Fig. 44c.—First Floor. a, c, Baths (slipper and douche) for workmen; b, Washing accommodation for workmen; d, e, Baths for officials; g, Attendant’s quarters; f, Hot air (Turkish) baths; i, Warm water reservoir.
Naturally maintenance of the general health by good nourishing diet is one of the best means of defence against onset of chronic industrial poisoning. Over and over again it has been noticed that ill-fed workers speedily succumb to doses of poison which well-nourished workers can resist. It is not our province here to discuss fully the diet of a working-class population. We merely state that it is a matter of vital importance to those employed in dangerous trades. The question of a suitable drink for workers to take the place of alcohol calls for special attention, as, when complicated with alcoholism, both acute and chronic poisonings entail more serious results than they otherwise would do. Over-indulgence in alcohol, owing to its effect on the kidneys, liver, digestion, nervous system, and power of assimilation generally, requires to be checked in every way possible. Apart from good drinking water, milk, coffee, tea, fruit juices and the like, are excellent. Milk is especially recommended, and should be supplied gratis to workers in dangerous trades, notably where there is risk of lead poisoning.
Lastly, other features such as games and exercise in the open air, which help to strengthen bodily health, must not be forgotten. In this connection much good work has already been done by employers’ and workers’ organisations.
IV
GENERAL REMARKS ON PREVENTIVE MEASURES
GENERAL PRINCIPLES, SUBSTITUTES FOR DANGEROUS MATERIALS, CLEANLINESS OF WORKROOMS, CUBIC SPACE, VENTILATION, REMOVAL OF DUST AND FUMES
Preventive measures against industrial poisoning aim at an unattainable goal of so arranging industrial processes that employment of poisonous substances would be wholly avoided. Such an ideal must be aimed at wherever practicable. Prohibition of direct handling of poisonous substances is also sometimes demanded, which presupposes (although it is not always the case) that this is unnecessary or can be made unnecessary by suitable mechanical appliances. We have to be contented, therefore, for the most part, with removal of injurious dust and fumes as quickly as possible at the point where they are produced, and regulations for the protection of workers from industrial poisoning deal mainly with the question of the prevention of air contamination and removal of contaminated air. Substitution of non-injurious for injurious processes is only possible in so far as use of the harmless process gives technically as good results as the other. If such a substitute can be found let it be striven for. Mention has already been made of international prohibition of certain substances, and attention has been drawn to economical considerations affecting this point.
Prohibition obviously may paralyse branches of industry and hit heavily both employers and employed. The skilled trained workers are just the ones to suffer, since they are no longer in a position to take up another equally remunerative trade.
Judgment has to be exercised before enforcing new regulations in order that good and not harm may follow. If a satisfactory substitute be discovered for methods of work injurious to health, then ways and means will be found to make the alteration in the process economically possible. It may, however, demand sacrifice on the part of employers and employed, but the progress is worth the sacrifice.