INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16876, 30 October 1922, Page 11

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE.

LEAD POISONING. Load poisoning is one of the commonest, most serious and raoet gradual of all the heavy metal poisons met with in those occupations in which it is used. Epidemics of acute poisoning sometimes result through drinking water, from beer drawn through lead piping, and sometimes from using an enamel saucepan which lias been glazed by lead crosses, and the saucepan has been insufficiently washed out prior to using for cooking purposes. HOW POISONING OCCURS. Poisoning occurs in the manufacture of lead oxides, litharge and red lead, in tho manufacture of pottery and earthenware (tile manufacturing included) lead mining and lead smelting and refining also. It also occurs in the making and selling of wall paper, retouching photographs with Nvhite lead paint for catalogues and advertisements; polishing brass (the alloy , containing lead) ; polishing cut glass with lead putty powder ; and mixing compounds for rubber. Other trades which use metallic lead are very numerous. including the making of wire, sheet. piping. plumber’s goods, machine parts, tinfoil, car seals, and can seals, picture frames, trimmings I for coffins-, and the use of solder and Babbitt. The most important one. 1 however, is the printer’s trade, where the amount of lead dust and fume is slight, but long continued exposure brings about a serious form of lead . ! poisoning marked especially by a - j lowered resistance to tuberculosis. I Load poisoning occurs in file cutting r | owing to the file being strapped to a strip of lead during f»he striking pro- - cess. Another i- diamond polishing. -i I the jewel to be polished being embed- - j ded in lead. Lead colours are also - j used in printing textiles and dyeing. 1 i ! j PREVENTION. 1 The prevention of lead poisoning • . rests, in the main, upon the fact that f j the Toad comes to the workman usually e ■ as dust, and sometimes as lumes r » through the- air; but. it must he re--1 ! membered that load is also carried tp x tlie mouth by deposits on the hands - and other objects. Practical efforts n ’ for the protection of lead workers s 1 must be directed first to the preven - I lion of dust and tbe removal of - fumes: second, to provisions for bodilv . cleanliness. The first, essential, then, is to keep I i the air which tli 1 workman breathes - 1 an cl which surround? him free of lead. 1 Most causes of lead poisoning coiild he | '1 ' averted by n proper system of ventil- i e j ation. Certain processes should be ! e ! carried on under hoods with a strong I n ! draft, or in cabinets, or in special ] d j rooms with an air current so arrange 1 - that the lead us kept away from the - ’ mouth, nose, hands and clothes of those - j who are exposed. • I THE WORKMAN'S PART j On the part of the workman the • prevention of lead poisoning consists ; of cleanliness of the hand? and of the i finger nails, frequent bathing, and the l!S j use of special clothing while at work. R " j Care must be taken uot to carry the I fingers, which may be contaminated ' j with lead, to the mouth and nose, an I ° ! to wash the hand* thoroughly before )<? 5 eating. "Workmen should never take- • their lunch in the rooms where ther ' |is a suspicion of lead in tlie air. The | hazard of chewing tobacco under sucl r '' j circumstances is obvious. Respirators may afford protection in emergency and ie ! short exposure, but cannot be depend • { ed on as a routine precaution, becaus? iT i the workmen will not wear them con 'A , tinuously. ! 01 | CLEANLINESS ALL-ESSENTIAL. . n j Cleanliness is one of the all-essential ! s requirements. A special room for the 1 " clothes of the workmen and special j overalls should be provided for those j' 1 who are exposed to lead. It is ignor- ,•' a nee of the danger and the want oi / personal cleanliness tliat makes casual J°' labour in lead works especially danger - , l€: ous. Even the women who wash th*,if ‘ clothes of the workmen employed in at lend factories may sometimes suffer a ' from lead ppisoning. T.avatories should f n be provided at the factorv and tho h “ hands should be washe.l with water er containing a small quantity of acetic 10 acid followed by a liberal allowance lf ‘ of soap. m * i Workmen should alternate employment and not remain too long in the , • dangerous departments. Supplanting he Vi o »-iIoVk-iiii- h,- nifirliiLPrY rlimini she.-?

hand lalmur by machinery diminishes the number exposed to the risk. A medical inspection is an important preventive guard in educating t.lu> workmen and in detecting mild and beginning cases. ZINC WHITE TN PAINT. A radical measure would be the substitution of zinc white for lead paints Zinc may bo used a<s «, substitute for lead, especially in indoor work; in fact this has been required by law in France. Whit© lead appears to be superior to zinc for outdoor work. .'veeping down the hyperacidity of -he gastri.- juice is believed to be a good preventii e measure. This maybe accomplished in part by taking a nland oil or drinking milk at intervals during work. AT ilk also acts by fixing the HCI of the gastric juice by the milk proteins. The nnlk should j i e taken between meals (say, 10 a.m. and 5 p.ni-). for in some persons there is considerable secretion of gastric juice in the empty stomach Tho Massachusetts State Board ot ffi-alth issues the folu-r nc protect: \« measures against lead poisoning. The poison gains entrance into the system : 1) By swallowing minute particles of j lead. ! (2) By inhaling lead dust or the ’ fumes of lead in a molten state, or i the vapour of lead in a fused state, i (3) By absorption from the skin in 1 handling lead. I ADVICE TO EMPLOYEES. 1 (1) General personal cleanliness is of the first importance. (2) Thoroughly clean your hands be- ! fore touching food and before leaving (3) Thoroughly rinse your mouth before eating. (4) Take good, nutritious food and plenty of milk. (o) Take a substantial breakfast: an empty stomach is more susceptible to the poisonous effects of lead. (6) Never eat at your work. Eat your luncheon, outside of the workroom f possible; if not. in a part of the loom away from the lead. Never smoke or use tdbacco in any form while at work (7) Avoid all excesses ; alcoholic beverages are especially injurious. (8) Wear overalls or a long coat at your work; also a cap or some head covering. Whenever practicable- wear gloves when lead is to be handled. (9) Persons working in white load t,c other powdered compounds of lead should always vceaF a resynrator while at work. Cause as little dust as possible. HO) Consult a. physician at the ft rat sign of ill-health. ADVICE TO EMPLOYERS. 1) Provide washing facilities, lock-

er?. and a place for the employees to ] cat luncheons away from lead. (2) Provide respirators for all the I workers who have to handle white lead or other oovdered compounds of | lead. (3) The floors of the workrooms and benches at which men work should be j cleaned daily after thoroughly moisten- | iug them. CO These regulations should be posted in a consni*iimis place in the workroom.