SAFETY Bureau of Mines Compiles Data On Hazards of Fluorine Increased use of fluorine and its compounds in recent years has led the Bureau of Mines to assemble information on the health hazards of these materials. The bureau has prepared a 55page booklet in which it notes that fluorino and its derivatives are used industrially in numerous processes: plastics, germicides, pharmaceuticals, dyes, fermentation of alcohol, and many other large-scale industrial processes. In addition, they are used on a small scale in about 31 technical processes. Summarizing published material dating from 1887 through 1953, it discusses toxic effects of fluorides on vegetation, animals, and human beings. The hazards of hydrogen fluoride are discussed,· together with prevention and control of exposures and first aid measures. Physical and toxic properties of 73 fluorine compounds are summarized. A copy of I. C. 7687, "Review of Literature on Health Hazards of Fluorine and its Compounds in the Mining and Allied Industries," by S. J. Davenport and G. G. Morgis, can be obtained from the Bureau of Mines, Publications Distribution Section, 4800 Forbes St., Pittsburgh 13, Pa.
• National Safety Council will make a motivation study among workers of fertilizer plants to obtain actual field data on learning processes, motivations, and work habits of the average fertilizer worker. Study will enable NSC's fertilizer section to produce training aids that more effectively appeal to workers and also help t h e industry improve its supervisory techniques and utilize workers more effectively. The fertilizer section is receiving funds for the project; contributions may b e sent to: Fertilizer Study Fund, National Safety Council, 425 North Michigan Ave., Chicago 11, 111. • Dow's central l a b o r a t o r y employees earn their 10th straight Texas Division safety certificate and become the first department to work its way by successive 100,000 man-hour steps to a record 1 million man-hours of work without a lost-time injury. Employees have worked almost seven years without a major injury. • Westvaco mineral products division
wins the 1953 Presidential Award from the parent company, Food Machinery and Chemical. The Newark, Calif., plant h a d one lost-time accident in over 700,000 man-hours of work in 1953. VOLUME
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• Hanford W o r k s passes 134 days and 5.9 million man-hours without a major injury; each employee receives a free prize from the central safety council, the third time the special a w a r d has been given to Hanford.
of
• Phillips Petroleum's atomic energy division at Idaho Falls, Idaho, works 1 million man-hours without a lost-time injury, a record for the National Reactor Testing Station, as well as for t h e state. Record was set between Dec. 18, 1953 and July 3, 1954.
kills foam in.
• "Safety Devices and I d e a s " describes more than 90 safety devices which have been tried and found effective in plant use. Devices were originally part of a safety gadget show presented during chemical sessions of the 1953 National Safety Congress (C&EN, Dec. 28, 1953, page 5 3 9 2 ) . Each idea is illustrated with a large photo showing details of construction. Copies are available for $1.25 to members of t h e National Safety Council and $2.50 to others by writing NSC, 425 North Michigan Ave., Chicago 1 1 , 111. • A film b a d g e service offered b y R. S. Landauer, Jr., & Co. features a threeabsorber badge, making possible accurate analysis of exposures from a broad range of radiations, including x-rays and gamma rays from 3 0 k.e.v. to 5 m.e.v. and beta rays above 400 k.e.v. A special quick change badge is provided, which may be retained for duration of the service. Only t h e sensitive film packet inserts will b e sent for weekly replacement, thus reducing handling time and return shipping costs. S 1
• An organic v a p o r r e s p i r a t o r which can be fitted with auxiliary cellulose filters to prevent clogging of t h e cartridges during paint spraying is available from Chicago Eye Shield. Known as the Cesco No. 99 Respirator, it has a soft rubber facepiece which provides a leakproof fît. S2 • A p r o p o r t i o n e r developed b y American-La France attaches to t h e 2.5-in. discharge of a pumper and quickly produces airfoam for extinguishing gasoline, oil, or grease fires. It can be used for drafting 6% Foamite airfoam (or 3% by use of an adapter) and also wetter water. It can be switched from one position to t h e other in seconds. S 3
AUGUST
i 170 POUNDS strawberry i a m 4 4 0 0 0 GALLONS varnish resin 4 2 3 3 2 POUNDS neoprene l a t e x 4 3 TONS asphalt
A Effective at very low concentrations,. ** Dow Corning Antifoam A Compound is the most economical, the most efficient and the most versatile foamkiller ever developed. Odorless aricJ tasteless, this silicone defoamer is physiologically harmless in foods at concentrations up to 10 parts per million. Thousands of chemical and food processing plants depend on Dow Corning Antifoam A to cut processing time, t o save productive capacity now wasted o n foam, and to eliminate wasteful and hazardous overflow.
DOW CORNING ANTIFOAM AF EMULSION is a dilutable defoamer containing 3 0 % Antifoam A. It is easily dispersed, equally versatile and equally effective against aqueous foamers. It is safe to use in food processing at concentrations u p to 10 parts Antifoam A per million parts of the foamer,
mail
coupon
TODAY
for
f r e e SMIIVHI»!*» DOW
CORKING
SILICONES
Dow Corning Corporation Midland, Mich., Dept. AR-20A Please send me data and a free sample of Q Dow Corning Antifoam A or • Dow Corning Antifoam AF Emufsion NAMECOMPANY
For further information on any keyed item mentioned here, see
coupon on page 3308 16,
1954
ADDRESS* • CITY
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