Tilers Demanding Use Of Harmless Adhesive

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30188, 20 July 1963, Page 10

Tilers Demanding Use Of Harmless Adhesive

The 20 tilers and tilers’ labourers engaged on the Christchurch*Lyttelton road tunnel yesterday unanimously decided not to use an adhesive with an epoxy-resin base a *t? r 5 p.m. next Wednesday. If the management had not by met certain conditions, tiling in the tunnel would stop. Their decision was an outcome of, five meetings .in three days among tilers or among tilers* delegates, union representatives, and management.

The latest count of the number of tunnel workers suffering from dermatitis caused by the epoxy-resin adhesive was nine, said the Christchurch Medical Officer of Health (Dr L. F Jepson) The tilers’ decision was reached at a two-hour meeting at the Heathcote end of the tunnel yesterday. The employees and the secretary of their union (Mr F L. Lsngley) had earlier held a discussion with the job manager (Mr S Lukas). The tilers also unanimously decided that the present bonus system paid to roof tilers should be abolished and replaced by an at’ uate wages system.

Mr Langley said that the union was gravely concerned at the effect the epoxy-resin adhesive was having on the health of the workers using it on the road tunnel. "Investigations show that the epoxy-resin adhesive is r sale in different forms tor household use,” said Mr Langley “Our union considers that a warning of the potential danger of the material should be printed on every container, as is done with other compounds which have a danger element. They sell this stuff like tooth-paste in tubes.” Bonus System Of the present bonus incentive for men working with the epoxy-resin adhesive, Mr Langley said it had caused the men to hurry instead of taking precautions Mr Langley said that at

yesterday morning's meeting Mr Lukas had given his opinions why the men had contracted dermatitis through the use of the adhesive

“Mr Lucas expressed concern at the number of cases that had developed," said Mr Langley “He said he thought the new precautions taken, in the form of protective clothing, washing facilities, etc. would diminish the incidence in the future”

The tilers and tilers’ labourers who attended the meeting said Mr Langley, expressed concern that the Ministry of Works, which had specified the use of this adhesive, had not warned the management and the men of the serious danger involved in its handling.

Mr Langley said that the first eight tilers and labour-, ers to use the adhesive on the tunnel had contracted dermatitis. The men yesterday said they feared that, in spite of the protective clothing and other new protective measures provided, they would still contract the complaint. They were concerned, said Mr Langley, that this might leave them prone to dermatitis when using substances other than epoxy-resin. The

men who had suffered dermatitis from the tunnel-tiling job said they had been advised by their doctor never to work near where the adhesive was being applied They complained that the compensation for the time they had lost was inadequate The decisions of yesterday i meeting were conveyed to Mr Lukas, who said they would be forwarded to his principals.

Inquiry In U.S. The national office of the union yesterday cabled to the appropriate unions in the United States to inquire into the effect of the use of epoxy-reenn on workers handling it there. . At tilers’ union meetings earlier this week, the men said they feared that labour would be brought in for the tunnel job from outside the Christchurch district. They discussed reports they had heard that tilers were possibly to be brought from Nelson

A test slab of tiles was laid on the ground on Wednesday with an adhesive without an epoxy-resin base It will be tested on the tunnel roof in a few days. when the adhesive has had tame to harden