Evening journal., 1916-08-28
EXPLOSIVES CODE
TO Guard WORKERS
Industrial Board Formulates'
and Will Consider New
Regulations in Penna.
POWDER PLANTS TO
BE so REGULATED

HARRISBURG. Aug. 2s-Dehnite
regulations for safety OF workers in
plants manufacturing explosives have
been formulated in an explosive code
prepared and tentatively adopted by
the Industrial Board Of the Depart
mont Of Labor and Industry.
Authorities on explosives, heads OF
plants manufacturing explosives, engi-
neers and chemists have an OppOr-
tunity 10 appear before the industrial
Board to voice their views on the de-
tails Of the code, offer suggestions and
recommendations at a public hearing
in the Offices OF the Labor Department
In Philadelphia, Wednesday morning,
September s.
Commissioner John Price Jackson,
chairman of the Industrial Board, an
nounced today that this code will
apply to all plants manufacturing or
using explosives, explosive gases and
vapors and poisonous nitro and amido
compounds in all parts of the Com
monwealth. He also stated that ex-
perts Of the Department of Labor and
Industry are comforting with officials
OF the Department of Labor in New
Jersey with the aim of adopting an
explosive code that may be uniform
in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
so that large powder concerns, with
plants in both States may be governed
by a single set of regulations.
The same purpose is desired in the
adoption of codes now being prepared
to protect employees from gases and
vapors in chemical works and to safe
In uaftF
ing establishments from the dangers
Of lead poisoning and other hazards.
Far-reacbing Code.
The explosives code which will be
considered by the Industrial Board
deals in exhaustive detail with the
manufacture Of all classes OF ex-
plosives Structural features OF ex-
plosive plants are outlined in the
code. Adequate ventilation is required
to prevent explosions from electrical
installations, naked lamps or matches.
The use of metal tools Is prohibited
in most instances. The number OF
employees working in various hazard
GUS places is limited, so that a mis-
hap may not cause general loss of
life.
Danger signs are required and GER
tifcates Of approval for each plant
must be obtained from the commits
sioner OF the Department of Labor
and Industry. These certificates must
be consDicuously posted.
The code would prevent persons
from entering explosive plants. ex-
cepting employees or persons properly
authorized. 1t would exclude from
the premises of such plants persons
upon whom the odor of liquor can be
detected. Even lists OF loose articles
I and tools in explosive buildings
would be required TO be kept.
Garb for Employees.
The regulations stipuiate that all
employees in explosive plants must
wear shoes without iron OF steel
nails. One pocket is allowed in the
blouse of an employees clothing.
Neither iron nor steel buttons or
metal attachments are allowed, and
metal objects in the pockets, such as
knives or keys. are prohibited,
In the nitrate house, for nitro-gly-
cerlne manufacture, there would be
sheet lead floors required and Their
mometers attached to battery switch
es supplied to each nitrator. so that
an alarm bell would be rung when
the temperature reaches so degrees.
Only wooden shovels and wooden
rakes would be allowed in the nitro
glycerine house. and the maximum
amount of trO-glycerine allowed in
such buildings at one time would be
$50 pounds