PSYCHOLOGICAL RATHER THAN PHYSIOLOGICAL

Chronicle (Levin), 15 January 1947, Page 2

PSYCHOLOGICAL RATHER THAN PHYSIOLOGICAL

EFFECTS OF WELDING FUMES ON HEALTH WELLINGTON, Jan. 2-1. Tlic physiological effects of weldiug fumes ou operators of eleetric aad gas welding plants was discussed lcngthiJy before the ltaihvays Industrial Tribunal lodav. Assertions ou behalf of the Eailway Tradesmen's Association by Mr. T. F. Gebbie that the fumes and gases ereated in welding were deleterious, particularly to -welders' lungs, being refutcd by the submissions of Mr. N. L. Stevenson for the Dcpartinent who said doctors eontended that no permanent harra was done. The tradesmen welders were claiming an allowance of 3d an liour while using acetonc or eleetrie welding plants. Mr. Gebbie quoted the medieal journal "The Laneet" of April, 1936, on pulmonary affeetions discovered by several doctors to have been caused by welding fumes. More aeute illness and even death have been reported as due to welding, particularly on galvanised iron in a confined space. The report quoted 10 cases or findings which, Mr. Gebbie submitted, showed that welders were exposed to the rislc of several pulmonary ailments from common eolds to poisoning from flie gaseous byproducts of welding, sometimes called metal fume fever. Rcplving, Mr. Stevenson quoted a booklet published in June, 1916, which, he submitted, showed that the earlier medieal assumption of pulmonary harm being caused by welding had not been. justified. Quoting an article in the booklet written in part by one of the investigators quoted by Mr. Gebbie, Mr. Stevenson claimed that the effects of welding were not of a lasting nature. Thev were verv largely psycliological. Workers feared the aft6r effects unless such fears were dispelled by medieal authorities. The effects were neither chronie nor cumulative. Metal fume fever had been fonnd not to predisposo to tubereulosis or any other respiratorv disease. Welding workers were even found le'ss susceptible to ordinary colds than others.