The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-09-14
HYGIENE OF THE
PRINTING TRADES

l3O printing plants located In OF
the largest cities of the country have
just been published as Bulletin No.
209 of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U. S. Department of Labor, under
the title "Hygiene of the Printing
Trades" This investigation was
undertaken to discover what influence
the presence of lead and other toxic
substances has upon men in the
printing trade and to observe all the
features of the industry which might
have an indirect bearing on health.
All of the processes used in print
ing, including type founding, were
studied. 1t was found that the
principal dangers confronting prin-
ters, especially in hand composition,
monotype and linotype casting, ster-
eotyping, and electrotyping, are the
exposure to lead and antimony dust
and to possible fumes from molten
lead, to carbon monoXid from gas
burners, to volatile petroleum prod
ucts or coal tar products used to
clean type and press rollers; to tur-
pentine used for the same purpose
to anilin oil and possibly wood al
cohol and tetrachloride of carbon,
used as roller cleaners; to lye water
for washing type and forms; and
to acrolein fumes, which develop
when old Uncovered type is heated
for remelting. Furthermore, the
printers trade is unhealthful because
it is an indoor occupation often car
ried on in vitated air, because the
small amount of physical exertion re-
quired results in sluggishness of cir
culation and sensitiveness to cold, and
because the nervous strain is great.
The report shows that American
printers suffer far more from tu-
berculosis than occupied males in
general
The most important danger is lead
poisoning which may be acquired by
handling food or tobacco with hands
which become smeared with lead,
or by breathing lead dust and fumes.
An examination of 200 working print
ers in Boston and Chicago showed
that only SO men, or 46.5 per cent,
were free from noteworthy symptoms
of i'll health, that the remaining 107
had health impaired, and that 18 of
the latter were suffering from
chronic lead poisoning. Disease pro-
ducing conditions were found in many
of the 1870 plants visited, although
in general there has been a marked
improvement in sanitation during
recent years and several model es-
adjustments were found in these
cities.
To show that the health standards
of the industry are improving, the
experience of the International Typo
graphical Union is noted. From 1900
to 1915 the average age of members
at death increased from 41.25 to
50.S4. The number of deaths due
to all causes in the five-year period,
1898 to 1897, was 2061 and in the
three-year period, 1918 to 1915, the
number was identically the same;
but in the earlier period 66.S per
cent were below As years of age,
while in the later period 3S.9 per
cent were below As The per cent
of deaths due to tuberculosis de-
creased from 312 in 1900 to 1871 in
1915.
The following measures for the
prevention of occupational diseases
among printers are recommended in
the report: Ample ventilation in
all sorts of weather; electric heating
of lead pots or exhaust ventilation
to carry off gas fumes; scrupulous
cleanliness of the premises; no dry
sweeping or dry dusting or blowing
out of type cases, or dry cleaning of
casting machines and plungers; prop
er lighting; separation of processes
which produce lead dust or fumes
from other processes; prevention of
excessive heat, especially moist heat;
ample washing facilities; no excess
sive speeding up or excessively long
hours; and prohibition of boys work
in processes involving exposure to
lead dust or fumes
The bulletin includes a description
of the printing plants visited and the
various processes of the industry,
with statement of the dangers in
cident to each; considerable statistical
data on the health of printers in
certain foreign countries and in the
United States, and statement of
the effects of the health campaign
conducted by the International Typo
graphical Union to improve condi-