River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-11-20
FOR. SAFETY OF WORKERS.
Occupations which Necessitate the
Provision of Special Protective
Apparatus and Clothing.

Many people, TO scooic IKE uec6SS a-
ries of life. are forced to daily 60 close
to death. There is an element>of dan
ger in almost all mechanical trades,
but these risks, great as they are, fade
into insignifcance alongside of the pos
sibilities Of destruction which menace
chemists and other men of science, as
well IS operatives employed in certain
unfamiliar branches OF industry. To
reduce these chances of harm to the
lowest limit has long been the aim of
inventors, and many difficulties in this
direction have been overcome French
ingenuity has especially occupied it
self in this work, says an industrial
journal.
A worker in an ammonia factory
faces death at all times. The vapOrs
of this material, as is well known, are
altogether unbreathable and also af-
feet the tissues. To avoid serious harm
he protects his eyes by strong specta-
cles, fitting closely to the skin. His nos
trils are pressed together by two rub
Der springs. A long tube of the same
substa connected with his lips,
communicates with the outer air and
permits respiration.
A French fireman dresses like a SUBJ
marine diver when he prepares to dash
into the flames. His garments are
made of a noninfammable material.
Air is furnished him by means of a
long pipe supplied from the outside of
the burning building.
One common source of injury to the
hands, face and eyes is the bottling of
carbonated beverages. The pressure
of the gas breaks those bottles in
which there is the least defect and the
flying pieces are apt to cause serious
accidents. These are guarded against
by the inventors ingenuity. In the
filing the critical moment is when the
bottle is taken from it's iron holder.
The operators have the face protected
by a fine wire mask similar to that
worn by fencers. Long thick wooden
gloves cover the hands and arms. 1t
has been found that this material does
not cut so easily as leather or rubber.
A man wears enormous gloves when
handling sulphuric acid. The gloves
are of hard rubber. Without them the
flesh would be rapidly destroyed.
Nothing in all the series of risky
employments is more dangerous than
the making of fireworks. When these
are manufactured the presence of the
smallest bit of iron might have terri
Bile results. Nothing but copper nails
are used in the erection of the wooden
buildings occupied. In the case of
women operatives, their very hairpins
must be copper. Thick leather over
shoes are worn without nailsand close
fitting cotton jerseys. The wOrkrooms
are lighted by gas jets placed outside
heavy glass windows. The worker
stands before such a window when
charging fireworks. All his utensils
are felt and soft wood
Common features of fireworks ex-
hibitions in France are pyrot echnic
models of men in motion and in flames.
Their exceedingly natural action has
often surprised people. There is rea-
son for it. These figures are not au-
tomato, but human, being fastened to
woodenframe carrying the fireworks.
The men who undertake this work are
naturally in great danger, but not SO
much from the fire as from the smoke
Asphyxia ton, sometimes almost end
ing in death, is by no means uncommon
Great precautions are taken to pro
vide against risk in the making of gun
cotton. The chief device is an apron
woven Of thick rope. This protects the
workman who watches the process OF
manufacture through circular hole
In case of an explosion the elastic net
of rope yields gradually and thus pre-
vents the damage that might be the
case if the intervening screen were Of
wood or iron.
The practical chemist is clothed en-
tirely in leather, covered with gutta
percha, when at work among certain
acids. The room is full Of the deadliest
fumes. Had he the misfortune to inhale
the atmosphere of the apartment but
the fraction of second it would mean
instant destruction. Thanks to his
leather armor and the accompanying
tubes he safely breathes the pure fiji.
tered air provided mechanically from
the outside.