Letters Sent to W.P. Biggs, January 8, 1929

January 8th, 1929. Navy Department, Assistent Secretary's Office, Washington, D. C. Att'n I. P. Biggs, Navy Department Safety Engineers Gentlemen: In reply to your letter of January 5th, we are glad to give you herewith a list of recomnendations which we believe will eliminate any possibility of trouble or hazard connected with the handling and application of luminous radio-active materials to instrument dials, etc. 1. At one time it was quite common for operators to point the brushes with their lips, a practice which should be strictly forbidden. It is generally conceded that where trouble has resulted and radio-active materials have been deposited in the system, this practice served as the means of introducing the material into the system. With the dis- continuance of such a practice, this possibility, of course, is eliminated. 2. The work should be conducted in well ventilated and well lighted rooms. 3. Applicators should thoroughly cleanse their hands after handling luminous material. 4. Applicators should refrain from placing hands about the face or mouth when engated in the operation of applying this material to instrument dials, etc. 5. Operators continuously engaged in this type of work should have grequent (quarterly) medical examinations. Such examina- tions consisting of a blood picture, and a general examination of the teeth, heart, chest and lungs. 6. A test has been developed for detecting minute traces (as low as 2 micrograms) of radium element, when deposited in the system. Those engaged in the application of luminous material, such as clock companies, are having their employees subjected to this test at various intervals, in order to be absolutely assured that there is no possibility of danger.