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Wilfred Alan Bloor, 1915–1993—His working life in occupational hygiene
.411n.“cru/~ Hyy., Vol. 39. No 3, pp. 275-276, 1995 Elsevier Science Lfd British Occupalional Hygiene Society Printed in Great Britam ooo3‘k878/Y5 s9.50+0.00
OBITUARY WILFRED
ALAN BLOOR, 1915-1993-HIS WORKING OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE
LIFE IN
After studying ceramics at the North Staffordshire Technical College, Wilf Bloor was appointed British Pottery Manufacturers’ Federation Research Scholar from 1936 to 1938. This was a post created and funded by the BPMF (later the BCMF) whose members were concerned by the high incidence of dust-related diseases in their industries. His job was to investigate the conditions in the industry and the work was carried out by a team of three, including a Factory Inspector. Dust measurements were made using some of the first commercially available thermal precipitators to collect personal samples for particle counting. Salicylic acid filters were used to collect static samples and analysed by petrological and chemical methods to determine silica content. The results of this work were published in 1939 in the Transactions qf’tke British Ceramic Society. From 1938 until the end of the war Wilf worked at the Worksop plant of General Refractories, who were engaged in producing refractories for the iron and steel industry. After the war he moved to the British Iron and Steel Research Association in Sheffield and then went back to work in occupational hygiene. He was co-author of five papers on dust measurement in foundries and evaluation of local exhaust ventilation systems in the 195 1 HMSO publication Dust in Steel Foundries and author of a paper on dust reduction methods for the Institute of British Foundrymen. In 195 1 he returned to his roots and took up a post at the British Ceramic Research Association at Penkhull, where he was responsible for setting up and leading a research unit specifically to investigate dust control in the Pottery Industry. At this time there were over 200 newly diagnosed cases a year of pneumoconiosis in Stoke-on-Trent. When he retired in 1980 that number had been reduced to single figures, an achievement he was proud to have been part of. Despite the large number of measurements he and his team made over the years, he considered that the introduction of the Tyndall Beam, as a tool in visualizing dust particles, was a breakthrough in the development of control measures. One of the most important observations was that, despite the use of early designs of exhaust hoods, much of the dust entering the breathing zone of pottery workers was being generated from their cotton clothing. At BCRA he and his team tested many fabrics and clothing designs to provide protective clothing which did not increase exposure. Together with fabric manufacturers they developed what is still known as ‘Ceramic Surface Terylene’, this had a surface texture and weave which did not retain dust or allow dust to penetrate it while still allowing sufficient ‘breathability’ for comfort. The material was combined with well thought-out designs which minimized seams and other dustretaining features on the front of the garments; the material and designs are still in use in potteries world-wide today. The Tyndall Beam also showed up the inefficiency of the local exhaust and general ventilation systems then available and lead to the 275
‘76
Obituary
development of standards for these by BCRA. Together with the other advances made in the ceramic industry there followed a dramatic reduction in the number of cases of dust-related diseases. Wilf was an early member of both BOHS and IOH, and was one of the first Fellows of the Institute and the first Honorary Fellow, as well as serving a term as VicePresident. He was involved in numerous committees, both of trade associations and professional bodies. As Chairman of the Section of Occupational Health and Preventative Medicine of the North Staffs Medical Institute, he was the first nonphysician to hold that post. He was committed to the furthering of the profession of Occupational Hygiene and was for many years a visiting lecturer in Occupational Hygiene at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Wilf was a true pioneer of occupational hygiene in the U.K. His achievements are an inspiration to all members of the Institute and Society, and through his work he helped greatly to improve the health and conditions of work of pottery workers in North Staffordshire. His son, David, is an occupational hygienist with Shell U.K. Limited and David has been the source of much of the information contained in this article. Andrew T. Gillies Vice-President. IOH
OBITUARY WILFRED
ALAN BLOOR, 1915-1993-HIS WORKING OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE
LIFE IN
After studying ceramics at the North Staffordshire Technical College, Wilf Bloor was appointed British Pottery Manufacturers’ Federation Research Scholar from 1936 to 1938. This was a post created and funded by the BPMF (later the BCMF) whose members were concerned by the high incidence of dust-related diseases in their industries. His job was to investigate the conditions in the industry and the work was carried out by a team of three, including a Factory Inspector. Dust measurements were made using some of the first commercially available thermal precipitators to collect personal samples for particle counting. Salicylic acid filters were used to collect static samples and analysed by petrological and chemical methods to determine silica content. The results of this work were published in 1939 in the Transactions qf’tke British Ceramic Society. From 1938 until the end of the war Wilf worked at the Worksop plant of General Refractories, who were engaged in producing refractories for the iron and steel industry. After the war he moved to the British Iron and Steel Research Association in Sheffield and then went back to work in occupational hygiene. He was co-author of five papers on dust measurement in foundries and evaluation of local exhaust ventilation systems in the 195 1 HMSO publication Dust in Steel Foundries and author of a paper on dust reduction methods for the Institute of British Foundrymen. In 195 1 he returned to his roots and took up a post at the British Ceramic Research Association at Penkhull, where he was responsible for setting up and leading a research unit specifically to investigate dust control in the Pottery Industry. At this time there were over 200 newly diagnosed cases a year of pneumoconiosis in Stoke-on-Trent. When he retired in 1980 that number had been reduced to single figures, an achievement he was proud to have been part of. Despite the large number of measurements he and his team made over the years, he considered that the introduction of the Tyndall Beam, as a tool in visualizing dust particles, was a breakthrough in the development of control measures. One of the most important observations was that, despite the use of early designs of exhaust hoods, much of the dust entering the breathing zone of pottery workers was being generated from their cotton clothing. At BCRA he and his team tested many fabrics and clothing designs to provide protective clothing which did not increase exposure. Together with fabric manufacturers they developed what is still known as ‘Ceramic Surface Terylene’, this had a surface texture and weave which did not retain dust or allow dust to penetrate it while still allowing sufficient ‘breathability’ for comfort. The material was combined with well thought-out designs which minimized seams and other dustretaining features on the front of the garments; the material and designs are still in use in potteries world-wide today. The Tyndall Beam also showed up the inefficiency of the local exhaust and general ventilation systems then available and lead to the 275
‘76
Obituary
development of standards for these by BCRA. Together with the other advances made in the ceramic industry there followed a dramatic reduction in the number of cases of dust-related diseases. Wilf was an early member of both BOHS and IOH, and was one of the first Fellows of the Institute and the first Honorary Fellow, as well as serving a term as VicePresident. He was involved in numerous committees, both of trade associations and professional bodies. As Chairman of the Section of Occupational Health and Preventative Medicine of the North Staffs Medical Institute, he was the first nonphysician to hold that post. He was committed to the furthering of the profession of Occupational Hygiene and was for many years a visiting lecturer in Occupational Hygiene at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Wilf was a true pioneer of occupational hygiene in the U.K. His achievements are an inspiration to all members of the Institute and Society, and through his work he helped greatly to improve the health and conditions of work of pottery workers in North Staffordshire. His son, David, is an occupational hygienist with Shell U.K. Limited and David has been the source of much of the information contained in this article. Andrew T. Gillies Vice-President. IOH