m
Innovation Added To
Pulmonary Program
Lungs are vital to life. They
have to be protected.
That’s the view of the
Fieldcrest Medical Department.
In the pulmonary testing
program at Fieldcrest,
pulmonary function (breathing
ability) test results are put into a
computerized system which
utilizes all test information on
each employee.
The resulting computer print
out provides test comparisons
and by reviewing the results of
these tests, any change in the
employee’s pulmonary function
can be determined. Parti
cipating employees receive a
Form FCR-185 (Pulmonary
Function Test Report).
Originally instituted in 1970 to
detect reactors to cotton dust,
Fieldcrest’s Pulmonary
Program is now being
increasingly used to detect
other, non-work - related mal
functions. Any abnormality in
the annual tests is followed up by
Medical Department personnel
and the employee is referred for
treatment when necessary.
Another aspect of this
program is use of respiratory
protection in certain production
sites, mainly the opening,
picking and carding areas.
Mills involved in this aspect of
the program are the Fieldale
Towel Mill, Columbus Towel
Mill, Mount Holly Spinning Mill
and the Bedspread Mill.
Since the pulmonary testing
program was instituted six
years ago, test results have
shown that the incidence of
cotton dust reaction among em
ployees is small.
The highest incidence of
reaction occurs in plant areas
where the cotton is initially
prepared for yarn manu
facturing. Weave Rooms have a
smaller problem.
To date, the masking program
has proved effective, according
to Dr. Charles G. Young,
Fieldcrest medical director.
“The goal, however, is to
identify and eliminate the
substance in cotton dust which
causes reaction. Research by
the textile industry and cotton
producers continues to make
progress in that direction.
“Also, most textile companies,
Fieldcrest included, are making
efforts to lower the dust levels
through engineering,” he said.
In discussing the identification
of cotton dust reactors. Dr.
Young said that detecting the
reactors is complicated by the
presence of other factors such as
smoking, emphysema, asthma,
and heart disease.
“As we continue with the
pulmonary testing program, we
are finding a number of em
ployees with pulmonary prob
lems which have nothing to do
with cotton dust.
“By detecting problems of this
kind, we are able to refer those
involved to the appropriate
medical authority for treatment.
We feel that the program is
extremely valuable to em
ployees in the area of general
health maintenance.
“So many people have
pulmonary problems and never
know it. With this new system of
testing, a variety of abnormali
ties may show up and treatment
can be rendered by the personal
physician, hopefully before the
problem becomes serious,” Dr.
Young said.
Most people applying for
production work at Fieldcrest
are given a pulmonary function
test as part of the pre-employ
ment physical. The test is a
simple one taking only a few
minutes. It consists of blowing
air from the mouth into a tube
connected to a machine which
records the breathing capacity.
FOR YOUR PROTPXTION, masking is extremely important in
some production areas. Shown also is the Pulmonary Function Test
Report which is filled out for each employee when taking the test.
Pre-employment testing of
Eden area employees is done at
the cental Medical Department.
In outlying areas, the testing is
done either at nursing stations or
by trained technicians at each
plant.
Nursing stations are now in
operation at the Columbus Towel
Mill, Swift Spinning Mill,
Fieldale Towel Mill and North
Carolina Finishing Company.
Another is planned for the
Greenville yarn plants.
Annual Follow-up testing is
conducted by a team from the
central Medical Department.
The team consists of Norman
Austin, supervisor of medical
services, Calvin Wilkins,
medical technician; and Rudy
Rakes, medical technician.
PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST is administered to Della W.
FVeeman of the Karastan Winding Department by Calvin Wilkins,
medical technician.
Outstanding Athlete
Shirleen Slade, a junior at
George Washington Carver High
School, is making quite a name
for herself in the field of
athletics.
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
John Slade, she has not only won
a number of track events, but
she was voted athlete of the
most
liiuoL vaiuduie
track at the George Washing^*^^
Carver High School athletic
awards banquet.
Her father is employed in tn®
Card Room at the Fielda^®
Towel Mill.
1976
MONDAY, JUNE 14