Document xjLMMEMK5Y7nJrKyGNayKOg1m

*1, A - id n ANNUAL REPORT ' 4^~ : V 03T TSS .. _ -, '* - -^- - - ' CHIEF INSPECTOR ----------- FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS For the Year 1906. 4<* I I FILED U - lH CASE NO EX-'T I A. D. 191TS M Ip ( Ka RiCH"^R/NKEii CLtorv <JVUiiZ r PRINTED FOB H..TS MALJOENSDTOYN'S"; STATION' ERY llr DARLING & SON,___L_t_d_., w34^--4.v0,, mBaaccoonn** DStTrazatrtr,, EE.. Aad to, >b*o. purcha-s--e-d*, o.it..h..e..r..d..irectly or through any BookrtUer, WYMAN ajtd SONS, Ltd., Potis Lams, E.C., aad 32, Adingoot Street. WESTiiufSTSt, S.W.; or E. POoNr SOOLXIVKEY,R11A6, 1G1r0aYfDt.onEi>Sit.susceatG,-ii;Dubun. a; _____jj vjcuertiavi,xic ..^ost un>at2siiictoryaud injurious W conditions are found in works where the process iscarried oa intermittently, and where , several visits of routine inspection may have been made before the carrying on of the process is disclosed to the Inspector. Where thework is carried on regularly, the immediate ill-effect on the health of the workers is so marked that occupiers and managers have the strongest incentive to introduction of- improved machinery. The following- -- extract from a report by Miss Squire in a visit to a large printing works, is o interest in this connection:-- i found 10 women anti girls bronzing by hand at the back of the lithe machine in the large machine room. The giris were wearing paper caps, and some* had overalls ; milk was"being supplied twice a day. 1 ortJrt1 "preuauitBBS w8ttP,mloprtSt"f-Ulfe yiri sSSffitfeu unskilful"adHT* were causing agreat deal of dnat to arise in the process of .smearing on the bronze powder with nods. The manager of that department and ihe foreman over the girls each complained separately to me (and asked me not to let the firm know they had done so) that they had no facilities for taking on a big bronzing job such id this ra-th**dpaafciJMo The order had already occupied a week to execute, and would take another week. It should no doubt be done by bronzing machines with which this department is not provide*!. The letterpress printing department is the one in which bronzing is provided for by a* separate enclosure with machines and exhaust ventilation: here the work was being properly done. The employees too in this letterpmai printing department are entered on the health register and have been examined by the Certifying Surgeon: thoae I found bronzing in the litbo departmeat are not on the health register. 1 considered one of the young women uniit for tke work from what she told me of her health generally and of her feelings since working on the bronze. 1 spoke later of her to the general manager and of the general conditions; he shnr orders at once fur her to be transferred to other work, and arranged that all those now, jbronzing should be seen by the Certifying Surgeon. J I am writing to this Srm urging upon them to carry ouf the voiunmry regulations with regard to this litho department. Miss Deane and Miss Slocock in the Sjxicial Report on Printing Trades (Appendix 1, page 248 below) point out how seldom they have found the Voluntary Utiles satisfactorily carried out, and that u employers urge the intermittcncy of the work as an excuse for neglecting them." In one factory where Miss Deane found a u Health Register "in use,4 the " periodical examination by the certifying sursreon resulted in a considerable number being transferred to ` other work/ M Size is oFopinion that in t hose places where bronzing is steady* ** * Tho introduction of an immensely improve*l form of bronzing machine^ with special exhaust ventilation attached to it seems to give some hope that this unwholesome process may be carried on with immunity. The machine is, however, an expensive one, and at present I have only seen it in a few places, where, however, the total freedom from any speck of dust, the speedy and economical work, the excellence of the results will (I am informed) shortly repay the cost of installation. I have seen a good deal of bronzing thi> year, but with the exception of the suggestion regarding the supply of milk, I have not found that the voluntary special rules have been in general attended to. Of all injurioos dnsty processes of which I have again in' 1906 received repeated (in) Pi complaints, none, I believe, surpass in injuriousness to the workers the sieving, pre adt* I paring, carding and spinning processes in manufacture of asbestos. The following is a fpfwUi characteristic complaint :~--u Asbestos manufacture . . . noxious dust from carding ( engines and breaker. The breaker, colloquially railed the 4 Devil,' produces a great deal of dust; there are two fans in the room, but the** are not connected with the machines, so that they merely circulate the dust. Girls from 14 upward.** look ;ut* r the machines. A fortnight after the* place is swept down tiie dust lies half an inch thick on the beams." . --------- ---- I visited this factory with Miss Martindale and found the exhaust totally inadequate through (he lack of purposefulness in the manner of installation. The complaint gave hut a mild indication of the thick, fog-like atmosphere of dust that we found. Wherever carding and preparing processes are in progress in sucli works, unless exhaust ventilation in closely applied with suitable hoods and ducts to the point of generation of the dust, I have found that the atmosphere is. of a thick whiter*yellow consistency with .larger particles floating about therein. . As we reported in 1898, microscopic examination of this mineral dust shows, the-sharp jagged nature of the particles, and wherever they .are allowed in this manner to remain suspended in the air, injury, more, or le>s serious, ensues for the respiratory organa of the workers. At every.visit such notes ensue from inspectors as the following:-- ' -. r * . . * Hum IfartiiuiaU.--ltU Factory . L.K., aged 15 years, entpioyeri six mon4jta^a*gllfl.bl_|i*ndJ ... is excessively boons sod suffers much from morning cough. She campumetfoi lbs at ' ` effect of the dost on her health ; has not consulted a doctor. M.P., employed two years' on * .tasiug machines; very hoarse, and suffers from a bad couch ; complains tbit some asbestos is mow doss? than the kind at which she is at present working. . . . '2nd Factory: One woman complained of bronchitis, ami a few stated that they suffered from a morning cough ... about three weeks ago a spinner died of consumption. Visited her home to enquire, and found that she died at 24 rears of age after working .dx years as asbestos spinner; for three rears she had suffered from a morning coach, and for the last 10 months of her life was ouaM# to work: none of her relations had suffered from consumption. ' ' 1 Mach time for patient research among workni? who have dropped out of thin employment is necessary More any true idea cun lie formed of the effect of* the process. *' . Miss Beane re-visited recently for me the asbesto liicil-!1 _ __ to you m 1898 on account of marked injury at.that time to the health of the workers There a greatly improved installation of exhaust ventilation was applied to the carding machines, and Miss Deane reports now that there is far less complaint of injury to health. In one very large asbesto* works in the textile district of Lancashire an excellent system of exhaust ventilation has been applied to every machine, and it is rej>orted that the health record is good. The complete roister of this special class of works, which you have had compiled for our use, will materially aid * us in -bringing all into a better condition. Miss Paterson is following up the question as regard* Scotland and the North of England. . Similar complaint* are received in regard to preparing processes in a large Northern silk fixetory where waste silk is dealt with. In most respects the health conditions, as regards du>t, remain there much as they were when we lirst reported on them. The firm / hove been repeatedly instructed and given opportunity and ample time to try various methods of dust extinction with little result. . ; J/*w .Synire.--l revisited the combing sheds after au interval of 16 months, and I regret that I foam! the condition of one of these as bad as I have ever found it. It is most disheartening that after Tears the workers should he exposed to nearly the same conditions. I bare just read again or reports of 1201 and 1204, aad I find that they accurately represent the present conditions. I was met last week with the same complaints from the women as in former yearn: **thedustiaas bad orworse than ever it was"; " we are choked "; u we cannot some days touch fond.** They came round me, eager to pour out their complaint?, and blamed me for noring away so long. It is true that some further means of ventilation had been provided, but previous mistakes had been repeated, owing to the firm's relying on their own unscientific authols. la this shed 1 found 18 hoods ("connected hv pipes with a central tmnk communica* ting with a fan) placed over IS w shakers.'* These hod been nut up some months before. The women and men complained that these had made matters worse, and that "the hoods beat the doss down." This seemed to me the case, and l found the hoods choked with dost. I got a member of the firm to inspect the hoods with me, and hv acknowledged that they were blocked. He promised to have them cleaned out. I arranged to visit the following week and ?ee the system at its best. K.31. Inspector, Mr. McCaghey. at mv request accompanied me to test the hood* with the anemometer. The instrument showed that there was no draught at all, except a down draught at oae of the pair of hoods nearest the fan. In the same shed six larger hoods hire been placed over six of the shaken, and here, although there appeared to be little remit and the women said they hud made no difference, the anemometer registered a velocity of 1.180 Um-ar feet per second, and 5lt> linear feet at the other tested. The smdl in this shed va meet offensive and the dust so irritating that 1 suffered considerably the wt of the day, as oo former occasions. It was of the dost of this shed that Dr. hegge reported ; Tfc* dost consists of debris of the chitmoas horny skin of the pupsv case M the silkworm together with portions of the body of tho larva . . . there were present au enormous nomb~r of hook-iike structures, which were probably portions of the ihomtir and. abdominal segments of the horny pupa case. The whole of the dust was more or ires tilIgff"together by interlacing silk fibres, but tho dust is so heavy that it can be easily separated by the least touch ... it may be described as silk worm rather than silk dns|. . . . Tho inhalation of the kind of dost described must be injurious. I am informed that the firm are considering the adoption of machinery to fn*e the material from dost before it comes to the carding. This coarse lias been urged upon the firm again and again without result. * In the other combing shed the conditions were (by comparison) pretty fair, hut in one bay, in which the first combing is done, the dust was terrible, aud bitter complaints were made by, the women. This bay is not affected by the overhead fans in ether parts of tho shod. la my opinion to make the large fans effective, warmed air should be admitted at a sufficient height from the floor. `, Another room, previously described, is "till very bad with ica clumsy wooden covers and ducts at right angles to the main duet. The new adjoining room, where downward suction has been provided, was a pleasant relief here, although elsewhere the conditions would rme k~ called'`good." ***.* <n me aan oq tier health ; has not consulted a doctor. M.P., employed two years' on ? .teasing machines; very hoarse, and suffers from a bad conch: complains that some asbestos is more dost? than the kind at which she is at present working. . . . *2ui Factory One woman complained of bronchitis, and a few stated that they suffered from a morning congh ... aboot three weeks ago a spinner died of consumption. Visited her home to enquire, and found that she died at 24 yean of age after working sis years as asbestos spinner; for t three years she had suffered from a morning congh, and for the last 10 months of her life wit onalde to work: none of her relations had suffered from cousnmption, * Mach time for patient research among workers who have dropped oat of this employment is necessary }>et'orc any true idea can l>e formed of the effect of; the process. '' . Miss Deane re-visited recently for me the asbestos tf'fri3*uu which-! StjxiciaHy reported* to yon is 189S on account of marked injury at. that time ro the health o the workers There a greatly improved installation of exhaust ventilation was applied to the carding machines, and Miss Deane reports now that there is far Ie*> complaint of injury to health** la one very large asbestos* works in the textile district, of Lancashire an excellent system of exhaust ventilation has been applied co every machine, and it is reported that the health record is good. The complete roister of this special class of works, which you have hod compiled for our use, will materially aid'ius in bringing all into a better condition. Miss Paterson is following up the question as regards Scotland and the North of England. . Similar complaiuts are received in regard to preparing processes in a large Northern silk factory where waste silk is dealt with. In most respects the health conditions, as regard* dust, remain there much os they were when we Jim reported on them. The firm hare beta repeatedly instructed and given opportunity and ample time to try various methods of dust extraction with little result. , ; J/m* Squire.--I revisited the combing sheds after au interval of 16 months, and I regret that I foam! the condition of one of these as bad as I have ever found it. Tc is most disheartening that after years the workers should he exposed to nearly the same conditions. I hare jost read asaia my reports of 1001 and 1904, aad I find that they accurately represent the present " conditions. I -was met last week with the same complaints from the women as in former years: * the dost is as bad or worse than ever it was "; u we are choked ; w we cannot some days touch foml." They came round me, eager to pour out their complaint?, and blamed me for saying away so long. It is true that Home further means of ventilation had been provided, ' bat pevvioas mistakes had been repeated, owing to the firm's relying on their own unscientific metitois. In this shed I found 18 hoods fconnected by pipes with a central trunk communica ting with a fun) placed over 13 u shakers." These had been put up some months before. The women and men complained that these bad made matters worse, and that "the hoods beat the dust down." This seemed to me the case, and 1 found the hoods choked with dust. I got a member of the firm to inspect the hoods with me, and hr acknowledged that they were blocked. lie promised to have them cleaned out. I arranged to visit the following week and mc the system at its best. K.M. Inspector, Mr. McCaghey, at mv request accompanied me to test the hoods with the anemometer. The instrument showed that there was no draught at all, except a down draught at one of the pair of hoods nearest the fan. In Che same shed six larger hoods hire been placed over six of the shakers, ami here, although there appeared to be little result and the women said they luid made no difference, the anemometer registered a velocity of 1,130 Hn*<ir feet per second, and M<* linear feet at the other tested. The sroWI in this shed was moc; offensive and the dust so irritating that I suffered considerably the rest of the day, aa on former occasions. It wjui of the (last of this shed that Or. l.egge reported : Th<> dust consists of debris of the chitinous horny skin o/ the pupa case of the silkworm together with portions of the body of the larva . . . there were present aa enormous number of hook-like structures, which were probably portions of the tliomtio and abdominal segments of the horny pupa cose. The whole of the dust w:ts mure or less tiilcdtogether by interlacing silk fibre?, but tho dust is so heavy that it be easily separated by the least touch ... it may be described ns silk worm rather than silk dus|. . . . The inhalation of the kind of dust described must be injurious. I am informed that the firm are considering the adoption of machinery to free the material from doss before it comes to the carding. This course has been urged upon the firm again and again without resale '* '* In the other combing shed the conditions were (by comparison) pretty fair, but in one bay, in which the first combing ie done, tho dust was terribly, uuu bitter complaints were made by. the women. This bay is not affected by the overhead funs in ether parts <f the shed. In my opinion to make the large fans effective, warmed air should be admitted at a sufficient height from the floor. `_ Another room, previously described, is still very bad with its clumsy woodco covers and * ducts at right angles to the main duet. Tho new adjoining room, where downward faction has been provided, was a pleasant relief here, although elsewhere the condition? woold not bo called " good." *