Document zoGwGbjkGozqbZGYYvbDnw117
FILE NAME: National Safety Council (NSC)
DATE: 1934 Oct
DOC#: NSC058
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Transactions of the NSC - 23rd Annual Safety Congress
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1934 TRANSACTIONS
N ; a t i o n ; a : l , }i : S i f e | p
C ou n cil
In co rp o ra te d
TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL SAFETY CONGRESS
CONTENTS
CoundlO fficersand Directors............. ......... .................................. Council Purposes and Pollcie....................... ........................................ .; Annual Meeting of Membersv... ............... ..................................... Annual Banquet ....................................................................... ............... Subject Sessions--
; Duet in Industry..................... .................................. ....................... Fire Prevention in Industry..........! .............................................. Fusion Welding and C utting............................ .............................. Industrial Nursing ......... .............. ........................................ . -- Industry and It* Motor Vehicle Accident Problem................... Maintaining Interest in S afety.............................. ........... ......... Mechanical Method of Handling Materials...... ..................... New Woritern .................................................................................... Poisonous Fume* and Vapor*................................ ....................... Safety, Equipment ............................................. .......................... Safety Organisation and Program................................................. Safe Use of Chemicals in Industry................................................ Safe ,,Uae of Electricity in Industry............................................... The Injured ;'Worker......................................................................
'W hy; People F a...................................................................... ........ A ll.Ohio,Day.............................................................. ............................... FKRA Safety Conference...................................................................... Industrial Safety Lectures--
Seing.'.the Safety Id ea .. . . . ..................................................... The Psychology of the Safety Movement in Changing Times Accident Prevention Equipment Manufacturers' Section.'.............. Aeronautical Section ................................................................................ A. S. S. E.--Engineering Section....................................................... Automotive and Machine Shop Section........................... .................. , Cem entSection ___ _____ . . . . . ; ............................................. ............ Chemical >Section . . . i................................ ............................................ Construction Section . . ........ ......... ......... .......... ............ . . . . . . . . . . . Delivery, Taxicab and Bus Section...................................................... r;Food Section-o............... ......................................................... .................. ;;Marine;Section:v........................... ............. ............ ..................... . Meat Packing, Tanning and Leather Industries Section.................. i McWdsiSaction ................................................. ......... ............................... Minin' Section .......................................... ................. ........ ..... Paper and Pulp Section.......................................................................... Petroleum Section . ......................... ........................... ........... . . . . . . Power Press Section................................................................................ Public |Utilities Section............................................................................. Quarry S e c tio n .......................................................................................... Refrigeration S e c tio n _____________________ .......................... Rubber Section ............................. .............. .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety Section, ARA--Steam Railroad Section, N SC ........ ............. Textile Section ................................................................................... Transit Section ......................................................................................... Wood Product* Section............... .......... ............... ................... ..... Indes ............................................................................................................
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National Safety Council
Incorporated
HONORARY MEMBERS
A ssociation- ok I ron and S tef.i. E lectrical E ngineers R obert W . Campbell A rthur W illiams
OFFICERS (1934-1935)
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John E. Long, President. :
Robert I. C atlin, Vice-President for Public Safety,
D. D. F ennell, Vice-President for Public Relations.
Lew R. P almes, Vice-President for Safety Councils.
A lbert S. ; R egula, Vice-President for Engineering.
C. W. S m ith , Vice-President fo r Industrial Safety.
R. T. S olensten, Vice-President for Membership.
Dit. C. H. W atson, Vice-President for Health.
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A. W . W hitney, Vice-President for Education.
W , E. W orth, Vice-President for Finance and Treasurer.
W. H. Cameron, Managing Director and Secretary.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (1934-1935)
A. L. A rmstrong, Eastman Kodak Company
C. B. A uel, P ast -President.
J. 1. B a n a s h ,; Past President.
C. W . B ergquist, Past President.
F. W . B ra un, Wood Products Section.
W . H. Cameron, National Safety Council.
R obert W .' Campbell, Past President.
T. H. Carrow, American Railway Association.
R obert L C atlin, Aetna Casualty & Surety Company.
J. E. Culliney, Bethlehem, Steel Company,
I ewis A, D eB lois, Past President. -
M arcus A. Dow, Past President.' D D. F ennell, Consulting Engineer.
O. L. Kf.nne.ll, Kansas City Safety Council.
Capt. E. W . F xske, Jr., Marine Section.
R B. F ortuin, Lehigh Valley Safety Council.
H arry Guilbert, The Pullman Company.
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Merle C. H ale, Automotive & Machine Shop Section.
S. T. H f.llm utii, Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad Co.
Hon. H arold G. H offm an, Street & Highway Traffic Section.
'Thomas P. K earns, Industrial Commission of Ohio.
VTalter G. K ing, Past President.
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Officers and Directors ..........................
F ranklin M. K rf.ml, Evanston Safety Council.
John E. Long, T h e Delaware & Hudson Railroad Corp.
T hos, H . M acD onald, United-States.[Department of Agriculture.
E, J. Mehseh, Portland 'Cement.-Association,'
I. W. MlOUitm,'Accident Prevention Manufacturers' Section.
H arold L. M iner, E .T . duPont dc Nemours & Co., Inc.
A rthur T. :M orey, P ast President.
L ew R ,'; P almer, P a st President.
C. E, P ettibone, Past President.
C. E. R alston, W estern Pennsylvania Safety Council.
A lbert S. R egula, :Industrial Relations Counselors, Ine.
Lt. Col. H. A. Reninger, P ast President.
George E. S anford, General Eletcric Company.
R obert L. S chmitt, Louisville Safety Council.
H arry A. S chultz,' United States Steel Corporation.
C harles B. S cott, Past . President
Lester D. S eymour, Aeronautical Section.' f;
C. W . S m ith , Standard Oil Company (Indiana).
W alter D ent S m itiL Delaware Safety Council.
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R. T. Solensten, Elliott Service Company. ;
Clarence P; T aylor, "Massachusetts Safety Council. ./
C. P. T qlman, P ast President
J. A. Voss, Metals Section
George H . W arfel, Union Pacific Railroad Company.
Ds. C. H. W atson, American Telephone & Telegraph Company,
A. W. W hitney, National Bureau of Casualty & Surety Underwriters
W. E. W orth, International Harvester Company.
-A rthur H. Y oung, Past President.
DIRECTORS (1934-1935)
F rederick A rcher, Child Education Section.
W illiam F. A rdern, Safety Div., Milwaukee Association of Commerce,
A. L, A rmstrong, Eastman Kodak Company.
W illiam H . B aker, Q uarry Section.
J. I. B a n a s h , Consulting Engineer.
H. D. B anta, Paper & Pulp Section.
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E rnest W .; B eck, United States Rubber Products, Inc.
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W. A. B ennett, W orcester Safety Council.
C. W . B ergquist, W estern Electric Company.
D avid S. B eyer, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.
E. F . B lank , Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp.
C F. B orkenhagen, Kenosha Safety Counicl.
F. W. Braun, Wood Products Section.
Col. P hil H. B rockman, St. Louis Safety Council.
P reston D . C allum, Baltimore Safety Council.
W. H. Cameron, National Safety Council.
T. H. C arrow, American Railway Association.
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Robert I. Catlin, Aetna Casualty & Surety Co.
Carl C. C lements, Refrigeration Section.
U o ii oe IX C om ljji, R ahw ay S afety C ouncil.
IL H iriurt Corson, Safety Dept., Nashville Giambcr of J. E. C u l lin iy , Bethlehem Steel Company. E dward D a n a , Boston Elevated Railway. K A D avidson, Consulting Engineer. R ichard H . D avis, Blackstone Valley Safety Council.
Commerce,
C harles D. D aw son, Grand Rapids Safety Council.
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Lewis A. D eB lois, Consulting Engineer.
J ay E. D ecker, Mason City Safety Council
James B. D ouglas, T h e ' Philadelphia Gas W orks Company.
IAims I. D ublin, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
C harles H. E am es, Textile Section.
0 . D. F ennell, Consulting Engineer.
D. L. F ennell, Kansas City Safety Council. D onald A. F inkbeiner, Toledo Safety Council.
; Ca it . E. W . F iske, J r.,. M arine, Section.
H oward B. F onda,. Burroughs Wellcome & Co. (U . S. A .) Inc.
R. B F ortuin, Lehigh Valley Safety Council.
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` N. Goldstine, Construction Section.
O r ho M. Graves, Tl>c General Crushed Stone Co.
- H arry Guilhert, The Pullman Company.
I saiah H ale, The Atchison, T opeka-& Santa Fc Railway Co.
M erle C, H ale, Automotive it Machine Shop Section.
M ator Bolling H. H andy, Richmond Safely Council.
D T.' H arrington, r-United States Bureau of Mines.
G. T. H ellmuth, Chicagofi N orth Shore & Milwaukee R. R. Co.
C has. E. H ill, N ew ' York Central Lines.
H on. H arold G. H offm an, Street & Highway Traffic Section
Claude J. H olding, Albany Safety Council.
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J ulius W. H orrk, Hudson County Safety Council.
H arrv D. I mmel, Pennsylvania Dept, of Labor Sc Industry.
L ex Jen sen, Berkeley Traffic Safety Commission.
/E dgar P. K able, Y ork Comity Safety Council. -
. T homas P. K earns, Industrial Commission of Ohio.
K . ;T, /K eller,/ .Detroit Industrial Safety Council.
I ra V K fpnfr, Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. E. J. K peh, Public Utilities Section.
F ranklin M. K reml, Evanston Safety Council.
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C I . I .aF o untaine, Great N orthern Railway Co. F rank J. L a n a h a n , F ort P itt Malleable Iron Co. John I.auf.rm an, Meat Packing, Tanning fi: Leather Industries Section,
S imon L azarus, Safety Council, Columbus (O hio) Chamber of Commerce,
Joseph L illich, Rochester Safety Council,
D r, R. M. Little, New York Department of Education.
--G. (), Lockwood, Petroleum Section,
j. E. Long, The Delaware & Hudson Railroad Corp.
W. R. Lovn, Safety Div., Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.
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Officers and Directors
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/ E, Lundsteaht, Delivery, Taxicab & Bus Scctioa. 1 raos, H . M acDonald, United States Department of Agriculture.
I , T. M cA rthur, Peoria Safety Council. Minus* McCuntock, H arvard University.
'f 1H. M cK ennky, Illinois Steel Company, South Works. A . D. M cW horter, Safety D iv., Memphis Chamlx;r of Commerce.
I T . M artin, Fisk Rubber Company. J O, M artin, Employees' Publication Section, b W . M atson, Minnesota Safety Council.
E. : J." Mehren, :Portland Cement Association.
T O. M eisner, Power, Press Section.
V"m. G. M etzger, Mining Section,
f. W. Mxu.ard, Accident Prevention Equipment Manufacturers' Section. E) Aiitocn Iv Miner, E . I.: duPont dc Nemours & Co,, Inc.
jH*:nry J. Mineur, Elizabeth S afetyC ouncil. > L '.whence M. Moosus, Eastbay Safety Council.
R B. Morlf.y , Industrial Accident Prevention Associations.
Jc un A. O artel, Carnegie Steel Company,
GroacF, C. A. Off, The Detroit Edison Company.
L;:w R. P almer, Equitable Life Assurance Society.
Jo hn C. P arker, Brooklyn Safety Council.
D avid 'A. P atton, Newark Safety Council.
C E. P ettibone, American Mutual Liability Insurance Company.
G -n . George B. P illsbury, W ar D epartm ent J. B. P ower, Seattle Traffic & Safety . Council.
C E. R alston, W estern Pennsylvania Safety Council.
A lbert S. R egula, Industrial Relations Counselors, Inc.
Lt,,. Col. H enrv A. R eninger, /Lehigh Portland Cement Company. M a r in u s Rites, `P aterso n 'Safety Council.
G ,\E, S anford, General Elctcric Company.
H enry G. S chaffner, E rie Safety Council.
T, A. S chkndel, Food Section.
Robert I~ S chmitt, Louisville Safety Council.
H V. Schreiber, T ransit Section. I '
H arry A. Schulte, United States Steel Corporation.
Charles B. Scott, Bureau of Safety, Inc.
Li ater D. Seymour, Aeronautical Section.
E ..rl S. S hartzer, Utica Safety Council.
Ray H. S heets, Madison; County Safety Council.
D il L. A. S houby, Bethlehem Steel Company.
Ki-nest L. Simonds, New Haven Safety Council.
L ni E. S kefjl, Cleveland Safety Council.
C. W . S mith, Standard Oil Company (Indiana).
W alter D ent S m ith,'D elaware Safety Council.
R, T , Solensten, Elliott Service Company.
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E C, S pring, Lansdalc, Pa,
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Gi urge R. Stephens, Safety Bureau, Buffalo Chamber of Commerce,
L u n u a S. Storus, United Railway* & Electric Co.
Twenty-third Animal Safety Congress
Dr. F. M. S ulzman, Troy Safety Council.
Alfred II. S wayne, General .M otors'Corporation.........................................
Clahence P. T aylor, Massachusetts Safety Council.
Asth ur M. T ode. Consulting Marine Engineer.
W . W , T rench, Schenectady Safety Council.
\V. D, T urbeville, San Antonio Safety Council. ;;
I J. A. Voss, Metals Section. H. A. W alker, Rubber Section.
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Gforge H . W arff.l, Union Pacific Railroad Company.
D r,-C a ssius II. W atson, An>cn'cau Telephone & Telegraph Company.
H arry M. W fbber, Illinois Bell Telephone Company.
Ai bfjrt C. W hite, Jr., Springfield Safety Council.
S. K. W hiting, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.
A. W. W h itney, National Bureau of Casualty & Surety Underwriters.
W. H. W inanls, Union Carbide & Carbon Corp.
D r. C.-E, A. W inslow, .:Yale Medical School. ;
H arry W ise, Sr., Chattanooga Safety Council.
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J, M. W oltz, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company W. E. W orth, International Harvester Conrany.
E. J. Z auft, Safety Bureau, Duluth Chamber of Comtncrcc.
E arl W . Z im merm an. Safety Div., Syracuse Chamber of Commerce,
j . B. Zook, Cement Section.
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FRIDAY AFTERNOON SESSION
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October 5, 1934
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The session devotedhto a discussion of Dust in Industry was called to i rik.i \>j
Dr, E, G. Mciter, Director, Indpstrial Hygiene laboratory, Employers Muttml -Lia- j
bihty rc>urancr Co., Milvraukcs, who presided. Dr. Mcitcr briefly welcomed th
delegates and then introduced the first speaker.
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Type of Dust That Cause Occupational Disease'
B y L E R O Y U . GARDNER, M.D.
Dkctcr, Saranac L ab o rato ry for th e Study of Tuborculod, of th E dw ard LT rudeau Foundation, Saranac Lsk, N . Y.
The speaker vaid in p a rt: Experience ha* demonstrated that the lung tissue's
tan to ^ ra tc very large amounts of most kinds of foreign dust particles without^ '>
serious interference with function. The lung may be intensely pigmented by color!
i dusts vrith to evidence that respiration is impaired. But dusts composed, in whole 1
l i t os in >fart, of silica liavc been shown to be dangerous because they stimulate the
growth of the connective tissues of the lungs and bring about the formation of scar m
tissue. This destroys the normal elasticity of the organ which is necessary for reipira ion and it thickens the delicate membranes so that a free inter gc Ot . t
gasses is impeded. Fortunately, these results only follow the prolonged inhalation
of verj .large quantities of silica.
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animEaxlp) erkimillesntsthehavceellsdewmhoenrsetrattheed sthubafstatnhcee inlojedcgteiosn anodf seixlicciatesintaon thineflatimssmueastioont. m
When healing takes place a very dense and characteristic kind of scar tissue form s.' ^
Most r on-siliceous dusts produce no inflammation and very little scar. I t has been
shown "bat such dianges do not follow the injection of silica unless the particles
arc vci f fine, three microns or less m diameter, and unless enough of tliem localise
in one area. W ith larger particles the rate of reaction is so slow that little' change ' ' ,
occurs within a year. As a general rule, the finer the particles, the moie rapid th e ,
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cdhdar response. The reaction;to fine silica begins within four or five hours and,
it cent unes for a period erf years.
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iff She silica is combined with bases in the form of silicates, it rarely produces' sfe1.
such active and progressive changes. Thc> silicate of magnesium, asbestos, does m . ,
cause She formation of scar tissue in experimental animals and in the human lung,1 -
but mi it other silicates aie not generally recognised as irritating. Recently ,it has, J ,`i
been ciarmed that a hydrated silicate of aluminum and potassium, called incite, '
j responsible for moi.t of the rases of silicosis. This silicate, a transformed feldspar, '
l l i i i l . is often associated with quart? and it has been identified in the lung; of parsons suf-
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; iering from silicosis. However, at least two ; sagnific:mt *eknges *; when* in je c te d ::*Into anim als.
Most observers now believe a th a t| uncombined; silica;, or,1quart*, is
the tissupKbccauselitiusJslowIyldissplvcd in 'th e ; fluids of; the .body. ^ G a rh d w (y lti ^ |^ g ^ ^ i p l
m ajority|of7be|cxpcrim ental|pbseryations'i <>r`,*ti n >ehjmirat !iniiirv'SftMitEifi!4frfffi- i
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77. cult; to; understand- h o w c n o u g h 'o f s u c h ...
`:;7 'dissol ved Jiwithin Ptig h t I,hoursi;;to f producea |`>
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tion4of scar7tissuej;as iafmanifestationiofp.healingj This theory is no lohger^tenjgble
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for/whcn;/animals ;iare/injectedIwith:o th c r^ rd fish a rp particles like diamond, carb o
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h im n r a l u m i n u m t n x iH < v 5;th fU -f//i< ::n nV in fln m m atirM v; a n rl n i-a i-tii-n tlv / n n ''.'{n m i!> (m n :`,: r
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;;7 )^When;iquartz|particles are inhaled they produce three specific effects which arc
not excited by any other type of dust yet ''studied. They alter1 th e behaviors;of3 thc;.v
-: ;1 pulmonary'phagocytes;|thcy stimulate the .formation of circumscribed Modules 'of /carp
tissue; and they; subsequently .increase the susceptibility; of the;lung to infection, espe ',
' ;<cially; tuberculous ;infcttion.
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7/:\ : '0 /Phagocytes^that ingest too many quartz particles' are killed by Shis irritating
}$,% sufetappci.'}?f'As'j.thc cells die they liberate their burden and several new phagocytes
comcf'out .to: take it, up again. . By a ,,repetition of this process enough phagocytes
accumulate so ith at many of them ingest only a few [articles. U nder such circum- :
stances the stimulus is not strong enough to kill but merely accelerates the motility
; -7 of the/cells. i/T hey naturally tend to leave the air spaces, enter the lymphatic ves
:p & scls/and]accum ulate in the lymph nodes. This process becomes more rapid under
ifthey.influcnce.jtof the irritating silica and very considerable numbers of particles ,
arc consequently localized in the nodes.
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;g(7;|>:A ftersix / or eight years the quartz in the, nodes has caused a marked over-
;;7ii grow thof/the-fibrous elements in these structures. Ultimately the reaction develops 1
to such an extent that the node is entirely replaced by a mass of coarse, glassy scar ;
tissue fibres,;ioften .several times as large as `the original node. Such nodules cm- 1
Til; croach -upon .and compress the lymphatic vessels. -The drainagesystem of' the d u n g ;
(Tv: is chokediand effective removal of subsequently inhaled dust is gradually diminished,;
y;i|; D ust' now/iaccumulatcs around the lymph scssel.s and sheets of scar tissue develop;
in this location. -
These preliminary changes do not constitute the disease, silicosis; they involve
only the ,,lymphatic system. The respiratory; tissues, are; not ?appreciably|,affccted. `
In good steroJX-ray films these preliminary changes /may be (visualized asiagthick-
ening and leading of the shadows cast by the blood vessels together with a widen
ing of the shadow of the root of the lung. The blood vessels are thickened because
the most importantlymphatic-'"vessels course through th e ir;walls. The beading is
due to the minute,; nodules of silicotic 'scar tissue in the lymph nodes (within t h e 1
lung.' The root-shadow is widened liccausc of the silicotic reaction in the lymph nodes in this! location
If still more dust is inhaled it can nc
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t i i u . i a i u v u t M n u m a u . i i u i n u . a i i i v .' i u t u i f t U U U ' VJl ; .T'V^U.l. u r U i k T U .
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a generalithickening of the septa between ;the,: spaces'; and modulation throughout ,
m the functional/portion of (th e lu n g . . This'; change/seriously/interferes;with(ffunctiisni as interchange 'of gas cannot take place through the thickened walls of the air; spaces and the tissues lose their normal elasticity. Less involved air spaces dilate and their walls stretch, -producing the condition known as emphysema, which is also incom patible with effective respiration
W ith the formation of silicotic nodules in the functioning [arts of the ,lung the
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disease silicosis, js said to begin! On the X-ray film such nodules cast clear cut,
ronnd >shadows. As they increase in -.numbers a n d ^ e ^ th e y f blot|(<mt^-thte^iowi<y}y|
Kc ecntv ;itt*l liiir-sur shadow s o f th e blood vessels, In a w ell inarkrofcaw l.M >^$tH M f
fields may be thickly seeded with hundreds -of/ su c h :.sh a ip ly ^ d e ^ i^ W p m d ^ ^ l^ u iarJ
shadow. W here there, is emphysema, often at the bases, no'm arkingsfarcjiyisiblc/
and tbi film appears black, ,
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The condition of silicosis is a progressive one and it continucs|tq|dcvclop;r .....
a nan tuts left his dusty occupation. Serious results only follow;?'-however;twhenlhe! leaves ,rith many nodules in the lung tissue-itself. As such nodulcs|incrcase}in'ii*c|
B .they;?.repla<xtdm portant^funcU oittlii,cleincnts:m O bviqusly.% thccoM m i^|grow dil.ot| only a few nodules situated fin Y t h c , lymphatic;:systcm:;Cpu!d ,,liave|littlc|cffcrt|qthcty| than tf increase the obstruction already present.
The serious part of silicosis is its frequent complication by tuberculosis.^T hw |
may arise front reactivation, of a prc-cxistantUatentiinfection or it may result from'
a new infection from without. The danger fofpirfectkm |sincnic\w ^
of silk-sts present. T he course of the infection in thefsilicotic is iwualtyl chronic|
and it nften fails,.to'produce characteristic: symptoms.'forilmonths or year* after"it*'
ouct Many times it is accidentally, discovered in ro u tin e fX |ra y Ie ^
groups >f active workmen/1 However, evidences'of disabilitylarelm iK ham or^
in siheo ic individuals with infection than:in those with ,wtcomplicat:edidi5casei|l;0 < ^ | i
Kianally tuberculosis may run a :very acute course in th e lisilfc o tie ts u b ^ ^ l^ ^ A M liil
alio tine in other persons. The cause of. the susccptibHftyfofftheTsilk^ tuberculous is not perfectly understood, but; it would,
silica cn the tissue* creates a medium favorable, for thefgrow;tK|'Q flth e |,b ^ ^ 'T h e' tubercle'sbacill i'' multiply'"'and''''ar slowly'':'progrMsivc/ttssiK5'||r<articmTienstM;%)Mit|
the usual clinical symptoms of tuberculosis are often, held, in abeyance for a;
time hc-ause the chances for absorption of: poisonous products of infection arc!
mired by the obstructed lymphatic system. I t 'i s also possible, that some ofj
poisons may be;;absorbed on the silica particles, as Cummins has' suggested. , Ulti-;
matcly rhe infection gains the. upper;hand,, symptoms-develop and death from
a culosis;tiM<;:i'
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'.rhe only: other type of; dust w hich; is t generally . recognised,as r a >cause of /sevcrc/i
pulmonary -injury', is asbestos, a silicate' of magnesium. T his substance* is* fibrous,?
in cbararler and is more readily soluble than quartz. Apparently the;
upper respiratory mechanisms seem inadequate to prevent the inhalation of.
"such''fitires' and even quite` long ones may penetrate into the finer bronchialh
The*c '"useture* have irregularities in their; walls which seem to hold the (
dusts. ln this location the asbestos particles' are surrounded and ingcstcd'by. j
cyles. T he cells do not scene to . be particularly irritated for they arc not espe
cially numerous nor do they migrate rapidly into cltunpsiasSinfthcs<asi-of|
ytes dialing with quartz. Apparently most of them /carry/thirilm rdcn ;of/a
fragmerIs directly" into the walls of. the?tubes, in which they .licl'/ The' mildjly|irr^
, Hatingovt*sct**upVa i proliferation of .-the-:connAiycltissue|;'cclls|in|th^walls|tuU:|;E
ing in <allar-likc thickening; off the? tubes;'/ Contraction ofithc; newfconnecti' " '
narrow* or closes the tut/ and/thereby shutsoff/the/ingressiof/air,,
pm pbet tl air spaces. ' These; spaces then collapse, a conditicm known asatelectasis/
This in itself is a cause of filirosis.o r 'scarring of lung- tissue.%Thc; result: is]avfibrosis] ^ of numerous relatively small /areas -in ^hc/lung due to ' thcFcoIIar-Iike?constricting;;
fibrosis ibout many small :terminal bronchial tubes.'`.The lymphatic system seems: *"''
p h y lit lc part in disposing of-asbestos dust and very ,insignificant amounts
dust an- found in the lymph nodes. _
>
....
Not a few eases of/asbestosis die of tuberculosis/ or / bronchopneumonia]:but;
prevalence of the former.infection is/probably.m uch less common than in silicosis.-;
m Survey of large groups, of asbestos workers'fail to reveal such a/high? inc
tnbercu)osis as found in ';similar.' studies on ?silica workers.
--The .in. ha.lati.on -of unusual amounts of non-silicecoouusfdduusstts:aappppaarreenntly?:;ffaails to s
duccjsiiinificant alterations in the lu n g./It ;isTof ?course:ipossib!c/that; injuriously.
nay u l'imately be discovered,but nonc ^re/recognized 'today.^T hefnon-sillcept^
particle, enter the lung-and arc ingested by/phagocytes as in theUase ofiquartz/i
cells, arc not stimulated to move very rapidly and as a consequence -many!of | them remain within the air spaces for a long time. Some, particularly those ccm-s
M
< 1^1 'h
iass
i bxcd ;witlv small aniounts ;of ,siiica? they set up a low tirade,1non-progressive chromic -o
j iflamniatiun. But ^this ^reaction Vresults'; only - in' a little' thickening in* the `lymph 11
1 odesTand about the lymphatic vessels.liThc lung tissue-may be variously pigmented,
l iack1from:coaror:rcd^rpm.;ir.on,'.but';there|is|no formation of scar tissue th a t`inter*
f tcs with function. Thcisusccptibility to tuberculosis ,of the person with such'pig
mentation is not incrcased fbut it is apparently quite% definite that pnewnooia* is `
unduly prevalent in coal miners and that chronic bronchitis' results from the inhala- ,
f on of .cement. The X -ray films of men;working in non-siliceous dusts shows either
nothing;at all or a more or less marked;accentuation of'the-linear shadows cast by
the blood; vessels. This, of-course, is due;tp;;the chronic inflammatory changes about
the lymphatic trunks in walls of blood vessels.
The effects o f1mixtures of free silica ;an d :non-siliccous materials are less clearly
d -fined and should receivem ore serious'attention. .I t would seem unwise to assume,
a . has been done in '.th e p a s t.ith a t the; non-siliceous substances serve, only as inert
<1 luents andi that only; the; q u artz'components of a dust is of significance. Expert-
|.S
u i-ntal and clinical data are; accumulating which suggest that a t'le a s t some other
tli.sts niay-m aterially niodifyltheiaction iof.iquartz, both in its capacity to produce
n< dular fibrosis in the-Ilungs.faitMly.toincrease.-'the susceptibility to tuberculosis. For ,
c* ample,.animals inhaling; heavy,'concentrations of a mixture of equal parts of pure
si iia and; hem atite;:dustiforTeight*hoursfa;'day over a - period of 14 months have
si ow nfnot; even i;the slightest;-indication `of nodule formation In the lung, whereas
pi -c quartz dust,-inhaled for. only two hours a day, produces; definite.nodulation.' It
al -o seems to be true that animals .inhaling such, a mixture arc much less susceptible
to tuberculosis#than ;those exposed5to pure;quartz. In .the; case of the human iron
m nrr.v some lungs;-;show; definite silicotic nodulation, others only a very few. nodtilcs
.u d tnany;ino'i;nodulcs'fat|aH. All cxhibit heavy, deposits ;of iron particles with a
icdtdar connective tissue reaction. W hen-these findings can be correlated with
cl'tm iral analysis of the lung ' tissues and the approximate amount of rock work
which these miners have performed, some relationship between , the exposure to
silica and the fibrous nodule formation may lie established. Tuberculosis; inSthesc
iron miners is apparently;dess prevalent and much less severe than in menhexposed
to pure silica.'^W hat; has. been; said of iron miners is alsolprobably true of; foundry
svo-leers and coal miners. It is generally accepted that men ;in the latter occupation
ban- less tuberculosis than the average for the age period; Cummins believes that
tin V have the infection but that it is so atypical and benign in its manifestations
th; t it escapes diagnosis.
Mention sh o u ld ' also he made of mixed d u sts like certain slates and granite
co itaining large amounts of free silica in combination with silicates. ;; Experimentally
tin st substances' behave atypically and do. not produce nodular fibrosis unless there
is complicating infection. The same may also be true in human beings. ;? Unqucs-
tio ably such dusts arc capable of producing typical silicotic nodules and they pre-
d r pose .' to tuberculosis. From a theoretical standpoint they should. receive .much
mi <c intensive study to clarify our views on the whole subject. A t the present? time
it appears that the action, of their quartz component is modified and partially ncu-
tralia-ed by the other substances which they contain.
Using Exhaust Systems and Respiratory Equipment To Protect Workers Exposed to Dust
* By STUART W .1GURNEY srnd DAVID S. BEYER Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Boston
The speaker said in p art: A .number of our states .have had references to d u st. elir nation in their labor laws for a good many years, but 110 state has a.s yet thoioughly enforced these laws. The codes of five states which wc investigated provide that grinding, buffing and polishing wheels should be exhausted, although two of the states exempt from these provisions wheels on which water is used.
T T h i s ^sO Tm srill^dvw cti'iincc.i*s tu d y o f w rtiand: d ry g rin d in g |in5!Cohne> tsc-ut by
W tnslow And G reenburghas shhoowwn M at*. the ! application ?of;.water t doe,- not ` by f any
toi
' means eliminate? the d u st1hazard. I t 'inayibcnrcnwrkcdi'that^iwith;'__e_v_c_r_y_t_h_in__g_ie_l_i_e_l_e_q_M__a_l_i_'i_ia_t_.h_ig_hlst.a.t.i.c.i.-sM`Ctioow..millI
gri c i a" highcrliyclwity]; at i thc;:p o in to f ;origin j of'Jthc idust^|i^nK,f orjga*Xthan ja ji l o w l l l p l l f f f
o*k:; but tlm ialonc is not fa' im a s u re ! of ;the^effcctiv ram fo f ; any; exhaust i's y ^ O T i t f i p S l I p i
\ \ isconsin'`tapiadopted the' principle of specifying!;lim itpqJthc|num berfofJ^
patticles?of{rcspirableisi*c :pcr fcubic^ ' ' *' `
"
-- .......... --
!
primarily^interested in, to keep 1
-will .not|be|haraifnl.'. ' ' '
...... ........ . ......... ... ..,....._ .....r ^ .........i.rii...
These vivariationstandiccmflictingTprovisions fin statefeodes finercly|T cflcctfthc|gni-||p||]|!p||S
cr .il lack -of Iauthoritativestandards,;!; I t !is ;a c oe rd in g ly iW o rtu n ate ^ th a td c 5 n itc ste p sf|i|S |||p ^
a r- now being taken by the sA nKrican'Standards' Association t o / develop the proper
basis for such codes.. T here^arcjtw o-com m ittees ;w o rk in g !o n !th is! problem; the' ,
A
**A M M , 4 4 a A *lVB A A A l A A M A i J U k , V k A <VA AAA ---*A A M .O -------A.
M M fl# }' M- toi\ T ft._ "i
'
... . t
. five specific subjects: Abrasive , , V ' i l
cl<aning,';chrom ium plating,! granite cutting! rockTdrillingr,-!andspray*coating. Irf
, rJtSfel
ad,dtion, a;Sub-,Committee on;Fundamental Principles ofjD esign;and Operation and 1 1 *
Maintenance./ofExhaust Systems; will be -appointed.!;;
T h e ! two! most s im portanti considerations X in San f effective3
1! Velocity,of air;flow';f2.! Arrangement;of the!inletsi(from
nc -s to the dusts source, -shape, fete!).
Many an installation that is otherw isefall'right Tails to remove the dust success
fully merely because there isln ot/cnoughiair being-drawn through!the system. In
a series of tests; that! were conducted hinder factual working conditions by Theodore
F. Hatch,>:Department; of; Industrial Hygiene,' H arvardi;School;of! Public Health,
a machine used, inidressing stone was -employed,' and. itlw asfnotedjthat with an air
flow; through ,thelhood :of 2301cubic feet'p er minute, thcrctw crc-.over one hundred
miilion dust particles in th e `surrounding air. ' W hen th elairi' flow "was increased to
a little over 250 cubic feet;per minute, the dust concentration;had dropped to forty
million, a marked improvement. As the air;flow w as-further increased, the drop
in dust concentration was relatively slower, and it took a:yoIume of about 380 cubic feet per minute to bring the dust concentration down to ten or fifteen million particles
m
pe;r Itcubisic afcocootr,d5winhgilcyh-pwosassibcleon:ssiodmereetdimreesa!s:otonatbalkye saafne ifnosrtatlhlaistiotnypethaotf disustn.ot satis h i
factory and, if the remainder o f: the system is well designed, 1by ! merely speeding
up the blower or adding a larger one, to bring about the desired results.
Another very important consideration is to get the inlets of the exhaust system
, as close as possible to the source of the dust. The drop in efficiency as wc get
further away from the inlet is really surprising to one who has not studied the prin
ciples involved. It should be remembered, that if we have;th e :open end of an cxJ
hausf pipe or air; duct in operation,: the a ir; tends to flow in from all sides, even
' from behind the opening. As wc move; away from the end of .the pipe, the velocitydrops very rapidly, so that even at a : distance i of five inches :from the hood .the
p iW L .
velocity; may be less than 10 per cent of that !right a t the hood!inlet This is'lthc
most important consideration to keep in mind and one which is frequently lost sig lit1
!
of in designing exhaust system s.': I t is not uncommon to see an exhaust; inlet>a fewindies in diameter; with 1which the person m aking: the -installation' hoped to idraw dust from a distance of several feet, but the air flow even a foot or two away from
m at
H the entrance to the inlet may be negligible. Still another important consideration having to-do with the design; of the inlet, is the addition! of -a flange. The .effect of, this flange is to ait,, down,;the a ir-th a tt
would' flow in! from ; behind th c :opening,; thus; drawing: it` nearly allifro m : the-front.
Thus the efficiency of the system is substantially increased and the scope ofrffieScx-
haust ^ te n d e d appreciably',; without!increasing the power consumption or otherwise
adding to;the_ expense of keeping up th e1system.
T h e re `are also other considerations of perhaps lesser importance. F or example,
airr .'cannot 'b c ;"pulled" from -a`distance`by merely directing an exhaust
thee point in question, but it can be, "pushed"!or blown,- directionally; for a :c o n s i d c r p ||! g |^ i ||^ ^ !
28 Txoaity-tliird Annual Safety Congress--National Safety Council
Cyyy.-':S'A'<)--'--'v;'-';; y. - v-- ; - - y i ; ; y -'.1}^fLiy'v-yyiy y y y i . - y *
able distance. This principle may be -used "advantageously in directing the dust toward tlie opening of the exhaust inlet; and; thus;getting .the desired results with a lower exhaust velocity and power ; consumption than would be required if suction alone _were depended upon. This principle has been applied effectively in' drilling
material containing asbestos, where the .exhaust ;inlet isiplaccd at one side of the drill and a small air jet at the opposite 'side of the drill, blowing; across the table, turns the particles that would fly: ont from this /side and directs them lack into the exhaust system. ;- It is also being applied to . foundry shake-out work.
Other considerations : in -designing ; exhaust systems include lithe 'elimination ot unnecessary bends or curves, the provision of clean-out doors,sand the proper con struction of joints. ' Where there is a general ventilating installation and one or more exhaust systems, care must be taken to sec that'they do not conflict with each other.
.'/'After an exhaust system has been installed it should beytested by taking actual dust counts to see that the dust-is really being cut down to the desired point, and such counts should be taken at intervals after the installation has been made, to see that it is still functioning properly.
The fact that the dust particles that cause the trouble are. so small that ,they are invisible under ordinary conditions (less than 10 microns ;.'or1/2500th of an inch in diam eter)'often makes it hard to convince the practical plant manager that there is any dust present; it also makes si impossible to tell, without the use of.spe cial instruments, .whether the completed exhaust system is actually removing the. dust.
It might seem like an insult to one's .intelligence to say that after an exhaust svstein has once been installed it should be maintained in good operating condition. However, the numerous eases one encounters in the plants where this obvious neces sity is not carried out, indicates that it is really one of the major considerations in connection With the elimination of dust or fumes. Cases are not unknown w here, the blower has in some manner become reversed-so _that the air is being ejected
and diffusing tiic dust, rather than drawing it in ; other instances where the effi cience of the system has l>een lowered or its value nullified by clogging tip, dis connection or wearing out of the piping, etc., are all too common.
One concern, of which the writers have knowledge, has a "U " tube permanently
installed in one of its main exhaust systems so that the :foreman or safety man can
tell at a glance whether there are any changes that would indicate a break-down in
the system. -All such installations should have regular inspections by some compe
tent person as a routine part of their upkeep.
- /
If. will be sufficient here to discuss respiratory equipment very briefly. The
simplest form of this equipment is the filter respirator. Such respirators have a definite value for tciiqiorary use such as sweeping up. cleaning out bins, shoveling materials, etc., but they require careful fitting and constant supervision to sec that they arc. being'.properly used.
It is our opinion, alter watching the sincere efforls in a num ber. of. plants to
enforce, the use of these respirators, that it is rather impracticable to require them
to be used on full-time operation. - One notices the men, under these conditions,
surreptitiously pushing the respirator aside and gasping in free air like a fish out
of water. Certainly, if they are to l>e used any considerable length of time, fre
quent''rest ..periods should l>e allowed where the men can get out into the free air
for a few minutes refreshment.' -
.
There arc also the large air-fed helmets, with which most of us are familiar,
used for sandblasting, etc., which have been carried to a high state of perfection for the purposes to which they are adapted.
We believe, however, that much more use could be made advantageously of the
type of apparatus "that lies midway lietween the filter respirator and the: air-fed
helmet, namely, the light, air-fed respirator which covers the nose and mouth and
leaves the rest of the face exposed. W i t h a light hose attachment, this device
offers considerable freedom of movement, and if air outlets were supplied so the
hose could be quickly transferred from one outlet to another it would seem ,to he
practicable to use them over a considerable area. They afford the advantages of a
pure air supply without excessive weight and without the restriction to breathing
that is imposed by the filter respirator.
'
. -
!l
Dust in Industry
's|S?i
m 29
The Medical Supervision of Workers Exposed to Dust
By w. j. McCo n n e l l , m.d.
f
Amatol Medical Director, Metropolitan Life Innurance Co., New York City
The 'raker said in part: The harmfulncss of dusts varies widely in accord
ance with the physical and chemical natures of each individual substance. Certain^
dusts arc soluble or. slightly soluble in;the:body fluids and their; harm ful;effects?atc||
proportional to the toxicity of the comi>ounds formed. ; l^ad, .m e rc u ry a n d arsenic
.arc examples of poisonous ^dustT vOther , dusts e x e rt;their. harmfnlJ.cffcctsSlocally,;??
1on the skin and mucous membranes and through irritation to the respiratory passages.:*.
Chronic acid and alkalies are examples. T Attention recently has b m i .called to ..the;:;
probably harmful effect of dusts arising from radio-active: ores. cA ' fourth; group T'
of dusts which arc insoluble or very difficultly soluble in the body fluids may initiate
harmful pathological lung conditions. These may be subdivided into non-fibrosis
and fibros s producing dusts. ' .The organic dusts, mainly the vegetable`fibers, such
as cotton, jute, hemp, etc., arc non-fibrosis producing dusts. iTThc; fibrosis producing :fg
dusts are limited, so far as we h a v c 'evidcnce, to a few jofThe''inorganic,;:unmoral
dusts, such as free silica, crystalline silicon, quartz, and certain' combined silicates.
Of the fibrosis producing dusts, those having a high percentage of free silica are i*
admittedly the most important because exposure over a period .of y ears; to such;;
dusts distinctly predisposes the individual to tuberculosis.
The effectiveness _of dust control m easures in preventing diseases producer! by;:,;
dusts can;'be determined only by careful physical examination of th e ; workers so W.
exposed under the guidance of competent; medical super vision. TtThe liengfits which .
accrue to the employer and employee, alike, as a result of the physical examination
of all applicants for employment, as w ell as periodical examination, of those already
engaged, would indicate very careful consideration by industry of a program for j
control of sickness. . Such a procedure protects the employer - from engaging Am
applicant already physically or mentally impaired w ho later m a y claim disability;
for a condition either not associated .with employment or contracted during a pre-ijfe
Wons-employment. The applicant's physical and m ental condition is established T
and by keeping record of his subsequent illnesses and accidents, the question of re
sponsibility for injuries and sickness need never arise.
The applicant is protected from engaging in work for which he is physically..,;
ill adapted which, if undertaken, might easily bring about : serious impairment rof ii;
his "health. F or example, an applicant with an arrested tuberculosis; who j seeks A
work in a certain dusty occupation, if allowed to engage in such w orkm ight /-readily %
convert an inactive tuberculosis into an active one; thereby; endangering life: or
at least seriously impairing the applicant's future efficiency and earning capacity. \:
Whereas the .same .applicant if assigned to a position' that involves:noWuchTiex-^J
posurc, m ig ht be expected to continue for years as a useful and ; productive work-;;;
man. The examination of applicants for employment likewise protects those "thatW
are already employed from the risks of communicable diseases such' as, tuberculosis,'!*
and various acute respiratory and other infections being introduced into their midst,
by a new;applicant.jrA;
A;
: 'yT;;'
''.''Many..;of .-the ' younger...individuals w ho seek employment have never before re- ;;:
ccived a T lorough physical examination and consequently are unaware of ; the; dc- T
fects from which They; suffer. :As a result of physical examinations, m a n y ,defects S
are located which may .be removed or corrected before they have caused irreparable
damage, thereby increasing the efficiency of the w o rk e r and often averting definite j';
and finally chronic diseases.;: Furthermore, incipient Tuberculosis, unsuspected .dis
eases of the heart,* kidneys, and a host of other diseases of a similar nature, are i;
discovered and the applicant referred for proper medical. care and treatment which T
otherwise;might have ;been postponed until too. late.
Of even more importance than the initial physical examination of applicants isT
the periodic examination and care of old employees by an industry. Such a pro ;i;
cedurc serves to check the efficiency of preventive measures designed to prevent
occupational diseases.) It offers the most effective W ay of controlling the health of
30 Twenty-third Annual Safety Congress--National Safety Council
large groups of workers by discovering early not only occupational disease, but
many otliei ronditions that go undiscovered until the worker is acutely ill or be-
comes disabled. If the various contagious conditions ro unrecognized others be-
conic infected, thereby causing, serious.; economic, loss, as -well <a endanger in;AltCi
health of a group of individuals.
rI lie information obtained frpm physical examinations affords the medical, super
visor the opportunity to make certain that employees are engaged in suitable w o rk
out of which they arc Retting maximum results, to correct the >effects , of ,undue ex~
l>osnrc to hatmful cnvnonmcntal conditions, and generally to lessen all occupa
tional hazards. As a public health measure, it is impossible to over-estimate the
value of periodic examinations in establishing interest in sickness prevention.
The set-up of a projier program for m edicarcontrol of workers exposal, to dust
depends upon the number of employees involved and individual plant conditions,
A scries of articles under the title of "The Medical Department Manual" '"by ;l)r.
.Hart Is. Fisher, apjicaring .in current.numbers of "Industrial Medicine," gives ,a com
prehensive account o f the organization and operation of a :medical .-department.
1.
1 he establishment of a medical department with adequate; facilities and med
ical personnel who have qualified in the. field o f ; industrial medicine, t A process
analysis of all ojierations in the plant should lie m ade;and th e :medical supervisor
.should -list all possible health hazards and familiarize himself w ithstheir, physio
logical effects. If necessary, he -shouldconduct research studies to 'determine the
liarmful effects of new substances introduced into plant processes about w hich little
is known. In ..cooperation with other departments, he should investigate the extent
of the hazards and devise measures of coitrol.
2 The loutine -xaniination of all applicants for-employment. The procedure
should include, a detailed history of the applicant's previous illnesses and accidents
classified under . fa Id is e a s e s . o f' childhood, (b) general infectious diseases, - (c)
respiratory diseases, (d) venereal diseases, and (c) accidents and resulting physical
defects. - A detailed history of previous occupations' engaged in -Is .very.;important.-
A mere statement of the ty|>e of industry in which the applicant was engaged has
slight value, if anv. The exact duties performed in each occupation should be
noted and information ascertained as to the probable length of exposure to hazard
ous substances. Alter the history lias been taken and a photograph for identifica
tion puriwses (if part of routine) is made, the applicant should he directed to the
examining -room where lie is instructed to remove his clothing for physical exam
ination. This examination should I>e made as complete as is considered - necessary
to determine the applicant's physical condition
If the. applicant has been or will lse cxjwsed to dusts which induce lung dis
eases, an X-ray picture of the chest is an important part of the examination- This
riart of the examination inav he referred to an experienced roentgenelogist, as
the value of this method of diagnosis depends upon the type of pictures taken-and
the exjieriencc of the reader who interprets them. The examining physician?also
mav need additional information obtained hv laboratory analyses of ;thc Ailoml
smituni, and the urine. These aids to diagnosis should he provided or, made avail-
able when desirable
: 3. : . The rating and placement of applicants. In cooperation w ith the personnel
department, the applicant should he rated and placed, not only on his training and
past'experiences, lint also nil his physical a n d .mental abilities to fill vacancies occur
ring from time to time. The record, of his physical and m ental examination should
lie the confidential pronerty of the medical department, v
4. v.-. Periodical physical examinations, -,,The frequency of -periodical -examinations
neccssaHIv -must depend upon individual circumstances according to the need for
such examinations as determined hv the supervising phvsician. Where physical
examinations are made for the first time, the employees of long standing should be
given ample explanation o f the benefits of such examinations and be given a ssu r
ances that theii jobs are secure.
5. Provision for the disabled. Employees who develop disabilities during the
course of employment should here-assigned to-occupations which will not interfere
with or. aggravate the disability, or they should he provided for in other ways. :
ADJOURNMENT
i V
Mining Section
|2SR3
Shortly after the inauguration of a program designed to control a known d u s t1 hazard, it will become evident that marked improvements can Ik effected without incurring an impractical expenditure. Personnel problems will arise, due to , the, reluctance of labor to accept new procedures, and in the end, these problems m ust
he dealt with by educating workmen to recognize the necessity for; introducing m eth ods to control dust hazards. The question of what men should be told regarding
their physical examinations should follow the practice adopted by any ;reputable
physician in dealing with individual cases. As industry becomes more familiar w ith'this problem, it will discover the serious need for further research. , - :
Since silicosis is a true occupational disease, disability resulting from or au.fributable to it should be compensable in the same manner as other injuries su s tained as the result of employment. Only the intelligent cooiieration of industry will bring about the formulation of reasonable occuiiational disease legislation and its fair administration.
Silicosis from the Operators' Standpoint
By G. C. B A T E M A N
-
Secretary, Ontario Mining Association, Toronto, Qnt., Canada
'1 lie speaker said m |>art: It is important to know what causes silicosis, hut. unless a knowledge of the cause leads to a cure, it is not nearly as important from the .operators' viewpoint as the knowledge of how to reduce the incidence. With all the research work that has been going on throughout the world for many years, we still do not know the cause and we still have no cure, but we have learned a lot about how to reduce the incidence.
The silicosis provisions of the Ontario Mines Act and the Com|>ensation A ct were passed m 1926. These provided for the examination of all men employed in positions m mines where they were exposed to silica dust, for all such workers to be the holders of medical certificates certifying as to freedom from tuberculosis of the respiratory organs, and also for compensation to men affected by silicosis.
This legislation was introduced as a result of a survey in Northern O ntario,
mining camps which indicated that silicosis had made alarming progress among the miners. There being no reason at that time to question the results of this su r vey, the operators agreed to do all that was asked of them and cooi>eratcd fully with the Government in the steps considered necessary to meet the situation.
When this legislation was first introduced in Ontario, we were advised that >mcn with a moderate degree of silicosis, while not physically disabled, were te tte r out of the industry and that they should be paid a lump sum which would assist them in rehabilitating themselves in some other occupation.
We were further advised that if we took active steps to clean up the situation then existing, pension the more serious cases and remove men in the early stages of silicosis from underground, the situation would be well in ten d , thei first i ex p-ense would be the heaviest, and that from then our liability would be practically limited to the anteprimary eases as they developed.
When the 1926 Amendments were approved by the mines it was our under standing that men in the anteprimary stage had suffered no impairment of working capacity and that the $500 payment was a compassionate allowance for rehahili-" tation and not for disability. We further understood that with the payment of $500 to these men our responsibility in respect to them would be practically ended. It developed, however, that the legal position was different. The Compensation Board cannot make an award except for disability and where disability has cmcc been established the claimant can com e:back for review on evidence of further disability.. It is generally accepted that silicosis predisposes a man to tuberculosis. It followed, therefore, that with secondary silicosis as defined in the Act, if any anteprimary silicotic at any future time and from any cause whatsoever developed tuberculosis, his condition was considered to be the result of his original disability and he was entitled to total disability compensation at an average cost of $12,000 per case.
284 Twenty-third Annual Safety Congress--National Safety Council 1
When, therefore, an award of $500 was made the Compensation Board imme- ,
diately set up a prospective reserve for progression of an additional ,$11,500, with
the result'that we had an estimated liability to the end of 1932'of several million ,
dollars, m ost of which was outstanding,
,
1
t,
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.With the passage of time it also became apparent that the removal of the men from underground employment in the early stages of silicosis' did not have the tesults anticipated. The payment of a lump sum award did not in most cases serve the end expected. As a general rule this monev was expended for other things run! the men made little effort to rehabilitate themselves. A certain number of men classified as silicotic continued in their underground employment a n d , we found practically no difference-in. the rate of progression in those who continued an com pared with those who were taken out of the mines. , Some of this may have been due to the altered economic status, but even if the economic status had remained
.the'.same, we were forced to the conclusion that- there was little if.anyvbenefit to the men by removing them from underground work, unless of course, there wan evidence of an onset of tulierculosis.
It should, of course, lie understood that during this time -active efforts wen'' made by the mines to improve ventilation and to allay dust. W ithout this the alxivc statement would not hold true. - Steps were also taken by the- mines ;to 'p ro vide that men in the early stages of silicosis - were placed where the. conditions underground were most favorable.
: Our experience also indicated that the earl v. stages of silicosis do not necessarily
mean an -impairment of working capacity. This is all the more important on a c count of the difficulty of diagnosing silicosis in its early stages, as there is no sharp line o f demarcation -..between -the.-, pre-anteprimary and the anteprimary, or between anteprimary and primary stages, and as a matter of fact, we believe that there is
a great deal more uncertainty in the diagnosis of silicosis than the medical .men
arc willing to admit. . The determination is largely a matter of personal judgment and therefore subject to error.
A great deal of w h at may. lie read into an X-ray film depends upon the technique
in taking the film. . Certain other diseases and chest conditions will also give in
the film an appearance simulating that of silicosis and w e believe it is safe to say
that without a definite knowledge of occigiationa! history the diagnosis of silicosis
m its earlier stages would lie practically ...impossible,: -
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In view of these conditions, it was felt that the industry was carrying an unfair
burden and in 1933 the Act was amend!. T he anteprimary and primary.-classifica tions .were deleted, compensation was made payable only for -disability, which m eans actual impairment of working capacity, men w ith a moderatevdegree -'of silicosis were .allowed to continue underground work and the industry .was relieved from
unlimited liability in-respect to progression by providing that the claimant must make and establish his claim for disability within two years of leaving the employ
ment at which he was exposed to dust, to entitle him to compensation. :-
As I said .before, silicosis is essentially an employer's problem, It is in m a n y .places ".-an .-.important item in his cost of .production and to a considerable .degree it is a controllable item of expense. If the employer simple leaves the m atter in the hands of the doctors, he will have no one to blame hut himself , over what
it costs him. The opinion of the ordinary practitioner and even .-of-: the roent genologist and expert chest and lung man may lie of little value. Only the opinion
of those doctors who have had special training in the diagnosis of silicosis from laith clinical and X-rav examinations should he accepted, and even thoseopinions cannot he accepted in all eases.
We do not sav this with any intention of criticizing, the. members of the medical
profession, but where the matter is so important and costly to industry, where so
little is actually known about the disease, and where there is still an element of
uncertainty in the diagnosis of silicosis in its earlier stages, too much care cannot :
he exercised, and the closest scrutiny by industry which has to pay the bills is most
necessary. The best results can only tie obtained bv the employers and the doc--
tors working together, but the employer must consider it as one of his particular
problems.
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I have also stated that in the absence of any cure it is much more important
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Mining Section
285 i_
lo know how to reduce the incidence than to know the cause. We believe tlie chief ,
, preventive measures :are as rfollows:
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1. .'Improvement', in fundamental working conditions in the matter of ventila-,';
tion and allaying dust.
2. A rigid initial examination to keep out of the industry those men whose
physicalcondition would indicate a type most susceptible to silicosis and tulwrculosis. '
3. Control of tuberculosis not only among employees, but also among those
with #, hom they come in ; contact.
It goes without saying tliat if silicosis is caused by the inhalation of dust, the
scmovi.!l of dust will remove the'cause. . This means ventilation and lots of it, and
where; possible "the wetting down of dusty, places. <In mining operations the chief
1source of dust is believed to be from blasting, therefore the tinte interval before
men re turn to a blasted face is important.
V ert illation and' water will remove the visible dust from the air, but it is not
the visible dust that causes the /damage. ; It is the dust th a t: ranges between one-
half and five microns that is dangerous and is so difficult to remove, and the quan
tity in the air can only be determined by some method: of sampling.
We would consider it a mistake to have cither th e ;type, of sampling apparatus
or the permissible dust count defined by law. T h is:may be all right on the R and..'
in South Africa where conditions are more or less standard, but it is not advisable
in the United States orjiCanada,:where;conditions varyso greatly.. For one thing.,.-
we do iot know what constitutes' harm fuldust land there is no standard practice for '
the treatment of dust ;sample/.slides.' .The untreated/ slide :of a /sample taken/ near '
a carbide lamp in an otherwise dust-free atmosphere, would show an apparent/very
high dust count. vDust/sampling, however, should be a part of the regular routine,
using the type of apparatus best /suited to the: particular conditions, and this will
show whether the .atmosphere is good,- fa ir:or poor.
/".'Next to ventilation and the laying of dust, the most im portantm easure is to
carefully select the type of men to be allowed to w o rk in the industry. This re
quires a rigid initial examination which should include a complete physical examina
tion and X-ray. By this means men with the type of chest which would indicate
their susceptibility to tuberculosis and silicosis can be eliminated. / The complete;
physical examination should also have a bencficial effect on the accident rate.
Uncomplicated silicosis is not a big problem ,. hut silicosis and tuberculosis com
bined represent a very real problem. /T he measures for the control of tuberculosis
are .well known. Particular care should be taken that men with tuberculosis be
withdrawn from the industry and given projier care and treatment. Places where
the employees live should also be supervised lo sec that they are not exposed to
tubercular contacts.
Some Aspects of the Silicosis Problem
By DR. H. H. MOORE and DR. M. J. KELLY
Medic! Staff, Hollinger Consolidated Gold Mines, Ltd., Timmins, Ontario, Canada
The .[.-akcr said in p a r t: In 1928: the Ontario Mining Act was amended to
provide physical examination on employment and yearly thereafter, or twice yearly
if indicated, of all underground men. To be employed the workman must hold an
official certificate good for twelve months, stating that he is free from disease of
the resniratory organs. This certificate must lie renewed at each annual examina
tion, In the meantime, an amendment to the W orkmen's Compensation" Act pro
vided for the appointment of medical officers working under the supervision of the
Compensation Board to conduct these examinations. Cases of silicosis arising at
these examinations are submitted to the Workmen's Compensation Board if tha
total exposure to silica of five years in Ontario mines is verified.' In addition to
this routine with silicotics, there is a close check kept on the possible undue progress
in the fibrosis in any case and if necessary steps arc taken to remove such a case
from harmful contact with silica. *
;
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286 Twenty-third Annual Safety Congress--National Safety Council"
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The act in its present form was passed in 1933 and served to dear the situation
which had become involved by the tie-up of large sums of money in reserve funds against possible future claims by men adjudged sili, otic jircviously, Jnit, w ho had
since .been:lost.'.sight of or who were carrying on at work showing-aminimum;ori no
disability.
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From the workman's point of view, the new act ;is ;a .great :step /iorward,, as it
allows a man to continue at his usual duties underground as-long: as he is able to
work without; any serious degree of discomfort. Previously, a workman was ad vised to quit underground work when a certain stage of fibrosis had been reached, regardless of his ability to carry on, and sacrificed his rights to compensation if he
continued to work.
In the X-ray examination of the chests of the 2007 men employed at the Hollingei
mines during 1933, determinations arc graded as follows: Normal is a chest show
ing little or no fibrosis, where the condition of the lung is better than the::average for the ;age. :3/. /'. or "More Fibrosis" is a chest Swhich is normally found in the
average adult at the age of the miner under consideration. M. F. P., "More Fibrosis 1'lus" is a chest showing slightly more fibrosis than normal for -the particular age.
M. F. P p P. or "Morei Fibrosis Plus Plus" is a chest showing considerably more
fibrosis than norm a!` and is a pre-silicotic stage'. Silieotics arc that, group which
s h o w .a g re a t deal o f :fibrosis and taking into consideration the mining history and
consequent :exposure to silica, are thus termed. Admittedly, disability may or n ay
not be present. ?: pThis last;group ranges from the early silieotics with a minimum of
disability to ;the .late complicated or secondary casesj with marked disability and
tuberculosis. 11 must be added that a large number of men at th e; commencement of employment at the Hollinger, and without previous mining experience or contact
with silica, show chests of M. P. P. rating. Following are the results of this exam
ination: "
` "
Normal ..................... ..................33.................. . . ....... . " 1.4% \M . .F...................................... ....9 2 0 .................. .. .40.8%
M. F. P .................................. . . . 9 3 2 . . ............... ............... 41.4%
.M. F. P. P. ...........
9 8 . . . . . . . . . . ........... . 4.3%
. : Silieotics . ............................... 2 4 , . . ' . . . , . . . . . ......... 1.1% F ' .; , :"
Average contact with silica of men working and M. F. P. P .......................... 12 years. S ilico tic....................... ....... IS years.
Next is an analysis of the changes in chest rating in 1933.
Normal Normal M. F. M. F. P.
M. F. P. M. F. P.
to M. F .............
11
to M. F. P ...............
..3
to M.
F.P .............................. 207
to M.
F.P.P .......................... 9
P. to T.B............................................... 1
P. to A.P.
A. P.
to P ....................................................231
M. F.
to Normal ................................ . . 1 1
M. F. P. to M.
F ................................. 231
M. F. P. P. to M.
F ...................................... 1 ;
M. F. P. P. to M.
F.P ............................. 20
T. B. ?
to M.
F...: .......
1
T. B. ?
to M.
F.P:.......................... 1
A. P.
to M.
F.P.P .................. 1
P.
to A. P. ............................... 266 Total 497
These figures cover approximately 500 men in whom there was some change in chest rating during the year, and the. direction of the change. T h e ' remaining 1500 m en show no change from the previous year. It will be observed that 231 men showed an increase in fibrosis rating, while 266 show chests which are im proved. The explanation given for tile group which shows improvement is* in the first place, that some concurrent bronchial or upjier respiratory .infection had complicated the picture at the previous annual examination and so caused a more
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Mining Section ,
,2i
advanced rating to bo given. The second explanation is that constant improvena
:\pre-silicotic ' to tth eisilicatic fstag c.A ln tlvc VearSupUo%l933,-<T2b;i;men had been
jtrated filicotic ;and,itheit(>tal cost to the Hollingcr involved a-sunTof $915,950, which
figure/includesithc ?progressive! and contingent funds set aside to cover future costs
and i possible j.futurciclaims.
;; ;Twi` objects ;havei been kept in mind during the many jears of study of the
dust"iproblem'iat -the Hollingcr Mine.
1. i -Thcl collection; of; complete data regarding the nature of aiv breathed by
workmen''-in different occupations, its chemical composition, temperature, humidity, dust ccritrnt and rate of flow.
2 ...W orking tests of all practical methods of improving the condition of such air.
In searching to adapt a method for the determination of air dustiness, it was
realized chat no instrument has been devised which would measure the dust con
tent of the air with scientific precision. Furthermore, it was felt that the principal
object of making determinations was to ascertain if the dust count of the air was
undesirably high, and if such .a condition was found, to devise a method of reducing
i t .' Hence,, for practical i purposes, the instrument which possesses a high efficiency
in the range of desirable concentrations and gives a quick indication of dangerous
quantities of dust is most desirable. The circular Konirneter, invented by S i r 'Robert
Kotiee rand introduced to the .M iners' Phthisis Prevention Committee of South
Africa in 1916, has therefore been user! in tlic Porcupine District for the past
eight 'years.
; A .stunitary'of our investigations along this .line may be given as follows:
L; About 900 of(thefunderground force arc engager! m work which will pro
duce dangerous dust if ; measures of control arc not applied.
2. :.O f this number a little over 400 are engaged in shoveling broken ore into
cars anc! the average dust exposure docs not exceed 300 particles if the muck piles
are kepi thoroughly wet and blasting carefully restricted
3. 1 nc remaining 500 men iarc engaged in drilling and blasting opciations and
arc subjected to severe potential hazard. Men engaged in stopcs who do not 'have
to rcturu to the working: faces have an average exposure of about 1200 particles,
while us ng the ordinary type drills. It is felt that the use of the "dustless" type of
drifter v ill reduce the concentration of dust to somewhere near 300 particles
4. The men engaged in development drifts are exposed to the same concentra
tions of dust.i.namely,: 1200 particles. W here possible, two development drifts are
worked -imultancously by the one crew, so that the men do not have to go back
through the dense dust after blasting the cut. There are only a few exceptions to
this rule and when necessary to go back to load the reptaining holes, the -men' arc
provided with The special respirator.
'
5. ; T ic high, d u st: concentrations in the vicinity of stopers we hope to deal
with by the use of compressed air masks. Also the practice of driving adjacent
raises simultaneously has reduced the hazard after blasting.
W ith the constant j improvement anil maintenance of general health conditions
kept always to1the foreias most desirable and necessary in aiding m the solution
of the silicosis '`'problem,'.'.' the men at the Hollingcr Mine are cared for under a
contract medical system. The facilities and service at mine, office and hospital are
m ost: complete and efficient and in combination with the annual or semi-annual
check made by the medical staff of the Compensation Board, health of 1hc workers
is under constant supervision. A
Men who'- report..'.with such conditions as non-tubcrculous or non-silicotic chest
trouble, with focal : infection in teeth, tonsils, sinuses, etc., arc singled out and
treated a id observed and where necessary changes in occupation arc. made or rest
and vacation periods advised.
'
At the mine, constant improvements have teen made and at -present the follow
ing is :tbc routine. A worker coming off shift removes all his mining clothing,
usually wet, and racks them on a set of hooks attached to a chain and pulley. These
wet clothes arc pulled up to a height of 15 to 20 feet and hang thus in a hot, dry
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288 Twenty-third Annual Safcty''Cbngrcss~N'ationalSaf}tyw
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atmosphere y.for.,14,:>to :I51>hours,-* during; which they are 'thoroughly dried.-&After J ^ .i.,7 undressing the miner jiasscs through a series of shower baths of, temperature vary- ,
ing from hot to cold. After drying;he-proceeds to h is-locker';where h e has, placed
.his street clothes before the beginning of the shift.
,
W ith : view to reducing, the infection of silicotics with tuberculosis, *,- clink's:-
hat been established in Timmins, An experienced public health nurse ; is, empioyied
full time and it is her duty to visit all tuberculosis suspects 1and patients, all con
tacts with these cases and contacts with: silicotics to arrange for their -examination
and supervision; and if necessary for ^treatment., Weekly clinics are held a t' which
v:; such patients are exam ined.clinically,"radiological!)* and by bacteriological and bio
logical tests.
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Since January of 1933, approximately 30 dangerous cases of tuberculosis have been removed irorp the district to a sanitarium and many more less severe eases
. placed o n , bed re st, at home or on restricted activity. It is felt that by removing these cases from contact with silicotics, that within a comparatively short time
tuhcrucloMs will be moderately well-controlled and since tuberculous infection la
necessary to precipitate secondary silicosis, this movement, it will be appreciated, is an excellent one.
ADJOURNMENT
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