INDUSTRIAL FUMIGATION AGAINST INSECTS 57 



feet of space, will kill from 95 to 97 percent of the insects. The 

 small percentage escaping this treatment, however, may represent 

 so many in numbers that a second fumigation 3 or 4 weeks later 

 with one-half pound of sodium cyanide per 1,000 cubic feet will 

 be desirable. One fumigation, conducted when the cigarette beetles 

 are first noticed, will usually give a practical control for the summer 

 and fall months provided there is no reinfestation from flying beetles 

 from neighboring meal storages. An early treatment prevents de- 

 struction of the sacks, and the cost of labor and new sacks in repack- 

 ing. The above-mentioned dosages are based on experimental fumi- 

 gations. They are sufficient only for practical control and not for 

 complete eradication. 



SAFEGUARDS TO BE EMPLOYED IN FUMIGATION WORK 



In all fumigation work the person in charge should not only ac- 

 quaint himself with the dangers involved, but should bring his 

 assistants together and explain to them the need for caution, and 

 what should be done in case difficulty arises. He should know the 

 first-aid recommendations issued by the manufacturers of the par- 

 ticular fumigant he is about to use. He should employ only men 

 known to be dependable. Members of the fumigating crew should 

 be in good physical condition, with minds alert so that they can act 

 calmly and rapidly and work together according to a prepared and 

 rehearsed plan of procedure. They should abstain from the use of 

 intoxicants. They should take no chances. 



All persons except fumigators should leave the building. — When 

 an entire building, or any floor, is to be fumigated, all persons in 

 the entire building should be notified in advance and told that they 

 must leave the building between certain specified hours. In large 

 establishments the owners should be held responsible for keeping 

 persons out of a building unless they have a definite agreement with 

 the fumigator that he assume all responsibility connected with the 

 safe conduct of the fumigation. 



It is not always necessary, or desirable, for persons to leave certain 

 buildings while vaults or similar limited areas are under fumiga- 

 tion. Much depends upon the fumigant used, the type of building, 

 and the methods employed for ventilation. The informed fumigator 

 is in a position to determine what action is necessary. Many routine 

 vault fumigations are conducted daily in congested city areas with- 

 out danger to human life. It is good practice to keep vaults locked 

 during fumigations. If warning signs are left in place permanently, 

 workers may not notice them. 



Where a piping system is used to apply a liquid fumigant in a 

 vault, the outside assembly of valves may be enclosed in a wire cage 

 provided with a padlock. Stocks of chemicals used for fumiga- 

 tions should be locked, preferably in a cool place away from main 

 buildings. 



Danger signs should be posted. — Placards calling attention to the 

 fact that a fumigation is being conducted and warning persons to 

 keep out should be posted on all outside doors of the building. 



Guards for buildings are desirable. — Guards should be stationed 

 outside buildings, to make certain that they are not heedlessly entered 

 while being fumigated with a dangerous vapor. 



