An ‘occupational ‘flu ‘ epidemic

Abstract

Abstract April 15 1965; a phone call from a more than desperate manager to a department of occupational health was the beginning of the end of a puzzling situation that nearly spelled disaster for the relatively small factory that was the scene of this ‘drama’. Twenty years ago, just after the Second World War, the father of the present manager, together with two of his brothers, set up a small plant where various kinds of metal cans were manufactured. Through hard work this family business prospered and developed into a small factory, with half a dozen or so unskilled workers. However, the demand for metal cans diminished, and it was thought worthwhile to change to a new technology. A second workshop was opened in which ‘plastic’ boxes were produced. The ‘plastic’ base material was delivered in large sheets to be cut and moulded. The manager himself and three new unskilled workers spent a week learning the technical procedures in a large factory in Germany, and production started at the end of February 1965. Initially everything went smoothly and the productivity of the workmen was considered quite good. Then things went wrong.