sisting of large glass bottles, with a capacity of about twelve gallons each, encased in a wooden box with the space between the bottle and the box wall filled with dried grass, shavings, or sawdust; the neck of the bottle projects several inches above the box and is protected in shipping by the placing over it of two small pieces of wood. While the employees handling these carboys use a great deal of care, carrying them about on wheeled carriers or by means of sticks fastened to the under side of the cleats with iron bands to support the bottom of the box, the storage of these carboys leaves much to be desired.

During the investigation, many of these carboys were found uncorked, thus permitting the fumes of the residual acids to escape into the workrooms; some filled carboys were found closely stacked on top of each other; and some were found standing near steam pipes, or in the direct rays of the sun, either of which conditions could increase the pressure within the carboy to such a degree that it would either be cracked or explode and spill its contents upon the floor. To eliminate accidents from the handling of carboys containing acids, it is suggested that the following information in the form of a poster, prepared by the New York State Industrial Commission for free distribution, be displayed conspicuously throughout the entire plant:

Permit no rubbish or rags near carboys.

Always use a tilting apparatus, commonly known as a carboy inclinator, or a siphon to empty carboys.

When carrying a carboy, see that the pathway is clear so that you will not stumble.

Do not carry a full carboy which is uncorked.

During warm weather, always remove part of the contents from full carboys.

When carboys are received, loosen the stoppers in order to relieve pressure.

Do not pile carboys on top of each other.

Do not place carboys near steam pipes, or near windows through which the direct rays of the sun may fall upon them.

When storing filled carboys, elevate them on strips of wood, or on gratings.

Do not place too many carboys in one place.

Do not permit empty, or partly empty, carboys to remain uncorked. Do not store carboys containing sulphuric or nitric acid in wooden buildings if it is at all possible to place them elsewhere.

In every room where carboys are handled, keep a tub filled with water, and a bottle of solution of bicarbonate of soda for emergency use in the event of acid being spilled on a workman.

Examine all carboys occasionally to determine if the box is sufficiently strong to stand the strain of the weight of the carboy and its contents.

FIG. 4 A safe method of lifting acid from a carboy by the use of a glass tube to which is attached a rubber hose and small pump. A slight pressure forces the acid out of the carboy into the receptacle. (Photograph furnished by Kalbfleisch Corporation, New York City.)

FIG. 5

Man exhibiting apparatus with which acid may be ejected from a carboy. The attached rubber cone is placed inside the glass bottle and the pump operated which forces the acid out of the glass tube, very little pressure required. (Photograph furnished by Kalbfleisch Corporation, New York City.)

FIG. 6-Improper way of obtaining acid from a carboy. Operator may lose control of carboy, may knock over jug, or the acid when being poured, may spill or splash in eyes or on hands, clothing or feet of person tilting the carboy.

FIRES AND FIRE HAZARDS

All materials except brick, stone, and metals are susceptible to change by fire, and in these materials, which are ordinarily considered incombustible, both physical and chemical changes may take place if the temperature is raised to a sufficient degree.

FIG. 7 Proper method of conveying a carboy filled with acid by the use of a "bicycle." Note broken carboy at left with carrying sticks for conveying the carboy about. The old wooden box does not seem sufficiently strong to hold the glass bottle. The bottom dropped out of the carboy containing the acid, which was broken, and contents spilled on the ground.

Combustion of material, which is always accompanied by heat and light and results in chemical change, may be caused by direct ignition with flaming material or glowing substances, spontaneous heating, spontaneous combustion, friction, chemical reaction, the action of light, shock, or static sparks. It must not be understood that all exhibitions of heat and light are necessarily instances of combustion, an example of this being the heating of platinum wire to incandescence without any chemical change taking place.

This subject is a large one and covers a wide range; hence, only a few of the danger points will be cited, viz.: Direct igni