The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-17
.RljL|HC AFFECTS
LOCAL INDUSTRY
CccupationaI and Industrial Diseases
| Not Part of the Iowa Workmen's
Compensation
| -. "a. ~. Act '-ar.'+
HEARING WAS HELD
81 xg -- ---- - s : -a@ ss.s
Albert Earhart Asked Compensation
from Gas Tank Recharsins Com
pany for Alleged Injury
to Eyes, ~.
HEARING WAS HELD

! The Iowa worknan's compensation
act does not cover industrial or occur
pational diseases, a, board of arblu'a-
ton held here Wednesday ruled. IN
a case that affects not only num-
Der of Keolzuk smelling industries,
but Industries Of every nature
throughout the state. The remedy
for such a condition Of affairs lies
with the state legislature, 1t is SAID
Several states have liability and COM
pensation acts which recognize occu-
pational diseases, but the Iowa law
does not.
The case in which the ruling was
made was that of Albert Earhat
against the Gas Tank Recharglng
com pany. The decision of the board
of arbitration will affect not only this
company, but all smelling companies
in Keokuk. Ralph Young of Des
Moines, deputy Industrial commits
stoner directed the hearing Wednes-
day. j..
! Earhart went to work for the Gas
Tank Rechargng company in Febru-
airy of 1920 and he worked until May
l19. On that day he claims to have
gotten a spark of fire or a piece OF
lime in his eye, and that 1t burned
him and disabled him for two weeks.
Dr.. Chapman, an eye specialist tes-
tilted that the injury was not per
manent one, and could not affect the
vision. It was only 4 partial injury
he found
The claimant for compensation de-
clared that from the first week he
was at work In the plant, his eyes
hurt him. He said the lids became
infamed and smarted, and that as he
+lo Gprl-
GUS. Before he went to work here
he was able to read a newspaper
without aid of glasses, but that after
going to work he had to use glasses.
Find 1t is Occtpationai.
The injury to the eyes was not
shown TO have been the result Of any
accidental cause, or unforeseen hap
pening. If there was any injury or
diseased condition, it was caused by
ordinary nature and circumstances
surrounding the place of employ
. ment, it was brought out. Under
normal conditions Earhart worked
where lime and coke were being
shovelled into an electric furnace.
He was working in an atmosphere of
lime dust and lime fumes, and he
was always subject to light and heat
in intense form. :
Earl1art was what is known as a
charger, and it was his business to
shovel the lime and coke fnom plat
form into the furnaces.
The commissioner ruled that the
man was working under conditions
that were normal to businesses Of
this nature That he was subject
only to general conditions such as
prevailed in industries of this sort,
and that his trouble was an occupa-
tional or industrial disease which
was not covered by the Iowa COM
pensation act.
It was brought out that electric
welding frequently caused an electric
opthalmia similar to snow blindness.
No testimony was introduced by
the defense, however as It made a
motion TO dismiss the claimants petit
ton. The motion was made on the
ground that the action could not be
brought under the terms Of the com
pensation act of the state Of Iowa.
The ruling of the deputy industrial
commissioner holds that the Iowa
law does not cover occupational dis
eases. as the compensation laws do
I in some states. By legislation, some
states have covered the occupational
disease phase, and this would be the
relief possible in this case, 1T was
I pointed out