The health of welders / by A.T. Doig and L.N. Duguid.

  • Great Britain. HM Factory Inspectorate
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The health of welders / by A.T. Doig and L.N. Duguid. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    75/92 page 69
    It will be seen that in all the periods, the arc welders and their mates compare favourably indeed with most other groups and for the total employees in regard to most subdivisions of the tables. The total manpower days lost in the period is consistently less for welders than for all employees, as also is the sickness of over 28 days duration. Respiratory illness is also lower for welders in all four periods and in 1943-44 was only a half of, and in 1946-47 was less than a quarter of that recorded for the whole group. Rheumatic diseases were less in 3 periods being slightly above the average in 1945-46 and gastro-intestinal diseases were less in 2 periods being greater than average in 1944-45 and exactly average in 1943-44. This series of records, relating as it does to large numbers of employees, and enabling welders to be compared with other occupations in shipyards is the most valuable statistical information that has so far come to my hand regarding sickness absence in welders. 148. The late Professor Ryle of the Institute of Social Medicine, Oxford, sent me the following analysis relating to a metal work department of a large firm. (Firm B.) The figures relating to welders are based on a small group but bear out the information given in the preceding tables, namely, that the average number of days lost by welders due to respiratory illness, and from all causes, is less than that for ali employees. TABLE XLI Respiratory Disease Total Possible |} (Excluding colds and All Causes No. Employees Shop Working Days influenza) Average Monthly Days Days Lost % Lost % Welding... 62285 140 PLS 796 1,28 31 Soldering ... 104050 228 iy 779 ks) 50 Assembly ... 31685 124 2B0 1264 3.99 15 Petrol Tanks 83436 132 16 1342 1.61 4] All Shops In Factory ... 2007201 7016 35 551656 210 943 149. From another firm (Firm C) an analysis has been obtained of the monthly amount of absence from (a) all causes, and (b) for medical reasons only, in a group of 38 male electric welders and other male workers. The period covered is five months and the results shown below show that, here also male electric welders compare favourably with other males both as regards lost time from medical causes, and from all causes. TABLE XLII Male Electric Welders Other Males Month No. of | Hours lost Hours lost |. No. of | Hours lost Hours lost men per man per man men per man per man —Medical | —Ail Causes —NMedical | —All Causes Causes Causes May oa oP 38 8.21 41.045 326 17.484 136.38 June ... iby 38 4,42] 32.842 325 10.264 72.381 paly .. a 38 24.00 57.157 325 7.79 77,28 August ney 38 221 25.894 306 10.666 85,21 5 September... 38 1.263 36.000 306 11.267 87.528 Average for | 5 months 38 8.020 38.589, B17. |. 11,494 91.756
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