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    "title": "Letters Received, September 27, 1937",
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        "Safety Light Collection",
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    "ocrText": "STATE OF NEW YORK\nOF LABOR\nMEMBERS OF\nOFFICE OF\nTHE INDUSTRIAL BOARD\nRICHARD J. CULLEN. CHAIRMAN\nELMER F. ANDREWS\nINDUSTRIAL COMMISSIONER\nEDWARD W. EDWARDS\nNELLE SWARTZ\nINDUSTRIAL COMMISSIONER\nALBANY\nJOHN J. CARROLL\nWILLIAM J. PICARD\nJAMES A. CORCORAN\nDEPUTY INDUSTRIAL COMMISSIONER\nNEW YORK OFFICE, 80 CENTRE STREET\nPAUL SIFTON\nASSISTANT INDUSTRIAL COMMISSIONER\nROSE Schneiderman\nSECRETARY\nNEW YORK Sept. 27, 1937.\nTHOMAS R. OWENS\nASSISTANT SECRETARY\nU.S. Radium Corp.,\n535 Pearl Street,\nNew York, N.Y.\nGentlemen:\nHerewith I am transmitting a reprint of the New York State\nIndustrial Bulletin concerning the subject of radium poisoning and\nits prevention.\nWe wish to call your attention particularly to the rules\nsuggested for the safeguarding of the health of workers in luminous\ndial painting. It is our belief that these rules are practicable\nand reasonable of observance even in small establishments and we\nearnestly request your cooperation in the enforcement of such rules.\nOn the other hand, should you have any criticisms or suggestions to\nmake with reference to this publication, we would be very happy to\nreceive such criticisms at your earliest convenience.\nIn the meantime, would you be kind enough to answer the\nfollowing questions for us directly on this letter and return the\nsame to us at the earliest possible moment:\n1. How many of these rules or similar rules are you observing in\nyour plant?\n2. Have you any additional safeguards to suggest at this time?\nAssuring you of our desire to cooperate with you in every\nway, I am\nVery truly yours,\nLeonard\nLeonard Greenburg,\nExecutive Director\nDivision of Industrial Hygiene\nLG:SG\nEncl.\nINDUSTRIAL MUGIENE,\nDIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL HUGIENE, NEW YORK STATE\nDEPARTMENT OF LABOR\nLEONARD GREENBURG, M. D., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR\nReprinted from The Industrial Bulletin issued each month at Albany, by the\nIndustrial Commissioner of the State of New York, Vol. 16; No. 7. July, 1937.\nLEAD POISONING DIAGNOSIS\nLaboratory Findings Vary\nBY MAY R. MAYERS, M.A., M.D., Division of Industrial Hygiene\nDuring this period, laboratory findings may vary greatly\nIn a reaction to the pre-laboratory days when a diagnosis\ndepending essentially upon the ratio of the amount of lead\nof lead poisoning was made on the clinical picture alone,\nwhich is being excreted to that which is being stored, and\nthere appears to be a growing tendency nowadays to make\nthe rapidity with which these processes are proceeding.\na diagnosis of this disease on the basis of laboratory findings\nFinally a point is reached, where from an examination of\nalone-largely disregarding the clinical picture as presented\nthe laboratory reports alone without any knowledge of the\nby the patient, or seriously discounting it when laboratory\nhistory of the case, one would have no suspicion whatever\nfindings are negative. It is SO axiomatic it should not be\nthat the patient had ever contracted lead poisoning. Never-\nnecessary to stress the importance of the clinical picture in\ntheless, the patient's symptoms may not have completely\nthe diagnosis of any disease-whether it be lead poisoning\ndisappeared. Indeed, the whole subsequent clinical picture,\nor anything else-at the same time fully recognizing the\nin all of its many ramifications, is to a certain extent un-\nvaluable contributions of the laboratory as an aid to diagnosis.\npredictable-being determined essentially by the extent of\nMedical literature is full of warnings to physicians not to\nforget the patient while pouring over laboratory reports\nthe original damage to tissue cells; the extent and adequacy\nconcerning him. And more and more, there is a yearning\nof processes within the patient's body which make for cell\nfor the old clinicians who, because they had no laboratories\nregeneration, and the length of time occupied by these\nto depend on, became such keen observers, and interpreted SO\nprocesses. Where complete regeneration of tissue cells can-\nintelligently the clinical pictures presented by their patients.\nnot adequately be accomplished, permanent sequelae, and\nThere is no doubt that the laboratory was never meant to\neven permanent disability, may result.\nbe a substitute for good clinical medicine.\nIt is particularly during long drawn out periods of con-\nHowever much this may apply to medical diagnosis as a\nvalescence or when symptoms recur after the patient has\nwhole, it has special applicability to cases of lead poisoning\nbeen discharged as \"cured\" that the clinical picture which\nwhere absorption of lead may continue for a long time be-\nhe presents may be extremely difficult of interpretation.\nfore there are any clinical manifestations of disease; where\nPatients very often continue to complain for a long time,\nprolonged or permanent sequelae may persist long after ex-\neither continually or intermittently, of pain in the lumbar\nposure to lead has ceased; or where there may be exacerba-\nregion, for example; of constipation or other gastro-intestinal\ntions of symptoms from time to time due to mobilization of\ndisturbances; of weakness or pains in the muscles of the\nlead which had been previously stored in the body. It goes\narms or legs, etc. The fact that laboratory tests in such\nwithout saying that in every case where there has been lead\ncases are often negative for lead cannot be regarded as\nexposure at any time however far back-where lead poison-\ndefinite evidence, one way or the other, as to the part played\ning is suspected-careful laboratory tests of blood and urine\nby lead in these complaints.\nshould always be made, and carefully evaluated. It has\nSuch negative laboratory findings indicate nothing more\ntaken years to stress adequately the importance of doing this,\nthan that, at the moment, toxic amounts of lead are not\nand it is not the intention of the present article to throw\ncirculating in the patient's blood. The patient's symptoms,\nany doubt upon the efficacy of this procedure. The question\nhowever, might nevertheless be due to a continuation of\nat issue is rather that of the proper interpretation of such\npathological processes initiated at the time he was suffering\ntests where they are either indecisive or entirely negative\nfrom the original lead poisoning-possibly aggravated at the\nfor lead.\nmoment by his particular tyne of work, or any number of\nThe Laboratory's Function\nthings in his daily routine. For example, a low-grade\nIn acute cases of lead poisoning the laboratory will be of\nperipheral neuritis which was regarded as having cleared up\ninestimable value in confirming the clinical diagnosis. In-\nunder treatment, might become aggravated by a subsequent\ndeed, laboratory evidences of lead poisoning are usually SO\njob requiring heavy manual work. The \"cure\" in other\ndefinite in these cases that it often takes very little clinical\nwords was not as complete as was supposed. Or, a patient\nacumen to make a diagnosis. In fact it is often possible for\nwho had recently recovered from lead colic, and whose\na layman to do so on the basis of the laboratory findings\nbowels had just begun to function normally, after constipa-\nand a history of exposure to lead, without even looking at\ntion of long standing, may suffer from renewed gastro-in-\ntestinal disturbances as a result of having been suddenly\nthe patient.\nshifted from day to night work. Though essentially \"cured\"\nHowever, in cases recovering very slowly from an attack\nof his lead poisoning, his gastro-intestinal tract was unable\nof acute lead poisoning; or where, in a patient who had been\nfor the time being to adjust itself normally to such a complete\ndischarged as cured, there is a recurrence of symptoms after\nchange of routine.\nan interval of time has elapsed; in cases developing subacute\nor chronic symptoms where there has been lead absorption\nOn the other hand, a patient who had apparently been\nover a long period of time but never an acute attack of the\ncured of lead poisoning years ago may return with symp-\ndisease, and other similar situations, laboratory tests may\ntoms entirely analogous to those from which he originally\nbe very inconclusive, and the diagnosis must depend, essen-\nsuffered, although there had been no exposure to lead in\ntially, upon a proper clinical appraisal of the whole medical\nthe interim. Is this patient suffering from a recurrence of\npicture. It is in these cases-and they are very numerous-\nthe original lead poisoning due to a new mobilization of\nthat there is an unfortunate tendency to lean too heavily upon\nstored lead, or has he developed some entirely different and\nthe laboratory for information which, though ever SO much\nunrelated disease? The laboratory may or may not throw\ndesired, it cannot possibly supply.\nuseful light on the question.\nIt is well known that while lead is actively circulating\nMost Puzzling Situation\nin the body it will, if present in sufficient quantities, cause\ninjury to tissue cells. During this period repeated examina-\nBy far the most puzzling situation, from the standpoint of\ntions of the blood will usually show a considerable number\ndiagnosis, arises when laboratory reports-one after another\nof stippled cells, and abnormal amounts of lead will be found\n-show \"occasional stippled cells,\" possibly no more than\nin the urine. When there is no further exposure, however,\none or two per 10 fields examined, with or without a very\nabsorption ceases, and the lead which was originally present\nslight increase in the urinary lead excretion. This situation\nin the blood is gradually either stored or excreted.\nalmost invariably leads to the practice of repeating the\nlaboratory tests periodically-almost ad infinitum-in the\nMilk Therapy\nvain hope that perhaps a definite laboratory report, one\nAnother procedure which is far safer and which, in addi-\nway or the other, will ultimately be obtained, and the\ntion to having real therapeutic value, is capable of giving a\ndiagnosis then made in accordance therewith. Actually, in\ncertain amount of information as to the probable part played\nthese cases, conclusive laboratory tests are not often ob-\nby lead in the patient's clinical picture, is that of giving him\ntained; the patient becomes the despair of everyone; and\na cuart of milk a day, and keeping him under constant\nthe result is that no proper investigation is ever made to\nobservation to see that he conscientiously obeys orders. This\ndetermine what really is the matter with him.\ninsures the continued storage of lead in an inert state, and\nWhile an occasional stippled cell may be found in the\nis thus effective in clearing up such symptoms as are due\nblood of a perfectly normal individual, in a person with a\nto the actual circulation in the blood, at the time, of toxic\nknown history of lead poisoning this must be given weight.\namounts of lead. If persisted in, such therapy would also\nBut the finding of a rare stippled cell cannot be regarded,\ntend to prevent mobilization of stored lead at some future\nper se, as a determining factor either for, or against, a\ntime, and thus prevent recurrence of symptoms due to such\ndiagnosis of lead poisoning. In such cases, instead of mak-\nmobilization. Even in such a patient, however, lead sequelae\ning repeated blood and urine tests for lead, and taking a\nmay continue, because they are not the result of an immedia\ndefeatist attitude toward interpreting the clinical syndrome\nlead intoxication, but of cell injury which occurred at\nbecause of the absence of laboratory confirmation of lead\nsome previous time, and which has not yet been completely\npoisoning, it might be well, perhaps, to attempt an entirely\nrepaired or compensated for. This would be apt to occur\nnew appraisal of the patient's condition from the ground\nespecially where there has been injury to the nervous system\nup. Has he developed a recent gall bladder infectio ? Is\nwhere cell regeneration tends to be particularly slow, or may\nthe pain in his back, or his abdomen, due to the develop-\neven be non-existent.\nment of renal calculus, and SO forth?\nThere is, at the present time, a great need for the applica-\nThere is an understandable, but unfortunate tendency to\ntion of good clinical medicine not only to lead poisoning, but\ngrow stale in these long-drawn-out cases; and frequently, no\nto the diagnosis of occupational diseases as a whole. One is\nconstantly surprised to hear doctors in discussing lead\nmatter how long a time has elapsed since the original illness,\npoisoning ask for a few specific criteria upon which they\nno attempt is made to go over the patient again with the\nmay make a positive diagnosis of this disease. It is self-\nsame detachment that one would employ in working up a\nevident of course that no such criteria exist for the diagnosis\nnew case which had never been seen before. Not only that,\nof any disease-and, the diagnosis of industrial disease is\nthere is a tendency to grow weary of the case, and without\nessentially no different from the diagnosis of diseases in any\nsufficient investigation, rather arbitrarily decide that the cur-\nother category.\nrent clinical picture cannot, after SO long a time, still be due\nNo Short Cuts\nto the original lead poisoning. Indeed, the question is often\nIndustrial diseases differ from other diseases in one im-\nraised in these cases as to how long after an attack of lead\nportant particular only, and that is that in the case of the\npoisoning a clinical syndrome, however characteristic of\nformer, the doctor is called upon to prove his diagnosis in\nthe disease, may properly be regarded as still due to the\ncourt, whereas in the latter his diagnosis is for his own use\noriginal poisoning. Obviously there can be no categorical\nin the treatment of his patient, and may be changed at any\nanswer to this question. It is well known that there is no\ntime if he desires.\nclinical syndrome SO characteristic of lead poisoning, or its\nIt is this necessity of proving that one's diagnosis\nsequelae, as to be regarded as pathognomic. On the other\nis correct in cases of industrial disease which tends to\nhand, if a clinical picture is to be interpreted as due to\nmake physicians rather uneasy, and tends to force them to\ncauses other than lead, appropriate diagnostic procedures\nseek short cuts such as they would never look for otherwise.\nare required to ascertain these causes. And yet, a compre-\nHowever, such short cuts will never be found, and the\nhensive diagnostic work-up such as would immediately be\ndiagnosis of disease will always remain an art. It is very\ninitiated in any other type of case, is frequently not even\nrare in medicine to find a patient who presents a classical\nconsidered, in cases of suspected lead poisoning. Instead,\npicture of any disease. Good diagnosis is necessarily a\nan unjustifiable amount of time and money is expended in\nsynthesis on the part of the examining physician of many\nmaking repeated laboratory tests, and instituting all sorts\nfindings all interpreted in the light of his experience. It is\nof therapeutic measures for the storage or elimination of\ndependent not only on his knowledge and experience with the\nparticular disease in question, but on his knowledge of the\nlead-whereas the actual cause of the patient's symptoms may\nwhole gamut of diseases, because every diagnosis is in the\nbe elsewhere.\nlast analysis a differential diagnosis.\nDe-Leading Procedure\nIn lead cases there appears to be a tendency somehow to\nSuch patients are frequently de-leaded; and this for two\nstart out with definite pre-conceptions and a lack of proper\nprincipal reasons: (1) Therapeutic-to remove as much\ndetachment, which seriously interfere with sound medical\nof the stored lead as possible from the body in the hope\njudgment. One is impressed, for example, with the fact that\nthat there will be no further mobilization in the future; and\ncases suspected of lead poisoning who complain of backache\nor abdominal cramps, and show a considerable number of\nso subsequent acute attacks will be prevented, and the present\npus cells and red blood cells in their urine are rarely given\nsymptoms incidentally cleared up; (2) Diagnostic-to deter-\na proper urological work-up. Because backache and ab-\nmine whether or not there is any easily mobilizable lead\ndominal cramps are among the many symptoms associated\nstored in the body-the theory being that if there is, it may\nwith lead poisoning, attention is unduly focused upon whether\nbe responsible for the present clinical picture, and if not,\nor not there is sufficient laboratory data obtainable to make\nlead probably is not a factor in the case.\na diagnosis of lead poisoning. No attempt is made to deter-\nProperly interpreted, one may get valuable information\nmine the cause of the abdominal urinary findings or to in-\nas to the existing lead status of the patient from such a\nvestigate thoroughly the many causes for backache and\nprocedure. On the other hand, de-leading is by no means\nabdominal cramps, other than lead poisoning.\nan innocuous procedure, and should be carried out in a\nCertainly in all cases of suspected lead poisoning where\nhospital under carefully controlled conditions; and by\nthere is any doubt as to the interpretation of the sympto\nphysicians thoroughly conversant with the method. An\ncomplex presented, a thorough-going and comprehensive\nacidosis is established which can be carried only SO far, and\nmedical investigation is indicated. The patient should be\nno further with safety. Moreover, in order to measure\nexamined not only for the possibility of lead poisoning, but\nadequately the total lead excretion obtained, one must have\nfrom every possible angle which may be expected to throw\nlight upon any etiological factors which may be involved.\nlaboratory facilities for accurately measuring lead excretion\nWhere the laboratory findings for lead do not conclusively\nquantitatively not only in the urine but in the feces as well.\nclinch a diagnosis of lead poisoning, the final determination\nProperly carried out by properly qualified persons, this pro-\nas to the part which lead plays in the situation must be\ncedure has its place both in the treatment of lead poisoning\nbased upon a careful clinical appraisal of the whole medical\nand as an aid to diagnosis.\npicture.\nLUMINOUS PAINT POISONING\ncamels hair or fibre brush, or a glass stylus for coarser work.\nBy Minnie M. McMahon, Special Investigator,\nThe habit of pointing the brush between the lips was chiefly\nDivision of Industrial Hygiene\nresponsible for the 15 deaths, according to authorities on this\nWatch and clock dials, dials and gauges for airplanes, and\nsubject. Dr. H. S. Martland states that all of the girls\naffected by radium poisoning, and examined by him in an\nscientific instruments are the principal articles for which\nluminous paint is used. This paint is also used for glass\nextensive investigation made in New Jersey in 1925, had this\nhabit. It has been shown that radioactive particles were\ndrops on lamp indicators, house and pullman berth numbers\nand other small novelties.\ndeposited in the system in this way. Wiping the brush on\nLuminous paint is made from sulphide of zinc crystals\nthe hands or forearms or on the clothing, and pointing it\nbetween the fingers are also dangerous.\nwhich have been made radioactive by combination with salts\nOf late, there seems to be an increase in the number of\nof radium. Sometimes mesothorium is added, when a cheaper\ndial painting plants in New York State, and the Division of\npaint is desired, although this practice is not now usual.\nIndustrial Hygiene has received requests for information\nThe dry materials are mixed with oil and a thinner, some-\nas to rules for the safe conduct of this work.\ntimes with shellac or varnish, or with an adhesive such as\nThis State has not, up to the present time, promulgated\ngum arabic and water.\nThe dial painting industry in this country started in a\nan official code for this industry. However, the following\nsmall way in 1913. Before that time nearly all luminous\nrules have been formulated from the best practices observed\nin plants visited.\ndials were imported from Switzerland or France. The in-\ndustry grew enormously during the war, when the demand\nRules for the Use of Radioactive Paints in the Manu-\nfor luminous dials on airplane and submarine instrument\nfacture of Dials, Gauges or Other Articles\nboards and luminous dial watches for soldiers was very\ngreat. An output of 8,000 luminous dials in 1913 had in-\n1. Applicants for work in luminous paints should seek\ncreased in 1919 to 2,200,000. The U. S. Department of\na thorough medical and dental examination before\nLabor estimates that about 2,000 persons were engaged in\nemployment.\ndial painting at various times during the 16 years from 1913\n2. All employees should be examined by a physician\nto 1929. At the peak of production about 350 painters, mostly\nand a dentist at least three times a year.\nwomen, were employed. In 1929 the number had fallen to\nabout 200. These figures of course apply to the whole coun-\n3. Employees should be thoroughly instructed as to\ntry. The industry was never large in New York State.\nthe hazards of the work and the necessity of obeying\nrules for their own protection.\nState Survey\n4. Employees should be carefully and constantly super-\nvised to see that rules are strictly observed. An in-\nIn 1929 the Division of Industrial Hygiene made a survey\ntelligent and experienced forewoman is necessary where\nof plants in New York State in which radioactive materials\nmany girls are employed.\nwere used. Thirty-eight persons were found using luminous\npaint. Thirty-one of these, mostly women dial painters,\n5. The stock of radioactive materials should be kept\nwent to the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New\n(in the container as received) in a lead lined safe or\nYork City and were examined there for signs of radio-\nbox except when weighing and distributing.\nactivity. Seven were found to be radioactive in varying\n6. Radioactive materials should be weighed, blended\ndegrees. These people represented about the full number\nand measured for distribution under an enclosure which\nwho had been employed in New York State at any time.\nis connected with an exhaust system. It is entirely\nThere were some undoubtedly who had left the industry,\npracticable to have a leaded glass and metal enclosure\nbut most of the 31 examined had worked at dial painting\nbuilt on a table on which the container of material,\nfor some years, going from one plant to another as firms\ntrays or plaques to be filled, scoop and scales, can be\nclosed down or discontinued dial painting. About seven\nplaced, leaving enough space between the table and\ngirls found at work refused examination or were unable\nlower edge of the front face of the hood to admit hands\nto be examined for various reasons.\nand forearms.\nIn the early days of luminous dial painting, little or\n7. Rubber gloves (preferably leaded) should be worn\nnothing seems to have been known of the danger from\nwhile weighing, blending, etc.\nradium poisoning. No special precautions were taken and\napparently no warning given to those who applied for work.\n8. The person doing the weighing and distributing\nThe work was light and easy the pay comparatively good,\n(often the proprietor or manager) should be physically\nespecially at that time, and it seemed a suitable occupa-\nexamined several times a vear, as well as the painters;\ntion for girls and women.\nand this work should be rotated every three months\nIn 1926 the country was startled to read of a series of\nor so.\ndeaths and disabilities among these women workers. The\nDangerous Practice\nfirst known death from radium poisoning due to using\n9. Brushes must never be nut between the lips for\nluminous paint was reported in 1922. From 1922 to 1929\npointing, and must not be wiped nor pointed on hands,\nat least 15 deaths occurred from this cause in several States.\narms, or clothing. The danger of these habits should\nComplete figures as to deaths or cases since 1929 are not at\nbe thoroughly explained and stressed.\npresent available but there was one death in New York State\nin 1933. It is known that radium poisoning may develop\n10. A rubber sponge in a small bowl partly filled with\nyears after exposure to the hazard has ceased.\nwater should be placed on each girl's desk for pointing\nand cleaning the brushes.\nNecrosis of the Bones\n11. Pieces of clean cheese cloth should be provided\nfor drying the brushes after cleaning on sponge. These\nOne of the most horrible effects of radium poisoning is\nshould be renewed at least twice a day and should be\nnecrosis of the bones, especially the jaw bone. In many of\ndestroyed each evening.\nthe fatal cases on record, trouble with the teeth was the first\n12. Paint plaques, bowls, sponges and brushes should\nsymptom. Pyorrhea or painfully abscessed teeth caused the\nbe thoroughly washed each day after work. The person\nvictims to visit a dentist. When teeth were extracted sec-\ndoing this should wear rubber gloves and should avoid\ntions of the jaw-bone came with them; and in some instances\ncontact with the paint. This can be done by using tongs\nthe whole jawbone and palate had been destroyed before the\nor forceps to handle the paint plaques and sponges while\nunfortunate died. Another symptom of this disease is\nwashing them with hot water. A long handled paint\nanemia of a very severe type.\nDial painting as ordinarily carried out is a simple opera-\nbrush should be used to clean the plaques. Washing\ntion. A small amount of the dry material is given to each\nunder running water is preferable.\ngirl in a small china plaque such as is used for water\n13. Each desk, table, or work space should be covered\ncolor paints. The painter moistens the material with the oil\neach morning with a clean sheet of paper. This should\nor adhesive by means of a medicine dropper and mixes the\nbe destroyed each night. In this way any spilled par-\npaint in her little dish with a tooth pick or other small tool.\nticles of paint, or accidental smears from the brush, will\nIn some plants the paint is moistened and mixed by one per-\nnot remain on the work table.\nson and given to the painters in moist form. The paint is\n14. Wooden tooth picks, or similar tools used for\napplied to the figures or hands on the dials, which have\nmixing paint in the plaques should be gathered up and\npreviously been coated with ordinary paint-with a small\ndestroyed-burned if possible-several times a day.\n15. Each girl should be provided with a quantity of\nHOW FATAL ACCIDENTS OCCUR\nthese each morning and should use a new one each time\nshe mixes. This will lessen the danger of getting paint\n(Case Histories as Reported by Investigators for the\non the fingers. The person collecting the mixing tools\nDivision of Industrial Hygiene)\nshould wear rubber gloves, and wash the gloves imme-\nInexperience\ndiately afterwards.\n16. A pen rack to hold brushes or stylus when not in\nA boy 17 years old was standing near a bench with a\nuse should be on each table. Also a stable holder for\nlighted blow torch in his hand. Another worker knocked a\npaint plaques so that holding them with the fingers while\nbottle off the bench, spilling on the floor a quart of lacquer\nthinner which it contained. This worker warned the boy\nmixing may be avoided.\nto keep his torch away from it, but the boy who thought the\n17. No food of any kind including candy, gum, etc.,\nbottle had contained only water, pointed the flame of the\nshould be eaten in, or brought into the workroom. A\ntorch toward the spilled thinner which immediately burst\nnotice to this effect should be posted.\ninto flames igniting his clothing. He then started to run\n18. A suitable lunchroom apart from the work should\naround the shop. Before anyone could catch him and extin-\nbe provided if any employees eat lunch in the plant.\nguish his burning clothing, his body was so severely burned\n19. Running hot water should be installed in wash-\nthat he died of his injuries four days later.\nrooms and employers should provide soap and individual\ntowels.\nDon't play with fire.\n20. Painters should wash hands thoroughly with soap\nCircular Saw \"Kick Back\"\nand hot water before lunch and before leaving plant at\nnight. Time should be allowed for this and the washing\nAn experienced machine hand was operating a circular\nshould be supervised. If paint gets on the fingers at\nsaw ripping a board 10 feet long and 17/30 of an inch thick. The\nany time 'during the day they should be washed\nwaste piece was about of an inch wide. After the cut was\nimmediately.\nfinished, the workman pushed the sawed piece past the saw\nblade and in doing so struck the waste piece which was still\nClothing Protection\nin contact with the rear part of the blade. The waste piece\nwas thrown back striking him in the abdomen. He was taken\n21. Gowns or smocks, and caps of washable material\nto a hospital where it was found that his intestines had been\nshould be worn by all painters and these should be\nruptured. The doctors wanted to operate on the injured man\nlaundered by employer at least once a week. (Exami-\nbut he said he felt all right, and refused to have the opera-\nnation has shown the hair of some radium painters to\ntion. He died five days later. The circular saw was equipped\nbe radioactive, therefore caps are important.)\nwith a guard, and also a spreader set in a throat piece, but\n22. Gowns and caps should be provided by the\nneither of these was in place at the time of the accident.\nemployer.\nDon't neglect safe-guards nor ignore the doctor's\n23. A double locker system should be installed and\nadvice.\nstreet clothing kept entirely separate from smocks and\ncaps used during work.\nFalling Object\n24. Dark rooms or other enclosed spaces used for\nA workman was crushed to death when struck by an iron\ninspection, or testing of finished work, should be pro-\nball weighing 1,145 pounds. In a factory yard, under a crane\nvided with exhaust ventilation.\nrunway, slag was dumped to be broken up before being\n25. Finished work should be removed from the vicinity\nreturned for resmelting. The larger pieces were broken up\nof workers as soon as possible, and should not be allowed\nby means of an iron ball which was hoisted about 20 feet by\nto accumulate in the workroom.\na traveling crane. The ball was released by pulling on a rope\n26. Workrooms for this industry should be light and\nattached to a release hook on the ball. The workman after\nwell ventilated. They should also be large and spacious\nattaching the release hook to the crane hook signaled the\nin proportion to the number employed, so that close\ncrane operator to hoist the ball. As it ascended, the release\ncontact of the workers with the materials used by fellow\nrope became tangled around his leg. While attempting to\nworkers may be avoided.\nuntangle the rope and keep from falling, he accidentally\npulled on the rope releasing the ball from the crane hook\nThese suggestions apply to the use of radioactive material\njust as he reached a point directly under the ball. The ball\nin paint, that is mixed with oil, shellac or water and adhesive\nstruck him and he was crushed to death.\nand applied by brush or dipping. (Lamp indicators and\nother small articles are sometimes dipped instead of brushed.)\nPLAN EXAMINATION\nThe use of radioactive materials in dry form by sprinkling\nSummary of plans for ventilation and exhaust systems acted upon by the Plan\nor dusting on a surface wet with ordinary paint is more\nExamination office of the Division of Industrial Hygiene\nduring the month of June 1937\ndangerous as it creates a dust hazard, and must be dealt\nwith separately. The process of removing old luminous\npaint from dials by scraping is in the same class. We have\nSubstance for\nwhich control\nProcess\nIndustry\nPlans\nMach.\nPer-\nnot so far found any plant in New York State in which\nwas provided\nsons\nthese operations are done.\nThere would seem to be no reason why the danger of\npoisoning which results from actual physical contact with\nCarbon monoxide,\nHat presser\nMillinery\n3\n4\n26\nradioactive paints cannot be overcome by using care in\nCarbon monoxide\nGas boiler\nMiscellaneous\n2\n2\n28\nCarbon monoxide\nAutomobile\nGarage\n1\n5\n12\nhandling. The rules set forth are minimum requirem\nCarbon monoxide.\nLead pots\nPrinting\n7\n17\n28\nwhich can be added to, or changed, to meet special situations.\nChronic acid\nChrom.-plating\nThere has been a great improvement in methods of dial\ntank\nMetal goods\n2\n2\n13\nPlating acids\nPlating tanks\nMetal goods\n2\n7\n43\npainting since the days when SO many lives were lost. It is\nLacquer vapors\nSpray painting\nAutomobile repair.\n16\n18\n88\nsome years for instance since brush pointing between the\nLacquer vapors\nSpray painting\nFurniture\n6\n6\n10\nlips was an every day custom.\nLacquer vapors.\nSpray painting\nMiscellaneous\n11\n49\n135\nMisc. vapors\n9\n30\n187\nHowever, this is only half the story. We still do not know\nSteam\nLaundry machines\nLaundry\n5\n83\n94\nthe effects of exposure to emanations of low power when\nMetal fumes\nMelting pots\nMiscellaneous\n4\n23\n35\nSilica dust\nSand blast\nFoundry\n1\n1\n13\ncontinued over long periods. Until further studies and tests\nSilica dust\nSand blast\nGranite cutting\n1\n1\n10\nhave been made, and sufficient time has elapsed durin\nSilica dust\nSand reclaiming.\nFoundry\n1\n1\n12\npersons employed in this industry under the best conditions\nMineral dust\nMiscellaneous\nMiscellaneous\n2\n7\n10\nArtificial abrasive dust\nMiscellaneous\nAbrasive\nmanu-\nhave been under constant observation, it must be considered\nfacture\n4\n79\n70\nas at least potentially hazardous.\nMetal dust\nGrinding\nMiscellaneous\n8\n39\n149\nMetal dust\nBuffing and polish-\ning\nMetal goods\n14\n100\n148\nMetal dust\nMiscellaneous\nMiscellaneous\n2\n2\nMisc. organic dust\nMiscellaneous\nMiscellaneous\n10\n61\n90\nWood dust\nWoodworking\nBibliography\nmachines\nFurniture\n10\n98\n149\nWood dust\nWoodworking\nU.S. Department of Labor-Radium Poisoning. Industrial Poison-\nmachines\nMiscellaneous\n11\n161\n564\ning from Radioactive Substances. Survey of Industrial Poisoning\nfrom Radioactive Substances. Monthly Labor Review, 1929.\n132\n796\n1,914\nMartland, Harrison S.-Occupational Poisoning in Manufacture\nof Luminous Watch Dials."
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