Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand.

  • New Zealand. Department of Health
Date:
[1963]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/120 page 12
    hygiene have been carried out in this industry. Other cases have arisen from oils and greases, solvents, cements, alkalis, detergents, etc.; each of these have been followed up and advice on personal hygiene and preventative measures given to the workers concerned. There is reason to believe that the total number of cases of skin disease due to occupation is considerably larger than would be imagined from the number of cases notified. Dusts, Fumes, Gases, Vapours, and Mists— Trichlorethylene—The use of trichlorethylene in industry as a solvent for cleaning metal work has further increased over the year. A number of operators have complained of a feeling of drunkenness with nausea and headaches at the end of the day’s work. In each case the levels of trichlorethylene in the working atmosphere were well over the maximum permissible concentration of 200 parts per million, and resiting of the baths and improvements to the cooling systems were recommended to managements who readily took appropriate action. Carbon Monoxide—A road worker of a local authority gasworks was overcome by carbon monoxide gas escape. This gas has also been impli¬ cated in underwater swimming, where it presents a real hazard if the air compressed into cylinders is contaminated. Carbon monoxide is a gas which is of considerable importance in the health of workers in the motor industry and, while seriously affected cases are fortunately uncom¬ mon, there seems to be no doubt that minor symptoms are frequently experienced by some workers. Metal or Salt of Metal—An interesting case arose in a jewellery factory using an uncommon process involving work with cadmium, mercury, silver, and gold compounds. This process, and a similar one used in Sydney, are the only commercial undertakings of this kind in the Southern Hemisphere; more elaborate ventilation requirements con¬ nected with this process were suggested to avoid further cases happening. Other diseases notified as arising under this section include poisoning of an apprentice jeweller by hydrocyanic acid fumes, poisoning in a paint manufacturing firm and a painting operation from ammonia fumes, one of zinc metal spraying, and a case of silicosis notified in a quarry worker. Physical Agents Compressed Air Illness—Two cases of “bends” arising from men working in an abutment cylinder for a bridge indicated a need for closer liaison with this Department and medical supervision of all workers so employed. Eye Injuries—Gases involving eye injuries increased by seven over the figures reported last year and all could have been avoided with proper precautions and goggles against such injuries. Fortunately none of these cases resulted in lost sight. Twelve cases of burns to the eyes were reported, involving three cases of electricians suffering ultra violet ray burns, other cases were caused by sulphuric acid, caustic base paste and powder, acetic acid solution, hot metal chip, molten metal and solder, and maleic anhydride which caused acute conjunctivitis. Gases of con¬ junctivitis were caused by fumes from sulphuric acid, sodium sulphate,
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image