HC Deb 30 October 1957 vol 575 cc53-4W
Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Labour when information will be made available about the best obtainable eye protection against the hazards of molten metal in foundries; and how far such information shows that better protection can be provided against eye injury from cold metal chippings in the fettling shop as well as from molten metal splash.

Mr. Carr

In April, 1956, the Joint Advisory Committee on Foundry Goggles, advised H.M. Chief Inspector of Factories that goggles with lenses made of laminated or toughened glass were preferable as a means of protection against molten metal to those with lenses made of plastics. The Chief Inspector wrote to the principal associations in the foundry industry informing them accordingly. The Committee has now reported that as a result of further experiments and information on new developments, it has revised the opinion previously given on this aspect of the matter and advises that plastic material gives better protection than laminated or toughtened glass. The Chief Inspector has written to the associations informing them of this revised advice. Other questions than

figures compare with those of each of the last six years; and what was the number of unfilled vacancies in each area in each of those years.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The following Table gives the information desired:

whether glass or plastics provide the best protection are dealt with in the report recently received which is being studied.

Information is also available, as a result of the work of the Committee, on the matter referred to in the second part of the Question and this is being studied.