Montana labor news., 1936-05-07
Conference
Starts Nation Wide
Fight On Silicosis
Secretary of Labor Perkins Says
100000 Workers Are Exposed
To the Dread Disease-Indus-
try, Labor, Health Experts and
Federal and State Officials
Join in Campaign.
By A. F. OF L. News Service.

By A. F. OF L. News Service.
WASHINGTON, D. CA concerted
drive by employers, labor, health ex-
perts, engineers and official interests
to have ~silicosis included in occupa-
tional diseases to be covered by state
%workmen's compensation laws and to
prevent the exposure Of workers to the
menace of silica dust was forecast by
the proceedings of the National Sill
COSTS Conference in the auditorium Of
the Labor Department Building here.
The conference, attended by 1870 per-
sons representing the varied interests
concerned, was convened by Secretary
OF Labor Perkins to devise a national
program for s~ilicosis prevention and to
avert the recurrence OF the recent trag-
edy at Gauley Bridge, w. Va, where
scores of workers died from s~ilicosis
contracted in driving a water power
tunnel for the New-Kanawaha Power
Company, a subsidiary Of the Union
Carbide and Carbon Corporation Of
New York.
In opening the conference Secretary
Perkins cited the success OF s~ilicosis
prevention in some industries as proof
that "silcosis a be prevented" She
estimated hat 100000 workers are ex-
posed to the disease.
Status of Prevention and Relief.
r. R. Sayers, senior surgeon, and
R. R. Jones, P. A, surgeon Public
Health Service, gave the conference an
instructive account of the work in
s~ilicosis prevention done by many gov
ernments and private interests through
out the world. In the field Of practi-
cal effort he emphasized medical ex-
animation of workers and barring tu-
bercular workers from employment
where there is exposure to silica dust.
He said that by lessening infection "the
silicosis problem can be much more
readily controlled"
In the specific field Of engineering or
mechanical control he enumerated a
number of methods for preventing the
escape OF silicosis dust into the work
room atmosphere" removal Of the dust
after the air has been infected, the iso-
lation Of dusty processes, and in mines
the use Of water sprays in blasting and
tunnelling.
Close cooperating between the en-
gineering and medical personnel is es-
sential for economical and safe control
OF the dust hazard" he concluded. mo
one method or equipment has proven
effective and practical, but the adop-
ton Of those most practical and safe
under capable direction may be relied
upon to prevent conditions which will
cause silcosis."
Organized Labor's Viewpoints.
Labor's attitude toward the problem
OF silicosis was presented to the CON
ference by John P. Frey, president Of
the Metal Trades Department. of the
American Federation OF Labor.
"As a result of fine publicity given to
silicosis," he said, "a conviction has
been created in many workmen's minds
that they have been exposed to silica
dust, and are, perhaps, affected by the
fatal malady. Incompetent physicians
have not relieved this belief.
"As a result, men not afflicted, and
their families, are overwhelmed by
alarm, Although the workmen feel no
physical effects, they fear that they
have contracted a fatal disease and
that within a brief time they will leave
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