I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G CHEMISTRY
64
Protective Clothing i n t h e Chemical Industries
Necrology Warren C o l e m a n
Wistry, Syracuse University, died January 28. He had been a member of
ARREN COLEMAN, instructor in chem
the Syracuse University faculty for nine years. Prior to this he had been an instructor a t Alfred College. H e has published several articles on selenium compounds. He was 38 years old and leaves behind him Mrs. Coleman and one daughter. William Pitt Mason
VOL. 15, NO. 3
vania State College had a natural interest in the athletics of the high school where he performed bis life work.
Alfred L. Oberle
C. Ho S . T u p h o l m e , R u n c t o n C o t t a g e , L o w e r B o u r n e , Far till a m , Surrey, England HE value of protective clothing for workers in the chemical industries is T steadily winning wider recognition in
Britain, and a number of government regulations and welfare orders are in force which make compulsory the wearing of special protective clothing in many branches of the chemical industry. In addition t o these compulsory measures, where special risks are encountered, advice can be sought from H. M . Inspector of Factories and examples of different types of protective clothing m a y be seen at a special industrial museum controlled by the Home Office. The Home Office has recently issued a welfare pamphlet summarizing its recommendations for protective clothing, in which it is pointed out that, while the protective efficiency of the clothing selected John Bradshaw Taylor must be the first consideration, the comfort of the wearer is of great importance. OHN BRADSHAW TAYLOR, assistant Often, after expensive protective clothing to Irving Langmuir a t the General has been provided, complaints are made Electric Co.'s Research Laboratory, and a that the workers will not wear it. In member of t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL many cases a well-founded reason for this SOCIETY since 1922, died January 22 from refusal can be traced to some discomfort a ruptured appendix. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he re which, with a little forethought and consultation with the wearer, could have been ceived degrees in chemistry and physics avoided. in 1926. He had also studied in Germany as a Fellow of the National Research The following are the main points to be Council. He was but 36 years of age. borne in mind when protective clothing is being selected : A LFRED L. OBERLE,
petroleum
tech-
nologist, died January 17 in Washing ton, D . C., after having been found un conscious in the basement of bis residence. He was 54 years old. Dr. Oberle held numerous patents on petroleum processes, including making antiknock gas, heating petroleum jelly as an economical method of distilling oil and other by-products, and producing carbonaceous material for mak ing by-products from the residue after petroleum is distilled. His work also had to do with decolorizing and colloidal car bons.
J
W which
ILLIAM P I T T MASON, a life member of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
he joined in 1885, one of the country's leaders in sanitary engineering particularly as it applied to municipal water supplies, and retired head of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry a t Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, died at the age of 83 on January 26. Dr. Mason was born in New York, graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1874 as civil engineer, and ob tained the degree of M . D . in 1881. He studied bacteriology at the Pasteur Insti tute in Paris andin1908 Lafayette College conferred upon him its LL.D. degree. He b< «M his; service at Rensselaer a? assist MI· .. · liemistry in 1875, and retired inS«p '925. He was a member of vain·»!- >* »"' ' -societies and associations, the Miitti'·· ** any technical papers and textl·· · Ί ι or years was the center of numcrnih ·.· '· ^ting gatherings at meet ings oi v:in· Ms scientific groups. His was an attractive and wholesome personality and his influence was widely felt. He was the subject o f an American Contemporary sketch in INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING
CHEMISTRY, 16, 93 (1924).
Louis W. Mattern ouis W. JMATTERN, 64, who began his teaching career in 1900 in the high schools of Washington, died January 21. He had been a member of the AMERICAN
L
CHEMICAL SOCIETY- since 1921, had been
active in the Division of Chemical Educa tion, and had served on numerous com mittees. H e was a native of Pennsyl vania and a graduate of the Pennsylvania State College in 1894. Prior to beginning his teaching career he had been a chemist in the steel industry. He was widely known among the stu dents, who affectionately called him "Uncle Louie." H e took an active interest in student government, and having been a guard on t h e football team at Pennsyl-
Survey Shows Large Supply o f Pulping Material Available A SURVEY by the Southern Forest ExΆ. périment Station, in New Orleans, under the direction of Captain I. F . EJdridge, indicates that in the south Louisiana delta area, comprising 32 parishes lying south of the Red River, adjacent to and near the city of N e w Orleans and including generally the territory composed of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River basins, there are 38,464,000 cords of hardwood timber of which 24,324,000 cords are of the pulping species. Of the pulping species, 13,178,000 cords are represented by cypress-tupelo, and 4,414,000, by oak and mixed hardwoods. Cottonwood and willow represent a p proximately 3,000,000 cords and the balance is accounted for approximately by gum-mixed hardwoods. The result of this survey should be of interest particularly to paper and pulp manufacturers because of the large available supply of pulping material suited for paper and pulpboard manufacturing. The area also has the advantage of being bisected by bayous and other waterways, practically all of which offer possibilities for barge transportation in assembling raw materials. The lines of seven major railroads also traverse the unit. Approximately 1000 miles of paved highways connect the principal cities and towns. Natural gas, oil, salt, and sulfur are produced in large quantities in and adjoining this unit. The area comprises a total of 11,474,000 acres, of which approximately 4,000,000 are in forests. Practically all of this timbered area is unsuited for agriculture and is conducive to permanent timber farming.
1. The clothing should be as light in weight as is compatible with protective efficiency and durability. 2. The texture of the material or design of the garment should allow of adequate ventilation. 3. The clothing should be so designed that the weight is carried by the part of the body best able to take it. 4. The clothing should be of as pleasant appearance as possible. The provision of a uniform overall of attractive appearance for women workers has been found to have a marked effect on their self-respect and, in consequence, on the efficiency of their work. The care of protective clothing, once provided, is also of importance, and it is thought that many of the difficulties now experienced by employers in keeping their workers supplied with protective clothing, even in small works, could be overcome by the exercise of adequate supervision over the clothing when not actually in use. Clothing provided in accordance with regulations or welfare orders is, in most cases, required to be washed at least once a week and to be maintained in good repair, and it would often be to the employer's advantage to make similar arrangements, even where he is under no legal obligation to do so. Accommodations in which to hang or store the clothing, when not in use, are required b y regulation or order in many cases and are desirable generally. Where the workers are exposed to dangerous or objectionable dust or splashing, it is always desirable that the accommodations for their protective clothing should be separate from those provided for clothing put off during working hours, and this is required by certain codes of regulations dealing with lead processes. The best type of protective clothing varies considerably according to the purpose for which it is needed. To assist employers in making choice, the Home Office gives a list of various types of clothing
FEBRUARY 10, 1937 now commonly used, a n d deals with points which should be specially considered when providing clothing for workers who are particularly in need of protection against risks d u e t o machinery, d u s t and dirt, wet, acids a n d caustic liquids, oil, stickiness, extremes of temperature, burning risks, a n d exposure t o weather.
NEWS EDITION are utsed in conjunction with gloves in certain specialised processes. Hand protec· tors, pads, and finger stalls of leather, rubber, felt, canvas, etc., are similarly used.
65 as it diverts drips of water to the sides, clear of the wearer) ; (2) high-topped waterproof boots or clogs, with the apron reaching well below the tops: and (3) caps as an additional protection.
T h e provision of suitable protective ACIDS AND CAUSTIC LIQUIDS. The followclothing can d o much t o prevent accidents ing may be required, in addition to overalls of a class which is ail t o o common— or trouser suits: (1) aprons, with bibs made namely, those which arise from loose of rubber, leather, tarpaulin, oilskin, or simiTypes of Protective Clothing clothing o r hair catching in machinery. lar material, where there is a risk of splashWorkers are a p t t o come t o work with ing; (2) high-topped, acid-proof rubber OVERALLS. T h e different types of overloose jackets o r loose ends of ties or belts, boots; (3) gloves made of rubber or leather; alls in use include: (1) coat overall, for gen- and t h e women with uncovered hair. (4) goggles or face masks where there is a eral use; (2) wrap-over overall, an alternaWhen such workers a r e moving about risk of splashing; and (5) caps. tive form of overall for general use; (3) among machinery, these loose ends are a OIL. (1) Overalls or trouser suits should pull-over overall, for use when fastenings potential source of danger. M a n y very generally be worn; (2) aprons of oilskin, are not desired; (4) jacket and trousers, for serious accidents have occurred through leather, specially proofed canvas, or printers' use in dirty and dusty work and when liable workers' clothing being caught round a blanket may be worn when there is a risk to come in contact with moving machinery; plain revolving shaft or in t h e moving of splashing; sacking aprons, if changed fre(5) one-piece boiler suits, used principally parts of a machine, and some of the most quently, are effective; (3) clogs may be worn by men as an alternative to the jacket and distressing accidents a r e those in which if necessary; and (4) caps should be worn if trousers suit; (6) high-necked overall, for women get their hair entangled in machinmuch splashing is encountered. use in specially dirty and dusty processes; ery, with the frequent result t h a t part of and (7) bib and brace overalls, principally STICKINESS. (1) Overalls or trouser suits the scalp is removed. used by men. are desirable; (2) aprons may be of rubber, T h e provision of safe clothing is no sub- oilskin, Pegamoid, or other non-absorbent CAPS. Special types of caps in use are: stitute for t h e adequate fencing of m a material that can be sponged clean; (3) clogs ( 1; caps made of light-weight washable chinery as required b y law—a revolving or rubber boots are generally advisable; and material, for use in dusty processes; (2) shaft o r other piece of transmission machin(4) caps should be worn in most cases. paper caps; (3) light net caps for women, ery in operation, for example, is always EXTREMES OF TEMPERATURE. Heat. (1) for use near moving machinery; (4) lined a source of danger t o t h e worker approachSuits of thick woolen material give effective caps, for use in extremes of temperature; ing it, however he o r she may be clad. T h e protection against intense heat; where the (5) waterproof hats; and (6) reinforced hats, wearing of suitable close-fitting overalls heat is not so great, protection may be affor protection from falling articles. and caps, however, is an additional a n d forded by clothing of light color, which reAPRONS. Various types of aprons in use valuable safeguard against this type of flects radiant heat ; (2) clogs or special leather as an additional protection to other clothing accident. footwear with felt or hemp soles are used in include: (1) canvas; (2) rubber, for protecOveralls, of whatever type, should be certain processes; (3) face screens with eyetion against stickiness, wet, and dust (speclose-fitting. In t h e case of women, t h e pieces of colored heat-resisting glass or mica cially proofed rubber is used with acids) ; pull-over type of close-fitting overall afprotect the eyes; and (4) gloves or mitts of (3) oilskin, for protection against stickiness, fords greater safety t h a n t h e coat type, felt, thick canvas, or leather may be used. wet, dust, and oil; (4) Pegamoid, for prowhich m a y flap open a n d is liable t o be Cold. (1) Woolen clothing is preferable; tection against stickiness, wet, dust, and caught in t h e moving machinery. Short alternative protection may be obtained by where oil is occasionally used; (5) tarpaucoats a n d trousers are satisfactory in this the use of wool or fur-lined coats and trousers; lin, for protection against stickiness, wet, respect, if close-fitting. (2) caps should be wool-lined or of leather, dust, and where oil is occasionally used; (Japs, in the case of women, should comwith protection for the ears; (3) boots may (6) printer's blanket (a waste material from pletely cover the hair. Where these are tha printing trade), for protection against only t o prevent t h e hair from catching in be sheepskin-lined or of leather with thick woolen stockings inside; and (4) gloves or stickiness, wet, dust, and oil; (7) leather, machinery, t h e material can be of quite mitts of similar materials afford suitable profor protection against burning risks; (8) light texture, and should preferably be so, tection where needed. asbestos, for protection against a risk of for comfort. BURNING RISKS. The treatment of maflame; and (9) sacking, for use only in oily T h e tightening straps usually provided terials with sodium tungstate, calcium chloand dirty processes when the aprons can be on boiler suits should b e fitted inside t h e ride, and other chemicals renders them less frequently renewed. suit, t o obviate t h e danger of catching in readily inflammable and, since wool does not FOOT AND L E G PROTECTION. ( 1) Clogs machinery. burn as easily as cotton, protective clothing (with or without leggings), for general use; of this material is in most cases preferable. ( 2) high-topped waterproof boots, for use in P r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t Specific R i s k s Garments made of asbestos and "lasting wet, sticky, and oily processes; (3) acidcloth" are used in processes involving exresisting high-topped boots of rubber; (4) DUST AND DIRT. (1) The protect ive clothposure to sudden bursts of flame. Corduroy stout leather boots or clogs, with spats or ing should cover as completely as possible and canvas are used to give protection against leggings of leather, asbestos, or treated the clothing and person of the worker; (2) splashes of molten metal. canvas, for use against burning risks or it should fasten closely at the nook and molten metals; (5) stout leather boots, with wrists; (3) the weight should be kept as low Aprons of leather, asbestos, or treated reinforced toes for protection against falling as possible, compatible with good wearing canvas, with bibs, are effective where articles; (6) metal foot and leg protectors, qualities; and (4) the texture of the material there is a risk of burning from sparks or fitting over boots or clogs, for use in heavy should permit of adequate ventilation molten metal. For use with inflammable metal industries; (7) rope or felt-soled For women, a coat overall or a two-piece liquids, aprons should n o t be made of a b shoes for insulation against heat; and (8) (jacket and trousers) suit is effective. For sorbent materials, which m a y become thick-lined boots, for protection against exmen. boiler suits, jacket and trouser suits, or saturated with such liquids. Leather is treme cold. warehouse coats may be worn, according to therefore used, a n d aprons giving the FACE PROTECTION*. (1) Wire netting the amount of dust and dirt likely to be en- largest area for the liquid to evaporate on masks, for protection against flying fragcountered. Caps should be worn to protect are the safest. ments of glass, etc.; and (2) face screens of the hair, and these should be as light as posBoots or clogs are used with leggings metal, wood, asbestos, and fire-proofed sible. For women in certain industries, and spats made of leather, asbestos, or material, with eyepieces of mica or colored light paper caps are available which can be treated canvas in some cases. Gloves heat-resisting glass to protect the face from destroyed when soiled, since the cost of re- with or without gauntlets, or in the form of the effects of heat. newal of such caps is less than the cost of mitts, made of similar materials, are also washing similar caps made of cotton, etc. effective. Caps are also desirable in most With regard to the question of eye protection, various types of goggles and eye When working under conditions exposed to cases. Face screens of non-inflammable dust of a poisonous nature, a waterproof protectors are used, a comprehensive selecmaterial, with eyepieces of mica, nonapron or apron with a waterproof bib is inflammable celluloid, or heat-resisting tion being shown a t the Home Office Indusvaluable, since it can be sponged down fretrial Museum. glass, are advisable in very hot or dangerquently. H A N D AND ARM PROTECTION. Gloves or ous processes. W E T . Overalls or trouser suits should be mitts: (1) leather, plain, or with metal reFor workers who have to be constantly worn under special protective clothing which exposed t o t h e weather, coats, hats, and inforced palms, for use in heavy processes; (2) India rubber, for use in certain wet and may consist of: (1) aprons with bibs of boots that are waterproof and a t t h e same waterproof material such as rubber, oilskin. chemical processes; (3) twill, with or withtime provide adequate warmth in cold Pegamoid, tarpaulin, or canvas (When the out leather palms, for general use; (4) wool weather are very beneficial. apron is long and heavy it is advisable to have or felt, for protection against heat or cold some form of brace fitted to take the weight and cuts; and (5) asbestos, for protection on the shoulders, thus relieving strain on the against flame. neck. The channel type of apron is designed Various arm protectors, in the form of to prevent water from dripping onto the feet. armlets of felt, leather, canvas, or rubber.
