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NATIONAL National Safety News Published monthly in the interest of accident prevention and the health of industrial workers VOL. XXVIII. No. 2 CONTENTS for AUGFST, 1933 We Can't Advance Without Records--J. L. Vandegrifi....................................... 9 What "Permissible" Means in Respiratory Protection--William P. Yotti ... .11 Uncovering the Fire Hazard.*--J. IV Just................................ ............................ 13 Nd'trty Pays the Small Plan; Too--Robert L. Schmitt.........................................16 Handling Material--A Real Problem for the Safety Man--./. A. Purdy.......... 17 Facing the Future--Al. A. Cimbel....................................................................... ;.19 Mechanical Control of Occupational Disease--David S. Bcvcr........................ 21 An Eye Saved--Stcrvart J. Omen. Jr...................................................................... 23 Sound Objectives for the Vocational School--John A. McCarthy.....................25 The Congress Reporter................................................. ............................................ 27 Two Million Children Ride in School Buses--Curtis Billings............................ 29 Electric Shock and Burns Cause Much Lost Time............................................... 36 }i Regular Departments i :h N5.,-Msr:nc Hirt-rini'* Pa.ct in-;iuciion Car.l' Hh- Jijj'ctv Jisclian.cf iikiuMfial Hpalth "Ue HulUiin INtut.l . 1'ie.tvfv ot the MotJ!1: X TIk- N.iJetv i.ihrjrv til f'ommc Hviiir* S2 Pi-rvxui* VI Villi tlie Manuijttau! m llx- Huven" Scn i- 'll ,ts 4R ..NO .vs a: Carman T. Fish, Editor G. M. Bhiccs, Associate Editor Stanley H. Kkksham', Poster Editor C. H. Miller, Advertising Manager ``fyriKlit l!t:i3 III .Vntloinil Safi-tv 0"""ll, Iiir. printed in I'.S.A. .i. i..,! n. re.-ond-cl:*** mutter Juno 1. i:>;t. i.( tin* Post Ottien ;u < *"1 M.iuli 3. JSTH. Addltioiiiil entry ;ti St. Jn*<*|di, Mich. I'Ut.Ii.li.il 11m 11. I> . . PI,, uu.fcr tlio Tl..- iili-ri|Uion price to meinloT* f.o .-xirn oopi.** of tin- N.\Tl >.V.\I. S.U'KTY NKNVX * |cr ycur. Smtrle cojiick. << cvtitx. Jtrduool quiintily ............. for y.-arly "on* *nd single* cofuo* <n r<M|uo*t. vulo<rri|i(ioii5 arc nvnllulilo only to m.'iulH-rv if thr Nntionsil S.if' iv I'ninml. M.-oihrr Audit Bureau of Circulation. Thin magazine Is Indexed In iho Industrial Arts Index. an^ opinions advaiM-.d In xigued nnlcl.-s nre to !> unilorxio.i -a* individunl Pr'^*<u.n* of their author*, noi ihoic of the National Safety Poiinril National Safety Council, Inc. I ('.viil'inilii'f .Von.</oidtitrrriui A Iiliral ,V..<i. i 20 Norlh \\ aokcr Drivr. (I . >. \. Now ^ ork Office. 9 Hast 416t Sired firr........... r-i,.. r.i............. n:..;.;..., i i>.-t \... \. .. National Safety Council Officers. 3932-1933 Jam*.*. 1. IUkami. I'm'ilrat lionurr l. (Utij.n, Viee-Prcsldent for )*iit>Mc Safety J. F. Cn.uxeY. Vler.Presidmt for En gineering Itow'AkA H. I-'onha, Ylrr-Prrxldem for Membership <. T. llfU.MUT)t. Viee-Presideiit for ftuninr** Administration John !L I^ikc, Vke-I'resident for Snfrty Councils Icmmc J|. WAurtu Yiee-Presidciit for industrial Safety Id*. Cassivs IL \UTMX. Vice-President for Health Ai.ar.irr NY. NVmrxKr. Vire-PrrsMcnt f,,P Kriuratfnn NYiu. Cnairau Treasurer 'V. H. (Axuuin, Secretary and Managing Director Executive Committee Member* at targe J. I lt.v.Mi. Consulting Kn-iitcrr ljvt.^ NY. |t,^;K. I'llilnl Slalm. Hlll.l.rr Oi. II. Pimi.miix. Minimising Director Cohi.ht t. I.TI IN. Tllr Arina l.ifr (iiMtrnitre <;. Will. I'i.icMi, Tllr Stwil* lto(H j'J. I?. CrillXRV. Ilcthleheni Steel Corp. Dana, lotion lilrvaird llailwav IlowAMti It. Fonoa. (hirmughv-NNYl Iromc A Co. if. S. A.i. Ine. I1*- Tmovas NY. (iosijs'o. Superintendent of Schools. Akron. Ohio IIakhv Tltr Pullman Company T. nu.TM. Chicago North Shore A Milwaukee Itailruad Ok. OiAkyjv IJ. lliti, Nrr York Central l.in<k Khan* 3. I^naii.n, Fort put Mallrahk Iron Oi. John E. t.oxc. The Iteine-are A Hudson lUllroad Oirp. Ssxrou*. <-T>rml Klretrle Co. VN. Svuii. Standard Oil Co. ilnd.i Acrura M. Tr. Otoxuiling Marino En gineer f It. Wahith, Viilim Puvjfle Svslmt * Umiik It. NVatsos. American Tcleliltnne A Trirgmnli (a Ai.mkst \V. NVhitnct. Nationnl Ilureau ftf CaMutllT SurMv rmlcrwrtt^rs A. WiNjaer. Y*|. MrdirtI StIpimJ Hi'jiresctiiin^ Safety CotmeiU "niUM !. Akot.ttx. MiSaoker. Wi*. iA. I'.iiMT',. York (.uioii. Pa. Pis * v a 11 \ M. Km vi. I'vaiiNt.Mi III II. \V. lyiMV.M. tUekH.-iiKl NY. W. |>elaare K. I.. Ntvoxox, New lii.vm. Poim. i. It. Ttkioa. Hirmhaxliam. Ain. Kc|ir(*xctitin^ Serlions It. Ibit-MT, Ihihlie Ktililir* I-'haxk H. t'.iaiAN, Mariite TnoVks M l.oiitTroor. Mining J. J. I'isak. I hiper au.l Pulp II. S. S.vnu. ASSINl-jigineering It. T. Soij.xxtkk. Arei.leul I'rrvrntiim J`.<ttiipuieiit Mannfarturers Past Prcsidenis --i --- ----------j. ' - Itotimt NY. (Umphku. Aanit'K T. Mumkv I.i:w It. Pai.mmi luvm Yak StatAACK* ItAi^n C. HirHAjms' t'.HAHi.cs p. Toijsax AaTitra H. Yockc Mahccs A. I>ow I.i wis lir.lh.nis P^kHL li. Aral. Chahlks it. Scott nn'ai.ts.h Kikr lltiMOl I-:. Nir.sz* I.T.-Clll.. IItrX(AY A. IllXIMill. t . Kvi.ixt I'lrmiKixi m, NY. lii.iii^nti Ilmiorarv M-jiiIot* It..m hi w. C . . *Avmmi.toin .ir Ison A Stir.i. i:i.i.nw'*i. m ixi i m Ahtim h NS II tUMi The Mechanical Control of Occupational Diseases By DAVID'S. BEYER* HE mechanic:! control of industrial Tdisease cannot be covered adequate ly in a single article; all we Both the engineer and the physician are needed in protect ing the health of the worker and the pocket hook of the tan hope to do is to touch upon a iew employer. In this article Mr. Boyer presents the engineering ..i the important points encountered by ;H- managers who are struggling side of the problem. In the June issue Dr. W. Irving Clark i:h :lii problem today. discussed it from the point of view of the physician n,,-r..- are *me ioriy different diseases < Intlulol in the compensation acts of various American states; in .Massa When the subject of dust is mentioned l stops to figure how many 13-grara bot chusetts. Connecticut and several other most of us proljahly think of visible par tles are contained in a ton of this dust, states there is no definite list of diseases ticles. In fact, much of the dust re its potentialities are appalling. The that arc compensated, but these diseases moval work, even by companies special first need is to get rid of these unneces arc considered as "personal injuries'* izing along this line in the past, has sary accumulations, and then try to pre- uidcr the law and compensation is paid been directed at this form of dust. venP^beir recurrence. without any specific schedule of disease- Medical research has shown us. how- Many a plant manager will say, "Why Many of these diseases are of t" ever, that the dust jhat is most danger go to all the trouble and expense neces frequent occurrence. Probably most of ous. through its deep inhalation into"the sary to catch this dust when, in most us outside the medical profession have lungs, is so small that the individual par cases, it isn't worth anything after it is never even heard of "(lonioma Kamassi" ticles are invisible and can only be seen caught?*' The answer is that it is better t African boxwood) on "miner's nystag by the naked eye if they are gathered in to spend the money and effort in getting mus,'' which appear on some of the state a dense cloud, which may have the ap rid of the dust than to be overwhelmed lists. A half dozen of the more im- pearance of a gray fog. by occupational disease claims, as is the jvirhim diseases, however, will probably We are told that the amount of dust case with many industrial concerns to over ninety percent of the total pay found in the lungs"of miners whoTiave day. ments i**mg made thrdughout industry dicd_uTVlicosis is nlxnil 13 grams', or In one section where there is a so- f,,r :C industrial diseases today. approximately half an ounce - about called "dusty** trade employing only An analysis of approximately $300,000 enough to fill a len-com soda-mint bottle. about 2000 men on an annual basis, . in losses of one insurance company tioinc a general workmen's compensation and Microscopic Menaces there have Iteen 92 occupational disease claims during the latest available five- . liability business, for recent industrial Some idea of the problem of collecting year periixf (68 of them for death or disease claims, showed 54 per cent for such infinitestimal particles may be bad permanent total disability) with com cases involving pneumoconiosis (includ ing silicosis. asliostosis. etc.) 26 per cent for lead poisoning, 9 per cent for various f,,rm'4 *'f dermatitis, 5 percent for benzol, :n'! the remaining 6 per cent for scatter ing '..uses such as carbon monoxide, carlinn tetrachloride, chrome and chlor ine. V>e will accordingly look at the sub ject from the standpoint of these few imPOttant causes, bearing in mind that the n>ost important of all is covered by the general heading of pneumoconiosis, or diseavs caused by dust. Of these dis- tin- most serious come from inhalne tl,,. *ilira found in sand, granite dust. al'r:ii\,. |*iwetc.I I nn1 Ci**r Km;ln*rr. ,1_ ,`v Company. 0- . <A opcr rad at the Twelfth ei... * Safe-tv Conference of the Mas**- when we further learn that these 13 grams contain some 20 million million panicles; many of them ara about the size of the tiny globules oNtany sub stance that make up cigarct smoke, that is. about h hundred thousandth of an inch in diameter. If they were equipped with legs the}' could march fifty abreast through the hollow center of a human hair! So little has the seriousness of this hazard been appreciated in the past that it is not uncommon to go into a plant and find four or five tons of this fine dust which has floated in the air and settled on the roof trusses and overhead structures of the building. Hero it may l>c dislodged by gusts of air or vibra tions from moving cranes, etc. If one 'S TDeu'-*htfixll-i-*s! flPirMait^orr*. t! rS 1 Bureau of bined losses of nearly $300,000. In some industries the cost of indus trial disease is now four or five times that of nil other industrial accidents combined. Mam- concerns that have serious, occupational disease hazards extending over a period of"years find themselves virtually uninsurable, be cause of the heavy liability for claims that has been built up as the result of past exposure. A Matter of Self-Preservation It follows, therefore, that as a matter of self-preservation plants in these in dustries must start immediately a com prehensive program of improvement i hat will at least check the development of new cases. In general, the most reliable way to correct a dust hazard is to install erhv.ist like JJVMIH. *' "w - -- - ' been worked out very effectively for such equipment ns grinding and buffing "wheels. Unfortunately a-complete system of dust collecting and separating for a large department costs a lot of money-- more than many plants feel they can possibly afford under present business conditions. Temporary Expedients For such cases there may be other al ternatives or temporary expedients that will at least tide matters over until im proved business conditions warrant the installation of a permanent dust re moval system. For instance, the manager of a plant recently visited by the writer stated that they had already sjx'tu $80,000 in ex haust equipment and had not yet fully solved the dust problem. In this indus try. the use of oil which has been sprayed on the material in some cases in the past, to improve its handling in the machinery and processes, offers a promising solu tion to the dust problem. Dust counts in some plants using the oil show reduc tions of 90 per cent or more in millions of particles per cubic foot, and if further tests corroborate these results it offers a simple and comparatively inexpensive method of correcting the dust .hazard in one industry. * In other operations, such as the shaking out of foundry castings, it may be possible to do this work at night, by men who are protected by respirators, and thus eliminate a common exposure to employees engaged in other opera tions in the same room. The use of en closed mechanical conveyors and mate rial handling >y-items, properly exhaust ed. instead of the old individual hand methods where the workers were brought into close contact with dusty substances, offers a solution in other cases. -The treasurer of one concern with whom l recently discussed the hazard of his foundry said, ``Maybe \vc have the answer right here,** and. he brought uut the design of a machine which was fab ricated entirely from sheets, plates, angles and other structural shapes, riveted and welded together, which would entirely eliminate the castings of which it was largely composed in the past. Where the dusty work is in a perma nent location, anil tv ureat freedom of r:-:;r is nut r<v;mrn|. ihc air-fed for sweeping and cleaning up dust, the improved types of filter respirators may be adequate. In sonic cases substitutes may be found for the substance causing the trouble. This has already been done in some processes where benzol was formerly used, and efforts are being made to extend the use of this principle. The use of water to overcome dust hazards is one of the first suggestions that is usually made. I recently tried to explain this problem to an industrial manager and after telling him that the dust which causes the trouble is less than lO^nicrons in size, a micron being about 1"*25,000th of an inch, and being encouraged by his nods which seemed to indicate that he was following my ex planation perfectly. I was a little dis concerted at the end to have him say, "Why can t you gel rid of those microns by washing the air?*' Apparently after all my efforts he still thought a micron was something like a microbe! Water has been found rather effective for laying the dust in some operations such as mining, sweeping up dusty floors, etc. In other cases, it has been a disapiwintment as. for example, on grinding whee's. where a dry exhaust system has proved to l>e more satisfac tory than wet grinding.5 Dirmg the conference in .South Africa in one of the speakers pointed out the futility of trying to completely re move dust clouds by water sprays or ato mizing. adding the further comment that a tiny droplet of water may collect as many as 800 dust particles and then being inhaled is like Iwnibarding the lungs with shrapnel instead of single rule fire. Unwarranted Confidence Where exhaust equipment is installed, poor maintenance of these systems whereby their value is reduced or entire ly vitiated is altogether too common. An inquiry in a plant recently as to how the dust filtering apparatus was worCTng brought the reply, "Fine! -we haven't had to every look at It ?Ar six ve?.rs! '* When we climbed a ladder to the roof to sec this miraculous equipment, a touch on (he screens shook a pail-full of dust from the "clean'* side of the separator. Another common and dangerous prac tice in many dust removal systems is `S** <ii *.V*rkiT! in ntv TruC^st f S 1`ul/liC Health BulU-'iu No. 1ST. r n. ............I...mi****-**-*" -- .................;.......r....". f.;<l)inr would oc iosi u a were uiscnargea out side the building. In five such systems where dust counts have been made dur ing the past few months there was only one where there was even a question as to whether or not the air was fit to be returned. In one case over forty-seven million dust particles per cubic foot were found in the air that was being re-circu lated, or many times wbat we would con sider a safe limit! Ineffective Installations The salesman who had put in the equipment had persuaded them that the filtered air was so much purer than God's product as represented by the out side atmosphere that he had even piper! it into the office; so the manager was breathing the dust as well ns the factory employees. (Perhajis that might be called cooperation!) While it may be going tu far to sa\ that no filtering equipmrnt can make dusty air suitable for re-breathing, the constant chance of the system getting out of order makes it almost as question able a practice as an attempt to recover drinking water from a sewage system. Installations that are clogged, leaking and otherwise ineffective are common. One of our engineers found that the belt connecting the exhaust fan to the motor in an overhead installation had beeo off for an indefinite period. The motor switch had been thrown regularly but no one noticed that there was no exhaust at the grinding wheels it serviced. In another installation seen by the writer recently, a handkerchief held be fore the wheel stood out horizontally showing that the dust wa# !>eing blow' out toward the operator instead being drawn in away from him. An important point that should be bome in mind in designing an exhaust system is that it is highly desirable >* capture the dusts or vapors as close i<* the point at which they are generated ns fjnSSibTerbefore they have had a chance to be diffused throughout the air of the room. General ventilation may be helpful b reducing the concentration, but it is ob viously of little value to draw the objectional substances up through a roe: fan as is sometimes done, thereby carry ing them past the face* ot* the operators who must draw them in with every breath. The ilesign of a proper exhaust systcr'* * Pirate turn to p-t^r $4 ' Occupational Diseases C outinto tl irntn p<i%c 22 ) to effectively control dust requires thorough understanding of certain engi neering principles that are completely lost sight of in many of the installations now in use. For example, where the dust collector can be so arranged as to enclose the source of dust completely, or almost ju*. a very complete dust elimination may result, but where the inlet is five or >i\ inches away from the source of the duv its efficiency may be reduced by as mm h as 90 to 95 |>er cent, and be wholly in effective.4 Where the exhaust equipment has lieen looked on in the past as more or less of a nuisance Uvause it is non-produc tive and could accordingly be slighted at will, it must now lie recognized as a primary operating problem, and TO WEAR OVER GLASSES sponsibility must be placed on some*-!. to see that it is kept in first class cona If you have workmen who wear glawe* give (hem the absolute assurance of eye protec tion as well as good vision by having (hem wear CHSCO M Be L GOGGLES over (heir prescription lenses. These men wilf do heeler work and accident costs wiill be reduced. CESCO M & L GOGGLES are specially designed to he worn - -r the workman's own spectacle*---(hey fit *^ty, are comfortable and prevent breakage and pitting of expen sive prescription lenses. CESCO M 8t L GOGGLES are furnished in three styles meeting all necessary require ments. Ventilated pattern fined with SuperSafety (ernes for chipping, grinding, caulk ing, riveting and like operations. Dust model fitted with Super Safety lenses. Welders pattern fitted with CESCOWELD lenses for acetylene welding and cutting. tion at all times. And so, to summarize the results of this brief survey of the mechanical con trol of occupational disease hazards, it is the opinion of the writer that chicfiy In this direction lies safely from some of the most serious diseases, if one also in cludes rearrangement of the process.-.' under "mechanical control." in contrast S(nd for temple end catalog with the "medical control." CHICAGO EYE SHIELD CO 2300 Warren Blvd. While agreeing that medical supervi sion of new prospects for employment is of primary importance, in order to pre vent placing new employees who have Chicaso, TIL some physical imfiairment in a position where they will quickly break down as :: result of the work hazard, and grantin'.: j the value of medical follow-up of er ployees subjected to exposures such | lead and len/.ol. which bring nlxm a | temporary condition th.il may be check`d PLACE "STOP LOSS" ORDERS by medical supervision and a change *i occupation, it seems evident that in the most serious industrial disease hazard, Guard agamst costlv yunch press acc.irutali--G*c?' D. & M. Automatic Punch Press Guards. They are your that of exposure to silica dust, chief de pendence must be placet! on elimination or control of the dust. ;iOw :,, w<uti cyom>i tnose unfortunate nappe*- In installing such equipment it -v"l nets that mean losses ?r. men, money and morale. save money and grief in the long run. : employ a competent engineer who under D. b M. Awtr.matiCS fit all punch pecsses 'have }.*vy stands the difficulties of collecting im palpable dusts or vapors, and can have 3 working pacts--ace made entirely of drop forcings a reasonable assurance of getting an tinier a It. A U. .(niu* mutie (iiiafil tor .'* /:>: ynt'K irmt. Stale : rtiiikt <>t I'frit utiil u :!. rr left !<t rit/itt '>r n</Af i leu tii'inv i< nmn.'i./. and stec1 -jetccpt :h.: c.a.*d head) and ac low in cr-cc -Si8.50 5/:.00. effective installation without too much *>i the "cm and try" method. "V. I... i .-.,r.<-(-r}>{ics t ll....... Sni-li-im.-- J. >1 1 >:illiiv.-|llc. H iiiiiii' ftii.l VtffUllutinc ' II! (IllCn I.-- '