in such circumstances would be adequate dust control, not the use of more aluminum. Experiments have indicated that concentrations of aluminum hydrate used in the treatments had no effect on normal animals, but that excessive concentrations sometimes had an unfavorable influence on native susceptibility to tuberculosis. Whatever the benefits of the treatment may be, it should not be employed as a substitute for established methods of ventilation and engineering control of dust. General application of aluminum treatment of workers exposed to silica dust probably should be delayed until careful experiment has shown without a doubt that the treatment is harmless and effective in preventing silicosis in men. SANITATION AND HYGIENE Living and working places at mines should be kept clean to prevent infection and disease. Persons who live and work in these places should take the same care, by applying commonsense principles of cleanliness. The measures usually advised by authorities for protection against metallic poisons and irritants, as well as against organic infections and disease, stress this proper care of persons. DRINKING WATER Pure drinking water may be defined as water that contains no substance injurious to health.25 Water in and about mines may be contaminated at any point from its source to the user; and it can be purified by distillation, by boiling and filtering, or by chemical treatment. Where men do not carry containers from which they drink, some kind of drinking fountains should be installed, made so that the mouth of the drinker does not touch the outlet. HOOKWORM Miners' Circular 24 26 describes hookworm as usually limited to people who work on the surface in tropical or subtropical climates, but in some regions of the temperate zone it has been a disease among miners. The disease spreads under conditions that favor the hatching of hookworm eggs and the growth of the larvae. Eggs from the excrement of infected persons may develop into larvae, in the dirt of a mine where temperature and moisture are favorable. If the larvae come in contact with a man's skin, they may pierce it, especially between the toes or fingers. This infection is prevented by sanitary sewage disposal and avoidance of contamination. ATHLETE'S FOOT An article in Safety Engineering, August 1939, states that: The disease popularly known as "athlete's foot" is caused by a varied group of skin parasites. It is not known why the disease was given this name, but perhaps a firm with a remedy to sell and little knowledge of the conditions coined it. As a matter of fact, athletes are no more frequently affected than others. In studies made, the youngest recorded case was 7 months and the oldest, 90 years. Men are affected more frequently than women. The greatest number of cases in men may be attributed to the fact that they wear more bunglesome, more poorly aerated shoes and their occupations require considerable standing with greater perspiration of the feet. Various remedies have been used in cure and prevention of the disease. Difficulty in cure arises largely from inability of the antiseptic to contact the organism. Salicylic acid has been used to soften the skin so that various preparations of sulfur, etc., 25 Sayers, R. R., Sanitation in Mines: Bureau of Mines Miners' Circ. 28, 1924, 16 pp. 26 Williams, R. C., Miners' Safety and Health Almanac for 1919: Miners' Circ. 24, 1918, 48 pp. in salves could contact and kill the organism. Foot baths so placed that those leaving showers and pools walk through them have been widely used as a measure to control the condition. A dusting powder for the feet containing boric acid has yielded good results. In "athlete's foot," foot and skin hygiene is essential. Frequent cleansing of feet, change of socks, and airing of shoes are of great importance. Putting a clean pair of socks on dirty feet may do more harm than good, for in removing the socks one may remove byproducts of the organism which may hold its growth in check. It is necessary to wash the feet first for then the dead scales and tissue are removed on which the organism grow and flourish. The feet should be kept as dry as possible for moisture encourages the growth of the organism. The question of use of the foot baths was reconsidered by the medical and safety departments of a large mining company after several years experience. It was concluded that prevention of athlete's foot was a matter of individual responsibility in care of the feet, and that too much dependence was placed on the foot baths. Therefore, they were not longer maintained, and men were advised to use wooden sandals in the showers and in walking over the floors of the "drys." Thorough drying of the feet and use of foot powders and antiseptic solutions are advised, particularly if signs of infection appear. Daily changes of socks and shoes are also advocated for affected persons. BOILS Dr. A. L. Murray of the Bureau of Mines reported that the occurrence of boils among employees of mines in a western mining district was influenced by the following factors: 1. Abnormally high temperatures throughout the mine workings, together with a nearly saturated atmosphere, which caused profuse sweating and retarded heat elimination. 2. Acid mine water, sulfur gases, and arsenic fumes. The water was high in iron sulfate, and oxidation started on exposure of the water to air. 3. Clothing rubs, slight bruises, infiltration of dirt particles into the skin, and lowered body resistance from general atmospheric conditions were additional causes of boils. Prevention is best secured by lowering the wet-bulb temperature, by cleanliness, and by removal of irritating dusts and gases. SEWAGE DISPOSAL Improper or careless methods of sewage disposal underground help to spread intestinal diseases, notably typhoid fever, dysentery, hookworm disease, and other parasitic infections.27 Underground as well as surface privies should be made so as to prevent the spread of disease germs by flies, mice, rats, or water. Tight cans or cars which can be taken out and cleaned are provided at many operations; a disinfectant is usually put in the container to kill germs and odor. Flush toilets are rarely installed underground, but satisfactory installations of this type have been made in western copper mines. Septic tanks, either steel or concrete, are connected to the toilets by 3- or 4-inch lines; the tanks will operate indefinitely without cleaning out unless the action of the bacteria is stopped by copper water entering the tank, or by some other accident. Action of bacteria in the tank is started or increased at any time by adding a yeast mixture or spoiled meat. Clear water overflow from the tanks flows by gravity to the mine sumps. CHANGE HOUSES The installation of adequate, well-kept clothes changing and washing facilities for mine employees contributes to both health and efficiency. Laws of most of the metal-mining States provide for suitable change houses at mines. An example is the following: (a) The operator of every mine except as provided in paragraph (c) shall provide a 27 Sayers, R. R., Work cited in footnote 26. 695764°-46-4 dressing room or a change house at a place convenient to but not within 100 feet of the mine opening, if the dressing room or change house is made of combustible material, for the purpose of drying the clothing of the persons employed in and about the mine and such dressing room or change house shall be provided with adequate means of heating and lighting. Such dressing rooms or change houses shall be available to the men at all times when they are going on or coming off shift and shall be equipped with shower baths having hot and cold water, at least one shower being provided for each fifteen men on a shift working in the mine. Such change houses shall be kept reasonably clean and in a sanitary condition. (b) It is recommended that working clothes be either elevated by suitable means, such as chains, to the upper air of the change house or that separate rooms be used for working and street clothes. (c) Mines which employ less than ten men and which have no suitable water available on the property for washing and bathing purposes, shall be exempt from the shower bath provision of paragraph (a) of this article; but such mines shall provide their employees with washing and bathing facilities that are reasonably clean and sanitary 28 The logical location for change rooms is along the route to and from work and near the entrance to the mine, so that men will not be exposed to inclement weather or to accident hazards while entering and leaving. The rooms should have enough window area to afford adequate light and ventilation or illumination, and forced ventilation should be provided. Washing and locker rooms should be kept at a comfortable temperature. The heating pipes, radiators, or other appliances should allow ample space for cleaning and should be protected to prevent workers being burned or clothing being set on fire by contact with them. Stoves or gas heaters should be vented to the outside air, and open-flame heaters should not be used. Showers, hot and cold water, toilets, and locker-space requirements depend on the number of men and the conditions under which they work; in some States these accommodations are specified by law. Where two locker rooms are provided, one for street clothes and one for work clothes, it is easier to keep the rooms and clothing clean and orderly. Floors should have a finish that will reduce slipping, and they should be washed and disinfected frequently. A boot-washing room between the shaft collar and the change room, such as is shown in figure 13, is provided at most Lake Superior iron mines and occasionally in other mining districts. Figure 14 is a view of a well-arranged change room that is kept scrupulously clean and orderly at all times. 28 Department of Industrial Relations Mine Safety Orders, Issued by the Industrial Accident Commission of the State of California, Order 1764, p. 76. |