§ 41. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Labour how many cases of affections of the skin or lungs have been reported by his factory inspectors among persons working with araldite; and what precautions are being taken to prevent such misfortunes.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Robert Carr)I am advised that the kind of products to which the hon. Member refers may give rise to irritation of the skin and of other tissues when they come into contact with them, but there is no evidence that they have caused specific damage to the lungs. I have no figures of the number of persons who have been affected.
Factory inspectors have full information about the risk and appropriate preventive measures and are taking the necesary action. The precautions include adequate ventilation and other arrangements to minimise contact together with proper cleansing of the skin after work.
Factory inspectors have also been asked to inform the Chief Inspector of all processes known to them in which these substances are in current use in industry.
§ Mr. HastingsDoes not the very fact that adequate ventilation has to be provided suggest that affections of the lung may be caused by this substance? Is 1611 the Parliamentary Secretary aware that at least those who are working with it believe that not only does it produce a form of dermatitis, but that the lung function is affected as well? Will the hon. Gentleman make special inquiries about the matter and give attention to it?
§ Mr. CarrIt so happens that I must have been among some of the earlier people who worked with this material on a laboratory scale in this country. I assure the hon. Member that I am well aware of the problem, and I hope that my main Answer showed him that we are keeping it under very close review.