The history of the match industry, of phossy-jaw and efforts to combat it until 1890

Obviously, the workers who cut the wood or set up the presses were not exposed to white phosphorous. The dippers, however, stood over basins of warm phosphorous, breathing fumes and splashing phosphorous over their hands and clothes for twelve or more hours every day. The workers in the removal and the packaging sections were also exposed, although less so, because they handled the mixture when it was cool and no longer dripping. Throughout the process, ventilation was the only means of diminishing exposure. Where the workshops were separated, there was also less exposure of all the workers outside of the dipping area. However, where partitions between work areas were not available, and where ventilation was poor, all of the workers were exposed all of the time.