Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-10
EXPLOSIVE CODE
EFFECTIVE SOON
After April 1 All Plants Max
ing Power Must Be Fence
Enclosed

Every munition plant in Pennsyl-
vania, manufacturing gunpowder and
other explosives, will operate under
uniform State regulations after April
1, for safety of the workers and for
protection of the industry.
That announcement was made to-
day by Commissioner John Price
Jackson, of the Department of Labor
and Industry, as chairman of the
formulated and adopted in co-opera-
ton with the State of New Jersey, the
first codified regulations of Statewide
uniformity applicable to plants max
ing explosive munitions of war. The
members of the Industrial Board are
Otto II. Mallery and William Young.
of Philadelphia; Mrs. Samuel Semple.
of Titusville. and DR.. A. l.. Carver,
of Roaring Springs.
Several months ago, the Industrial
Board of the Department of Labor and
Industry, on the recommendation of
the powder manufacturers, passed a
ruling prohibiting the carrying of
matches into powder mills or places
where explosives are handled or
stored. Violations of this rule con-
fine or Imprisonment. Prior to the
adoption of this rule, powder makers
could merely discharge an employe
bringing matches into the plants.
Commissioner Jackson declared to-
day that the active cooperation of
the manufacturers of explosives made
the formulation and adoption of the
explosives code practicable, as those
manufacturers are keenly alert to
eliminate dangerous conditions and
unsafe practices which vitality affect
the safety of employees as we'll as the
operation and production of the
plants.
The explosives code was perfected
in it's technical details in the Division
of Industrial Hygiene and Engineer
ing of the Department of Labor and
Industry through conferences con-
Quoted by DR.. Francis d. Patterson,
Chief of that Division, and John S.
Spicer chemical engineer of the La
Dor Department with representatives
of the explosives manufacturers.
In regulating the manufacture of
explosives. the code aims generally to
distribute the processes of manufac-
ture among small unit buildings sepa-
rated at safe distances from other
buildings. 1t also stipulates the num-
Der or employees that may be en-
ployed, for a definite purpose, in each
structure, thus tending to reduce the
menace to life and property from a
single minor explosion. The code
also is rigorous in providing for ven
tilation to prevent the accumulation
or explosive gases and in regulating
the electrical wiring to such an extent
that there may be no exposed switches
or other spark-generating points.
Even the amount of explosives that
may ee collected in one structure in
manufacture is limited by the code
and the dress and habits of employees
are restricted. No person upon whom
the odor of liquor is detected shall be
allowed on the premises of q plant
manufacturing or using explosives
employees must wear shoes without
IRON or steel nails. One pocket is al
lowed in an employees clothing
Neltner iron nor steel buttons nor
metal attachments are allowed and
metal objects in the pockets such as
knives or keys are prohibited.
Plants manufacturing explosives
must be fenced to keep out unauthor1
lzed persons and, persons other than
employees, may enter only on permit
from the superintendent, manager or
proper authority. Records of ali visi-
tors admitted to the plants must be
accurately kept.