Extensive Pulmonary Program Is In Operation
In Fieldcrest’s continuing effort to
Protect the health of its employees, the
Medical Department has screened 3,600
fioiployees each year for the past three
years in order to identify those who
sre “reactors” to cotton dust. This un
usual sensitivity, called byssinosis, is an
ailment which affects a small percent
age of employees in the cotton segment
al the textile industry.
Fieldcrest’s pulmonary testing was
started in 1970 and has been imple-
Piented in all seven mills which utilize
aotton in the production of yarn. To
'^ate 55,600 individual tests have been
conducted.
1716 seven mills involved in the pul
monary testing testing program are the
“ianket Greige Mill, Bedspread Mill,
jlraper Sheeting Mill, Columbus Towel
Mill, Fieldale Towel Mill, Mount Holly
^pinning Mill, and the Alexander
Sheeting Mill.
Pulmonary Test Is Simple
The pulmonary function, or test for
breathing ability, is simple and takes
?Ply a few minutes. It consists of blow-
'Pg air from the mouth into a tube
yhich is connected to a machine where
h records the breathing capacity.
If the results of the test fall within
a certain category, additional tests are
made each day for one week, both be-
®re and after work and after six hours
m exposure to cotton dust. The pur
pose of this testing is to determine
hether or not the individual is sensi-
to the cotton dust and to what de-
of sensitivity.
The program alsO' involves a respira-
ory history of each employee who
orks in an area where the dust is
Present and, where indicated by the
Employee Completes
40 Years Of Service
Annie C. Murphy, an inspector-re-
Prned goods in the Storage and Ship-
P^Pg Department at the Bedspread Fin-
*shing Mills, completed 40 years of con-
*Puous service on March 29.
She has been presented with the
^eldcrest diamond and gold 40-year
P^P, a $40 gift certificate at the Field-
m^st Store and a letter of commenda-
>on from President William C. Battle.
Mrs. Murphy began employment on
arch 29, 1933, as a burler in the Burl-
Department at the Karastan Rug
. ^11. She went to the Bedspread Mill
|P 1934 as an inspector in the Inspect-
Department.
She worked in various classifications
M the Bedspread Mill before going to
Pp Bedspread Finishing Mill as a check.
bP'Weight and moisture in the Storage
^Pd Shipping Department. She became
P inspector-returned goods in that de-
PPPtment in 1971 and continues to work
that classification.
Monday, April 2, 1973
Im
Calvin Wilkins, medical technician, conducts pulmonary function test on job ap
plicant at central JVIedieal Department.
results of the pulmonary function, de
tailed medical examinations.
Both pre-employment and annual
pulmonary tests are performed.
In the Eden area, pre-employment
pumonary function tests are perform
ed at the central Medical Department.
In the outlying locations, the tests are
conducted by trained technicians in
each mill. The data is sent to Eden for
evaluation by Dr. J. G. Springer, cor
porate medical director.
There are now 18 technicians in the
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outlying mills involved. All have suc
cessfully completed an eight-hour course
given at the central Medical Depart
ment and have been certified by Dr.
Springer.
The annual surveys are conducted by
a team from the Medical Department.
Members of the team are Norman Aus
tin, supervisor of medical services, and
Lloyd Bolt, Calvin Wilkins and Jerry
Handy, medical technicians.
The findings to date indicate that the
overall incidence of byssinosis among
employees in Fieldcrest’s cotton opera
tions averages much less than reported
in the medical literature. Employees in
non-cotton operations are not affected.
The highest incidence of reaction to
the cotton dust occurs in plant areas
where cotton is initially prepared for
yarn manufacturing: the opening, pick
ing and carding departments. Weave
rooms have a smaller problem.
Related To Other Ailments
There appears to be a relationship be
tween the incidence of byssinosis and
chronic bronchitis and between byssin
osis and lowered pulmonary function
(breathing capacity). The diagnosis of
byssinosis is often complicated by the
presence of other medical factors such
as smoking, emphysema, asthma and
heart disease.
Research by the textile industry and
cotton producers has made important
progress toward the ultimate goal of
identifying and eliminating the sub
stance in cotton dust which causes
byssinosis.
“The problem, however, has not been
solved as yet,” Dr. Springer said.
“Meanwhile, Fieldcrest will continue to
provide protection for its employees
with the pulmonary function program
until the dust and the active agent can
be completely controlled,” he said.