§ 54. Mr. Dumpletonasked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to safeguard the health of workers from the possible harmful effects of new processes introduced into industry without adequate knowledge of their effect upon the health of the workers concerned in their use, with particular reference to the process known as reduxing, in the aircraft industry.
§ Mr. IsaacsIt is the practice of the Factory Department to keep in touch with new industrial processes and to advise as to any special health risks, but I understand that reduxing in the aircraft industry is not particularly new. It involves the use of synthetic resin glues which are known to be liable to cause dermatitis it adequate precautions are not taken; and following inquiries by the Factory Department in 1942 a departmental leaflet describing the precautions to be adopted, as well as a poster for display in factories were widely issued. The main precautions are good ventilation to avoid exposing the skin to vapour from the glue, and measures to reduce contact with the glue and avoid it drying on the skin.