The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-02-04
HOW DUSTY IS
YOUR PLANT?

All industrial plants are dusty
But how dusty is the air in any par
icular plant? Knowledge as to the
egree and composition of such dust
important, for certain amounts
md sorts of air dust seriously af-
tect the lungs and predispose those
Who breathe them to tuberculosis
md other diseases.
DR.. O. M. Spencer, of the United
States Public Health Service, dis
uses the matter in a recent report
IF the service. He shows that
leither the fact that the exhaust
pipes, etc, required by law appear
o be properly functioning nor the
Use of wet instead of dry processes
n grinding, polishing, and the like
make it at all certain that the dusti-
less in a given plant is what it
hat many exhaust pipes do not in
fact exhaust as they are supposed
% do; and that under certain con-
litions some wet processes create
much more dust than dry ones. Only
actual "dust counts" at the plant
# the work show the real dustiness
pf the air that the workman must
breathe; and such counts should be
made periodically to check the the
)retical conditions.
To determine how unhealthful the
!ustiness of any particular plant
process may be, the composition of
it's dust should be ascertained and
its effects interpreted by standard
tables, which DR.. Spencer urges
should be worked out for the various
asses produce dusts which differ
yreatly in injurious properties.
Health Hazards in LAUNDERING Regions
Health problems in numbering re-
yions are being investigated by the
United States Public Health Service
as part of a general study into oc-
cupational diseases and industrial
hygiene undertaken in Florida at
the request of the state board of
health. The work has not yet gone
far enough to permit important de-
ductions to be drawn but it seems
to show that the problems are not
essentially different from those OBJ
tanning in other numbering districts
Of the south and indeed, in other
parts of the country, except in that
they show a high incidence of ma
aria and hookworm diseases. The
"esults should be generally interest
ing.
DIR. J. A. Turner, of the public
health service, who was sent to
Florida with instructions to ascer-
tain the special needs of the work
ars and to make recommendation to
the state board of health as to the
best ways of meeting them, has first
AIKEN up the numbering industry and
has found that this involves two
sorts of problems, the first pertain
ing to the actual working conditions,
and the second to the reactions of
he more or less transitory lumber
ing population and of the permanent
residents on each other.
Study of working conditions in
wolves investigation of processes of
production, medical and surgical
care, sanitation of camps, and food
supply; and study of reactions in
cludes Investigations into the eco
nomic conditions of the residents,
prevalence of transmissible diseases,
malaria, and venereal infection and
possibilities of soil pollution
The object of the work is, of
course, to reduce sickness, accidents,
absenteeism, and labor turnover; and
thereby to obtain increased efficiency
and greater economic prosperity for
both workers and employers.
Cr,ol,o nJ XNfpIC 1OA C;oa~