1. It is to their interest to see that the exhaust ventilation is kept in order and that the Special Rules or Regulations are exactly followed. Further, special clothing should be worn, the mouth and nose should be covered, and the floors sprinkled.
2. It is especially important that in intervals and at the close of work the mouth, face, beard, and hands should be carefully cleaned. Food should not be eaten or the premises left without putting on fresh clothes and thoroughly washing or, still better, bathing. When drinking, the edge of the drinking glass should not be fingered with dirty hands. Especially important is it that the teeth should be cleaned and the mouth washed out.
3. During work smoking, snuff taking, and tobacco chewing, which invariably convey lead into the mouth, should be given up, as it is impossible to prevent the hands getting contaminated with lead. Lighting the pipe with glowing lead ashes is in the highest degree dangerous from the risk of inhaling lead fume. The body must be strengthened to withstand the action of lead. Moderation in drinking, especially avoidance of spirits, should be observed. Alcoholic subjects succumb to lead poisoning much more readily than the temperate.
Food should be abundant and rich in fat, for example milk and bacon. Thick soups are excellent before work. Work should never be begun on an empty stomach. And lastly as much fresh air as possible. Walking, athletics, work in the garden and field will help to keep off many an attack. If anyone thinks that he is suffering from lead poisoning he should at once in his own and his family’s interest see the doctor of his sick club.
The following are the
German Imperial Regulations for Lead Smelting Works, dated June 16, 1905
General Regulations
1. Workrooms in which lead ores are roasted, sintered, or smelted, pig lead produced and submitted to further treatment, distillation of rich lead (bullion cupellation) litharge, red lead, or other oxides of lead prepared, ground or sieved, stored or packed, or zinc skimmings distilled, shall be roomy, high, and so arranged that a sufficient constant exchange of air takes place. They shall be provided with a level and solid floor to allow of easy removal of dust by a moist method.
The walls shall be smooth so as to prevent collection of dust; they shall be either washed down or lime washed at least once a year.