Adrodd fel Amhriodol
Testun Gwreiddiol (Anodiad: EPW019255 / 2010335)
'
Fume extraction in Gravity Machine Charging Sheds.
(Pin in charging shed No 6.)
When initial H.S charging trials began in C.S 8 early in July 1918 it was evident there was a serious air quality problem within the charging shed. The factory was built with no clear understanding of the hazards of working with H.S (mustard gas). The materials the buildings were constructed of were porous and not fit for purpose. An efficient fume extraction/purification system was non-existent. The charging sheds when constructed had roof monitors with continuous louvres to provide natural ventilation. At each end of the sheds, just below the roof line was a small diameter extractor fan.
The gravity charging machines had a fume extraction pipe ending in a fish tail nozzle. This was situated above the H.S pouring nozzle and 13 millimetre diameter filling hole in the side of the 6 inch howitzer shell. In order to cause an up draught a steam injection system was employed. This extraction system was considered ineffective. In an attempt to improve the situation two fans were installed at ground level on the outside of the building, one at each end, next to the material handling doors. These fans were connected via ducts to the machine rooms, but not to the charging booths. The level of extraction this gave still proved insufficient so an additional five fans were placed at ground level at the side of the building and linked directly to the charging booths via ducting. Initially air quality inside the charging shed was good. Unfortunately this triumph was short lived due to the fact that the exhaust fans were placed near the ground, and H.S laden exhaust fumes discharged straight to atmosphere at low level. There was no system in place to clean the exhaust gas before discharge and no flue to take the exhaust to a safe height before its release into the atmosphere. Consequently poisonous fumes surrounded the buildings creating a hazard to those working outside. Fumes were also drawn back into the charging sheds. Recycled air being made worse under certain weather conditions when the noxious exhaust fumes were slow to dissipate and got drawn back into the charging sheds with greater intensity.
It's likely the area surrounding the Chittening factory had become contaminated with the untreated output, and unsuspecting members of the public tempted to pick blackberries from the hedgerows or produce from gardens or fields could have been at risk. '