X-Ray Examination Of Industrial And Chemical Workers

Northern Advocate, 18 November 1941, Page 7

X-Ray Examination Of Industrial And Chemical Workers

i [Per Press Association—Copyright.] 1 - WELLINGTON, This Day. j An X-ray survey of the chest health | of a cross section of industrial and clerical workers is being undertaken in Wellington stated the Minister for J Health (Mr. Nordmeyer) in WellingI ton yesterday. j In England in the last war mortality ' from pulmonary tuberculosis rose to. I an alarming extent among workers, | particularly women, Mr. Nordmeyer ; explained. This was probably due to ' the extra strain of war work, longer I hours and generally to unhealthy conj ditions in which some employees were | compelled to work. It was desired that ! this should be avoided in New Zealand, j Experience showed that the greatest ' mortality in this disease among work- ! ers was found to occur jn the age group 114 to 35 years. Particular attention was | being paid to persons in this group ali though the opportunity of being Xrayed was being given to those of all ages. Result Communicated The Minister said that from the out- ! set, the scheme had received the whole-hearted co-operation of the , Labour Department. In only one instance had an employer refused per- | mission to departmental officers to adi dress employees and explain the scheme. | Employees were conveyed to the Otea Quay clearing hospital where they were radiographed by means of a mini iature X-ray apparatus. | Each person received a private comi munication as to the result and was advised whether it was necessary to seek further medical advice. School Children Tested Already over 1000 industrial and clerical workers had been radiograph- ! ed. In addition some hundreds of school children who would be leaving at the end of the year to take their places in industry, commerce ; nd profession, had been X-rayed, as it seemed desirable that a record of their chest health should be obtained before the strain of wage-earning became manifest. The Minister added that this scheme was an earnest attempt on the part of the Government to grapple with the problem of tuberculosis in its early stages. It was obvious that regular chest examinations would disclose any tendency to this disease and the worker affected would then be advised to seek other work or where it was justified, treatment would be provided.