Document xzJrDYjYvwdDaZ75MwOz70kaJ

EXTRACT PRCA1 TEE 3CUTH AFRICAN MINING &. ENGINEERING JOURNAL XaNUaRY 15th, 1928. a report on the subject of asbestosis on the Shabanie Mines which has recently been prepared by Dr. A..J. Ireland, chief medical officer, states:- "My service, as medical office to this group of mines, extends for a period of over 16 years. During this I have interested ayself in the dust problem in the mills and mine in its relation to pulmonary affections. On the 10th May, 1932, I submitted a report giving full details of the service and health records of all European ai Ilmen who had been subjected to our highest con centrations of dust. I decided to confine myself to this group of employees, as in all other occupations on the mine the dust problem appeared negligible. _t this stage I came to the conclusion that no genuine case of pulmonary asbestosis or any other form of fibrosis of an occupational nature could be ascribed to the asbestos mining industry of Shabani. Since 1932 I have con tinued my investigations, clinically and radiologlcally, in health and dis ease, and have satisfied myself that there are, at the moment, no indications of asbestosis becoming a menace to the industry in Shabani. During the present year I have X-rayed all miIlmen in the service of the mine whose record of service I append hereto. These films have been submitted to the scrutiny of Dr. Irvine, chairman of the Miners' Phthisis Board, Johannesburg, with en tirely negative results. It has been my experience that the miIlmen, in general, have maintained a very high standard of health, and in no case has there been any symptomatic indication of a gradually developing fibrosis, heights have been maintained, and in many cases there has been a considerable gain; there has been no dyspnoea or lassitude or other signs of pulmonary in involvement. Same of the men with long service have at different times presented themselves at the Miners' Phthisis Board for examination, and I am not able to record a single instance where a "red ticket" has not been initially granted or withdrawn on re-examination. ** During the present year the system of radiologlcally-controlie a medical examinations has been extended to underground workers. It is proposed that re-examinations will be conducted at intervals of one year, so that in the course of the next few years it will be possible to review the subject from mining as well as mill occupations. It is interesting to note that among our miners we have several with ante-primary silicosis. These men are re quired to be re-examined every two years either by the Miners' Phthisis Board or by a medical officer nominated by the board or Medical Director of Southern Rhodesia. In no case have there been any signs of development to a further stage. In conclusion, 1 can, without hesitation, say that no anxiety need be entertained in regard to the asbestos mining industry, where adequate provis ion is made for good ventilation ana the protection of the millnen by the use of suitable dust filtering respirators as are used on this property*'. CH 0095