.C. LUMBER WORKER

JOHN T...

. off to Chicago.

New warning device
planned for cars

‘The high accident rate upon
the nation’s highways is) oc-
casioned by a large number of
factors, including poor judg-
ment on the part of the driver
and condition of restricted visi-
bility caused by fog, rain, snow,
or darkness,

Obviously, driving safely under
such conditions would be im-
proved if the driver had some
warning of the proximity of veh-
icles not within his immediate
range of vision.

Warning Device

The development. of an‘auto-
mobile proximity warning device,
seemingly bizarre and science-fic-
tionish, is not only practical, but
also has direct bearing on another
radical, but necessary instrument
in quite another field: geophysical
exploration,

The auto warning device pres-
ently contemplated. would consist
of a small radio transmitter and
a receiver, each in a package the
size of a cigar box., Projecting
from each package would be a
special ferrite antenna array.

These assemblies would be
‘mounted immediately behind the
front grill work of the automobile
with the ferrite cores projecting
forward in a manner that. would
enhance the appearance of the
grill.

Also connected to this device,
but located in a prominent posi-
tion on the dashboard, would be
a large red light or a buzzer to
warn the driver of the approach
of another vehicle. A device could
be arranged to actuate the indi-
cator in case of failure in opera-
tion of either the transmitter or
receiver. Thus, the device would
“fail safe.”

In quantity production, its cost
should be somewhat less than
that of a conventional automobile
receiver,

Transmitted Energy

The contemplated device would
utilize the transmission of induc-
tion field energy in an estimated
frequency range of 50 ke to 100
ke. Transmitted energy would
emanate from the transmitter
ferrite rod, would be reflected
from the metallic surface of a car
in its path, and be received to in-
dicate such presence.

The receiver coil would be lo-
cated on a side of the car oppos-
ite from the transmitting coil and
would be provided with an adjust-
able coupling loop for cancellation
of the directly transmitted signal
to receive net energy only in the
presence of a reflected signal. Re-
cent advances in the art of utiliz-
ing ferrite cores lend great prom-
ise for the success of this device.

you have

TO SPARE!

IWA safety director
to attend session

now stated to be the strongest sec-
tion of the Safety Congress drew
over one thousand labour repre-
sentatives last year from unions
all over North America, to hear
the discussions.

This year an even larger group
is expected to attend the one day
and Exposition, in Chicago, | meet which is being held on Octo-
October 20-24, ber 21, in the Conrad Hilton
The Labour Conference Sectign | Hotel.

IWA District Safety Director,
John T. Atkinson, will be one of
the participants in the Labour
Session on Safety presided over
by Lloyd Utter, Director of In-
dustrial Health & Safety Divi-
sion of the UAW, during the
46th National Safety Congress

Dust dangerous to
industrial workers

Lacquers contain vapors that
may be irritating or harmful to
workers. Sandpaper’s abrasive
action depends on silica, the dust
of which, if it’s extensive and
exposure to it is prolonged, will
cause silicosis. Plaster of paris
is a “nuisance dust”, large
amounts of which are objection-
able and disturbing to workers.

Good Housekeeping

Solution to the problem? “Good
housekeeping is one answer,” Al-
paugh says. “Don’t allow dust to
accumulate, Competent supervi-
sion and. periodic cleaning are.
necessities, of course. Air-moving
equipment such as fans should
be placed so as to minimize
the dispersion of dust already
formed.

“Grounding machinery to re-
move static electricity ‘produced
in dust making and collecting is
another way to lessen the danger
of dust explosions.”

Safety Tips
The National Safety Council
gives. these, additional. tips for
control of industrial dust:

1. Isolate dust-producing op-
erations.

2. Substitute nondust - pro-
ducing methods and materials
where possible.

3. Wet dust at the source of
production.

4, Provide respiratory pro-
tective devices for workers un-
til adequate ventilation can be
installed.

5. Give workers periodic
physical exams if they often
are exposed to dust. Chest X-
rays are necessary, too.

6, Install local exhaust sys-
tems to control dust at its
source. This method is widely
used in industry today and is
the accepted method of control
for many dust problems.

7. In the initial design of a
new plant or process, give con-
sideration to, dust problems and
take steps to eliminate dust
sources.

Dust is not as great an in-
dustrial hazard today as it was
earlier this century—or even
10 years ago, for that matter.

But -the hazard shouldn’t be
ignored even at a time when most
industries are doing everything
possible to minimize the dust
danger, most safety authorities
agree.

Accident Culprits

According to E. L. Alpaugh,
director of industrial hygiene for
the National Safety Council, dust
and other harmful substances are
the culprits in about 1 out of
every 10 work accidents that re-
sult in death or permanent total
disability.

The average cost per incident
of such injuries, Council statis-
ties show, is nearly $14,000 in
wage compensation alone, Not
included in that total, of course,
is human suffering and decreased
production.

Many Industries

The dust problem, according
to Alpaugh,. is, found, in. many,
industries—granaries, mines, ev-
en in confectionery and manne-
quin-making plants.. Dust in
industry is potentially a serious
health aad explosion hazard, and
frequently causes eye injuries.

Dust, technically a suspension
of finely divided solid particles
in the air, may be formed, for
example, by grinding, crushing
and drilling operations.

Here are two examples of how
dust is a problem:

1. Ten years ago an explosion
in a candy-making factory took
15 lives. Investigative agencies,
while unable definitely to blame
dust as the fire’s cause, agreed
it certainly provided fuel for the
blaze. The initial explosion may
have created additional dust
clouds which in turn ignited and
formed bigger explosions.

2, Mannequins are molded from
plaster of paris, sandpapered,
sprayed with lacquer paint and
packed in shredded newspapers.

Workmens Come