The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-02-27
USE Of ARMY GAS MASKS.
IS NOT SAFE IN MINES.
BUREAU OF MINES ISSUES A
WARNING AGAINST
THEIR USE.


ate use of the army gas mask in the
industries and by fire departments as
being dangerous to life has been issu-
Ell by Van II. Manning. director of
the bureau of mines, department of
the interior.
Through the fact that the Ameri-.
can army gas mask proved to be most
efficient for the purposes intended
said Mr.. Manning in his statement,
there has grown up a general belief
on the part of the public that this type
of mask will protect the wearer under
all conditions against any gas what
soever, even in absolutely irrespirable
air, to the exclusion of the more cum
bersome mine rescue oxygen breath
ing apparatus. This erroneous belief
will no doubt be further confirmed by
millions of discharged soldiers, who
have been trained in the use of the
gas mask and have been taught that
it gives them absolute protection
against all gases used or likely to be
realize that out in the open air of the
battlefield the percentage of gas in the
atmosphere can never he anywhere
near as large as may occur in the con-
fined space of factory operations. A
mask may afford complete protection
under out-of- doors conditions, yet
break down at once when used indoors
where a gas container has burst and
filled the room with a greater concen-
tration of gas. 1t must also be remem-
bered that the absorbents in the army
respirator, which filter out the poi
son gas, are especially designed for
the gases used in warfare, and as
matter of fact do not protect against
the most common industrial gases, as,
for example, illuminating natural,
producer and blast furnace gases.
Use in Mines Dangerous.
'"rhe army gas mask should never
be used in mines, because of the I'M
certainty that exists as to the amounts
Of gases in the atmosphere and the
liability of there being insufficient
oxygen to support life It's use in the
mines will lead to serious accidents
and fatalities.
1.-THE army gas mask is by no means
the unusual protective appliance that
it is popularity believed. 1t does not
afford absolute protection against all
gases, nor can it ever he safely used
in low oxygen atmospheres. 1t fur
nishes no oxygen to the wearer and
only can remove comparatively small
percentages of poisonous gas from
inhaled air, usually less than one or
two per cent. Higher percentages will
Immediately penetrate the canister
and will gas the wearer.
"rhe field of usefulness of the army
mask is confined to certain of the
chemical industries, around smelters,
and roasters where sulphur fumes are
given off, and in the Industries using
chlorine and bleaching powder The
army canister also contains cotton FL
ter pads which remove irritating and
poisonous dusts, which increases its
around smelters where
sulphur and arsenic fumes must be
removed
Bureau to Make Investigation.
''The army mask furnishes no pro-
lection whatever against carbon mon
oxide. This is the poisonous constit-
uent of blast furnace, producer and |
Illuminating gases, and of mine gases
after fires and explosions in coal |
mines. Carbon monoxide is also like (
~ to be present in ordinary fire fight
ing conditions met by fire depart
ments. Moreover, in all of these cases
there Is likely to be deficiency of
oxygen. Therefore for adequate pro-
lection the oxygen breathing apparat-
IS must be used, and reliance on the
army mask may be fatal.
Owing to the many factors enter
ng into the use of protective respira-
DRY appliances, the importance of
advice on the selection and
Use of such appliances can not be over
stimated. In connection with the bu-
eau's work in safeguarding the health
nd safety Of miners and workmen in
he metallurgical industries. gener
! investigation Of respirators, gas
masks and breathing appliancestis to
re undertaken at the Pittsburgh ex-
eriment station of the bureau. The
es,llts Of these Investigations will be
ven to the industries promptly"