§ Mr. M. MacPhersonasked the Minister of Labour what are the present arrangements for research on the subject of dust in iron foundries; what have been the findings of such research so far; and to what extent these findings have been put into practice in the foundries.
§ Mr. IsaacsArrangements for seeking further knowledge as to the various problems connected with dust in iron foudries fall broadly into two groups, namely, research in research institutions, especially into such questions as the possibility of using less dangerous materials for various processes, and secondly experimental work in the foundries themselves in trying out methods of suppressing dust and other changes in working methods. Also, the Factory Department have carried out a special inquiry into the incidence of silicosis among various classes of foundry workers, the results of which are about to be published, and80W are making further tests of atmospheres in foundries.
The findings of research so far indicate that certain dusts should be regarded as dangerous to health and that others may be generated in such substantial quantities that they should, so far as possible, be suppressed or removed near the points of origin. Various measures have, in view of this, been taken to reduce dust in foundries, and further experimental work as to improving methods of doing so is being tried in some of the foundries. In the meantime, special attention has been paid to precautions in connection with the process known as blasting, which has recently been made the subject of more stringent regulations. In addition, regulations have recently been proposed to impose restrictions on the use of dangerous parting powders.