The floor of the roof space, or attic, which forms at the same time the ceiling of the upper drying-room, should be kept perfectly airtight, as also the openings into it through which the steam pipes pass. For this purpose the floor should be a double one and the openings or boxes into which material is thrown should have a double cover above and below. Further, situated in the highest point of the ceiling of the roof space, there should be a suitable number of openings topped by louvred turrets. In the roof space no work should be done except manipulations necessary for the charging of the hurdles with the goods to be dried. Use of the roof floor as a sleeping or living room is not permissible.
Before the workers enter the drying chambers for the purpose of turning the materials, the stove should be shut off, the gases drawn from the furnace into the chimney or flue, and at the same time the doors and windows of the drying rooms opened.
Entering of drying chambers for working purposes should only be done after a sufficient time has elapsed for removal of the air by ventilation.
Charging of the furnaces should be so arranged that they burn as low as possible before the removal of the dried materials and before subsequent work in the drying chambers. Seeing that chicory and turnip drying is done intermittently by night, a special sleeping or waiting room with free ventilation should be provided. The regulations concerning the ventilation of the workrooms are to be made known to the workers.
Cigar Industry
In order to prevent injury to health to tobacco workers the dust and fumes, especially at cutting and sifting machines, require to be drawn away by locally applied exhaust ventilation. The workrooms, moreover, must conform to hygienic requirements, especially as to cleanliness. Washing accommodation and baths are desirable, but are only likely to be provided in large works.
Wood Working
(See also p. [154])
Risk from poisonous woods can be avoided by exhaust ventilation applied to the wood-working machinery.
To lessen the danger to health in the use of methylated spirits in the polishing of wood adequate ventilation of the workrooms is necessary; drawing off the fumes by local ventilation is often impossible.