Letters Sent to Mr. J. Roach [John Roach], August 26, 1925

August 26,1925. COPY Department of Labor, 571 Jersey Av. Jersey City, N.J. Mr. J. Roach, Deputy Commissioner Dear Mr. Roach: Confirming my telephone conversation with you this morning relative to certain steps which we have put into operation in our plant at your recommendation with regard to handling of our luminous material, the following are in effect. We have constructed a hood in which all material is weighed and handled. This hood is connected with an exhaust fan which causes a current of air to flow into the hood and so protect the weigher from any dust particles which may be floating around. We have under con- struction a similar hood to be used in the painting department where the material may be moistened before truning over to the operators. The operators have been furnished with gowns and rubber gloves to wear while painting. The gowns have worked out satisfactorily but the rubber gloves have not. Owing to the close fit of a rubber glove the hands perspire and cause considerable discomfort causing the operators to remove them unless supervision is very close. We really believe that causing the hands to perspire in this way and opening the pores will subject the operator to greater hazard if there be any in the handling of this material htan handling same without the gloves. We have installed a new type of crucible which enables the operator to hold same and stir the material without coming in close contact with the material itself. In the old type of crucible in stirring the material the operator would spill some over the edge and inasmuch as the crucible was held with the fingers it would naturally get on the hand. With the new crucible this has been eliminated. We ask that you reconsider the matter of gloves and allow our operators to work without them as their use is not practical and we believe more harmful than without. Very truly yours, UNITED STATES RADIUM CORPORATION HBV:H Vice President.