A study of chronic mercurialism in the hatters' fur-cutting industry / From the Division of Industrial Hygiene, Senior Surgeon R.R. Sayers, medical officer in charge. Medical studies by: Paul A. Neal, P.A. surgeon, Roy R. Jones, P.A. surgeon. Engineering studies by: J.J. Bloomfield, P.A. sanitary engineer, J.M. Dallaville, P.A. sanitary engineer. Statistical analysis by: Thomas I. Edwards, technical editor. Prepared by direction of the Surgeon General.

  • United States. Public Health Service.
Date:
1937
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A study of chronic mercurialism in the hatters' fur-cutting industry / From the Division of Industrial Hygiene, Senior Surgeon R.R. Sayers, medical officer in charge. Medical studies by: Paul A. Neal, P.A. surgeon, Roy R. Jones, P.A. surgeon. Engineering studies by: J.J. Bloomfield, P.A. sanitary engineer, J.M. Dallaville, P.A. sanitary engineer. Statistical analysis by: Thomas I. Edwards, technical editor. Prepared by direction of the Surgeon General. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ENGINEERING STUDY Methods and Instruments Used in the Study At the time this study was conducted there were, in all, 36 plants in the United States engaged in the preparation of hatters’ fur. Information obtained from these plants revealed that the industry employed approximately 2,000 persons. Since it was not feasible to examine every worker in the industry, it was necessary to make a selection of plants. Such a sampling procedure could be used pro- vided certain information was available on each individual plant. Accordingly, a preliminary engineering survey was made in each of the 36 plants. This survey consisted of collecting data on industrial welfare facilities available to the workers, the general sanitation of the plant, and the processes and occupations involved in the prepara- tion of hatters’ fur. Information was obtained on facilities for con- ducting physical examinations, and the degree of cooperation to be expected from employers and employees in the conduct of the study, which influenced the selection of the plants for study. In this manner it was possible to choose five plants which repr--ented both modern and old practice, and good, fair, or poor workin conditions as judged by visual inspection. In addition, this preliminary survey served to give a fairly good concept of the entire industry. Further preliminary steps in this study, prior to making actual measurements of the working environment, consisted of making sanitary and occupational surveys of the various workrooms in the five plants. Such preliminary surveys serve as a guide in the more detailed studies which follow. The sanitary survey, for example, lists the various facilities accessible to the worker in the working environ- ment, while the occupational survey permits one to determine the nature of the work and the particular hazards associated with each occupation. The survey form reproduced in a later portion of this report served as a basis for recording the essential data on the sanitary and occupational phases of this study. The preliminary survey of the industry showed that the major occupational hazards in need of further investigation were exposure to mercury vapor and dust. The General Electric selenium sulphide detector (1) was used for the determination of mercury vapor. (See fig. 1.) This instrument was selected in preference to other devices for the detection of mer- cury vapor in air because of its portability, ruggedness, simplicity of operation, and because direct readings may be sbbaindd in a short