of high atomic weight are opaque to x-ray and in sufficient local concentration they cast shadows on a film. Examples of such substancia arc the compounds of barium and the rare earth minerals. On the other hand, organic iron from the blood may at times cast nodular "ffiadows whit simulate silicosis. Perhaps even a mo striking example of the effect of the bio- is seen in the films of men who have bet trapped underground in mine explosion In them the x-rav films demonstrate tl sudden appearance of the fine noduiatk but this disappears again after a month so. Another disease is now being reco uized which superficially resembles notiui tion of silicosis. This is pulmonary sc coidosis, apparently atubercie-likeinfectn of unknown cause. This disease occu here and there throughout the popui tion at large but has frequently been s tributed to pulmonary irritanta of iccc trial environments. I recall one c.i from a rayon mill, one from an asbest plant, and another in a graphite mint Recently a considerable number h.i been found in industries using berylhu and its compounds. It has not occurred every plant using these materials- It h not been possible to reproduce sarcoido.with beryllium compounds in animj Much must, be done before it can be co ciuded that sarcoidosis is an indus: r disease. Dr. Gardner also mentioned the cor., tion commonly nicknamed "Wheatem, which he described as multiple tiny cal fications occurring in the lung tissue. Here the x-ray reveals nodules, oft scattered throughout both lungs, but tin nodules are of unusual density and tin distribution is not uniform. It is assure that they represent healing of some foi of infection whose nature, is still unknovt It could not be tuberculosis for these peo; have never been sick. The cases are nK common along the Ohio River and Missouri and Kansas. The knowledge that such lung coni tions exist should make us more cautie in diagnosing silicosis, particularly j cases from industries where environment conditions are unfamiliar or not clew defined. More progress would be maxi roentgenologists would merely report shadow pattern as nodulation with i qualification that this could be my reted as silicotic in origin if support y a history of adequate exposure to k silica. I ! C H E M I C A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G N E 'ichael S u p a . b lin d , overcam e his ow n handicap to becom e th e supervisor o f lysically handicapped personnel th e In tern a tio n a l B usiness M achines orp. W ith M rs. S u p a he is ta lk in g to M a j. G en. P aul R . H aw ley, a ctin g sur~ on g en era l o f th e V etera n s' A d m in is tr a tio n , one o f th e p rin c ip a l speakers Dr. Craneh described cases which had iseu in bis experience, in which the ignosis of silicosis was made on the -is of x-ray findings, but without regard the working conditions and in the ab ice of significant exposure to silica dust, te type of case occurred in a group of a exposed to dust from milling rare *th oxides and chlorides used in core iterials for illuminating carbons. One these men had had influenza and chronic rachitis. A compensation board, ac'diog to Dr. Craneh, awarded total dislity from silicosis although His sympos were not typical. Another man had :mil^r x-ray picture following an attack influenza, according to Dr. Craneh, ' the compensation board decided that man had silicosis, although refused to nt compensation because there was no dence of disability. Other cases have come up as the re t of physical examinations by Draft irds One man in his early 20's had l only seven weeks of plant exposure, ere he had occasion to load one or two :s of mica into the mill daily. He was I lared irmceeptable by the draft board account of advanced silicosis. Subse nt examination showed decrease and n disappearance of shadows. After months the x-ray picture showed no fence of nodulation or linear markings, dug the two years of study the boy well and had no clinical symptoms. ` ease was finally diagnosed as Boecks oid." Dr. Craneh reported Another case," stated Dr. Crunch, diagnosed as silicosis, based upon ' an x-ray picture later proved to be a * of mitral stenosis, a heart condition, re the shadows were due to inadequate "l circulation." }r. Hamlin described the work of ders and burners in the foundry where u arable, free silica dust in the enviror.*t wa.- very !.>u\ He said t h a t for rai years they had been concerned i chi-*? x-ray findings am on g some of e men berauso of the p attern of nodu>{> observed m tin* roeiugenoi'-am, yet the clinical aspects and history of occupa tional exposure were inconsistent with the present conception of sdiuosis. In closing the discussion of possible sources of error m the accurate diagnosis of silicosis, Dr. Sander explained: The term pneumoconiosis simply means dust added to the lungs. Contrary to a fairly common interpretation, it does not necessarily indicate fibrosis in the lungs. Similarly, the term siderosis describes lungs in which iron oxide dust has been deposited and is without any implication so far as fibrosis is concerned. This meaning 13 contrary to Jenkins' original use of the word m describing cases of actual silicosis with concurrent deposition of iron oxide. Only two knowta sub stances, silica and asbestos, qualify as fibrosis-producing agents. Others may be shown to produce secondary fibrotic action, but none are known today. T h e E ngineering C ontrol Newer methods for the accurate meas urement of an industrial silicosis hazard were presented m a joint paper by F. R. Holden and E. C. Hyatt, members of the Industrial Hygiene Foundation staff. In discussing the nature of dusts which may enter the lungs of those individuals employed in dusty places. Dr. Holden said: We believe that the particle sire com position of dust has not received attention commensurate with ita importance. Dur ing the early classic studies on aihcoais the composition of dust was determined by the analysis of simples of settled dust (fco-calletl rafter samples). This practice seemed logical as materia) which had cel tied on ledge? and rafters had reached those positions after floating through the air. Later it was proven that it is im possible to judge the chemical and mineral ogies! composition of the dust that ac tually gets into the lungs of exposed work ers In analyzing either the parent mate ria! or raider dimples. Dust particles 5 microns or less in diameter, much too >mall to be seen with tin unaided ej e, were doignmed by Dr. ) L J M E o-i, N O 1 J A N U A R Y 10, i 9 4 6 Holden as those which could be breathed into the lungs. He explained that where exposures to dusts containing free silica are to be measured aa accurate appraisal involves analysis of only the respirable portion of the total atmospheric dusti ness. Recognizing that the analysis for free silica in a dust sample is always reported on a per cent, by weight basis, he said, "The presence of one oO-roicron particle would have a3 much effect on the analysis as would 1,000 o-micron panicles. It was therefore logical to modify our techniques :.o include separation of the air-borne dust samples into two size frac tions at the 5 micron level." Dr. Holden explained the new dust sampler designed by the foundation to accomplish satisfactory particle size dust separation during exposure studies in industrial work places. Under their procedure, air from the breathing zone of men and women at work can be sampled. Their studies thus far show a remarkable variation between the free silica content of respirable dust and that of total air borne dust which in turn varies with the type of dust involved. W. C. L. Hemeon, Industrial Hygiene Foundation staff member, concluded the first days session of the conference with a report of findings from the foundation's plant surveys. In discussing the pottery industry he reported: It has been held that dubty floors are a major source of atmospheric dust in potteries. We have proved conclusively that the dust kicked up into the air by plant traffic in potteries is insignificant compared with other causes. We iuliy agree that a clean plant with clean floors is good business and we advocate it, but it is important to understand that it does not contribute materially r,o sibcosi3 hazards, at least in the pottery industry. Between 10 and 15 years ago certain potteries requested their flint suppliers to add small quantities of water to the material in order to reduce the dust from handling. The practice was inaugurated and mechanical difficulties were overcome within 2 or 3 years and it is now common. Legal C onsiderations Problems of a legal nature entering into the maintenance of industrial health were discussed by Theodore C. Waters, Mullikin, Stockbridge and Waters, and chair man of the foundation's legal committee, by Ivan Sabounn, also a member of the foundation's legal committee and by Albert Pike, Jr., assistant actuary, Life Insurance Association of America, Mr. Waters declared: It is impossible to predict the trend of federal legislation in the field of industrial health, but there is an increasing demand on the part of labor for the appropriation of federal funds to assist state agencies in the administration of compensation and labor laws for the benefit amt protec tion of employees. Industry must as sume additional responsibilities that w ll be imposed by these laws, and it wd) con tinue to be good business to p r o m o t e pro grams for the p r o t e c t i o n ot ndu^tnW health, that the cost of runipon-Mtmu 37 m a y !>.' ! r r. j ,, .: i :ui '.h a i b u u e r in d u s t r i a l m 1:: ti n ::- m a y bo -itU iln o d . During the p n-ioit ;. ear .ill of uur state legi.-lutures have boon in cessions except Kentucky, Mississippi, and Virginia, and u flood of legislation was introduced de signed to liberalize compensation acts providing compensation for accidental and occupational disease injuries There are now 16 states and the District of Colum bia that provide for general coverage for occupational disease injuries, and 16 states wherein schedule coverage is pro vided. Several important bills dealing with industrial health have been intro duced and are now pending in the Federal Congress. Michigan has amended its statute to provide that all employers subject to the provision of the compensation act shall furnish to their employees without charge a complete physical examination at regu lar intervals, and shall furnish to the em ployee a true copy of the medical report when the presence of silicosis, pneu moconiosis, or other dust disease is found. Minnesota has amended its statute by requiring annual medical examination of employees exposed to the hazards of silicosis and asbestosis, the cost of such examination to be divided equally be tween employer and employee. Reports of such examinations, together with x-ray films and other original exhibits are re quired to be filed in the office of the com mission, making the reports a public record. Reporting on "Canada and Compensa tion", Mr. Sabourin explained: Provincial workmen's compensation boards came into life as early as 1914. Compensation laws are in force in eight of the nine Canadian Provinces. These laws are administered by a Workmen's Compensation Board in each Province. It can be said that these boards are auton omous in character, having exclusive and final jurisdiction on the facts and on the law, save in two Provinces, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where, on law or jurisdiction, appeal may be had to Su preme Court with permission of a judge. This final and autonomous character of Canadian Boards (which bar, therefore, interference from the courts) is a feature of the system. Generally speaking we can say that in Canada all interested parties and, particularly, industry and labor, have been satisfied with the operations of our Workmen's Compensation Boards. Mr. Pike discussed health insurance and sick benefit plans to compensate for wage loss, now in operation in several eastern states. He reported that such plans in force today have both good and poor features, and as sickness indemnification is a very complex field, there has not yet appeared an entirely satisfactory and workable program. Mr. Pike said: In my opinion the crux of the problem is to get the sick employee back to work as soon as his health permits. Responsibil ity for recovery falls in large part upon the doctor, but relative freedom from financial worry helps too. However, while bearing in mind the necessity for seeing to it that a sick worker does not return to work too soon just because he needs money, the payment of over liberal cash benefits awing sickness may actually postpone psychological recovery. A disabled worker may really be well again but won't admit it, perhaps not eve rial n 'o need Imnselt, p s are well a ruej take u n r is u .'arc oni ico m > ate sick benefits w hic h will s to p as soon i.- he goes back to work. In summary Mr Pike said: Health insurance is a complex field. The problem involved ot providing ade quate hospital and medical care is to a large extent entirely separate from the problem of compensating for wage loss during sickness. However, the problem of medical and hospital care can never get very far away from the problem of securing the services of the doctors and the hospitals. Compensation for wage loss, on the other hand, involves very little of the service of the doctor but a lot of employer-employee relationship. What we need to recognize is that in cash sick benefit programs the employed group is the natural, and hence proper, unit of administration, and that wages and sick benefits must be closely integrated in each company according to the actual condi tions existing there, rather than according to over-all average conditions existing throughout some broad area such as a whole state. M anagem ent Section Reports of management groups on their activities contributing to the solution of health problems affecting industry's work ers were given by Alex W. Dann, executive vice president, Dravo Corp.; Major John M. Stockton, Sn-C., director, industrial health education, Headquarters, Air Tech nical Service Command; Andrew W. Phelps, vice president in charge of pur chasing, Westinghouse Electric Corp.; and C. F. Burris, safety manager, Inter national Business Machines Corp. . Emphasizing that better working condi ' tions promote better work Mr. Dann stated'. Managements of enterprises, with our own among them, increasingly support expenditures and arrangements which have the purpose of promoting better health and further freedom from bodily injury and good work surroundings for those on the payroll and, indirectly, for the families of those employed. Considera tion for other fellow, a humanitarian im- Eulse and consideration for the stockolders or self interest provide mixed but sufficient motives and assure continued progress in the attention to health and safety, which has shown a really startling advance in the last 30 years and very gratifying to those who are interested in improvement of our free enterprise system. 38 in ti le operations ot u i e i r eump.uijfca- Mr Dann said t h e y took advantage oi opportunities which arose to provice better job surroundings. These included expansion of cafeteria service resulting in retention of employees who othervis* might have gone elsewhere, installing ful hospital facilities in areas where sue! were found inadequate, ventilation con trol in tunneling operations and heating and ventilating for shipbuilding all o which increased production. , Putting sick absenteeism data to worl paid dividends for Major Stockton': group of civilian employees who were i part of the service organization of thi Army Air Forces at Wright Field. He re ported: Sickness and injury absenteeism prob lems were prominent from the start so complete absenteeism record system w-a initiated to define the causes. Informa tion gained from interviews with thessick absentees soon fitted into a pattern- ill-trained or not at all trained supervisor personnel; . inadequate transportator housing, and wages; and personal obliga tions that could not be arranged or com pleted outside of working hours, were few of the most common complaints. Their findings under a comprehensiv study of cause and effect resulted in tk institution of a presenteeism "prograi which brought a satisfactory solution t the many problems. . All medical absenteeism problems wer handled through the industrial medic: service with its network of aid station centralized dispensaries, and emergent hospitals! - --The -personnel -.departmeithrough interviews and inveetigatior screened nther absenteeism cases for earnand developed remedies. Plant healt and' safety hazards were detected an corrected by industrial hygiene and safet personnel. Health education on plai and home health .problems were ah initiated. Mr. Phelps presented many eontribi tions which & plant purchasing depar m ent is able to make in- industrial healt maintenance. Mainly these invoK gathering pertinent data aa to the healt significance of products which the con pany purchases and inaugurating a syste: of coordination between the medical an industrial hygiene groups ip. their plat for placing such information directly ini the hands of employees who use and hand these products. / - (, Plant foremen are the key men in man taining healthful work places in the plant, according to Mr. Burris. He sail Our company regards employees as i greatest- business, asset. There are I financial restrictions or limitations in^ far as the health and welfare ,ot work* are concerned. . We believe' industri hygiene is indispensable for successf operations. Inasmuch as plans are be* made for better peacetime products, : unproved industrial methods for mak them, we intend to keep our managers | formed of these trends--placing them i better' position to maintain a healthj plant. AND E N G IN E E R IN G NE'