The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-06
Lighting of Factories.

Factories should be we'll lighted, first
because poor lighting injuries the eyes,
and second because poor lighting de-
tracts from the earning capacity OF the
workmen and is an extravaganza. Good
lighting is economical. 1t Is strange
how little attention is paid TO the proper
lighting OF factories Beautiful build
inps are built, expensive machinery m
stalled, safety devices used, ventilation,
cleanliness. rest rooms, sanitary lavato-
rics. etc. adopted, but it frequently hap
mems that the work rooms are very
uoorly Illuminated, and that the eyes OF
the employees are thus subject to con-
slant strain This is sometimes due
to economy, but not always, for many
employers are anxious and willing TO 90
all they can for the comfort OF their
employees, and spend a great deal OF
money for lighting purposes, but their
efforts have not been guided by intelll-
pence and experience. The same mon
ey or perhaps less would furnish ade-
ouate illumination, The question is not
always one of fixtures, power and win
dows, but of considering the nature OF
the work and how the illumination, both
natural and artificial, can be best adapt
ed and arranged to suit the circum.
stances OF the case Many cases OF
headache, and OF serious eye disease, as
well as accidents to the eye and other
organs are due TO poor factory illuml-
nation.
This matter was considered so inn
portant by the French government, that
in 1919, it appointed commission OF
scientific men to consider the subject
of the proper artificial illumination OF
factories. This committee studied the
problem from the standpoint of general
health, and the effect ON vision OF arti-
fetal illumination. Ii endeayored TO de-
termine the composition and quality
from hygenic standpoint OF the differ
ont eombnstible illnminants. and TO ex-
anime the effects OF gases and the
amount of heat developedi. 70 iix.a GER
tain amount of artificial illumination
as necessary for the normal require
nents OF vision and to study the most
practical methods Of measuring illumi-
nation. II Also undertook 70 formulate
Recommendation for applying custom.
arv methods Of lighting 10 the chief
varieties of industrial operations, and to
present a report on short sight and the
impairment Of vision, A. wei as the best
methods OF guarding against these dan
gers.
The investigation showed that The
source Of high illumination must not be
in the field Of ordinary vision that the
amount Of light must be sufficient for
the work 10 be- done that the distribu-
ton Of light must BE- as nearly uni
form a. possible. and that the color
must h. pleasing 10 the eve.
Superior work can only ~ accom-.
plisl,ed under rood lighting conditions
rnder god lighting conditions vision i
preserved. health is conserved. and tac-
tory output is increased from eight to
is per cent Accidents arr much les
likely - orrur. The saving product By
good lighting win pay many times over
fllr rosf 81 the installation 81 good light
ING faeiltirs. The mnNimum numhsf
~ accidents ecru during the time u
rhigh artifcinl hEit a used \ vel
lighted factory is mere prodnctiFe than
poorly lighted enc had lighting i
astrimertai % rfe-eiehf and henlth. i
8 IN sxtrarhrancf that factory owners
esungt nf9rd