Document zdp52y43awreD70LOm97YbKnB

r* Industrial Hygiene Digest October, I960 to study. The distillers themselves are deeply interested in many aspects ol alcohol pri marily as a beverage and hot as a drug. It is hoped, however, that in view of the increasing technological resources which one can now bring to bear on this problem definitive answers will be forthcoming and a real solution to the problem of alcoholism will be found. 1029 The Work Performance of Epileptics in Industry, M, M, Udel. Arch. Environmental Health _1_, 257-264 (Sept. I960). fel Data presented indicate that the group of epileptics studied are capable of normal work performance as hypothesized. It is recognized that the sample was too small and that an inherent bias existed in this group, as described, so that it is not possible to make the same claim for all epileptics. In this group satisfactory work was demonstrated, by the cri teria suggested, even though only 12 cases were known to have achieved clinical control of seizures. On the basis of these observations it appears reasonable to conclude the following: (1) Discriminatory practices against hiring epileptics are unwarranted if based on the general notion that epileptics as a group have high accident rates, poor absence records, and low pro duction efficiency. (2) Any applicant with epilepsy must be appraised individually as to his capacity for employment and the degree of his impairment for proper placement or rejection. (3) The relevant host factors in appraising an epileptic are the degree of seizure control and the type of associated defect where present. (4) Since most epileptics will deny seizures when applying for employment, it is perhaps better to have a receptive policy for hiring and job security. This may encourage cases to admit the problem and permit industry an oppor tunity to appraise and place them more effectively, (5) Perhaps the industrial physician should take a more active role in supervising the epileptic employee through achievement and maintenance of seizure control, since there is clinical evidence that 75% of epileptics can have control, thus removing attacks as a barrier to employment. , -- Author's conclusions ACCIDENTS AND PREVENTION Safety in the Use of Abrasive Wheels. Ministry of Labour h National Service. H. M. Factory Inspectorate. Safety, Health & Welfare, n. s. No. 4. H.M. Stationery Office, London. 64 pp. (Aug, 1959). 4s. This booklet is intended to advise on precautions for the prevention of accidents in the use of abrasive wheels. The risk of breakage is inherent in every such wheel, and if the frequency of breakage is to be kept low the initial care exercised by the makers of wheels and machines must be coupled with the adoption of sound safety measures by the users. The booklet deals with the risk of injury resulting from wheel breakage, contact with the running wheel, and projection of the work. Under the heading Protection Against Bursts the importance of wheel guards is stressed. These should always be used: (1) to contain the wheel parts in the event of a burst; (2) to protect the wheel against inadvertent damage; (3) to prevent as far as possible, the operator coming into contact with the wheel; and (4) to prevent an over size wheel being fitted. Another section on the operation of abrasive wheels gives advice on the truing and dressing of wheels, wheel balance, grinding solutions, protection of the eyes, and the grinding of magnesium alloys. Further sections of the booklet deal with portable grinders, mounted wheels and points, and abrasive cutting-off wheels; and there is a useful summary of operating precautions. -- Cond. from Bull. Hyg. t=3 03120653 32.