Document zQ1vRvZbr5Y3kBbwRNg2wannB

April $, 1955 LESTER 7. GRILLE! PITTSBORQH UH. JOHN D. HARPER ROCKDALE Rei HDUSTRIAL HTQIEME In oar reoent discussion on the general abject of industrial hygiene, it aas suggested that this topio be further considered and that the starting point sight sell be a description of the soope and type of activity of industrial hygiene ooemittees in other plants. To date, industrial hygiene aoss&ttees; asv^aotive in about three-fourths of our plants. These ooaaitteea, in general, consist of tbs works Manager and personnel eanager, ex offioio, plus senior representatives free the ether in terested departments, suoh as production, engineering, laboratories, metallurgy, aedioal, safety, etc. Thus, all interested groups are brought into the orerail piofeurs of health hasard evaluation and control, the effects on production, personnel relations, etc. The work of tha industrial hygiene ooenittee in a new plant differs from that in an old one in that working conditions are generally good froa the start. The wain activity of the coaaittee falls intoi 1. The Maintenance of good working environments} 2. Ferreting out those ainor areas which aay need further consideration} 3* Periodic checking those areas or operations that present potential health haaardsj and It* Providing information which nay be useful in alleged compensation eases. Thus, the first task of the oesadttee is to obtain a complete picture of all operations which may in themselves, or because of the manner in which Ma terials are handled, present health hasarda. These specific operations are than studied to determine Aether any further control aay be needed. They are also put on a parlodio inspection schedule for reoheck. The eeoond task is to exaaine new Materials, changes in operations, etc., to prevent the creation of new health hasarda. The third task is to furnish factual information which aay be helpful in coepeneation eases. This includes, among other things, a permanent record of all teats asds and tha setting up of sons reasonable aeana of obtaining levels of exposures of workmen to hassrdous Materials. This, in gansrml, covers the broad pioturs of industrial hygiene. It is a preventive program in that it alms to recognise and/or correct potential conditions before they have a ohanoe to booome real health hasarda. It is our opinion that an industrial hygiene coaaittee will be most useful in this con nection. le ourselves will also be glad to be of whatever help poseibis. LVC/db cm Dr. D. A. Irwin Mr. & T. Mhiteel laster . Crallay rt,n7 411082 040/