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An Accessory Protective Measure in Film Storage

An Accessory Protective Measure in Film Storage An Accessory Protective Measure in Film Storage R. H. Lowry , Major M.C. Station Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, Texas Excerpt In view of the repeated occurrences of fires of undetermined origin in X-ray laboratories and other places of storage of combustible films, it has been deemed advisable to install at this clinic the following additional precautionary measure, which is presented herewith for what it is worth, where applicable. As soon as possible after being dried, each film is read and reported in duplicate. The original copy of the report is forwarded to the clinic or physician concerned, and the carbon copy is retained in the X-ray Record Office and constitutes a permanent record of the case. The film itself is placed in the “Current File,” which consists of files of three-drawer, multiple-removable compartment, all-metal filing cabinets, which are located in the reading room of the laboratory alongside of the view boxes, wherein the films are readily available for study or discussion with the members of the hospital staff as long as the patient remains in the hospital. Those films which are no longer necessary, such as those presenting negative findings or films of patients who are no longer in the hospital, are eliminated from the files and scrapped. Examples of rare pathology or other unusual interest are stamped “Save” at the time they are read, and retained permanently in a portion of the file set aside for this purpose. The floor of the X-ray Department is covered with a composition cork material which is a poor conductor of electricity, with the result that the filing cabinets and contents are effectively insulated. Given these conditions, plus the presence of closely packed laminations of X-ray films and paper envelopes, it is conceivable that through removing and replacing films, and due to the unequal coefficients of expansion accompanying changes in room temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, static electricity may be generated, accumulating gradually to the point where the stress is sufficient to break down the intervening dielectic and a spark may occur, which may be all that is necessary to set off the highly inflammable mass of films and paper. A situation thus exists quite comparable to the problem of transporting gasoline in rubber-tired motorized gasoline tanks, in which case the danger from static accumulation and discharge is avoided by dragging a chain connected to the truck along the ground. The same principle is applied in this laboratory. The first filing cabinet is grounded by means of a copper wire leading from it to a nearby water pipe. It is also connected with Cabinet Number 2 by means of a wire; Number 2 with Number 3, etc., by means of metal wires. Small holes are bored at the sides of the cabinets in such relationship to each other as to permit a loop of wire to pass through the contiguous sides of the two cabinets to be joined, as illustrated in the accompanying diagram (Fig. 1). It is admitted that these premises and results are purely hypothetical. Copyrighted by the Radiological Society of North America http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Radiology Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

An Accessory Protective Measure in Film Storage

Lowry, R. H.
Radiology , Volume 14 (2): 157 – Feb 1, 1930
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Publisher
Radiological Society of North America, Inc.
Copyright
Copyright © 1930 by Radiological Society of North America
ISSN
1527-1315
eISSN
0033-8419
DOI
10.1148/14.2.157
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

An Accessory Protective Measure in Film Storage R. H. Lowry , Major M.C. Station Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, Texas Excerpt In view of the repeated occurrences of fires of undetermined origin in X-ray laboratories and other places of storage of combustible films, it has been deemed advisable to install at this clinic the following additional precautionary measure, which is presented herewith for what it is worth, where applicable. As soon as possible after being dried, each film is read and reported in duplicate. The original copy of the report is forwarded to the clinic or physician concerned, and the carbon copy is retained in the X-ray Record Office and constitutes a permanent record of the case. The film itself is placed in the “Current File,” which consists of files of three-drawer, multiple-removable compartment, all-metal filing cabinets, which are located in the reading room of the laboratory alongside of the view boxes, wherein the films are readily available for study or discussion with the members of the hospital staff as long as the patient remains in the hospital. Those films which are no longer necessary, such as those presenting negative findings or films of patients who are no longer in the hospital, are eliminated from the files and scrapped. Examples of rare pathology or other unusual interest are stamped “Save” at the time they are read, and retained permanently in a portion of the file set aside for this purpose. The floor of the X-ray Department is covered with a composition cork material which is a poor conductor of electricity, with the result that the filing cabinets and contents are effectively insulated. Given these conditions, plus the presence of closely packed laminations of X-ray films and paper envelopes, it is conceivable that through removing and replacing films, and due to the unequal coefficients of expansion accompanying changes in room temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, static electricity may be generated, accumulating gradually to the point where the stress is sufficient to break down the intervening dielectic and a spark may occur, which may be all that is necessary to set off the highly inflammable mass of films and paper. A situation thus exists quite comparable to the problem of transporting gasoline in rubber-tired motorized gasoline tanks, in which case the danger from static accumulation and discharge is avoided by dragging a chain connected to the truck along the ground. The same principle is applied in this laboratory. The first filing cabinet is grounded by means of a copper wire leading from it to a nearby water pipe. It is also connected with Cabinet Number 2 by means of a wire; Number 2 with Number 3, etc., by means of metal wires. Small holes are bored at the sides of the cabinets in such relationship to each other as to permit a loop of wire to pass through the contiguous sides of the two cabinets to be joined, as illustrated in the accompanying diagram (Fig. 1). It is admitted that these premises and results are purely hypothetical. Copyrighted by the Radiological Society of North America

Journal

Radiology – Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

Published: Feb 1, 1930

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