The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-06
Plan Field Study Of
Working Conditions
Among SpOngeDNers
Senator Andrews Office
Inaugurated Campaign
Toward Securing Feder-
al Funds In Matter
(BY Washington Correspondent of
The Key West Citizenl

The Key West Citizenl
WASHINGTON. D. C.. Dec. 6.
Senator Andrews office today
opened campaign TO secure Fed
eral funds for a field study of
working conditions among sponge
divers of Key West and Tarpon
Springs.
The study was suggested re-
Gently by the United States Pub.
lie Health Service after a survey
Of the work by DR.. Roy r. Jones
of the department.
Tarpon Springs Chamber OF
Commerce had asked for the
study in the hope that helium-
oxygen gas might be used in the
treatment of divers suffering
from bends" The Andrews of.
flee said that benefits resulting
from the study would also affect
Key West"
Acting on receipt of a letter
from George M. Emmanuel,
President of the Chamber OF
Commerce in Tarpon Springs
the Andrews office went into
immediate consultation with DR.,
r. r. Sayers, Senior Surgeon and
Chief of the Division of Indus
trial Hygiene, to devise steps in
securing federal aid.
Emmanuel had previously ask
ed for a study by the Federal
Health authorities which re-
suited in the preliminary survey
by DR.. Jones.
In his final letter TO the c. of
2. President, DR.. Sayers stated,
The interest Of your group in
this Industrial hazard is very
much appreciated. 1t is believed
that further observation of
sponge divers will provide an OPP
portunity to develop safe work
ing methods. By such a field
study it is believed that much
can be done to improve the
health of the workers.
Il shall be glad to recommend
that such study be made when
funds and personnel are available
for the work, provided your in
dustry and the workers are in
tercsted in such a program"
The letter was forwarded to
Senator Andrews with the re-
quest that he use his efforts to
secure financial aid from the
Public Health Department.
The method of obtaining suffi-
cient money to start a field sur
vey of the type proposed by DR..
Sayers, has not yet been deter
mined, however the Andrews of
flee expects to have definite
word, I'm short while"
In a lengthy report to his
superiors, DIR. Jones makes four
recommendations to better work.
ing conditions of divers.
Cd Equip all boats with COM
pressor tanks of a capacity cap
able Of providing emergency air
pressure should power fail and
provide non-return valves on the
helmets.
CD Provide at least two suits
for each boat. Check column OF
air supplied. Should have enough
10 supply two divers at maxi
mum depths.
CD The use of filters in the air
line hose leading from compress
scr tank. Although the cost may
be more, it is frequently an adj
vantage TO use castor oil as a
lubricant in place of mineral oil,
since with castor oil there is less
danger Of carbon monoxide be-
ing formed.
Cd Observe proper decompres-
sion methods and working hours
under pressure. A practical
scheme 10 permit divers coming
10 the surface TO stop at definite
depths is to use guide rope at
tached TO an anchor of sufficient
weight to be certain depths from
the surface rings on which the
diver may stand or hold himself
by means of a snap attached to
his suit.