Document 0Gm4Q22BvEXr6xNQLn1m0o5b
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
National Safety Council
FOURTH ANNUAL SAFETY CONGRESS
HELD AT THE BELLEVUE - STRATFORD HOTEL
Philadelphia, Pa. October 20 and 21? 1915
'<** . .1 aiMaa
' . IWPSigfeJll'..~^
JWfr ~ ,y~- 3Slsi'i..Sl
' ' MEWiW'i"
&kJ> -
THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL
When the history of the Safety Movement is written the employ ers of the country will be given a large measure of credit for taking the initiative in working out the practical problems of preventing accidents in the industries, in the homes, and in public places.
Previous to the annual meeting of the Association of Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers in Milwaukee, 1912, no unified national effort had been made to collate the facts and experiences of indus trial accidents. Many agencies had made investigations and some of the leading industries had done constructive and demonstrative work. More than two hundred employers attended the first meet ing of National Safety Congress and a pronounced expression of opinion was made as toAne need for a national clearing-house of information which would be independent of politics and have as its sole aim the establishment of a bureau of information to which the employer could go for 'the cumulative experience of the industries in methods and practices for eliminating accidents in the plants.
The Second Annual Safety Congress took place in New York in September, 19x3, and launched a national association, cooperative in form, and composed = of safety men and the more progressive employers of the country. Headquarters for the Council were established at Chicago and business was commenced October 13, 1913. During the first year eleven hundred and thirty-one mem bers were secured.
The Third Congress was held in Chicago in October, 1914. Here the work of the organization was perfected and a campaign of safety work inaugurated which soon made the National Safety Council the most important body of its kind on the continent. The Fourth Congress was held in Philadelphia in October, 19x5, with almost a hundred per cent increase in the membership, representing approximately one hundred and fifty industries, many associations, governmental bureaus, and individuals. At the present time the Council has a membership of nearly seventeen hundred industries
ar *.
-j3.
th gj- rote *- gs;
Fourth Safety Congress
and associations, included in which are over fifty-six hundred rep resentatives. The Council serves over 2,500,000 workmen.
The Council is supported entirely by annual dues. Every Monday the members receive four or five bulletins, service letters, and material designed to advance the science of accident prevention. Twenty-three Local Councils have been organized, and thirteen Sections have been inaugurated to study the particular hazards of specific industries. The Council knows that employers are interested in practical methods for solving the accident prevention problem and as it has the facilities to promulgate these methods and supplement them by its own sectional and other activities, the prospects for its future are exceedingly bright. =:
"Safety Work Is an Obligation Which Honestly May Not and Should Not Be A voided
National Safety Council
Easiness Meeting
Philadelphia, Pa. October 19, 1915
M. W. CAMPBELL, President^ Presiding Officer
TUESDAY MORNING SESSION
HE meeting was called to order at io a. m. by President
XR. W. Campbell. President Campbell :
The Fourth Annual Meeting of
the National Safety Council will come to order. Our deliberations
will be opened by prayer by the Rev. James De Wolf Perry.
PRAYER BY THE REV. MR. PERRY.
Almighty God, the All Father whose mercies are over all Thy works, whose Blessed Son went about doing good, healing all man ner of disease and relieving all kinds of distress among the people; who has taught us to sympathize with those who are lowly, those
-\ .j.
1
2 Fourth Safety Congress
who are obscure; who was Himself
The Standard
a wage-earner, working at the car penter's bench; bless, we beseech
Thee, the deliberations of this meet
"Not that of a man's faith, his po litical creed, his re
ing and their decisions and actions. Guide them with wisdom to know the things that they ought to do. Give them grace and power faith
ligious professions, nor anything but his ability."
fully to fulfill the same, direct them in all their doings with Thy most gracious favor. Follow them with Thy gentle help and grant that, in
all their efforts, they may promote
Thy glory and the welfare of their
fellowmen. Guide and dispose those for whose benefit they delib
erate. Dispose them to co-operate with them, disarm them of preju
dice and suspicion arid envy. Save them from interpreting false
motives. Guide them in all their ways, for as much as without
Thee we cannot live. Mercifully grant that in all our ways and
undertakings we may follow Thy name and promote Thy purposes
among men. Grant that the promise and purpose announced at the
coming of Thy DeaFSon may be everfulfilled, drawing nearer His
kingdom by doing Thy will on earth as it is in heaven; promoting
peace, glory to Thee, and peace among men. These, and all other
mercies and favors that Thou may see fit to grant us, we humbly
ask in the name and Tor the sake of Him who taught us, when we
pray, to say:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we for
give those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kindom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.
:President Campbele It is my privilege to introduce to you one who is to extend to our organization a welcome for the holding of this meeting in thjs city. I take pleasure in introducing Dr. F. D. Patterson, the President of the Philadelphia Local Council. Dr. Patterson. (Applause.)
Business Meeting
3
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Dr. F. D. Pattersont Presi dent Campbell, Ladies and' Gentle
The New Liberty
men, Members of 'Our National Safety' Council, Honored Guests.
Means
freedom
It is nay rare privilege and pleasure
from accidents upon
as President of the Philadelphia Safety Council to welcome you here
our highways, in our
to our City of Brotherly Love and
homes and in our in
Industry. I hope that the results of the deliberations of this Council,
dustries.
assembled here in annual Con
gress, may spread forth through
out our land. The Council--conceived in the brains of such
men as Campbell, Cameron, Palmer, Young, ^.iphards. Price, and
others, a little more than three years ago--first^saw its birth at the Hotel McAlpin in New York in 1913. Thanks to your activity and that of the other officers of the Council, it is but natural that we should have a membership which represents the foremost industries in our land. We welcome you here to the greatest industrial city in the greatest industrial commonwealth in this country--we are proud of both our city and state.
The day is happily past when one might hear throughout the land: "Oh, Pennsylvania in general is corrupt and contented, and Phila delphia is .particularly so." We, here in Pennsylvania, have seen the creation of a Department of Labor and Industry, and have had the good fortune to have it presided over by the Hon. John Price Jackson, who made the standard in his department----not that of a man's faith, his political creed, his religious profession, nor any thing but his ability--that won him a place in this department of the public service. The time at my disposal does not permit my telling you of all the splendid work that he has done. Under his wise guidance our State Legislature, at its last session, passed a workman's compensation act, which act is a standard that every other state in this Union oould follow with profit. They also passed a child labor bill. That child labor bill is a step forward from that upon the statute books of any other of our states, because it pro vides not only for continuation schools, wherein the child who must
riflMgsiik;
BEmUfflgT:?.
4 Fourth Safety Congress
labor for his or her daily bread has the advantage of continuing the education which he was forced through poverty to discontinue, but, also in that act there is a provision that the child, before it can go into labor, must pass a physical examination, and our Industrial Board has decreed that certain diseases exclude the child from em ployment. And so the child who is to go into labor has the protec tion of a law which, to our minds, is beyond that now upon the statute books of any other state or country.
I cannot speak of the Department of Labor and Industry without telling you all of the sorrow which has come to us all through the removal by death of fire chief medical inspector of the Department of Labor and Industry, Dr. John C. -Price, who was a loyal member of this organization and one who labored early and late not only to promote the interests of this state and its working people, but also to spread throughout our commonwealth the news that the National Safety Council was abroad within the land. He was chair man of the committee which framed the standards which are used for the physical examination of children and I am sore that he could have no better tribute than those standards which his com mittee agreed upon under his wise leadership.
President Campbell, .upon behalf of our city, its industries, with more than 300,000 skilled workmen engaged therein, upon be half of our Chamber of Commerce--it is my pleasant duty to present to you the key to out city. If you will examine it you will find that here it reads "Philadelphia," and here it reads "1915."T (Ap plause.) I would that I were some genii of old that I might have the power to endow that key with the magic of opening the doors of every factory, not only in our city. In our commonwealth, but also throughout this land, and all the rest of the civilized world; that this key would enable you to enter therein, that you might bring to the attention of the superintendents, executives, and em ployes of all the industries the enormous benefits which the National Safety Council is conferring upon, all mankind.
America stands today as the one large Safety First country in the world.. All Central Europe, as we know, is in the death grip of a war which, to my mind, is a blight upon our so-called civiliza tion. As we stand here in the shadow of that building where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and from whose belfry tower rolled forth the: peal of the Liberty Bell whose tones reached
a-aiA -- jif
PACSIMILH OF OOLDEN _iCE V PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIOXAI. SAFETY COESCIL BY DR. F_ XX PATTERSON, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OFJHILADELPHIA, AT THE OPENING OF THE ISIS ANNEAL OCNQ^SS OF THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL
Business Meeting
5
every inhabitant of the then' thirteen colonies and later echoed around the world, I would that we might strike forth a new sound of liberty which would go forth so that it would reach the hearts and minds of every inhabitant upon the face of our globe; that it might say to all of them that this new liberty means the freedom from accidents upon our highways, in our homes, and in our in dustries; that occupational diseases shall be banished; and, as its tones roll forth let us think of those immortal lines of that poetlaureate of England who said:
"Ring out the slowly dying cause. And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life. With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,. The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right; Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease; Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old; Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free. The.larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land; Ring in the Christ that is to be.''
(Applause.)
REPLY BY PRESIDENT.
President CampbellT Dr. Patterson, Ladies and Gentlemen-- All hurpan conduct has its reason, and there is a reason for our being here in your city today. It is eminently proper that we should be in a state and in a community of this kind for the deliberations your city and your state stand for something. Every community in which we are about to indulge. It is eminently proper because
6 Fourth Safety Congress
has its atmosphere. Yours has a
PHILADELPHIA
distinct one--an atmosphere of hon esty, solidity, stability and con
servatism, yet tinged with progres-
An atmosphere of
sivism. And there is a reason why all of that is true; for with re
honesty, solidity, sta bility, and conserva
spect to your natural resources, with respect to your capital, you stand pre-eminent among the states
tism, yet tinged -with
and the cities as one of great
progressivism. ' '
wealth. You have within your vaults sufficient capital to finance
every enterprise that goes on with
in the confines of your common
wealth. You have furnished in the past capital to develop the
West, the Northwest and the South. You have today a capital per
capita four times larger than the average per capita capital through
out the United States, and your wealth is more evenly and widely
distributed than is that of any other state or community. You have
in your industries alone invested over one thousand millions of
dollars, and the daily payroll in your industries is $700,000 in the
City of Philadelphia alone--truly a solid and substantial financial
situation for any city or any state.
SOLID AND SUBSTANTIAL INDUSTRIES.
In your industries you excel in the number and importance and widely diversified character of products. You have over 240 differ ent industries in the City of Philadelphia. These represent petroleum products, sugar products, the products of mines, textile industries, iron and steel manufactures, railway equipment, agricultural equip ment, household utensils, finished leather goods, and hundreds of others that might be named, and are among the important industries of the country. You have the widest range of world-consumed goods of any community in the United States. You are the greatest carpet and textile section in the world. You carpet a seven-room house every twenty-eight seconds and you make ten pairs of stock ings every second. The gross value of your manufactured goods per annum exceeds eight hundred millions of dollars and you have more goods being manufactured--that are carried through from
Business Meeting
7
the raw product to the finished
product--than probably any other community in the United States--
Your People
surely a solid and substantial in
dustrial condition, gentlemen. As to your people, you have over
Many of them rep
300,000 of them in your industries in this community. They are stable and permanent and not transient.
resent the sixth gen eration of those who
Many of them represent the fourth
lived here since the
and fifth and even sixth generation of those who have lived here since
days of Penn.
the days of Perm, and they inherit
the ideals and principles that were
taught to their forefathers by that great and good man. They in
herit a belief in God, they inherit a belief in the honesty of toil, they
inherit the belief that he taught, that honest thrift is advisable.
They inherit the belief that only through industry can happiness
come. Surely a solid, and substantial population.
A CITY OF HOMES.
As to your homes, of the 367,000 which you have in this city, 125,000 of them are owned by the people who live in them--a record which cannot be equalled by any other community in the country; and of those only 12,000 are frame dwellings. You live in sub stantial quarters, you transact your business in splendid and stable and solid office buildings. Truly, physically, you have a solid and substantial community.
As a state, with respect to your legislative activity, you have conservatively and yet progressively put on the statute books wise and constructive laws. No state excels you in your acts with respect to industry and labor. You have blazed the way, as Dr. Patterson has stated, for all of the states with your very wonderful child labor law, and your workmen's compensation law stands pre-eminent among those of the states that have legislated upon that subject. In the administration of the act relating to Industry and labor, under the direction and leadership of the Hoh. John Price Jackson, Commis sioner of Industry and Labor of your state, you have set the Nation at
8 --- Fourth Safety Congress
large an example of unparalleled administrative ability and activity. In point of honesty of administration, fairness, and justice between employer and employe, singleness and integrity of purpose, enlight ened, and constructive interpretation, sympathetic and tactful atten tion to the relations between the department and those who come in contact with it, and in every phase of the activity of that office, a remarkable example of administration has been given to the world. It is one that merits warm and hearty approval and commendation from all. It is a great privilege today for me, as an observer from the side lines, to express my commendation of the conduct of that office.
PIONEERS IN THE SAFETY MOVEMENT.
As to your place in the safety movement, you have ever been in the forefront in that activity. Your state and city were among the pioneers and are now among the leaders in the movement. Your citizens were among the founders and earliest supporters of our organization and yotf have ever since given it your heariy and sincere support and co-operation. You have today more members in the National Safety Council and more Local Councils than any other state in the Union. _ (Applause.)
The safety movement itself is an honest one. It is built on the solid and substantial foundation of right--with a stable purpose and of conservative and yet progressive character. And it is there fore eminently proper, as I said at first, that a body of this kind should meet in a community in which the financial condition, the industrial condition, the condition of its people, and its administrative character have all ob the same qualities.
It is a proud moment for all of us to be in conference here today and it is my privilege to accept very gratefully. Dr. Patterson, the welcome you have so cordially extended to us; and we trust -that our deliberations will merit the commendation which you have given to them in advance. We thank you very much. (Applause.)
ROLL CALL AND REGISTRATION.
:Chairman The next order of business is the roll call of mem bers. I am advised by our Secretary and by the registration office that there have been registered and have been filed proxies suffi cient in number to indicate that there is a quorum of members present
Business Meeting
9
in person or by proxy of those entitled to vote at this meeting. It would seem inadvisable to go through the formality of calling the roll- I would therefore appreciate it if a motion were made directing the dispensing with the roll call.
Mr. Connelley : I so move, Mr. President.
President Campbell : Dean Connelley moves that the roll call be dispensed with. Is there a second ?
(The motion was seconded.)
President Campbell: It is moved and seconded that the calling of the roll be dispensed with. All those in favor will signify it by saying aye; opposed, no. It is carried.
Are there any present in person who have filed proxies with the Secretary? If so it would be a proper time for them to withdraw their proxies, so that they may not be counted twice. Are there any such present ? If so please rise in your place and give the Secre tary your names and the companies you represent. Hearing from none we will assume that no withdrawals are to be made.
It has been customary at this stage of our proceedings for you to be called upon to listen to an address from your President. In order that there may be accuracy of statement and that the matter may be gotten rid of as quickly as possible and that you may get to the important matters of the conference, I have put my report in writing. I will therefore ask you to bear with me in the reading of a written report. ' (Applause.)
REPORT OF PRESIDENT CAMPBELL.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Members, Representatives of Members, and Guests of the National Safety Council: It is again my pleasant task to give you greeting in this, the opening hour, of our annual meeting and Congress. This I do, and extend to you the courteous salutations of your Executive Committee^ and officers on whose behalf I speak. ^
The fourth year of our Council's activity is ringing out and a new year ringing in. At such a time it is eminently proper that we pause to look back over the past and give thought to the future.
10 Fourth Safety Congress
Safety Movement
It is an honest one. It is built on the solid and substantial foundation of right.
What have we accomplished and what must we plan to do? is the important question today.
Certain changes have been made in the form of organization of the National Safety Council, through amendments to the by-laws, by ac tion of the Board of Directors at their regular meeting Oct. 13, 1914, and at a special meeting held April 30. 19x5.
CHANGES IN BY-LAWS.
The principal changes effected were the following:
First--Two new classes of memberships were created, viz.: Local memberships and service memberships. The first provides a mem bership for those persons who are not interested in the industrial problem, but who may be interested in the promotion of the activities of the Local Councils. They have limited rights and pay not less than $1.00 annual dues, of which 80 per cent is retained by the Local. Council. The second provides a membership for employes interested in safety, first aid, rescue work, etc., who must meet certain require ments to be fixed by the Executive Committee. They also have limited rights in Nationaland Local Councils and pay $1.00 annual dues.
Second--The schedule of dues was changed to place street and interurban railroads and telephone and telegraph companies on the same basis as industrial concerns, and the entire schedule, except in the case of individuals and of those who pay $1.00 per annum, as Local or Service members, was increased in the sum of $5.00 for each class. A schedule of dues was also added to provide for the dues of insurance companies.
Third--The fiscal vearAvas changed so that it now covers Aug. 1 to July 31, instead of July 1 to June 30, as formerly.
Fourth--Provision was made for the filling of vacancies in nom inations for directors caused by death or disqualification at the annual meeting by nominations from the floor.
Business Meeting
11
Fifth--Changes were made in the
sections relating to Local Councils to make provision for local mem
Safety Movement
bers and for the collection of local
member and other dues directly by
the Local Council should it elect so to do.
A stable purpose
Sixth--A new article was added to provide for the creation by the Executive Committee of- autono
and of conservative and yet progressive
mous subordinate organizations, such as Sections, divisions or corps,
character.
and the prescribing by that commit
tee of the necessary regulations for
the control, management and direction of such organizations and of
the activities to be pursued thereby.
Seventh--A further amendment was adopted, providing for the
amendment to the by-laws by action of the members as well as by
the Directors.
INCORPORATION OF COUNCIL.
It will be remembered that your Executive Committee was author ized to incorporate this Council under the laws of the State of Illinois. In giving the matter further consideration it was found that there were certain substantial objections to fully complying with the requirements of the laws of the State of Illinois, and as there was no immediate or vital necessity for incorporation, it was decided to postpone taking the action authorized and to recommend the incorporation of the National Safety Council under the laws of the State of Delaware, which seem to meet the needs of our organization better than Illinois or other states. Your approval of such action will, be asked later in a resolution to be submitted by the Resolutions Committee.
THE COUNCIL IS PROSPEROUS.
It has been very pleasant t'o us to be able to report to you that in spite of the prevailing depressed business situation, our member ship has been very substantially increased by practically .100 per
12 Fourth Safety Congress
cent, and so far as representatives are concerned by over 130 per
cent since the last annual meeting. The number of cancellations
has also been exceedingly small and in point of amount of dues
almost negligible.
-
With the accretion in membership and by reason also of the in
crease in dues becoming effective June I, our organization has been
placed on a firm financial basis, with an annual income of approx
imately $25,000, without taking into account the dues of additional
members, the securing of which may safely be depended upon. The
entire deficit reported at the last annual meeting has been wiped out
and your Executive' Committee is now satisfied that the present
organization and the.present service can be maintained for the next
fiscal year well within the assured income mentioned above. It is
our hope that sufficient additional income may be secured from new
memberships during the year to make possible the setting aside of
a substantial sum as a surplus or reserve fund to be used in emergen
cies or for extraordinary purposes, as well as to permit the employ
ment of a field secretary, who may assist members and Local Coun
cils as occasion may require, as well as devote some of his time to
membership solicitation.
Our Secretary in his report, dated Aug. 17, 1915, and submitted
to all members, has stated in much detail the principal activities
and accomplishments of our organization during the last year and
it would be idle for me to reiterate them here. Some are, however,
worthy of special mention.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES.
The Service Series of Bulletins have been very popular and have been a splendid contribution to the safety cause, as has been the production of the book "Sure Pop and the Safety Scouts." This book has met with a most remarkable reception and we hear noth ing but flattering criticisms of it. It has already been adopted in many states and cities as a supplemental reader in the schools, and it is hoped that our members will encourage and stimulate such action in the respective communities.
Early in the year negotiations were entered into, through a joint committee, with the Boy Scouts of America for the obtaining of the practical co-operation of that organization in our work. These negotiations have progressed most favorably, and it is expected that
Business Meeting
13
before the next annual meeting a definite plan will have been agreed
upon and put into effect, thus bringing into the safety fold some
400,000 of America's most intelligent young people.
As announced at the last annual meeting, efforts have been made
to promote the organization of our membership into Sections, to
include in autonomous organizations the representatives of those
industries which have special problems and hazards peculiar to
their industry.
' -~
The steam railroad companies were the first to organize. An
organization known as the American Railway Safety Association
disbanded and practically unanimously affiliated with the National
Safety Council and created our Steam Railroad Section, electing
officers and a sectional executive committee, which committee has
had several meetings, been very active in assisting the general office .
in many ways and has taken entire charge of the Steam Railroad
Sectional Meeting to be "held at this Congress.
The American Mine Safety Association has also dissolved and
in a body affiliated with the National Safety Council, transferring
all its organizations and activities to our organization as our Mining
Section.
A number of those in attendance upon a recent meeting of the
National Public Health Association at a Round Table Session of
Industrial Surgeons, voted to request the National Safety Council
to form a Medical and Health Supervision Section, and to perform
the functions of a clearing-house for information on that subject
in the same manner as for-safety data. As the Executive Committee
had had in mind the formation of such a section, its functions, how
ever, to be limited to preventive rather than remedial phases of the
subject, the plan suggested fell in readily with our own purposes.
A Public Safety Section has been planned for some time, but
owing to the difficulty met with in obtaining a proper and efficient
chairman, no definite organization had been effected up to yesterday.
A plan for the organization for safety work in communities and
activities to be engaged inyvas prepared and approved by the Execu
tive Committee. This has not yet been printed nor distributed, as
it was desired to have it approved by those who will constitute the
Public Safety Section before it should be issued. Mr. William P.
Eno of Washington, D. -C-, international traffic expert, has donated
to our organization the plates for his "Traffic Regulations," which
14 Fourth Safety Congress
have been adopted by the cities of
"Sure Pop5"
Has met a most re markable reception --we bear flattering
Paris, France; London, England; Washington, X>- C-, and New York City, for use by us in public safety propaganda. The printing of this has been also withheld pending the revision of the preface by Mr. Eno and to enable the Public SafetySection to pass upon it also.
PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS.
criticisms of it.
In February last information
reached the Executive Committee
of a proposed new organization to
be known as the Safety First Federation. Certain of our directors,
who were invited to the conference respecting the proposed organiza
tion, were authorized by the Executive Committee to invite this
organization to come into the National Safety Council as its Public
Safety Section. This, however, did not seem desirable to the pro
moters of that society. Our invitation was not accepted and the
Safety First Federation was organized, limiting its field of activity
to that of public safety.
We have in every_way possible tried to indicate to that organiza
tion our desire to co-operate with it and to express our wishes for
its success, as we think we should all welcome any activity, whether
apparently competitive or not, which has fur its object the conserva
tion of human life and limb.
It was felt, however, that in view of the fact that so many of
our public service.^members were interested in the public safety
problem as well as the industrial, we must of necessity attempt to
perform the same kind of service for them in the public safety field
as in the industrial, and hence could not leave the field to the Safety-
First Federation. It is regrettable that there should be duplication of
effort, but at the present time there seems no other alternative.
- ORGANIZATION FORMED AND OFFICERS ELECTED.
A meeting was called for yesterday and attended by many of those interested in the public safety problem. A section was formed, a line of activity agreed upon, and officers and committees selected to direct the work.
Business Meeting
15
At this point it may be well to
state that it is the hope anddesire of the Executive Committee that the
SUCCESS
sectional meetings to be held on
Wednesday and Thursday will ef fect a permanent - organization in
Hundreds of our
pursuance with the terms of the resolution of the Executive Com mittee recently adopted, providing
members have ac complished remark
for officers, executive committee and committees of Sections. It is also desired that other Sections than
able results in acci dent prevention.
those having formal meetings at
this Congress will be organized
during the Congress injfche same way. The advantages and benefits
to be derived from such sectional organization. within the Council
are too numerous and self-evident to require statement. Meeting-
rooms will be provided for all who may desire to get together for
that purpose, and copies of the resolution of the Executive Commit
tee may be obtained fromthe Secretary or at the information desk.
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE.
Many other matters of interest might be commented on, would time permit. We feel that the National Safety Council has had at least a measure of success during the last year, and we know that hundreds of our members have accomplished remarkable results in the waj' of accident reductions, hence a little pride in achieve ment, both collectively as an organization and individually may be warranted.
Much has been accomplished, but our field is large, its possibilities great, and very many things are yet to be done. Time and a larger membership and revenue incident thereto will alone make the fullest achievements possible. We can only recommend, however, for the future, a continuance of the policy of service and internal co-operation which has marked our past and a continued effort to retain the good will and co-operation of other agencies and activities that have the same or similar interests and objects.
I would also, as to the future, urge upon each of you a continu ance of that high measure of co-operation and friendly sympathy
16 Fourth Safety Congress
in all of our activities which has made possible whatever of success has come to us. I would also urge upon you a greater activity in the matter of obtaining new members for the Council, for with a larger membership and larger revenue, a larger and more compre hensive service can be provided for all.
In laj'ing down the burden of my office at this time, I do so with much regret. It has been an agreeable task in pleasant lines and in congenial company. I have personally made many friends, not otherwise attainable, whose friendship has become very dear to me. I have also been very proud of the trust and confidence which you have all reposed in me by honoring me as you have, and I am deeply grateful to you all.
THANKS TO CO-WORKERS.
In this connection I desire to express my personal thanks to you all for the kindness and courtesy you have uniformly shown me and for the sympathy and support which you have all given to me when and as required, all of which has been very greatly appreciated. I would that I could properly express either for you or for myself the thanks that I feel are due to the members of our Executive Committee for the time, energy and money expended and the sacri fice that its members have made in their attendance upbn the meet ings of the committee and in the special committee work under taken, as well as other endeavors. "We all owe them a deep debt of gratitude and I feel that I personally should, in this public way, express my own personal appreciation of their sympathy and help fulness and their great assistance to me in the work that has been undertaken by our organization, for all of the activity of this, organi zation has been not the work of any one individual, but the joint and harmonious action of all of the members of its Executive Com mittee and in many instances of its members as well.
On behalf of that committee and your officers I would also extend to you and to each of you our thanks for your sympathetic interest and hearty co-operation during the past year in the work which has been undertaken and which alone has made possible the accom plishment of the results that have been incident to our effort.
I fee! also that I would be remiss in my duty if I did not call to your special attention the remarkable activity arid the excellent work of our Secretary and his efficient staff. He has put into his
Business Meeting
17
work an untiring energy, zeal and earnestness that is very largely and alone responsible for whatever has been accomplished. Very great credit is due to him and to his personal activity in our interests and I feel sure that I may extend to him from all of us our very sincerest thanks. (Applause.)
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.
No incident or experience is without its lesson and the war of
Europe has been no exception, as there have been many important
and. valuable lessons for America growing out of it. We can all
see, for instance, at least some defects in the national policies of
the belligerents. In the main, England stands for the preservation
of the rights and privilegesTof the individual, whereas every German
is taught from the cradle up that the state is supreme and collective action the ideal. I believe that a blending, of these tw;o principles will help the American people and help us in the solution of our
social and economic problem to profit by the advantages of both
systems and yet not suffer from the extremes of either. In accident
prevention work we aim at the preservation of the individual through
the collective action of all. Employer and employe must work to
gether for their mutual good. The safety field being a common
ground upon which both should and must unite for the common good
of all.
___
We, as men interested in the accident prevention movement and
as men charged with the duties incident to our safety work, should
realize the peculiar importance of our work. We stand at the divid
ing point between the twp, and we have it within our power to so
use our position that with it as an instrument every ground of
difference between employer and employe may be minimized and
ultimately eliminated. Our opportunity is very great to make both
employer and employe see the mutuality of their interest. The solu
tion of the safety problem, can only be accomplished by tactfully re-
rnoving any friction between employer and employe and by empha
sizing the essential human quality of both by preaching the gospel
of identity of interest. Our contribution to the world's progress
can therefore be made broader than the specific limit of our duties.
With this vision before you we would inspire you to more deter
mined efforts to steadfastly make safety an established factor in
social progress and the touchstone to the ideal that "Man's human
18 Fourth Safety Congress
"Our Secretary"
ity to man will make countless thousands rejoice." (Prolonged ap plause.)
He has put into his work untiring en-
VOTE OF THANKS TO PRES IDENT CAMPBELL.
ergy, zeal and ear-
Dr. Patterson : President Camp
nestness ----^Tribute by the Retiring President.
bell, I am sure I voice the senti ment of every member of the Na tional Safety Council when I say to you, sir, that the members of this
Council owe to you a debt of grati
tude which I have no words to ade
quately express. You were the pilot who took our ship and stood
at the wheel upon the start of our voyage. You guided us down
past the River of Doubt, with all its shallows and its obstructions,
so that now with safety we reach the open sea, and the time has
come, regretfully to every member of the Council, when your small
boat comes alongside and the pilot is dropped. No matter what
sphere of activity your duties may now call you into, I am sure that
every member of the National Safety Council wishes you Godspeed
and good luck. I move, sir, that we, the members of the National Safety Council,
give a rising vote of thanks to President R. W. Campbell as a small
token of the appreciation of his splendid and magnificent services.
(The motion was unanimously carried by a rising vote, with ap
plause.)
President Campbell: I only wish that I could feel that I have merited the kind things you say to me. Doctor, and the kind things that other of the friends that I have made in our organization have been saying to mer I would feel very proud if I could. But I can not-feel that very much is due to me. I have been but one of the large team that have all pulled together, and whatever you say of me is said equally of all.of those others who have composed that team which has constituted your Executive Committee. Nevertheless, I am proud of and I am very grateful for these expressions of your good-will and your kindly thought, of me. It is my hope that I
Business Meeting
19
may always so live my life that I may merit as much approval from others as I have had from you in
"Our President"
the. associations that I may have
with them. I am very, very grate ful to you and I cannot say more. (Applause.) .
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
Chairman : The next order of business would be the reading of the minutes of the last annual meet
You guided us down past the River of Doubt with all its shallows and obstruc tions. -- Dr. Patter son.
ing. As these minutes are to be found in the printed proceedings in full it would seem unnecessary to read them at this meeting; and in
order to expedite matters it might be in.order for some one to move
that the reading of the minutes of the meeting of October, 1914,
be dispensed with.
Mr. Arthur T. Morey : I so move. (The motion was seconded.)
President Campbell. : A motion has been made and seconded
to that effect. All those in favor will so signify by saying aye;
contrary minded no. The motion is carried.
The next in order is the receiving of reports of the officers cand
committees. The first report will be from the Secretary and Treas
urer.
--
I might add that I have been confidentially, advised by the ladies,
gentlemen, that if you wish to smoke it will not be objectionable to
them, provided you do not do it too close to them.
We will have the report of the Secretary and Treasurer.
REPORT OF SECRETARY W. H. CAMERON.
Secretary- Cameron : Mr. President and Fellow Members--I have already presented to you the printed report of the activities of the headquarters of the Council, as follows:
National Safety Council. Statement of Receipts and Disbursements for the period from July 1, 1914, to July-31-1915.
20 Fourth Safety Congress
RECEIPTS.
Membership dues:
Active............. ....................................$27,383.59
Associate . . .'tt..................................
150.00
$27,533-59
Less refund odues. . ..............
69.3 5 $27,464.24
Sales of pamphlets, bulletins, circulars and
miscellaneous receipts...........................................
1,209.92
Refund of expense of preparation of manu
script of "Sure Pop".............................................
500.00
Amount advanced by officers for current expenses .........................................................................
3,805.00
$32,979-16
Cash balance July 1, 1914..............
$50.08
Less overdraft at bank July 1,
1914.................................................................. 25-05
25.03 $33,004.19
DISBURSEMENTS.
Salaries of Secretary and Treasurer, as
sistant secretary and office staff.....................$11,206.35
Printing of bulletins, pamphlets and circu
lars, office stationery and supplies.................
982.69
Office furniture and equipment..........................
334-96
Postage..............yr...........................................................
x ,593.30
Rent of general office.............................................-
2,145.00
Traveling expenses .....................................................
647.51
Telephone and telegraph.......................................
392.23
General office expenses .........................................
840.36
Expenses of various local councils................. i,45-55
Expenses connected with distribution, etc., -
of "Sure Poprr book................................................
370.58
Expenses of Third Annual Congress...........
1,280.97
Expenses of weekly bulletin service.............. 4,043.18
Membership solicitation expense................
963.80
National committee work....................................
318.75
Total ............................................................... .$26,525.23
_ Business Meeting
Loans repaid to officers...............-$ 3,805.00 Loans repaid for advances made
prior to July 1, 1914........................ 2,150.00
5*955-9
21
Total ................................ - - -
$32,480.23
BALANCE.
Cash on Hand ... --........................... Cash in Bank............................................
$ 5- 473-96
523-9<S $33,004.19
auditors' certificate.
We have examined the above statement of receipts and disburse ment of the National JSafety Council, have compared it with the
books and vouchers and have found it correct.
DELOITTE, BLENDER, GRIFFITHS & CO.,
Chicago, Aug. 9, 19x5
Accountants and Auditors.
I will just say a word in addition. Since that report was issued we have added to our membership roll ninety-five new members. Our income from July 31, 1915, to Oct. 18 was $5,384.01, and dis bursements have been $4,884.10; leaving a balance in the bank of $599.91. There are outstanding dues of $926.30, and unpaid bills of $818.41.
PRESIDENT Campbell. : You have heard the report of the Sec retary and Treasurer;" What is your pleasure?
A Member : I move its receipt and adoption.
President Campbell: A motion is made that the report be
received and adopted. Is there a second to the motion? (The mo
tion was seconded, put to a vote and carried.)
The next report to. be heard, as provided for in our by-laws, is
a report of the Executive Committee. The report, however, of
that body has been incorporated in the address which it has just
been my privilege to make, and hence it will not be necessary at
this time to make another report.
^
The next will be the report of the Finance Committee. Is Mr.
Scott here? Mr. Scott advised me that he might be a few minutes
late. We will pass to the report of the Program Committee, Mr.
Cameron.
LT
22 Fourth Safety Congress
" Secretary Cameron : Gentle
CO-OPERATION
men, you have already received at the administration desk the com
pleted program. This is the fourth
Resolved: That
time the program has been printed and it is now complete. I have
the N- S. C. extends felicitations and well-
simply to announce that practically all of the speakers that are included in the program will be here. We
wishes to the Safety-
have eighty-five speakers on the
First Federation.
program. I also wish to announce that, three speakers that are sched
uled for the banquet we believe will
be here, and we hope that you will
buy your banquet tickets early so that we will have some indication
in advance as to how many fo provide for.
:President Campbell. Any report from the Resolutions Com
mittee ?
~
GREETINGS TO SAFETY FIRST FEDERATION.
Mr. Arthur T. Morey: Mr. Chairman, I would like to present this resolution:
"Resolved, That the members of the National Safety Council, assembled in its Fourth Annual Congress at Philadelphia, extends its felicitations and best wishes to our co-laborers, the Safety First Federation of America, for the success of its conference now in session at Detroit, pledging them in the name of humanity our cordial co-operation in our common cause of safeguarding human life;
"Resolved, That in compliance with the suggestion offered by the committee of the Safety First Society of Greater Detroit, the Presi dent of the National Safety Council is hereby authorized and di rected to appoint a committee to confer with the Safety First Feder ation of America as to ways and means of securing greater co-opera tion between the two organizations, hereby inviting the Safety First Federation of America to appoint a similar conference committee; and be it further
"Resolved, That the Secretary immediately telegraph a copy of
Business Meeting
23
this resolution to the President of the Safety First Federation of America at Detroit."
Mr. Chairman, I move the adop
tion of the resolution. (The mo
tion was seconded by Dr. Patter
son.) '
.
jt
APPRECIATION
The care, thor oughness and skill of
Mr. J. M. Eaton : Mr. Presi
Philadelphia Local
dent, as President of' the Local Council of the city in which the Safety First Federation is holding,
Council officially rec ognized.
its convention today I would like to have the pleasure also of second
.
_______ _
ing the adoption of this resolution and I suggest that we adopt it
without a dissenting vote.
President Campbell: Gentlemen, you have heard the resolu tion and the motion that it be adopted, seconded by the President of our Local Council at Detroit, and also a member here of the Safety First Society of Greater Detroit. Is there:any discussion on the motion? If not the question*will be put. All of those in favor of the adoption of the res mtion will so signify by saying aye; con trary minded, no. The motion is unanimously carried and the resolu tion adopted.
INCORPORATION OF COUNCIL.
Mr. Morey : As the President stated in his address and as we will recall, at the Congress in. Chicago we directed that the Execu tive Committee should see to the incorporation of our Council under the laws of Illinois. As there is some difficulty to meet the condi tions of the Council under those laws it would seem desirable to change those instructions. I will state one reason, and that is that under the laws of Illinois I believe we would have to have our mem bers* meetings and our Congress in the State of Illinois, which of course, is undesirable, as we wish to meet in other states, as we are now meeting in Pennsylvania. So, Mr. Chairman,. I would like to move the adoption, of this resolution:
24 Fourth Safety Congress.
"Resolved, That the instruction given to the Executive Committee
by the members at the annual meeting in Chicago in October, 1914,
to incorporate the National Safety Council, be amended in so far
as said instructions ordered that the Council be incorporated under
the laws of the State of Illinois, and that in lieu of said instruction,
the Executive Committee be and it hereby is directed to incorporate
the National Safety Council in the manner and "under the laws of
any state which in the Executive Committee's judgment are most
suited to the needs and purposes of the Council."
I might further add, Mr. Chairman, that it is the intention to
incorporate under the laws of Delaware. The resolution does not
so state, because the possibility of something arising under those
laws, so it seems better to leave it open to the judgment of the Execu
tive Committee.
-
A Member: I second that motion.
President Campbell: The adoption of the resolution as read has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion ? (The mo tion was put to a vote and carried.)
RESOLUTIONS OF APPRECIATION.
Mr. Morey : As Chairman of the Resolutions Committee I would like to also submit the following resolution:
'`Resolved, That the members of the National Safety Council, assembled in their Fourth Annual Congress, express to the great and hospitable State of Pennsylvania and City of Philadelphia their gratification at meeting within their borders for a purpose so in at tune with the noble principles upon which the commonwealth was founded and expressing the cordial thanks for the welcome accorded them; and be it further
"Resolved, That the thanks and appreciation of the members be most cordially given to the Philadelphia Safety Council for the very evident care, thoroughness and skill with which, through its efficient committee, and in particular its President, Dr. F. D. Patterson, it has provided for the needs of the Congress and the comfort and convenience of the members; and also that our appreciation be ex pressed to the management of the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel for its
[waB'MalaiSiei-'aSSBaMmaaBaK--itWHuamurtw i
Business Meeting
25
efficient and attentive co-operation, and to all those others who
through unselfish service or other generous contributions have
aided the success of thejCongress and its safety exhibit; and be it
further
'`Resolved, That the' Secretary transmit copies hereof to the proper
recipients."
^
I move the adoption of the resolution.
President Campbell: Is there a second to the resolution?': (The resolution was. seconded.)
Motion has been made that this resolution just read be adopted. Is there any discussion?^ (The motion was put to a vote and carried.)
IN MEMORY OF DR. JOSEPH AUSTIN HOLMES.
Mr. H. M. Wilson : Mr. Chairman, the Chairman of the Reso lutions Committee has requested me, as a member of that com mittee, to present the following resolution. This resolution concerns . one of the three honorary members who have so far been elected by this Council:
"Whereas, We have lost through death an honorary member of the Council, the first director of the Federal Bureau of Mines, Joseph Austin Holmes; and
"Whereas, Dr. Holmes was one of the Sectional Chairmen of the Milwaukee Safety Conference of 1912, at which time the Na tional Safety Council was organized; and
"Whereas, Dr. Holmes^was one of the foremost, most consistent and efficient workers in the safety movement; be it therefore
"Resolved, That the National Safety Council, in annual Congress assembled, hereby expresses a sense of deep loss to the cause in the untimely death of Dr. Holmes; and be it further
"Resolved, That this resolution be spread on the minutes of the Congress, that a copy of it be forwarded to the widow of Dr. Holmes, and that a. copy be also sent to the Bureau of Mines as an evidence of our appreciation of the helpful encouragement and aid given the Council by the Bureau of Mines under Dr. Holmes."
The resolution was seconded by Dr. Patterson.
President Campbell : Motion has been made that the resolutions
26 Fourth Safety Congress
In Memoriant
Dr. Holmes was one of the foremost and most efficient workers in the Safe
as read be adopted. Is there any discussion? If not, I will ask all of you who are in favor of the 'adoption of this resolution,, as a slight additional token of our ap preciation of the work of that able and wonderful man, to vote in favor of its adoption by rising. (The resolution was unanimously carried by a rising vote.)
ty Movement.
President Campbell : Thank
you, gentlemen. The motion is car
ried unanimously.
Are there any other resolutions to be offered, Mr. Morey?
Mr. Morey : None that I know of, Mr. Chairman.
:President Campbell We will hear the report from the In dustrial Hygiene Committee. Is your committee ready to report. Dr. Schereschewski ?
REPORT OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE COMMITTEE.
Dr. X W. Schereschewski, United States Public Health Service, Pittsburg, Chairman.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: The Industrial Hygiene Committee of the National Safety Coun cil begs to present the following report for its work since October, 1914, the time of the last annual congress: *
NEW MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
Nezv Members of the Committee Since the Last Annual Meeting of the National Safety Council: The following new'members have been added to the Committee:
Dr. W. I. Clark, The Norton Company, Worcester, Mass. Dr. Alice Hamilton, United States Department of Labor. Dr. A. M. Harvey, The Crane Company, Chicago, III.
77"*r: -itgCT3grtm.
j
Business Meeting
27
Dr. H- R- M. Landis, Phipp's In
stitute for Tuberculosis, Philadel
phia, Pa.
--
At a meeting of the committee,
Splendid Program
which took place in New York,
March 13, 1915, the following pro gram for future work was adopted
A. year's work for
with a view to accomplishing as much of the program as-possible during the present year:
humanity outlined in a few terse sen
(a) The preparation of stand ard minimum specifications for a
tences.
first aid kit and additional minimum
specifications for certain industries.
(b) The preparation of minimum hygienic standards for the
prevention of lead poisoning.
(c) The preparation of minimum standards for sanitary regula
tions in places of employment.
(d) The preparation of minimum standards in regard to the
procedure for physical examinations, including causes for rejection
and recommendations for modification of employment because of
physical conditions of workers.
(e) The collection of ^data as to the cost and actual benefits
from medical supervision of employes.
(f) The preparation of health bulletins on topics of personal
hygiene or the prevention of disease to be published by the National
Safety Council.
The following portions of this program have been accomplished
during the year:
STANDARD MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS FOR FIRST AID KIT.
Standard Minimum Specifications have been prepared and- are presented as a separate report by. the Committee to the National Safety Council.
MINIMUM STANDARDS IN REGARD TO ILLUMINATION.
The Committee on Legislation of the American Illuminating Engineering Society has prepared a code of minimum standards
28 Fourth Safety Congress
of illumination for factories, mills and other work places. It is the opinion of the committee that this code is the best code which has appeared on this subject heretofore. The minimum require ments of this code are well in accord with the necessary standards of hygienic illumination, without containing excessive or impractical requirements. The committee, therefore, recommends to the asso ciation the adoption of the recommendation of this code as a prac tical basis for securing minimum hygienic conditions of illumina tion.
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR VENTILATION.
The committee has considered the standards of ventilation pro posed by the American Society of Heating and Ventilating En gineers with the view of recommending their adoption by the Na tional Safety Council. The committee, however, is of the opinion that some further study of the question is still desirable before it is in a position to make recommendations for minimum standards of ventilation because of certain phj^siological considerations which are still undetermined. The-committee hopes to be able to present such recommendations in the future.
HEALTH BULLETINS.
During the year the members of the committee prepared seven health bulletins which were printed by the National Safety Council; other health bulletins will be prepared from time to time.
MINIMUM STANDARDS OF PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS.
Owing to the careful study required of this subject and the neces sity for collecting additional data, the committee is unable at this time to make recommendations in -regard to minimum standards for the conduct of physical examinations. This it hopes to do during the forthcoming year.
COST AND^XCTUAL BENEFITS OF THE MEDICAL SUPERVISION OF EMPLOYES.
Data is being collected on tins subject; the work, however, has not progressed sufficiently to enable the committee to present a final report.
Fig-. 1
S'lgr- s
ms 'min/timas.
Business Meeting
29
STANDARD DIRECTIONS FOR RESUSCITATION FROM ELECTRIC SHOCK.
The committee has prepared a set of directions for the resuscita
tion of persons who have received shocks from electric conductors.
These directions represent the best informatibn on this subject
available at the present time. The committee recommends that these directions be 'approved by the National Safety Council for
adoption and subsequent publication as the standard first aid pro
cedure for this condition.
WHAT TO DO FOR ELECTRIC SHOCK. .
First---With a single quick motion free the man from the cur
rent, moving the man or the wire as the case may be. Use any
dry non-conductor (e. g., clothing, board, rope). Do not use metal
or any moist"material. While freeing the man from the live wire
shut off the current if you can, or call someone else to do this.
Second---Start artificial respiration at once. Do not stop to
loosen Clothing now as every second is of value. Proceed as fol
lows:
1. Turn the mail over oil the belly with arms fully stretched
forward, and face to one side so that the mouth and nose are free,
for breathing. (See illustrations.)
2. Rapidly remove any foreign object (tobacco, false teeth, etc.)-
from the mouth by passing the forefinger between the cheek and the
teeth to the back of the last tooth and sweeping it across the mouth.
(See illustration.)
3. Kneel straddling the man's thighs, facing the head; rest
the palms of both hands half way down the back, thumbs toward
the middle line with fingers spread over the lower ribs. (Fig. 1.)
4. With your arms held straight, swing slowly forward, bearing
the weight of your body gradually but not violently upon the man.
(Fig. 2.) This act should last three seconds.
5. Swing backward quickly, so as to remove pressure suddenly,
returned to the position shown in figure I.
6. Repeat the act of swinging backward and forward twelve
times a minute---no faster; you may do this by keeping, time by
your own deep breathing. --_
7. As soon as you have started artificial respiration, and while
you are continuing it, an assistant should loosen tight clothing
around the neck, chest and waist.
30 Fourth Safety Congress
8. Send someone for the-doctor
as soon as possible, but don't go
Electric Shock
yourself. 9. Keep up the artificial respira
tion without interruption until the
doctor comes.
Don't lose your
10. Do not give remedies or
stimulants by the mouth.
head! Secure prompt
ir. Give the man plenty of
fresh air and keep him warm.
medical attention.
12. Don't lose your head! Keep
cool! Prompt attention immediately
after the accident will save more
lives than the best medical attention
later. (Adopted from Illinois Steel Company.)
1 WORK FOR THE COMING YEAR.
During the forthcoming year the committee hopes to continue this work on the lines which are laid down in its program for the present year.
NEW MEMBER.
It is recommended that Dr. Otto P. Geier be added to the com mittee.
Respectfully submitted,
J. W. SCHERESCHEWSKY,
Secretary for the Committee.
President Campbell: Gentlemen, you have heard.the report of our Industrial Hygiene Committee. What is your pleasure with respect to it? =
:Dr. Patterson I move the report be received and adopted. (The motion was seconded.)
President Campbell: Motion is made that the report be re ceived and adopted. Are you ready for the question? Any dis cussion of the report? (The motion was put to a vote and carried.)
We will hear the-report of the Standardization of Safety Devices Committee, by Mr. R. J. Young.
Business Meeting
31
REPORT OF STANDARDIZA TION COMMITTEE.
Safety Standards
R. J. Young, Manager, Depart ment Safety and Relief, Illinois Steel Company.
Must be preceded
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: The
by careful scientific
report of your Standardization
study--usually in a
Committee will be very brief. After making its report to the Third An
laboratory.
nual Congress, your committee
prepared a' questioiiaire which was
sent to more than a dozen industries and bureaus, but the small per
centage of answers received and the wide variance of those answers
caused your committee to feel that it was practically impossible at
this time to lay down specific standards, even of a general nature.
And I can say here that if ydu could see the answers to this ques-
tionaire you would thoroughly agree with me. "
,
Your committee feel that. the establishment of safety standards
must be preceded, by a careful scientific study, usually of a laboratory
kind, and as it, of course^ has been impossible for the National
Safety Council to supply the means for such laboratory investiga
tion, the committee is unable to recommend standards on a basis of
its own investigation, and believe that it can best perform a useful
function in calling attention to the various sources from which
standards can be expected and obtained.
The national engineering and scientific societies are becoming
increasingly interested in the subject of safety and by their ap
pointed committees, and laboratory investigations, together with the
efforts of associated insurance companies, government bureaus,-etc.,
are gradually producing standards which are worthy of acceptance
by any industry, and for the present, at least, your committee would
prefer to act in an advisory capacity and as a clearing-house to dis
seminate information emanating from these sources.
We had thought of presenting to you -the recommended standards
as set forth in the answers to our questionaire; in a general way
giving the majority opinion on the subjects treated, but we feel
32 Fourth Safety Congress
there would be a grave danger in so doing, because of the impos
sibility of treating this subject in any manner other than that cited
above.
^
President Campbell: I think that those of us who have been, more or less familiar with the work that seems to have, been placed upon the shoulders^;of this particular committee appreciate more than the rest of you can the real task that it has been. What is your pleasure with respect to the report of this committee?
Mr. Patterson: I move you the adoption of the report. (The motion was seconded.)
President Campbell : It is moved and seconded that the report
be adopted. Any discussion ?
...
Mr. H. W. Forster: Mr. President, it was rather difficult to hear back here and I think some of ps -would be glad to know just what the specific recommendation of the committee was.
President Campbell: Will you restate it; Mr. Young, please?
Mr. Young: In substance we stated that it was impossible for
us at this time to lay down any specific standard, even in a general
way, and the committee, for die. time,, at least, prefers to act as a
. clearing-house in disseminating information which is being gathered
by the scientific bodies and insurance companies through laboratory
tests, and that will be handled, I presume, through our weekly
bulletin.
'
President Campbell : With the explanation made by the chair man of the committee are you ready to vote on the motion to adopt the report of that committee ? (The question was called for and put to a vote and carried.)
Mr. Scott is now in the room.. If he will, please come to the plat form and make the report of the finance committee.
REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
C. B. Scott, Manager Bureau of Safety, Middle West Utilities Company, Chairman.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National 'Safety Council: You have received the Treasurer's annual report of moneys re-
Business. Meeting
33
ceived and disbursed by the National Safely Council, as well as his auxiliary' statement showing the condition of the Council's finan cial affairs to this date. It remains to me to say only a few; words about the financial policy of the Council during the past year.
The serious depression in business, both immediately before and after the last Annual Congress, brought serious problems to the Council. From. Aug. i, 1914, until Jan. 1, 1915, the income of the.-Council was not sufficient to pay its expenses, and your Finance Committee, under the direction of the Executive Committee, made a thorough investigation of the methods of conducting the Council's business in the . hope that it could suggest some method of .curtailing expenses. After much serious consideration,. the Ex ecutive Committee, upon recommendation of your Finance Com mittee, recommended that the Council continue its general service to members in the hope that business would improve and the tem porary loan made by the officers could be paid off when the bulk of the Council's revenue became payable in June. Your committee's hopes have been realized and, since Jan. 1 to date, the monthly in come has-been sufficient, not only to pay all the Council's legitimate expenses, but to discharge the loan indebtedness so that now the Council is practically out of debt and the hope for the future is that it will not be necessary to`feel dubious about successfully financing the work of the Council.
income of the council.
. Practically every: member signified his willingness to pay the slight increase in dues covered by the amendment to the by-laws, which became effective June 1. With this added help the present expectancy of revenue from membership amounts to $25,000.00 per year. Only $110.00 has been lost by the Council since its organiza tion through cancellation of memberships. It is believed, therefore, by your committee that the Council can reasonably expect a con tinuation of this financial support. The last fiscal year showed an income of $10,000.00 -from new memberships. The memberships are still increasing in about'the same ratio, so that it is reasonable to assume that the income of the Council for next year will amount to approximately $35,000.00.
Under the recommendations of your Finance Committee, which have been approved by the ^Executive Committee, the policy of the
34 - Fourth Safety Congress
Council will be not to increase the
SUCCESS
general expenses of the Council until a fund of, say, $5,000.00' can
be established to take care of ex
traordinary expenses and to provide
The last fiscal year
a working-fund for the "lean period of the year." It is contemplated,
showed an income of $ 10,000 from new
however, to add to * the work ing-staff such additional help as may be necessary to provide im
memberships.
proved and increased service and to cover a wider field of activities
in about the same proportion
as the memberships and revenue
increase. It is believed by your committee that the work of the
Council has only begun, and that ih a few years the income will be
largely increased and permit an increase in the staff commensurate
with the importance and volume of the national work undertaken
by your Council.
SATISFACTORY SERVICE RENDERED.
The entire revenue this year has come from membership dues. The Council has not had to be supported by any contributions. The officers of the Council and your committee believe that the question of membership is not one of difficulty in getting people to pay the dues, but to convince them of the necessity and practicability of the service. On the other hand, we believe that the slow growth in the membership^ and the continuance of these members, means satisfaction with the service rendered.
A superficial glance at the statement of disbursements might in dicate that the percentage of general expenses was too high. It must be remembered that the actual cost of printing and furnishing material for the service of an organization like our National SafetyCouncil will never amount to more than a very small proportion of the expenditures. For example, the $4,000.00 spent for the weekly distribution service does not include a cent of the overhead expenses for services of the officers and employes of the Council in the collec tion, preparation and dispatching of this material. A financial state ment such as ours can never show the cost of accumulating in-
Business Meeting
35
formation, classifying it, and send
ing it" to the many thousands of inquirers during. the year. In a
SERVICE
word, a large percentage of the
Council's disbursements must nec essarily be for services and over
Actual material
head expenses. The value of actual material put into the hands of mem bers week by week means an ac
placed in the hands of members means
tual saving of money to the mem bers, not to speak of the many oth er advantages of membership which
an actual saving to them.
come through meetings such as we
are about to enjoy.
I am, therefore, pleased to inform you that the financial outlook
of the Council is encouraging. We are glad that the membership is
increasing and the financial stability of the Council is assured upon
the basis of membership dues, and that the prospects are very good
for a material increase in the membership and, therefore, of revenue.
Every member should be interested in increasing the membership
because through such increased revenue the Council will be placed
in the position of increasing and improving the services to mem
bers. We should encourage our officers to take the lead in bringing
to every member the latest development in experience and practice
in our earnest efforts to solve the human problem and accomplish '
the humane results connected with the Prevention of Accidents.
Respectfully,
Charles B. Scott,
Chicago, 111., Oct. 15, 1915.
Chairman, Finance Committee.
President Campbell: Gentlemen, you have heard the report of the Finance Committee. What is your pleasure with respect to it?
Dr. Patterson : I move you, sir, that it be adopted.
President Campbell : Motion has been made that it be adopted. Is there a second? (The motion was seconded, put to a vote and carried.)
The next report in order will be a report from our Danger Sign Committee. Are you ready to.report. Dr. Patterson?
36 = Fourth Safety Congress
Dr. Patterson: Yes, sir.
President Campbell: Dr. F. D. Patterson, chairman of that committee.
DANGER SIGN COMMITTEE.
Dr. F. D. Patterson, Director Accident and Sanitation Department, Harrison Bros. & Company, Philadelphia, Chairman.
President Campbell and Members of the National Safety Coun cil : It becomes my pleasant duty as the Chairman of the Danger Sign Committee to report progress, and I trust in a few minutes, when we have the large danger sign removed from in front of our exhibit, that we will then be able to try to point out to you not only what your committee has heen able to accomplish, but try to give you some thoughts on which' we trust you will work in the coming year and so help the committee.
The problem of deciding upon a universal danger sign is like the problem of cutting the Gordian knot, or that the sword of Damocles does not fall upon our head. We know, and all of ns know, that the problem is a two-fold one. In the first place, it is a problem as to what color or colors are best adapted for a universal danger sign; in the second place, it is a problem of shapes; what .shape ought the sign to take so that it will be instantly discernible to every man who may come in contact with it, that he may know that here is danger, and that it is necessary to exercise extraordinary care?
Since time immemorial the color red has been the color for danger, and your committee is conscious of the fact that inborn in every man and woman is the knowledge that red is the synonym for danger. There are certain fundamental objections, however, to the color of red, which, until we get to be alchemists, we have not the power to overcome. We know, in the first place, that no one has ever made a red which will not turn either white or black as time goes on. We furthermore know that red is an. evanescent color; that as the daylight begins to fade and the dusk comes on, the color red tends to blend with practically every surrounding color, to lose its identity and to mo longer serve its purpose as an indication of danger. Your committee has tried to study this problem from every aspect. I am sure, that we would be faithless to our trust did we
Business Meeting
37
not recognize and consider the fact that a danger sign, in order to reach every class of the community, be he the man of high intelli gence and knowledge of our language or be he the ignorant work man who has just left his native land in Europe and come to our shores with no knowledge of our language, if we did not include in any danger sign which is ultimately to be adopted as a standard by this congress a certain amount of red.
CHARACTER OF SIGNS. .
Suggestions have been made--our good friend Mr. Palmer was the first one who thought of it--that perhaps we might make a sign out of the hand, the uplifted hand, the policeman's stop signal, and so we experimented by having these hands which you see here. It was also suggested to us that possibly the skull and crossbones which have been used on poison bottles and black-hand letters might be a polite intimation to all who came within its viewpoint that they ought to keep away. We have here sotne samples of types of skull and crossbones.
It has further been suggested that no sign to indicate danger would be of any value at all unless that sign had the word "Danger" . on it. I myself am frank to confess that I believe that if we are to depend upon the word "Danger" in English to indicate danger, that we had better attach a phonograph to every sign so that it can say it in all the different languages.
The problem came up as to what shape the sign ought to be. It was suggested that the sign should be made toothed like we see here, so as to indicate the good old "Don't monkey with the buzzsaw."
The grave objection to targets is that they are what their name implies' in many aspects. They are apt to be used by everybody to
throw everything--from a chew of tobacco to a rock--in an effort to see if they can hit the bullseye, and one sign that I have here is pretty well dented.
Your committee gives thanks to the energy, the brains, the ability of the most active mefnber of the committee, Mr. Chandler of the Dodge Manufacturing Company, who conducted a series of in vestigations in his plant, and last year he was able to show that he had taken this row of signs which we see here and put them in a darkened room and had the various employes of his factoiy come and vote upon them. The vote was unanimously in favor of 3, 5
38 Fourth Safety Congress
and 7 as being the signs which
DANGER!
were most easily discernible as the light fades out. This year he has
conducted another series of ex
The place which
periments with his usual ability. The first of which I want to call
is dangerous by day
your attention to is this row here,
light becomes doubly
in which we - have the red circle superimposed upon various back
dangerous as the
grounds. In the poor light--and I
light fades.
want to say that in a few minutes we are going to darken this room so
that you can see for yourselves in
.the poor light--these are in the
order in which they could be seen. ' The plain red triangular shaped
piece of paper went out first, this next, this next, and so on, until
we had the red ball on the white background the most easily seen.
WHEN THE LIGHT FADES.
It would be ideal if our Industrial Hygiene Committee could * go into every factory in the land and banish from it smoke and dirt of every kind and description. It would then be simple to take and put red balls upon a white background such as this. But every one of you men know that white in a factory lasts the proverbial thirty seconds, and white soon becomes covered with dirt and grime. Your red ball then has a black background instead of white, and as the daylight begins to fade it passes out of view. We are making an effort to. try and get a sign which will be clearly discernible at the worst hour of the day. We are not trying through our plans to make one which everybody can see in-the clear of the noonday. The place which is dangerous by daylight becomes, doubly dangerous as the light begins to fade.
Mr. Chandler conducted a further series of experiments. We here have the skull and crossbones and the red ball superimposed on various backgrounds, and so on down to the end until we find, as I shall show you, that as the daylight fades out the ideal from out standpoint is this sign, which is, as a matter of fact, more clearly visible in the poor light more than any other sign which we have experimented with.
----------- ..Mxmxim.m
1-
Business Meeting
39
While your committee cannot
cut the Gordian knot, it can report
progress; it wants everybody here
"This Is Danger!
to know that we are on the job
and that it is our intention hot
only as individuals, but -also as a committee, to pursue further stud
It means hands off
ies along these lines, and we want to ask the active help and coopera tion of every member of the Na
to me if I am to pro tect myself from
tional Safety Council that they will extend to us the cooperation of
harm."
trying the various signs so that we
will eventually know just exactly
which is the best sign.
If I can have those curtains up at the top drawn, please.
THE BOOM WAS DARKENED.
Now if this represents the falling shadows of the late afternoon, I am sure all of you will agree with me that this sign at the end-- showing in the first place on a square background and in the second place showing in a circular form--is more easily seen than any of the others. This represents, we will say, 4 or 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
Your committee would emphasize certain things: The idea of putting, for instance, a red sign on a black background like this does not get the maximum of service which it should, because black and red combine themselves together. We also fail to see why the words "Safety First" should be printed on a red background in this form.
Your committee wants your help and cooperation, gentlemen. We will try to have made up a number of sample signs which will be distributed to members for them to try out, and if it meets with the approval of the Congress .your committee beg to be con tinued in office for another year. We hope that we have started some of you thinking, and we hope that out of the thought of all of the members may come a sign which the minute any man looks at it--and I care not whether he speaks Slavish, Polish, Hungarian, Lithuanian or English= or what--he will instantly say to himself: "This is danger! It means hands off to' me if I am to protect myself
40 Fourth Safety Congress
from harm." Such a sign, I am sure, will he found. It will by its color, it will by its shape, arrest the attention of everyone who comes in contact with it. I thank you. (Applause.)
VOTE OF APPRECIATION.
Dr. Otto C. Heier: Mr. Chairman, I move that the conference express its appreciation of the work of this committee and that the committee be continued for another year. (The motion was sec onded.)
President Campbell : It has been moved and seconded that the Congress express its thanks to the committee for the work it has done and that the committee be continued in office for another year, to continue its study of this subject. I feel that we ran very well, in adopting- this motion to thank the committee, thank especially Mir. Chandler, who ha* "done such excellent work on that committee, as Dr. Patterson intimated, for the time and energy put into the study that has been made. It looks to me as though something very con structive would ultimately come out of this work. And I think I can safely say to you. Doctor, that in adopting this motion we do so * with the understanding that the co-operation of the members in any experiment you desire to make will be cordially extended to you. (The motion was put to a vote and carried.)
PRINTING OF PROCEEDINGS.
Mr. Forster: May I inflict myself once more upon the as sembly? I would like to know whether it is the plan in getting out the proceedings, or in otherwise reporting upon this meeting, to show in true colors some of the better signs ? That is an expensive and difficult proposition and we could eliminate a considerable por tion of those, because it is obvious that they are not likely to bring the desired solution, and if that could be done I think it would be a very valuable feature.
President Campbell : The Secretary advises me that the ar rangement that he has' with our printer is that a few of these typical signs, that are proven most valuable, can be inserted in the printed proceedings, and if it is the pleasure of the members it will be done. I take it that if there is no objection that course can be pursued.
rift -*ir
J
----
tiers under unfavorable conditions of light. See report of Danger Sign Committee.
` - %'
42 Fourth Safety Congress
DON'T
will be kind enough to give consid eration to the motion which my friend Wilson, has made.
President Campbell : The mo
Doubt your safety
tion has been made that the Secre tary submit to the members in bul
beliefs and don't be
letin form a number of these signs.
lieve your safety
That need not, as a matter of fact, interfere in any way with the
doubts. Be safe.
reproduction of some of them in the printed proceedings. And
with that statement, are you ready
for a consideration of the motion
as made? (The motion was put to a vote and carried.)
I assume that the Secretary will confer with the Chairman of the
committee with respect to the particular signs that it would be
desirable to have submitted.
SUGGESTIONS FOR DANGER SIGNS.
Mr. G. C. Martin (Hamilton, Ontario) : May I have the privi lege of making a suggestion for the benefit of the committee? The white on red sign there has been stated to be the best, except for the objection of becoming black in practice. I would suggest, there fore, that it be taken into consideration as to the furnishing of suffi cient white backgrounds on enameled paper, as it might be, to be freshly pasted on there once a week in a factory where there is a great amount of dirt. That will not only brighten the sign up but it will bring freshly before all the employes once a week, at least, that sign and what it means. I thank you.
President Campbell: I think your suggestion will be valuable to the committee and we will be glad to have it, Mr. Martin. The committee will take due notice of the suggestion.
Mr. Weber: I would like to ask Dr. Patterson if the committee has been conferring with the city officials in connection with the use of these signs for street signs.
Dr. Patterson : The committee has felt that until we could
Business Meeting
43
arrive at a sign which would be
the best universal danger sign it would not be wise to put it out
A Moment
upon the highways. Our investi
gations have been conducted within
the factories, but so far as the City of Philadelphia is concerned
Of
carelessness
I am sure that we would have no trouble at all in getting this sigh put in a number of bad places,
may mean a lifetime of regret. Safety al
particularly as regards bad auto mobile turns, and have it tried out
ways--all ways.
there. It is very difficult, in a city
--we know it from other things--
to get any expression of opinion which really might prove of .^alue
and help the committee in reaching a conclusion' as to what %as
an ideal sign; whereas, when we try it out in factories we can put
it to a vote of the employes and in that way get some tangible .
evidence as to what we are at.
President Campbell : That satisfies you, does it ? Is there any thing further to be said on this subject? If not, we are ready to hear from our Fire Prevention Committee chairman, Mr. Forster, Chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee.
REPORT OF FIRE PREVENTION COMMITTEE.
IT. W. Forster. Independence Inspection Bureau, Chairman.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I suppose it is a surprise to some of you to learn that you h ve a Fire Prevention Committee. The facts in the case ere that our sister organization, the National F -e Protection Association, has for twenty years been active in the fire protection and . fire prevention field, and it was only to have what might be termed a connecting--not a missing link,. I hope--a connecting link between the movement which we conduct over the country so largely and the National Fire Protection Association with its work that the committee was appointed. Your chairman, through his connection with the National Fire Protection Associ ation, has in a few cases been able to bring to one association in formation regarding the operations of the other, and vice versa. And
44 " Fourth Safety Congress
title function of your chairman is, furthermore, to answer for you any questions that you may ask that he can answer which bear upon fire prevention and fire protection. I thank you. (Applause.)
President Campbell: The report of the Fire Prevention Com mittee is before you. What is your pleasure?
Ms. Young : I move its adoption. (The motion was seconded, put to a vote and carried.)
President CampSell: Is Dr. Meeker here now? If so we will hear the report of the Committe on Accident Statistics.
Mr. Palmer: Mr. Chairman, Dr. Meeker was unexpectedly called to New York and I think he intended to be back in the city today. But for him" I might say, as'you know, that committee met yesterday and a written report has been or will be presented through the Secretary to the Executive Committee. You are familiar, having been in that meeting, with the work that they have done and what, they purpose to do.
President Campbell: I might briefly state then for the com mittee what I understand will be the character of this report, and that is that following the report submitted at our Congress in Chi cago in 1914 this committee appointed several sub-committees to take up three different phases of the accident statistics work: One the classification of ^industries, one the classification of causes of accident, and third the classification of injuries. The first two sub jects have been very, well considered, both by our committee and by an organization that was created to assist all the representatives of all the state and Federal departments in the administration of labor laws in their jurisdiction. The latter organization had a meeting in Seattle at which the first two of these problems were fairly well solved; the third has not yet been concluded. The committee had intended submitting as its report, and a recommendation that they be adopted, the findings on the first two points to this Congress and also as a report of progress what has been done with respect to the third point, and with a further suggestion that the entire report be received and that it be referred to the Executive Committee for its further consideration and action. (The full report follows.)
Business Meeting
45
REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT STATISTICS COMMITTEE.
Dk. Royal. Mkekkr, Commissioner of Labor Statistics. Washington, Chairman.
Mr. President: The Accident Statistics Committee of the Na tional Safety Council submits the following; report:
We recommend the adoption of the uniform classification of in dustries recently adopted by the National Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions at its meeting in Seattle, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, 19:5.
This classification is the result of the joint labors of this committee co-operating with the committee appointed by me, as directed by the Joint Conference on Standardization of Accident Report Forms and Tabulations, held at the La Salle Hotel, Chicago, Oct. 12 and 13, 19x4, and the Committee on Statistics and Compensation Insur ance Cost, appointed by the National Association of Industrial Acci dent Boards and Commissions, at a special meeting held at the La Salle Hotel, Chicago, Jan. 12 and 13, 1915. Harmonious action by the three committees was the more easy by reason of the fact that several of those most interested in securing uniformity and standard ization were members of some two of the three committees and Mr. E.H. Downey was chairman of two committees and a member of the third committee.
The membership of the three committees is as follows:
ACCIDENT STATISTICS COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL.
Mr. Royal Meeker, U. S. Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Wash ington, D. C.; Mr. E. H, Downey, Chief Statistician, Industrial Commission of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.; Mr. Leonard W. Hatch, Chief Statistician, State Industrial Commission, Albany, N. Y.; Mr. L.R. Palmer, Department of Labor and Industry, Philadelphia, Pa.; Mr. F. L. Hoffman, Statistician, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, N. J.; Mr. C. L, Close, Manager, United States Steel Corporation, New York; Mr: J. B. Douglas, United Gas Im provement Company,-Philadelphia, Pa.; Dr. Francis D. Patterson, Director, Department of Sanitation and Accident Prevention, the J. G. Brill Company, Philadelphia, Pa.-; Mr. W. B. Spaulding, Chair man, Central Safety Committee, St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Company, St. Louis, Mo.; Mr. David Van Schaack, Director, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Hartford, Conn.
a^;5^:"7y -
g- Si>a? MWgPiara . '-..I'i'-frl-?*>-
46 Fourth Safety Congress
COMMITTEE ON CLASSIFICATION- OF
The Best Thought
INDUSTRIES.
Mr. E. EL Downey, Chairman,
Chief Statistician, Industrial Com
In the entire coun try is given freely to advance the Cause of
mission of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.; Mr. F. C. Croxton, Chief Statistician, Industrial Commission of Ohio, Columbus, O.; Mr. L. W. Hatch, Chief Statistician, StateIndustrial Commission, Albany, N.
Safety First.
Y.; Mr. W. N. Magoun, Head of Workmen's Compensation Bu reau, Boston, Mass, ; Mr. W. J.
Meyers, Statistician, Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, D. C.; Dr. A. M. Edwards,
Bureau of the Census, Washington, D. C.; Mr. C. E. Scattergood,
Chairman, Statistical Committee, Workmen's Compensation Service Bureau, New York. -N. Y.
COMMITTEE ON STATISTICS AND COMPENSATION INSURANCE COST.
Mr. E. H. Downey, Chairman, Chief Statistician, Industrial Com mission of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.; Mr. Fred C. Croxton, Chief Statistician, Industrial Commission of Ohio, Columbus, O.; Mr. W. N. Magoun, Chief of Workmen's Compensation Bureau, Massa chusetts Insurance Department,'Boston, Mass. ;` Mr. Floyd L. Dag gett, Chairman, Industrial Insurance Commission, Olympia, Wash.; Mr. Robert K. Orr, Manager, State Accident Fund, Lansing, Mich.; Mr. H. E. Ryan, Associate Actuary, New York Insurance Depart ment, New York; Mr. Royal Meeker, U. S. Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Washington, D. C.
The committee of the joint conference met in New York City, Dec. x and s, 1914, all members being present. At this meeting a partial classification of industries into divisions and schedules was worked out and agreed to. The committee of the National Asso ciation of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions met at Chicago immediately after appointment on Jan. 13, 1915, and voted
to adopt the primary and secondaty headings worked out by the committee of- the joint conference. Considerable progress was made in the further subdivision of industries into groups, and classifica-
"|:rj';-v
.* ?r^i-1
WDUUNfM
Business 'Meeting
47
tions. Individual members were
assigned specific portions of the task to work out and present at a
Every Element
future meeting of the committee.
The committee met a second time at Columbus, Ohio, July 21, 22, and 23, 1915. Mr. C. EL Verrill attended as the representative of
The Nation, the State, the corpora tion and the individ
Mr. Royal Meeker, United States Commissioner of Labor Statistics.. All other members of the commit tee were present except Mr. Dag
ual contribute freely to the Safety Move ment.
gett and Mr. Ryan. In addition,
Mr. L. W. Hatch, Chief Statistician of the New York State Industrial Commission, and Dr. I. M. Rubi-
now. President of the Casualty, Actuarial and Statistical Association
of America, were present by invitation. At this mg&ting the classi
fication of industries was practically completed.
It is. essential that a uniform scheme of classification shall be
worked out by representatives of official bodies and private organiza
tions concerned. For that reason the classifications adopted at the
Columbus conference were submitted to a committee Of three, which
met in New York City, Sept. 14, 15, and 16, 1915. This committee
consisted of Mr. L. W. Hatch, Chief Statistician, State Industrial
Commission, Albany, N. Y., authorized to represent, the Committee
on Statistics and Compensation Insurance Cost of the National Asso
ciation of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions; Dr. I. M.
Rubinow, Chief Statistician, Ocean Accident and Guarantee Cor
poration, Ltd., New York, N. Y-, authorized to represent the -Work
men's Compensation Service Bureau of New York, and Mr. W. N.
Magoun, head of the Workmen's Compensation Bureau, Massachu-.
setts Insurance Department, Boston, Mass., authorized to represent
the Massachusetts .Rating and Inspection Bureau.
To assist in the deliberations of this conference committee the
following experts were invited to be present: Mr. Williams Newell,
Safety Engineer, State Fund, New.York; Mr. Grant Earl, Chief
Inspector, Workmen's Compensation Service Bureau of New York;
Mr. William B. Shoe, Chief Safety Engineer, Ocean Accident and
Guarantee Corporation, Ltd., and Mr. David S. Beyer, head of the
m .....T. ^
'L.
48 Fourth Safety Congress
Accident Prevention Department, Massachusetts Employes Insur ance Association.
The conference committee spent three entire days in considering, the classification groupings. The classification code of the Work men's Compensation Service Bureau was altered in some particulars, and the classification groupings as adopted by. this" committee at Columbus were somewhat modified, and certain suggestions made by the Massachusetts Rating and Inspection Bureau were incorporated. The final result was an agreement by the conference committee on a complete table of classification groupings acceptable to the repre-' sentative of each organization present.
The classifications agreed upon at this conference were submitted by mail to the members of the Committee on Statistics and Com pensation Insurance Cost, were duly, approved and submitted as the unanimous report of that committee to the National Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, at Seattle, and were duly adopted by this body.
Your Committee on Accident Statistics, therefore, feels that this table of classifications, so carefully and painstakingly worked out, is by far the best scheme of classification that has thus far been devised. Minor modifications may be made from time to time as conditions and experience seem to "make necessary. Your com mittee, therefore recommends the adoption of these classification groupings herewith submitted.
The table of classification groupings is drawn up in accordance -with the following! arrangement: (i) Divisions, (2) Schedules,
(3) Groups, (4) Classifications.
DIVISIONS;
There are seven principal divisions or primary headings corre sponding to those adopted by the committee appointed by Mr. Meeker already referred to. These divisions are: (a) Agriculture, (b) mining and quarrying, (c) manufacturing, (d) construction, (e) transportation and public utilities, (f) trade, (g) service.
SCHEDULES.
The, seven divisions are divided into schedules corresponding to the secondary headings-of the committee appointed.by Mr. Meeker. Those secondary headings explain the details into which the primary
wmmmrn as
Business -Meeting
49
headings are separated. For example, the primary heading "Manu facturing" is divided into eighteen schedules such as lumber and wood, leather, textiles, chemicals, paper, etc.
GROUPS.
The group headings, of which there are between 250 and 300, are the most important in the series, and show a refinement of the secondary headings. Each group heading is intended to be signifi cant of the industries covered under it, and it is the belief of the committee that these tertiary or group headings will prove acceptable to the various industrial accident boards and commissions for gen eral use in tabulating their accident data.
CLASSIFICATIONS.
The final subdivision consists of the classification of industries
appearing in the manuals used by insurance companies in connection
with their writing of workmen's compensation insurance, without
alteration. These final subdivisions are of little value to industrial
accident boards and commissions, except to the extent that they act
as an index to show what industries are intended to be covered by
the respective groups.
~
Your Accident Statistics Committee is able at this time only to
repo.rt progress in the work of the classification of causes of acci
dents and the classification of the nature of injuries.
Respectfully submitted for the Accident Statistics Committee of
the National Safety Council.
Royal Meeker, Chairman.
Oct. 20, 1915.
DIVISION A------AGRICULTURE.
Schedule 1--General Farming. Group 1. (Undivided.)
Schedule 2--Dairy Farming. Group 2. (Undivided;)
Schedule 3--Stock Farming. Group 3. (Undivided.)
Schedule 4--Garden and Truck Farming. Group 4. (Undivided.)
Schedule 5--Operating Agricultural Machinery (not by farmer).
Group 5. Cotton ginning and pressing. Group 6. Farm machines
(n. o. c.). -
-.
so Fourth Safety Congress
DIVISION B--MINING AND
LADDERS
QUARRYING.
Schedule I--Mining. Group 7.
Coal mines, anthracite. Group
The slipping lad
8. Coal mines, bituminous. Group 9. Precious metal mines. Group
der causes 6,000 deaths and 200,000
10. Iron mines. Group 11. Cop per mines. Group 12. Other base metal mines. Group 13. Mineral
accidents every year in the United States.
mines. Group 14. Oil and gas well operating. Group 15. Other mineral well operating.
Schedule 2--Quarrying. Group
16. Building stone quarries.
Group 17. Quarrying and stone crushing. Group 18. Cement
rode. Group 19. Sand and clay digging.
DIVISION C-----MANUFACTURING.
Schedule 1--Stone Products. Group 20. Stone crushing; no quarrying. Group 21. Stone cutting. Group 22. Stone grinding. Group 23. Carborundum. Group 24. Cement and plaster; no quariying. Group 25. Lime. Groupi 26. Plaster and artificial stone products. Group 27. Stone products (n. o. c.).
Schedule 2--Clay Products. Group 28. Brick and tile (includ
ing underground mining). Group 29. Brick and tile (no under
ground mining). Group 30. Potteries.
-
Schedules--Glass Products. Group 31. Glass, plate or window. Group 32. Glass, not plate or window. Group 33. Mirrors, signs and ornamental glass. Group 34. Optical goods.,
Schedule 4--Ore Reduction" and Smelting.. Group 35. Ore re duction. Group 36. Gold and silver smelting. Group 37. Iron smelting. Group 38. Copper smelting and refining. Group 39. Other metals smelting and refining.
Schedule 5--Rolling Mills and Steel Works.. Group 40. , Steel making. Group 41. Rolling and tube mills. Group 42. Structural iron and steel. Group 43. Wire.
Schedule 6--Metal Products. Group 44. Foundries. Group 45. Lead. Group 46. Forging. Group 47. Architectural and oma-
Business Meeting
51
mental iron work. Group 48.
Safes. Group 49. Sheet metal ware. Group 50. Sheet metal
UNBELIEVABLE
work. Group 51. Stamping. Group
52. Hardware. Group 53. "Eye lets, pins, etc. Group 54, Cutlery
Dynamite and air
and hand tools. Group 55. Small
ships are less danger
'arms. Group 56. Stoves, heaters, etc. Group 57. Plumbing, gas
ous than ladders in
and electric fixtures. Group 58.
causing serious acci
Wire products. Group 59. Beds and springs. Group 60. Copper
dents.
and brass goods (n. o. c.). Group
61. Jewelry, watches, etc. Group
62. Plating and galvanizing. Group 63. Cutting and welding.
Group 64. Metal goods (n. o. c.) (undivided).
Schedule 7--Machinery and Instruments. Group 65. Boilers and tanks. - Group 66. EnginiS. Group 67. Agricultural machinery. Group 68. Textile machinery. Group 69. Machinery (n. o. c.). Group 70. Fine machines. Group 71. Machine shops (n. o. c.). Group 72. Electric apparatus and appliances. Group 73. Instru ments (professional or scientific).
Schedule 8--Vehicles. Group 74. Railroad cars. Group 75. Carriages and wagons. Group 76. Automobiles. Group 77. Motor cycles. Group 78. Bicycles. Group 79, Aeroplanes.
Schedule 9^--Lumber and Wood. Group 80. Logging. Group 81, Saw mills. -Group 82. Planing mills. Group 83. Cooperage.
Group 84. Boxes. Group 85." Carpentry. Group 86.. Turning.
Group 87. Furniture. Group 88. Upholstering. Group 89. Rat-,
tan and willow ware. . Group 90. Veneer goods. Group 91.
Brooms and brushes. Group 92. Household utensils. Group 93.
Musical instruments. Group 94. Canes, etc. Group 95. - Wood pre
serving and fireproofing.
i
Schedule 10--Leather. Group 96. Tanning and dressing. Group 97. Fur. Group 98. Embossing leather. Group 99. Shoe stock. Group 100. Boots and shoes. Group lor. Gloves- Group 102. Harness, bags, and belting. Group 103. Leather goods (n. o. c.).
Schedule it--Rubber and Composition Goods. Group 104. Gut-
52 Fourth Safety Congress
ta percha. Group 105- Rubber reclaiming'. Group 106. Rubber tires. Group 107." Soft rubber goods. Group 108. Hard rubber
goods. Group 109. Celluloid. Group no. Celluloid goods. Group
in. Insulation. "Group 112. Bone and ivory. Group 113. Printers' rollers.
Schedule 12--Chemicals and Allied Products. Group 114. Chem
icals. Group 115. Baking powder and yeast. Group
\ Glue.
Group 117. Ink, blacking and polish. Group 118.
paints
and colors. Group 119. Drugs and medicines. Group,
Phar
maceutical supplies. Group 121. Extracts. Group 122.. Fertilizers.
Group 123. Explosives. Group 124. Gases. Group 125. Fats and oils (animal). Group 126. Oils, cottonseed. Group 127.
Oils (vegetable), all other. Group 128. Petroleum and allied prod
ucts. Group 129. Coke and charcoal. Group 130. Turpentine and rosin. Group 131. Soap. Group 132. Starch and glucose. Group
133. Matches.
Schedule 13--Paper and Paper Products. Group 134. Pulp
mills. Group 135. Paper. Group 136. Stationery. Group 137.
Boxes. Group 138. . Fibre goods. Group 139.' Paper products
(n. o. c.).
"
Schedule 14--Printing and Publishing. Group 140. (Undivided.)
Schedule 15--^Textiles. Group 141. Wool preparation. Group
142. Woolen goods. Group' 143. Cotton goods. Group 144. Silk.
Group 145. Linen. Group 146. Carpets and* rugs. Group 147. Oilcloth and linoleum. Group 148. Batting, wadding, and shoddy
Group 149. Cordage. Group 150. Burlap and jute. Group 151.
Knit goods1 Group "152. Lace, embroidery and webbing. Group
153. Finishing textiles.
Schedule 16--Clothing and Furnishings. Group 134. Clothing.
Group. 155. Shirts, collars, etc. Group 156. Furnishing goods. Group 157. Headwear. Group 158. Miscellaneous needle work.
Group 159. Laundering, cleaning, and dyeing.
Schedule 17--Foods, Beverages, and Tobacco. Group 160. Flour and grist mill products. Group 161. Baking. Group 162. Coffee
and spices. Group T63. Beet sugar refining. - Group 164.- Sugar' refining--cane. Group 165. Confectionery. Group 166. Dairy, products. Group 167. Slaughter and packing houses. Group 168.
Canning and preserving. Group 169. Malting and brewing. Group
business Meeting
S3
170- Bottling--under pressure. Group 171. Bottling--not under pressure. Group 172. Distilleries. Group 173. Fermented liquors.
Group 174. Tobacco. Group 175.. IceSchedule-18--Miscellaneous Manufactured Products (not other
wise classified). Group 176. Lead pencils and crayons. Group 177. . Advertising and art novelties. Group 178. Photographic and pyrographic goods. Group 179. Sporting and military goods. Group 180. Buffing wheels, washers, and steam packing. Group 181. Butchers' and dairy supplies. Group 182. Soda water ap paratus. . Group 183. Artificial limbs. Group 184. Painting (shop). Group 185. Photography. Group 186. Diamond cutting. Group 187. Taxidermists.
DIVISION D------CONSTRUCTION.
Schedule r--Wrecking and Moving. Group 288. Raising and wrecking. Group 189. Blasting.
Schedule 2--Grading, Excavating and Foundations. Group 190. Surveying. Group 191. Clearing and grading. Group 192. Exca vating and pile driving. Group 193. Drilling. Group 194. Tunnels and'subways. Group 193. Ditch digging with pipe laying. Group 196. Canals. Group 197. Masonry.
Schedule 3--Erecting.- Group 198. Structural iron erecting. Group 199. Metal construction (outside). Group 200. Concrete construction. Group 201. Signs, awnings, etc. Group 202. Fence construction. Group 2037 Carpentry--outside. Group 204. Build ing construction (n. o. cT) Group 205. Painting, plastering, and decorating (outside). Group 206. Roofing. Group 207 Dams, breakwaters, etc. Group 208. Railroad construction (all kinds). Group 209. Boat and shipbuilding (wood). Group 210. Boat and shipbuilding (steel or iron). Group 211. Yachts and row boats. Group 212. Boat and ship repairing and rigging.
Schedule 4--Finishing, Equipping, and Installing: Group 213. Metal construction-(within buildings). Group 214. Elevator erec tion, passenger or freight. Group 215. Metal appliances; installing within buildings. Group 2r6. Millwrighting. Group 217. Plumb ing and heating. Group" 218. Electrical-equipment. Group .219. Marble, tile, and plaster blocks (witbin buildings). Group 220. Carpentry work (within buildings). Group 221. Plastering, paint ing and decorating (within buildings). Group 222. Paving (outside).
54 Fourth Safety Congress
DIVISION E-----TRANSPORTATION AND
Almost Useless
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
Schedule i--Steam Railroads.
Group 223. (Undivided.)
An unsafe man,
Schedule 2--Electric Railroads.
Group 224.
Street railroads.
like an unsafe ma
Group 225. Elevated railroads and
chine, must be made
subways. Schedule 3--Cartage and Stor
safe or go to the dis
age. Group 226. Drivers and sta
card.
blemen. Group 227. Chauffeurs. Group 228. Express companies-
--operation. Group 229. Stor
age and warehousing. Group 230.
Ice harvesting-. Group 231- Grain elevators. Group 232. Re
frigerator cars. Group 233. Oil distributing. Group 234. Garages.
Group 235. Gasoline supply stations. Group 236. Riggers and safe
movers. Group 237. Horseshoeing.
Schedule 4--Stock Yards. Group 238. (Undivided.)
Schedule 5----Transportation by Water. Group 239. Vessels. Group 240. -Sailing vessels. Group 241. Fisheries. Group 242. Barges, lighters, and canal boats. Group 243. Stevedoring. Group 244. Weighing and tallying. Group 245. Marine wrecking.
Schedule 6--Public Utilities (not transportation). Group 247. Electric light and power. Group 248. Telephone and telegraph. Group 249. Xatural gas. Group 250. Gas works. Group 251. Waterworks. Group 252. Steam heating or power companies.
Group 253. Garbage works and sewage disposal plants. .-" Group 254. Pneumatic tube companies; operation. Group 255. Irrigation works. Group 256. Crematories.
Schedule 7--Pipe lines.
DIVISION F-----TRADE.
Schedule 1--Offices. Group 257. (Undivided). Schedule 2-- Stores. Group 258. (Undivided). Schedule 3---Yards. Group 259. (Undivided). Schedule 4--Salesmen and Agents^--(outside). Group 260. divided).-
(Un-
Business Meeting
55
DIVISION G---SERVICE.
Schedule I--Domestic. Group s6r. Care, custody, and main
Right Thinking
tenance of buildings. Group 262. Care of grounds. Group ' 263. Hotels, restaurant, and clubs.
The prevention of
Schedule 2--Personal. Group 264. Theatres. Group 265. Amuse ments, indoor (other than thea tres). Group 266. Amusements, outdoor. Group 267. Individual
accidents is largely a question of- the right mental attitude.
service.
-
Schedules--Professional. Group 268. Inspectors and appraisers. Group 269. Institutions. Group 270. Teachers and instructors. Group 271. Undertakers. Group
272. Motion pictures.
Schedule 4--Municipaland Public. Group 273. (Undivided).
Mr. Young: I move you that the Executive Committee be onpowered to accept at its discretion the report of this committee to be rendered at a future date. (The motion was seconded by Mr. Ayres, put to a vote and carried.)
President Campbell:; We will now hear the report of the Com mittee on Education. Mr. Lew R. Palmer Is the chairman and I am sure his report will he of interest to every one present. Mr. Palmer.
REPORT OF EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE.
L R.ew
Palmer, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and
Industry,. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: Your Educational Committee held its first meeting this date at 2:00 P. M., with the following members present: Clifford B. Connelley, Dean, School of Applied Industries, Carnegie Institute of Tech nology; Lew R. Palmer, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and
isaliBHDSiL
56 Fourth Safety Congress
Industry, representing Commissioner John Price Jackson; Peter Roberts, D.D., Secretary Educational Department, International Committee Y. M. C. A.; Mrs. Joseph R. Wilson, Philadelphia, Pa.; H. H.' Wheaton, Specialist in Immigrant Education, United States Bureau of Education, Washington, D. C. Mr. Millard B. King, Di rector of Bureau of Vocational Education for the State of Pennsyl vania, was present at the invitation of the committee.
Mr: Palmer acted as Chairman and Mr. Wheaton as Secretary. Dean Louis E. Reber's outline of the plan to be submitted to the Executive Committee was read to the committee, who approved same and directed the secretary to present same to the Executive Com mittee of the National Safety Council. Following this Mr. C. W. Price of the Wisconsin Industrial Com mission presented a special verbal message from Dean Reber, and the suggestions made were approved fry the committee:
SUGGESTIONS APPROVED.
(a) Approach the engineering schools first, making an appeal fry circular letter that suitable safety instruction should be given with courses, so that each engineer will know the first principles of safety.
(b) Develop the Lewis Institute plan gradually as a model for similar institutions.
(c) Circularize the superintendents of schools, suggesting courses and lectures.
(d) Designate a representative officially to speak for the N. S. C. at meetings of educational associations.
(e) Develop a book for continuation.schools. After full discussion the committee agreed upon the following division of its work, and assignment of investigations and activities to various members, provided the Chairman, Dean Reber, who was absent, shall approve: : 1. Dean Connelley--Co-operating with J. H. Nicholson, Chair man of the Boy Scout Safety First Plan Committee, in educational work, first-aid training and safety instruction. Investigation with reference to technical schools. 2. Dr. Roberts--The Y. M. C. A. and mining schools.
Business Meeting
57
3. Mrs. Wilson--Parent Teachers' Association, Horne and School League, Y. W. C. A., and allied associations.
4. Professor Breckenridge--Universities, colleges, seminaries
and higher institutions of learning.
5. Professor Franklin--Engineering schools,
,
6. Commissioner Jackson--State industrial directors of vocation
al education; organization of material from state manual, technical and continuation Schools.
7. Mr. Wheaton--Red Cross, National Educational Association
and State Educational Associations.
At this point the Committee wishes to recommend that Dr. Luther H. Gulick of New York City he appointed a member of the com mittee, and that he be assigned to cover the National Playgrounds' Association and the Campfire Girls of America.
The general policy worked out by the committee necessitates first, that members of the committee to whom special subjects or agencies have been assigned, investigate the first-aid training, safety instruc tion, type of organization, administrative features, needs and facili ties of each, compiling this data and submitting it with recommenda tions to the committee's chairman. Second, that the committee correlate all material secured, prepare texts, bulletins, pamphlets, and outlines of courses for use by the public schools, technical schools and other institutions of learning, and by the various private agencies immediately interested in 'first aid and safety education. Third, pro mote the use of this material by the above-mentioned public institu tions and private agencies acting as distributors. Fourth, recommend to the Sectional Committees of the National Safety Council the use and promotion of the educational standards worked out by the Educational Committee.
The committee then discussed the Lewis Institute plan, suggested by President Campbell of the National Safety , Council. A copy of this plan is hereto attached. The plan was approved by the com
mittee and is recommended as a basis from which to develop a standard for such schools.
It was agreed that members of the committee, investigating par ticular subjects, should call ttpon the various sectional committees to supply data and human interest material so as to avoid a duplication
of work.
ZS _Fourth Safety Congress
LEWIS INSTITUTE PLAN.
* `Good Old Days"
In die old-time powder mill an extra roof or two was al ways kept on hand for emergencies.
Suggestions--It is suggested that each speaker be provided with a list of the topics to be included in this series of lectures, along with an outline of the subjects to be covered in each of the other lectures. Each speaker should then be requested to keep with in the subject outlined for his lecture.
Lectures--i. Accidents. 2. Prin ciples of Safeguarding. 3, House keeping and Yards. 4. Buildings. *5. ,,Buildings (continued). 6. Fire Causes and Fire Protection. 7. Railings, Fences, Scaffolds and Portable Ladders. 8. Power Plant Hazards (other than electri cal). 9. Transmission Machinery. 10. Woodworking Hazards. 11. Foundry Hazards. 12. Machine Shop Hazards. 13. Hand-Tool Hazards. 14. Electrical Generating Equipment Hazards. 15. Elec trical Utilization Hazards. 16. Material Handling Equipment Haz ards. 17. Elevator Hazards. 18. Railroad Hazards. 19. Personal Safeguards, Personal Effects, Clothing. 20. Special Risks. 21. Mines. 22. Employment of Workmen. 23. Education of Work men. 24. Safety Committees. 25. First Aid. 26. First Aid (con tinued). 27. Welfare Work in Plants. 28. Welfare Work Outside of Plants. 29. Studies of Accidents. 30.' Industrial Diseases. 31. Industrial Diseases. 32. Sanitation. 33. Home Hazards.
Lectures (outline of each)--x. Accidents: This lecture is in
tended to interest the students in the subject of accident prevention
by pointing out the great losses through accidents, (a) To the
employer, (b) To the community, (c) To the man and his
family.
.
SCOPE OF THE* WORK.
It is also intended to point out the scope of the work and to indi cate the- relations between various divisions so that the students may get a general idea of what the work is, and, during future lectures.
Business Meeting
59
bear in mind the place and the im
portance of each subject with re
spect to the whole.
.
2. Principles of Safeguarding--
This lecture is intended to point
out the reasons for safeguarding,
the means. of safeguarding (gen
eral) and the effects of safeguard
ing. The results of partial protec
tion, of unsubstantial protection, of
inconsistent protection, etc., to be
indicated.
All of the above to include edu
cational effect of protection, as well
as the direct prevention of accidents.
Too Common
If nearly all ac cidents are "com mon** the reasons for them are com mon.
The fundamental causes of accidents, such as falling of men and materials, to be discussed, (See Lecture 5.)
3. Housekeeping and Yards--This is to include the general sub ject of cleanliness for all locations, followed by a special discussion of yard hazards which will include: (a) Illumination---Mot cover ing the theory of illumination excepting as yard conditions make it necessary to do so. The advantages of high and low lighting should be pointed out including the effect on railroad men. Means of indi cating special yard hazards at night should be discussed, (b) Pits and other falling and tripping possibilities. Means of guarding under various conditions, (c) Industrial tracks, (d) Clearances.
Note--Do not conflict with lectures 4, 5, 7, 16, 18, 22, 23, 24, 27, 32.
4 and 5- Buildings--This is -to cover: 1. Egress. Including various kinds of fire escapes, etc. Necessity for capacities. 2. Stairs. Giving rules for construction and safe use of: 3. Fixed Ladders. Design, use of, etc. 4. Platforms and Walkways. 5. Windows. Types, advantages, window washing, location. 6. Sky lights. 7. Illumination. Ceiling designs, etc. 8. Floors. 9. Do not conflict with 6, 7 and 17.
6. Fire Causes and Fire. Protection--The common'causes of fires and means of avoiding. Gasoline, matches, smoking, etc.
- rs^^gr.<f ? bMi
60 Fourth Safety Congress
7. Railings, -Fences, Scaffolds, and Portable Ladders--Standard safeguards and methods. State Regulations.
Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 18, 1915. The report of the committee was received with much interest and Mr. Palmer was congratulated upon the clearness of the report and the wealth of information it contained.
GENERAL DISCUSSION. :President Campbell There remain but one or two items of business. I think, before we pass to the matter of hearing the report of the Nominating Committee and the election of Directors, it might be well to ask if there are any members present who desire to say anything with respect to meetings that are to be held in the way of Sectional Meetings or of Local Council gatherings or other meet ings that they desire to get together. T understand that one or two have some such announcements that they desire to make at this time arid before we begin to disperse, I will give them an opportunity to be heard. Are there any such? Mr. Wilson : I want to ask all those present who are interested in the Mining Section to leave their names at the desk or see me at some time in order that we may arrange between us the method of organization, consideration of by-laws to be enacted, the election of officers, and to that end I am going to ask that you come to the desk outside--the registration desk--immediately after the adjourn ment of this session. :President Campbell May I suggest that you take the Pink Room, Mr. Wilson, for that meeting? It is just off the corridor beyond the desk--a room in which you can be to yourselves.
ROUND TABLE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Mr. Price: My Round Table,-the one I happen to be appointed to preside over, comes at the tail end of the program. I have a fear that some men won't stay over for that Round Table so I want to say this: We hope to make that Round Table, gentlemen, a Round Table of experience- along what I believe to be the most im portant line,, namely. "How to Reach the Workman, How to In-
Business Meeting
61
terest Him, How to Get Him Awakened?" It is going to be the Round Table where the old scouts like R. C. Richards and Young will have their say, but principally it is going to be a Round Table for the men who perhaps are not so familiar with the big game of educational work and safety, and I hope you men will stay over and help make that a great Round Table.
Mr. Ayres: I most heartily endorse the remarks of Mr. Price, because they embrace features that I am most heartily interested in. While I am identified with the iron and steel industry I see nothing pertaining to that in this conference, but as he has most aptly stated, it is how to reach the workmen, by educational work or otherwise, and it may be the last on the program, but I believe it will be the piece de resistance in the menu of this conference.
Mr. Woltz: I would like to ask that all present who are inter ested in the iron and. steel industry make arrangements to met sometime during this conference for the organization of a Section. I would suggest Friday morning. The Congress is not supposed to' last over Friday, but I have always suggested that we do not have enough time at this conference to go into work thoroughly, and I would suggest that Friday morning, unless some one else has an other suggestion to make.
*
SECTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
President Campbell: May I offer this suggestion to you, Mr. Woltz? At the close of the meeting I had intended to explain to all of you what the desire of the Executive Committee had'been with respect to these Sections, and I might at this point do so and save some further difficulties.
The Executive Committee has been very anxious to have a large number of sectional organizations created. The most practical way to do that will be for those of you who have your Sectional prob lems and are here together to have a meeting and effect that organi zation during the time of this conference. The Executive Commit tee has adopted a resolution in comformity with the requirements of our by-laws, in which we provide for an autonomous organiza tion of Sections. We are providing a very nominal form of'organiza-
'-***%>? rW>;:
h^naai
#immr'
62 Fourth Safety Congress
tion, the election by members of
Tell Him theTruth
the Section of a Chairman, ViceChairman -and Secretary; the
Chairman thereupon to appoint
four committees, the names and du
"How to reach the
ties of which will be mentioned in the resolution, and time need not
workman, interest him and get him
be taken here to describe them, which three officers and four chair men of committees, with such
awakened ? "
other comittees as the Section may find it desirable to create and
provide for. in the by-laws which
they will adopt, will constitute-
the committee of the section and will have charge of the activities
and questions that arise in that particular section, all under the
general direction and supervision of the Executive Committee of
the National Council. A member of the Executive Committee was
appointed last night to be present at each of the Sectional meetings _
which are to be held tomorrow and Thursday, and one has been
delegated to meet with the Public Safety Section and with the Sec
tion on Interurban and Street- Railways, and we desire that any
others who would like to form a Section here that are not thus pro
vided for will do so in the manner suggested by Mr. Woltz. But,
I think, Mr. Woltz, with all due respect to you, it would be better
if you would have your preliminary meeting immediately at the
conclusion of this one, which will adjourn very shortly, in a room
which will be found by hunting you up. Everybody knows you, mad
if all the men in the iron and steel industry will join with Mr. Woltz
some one of the members of the Executive Committee will be there
to explain what the Executive Committee desires done in connection
with the organization of sections and the organization will thus be
speeded considerably, Mr. Woltz. .
Ms. Woltz: I will accept that; in this comer room here, if that
is agreeable.
___
President Campbell: The Red Room?
Mr. Woltz: Yes.
Business Meeting
63
President Campbell: The Red Room for the Iron and Steel. Now are there any other Sectional groups? Mr. Robinson of Pitts burgh.
EDUCATION
It requires more
Mr. :Robinson You refer to the possibility of local organizations
than printed rules to cause men to observe
getting together here for the pur
safety precautions
pose of discussion of their interests. I would suggest that there are a good many representatives here
and use safety de vices.
from the Pitsburgh District, and I
think it would be very helpful to
us if we could arrange a meeting at say 4130 this afternoon for all
members and representatives from Pittsburgh and vicinity in one
of the committee'rooms here.
A :Member The Green Room.
Mr. :Robinson And I hope it will be possible for one of the members of the organization or one of the members of the Execu tive Committee to be present and give us some advice as to forward ing our interests in the local field.
President :Campbell ^ Your suggestion is a very timely one and one that is very welcome, because it will mean additional activity in your district, and we will be pleased to assign you the room men tioned at 4:30 o'clock, if the general program has been completed at that time, which I think it will be.
Mr. Woltz: Will you pardon me a moment? There have been three or four persons present who have suggested that inasmuch as there was a very small attendance yesterday at the meeting of
the local council conference, at which there was quite a good deal of important business to come before it, that we have another meeting of all the officers, because it will be announced on the placard in the corridor, and the name of the Section is going to be over the door of the room in which the meeting will be held. They will be in the hall directly after the meeting, the members will be in the
64 -- Fourth Safety Congress
hall, where everybodj' can see us as they come out of the elevators, and in addition to that the name will be on the door and you can't miss your rooms.
Mr. :Woodhead _ Mr. Chairman, I represent the Laundry Sec tional Meeting and I want to issue a special invitation to all the ladies present to hear Miss Jane Seymour Ivlink, Manager of the Welfare Department of the Pilgrim Laundry. She is deeply in teresting to any one who is in welfare work among girls and women in factories of any description. The Laundry Section ought to be especially interesting; to all the ladies present.
President Campbell: If there are no other announcements to be made at this time, it will be understood that if any of you rep resenting industries--for which no public announcement has been made at this time with respect to organization will approach either Mr. Cameron or myself we will very gladly arrange with you for the appointment of 3-our organization committee and will at the same time see to it that public announcement is made at subsequent meet ings of the timeand place of your meetings for the purpose of organ-' ization. We hope that a number of other sections than those which have been already named will get together here and will organize. If any of you are desirous of ascertaining who is here from your industries and will come to the information desk the registration cards are being indexed according to 3rour industries and you can find who else is here in the industries in which you are interested by inquiring at the desk.
PROGRAM OF ENTERTAINMENT.
Before going on with the formal business session I think it would
be desirable for us to have stated to us that form of entertainment
which has been provided for us through the kindness of our Phila
delphia Local Councilman d I will ask Mr. Patterson to again inflict
himself upon you and tell us what he has in store for us. (Ap
plause.)
----
:Dr. F. D. Patterson President Campbell, Ladies and Gentle men--We have a number of things planned which we hope will make your stay within, the City of Philadelphia one which will long
LBS*SK3iMJBiSMK
HHK1B
Business Meeting
65
be pleasantly remembered. Knowing that the ladies who come to
honor the National Safety Council by attending its Congress have a
very keen interest in shops, I have been able to arrange, at 2:30
this afternoon, with Mr. Wanamaker's personal representative to
meet you at the Chestnut street door and take you ladies and try to
show you what we believe to be the greatest store in the world--the
Wanamaker store.
-
Tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock, through the courtesy of Col.
James Robinson--4he able, efficient, competent Chief of Police of
the City of Philadelphia--We have had placed at our disposal the
police boat Ashbridge. Shortly after 2 o'clock this boat will leave
Race street wharf, about ten minutes' walk from the hotel, and we
will proceed down the Delaware river, will show you League Island
and will show you the many points of interest to be seen in the City
of Philadelphia and our sister city of Camden, N. J., on the opposite
shore.
Thursday afternoon we believe that the ladies will be particularly
interested to see what we know to be a fact, that Philadelphia has
the most .beautiful suburbs of any city within our Union. Auto
mobiles will be at the frontsdoor of the Bellevue-Stratford and they
will take you for a ride through Fairmount park, which is the larg
est park in connection with any great city in the world; will take
you out in the country, where you may get away from the din of
the factory and the factory smoke.
I want to urge on every person who is here at this meeting of
the National Safety Council that they make it a special point to at
tend our banquet to be held here in this room on Wednesday evening.
Three speakers are coming to tell us, with words of wisdom, all
that is right that we should know. Governor Brumbaugh, who is
the executive head of this great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
has honored the National Safety Council by accepting our invitation
and will be here to make a speech at that banquet. Mayor Blariken-
barg--and no city ever had a better or a more efficient Mayor--
will make another of the speeches, and'the Hon. Edson S. Lott of
New York, is the third.
The program, as far as the menu is concerned, is all that the
stomach may desire, and I am sure that three such luminaries as
the Governor of this commonwealth, the Mayor of our city and
Mr. Lott, that the mental feast will be one which will be well suited
$ pmmmm ~
Siai
66 Fourth Safety Congress
SOMETIMES
to the. brains of this Council. Gen tlemen, please come to the banquet. We want to fill this room to over flowing. (Applause.)
Even the people who always seem to know just what to do sometimes forget to do it.
.1President Campbell:
think,
gentlemen, after hearing the report
of the President of our Local Coun
cil, particularly as to his acquaint
ance with the Chief , of Police, we
can understand how he has kept
out of jail so long. (Laughter.)
In connection with that I would urge upon you your very early registration at the desk for your banquet tickets. I would like to feel that we have been able to get a very large number of you at this banquet. It is the one time when we can get away from prac ticalities and deal in the ideals of our work and it is the hope of those of us who are interested in the banquet that we will be able to get* at that banquet something in the fashion of the larger side of our humanitarian work, namely, its ideal side. And so we would like to have you there to get that idea of our work, as well as the practi cal one which you will get at our business and formal sessions.
MEETING OF DIRECTORS.
There will be a meeting of the old and the newly elected directors at the hour of 5 o'clock in a room that will be designated. The directors should not forget that, as the important business, there will be the election of an Executive Committee to serve for the next year.
The Public Safety Section of the Interurban and . Street Railway Section will remember their meeting at 8 o'clock in the Red Room, illustrated lectures following.
I am reminded that a number of exhibits of one character or an other are to be found on the mezzanine and second floor. If any of you have any time or interest I feel that you would probably .be repaid by visiting them. They are presented by friends of our cause and those Who have something to show us along safety lines in our safety work, and you will be repaid by a visit to what they have to show you on-The upper floors.
Business- Meeting
67
It will be remembered that it has
always been the policy of the Na tional Council to avoid as far as
You Know Better
possible any commercialism and.
we have therefore never endeav ored to have any very large com
Than to do a dan
mercial exhibit in connection with our Council meetings, as we pre ferred to subordinate this phase of
gerous act simply to show some one you
the work to the one that we con sider to be more important--one of conference and exchange of ideas.
are not afraid to do it. Be careful.
The next order of business will
be tlie report of the Nominating
Committee. Its chairman is not present, but Mr. Bennett will make
the report for the committee as one of its members.
REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE.
Mr. F. G. Bennett: Mr. Chairman, this report is rather short. The Nominating Committee, acting under the requirements of the by-laws, has prepared a proposed list of members -to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors, caused by expiration of terms, resigna tion, death or otherwise, and this proposed list has been approved by the members of the committee after careful consideration. It was sent out to the entire membership some time ago in accordance with the requirements of the by-laws.
Mr. W. EL Cameron, Secretary National Safety Council, Chicago. Dear Sir: We, the Nominating Committee, appointed by the Presi dent of your Council, with the approval of the Executive Committee, as provided by Section 8 'of'Article VT of the By-laws of the Coun cil, and as further provided by Section 9 of Article VT of the By laws, present to you our report of nominations for successors to the Directors whose terms of office shall expire October 20th, 19x5, as well as to fill the vacancies of five Directors, elected to serve for two years, who have either died or resigned since their election.
NEW DIRECTORS TO SERVE UNTIE THE ANNUAL MEETING OF Igi6.
John R. Brownell, Superintendent of Safety, Industrial Accident
Commission, San Francisco, Cal.; H. A, Bullock, Staff Assistant
68 Fourth Safety Congress-
to President, Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, Brooklyn, N. Y.; John Calder, Willett, Sears & Co., Boston; E. F. Carry, First Vice-President and General Manager, American Car aiid Foundry
Company, Chicago, 111.; Dr. L. W. Chaney, United States Bureau
of Labor, Washington, D. C.; Howell Cheney, Cheney Brothers, South Manchester, Conn.; Marcus A. Dow, General Safety Agent, New York Central Lines, New York; Geo. T. Fonda, Safety Engi neer, Bethlehem Steel Company, South Bethlehem; Pa.; H. W. Forster, Chairman, Committee on Safety to Life, National Fire Pro tection Association, and Chief Engineer, Independence Inspection Bureau, Philadelphia, Pa.; C. M. Hansen, Secretary, Department of Accident Prevention, Inspection and Merit Classification, Work men's Compensation Service Bureau, New York; Dr/A. M. Harvey, Crane Company, Chicago, III.; C. H. Howard, President, Common wealth Steel Company, St. Louis, Mo.; L. A. Larsen, Assistant to Vice-President, American Locomotive Company, New York; Edson S. Lott, President, United States Casualty Company, New York; H. W. Moses, Superintendent, Welfare Department, Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston; W. J. Olcott, President, Oliver Iron Mining Company, Duluth, Minn.; E. K. Prichett, Secretary, The Macey Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.; J. A. Robertson, Chair man, Central Safety Committee, and Manager, Camera Works, East man Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y.; H. D. Sharpe. Treasurer. Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company, Providence, R. I.; S. F. Shattuck, Treasurer, Kimberly-Clark Company, Neenah, Wis.; J. C. Smith, Safety Engineer, Inland Steel Company, Indiana Harbor, Ind.; L. B. Somerby, Factory Manager, General Railway Signal Company, Rochester, N. Y.; W. B. Spaulding, St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Company, St. Louis, Mo.; Dr. W. H. Tolman, Director, American Museum of Safety, New York, N. Y.; Robert J. Young, Manager, Department of Safety and Relief, Illinois Steel
Company, Chicago, 111.
NEW DIRECTORS TO SERVE UNTIL THE ANNUAL MEETING OF X917.
L. A. DeBlois, E. I. DuPont de Nemours Powder Company, Wil mington, Del.; Dean Clifford B. Connelly, Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Dean L. E. Reber, University of Wis consin, Madison, Wis.; J. M. Guild, Safety Agent, Union Pacific
Business Meeting
69
Railroad Company, Omaha, Neb.; Sidney A. Johnston, State Fac
tory Inspector, Missouri, St. Louis, Mo.
Respectfully yours,
--
F. G. Bennett,
Chief Safety Inspector, Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Columbus,
Ohio.
Ease B. Morgan,
Safety Engineer, Commonwealth Steel Company, Granite City, III.
J. S, Pendleton,
Assistant to Manager, Carpenter Steel Company, Reading, Pa.
W. C. Wilson,
Claims Attorney, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Com
pany, New York, N. Y.
H. J. Bell, Chairman, -
Safety Inspector, Chicago & North Western Railway Company.
Nominating Committee.
Chicago, Ilk, Aug. 9, 1915.
President Campbell : The report of the Nominating Committee is before you. I suggest that it be accepted. Is there a motion to that effect ?
Mr. Chandler: I move to accept the report of the Nominating Committee. (The motion was seconded, put to a vote and carried.)
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. .
President Campbell: The next order of business is the election of Directors. There are no vacancies, as we are advised, either by death or disqualification, in any of the offices of Director, nor are there any created in the same way in that list of nominations which has been submitted by the Nominating Committee. There are, there fore, no nominations to be called for from the floor. No members' ticket has been presented, therefore the problem of electing our Directors should be a simple one. The tellers who have been ap pointed by the Executive Committee are Mr. J. B. Douglass, Mr. Fonda and Mr. Worth, and they should be instructed to cast the ballot of the membership for the twenty-five men named to fill the three year term and the five men named to fill the unexpired term
; Ik if- MMBHWWI --
70 Fourth Safety Congress
OHIO
Has a State Officer,
of those Directors whose offices are vacant through disqualification, resignation or death whose term expire in 1917. Do I hear such a motion ?
on salary, who is de
Dr. :Patterson I move you
voting all his time to the teaching of safe practices to em ployes.
that that be done. (The motion was seconded.)
President Campbell : Motion
is made that the tellers appointed'
and those named cast the ballot of
the membership for the following
named persons as Directors to
serve for three years. (The motion wks .put to a vote and carried.)
Mr. Douglass, are you ready to report?
REPORT OF TELLERS.
Mr. :Douglass Mr. President and Gentlemen--The Tellers* Committee duly met and counted the. number of proxies, finding that in all there were 441, and as Chairman of the Tellers' Committee I hereby cast the vote of those 441 members in favor of the mem bers whose names were read by the President.
Number of Proxies on Council List, duly checked, 431. Later
Received ..and Checked: Individuals, 4; Companies, 67 Total 441.
Your tellers cannot at this time learn .the number of votes to which the six companies are entitled and have therefore accredited each company with but one vote.
Registered attendance at 12:15 o'clock, 394 ; the number present not registered will probably bring total to 425.
George T. Fonda. W. E. Worth (by Mr. Roberts.) J. B. Douglass, Chairman.
Preside^t Campbell: And for the other members' present in person ?
M .r Douglass: And for the other members present in person.
President Campbell: The report of the tellers is before you.
Business Meeting
71
The vote has been cast and I take pleasure in declaring the gentlemen whom I have named elected for the terms mentioned respectively. They will remember that they are expect ed to attend the meeting of the di rectors at 5 o'clock at the room that will be designated at the desk.
Is there any unfinished business to be brought before the mem bers? I personally know of none. Is there any new business that any of you desire to bring to our attention ?
Safety Exhibit
Ohio has a circu lating exhibition of safety devices, light ing systems, and hy gienic standards.
NOMINATIONS FOR CONVENTION CITY. CLEVELAND.
Mr. Stephen W. Tener: I > dsh to offer the following resolu
tion:
^
'`Resolved, That the Fifth Annual Conference of the National Safety Council be held in the City of Cleveland."
This resolution .is accompanied by letters of invitation by the Mayor of Cleveland and the Chamber of Commerce. I recognize the fact that the resolution will naturally be referred to the Execu tive Committee for action, as it cannot be formally acted upon here. Mr. Goodwin of the National Chamber of Commerce is here and will, at an opportune time, lay before the Executive Committee many reasons for backing me up in Cleveland's claim. I will bring to their attention the accommodations that will be found in Cleve land. I may incidentally remark that the Hollenden Hotel, in view o' the next convention, started yesterday to enlarge that building. *l..e Staffer Hotel is adciing 300 rooms, which will give them a thousand rooms, and with the^o will be new and enlarged meeting rooms. And while the Executive Committee must handle this sub ject there are three reasons we want to put before you in your
c T%
72 Fourth Safety Congress
meeting here why I think Cleveland should be honored: In the first place, the Governor of Ohio is a member in good standing in the National Safety Council, and so far as I know he is the only Governor who is a member. We should hold the meeting in Ohio, at least, in honor of that distinguished member. Second, the gentle man who preceded me spoke about reaching workmen, that that was the most important thing we had on hand. Now about a year and a half ago, while at Columbus, I talked to a member of the Industrial Commission there, asking him if he had analyzed the accidents being reported, and had it been impressed upon him the number of acci dents due to carelessness among the men themselves. He answered in the affirmative and said: "We must go after the men; not letting up on the employers, but we must have a campaign of instruction on the men." Acting on that a very efficient safety director was appointed and he has been holding meetings. He is finishing in Cleveland today, holding most instructive meetings among employes, and employes only, and his remarks are directed entirely to em ployes. He does not mention the employer except in a compli mentary way, perhaps. And he says, and I think he is correct, that Ohio has taken the lead in that work--a man designated by the* Governor to go directly to the industries and talk directly to the men and impress upon them that it is their duty to reduce accidents in conjunction with their employer.
The State of Ohio, as a state proposition, had a very elaborate safety exhibit at Columbus last January, at which you, Mr. Presi dent, were present and delivered an important address. The Gov ernor thought that this should be an annual matter, an annual affair, and that it should be held always in Columbus. But wiser counsels prevailed and it was shown that it should be a circulating exhibition, so to speak, and very naturally Cleveland got the second exposition, because it was the largest industrial center of the state. That exhibi tion--absolutely as a state proposition--is to be.repeated in January, a very large, comprehensive exhibition of the safety devices, and not only safety but industrial matters, along the line of lighting and also prevention of diseases.
Now if this Council will meet in Cleveland, as it should, next October, it will be a very important prelude to the exposition which is to be held in January. I hope the Executive Committee will give my resolution its very earnest thought and consideration.
>
Business Meeting
73
DETROIT.
Mr. J_ M. Eaton: Mr. President, I move the adoption of Mr. Tener's resolution, with the understanding that it be referred to the Executive Committee. In saying so I want to say that Detroit also has a Statler Hotel, which is being enlarged and is quite some newer than the one in Cleveland. Now our Governor does not be long, and for that very reason the next Congress should come to Detroit. I think if it came to Detroit they might get the Governor. They do not need to go there, because they already have him. Also all boats are headed towards Detroit.
NEW YORK CITY.
Mr. Card M. :Hansen Mr. President, I have the advantage of representing a city that does not have to build any more hotels. We have ample facilities for all in the city of New York. I most strongly urge upon the Executive Committee that they give careful con sideration to the holding of the next annual conference in the city of New York, and at the same time it be seriously considered whether or not it would not be wise to have in conjunction with such conference a safety exhibit which we have had every year in New York under the auspices of the American Museum of Safety. I ask the Executive Committee's .kindly consideration.
President Campbell:! Gentlemen, we are deeply grateful for these invitations. It is always pleasant to the Executive Committee to know that we are welcome and to know that we have more than one or two places to consider in. determining where we will hold our next Congress. It is a very gratifying thing to know that there are so many cities that are interested in the purposes of this organ ization to such an extent that they desire to have us with them. We appreciate your invitations--Mr. Tener, Mr. Eaton and Mr. Han sen--and I think the suggestions should be noted as received and a motion made that the several invitations be referred to the Executive Committee for their consideration. That would be the regular course to pursue, as suggested by Mr. Tener. * If such a motion is made I will be glad to put it.
Mr. Otto C. Geier : I move that the invitations be presented to the Executive Committee, and speaking upon Mr. Tener's mo-
li- 5 i. -
-: ;-: j * *j Mfelsit
74 Eourth Safety Congress
tion, I come from the rival city of
DETROIT
Cincinnati, but at this time I will not grant all the things he said
about Cleveland, of course, but I
All boats are head
want to join him in urging that this conference come to Cleveland
ed toward Detroit--
next year, I am sure that Ohio
and the Fifth Annual
is warm on the subject of industrial welfare, and I am sure this will be
Congress of the N.
stimulated next year by going to
S. C.
Cleveland.
PITTSBURGH.
Mr. Greenwood (Youngstown,
Ohio): No representative here from Pittsburgh has urged the claims of that city for the next meet
ing. The question of bringing the proceedings of this Congress
to the attention of the workingman should be considered in selecting
a place for the next meeting and I do not think that a. more de
sirable place could be selected, if that be taken into consideration
than the city of Pittsburgh. I am not authorized as a member of
an industry located in that-city to invite you there, but X urge that
you take into consideration, along with the others, the argument of
the great number of workers in the Pittsburgh district.
:President Campbell Thank you. It will be done, Mr. Green wood. The motion has been made that the matter of these sugges tions be referred to the Executive Committee. (The motion was put to a vote and carried.)
Is there any further discussion desired?
:Mr. Martin Mr. President, I just wanted to make one sug gestion. I. come from Canada. I have not heard-any other voices from there, and I am not looking for the convention next year. - But I hope that there is a good time coming when this Congress will be called international .(applause), and when that good time comes I hope we will see this intelligent body meet in Canada. As I come from the good City of Hamilton--where there are some $60,000,000 of good United States money invested and we have many splendid citizens there from this country--I am sure they will be glad to
Business Meeting
75
give you a splendid welcome and `a glad hand. I do not ask for the convention until after the war is over, then come over and join us with peace and happiness. (Ap plause.)
President Campbell: Are there any other suggestions? Are there any remarks to be made on the motion ?
TORONTO.
TORONTO
"There 'will never he any backwardness in changing the name to the International Safety Council.'*
Mr. Wyse (Toronto) : Mr. Pres ident, I would like to suggest that when that time comes and we have peace that Toronto have due consideration.
President Campbell: I may say for the information of the members that there are this year seven representatives from Canada at the-Congress and we are hoping that we may have more next year; (Applause.) I think if the time shall ever come when we can feel that Canada is with us on this matter that there will never be any backwardness on the part of the United States members in joining with the Canada members in changing the name National Safety Council to International Safety Council. (Applause.)
Mr. Cameron calls my attention to the .fact that I might just as well let you know that we are almost international in character, in that we have members in Australia, China, Japan, India, Scotland and England. Glasgow is corresponding now,. Mr. Cameron says, about forming a Local Council. (Applause.)
EL PASO.
Mr. Kyle (El Paso, Texas) : I see that the East is well rep resented and I want to-offer a hearty invitation to come to the West, or Southwest, especially as I represent the Southwest and it seems, as this is the National Safety Council, the largest safety organiza tion I know of, it would be fitting that they should come to the largest state in the Union, and in that way they might reach El Paso,
76 Fourth Safety Congress
as the largest city in the largest county in the largest state in the United States. (Applause.)
:President Campbell Gentlemen, the motion has been made. All those in favor will signify so by saying aye; contrary minded, no. The motion is carried and the question will be referred to the Executive Committee.
Is there any new business to be brought before the members be fore adjournment?
Mr. Wilson: Mr. President, I have no new business to bring
before the convention but we have with us a delegate, our Vice-Presi
dent, Mr. Palmer, to that great Safety Congress which was recently
held in San Francisco, and if, in the wisdom of the President, there
is time for it, I believe that many of us might like to hear in a few
words from Mr. Palmer something of the accomplishment of that
Congress.
President Campbell: Gentlemen, what is your pleasure? Shall Mr. Palmer be given the floor or is the hour too late? The motion is made that Mr. Palmer be given the floor for three or four minutes. All those in favor signify so by saying aye; contrary minded, no. Mr. Palmer will take the platform instead of the floor.
REPORT OF DELEGATE L. R. PALMER.
Mr. L. R. Palmer : --As Mr. Wilson said, we were both at San Francisco attending the Local Council's conference in- connection with the Panama Pacific International Exposition, which was also held under the auspices of the California Industrial Accident Com mission. They had three days' sessions there and heard some very good papers. They had some lively discussions and I am sure that when it is put in written form that it will be a valuable contribution to the literature sent out by our national body.
Along with that, and under the auspices of the National Safety Council, was. held the Red Cross First Aid and the American Mines' Safety Association mine-rescue demonstrations, both of which it was my pleasure to assist in and officiate at, and I would like to say here what-I neglected to say there, that it was one of the finest demon strations of real humanitarian effort that I have ever seen. Those
- SifeWaHBI -
Business Meeting
77
miners from the mines, and particularly from the West--there being only one company, as I understand, from as far east as Illinois--
they did work there that the surgeons, the trained surgeons, could scarcely equal in some of pur best hospitals. It so happened I met a young surgeon coming out on the Canadian Pacific who landed in San Francisco, and I met him again as a judge at the first-aid demonstration. He said: "Palmer, I tell you that half of the doc tors in the Johns Hopkins Hospital could not equal the work that is being done by those men." It is safe to say that there is many a life being saved through their efforts.
Nov/ those men are training hard, three and four nights a week, after their day's labor, just for the work that we are all interested in and working for. An opportunity was given me at San Francisco to pay that tribute, but, owing to a misunderstanding as to who was really to make the presentation and the remarks there, I neglected to do it. I want to go on record as saying that that is one of the best pieces of work that I have ever seen.
In the six or seven days that I was in San Francisco I presided or spoke before some ten safety meetings. In behalf of the National Safety Council it was my pleasure to receive for the National Safety Council the commendatory medal issued by the directors of the International Exposition, and I only wish that I had had the elo quence of our President to have accepted it in the proper way and befitting to our National Council.
On the way to San Francisco I stopped off with my father and mother in Tacoma, and while there, with the assistance of some of .the members of the Industrial Commission, we organized a Local Council at Tacoma, Wash. They are doing a splendid work out there. They are co-operating with the Red Cross, who has a man in the lumber industry and going into the lumber camps, that is not only teaching first aid, but through his membership in the Na tional Safely Council is one of the best arid most effective safety boosters and safety talkers that I have ever seen. In one of the largest mills on the Pacific Coast he talked before a meeting of workmen of over 600- men. The representative of the American Red Cross is going to send other men into the safety field if we will just co-operate with him in teaching them the necessary safety work. It is a big country out there and it is hard to cover it in
three minutes. (Applause.)
78 Fourth Safety Congress
:President Campbell
Gentle
Mine Safely
men, I want to call your attention to one thing' that we could not
emphasize in our address and that
The first add and mine rescue work of the A. M. S. A. will
was that the work that has been done by the American Mine Safety Association in the matter of this first aid and mine rescue contests
be continued by the National Safety Council.
will be carried on in the Min ing Section of the National Safety Council and there will be up for consideration by our Executive
Committee the matter of enlarging
that matter of contests to include,
so far as the first aid is concerned, all of the industries as well; so
that we hope that we may enlarge that field of activity, if our plans
prevail, by having those contests .under the auspices of this associ
ation.
Is there anything further to be brought up as new business?
Mr. Sinn: Mr. President, if I may talk for just one moment, I want to go on record as saying that the Lehigh Valley Local has . started drilling first-aid teams. Every night we have a number of workmen coming from the industrial plants that are in the member ship of the Lehigh Valley Local, and these men are being trained by a surgeon and physician who is a member of the National Guard of the State. We hope to have a meeting early in the spring. I think it is work that all the locals should follow.
President Campbejx : It is a splendid idea, and work that
should be submitted to he local council. Remember that if we adjourn at this time it is the final adjourn
ment with reference formatters that can be brought up in accordance with the provisions of our constitution and by-laws, so .that if you have anything to say do it now or forever after hold your peace as far as the meeting of members is concerned this year. If not a motion to adjourn will be in order.
On motion the meeting adjourned.
LOCAL COUNCIL REPORTS
MAHONING AND SHENANGO VALLEY LOCAL COUNCIL.
Youngstown, Ohio, July 19, 1915.--Mr. W. H. Cameron, Sec
retary and Treasurer, National Safety Council, Chicago, 111. My
Dear Mr. Cameron: Herewith find the Annual Report of the Ma honing and Shenango Valley Local Council No. 2 of the National Safety Council, for the year ending June 30, 1915.
Regular meetings of the Council were held July 21, 19x4; Nov.
17, 1914; Dec. 15, 1914; Jan. 19, 1915; Feb. 16, 1915; March 16,
1915; April 20, 1915; May 18, 1915, and June 15, 1915. In addition,
special meetings were held on Oct. 6, 1914; Dec. 1, 1914, and Dec.
8, 1914.
,
On June 16, 1914, a dinner was given at the Ohio Hotel, at which about 100 persons were present. The principal speaker was Mr. Duffy, a member of the Industrial Commission, who spoke on the safety work of the commission, and the difficulty they were having
in securing the right kind of man for safety director, to have charge of the accident prevention work under the commission. Dr. Sol. Hartzell, a member, of the State Commission for the Blind, had an illustrated talk on the "Conservation of the Vision."
The council has had up with the State Board of Health the matter of making a survey of the state looking to the more complete record of persons affected with trachoma. We have been informed that it is the intention of the State Board of Health to take this matter up as soon- as funds can be secured to do so.
A second dinner was- given on March 30, 1915, at the Hotel, Ohio, at which time there were about 200 present. The principal speakers were, Mr. W. W. Fitch of the Goodrich Rubber Com pany, Dr. -Mock of Sears, Roebuck & Co., Dr. Sherman of the Carnegie Steel Company, and Dr. Chaney of the Department of Labor. The subject for discussion at this dinner by the speakers was
80 Fourth Safety Congress
"Physical Examination of Employes." It was a most enthusiastic
meeting.
A public meeting under the auspices of the Council was held at
Sharon, Pa., on April 9, 1915, at which there'was an attendance
of over 800. This was addressed by Mr. Kennedy, our President;
Mr. Warnock, our Vice-President, and Dr. McCurdy, the Chief
Surgeon of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. It is the inten
tion of the Council to hold these meetings more frequently, as this
one demonstrated the enthusiasm that could be aroused by such
meetings. Arrangements have been made to have Mr. Victor T. Noonan,
the safety director for the Industrial Commission of Ohio, address
a number of manufacturing plants on safety work, but owing to
meetings of the State Safety Committees in Cleveland, this was
postponed to a later date.
,
During October, November, and December, five special meetings
of the Council were held to discuss rules to be proposed to the Com
mittees having in charge the formation. of safety rules to be pro
mulgated by the Ohio Industrial Commission. Invitations to these
meetings to the number of 500 had been sent to firms in North
eastern Ohio and the attendance at some of these meetings ran as
high as eighty. The discussions brought up by the rules proposed
were most instructive and the work performed was a great help to our President, Mr. Kennedy, who is a member of the committee
appointed by the State Industrial Commission to formulate its safety
rules. A number of the members of the Council had been requested to
address various meetings at different places.
The Council participated in the First Annual Exposition of the
Ohio Industrial Commission, and had a booth that was decorated
with photographs and safety devices contributed by various mem
bers of the Council, At the next exposition of the Industrial Commission, to be held
at Cleveland, arrangements have been made by the Council for the
use of a small committee-room, which will be furnished as a rest and lounging room, where persons from the Local Council, with
their friends, can go for rest while attending the convention.
Various matters pertaining to public safety have been taken up
with the city or county authorities.
; aeagi.,
4BPff!^SS
lf:t Mtliiit
'*#&* i
Business Meeting
81
The Council has made a slow but prosperous growth during the year, and it is hoped that the coming year will see a material in crease in membership and effort looking to the promulgation of the work of the National Safety Council. Very truly yours,
J. M. Woltz, Secretary Local No. 2.
CHICAGO LOCAL COUNCIL.
Harry J. Bell, Safety Inspector, Chicago & North Western Railway, President.
Safety First is not a question of dollars and cents. It is an honest,
earnest endeavor to wipe out the accident business. If, by doing
so, money is saved, certainly that is an honorable thing to do.
Any man who does not do everything consistently possible to
help the cause of Safety First, at every opportunity, is not perform
ing his full duty to himself, his fellow employes or the company
which pays him to do his work in a safe manner.
When men come to appreciate that their lives and their limbs
are their most valuable assets--and the American workman is rapidly
reaching that understanding--they will of their own accord eliminate
accidents.
.&
In our work in Chicago Local No. 3 of the National Safety Coun
cil we have endeavored to impress these facts on the workmen,
employers of- labor, and the men who are devoting their thought
and energy to the conservation of human life and limb. Because
of the co-operative and efficient work done by the officers and
friends of Chicago Local we feel that we have accomplished in a
measure at least what we set out to do.
Our Council has each month held an open meeting, generally with
a very good attendance, and we have reached a great many people
through every available channel. How much good we have done
is best indicated by the fact that the safety movement in the district
with which we are immediately concerned has spread quite thor
oughly and consistently, and the companies with whose records we
m i&A. w ^aatwe ,-^iatjj'WWiwwii'.. ...- '"
.fr'fww -w
t- m-fj
82 Fourth Safety Congress
are familiar have very largely re
Local Councils
duced their accidents. And that is, logically, the real result we are
striving to obtain.
The work of the
With our knowledge of the tre mendous possibilities of the Na
Local Councils is one
tional Safety Council, and our own
of the most impor
ambition to make Chicago Local No. 3 stand out as pre-eminent, we
tant functions of the
hope to be able to do much more
National body.
to promote that good work. Dec. 12: Fort Dearborn Hotel,
eight-five present. Speaker,
George Shepard, Illinois Steel Com
pany. Motion pictures shown by H. L. Brownell. Round Table.
Jan. 13: Fort Dearborn Hotel, forty present. Alexander Shane, speaker. Address also by Mr. Seacord, representing Cook County Coroner. Round Table Discussion. Motion pictures.
Feb. 16: City Club. Address by Arthur T. Morey. Discussion. Motion pictures. Attendance of about two hundred.
March: Members' meeting. Address by R. W. Campbell. Gen eral discussion. Attendance of seventy-five.
April 20: City Club. Address by D. R. Kennedy of Youngs town. Motion pictures. Music. Round Table. Attendance, 150.
May 25: City Club. General Round Table Discussion. Talk by Alexander Shane. Attendance of one hundred. Motion pictures.
September: Members'meeting. General discussion in connection with Fourth Annual Safety Congress. Attendance of seventy-five.
Oct. 13: General meeting. Address by R. W. Campbell. Dis cussion. Plans for Annual Congress. Report of Committee on Transportation and Hotels. Report of Committee-on Nominations.
In addition to this there were held almost every month a meeting of the officers of the Council, constituting the executive committee, to discuss ways and means of furthering the. work of the Council. These were general luncheon meetings, at which the attendance varied from ten to twenty-five.
Business Meeting
83
PEORIA LOCAL COUNCIL.
Peoria, III., July 21, 1915--Mr.
PROGRESS
W. H. Cameron, Secretary, Na
tional Safety Council, Dear Sir: On May 10, 1915, the Public
Each, member was
Safety Committee of the Peoria Association of Commerce was or ganized, Mr. Avery having been
busy getting his own organization into
appointed chairman. Mr. R. S. Wallace, vice-president of the Local Council is also vice-chairman of
shape on a practical basis.
this committee. Mr. R. W. Bailey
of the Peoria Railway Com
pany, Mr. J. Wachenheimer of Callender & Co. and Mr. Walter B.
Wilde of the Hart Company, who are members of the Peoria Local
are also members of this committee. The writer is secretary of the
committee.
A copy of the minutes of the meeting of May 12 was sent to
you. There have been no further meetings of either the Public
Safety Committee of the Local Council, but the co-operation of these
two .bodies with county and city officials is gradually making the
city streets safer.
At the forming of the Public Safety Committee it was decided
to work right along with the Peoria Local Council in all ways pos
sible. There has not been much done in the way of industrial safety
generally, as each of the members of the Local Council was busy
getting his own organization into shape and on a practical basis.
However, several discussions have been held among the members
concerning public meetings and no doubt these will be held during
the next year.
-
I am enclosing herewith copy of the Rules for the Regulation of
Street Traffic issued by the Police Department of the City of Peoria.
White lines have been painted on the down-town streets marking
off the safety lanes for pedestrians and automobiles. The police
are giving every effort to enforce the rules and regulations and pedes
trians and drivers are falling in line very nicely. Very respectfully
yours,
L. M. Stacy, Secretary.
^t***^ * aaitiame.
ifi&U
84 - Fourth Safety Congress
LEHIGH VALLEY LOCAL COUNCIL.
Lehigh Valley Local Council No.. 5 can report progress during., the twelve months ending June 30, 1915. During this period, the membership of our Local has been increased from twenty-eight to forty industrial companies. All of these companies are busily en gaged in promoting Safety First as outlined by the National Safety Council and all are showing active interest in the regular Local Council meetings.
It was thought advisable during the year to change the time of regular Local Council meeting to the second Friday in the month, these meetings coming bi-monthly instead of monthly. This was not done, however, because of lack of interest, but the idea was to work up larger subjects for discussion at the regular meetings which was not possible when these meetings were held more frequently.
In the fall of. last year Lehigh Valley Local Council No. 5 assisted the Department of Labor and Industry of the State of Pennsylvania in placing a formidable display of safety devices at the various fairs in Eastern Pennsylvania. Some of the members of our Local were present at these exhibits and explained to many interested persons the work of the National Safety Council. Literature was distributed and as a result several memberships were obtained.
Similar co-operation was given the State Department at the timeof its Annual Safety and Welfare Conference at Harrisburg, at' which time a large booth was set up at the Exhibition Hall showing the organization of the Pennsylvania Locals of the National Safety Council. An active campaign was made for new members at this conference, the result of which was quite gratifying.
The second Annual Public Safety Meeting of Local No. 5 was held in the Lyric Theatre, Allentown, on April 21, 1915- This meeting was largely^ attended and was addressed by Commissioner J. P. Jackson of the Department of Labor and Industry of Penn sylvania and Mr. R. W. Campbell, President of the National Safety
Council of Chicago, 111. Some of the latest safety films were used
at this meeting and were, as usual, very effective. At the present time the members of Local No. 5 are endeavoring
to work up and complete an efficient first aid system in each of their respective plants, sending men from their respective organiza tions to attend first aid classes under the supervision of qualified
Business Meeting
85
surgeons. These men are to.be formed into teams and as soon as possible Local No. 5 will hold a competitive first aid meet for its members, the winning team receiving a silver cup, which will be held for one year. In addition, individual prizes will be given each member of the successful team. There is a keen spirit of rivalry between the various companies making up the membership of Lehigh Valley Local Council No. 5 and the meeting is looked forward to with a very great amount of interest. Respectfully sub mitted.
Geo. T. Fonda, Secretary and Treasurer.
PITTSBURGH LOCAL COUNCIL.
There were five conference meetings of the Council held with an average attendance of no. A large percentage of the persons attending these meetings were men employed in the industries in the Pittsburgh district. Although at two of our meetings over a thousand invitations were sent to business men and those not connected with industries in which safety work is well-established there were very few responses. It might almost be said that those attending the meetings were men on safety committees and those who were directly responsible for the safety work in the plants where they were employed.
At all of the meetings there were at least two speakers, their subjects being such that should have excited general interest. Fol lowing the speakers a discussion was held which generally took the form of a round-table meeting.
The list of speakers and their subjects follow: R. L. O'Donnel, Pennsylvania Railroad, "Work of the Pittsburgh Local Council." W. H. Cameron, Secretary and Treasurer, National Safety Coun cil, "Work of the National Safety Council." L. R. Palmer, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, "Some Safety Work the Boy Scouts Are Doing." S. B. McCormick, University of Pittsburgh, "The Safety Move ment." C. B. Auel, Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company,
"Education For Safety."
! ^iiiiwugpaB *#******&>-- *.m& utamvamn
86 __ Fourth Safety Congress
Preparedness
To avoid accidents it is necessary to be able to foresee the results of certain causes.
C. E. Ralston, Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, "Organization for Safety"
W. A. Hall, Yale & Towne, Man ufacturing Company, "Safe Prac tices in the Use of Portable Hoist ing and Conveying Units."
J. Z>. Ayres, National Tube Com pany, "Safety Practices in the Na tional Tube Company."
J. W. Welsh, Pittsburgh Rail ways Company, "Safety Work of the Pittsburgh Railways Com pany."
J. B. Donnely, Pittsburgh Railways Company, moving pictures showing familiar scenes about the streets of Pittsburgh and dangers to be avoided, with thoughtless habits which endanger others.
T. H. B. Patterson, Public Safety Department, City of Pittsburgh, "Work of the Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety." Illustrated by lantern slides.
John Price Jackson, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and In
dustry, "Safety and Welfare Work Being Done in the State of
Pennsylvania."
7
B. H. Burnett, Carnegie Steel Company, "Welfare Work of the Carnegie Steel Company."
"Organization for Safety" was the subject of the one round table meeting of any considerable length which we had.
A committee was appointed by the Council to gather lantern slides and blue-prints of safety appliances that had been constructed by companies in the Pittsburgh district. The idea of this committee was to get together working drawings of. such appliances, so that plans that had been made by one company of appliances which were found to give satisfaction, would be available to other companies and thereby cut down the expense of studying these problems. The com mittee was composed of the following members: C. B. Auel, Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, Chairman; F. P. Feehan, Pennsylvania Department. of Labor and Industry; C. E.
Business Meeting
87
Ralston, Jones & Laughlin -Steel
Company, and E. M. Peake, Car negie Steel Company. _
Preparedness
The committee reported at the
May meeting. Their report was very enthusiastically received.
The following is a list of the members of the Pittsburgh Local
>
Arid to make prepa
rations to forestall
Council: Lee M. XJnger, H. T.
Bennett, 33. A. Berg, David Pryde,
unexpected events.
H. M. Bailey, C. S. Frye, F. F.
Slick, R. C. Taylor, E. Thomas,
L.. 33. Burnett, E. M. Peake, W.
Be sure of Safety.
G. Thuring, C. F. Albrecht, H. P. Shields, D. R. Ferguson, G. D. Chamberlain, Thomas D. Nelson,
William Stewart, J. W. Wyke, A. F. Coulter, all of the Carnegie
Steel Company; C. B. Auel, D. C. Pultney, of the Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing Company; L. A. Way, Duquesne Steel
Foundry Company; W. S. Tallman, jt A. Reninger, J. M. Baum,
J. W. Edmonds of the Central Tube Company, C. E. Zortman,
R. L. ODonnel of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, W. J. Hart,
C. E. Ralston of Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, Chas. H. Hub
bard, T. 33. B. Pattersonlof the Department of Public Safety, E. W.
Pitman, McClintic-Marshall Construction Company; W. T. Gauss,
Bell Telephone Company; H. M. Wilson, U. S. Bureau of Mines;
McConway-Torley Company; 33. H. Laughlin, Jones & Laughlin
Steel Company; George W. Case, University of Pittsburgh ; J. Denny
O'Neil, Commissioner Allegheny Company ; A. H. Thompson, Wal
lace M. Reid & Company; C. B. Connelley, Carnegie Institute of
Technology; 33. 13. Robertson, Asbestos Protected Metal Company;
S. B. McCormick, University of Pittsburgh.
DETROIT LOCAL COUNCIL.
Detroit, Mich., Sept. 27, 19x5--Mr. W. H. Cameron, Secretary and Treasurer, National Council for Industrial Safety. Dear Mr. Cameron: . In accordance with the provisions of Section 4, Article 9 of the Constitution and By-Laws of the National Safety Council,
4BaaPiL uM-it-.j.iggsaii-.iB.iifca-WWIiWm.;
a w-w
88 . '
Fourth Safety Congress
I beg to submit the following report as Secretary and Treasurer of the Detroit Local Council No. 8 for the period covering date of Sept, x, 1914 to Sept 1, 1915.
. Membership--Total number of firms and individuals not repre senting firms, fifty-seven.
The unusual success of the safety movement in the city of De troit through the able efforts of the National Safety Council with the assistance given by Detroit Local Council No. 8 had been a source of gratification to the officers and members of the Local Council. Safety in this city has taken wonderful strides within the past year, particularly with those who have become members of the National Safety^ Council. The constant efforts of the National Safety Council to educate the employers has in turn resulted in the education of the employes and the accidents in many plants which the Secretary has had the opportunity to observe, while showing a fair percentage of reduction in dll .accidents, has shown a greater percentage of reduction in major accidents, and it is hoped that with a continuation of the efforts that have been made and aided by the campaign of education that has been formulated by the National Safety Council, that eventually our major accidents at least will be practically eliminated.
On Sept. 1, 1914,-Detroit Local Council No. 8 had its first annual meeting and the following officers were elected and committees ap pointed : L. B. Robertson, President; James V. Cunningham, VicePresident; E. D. Alexander, Secretary and Treasurer; E. S. Ray mond, Chairman Membership Committee, and J. M. Eaton, Chair man Program and Publicity Committee.
Subsequently, on Nov. 6, 1914, a new committee was formed on safety exhibits and Mr. E. G. Allen was appointed chairman of that committee.
It was impossible to abide by the contemplated schedule of the meetings each month of the Detroit Local Council No. 8 on account of the fact that the Legislature of this state was in session during most of the months of the winter season, at which session so many matters were taken up of essential importance to manufacturers that it was necessary for the officers of the Local Council to spend most of their time in Lansing.
Through the efforts of Mr. J. M. Eaton, on Dec. 4, 19x4, we
Business Meeting
89
received an invitation from Mr. Byers H. Gitchell, Secretary of Detroit Board of Commerce, to hold our safety meetings in the magnificent new building of that organization.
The first meeting of Detroit Council No. 8 of the National Safety Council was for the purpose of a general discussion among the mem bers to get the members' ideas of a contemplated program for the ensuing year. The meeting was presided over by Mr. L. B. Robert son, President of the Local Council and the attorney for the Ford Motor Company. He addressed the meeting and spoke principally of the success of the annual meeting of the National Safety Council,
held in Chicago, 111., in Oct., 1914- He was followed by Mr. J. M.
Eaton of the Cadillac Motor Car Company, who outlined the pro gram for the ensuing year, in which he made it clear that the efforts of the preceding year to interest the employers had been largely successful and that for the year 1914-15 our efforts should be con cerned with interesting the employes. At this meeting Mr. George J. Mobley of the Solvay Process Company tendered us the use of the Solvay Gymnasium for the purpose of holding neighborhood meetings and Mr. F. H. Hadrich of the same company assured us of his earnest co-operation in' every possible way to strengthen in terest in the safety movement.
Upon the motion of Mr. Hadrich, duly seconded and unanimouslycarried, the Secretary was instructed to forward to the Hon. Fred L. Keeler, Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Michi gan, a resolution acknowledging the great value of his campaign for the prevention of accidents and injuries.
Our second meeting was held on Jan. 7, 1915 at the Detroit Board
of Commerce. We issued some 1,200 tickets for admission, passing the tickets around to the foremen of the various organizations who were represented and in consequence at this meeting we had an attendance of approximately 800 men who are actually in contact with the workmen whose education means so much to the success of our organization.
This meeting was presided over by Mr. A. H. Young, Supervisor
of Safety and Labor of the Illinois Steel Company of Chicago, 111.
Mr. Young delivered a heart-to-heart talk to the men present, which accomplished far-reaching beneficial results and it was the consensus of opinion among the men present that Mr. Young had delivered the
90 Fourth Safety Congress
most practical and pleasing address
Convention City
that was possible under his subject of "How to Interest Workmen in
Safety."
The Executive Committee of the National Safety
Following Mr. A. H. Young's ad dress, Mr. J. M. Eaton presided over a short round table discus sion in which ideas on the .subject
Council has awarded the 1916 convention to Detroit. --
of the evening were freely dis cussed.
Our next meeting was likewise held in the auditorium of the De
troit Board of Commerce on April
5, 1915, at which meeting' Mr.
Dudley R. Kennedyof the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company of
Youngstown, Ohio, spoke on "The`Future for Safety First." This
meeting was presided over by Mr. J. M. Eaton and it was preceded
by a dinner. Some 300 people attended this meeting and Mr. Ken
nedy's address showed such a comprehensive grasp of the subject
as to arouse great enthusiasm and interest.
This meeting was likewise honored by the presence of Miss Ger
trude Beeks, Secretary of the Welfare Department of the National
Civic Federation, who gave us a short address, expressing interest
in our efforts and giving us valuable information concerning the
organization which she represents.
It is to be especially noted that during the week of our meeting
of April 15, 1915, we had a photographic safety exhibit loaned to
us by the National Safety Council, which was on exhibition in the
lobby of the Detroit Board of Commerce. This exhibit was very
interesting and created an interest in the principles of Safety First
among members of the Board of Commerce and of the National
Safety Council which could not help being of value.
It has been a source of great disappointment that owing to the
reasons before set out we were unable to have a greater number
of meetings during the past year, but it is to be hoped that during
the present year we shall be able to carry out the program originally
contemplated, namely that of a meeting each month. Respectfully
submitted,
E. D. Alexander, Secretary and Treasurer.
Business Meeting
91
GRAND RAPIDS SAFETY
COUNCIL. Grand' Rapids, Mich., Aug. 6,
Convention City
1915--Executive Committee, Na tional Safety Council, Chicago, Illi
Detroit the Beauti
nois. Gentlemen: Herewith beg to hand you report of the activities of Grand Rapids Safety Council No. 13 for the season 1914-1915.
ful -----Michigan the Ambitious-----Ar range, your vacation
Safety Rally--The activities of the Grand Rapids Safety Council
for October 16 to
21, 1916.
No. 13 for the season 1914-1915
were opened with a safety rally,
which was held Nov. id, 1914, at the Grand Rapids Association of
Commerce rooms. This meeting was in the form of a banquet, and
was addressed by Mr. R. W. Campbell, President of the National
Safety Council, who outlined fully the work of the National Safety
Council, what it had accomplished thus far, and what its plans were
for the future. Rev. A. W. Wishart of Grand Rapids spoke on the
"Moral Phase of the Safety Movement," and the impetus given the
Safety movement in Grand Rapids by the addresses of these two speakers was very gratifying to the local officers. The meeting
was well attended, there being about 250 present.
First Round Table Meeting--The first round table meeting was held Dec. 2 and was conducted by Mr. A. H. Young, Supervisor of Labor and Safety of the Illinois Steel Company, Chicago. Mr. Young also addressed the dinner meeting of the committee of 100 of the Grand Rapids Association of Commerce.
Second Round TablelMeeting--The second round table meeting was held Dec. 1 and was conducted by Mr. E. K. Pritchett, President of Grand Rapids Safety Council No. 13.
Third Round Table Meeting--The third round table meeting, held Feb. 11, was conducted by Mr. E. A. Meves, Secretary of Grand Rapids Safety Council No. 13.
Fourth Round Table Meeting--The fourth round table meeting.
92 Fourth Safety Congress
held Ma}' 4, 1915, was conducted by Mr. R. K. Merrill, Safety Super visor of the American Seating Co., Grand Rapids.
Copies of the Minutes of these meetings having been furnished in detail to the Secretary of the National Safety Council.
Address by C. B. Scott--On Jan. 6 Mr. C. B. Scott of the Bureau of Safety of the Middle West Utility Co., of Chicago, addressed a meeting of over 200 men of Grand Rapids, who were allied with public utilities. The meeting was in charge of Mr. J. J. McVain of the Grand Rapids-Muskegon Power Company, and was presided over by Mr. E. K. Pritchett, President of Grand Rapids Safety Council No. 13.
Public Safety Campaign--In public safety work the officers of the Local Safety Council created considerable interest through stereopticon lectures delivered at several of the churches, engineers' associations and other places in tfiis* city. Twelve lectures in all have been given.
During the week of Jan. 15 a public safety campaign was in stituted for the education of school children and adults, and Mr. C. L. Brownell of Chicago assisted very materially by delivering stereopticon lectures at several of the schools and churches as well as to the empIo3res of the street railway company of this city. These meetings, eight in number, were all well attended.
Workingmen's Massmeeting--On Friday evening, Feb. 26, a
large massmeeting of workingmen, addressed by Mr. James A. Ken nedy, member of the Michigan Industrial Accident Board, was held at the Press Hall in this city. At this meeting two moving picture films, "A Workingman's Lesson" and "An American in the Making," are shown.-
Co-operation WITS Other Organizations--The officers and
members of the Grand Rapids Safety Council co-operated with the
Public Safety Committee of the Grand Rapids Association of Com
merce in all its activities and assisted materially in drafting the new
traffic ordinance recently adopted by the city of Grand Rapids.
Have also co-operated with the Vigilance Committee of the Grand
Rapids Automobile Owners' Association and a marked reduction
in the number of automobile accidents due to careless driving has
been noted. -
~^
Business Meeting
93
Efforts have been made to interest the Builders and Traders' Ex
change in incorporating a Safety Department in their Exchange,
and while the safety movement has been looked upon with
favor by this exchange no definite action has been taken as yet
regarding the installation of a permanent safety department in their
exchange.
--
New Members--Thirty-seven new members were added during the year, including the Board of Education, and four firms from cities adjacent to Grand Rapids.
Last Meeting--The meetings of the season were brought to a close by a banquet which was held at the Morton House Tuesday, April 13, and was attended by about 150 factory managers and superintendents, severaLof whom came from Travers City, Cadil lac, Muskegon, and other Michigan cities. Mr. Prichett, President of Grand Rapids Safety Council No. 13, presided at the meeting, which was addressed by that able propounder of safety counsel, Mr. C. W. Price of Wisconsin. His address was exceedingly in teresting and those who travelled many miles to hear him felt well repaid for their trip.
The last half hour of the meeting was devoted to round table discussions and many interesting experiences in safety work were discussed. The minutes in detail for this meeting were furnished, to the Secretary of the National Safety Council.
Second Annual Meeting-----The second annual meeting and elec tion of officers is to be held the third Tuesday in September. This being our first year of organized safety activity, .and as many in teresting problems presented themselves, and from experiences gath ered through various round table and other meetings conducted throughout the season, we feel assured that the season of 1915-1916 will be a very successful one.
Conclusion--We beg to assure the members of the Executive
Committee, as well as die officers of the National Safety Council,
that an organized effort will be made during the coming season to
materially increase the membership of Grand Rapids Safety Council
No- 13.
Yours for Safety,
E. A. Meves, Secretary.
94 Fotirth Safety Congress
TOPICS DISCUSSED AT SOUND TABLE
Clean Places
MEETINGS.
First Round Table Meeting--
Cleanliness is nec
"How to Promote Safely Organ ization in Plants," '`Methods for Educating Workmen in Accident
essary everywhere.
Prevention." Meeting closed by showing stereopticon slides of mod
Fires do not start in
ern gu? -ds, etc.
clean places.
Second Round Table Meeting-- "What Methods Do You Employ to
Prevent Accidents Caused by Dan gerous Piling of Materials, Fall
ing Objects and Sipping Ladders?" "What is Your Method of
Keeping Aisles Cleared ?" "How Do You Protect Men Unloading or
Loading Cars Against Injury?" "What Method Do You Employ
to Prevent Workmen Starting a Machine on Which Some One Is
Making Repairs ?"_ Meeting closed by showing stereopticon slides showing the right and wrong way of doing things.
Third Round Table Meeting--"How to Go About Safeguarding," "First Aid and Medical Attention.1'
Fourth Round Table Meeting--"Do You Prevent Accidents by
Instructing Workmen Regarding Dangerous Practices?" "Do You
Give Publicity to Accidents Which Have Happened?" "What Are
You Doing to Prevent Loss Due to Unsanitary or Dirty Conditions ?"
ROCHESTER CHAMBER SAFETY COUNCIL.
:Officers President, J. A. Robertson; Vice-President, Dr. John F. Forbes; Secretary, W. Roy McCanne; Assistant Secretary, Chas. E. Hall.
Executive Committee: H. O. Alderman, Dr. Harold H. Baker, G. T. Amsden, B. Carson, Arthur Castle, E. B. DeLand, G. R. Fuller, A. I. Jones, S, J. Kearns, E. M. Lowenthal, R. A. McDougall, H. S. Moody, W. J. OHea, F. H. Swan, D. Symington, L. B. Somerby, L. M. Todd, P. S. Wilcox, T. H. Yawger. .
Business Meeting
95
Sub-committees : Program, E.
M. Lowenthal, Chairman ; Mem bership, W. J. O'Hea, Chairman; Factory Safety Organization, P.
McKinley Said:
S. Wilcox, Chairman; Standardi
zation of Safeguards, L. B. Som-
" T h i s Republic
erby. Chairman; Physical Exami nation, Dr. Harold H. Baker, Chairman; Public Accidents, T-
can never fail so long as the citizens
H. Yawger, Chairman; Safety Edu cation in Schools and Homes, Dr. John F. Forbes, Chairman. '
On July 23 the first annual re- port was read and- adopted by the
are vigilant'*-----for Safety.
Executive Committee and forwarded to the Secretary of the National Council in accordance with the National Council Constitution and By-Laws.
. On Sept. 10 the Executive Committee approved of the suggestion
that Sept. 27 be observed as Safety Sunday in the churches and the co-operation of the Ministerial Union and other associations
was solicited. Arrangements were also made at this meeting for the
"People's Safety Show"to be held Sept. 30 in Convention Hall. OnSept. 29, at a meeting of the Executive Committee, plans for
the' Safety Show were approved and final arrangements completed. On Sept. 30 the People's Safety Show at Convention Hall opened
at 8:15 o'clock with a moving picture film entitled "The Making of a Convert." Mr. F. C. Schwedtman, Chairman of the Accident Pre
vention Committee of the National Association of Manufacturers,
gave an address on "History and Progress of Accident Prevention
in the United States." This was followed by a motion picture film, "Assembling of an Auto," after which Mr. Ralph C. Richards, Gen
eral Claim Agent of the Chicago & North Western Railway Com pany, addressed the meeting on ''Co-operation in the Safety Move
ment." A new motion picture film, "Carelessness and Caution--A
Fire Lesson," was then given its premier performance. Every avail able seat in Convention Hall was filled and many hundreds were turned away. This was probably the largest meeting ever held under
the auspices of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
On Oct. 9 a meeting was held to discuss "Tentative Standards for
i 0m-'1
1 | - 4?
ji;,. ff>^si'psi`s;'
96 Fourth Safety Congress
Safeguards," as submitted by the National Council to be considered at the Third Annual Congress held in Chicago, Oct. 13 to 15.
On Oct. 13, 14 an<ri5 five representatives of the Rochester Cham ber Local Council attended the Third Annual Congress in Chicago.
On Oct. 29 the meeting of the Executive Committee was devoted to considering the financial condition of the Local Council, reports of various committees, and mapping out of program for winter meetings.
On Nov. 24 the meeting of the Executive Committee was de voted to arranging for the annual meeting, which, according to the Constitution and By-Laws, should be held on the first Wednesday in December, and an amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws proposed to change the name from Rochester Chamber Local No. 9 to Rochester Chamber Safety Council.
The annual meeting of the Council was held in the Chamber of Commerce rooms on Dec. 2. Reports were made by the officers, amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws approved, same offi cers re-elected, and the same chairmen of. committees appointed for the ensuing year. A full report of the Committee on Safety Organi zation in Factories was made by Mr. P. S. Wilcox, Chairman of that committee, assisted by Mr. Akerly, Secretary of the committee. Recommendations of this committee were unanimously approved by the Local Council and organization charts distributed.
On Jan. 8, 1915, the Executive Committee met and made arrange ments for a meeting of the entire membership on Jan. 21. Tickets were ordered printed and sent to superintendents and foremen or the plants of the various members. Plans were presented by the Program Committee for a public safety rally to be held in February. A Committee on Statistics was appointed by the President to collect figures on reduction of accidents in Rochester.
On Jan. 21 a meeting of the full membership of the Council was held at the Chamber of Commerce rooms. Mr. L. B. Somerby, Chairman of the Standardization of Safeguards Committee, sub mitted his report. A round table discussion of the various recom mendations of the committee followed and the report was referred back to the committee to revise the specifications in accordance with results of the round table discussion. Mr. Stephen W. Tener, Man ager of the Accident and Pension Department of the American Steel
Business Meeting
97
and Wire Company was then introduced and gave an illustrated talk on "Safeguarding Machinery."
On Feb. 2 the Executive Committee invited Mr. R. A.. Hamilton, Commissioner of Public Safely, of the city of Rochester, to be present as its guest to discuss the feasibility of erecting safety signs at blind street crossings. A subcommittee was appointed to co-operate with the Commissioner and an additional subcommittee was appointed to co-operate with the Automobile Club of Rochester regarding safety signs and to report on objectionable legislation.
On Feb. 15 the Executive Committee met and further con sidered the matter of safety signs. Samples were submitted and a report of the subcommittee appointed to co-operate with the Auto-: mobile Club of Rochester was also presented. Program of the safety rally to be held on Feb. 23 was presented by Mr. Lowenthal, Chair man of the Program Committee, and was approved. An appropria tion for making moving pictures of dangerous practices and street scenes was authorized." -
A safety rally was held at Convention Hall. on. Feb. 23, and the following program was presented to about 2500 people:
8:00 P. M.--Motion' Picture. 8:15 P. M.--Introductory remarks by President Robertson. 8:20 P. M.--Introduction by President Robertson of Mr. Yawger
who read the report of the Public Accidents Com mittee. _Ji. 8:30 P. M.--Introduction of Commissioner of Public Safety R. A. Hamilton by President Robertson.
8135 P. M.--Introduction by President Robertson of Chief of Police Joseph M. Quigley.
8:45 P. M.--Motion Picture. 9 :oo P. M.--Introduction by President Robertson of Sergeant A.
Killip of the Rochester Police Department. 9 :io P. M.--Introduction by President Robertson of John Gilles
pie, Commissioner of Police of Detroit, Mich. 9:40 P. M.--Motion Picture.
On Feb. 25 the Executive Committee met and received a report' from the subcommittee on safety street signs. The resignation of Mr. James Barnes of the C. T. Ham Manufacturing Company was
98 Fourth Safety Congress
received and accepted. Mr. S. J.
DIVTDED
Kearns, Superintendent of the Rochester Division of the New York Central & Hudson Rail
road, was appointed to succeed Mr.
"A house divided
Barnes on the Executive Commit tee. Recommendations were made
against itself cannot stand." ^iVe must all
to the officers and trustees of the Chamber of Commerce to oppose certain bills which had been ad
push Safety work.
vanced in the Legislature. On March 13 the Executive Com
mittee met and considered the pro
posed amendments to the Constitu
tion and By-Laws of the National Safety Council. Several matters
of business were also transacted at this meeting.
On March 30 the Executive Committee met and received a report
from Dr. John F. Forbes, Chairman of the Committee on Safety
Work in Schools and Homes. He also submitted plans for the
organization of a Junior Safety Council, using the boys' clubs of
the grammar schools as a foundation. Mr. Herman J. Norton,
Physical Supervisor of Schools, spoke on the subject and outlined
the possibilities of safety education along these lines.
On April 15 the boys' clubs were assembled at East High School
and plans for a Junior Safety Council were outlined. An exhibition
of moving pictures on safety subjects was given the boys.
On April 23 the Executive Committee met and it was reported
that plans for a Junior Safety Council had been submitted to the
officers and trustees of the Chamber of Commerce who voted to give
it their hearty approval and support. The President appointed a
Ways and Means Committee to raise funds for the distribution of
literature in connection with the Junior Safety Council.
On April 26 the first meeting of the Junior Safety Council was held
at the Chamber of Commerce rooms. The attendance at this meeting
consisted of six boys from each grammar school, who had been
appointed as a safety committee. The chairman of each committee
reported accidents in the neighborhood and possible means of pre
venting a recurrence of similar accidents. To those present this
was one of the most interesting meetings that had ever been con-
. I a- 4 ? i>g|!IW!iCWCi^
Business Meeting '
99
ducted in the city of Rochester. It
presented possibilities for great re sults in the future.
French Proverb
On May 25 the first round table
discussion conducted under the aus
pices of the Rochester Chamber Safety Council was presided over
"We hardly find
by Mr. J. C. Parker of the Roches ter Railway and Light Company.
any person of good
Afterwards Mr. Marcus A. Dow,
sense save those who
Manager of the Safety Depart ment of the New York Central
agree With us."
Railroad, spoke on "Safety First
and the Human Element."^
On June 23 the Executive Committee met and considered the in
crease in dues for membership in the National Safety Council. The
resignation of Dr. E. H. - Wolcott as a member of the Executive
Committee was received and accepted. Dr. Harold H. Baker, Medi
cal Examiner of Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, was appointed to
succeed Dr. "Wolcott. It was decided to defer action of the raising
of finances for the Junior Safety Council until September, on ac
count of the campaign for erecting the new Chamber of Commerce
Building.
The present membership of the Rochester Chamber Safety Coun
cil consists of forty-nine firms or corporations, employing approxi
mately 23,844 workers; also eleven individuals. Accompanying this
report is a complete list of members of the Executive Committee,
chairmen of the subcommittee and financial report, all of which show
that the Local Council is in a flourishing condition.
This is a complete report of the activities of the Rochester Cham
ber Safety Council No. 9 for the year ending June 30th, 1915. The
officers and Executive Committee feel that something has been ac
complished but that there are still greater opportunities. The in
crease of membership has not been as large as we had hoped, but
owing to the many other activities and business depression in Roches
ter this year, it was felt that the time was not opportune to conduct
such a campaign. The Membership Committee promises to produce
results this fall, and a considerable increase in membership is ex
pected. The Council also believes that in organizing the Junior
100 Fourth Safety Congress
Safety Council they have originated an idea which will spread rapidly and be of-great benefit in reducing street accidents and educating children to be more careful, and through them their par ents, in this way reducing public accidents to a considerable extent. All of which is respectfully submitted.
J. A. Robertson, President, John F. Forbes, Vice-President, W. Roy McCahne, Secretary, Chas. E. Hall, Assistant Secretary.
NEW YORK LOCAL COUNCIL.
New York Local Council No. 14 of the National Safety Council was granted a charter in 19x4, but for various reasons, chiefly the continued absence from the City of Mr. Neill who was elected Chair man, the organization was not completed. It was considered ad visable, therefore, early in 1915, thanks to the efforts of our National Secretary, Mr. Cameron, and a few members of the National Safety Congress with what the organization was doing, to reorganize on
a more enduring bdsis. Consequently, on the occasion of one .of Mr. Cameron's visits to the city, March 6, 19x5, an organization committee was appointed, of which Mr. Marcus A. Dow, Safety Agent of the New York Central Lines, was elected chairman. In response to Mr. Dow's invitation, which was sent to all members of the National Safety Council in New York, thirty-five attended the meeting held at the Biltmore Hotel, March 17. At this meeting by-laws were adopted and officers elected.
Under the by-laws '`anyone having his residence or place of busi ness in New York or within fifty miles of New York, where no Local Council exists, is eligible to membership," the purpose being to comprise within the scope of Local Council No. 14 not only New York City proper hut its environs. It was thought that after a sufficient number of members had been secured in leading cities contiguous to New York, Local Council No. 14 would be sponsor for the organization of ^Councils in such localities.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year (until January, 1916) :
Business Meeting
101
Mr. Marcus A. Dow, President, Mr. Carl M. Hansen, First Vice-President,
Mr. Lancaster Morgan, Second Vice-President, Mr. L. A. Larsen, Secretary, Mr. G. M. Cooper, Treasurer, Mr. C. L. Close, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee. Mr. H. A. Bullock, Chairman, Publicity Committee, Mr. J. L. Mnrrie, Chairman, Membership Committee, Mr. W. G. King, Chairman, Program.
The first meeting of the New York Local Council was held April 20, 19x5, at the Railroad Y. M. C. A., which was attended by about 125 members and others interested in the preliminary work o the New York Council. We were privileged to hear at this meeting from our National, President, Mr. Campbell, on the subject "The National Safety Movement," illustrated with slides. This address was followed by a talk given by our President, Mr. Dow, on the subject "Plans of the Local Council."
After the meeting of April 20 plans were made for a second public meeting in June, but due to the rapid approach of hot weather and the absence from the city of many of our active members, it was considered wise to postpone further meetings until Fall.
Another difficulty we experienced was due to the fact that Mr. Mufrie, Chairman of the Membership Committee--perhaps our most important committee--reported about this time that he would be unable to take up the work, consequently, we were left without assistance in this direction. The Local Council has been fortunate, however, in securing the services as Chairman of this important committee of Mr. Roger W. Straus, Secretary of the Labor and Welfare Department of the American Smelting and Refining Com pany. During the summer months this committee has been organ ized upon a working basis and now has nine members, all of them representing companies of considerable influence along safety lines in this vicinity.
At a recent meeting of the Executive Committee it was unan imously decided to consider each member of the Executive Com mittee ,ex-officio a member of the Membership Committee, so that as a matter of fact our Membership Committee is made up of seven teen members of the Council.
102 Fourth Safety Congress
The Membership Committee has been organized arid plans are
being made for the fall and winter campaign. The first gun will
be fired at a meeting to be called Oct. 15, the program for which,
however, has not been definitely planned.
It may interest the other Local Councils to know that our Execu
tive Committee has a regular monthly meeting on the last Friday
of each month throughout the -year, i. e., we do not discontinue
work as an Executive Committee even during the summer months.
The membership of the National Safety Council in New York
has not increased rapidly since the organization of the Local. Council,
chiefly because so little opportunity was given to the Membership
Committee to organize and the fact that officers were not elected
until just preceding the warm weather and the vacation period. So
far as we have been informed, however, but one member has re signed while a number of accessions have been made. We now
have approximately 95 members and 158 representatives. Our
membership covers twenty-five different industries. -Respectfully
submitted,
=
-
L. A. Larsen, Secretary.
* *.--m--;
-N iwilwpji
Practical Application of Common Sense WillAdvance the Happiness, Welfare and Prosperity ofBoth EmployerandEmploye
National Safety Council
General Session
Philadelphia, Fa. October 19, 1915
HON. JOHN PRICE JACKSON, Chairman,
Commissioner, Department of Labor and Wnitry, Harrislbtirgr, Pa.
OHN PRICE JACKSON (Department of Labor and Indus
J try) : You are to be congratulated on having as your presiding officer at the beginning of this session, a man not only com
petent for presiding, but a man whose competence has been demon
strated as a promoter of the welfare of the industrial classes of
this country.
'
As it happened, your -regular presiding officer---not necessarily
your proper one--was detained by order of the chief administrator
of the state; and when the Governor calls, we obey the summons.
I might add that Governor Brumbaugh sincerely hopes that the
National Safety Council will do great good in Pennsylvania. He
is deeply interested in the purpose of this Council and tomorrow
night; at the banquet, will express himself to that effect.
The National Safety Council might be defined as an idea, a
103
----
104 " Fourth Safety Congress
central thought or purpose around
Lincoln Said:
which is gathered an organization of men. What is that idea, or
ideal? It is the practical applying
"I don't think much of a Man who
of common sense in a way that will advance the happiness, wel fare, prosperity and safety of both
is not wiser today
the workers and the employers of
than he was yester day." Avoid Acci
this commonwealth by reducing the number of accidents- that, en danger life and health In our indus
dents Today.
trial establishments and in our
public life. That is the central idea
or ideal, and it is fraught with
fruitful possibilities for the good of humanity.
The President of this organization, with the Secretary and the
board of managers, are devoting much of their time--without com
pensation--to the development of this idea. Scattered all over, the
country are members also deeply concerned in the movement, who
are giving their time, contributing their money, and developing new
centers and circles for the promotion of this work.
If there are any in this audience who are not members of the
National Safety Council--I am not an agent for increasing member
ship, if you please---but if any persons here have ambition to be
of human service, I would especially urge them to associate them
selves in the work of advancing the ideal which is represented
materially by that organization.
I particularly am pleased, as, of course, we all are, that Phila
delphia was selected-for the convention this year. Philadelphia
is preeminently an industrial city. It is a city with thousands of
diversified industries. The machinery of these industries produce
textiles and turn out many other products, great and small, from
timber and the metals. The output of Philadelphia industries is
enormous. It pleases me also that this convention is assembled
within the boundaries of the State of Pennsylvania, which is
preeminently the great industrial leader of the United States.
[Applause.]
ZZ
` I am gratified at the applause with which you have greeted this
sentiment, because I Observed that it came from guests from Ohio,
V frtmiaiiiiTt rfer'lf ; ?-llgggilliM^
-.a it g|ww*gr*i j-
;.
General Session
105
Massachusetts, Wisconsin, . and
residents of other states, so that it is an unbiased tribute to Penn
Be a Man
sylvania.
An especial reason why the National Safety Council should
convene here is that if a circle
"The way to he nothing is to do noth
with a fifty-mile radius were drawn
ing." To be a Safe
from Philadelphia as 3a center, there would probably lie within the circumference the greatest indus
ty First man is to practice what yon
trial community to be found in any
profess.
equal area in our country.
It is especially fitting that this
convention is here this year. The people of Pennsylvania, of
Eastern Pennsylvania, are realizing to a marked degree the necessity
of promoting the safety ideal, both as an economic factor in our
industries and as a humanitarian principle toward our people.
Therefore, this convention: comes to this locality at a time when
its seed will fall upon fertile ground, and, sprouting, will unques
tionably bring forth greatTruit.
Pennsylvania's Workmen's Compensation Act goes into effect on
the first of next year. By that enactment the workingman injured
in his employment, disabled for more than fourteen days, is auto
matically insured and protected against the loss of wages incident
to his injuries. He receives during the period of his disability an
amount to aid him in sustaining himself and family during the time
that he is unable to work. It is a splendid idea that has spread
throughout the United States. And let me add in this connection
that, although we occasionally hear criticisms of such systems, the
great bulk of the manufacturers of this state--and I am more or
less familiar with them--are welcoming this new system. But we
need now, particularly, activity and interest in the promotion of the
Safety First idea, not only because of its high humane purpose, but
also in order that we'may adapt ourselves to the workmen's com
pensation system and operate it successfully without serious financial
injury to .the industrial system.
May I say--although I suppose it was said this morning--that
the members of the National Safety Council will certainly receive.
106 Fourth Safety Congress
in the promotion of their ideal, the full cooperation of the adminis tration of this state and of the department of that administration with which I am connected. I believe the great manufacturing interests and the labor interests of the state will give you the same full cooperation.
We all thank you for coming here, because of the good that you
are going to do us. I was sorry not to be able to introduce Chan cellor McCormick, an old friend o mine, or Mr. Wilson, but I find great pleasure nevertheless in making the next introduction-- a man who has been a leader of this, great movement in Ohio; a man who has been active as a Director of the National Safety Council; a man who has taken part in many local Council meetings; who has given his time and energy to this work without thought of financial recompense; a man who is the brother of a former Governor of this state, who gave large energy and exertion toward obtaining legislation to advance the state in the safety ideal, and who accomplished the enactment of much of that legislation. .1 know we will all take great pleasure in listening to one who is an old friend to many of us--Mr. Stephen W. Tener. [Applause.]
SAFETY AS AN INDISPENSABLE PART OF AN EFFI
CIENT MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATION.
Stephen W. Tener (Manager, Accident and Pension Depart
ment, American Steel and Wire Company) : ,1 think I am 51 per
cent correct in saying that the result of anything undertaken by an
efficient manufacturing operation, must, to prove that it is indis
pensable to that operation, be reflected in either the cost, quality
or quantity of the goods produced, and.part of what I have to say
to you today has to do with the saving in dollars and cents through
the safety movement, accomplished on the one hand by design and
on the other incidentally. I am purposely omitting any reference
to a safety organization as a humanitarian agent; that important
feature of the work might well be made the subject of a special
paper.
LI
Of prime importance in the way of a money saving deliberately
sought for- through safety Is the matter of compensation paid to
workmen, either directly or through the medium of an insurance
.company or a state fund, under the provisions of the various
Workmen's Compensation Acts.
General Session
107
It is obvious that the maximum of safety is absolutely indis pensable to a manufacturing establishment operating as. a self insurer, as the benefit resulting from a reduction of accidents is immediate. A self insurer in most of the states, not being required to. pay a premium or pay into any fund in advance, suffers no draft on his exchequer until an accident has actually occurred. This theory of insurance of letting every tub stand on its own bottom has followed in the train of workmen's acts and has given rise to merit rating. In this connection, as an indication of the absolute necessity of the highest type of safety work, if the employer ex pects to profit by the merit rating schedule, a Massachusetts Com mission has the following to say:
"Reductions in any rate must be justified by the removal of causes of accidents which were previously present," and
"It must also be kept in mind that the goal of schedule rating is the elimination of those accidents. which, can be prevented."
Schedule rating means, if it means anything, that the manual rate represents simply the best actuarial guess. Policy insurers, as dis tinctive from self insurers, also realize handsome returns through merit rates based on the elimination or reduction of accident haz ards. This is especially true of the mutual insurance companies. I have knowledge of wire drawing plants carrying coverage in a mutual being given a reduction from the established manual rate of 15 per cent, publishers of 16 7-10 per cent, emery wheel manu
facturers of 267-10 per cent, jute manufacturers of 457-20 per cent. In one case where the merit rate was 25 per cent under the manual rate, this reduction having received the stamp of ap proval of the state insurance commissioner as the result of an inde pendent investigation ordered by him, the mutual company carrying the risk returned to the policy holder at the end of the year a cash dividend of 30 per cent amounting to $15,000 with further substan tial dividends to come out of the surplus. This single example is an all-sufficient endorsement of industrial safety work, showing
as it does a very substantial cash return. In the study and application of 'Workmen's Compensation Acts
we are apt to regard these statutes as being merely legal vehicles for ascertaining the amount of and method of paying compensation to which an injured man or the dependents of an employe losing
his life in the service are entitled, whereas the very first words
108 Fourth Safety Congress
of the title of the Indiana Act
EFFICIENCY
reads: "An act to promote the pre vention of industrial accidents."
The Massachusetts title includes
Must be proven in
these words "And to the preven
the cost, quality or quantity of tjhe
tion of such injuries" and Califor nia reads "Providing for safe and hygienic conditions." A manufac
goods produced or in effectiveness of safety work.
turing establishment operating un der these laws without a well organized safety department will lay itself open to adverse criticism
to say the least.
Let us now consider some ex
amples of substantial cash returns derived incidentally from
safety work, though the actual amount saved would be difficult
of ascertainment.
For many years There was but one method employed to stop a
gear driven wire drawing block--the foot treadle--and on account
of its location the wire drawer in operating the treadle was ex
posed to an acute accident hazard when there was a snarl of wire
either on the block or on the floor reel. A few years ago an auxil
iary block stop was devised which can be operated by hand at a
point remote from the block and which also operates automatically
through the tipping over of the floor reel. This auxiliary stop is the
most important safety device that has been introduced into the
wire drawing trade, and in addition to being a veritable life saver
it has reduced scrap, through fewer strands of wire being broken,
has increased the output materially and these advantages have been
reflected in the earnings of the men in a very agreeable manner.
Safeguards of skeleton type made of pipe, angle iron or woven
wire fabric around the crank, eccentric and crossheads of engines
have been superseded by tight dustproof covers made of sheet
steel, with the result that the waste oil from these oiled parts is
confined and controlled, the parts of the engine subjected to fric
tion are protected from dust and grit, so also is the surplus oil,
and a pronounced saving has been effected by the recovery of more
of the waste oil and a lessened expense in the filtration of it.
Substantial and roomy overhead oilers' platforms, easily accessible
Egjasa*-
liMW-: :*Zwri?M"~ :
nlSl..
mmmmam
General Session
109
by stairways, erected in the first
instance as a safety measure solely, have greatly increased the ground
Compensation
that the oiler can cover in a given
time.
--
In a wire nail machine--due to
the adjustment and position of a
"An act to pro mote the prevention
certain cam eccentric--the ham mer stock will at times slide for
ward voluntarily, so to speak, some times breaking the dies when they
of injuries'*-----this is the theory of all upto-date safety legis
come together and not infrequently lacerating or cutting off a-finger of
lation.
the operator who might at the time
be adjusting the dies. This accident hazard, both to the person of
the operator and to the steel dies, has been entirely eliminated by the
simple device of a pin inserted in the hammer stock.
Staging planks of a laminated structure have proven to be ever
so much safer than ordinary planks, and as they will outlast planks
many times over, their use effects an economy in lumber.
Automatic couplers on mold buggies and open hearth charging
cars, primarily a safety device pure and simple, the suggestion to
introduce which was at first adversely criticised, have not only
proved their value as a safety feature, but have as well proven to
be a tremendous saver of time in handling cars.
As in the case of the auxiliary stop on the wire drawing block,
previously mentioned, the same idea applied to galvanizing frames
has greatly reduced the production of scrap in that particular de
partment.
Long spouted oilers in conjunction with glass bodied oil cups
are time savers. A department which ordinarily took a day to
oil can now be covered in not over two hours and in this cate
gory may be placed the long handled electric lamp remover and the
cut out lamp hanger, both of which were first introduced as safety
measures.
The suggestion to introduce vacuum systems for cleaning lime
dust laden floors, on the principle of the now common vacuum
carpet cleaner which has become a household necessity, was at
first looked upon with skepticism if not scorn, but this device ha<=
110
Fourth Safety Congress
resulted in an entirely unlocked for return in dollars and cents
in that the lime thus recovered is bagged and sold as a byproduct. But When all is said and done, when the final figures have been
cast up and the money saving of all safety devices assessed at its true value, there "remains to my mind a superior and overwhelming reason indicating that safety work is indispensable to an efficient manufacturing organization. I refer to the fact that the safety _ movement, particularly in the larger corporations, has been the most potent factor introduced into the industries during the past five years in bringing employer and -employe together and in cre ating a better feeling between them.
Old-line firms, or partnerships and limited co-partnerships, have practically disappeared when there is _ariy considerable amount of capital invested, and the advent of big business and corporate man agement brought to an end the dominating influence of the owner or proprietor, which held sway during the days of small partner ships. In the old days the employer, -who was the owner, through force of circumstances kept in close touch with his employees, knew many of them by name and between them there existed a certain degree of familiarity.
With the coming of large corporations the owner disappeared from view and to the employees he became a mythical personage. Now, under the beneficent influence of up-to-date safety organiza tions, the vision of the employer, the man who formerly took a per sonal interest in the welfare of his employees, is again appearing on the industrial horizon, principally through the work of interlock ing and overlapping safety committees, organized through all de partments of the manufacturing establishment, these committees being called together for an interchange of views and to consider suggestions, looking toward an elimination or reduction in the acci dent hazard. A superintendent seeking ways and means of re ducing cost, improving the quality or increasing the output of a certain department, discusses the subject with the head of - that department and perhaps one or two of the latter's lieutenants. Naturally he does not discuss the subject with the foreman of another "department, as the latter would not/be possessed of any superior knowledge, nor would he be directly interested; The super intendent wbuld not send a committee from Department A to De partment B in an effcSrt to effect economies along the line of the
i '&&-J
- General Session
111
three factors mentioned, but it is through the effort of such inter
department committees as this, that the safety movement in a plant
progresses. Safety organizations in a manufacturing plant handle
a subject of interest to all employees from the superintendent to
the laborer. In this connection I wish to cite just one case--and
such cases might well be multiplied: A laborer, unable to speak
the English language, engaged at cutting scrap on a pair of alligator
shears, -was asked by the safety committee of the mill then on duty
if he had any recommendationsto make that would reduce the acci
dent hazard with the operation of the shears exposed. He recom
mended that a certain guard on the knife of the shears be made a
little higher or a little longer. This simple recommendation was
immediately complied with and he was told not to hesitate about
speaking to his foreman should he at any time discover other acci
dent hazards which could be eliminated. This man was particularly
pleased over the fact that the committee and his foreman, through
their action, recognized in him a potentiality of value quite beyond
his value as a laborer receiving the lowest daily stipend. He felt
proud of the fact that he. had been consulted, and it seems to me
that an cases of this kind the true meaning of the "dignity of labor" `
is well exemplified.
A few days ago I asked a superintendent of a plant employing
one thousand men to name the subject of all conferences held at the
plant at which representatives from all departments were in attend
ance. His reply was "Safety matters only." I wish to repeat and
emphasize this question and answer, for they contain the idea---the
thought to which I am now trying in a feeble way to give expres
sion.
'
A Safety First organization is decidedly inclusive in character, and
therein, lies its main strength. Take for instance the present meet
ing. In this room are gathered together men from all over the
United States, representing substantially every branch of industry,
with a large contingent of persons who, while not representing in
dustry, are more, of less dependent upon it, all gathered together
for a common cause. Compare this with the usual run of conven
tions. I recently examined a list of eighty-one conventions booked
by the Convention Board of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
Not -one of these -conventions bears the comprehensive character that
is found in the meeting of the National-Safety CbtsnoL For-in-
112 Fourth Safety Congress
stance the Electric Vehicle Asso
RESULTS
ciation of America, being of interest only to Electric Vehicle
manufacturers, dealers and the
The Safety First Movement has founded the great est Get-Together Club in America--
usual camp followers; likewise the National Brick Manufacturers' Association and more especially the great American Iron and Steel Institute, which will meet in Cleve land on Friday of this week, an
and for a worthy
institute of predominating influ
purpose.
--
ence, yet with an interest confined to the iron and steel trade. What
may be said of the inclusiveness
of this National Safety Council meeting applies with equal force
to a safety organization in a single industry.
I have seen painted in twelve-inch letters on the wall of a fore
man's dining-room in a large plant the slogan "Harmony-Team
Work-Success."
Every employer of labor knows and appreciates the value of
harmony and team work, and from my point of view these two
attributes can best be developed by the bringing together of all
classes, of employees and the employer, thus providing a channel
for an open and intimate exchange of views, recommendations and
suggestions and this is exactly what safety conferences are accom
plishing. On the Safety First movement has been founded the
greatest Get Together club in America, and if no other reason was
advanced to prove that safety was an indispensable part of an effi
cient manufacturing organization this alone would suffice. (Ap
plause.)
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SAFETY IDEA.
S.Chancellor B. McCormick (University of Pittsburg) : Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am sorry that owing to an engagement at Easton this evening it is necessary for me to take an afternoon train and, therefore, I appreciate very much the oppor tunity to say what I have to say now, much as I regret not being here when Dr. Jackson arrived.
General Session
113
I was quite pleasedj Hr. Presi '-----------------------------------------------------
dent, to note in your address this morning- the reference to the con
RESULTS
ception of individuality and of
liberty which is entertained in Great Britain and in Germany;
It is our business
that of Great Britain Tbeing our own. And as I realize that circum stances in the making of this nation
to develop a social system which will
in its past history not only caused us to adopt the English conception, but to put emphasis upon it, owing
be as efficient as any in all the world.
to the necessity of developing a
new country, laying foundations
at the very begiiining for our institutions and for our industries--
for everything, indeed, that we have--it is perfectly obvious that
we must face a problem which is peculiarly our own. We know, too,
from what we have accomplished and from the spirit that is in us,
that we, even though a nation of individualists, will never be
content until we have for ourselves realized the efficiency that
belongs to the system in Germany. In other words, it is our business
as individual men in this country, controlling all its destinies, upon
our individual initiative to develop a social system which will be
our own and whch will be as efficient as any in all the world.
Sometimes, perhaps, we have thought that we might haye accom
plished things which we have not accomplished; that we might have
paid attention to matters which have been put aside. Yet I myself
have never found it in my heart to express one word of criticism
for any past failure in the presence of the splendid achievement
which has been ours during our past history. It only means that
there are tilings for us to do that have not yet been done. If, for
instance, we have solved the great problem of production, as very
largely we have solved it, and have neglected other things in that
process, it only means that we have developed a kind of men in
America capable of 'solving any problem, even the more difficult
one of equitable distribution of the rewards of industry, and solving
that problem for the well-being of all our people. [Applause.]
Regard for human safety is, of course, no new thing, yet the
safety idea as we know it now and as we are trying to develop it
114
Fourth Safety Congress
now is relatively a new thing. It begins, of course, in the instinct
of self-preservation common to all people and all animals. In its
present form, as we are now seeking to develop it, it is really one
of the finest products of our modern civilization. Passing over
from the selfish regard for one's own personal safety, it is now coming to be a tiling which, in this Congress and in other like
assemblies, we are trying to work out for all people, and especially
for those whose employment involves hazards which must constantly
be guarded against.
It is indeed a far cry from Cain's question: "Am I my brother's
keeper?" down through the period of the cavedweller, through the
long period in most nations when all life has been held lightly, and
in some where it is scarcely valued at all, on down to this present
time when infinite care is taken to guard and preserve it. But care
and concern for life are an evidence of the development and perfect ing of our modem civilization--just as it is the lack of it, where-
ever it appears, which indicates that the civilization of which we
have in past times been so proud may yet lack certain elements to make it complete.
This increased regard for human safety, for the conservation of
all kinds of human resources, has not only adequate but most obvious
motives. It springs, first of all, from a sort of selfishness, in that
many people--most people, perhaps--cannot any longer endure to
see or to imagine unnecessary injury or suffering on the part of other people. It is a thing, therefore, which involves imagination;
just exactly as it is the lack of imagination rather than cruelty,
perhaps, which has in times past made people indifferent to the
hurt and sufferings of others. As an example, when Hayward, a
few years ago, told the story of the different crimes or murders
which had been committed, his seeming indifference to the suffering
he caused indicated the absence of imagination, inability to put himself in another's place, rather than bloodthirsty savagery, which
it seemed to be. Only as the American people -develop fineness of
imagination shall we be able to develop fineness of sympathy; and
both are essential to the perfecting of the social order as it ought
to become.
=
Another illustration of this lack and of our consequent failure
fo see the larger relationships of conduct is that of the man who
stays in his office on election day because he is very busy and
General Session
115
cannot spare the time, and that of the other man, an election officer,
perhaps, who will count a certain number of votes for his friend
which were not cast for him. Neither of these men is necessarily
a bad man. One is simply overzealous for his business, failing' to
think of his country; the other is simply overzealous for his friend,
failing to understand the significance of what he does. Neither of
these two men has permitted his imagination to picture to him the
part democracy must play in human affairs, and that if it shall
ultimately triumph it must prove itself, must show that it has the
sovereign right to be--and that it can do this only as .each citizen
holds his suffrage as a sacred trust for humanity. Neither of these
men realizes that each, in his own way, is thrusting a knife into
the very heart of democracy, and is thus destroying the hope of
the world. This is perhaps the first arid fundamental basis of this new move
ment for the safety of mankind. Of course, it is also based upon
a juster conception of man himself as a social, over against a mere
individual, factor. Individuality has been our glory in America in
the days gone. It will continue to be our glory in the future; but I
conceive that for full realization of the individual there must, from now on, be a fuller recognition of the social dependence and rela
tionship of men in society. After all, a man is of very little worth
if he stands by himself. " It is only as he touches his fellows that he develops capacity to "achieve. His primary obfigaturn'is not to
himself, nor to his talents, nor to his training, but to the people
among wHom he lives and who chiefly make possible, not his success
only, but his developed personality. The recognition of this fact,
ever growing in this present day, is one of the fundamental ideas
of the safety movement.
__
.
Again, men are coming more clearly to realize, at least in America,
that an individual life is an indispensable economic factor in human
affairs. The mbst costly thing in all the world is a human life.
Even a tree has great value, not because of the uses to which, hewn
and polished, it may be put, but because in order to produce it there
must be a certain number of years of growth in the process; and
the ordinary man dislikes to see a tree cut down unless it is' necessary
to do if, just from that fact. To produce a man--again 6we must get our imagination to work--to produce a man it is hot only
necessary that his parents shall deny themselves in the earlier and
116
Fourth Safety Congress
tender years of childhood and boy
Developing Men
hood, but it is necessary that the individual boy himself shall go
through a certain process of study,
We have devel oped men capable of
of training, of development, sim ply in order that he may become a man. When one adds to this the
solving any problem
cost of making him a skilled man,
-----even that of equi table distribution of
able to do the world's work, one can very readily understand how priceless a thing a man is econom
rewards of industry.
ically, and how absolutely criminal
it is that there should be any un
necessary waste of the life so
costly in its production. This fact constitutes at least one ele
ment of the awful crime that is going on over in Europe today.
A person may comment freely upon the situation in Europe with
out attempting, at this time, to apportion blame for it to any'par
ticular nation. We look aghast at the thing simply from the eco
nomic sandpoint; that nations are willing to pay the cost of pro
ducing men, only to hurl them into the mouth of destruction, with
out the possibility of renewal for a long number of years to come.
It is a crime for. which there can be no justification save only
the justification that without it right, the fundamental principle
of righteousness arid justice and truth, would be forever sacri
ficed.
Thus we can. very readily understand that through the develop
ment of a finer sympathy, a more vivid imagination; through the
better conception ofthe social organism of man; and through the
more perfect realization of the economic cost of every factor which
makes up the whole scheme of present day' living, we are mming
to learn what underlies die safety movement, whereby larger effort
is made to conserve human life and human value up to the very
limit of ability.
r
Of course, the result will always be short of desire, for with the
best of purpose and effort, human carelessness will perhaps always
operate. Always, perhaps, there will be the miner entering the
mine with uncovered light; the reckless man driving his automobile
regardless of danger to pedestrian; the mechanic who is careless
General Session
117
through very familiarity with the
tools he uses. It is our business, however, to reduce the number of
The N. S. C.
that kind of people down to the
very minimum, so that there shall come to be, in every department of activity in this nation of ours,
Typifies a "larger effort to conserve
a maximum of care for one's self and one's neighbor, every man conscientiously cooperating with the men who are giving their time and their thought and their money to the conservation of human re
human life and human value up to the very limit of abil__ * xty.
sources.
What a splendid idea it is, when we come to think of it, this
new idea of safety and Safety First; this new idea of the value of
a man! We in this country have dreams, you. know, of how we
are to be the leader among the nations; dreams of how we are to
take the first place, not in the resources we have or in the power
we can wield or in the number of our population, but the first place
among the nations in our'willingness and ability to bring good to
the peoples of the world- Now, if we are to realize this ambition
to be first, it will be because the ideas we originate and work out
into our national life are the very best ideas in all the world. We
are a very great people, a very altruistic people, a very intelligent
people--perhaps the most intelligent people and most altruistic people
on the face of this earth. But leadership requires more than good
ness of intention and more than widely disseminated intelligence.
There must be the ability To lay hold on new ideas and work, them
out, the ability to think through propositions, economic, political,
industrial, social, ethical. We must develop in ourselves this power
if we are ever to come to the place we dream of, the place of leader
ship among the nations of the earth, and if ever we are in America
to demonstrate the-worth of democracy and uphold its right to be
the servant and political savior of mankind- We must solve the
problems of America before we can proclaim our fitness to solve
the problems and heal the hurts of the people of other nations.
The safety movement is one of these great ideas which America
must foster and develop, for it concerns not human life only, but
118
-- Fourth Safety Congress
human happiness, human wellbeing-, human society. It not only
begets good will between employer and employe--and an investment
of good will is the most productive and profitable of all investments
--but it aids the state in the care of dependents and in every way
promotes the social and economic prosperity of the people. Of
course, it cannot be realized quickly, nor realized in its completeness
until we come to see that the safety idea extends to the mental
development of men, to the cultivation in them of love for the
beautiful, and to the care of soul and spirit, and includes all that
relates to man in the entire circle of his being and relationship
destiny. But in the measure in which we come to understand these
things, in the measure in which we come to appraise rightly lumn-n
life as God has ordained it, in the measure in which we care for
it in its entirety, in that measure will this organization accomplish the purpose for which it has been called into being.
It was because it seemed to me it was one of the great movements
of modem times that in the very beginning of it I connected myself
with it, and pledge myself to aid in every , way that the society may
accomplish its mission of good will and economic and social well
being in the country we love. [Applause.]
President Campbell : The next address in order as shown by
our program will be one entitled "Public Safety and the Railroads."
We have one of our leading railroad safety experts who will enter
tain us upon that subject. I will ask Mr. W. C. Wilson, claims
attorney of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Com
pany, to give his paper.
-
PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE RAILROADS.
Mr. W. C. Wilson (Claims Attorney, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company), Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: Safety First, in its capacity as first aid to the uninjured, perhaps rightly may be considered to be a conspiracy to rob the doctor and the undertaker. As its objects are the preservation of life and limb, and therefore the pursuit of happiness, it may be said to fall strictly . within our constitutional rights and prerogatives. It is at least one form of railroad activity in which a man can engage without danger of going to jail. The Sherman anti-trust law does not touch even the hem of its garment ; standpatters do not condemn it, even though
^irTuigr&iMwr.t 4V>-iMf*a.aia3ii,j2iLr
^Masag-jal
General Session
119
it is a new fangled notion. The Progressives have not' only em braced it but have appropriated it for campaign: purposes. Labor unions generally have accepted its principles and the Interstate Com merce Commission has placed its approval upon it by saying in its 1912 report:
"Great possibilities in the solution of the problem of acci dent prevention lie in the so-called Safety Committees which have been organized on many roads. By making Safety First the dominant idea in the minds of employees and continually pointing out methods of its attainment ah important step in the right direction is taken."
It was not so very long ago that railroading in this country was in its infancy. Roadbeds, motive power and equipment were primi tive. But the prophets of those days, with an abiding faith in the future and a courage which knew no retreat, ran their rails through the valleys, over the mountains and across the plains, adopting the standards of construction then in vogue. No sooner had they been built then the mighty and unceasing rush of population began to overtax the railroad facilities and require readjustments to meet, these increasing demands. From that day to this the railroads of this country have been in a state of evolution. The engineering departments have been called upon to build and rebuild their lines. The motive power and equipment departments have been obliged to revise their specifications again and again. The operating de partments have been pushed to the limit to devise new and improved methods to meet the requirements of a traffic which was growing by leaps and bounds. Then again, these conditions imposed finan cial obligations which many roads were unable to stand. Receiver ships were common and even the strongest were, at times, in danger of default if not bankruptcy. Nevertheless, under these trying con ditions it must be conceded that the development of the American railroad to its present state of efficiency has been the greatest tri umph yet achieved by American genius, aided by indomitable pluck
and perseverance; It is evident that, under these circumstances, the refinements of
railroading would receive" scant attention. It was railroading in the raw, and millions of property were squandered and countless human
120
Fourth Safety Congress
lives and limbs were sacrificed to
Safety Work
this untamed juggernaut. It re-, quires more stable conditions than
have existed in which to cultivate
Is an investment
the organized humanities. Human life was doubtless as sacred in
of good will in the most productive and
former days as it is now but there were not so many safeguards thrown around it. The Safety
profitable of all busi ness enterprises.
First movement itself was an evolution, and when the time was ripe it stepped out, as an angel of
light, into an industrial world that
was ready to receive it--an old and
yet new revelation of the duty of man to man.
Safety First as a distinct and organized movement started on
American railroads in 1910, when Mr. Richards of the Chicago &
North Western sounded the bugle call and began his campaign. -
Since that time its growth has been phenomenal until at the present
time practically no railroad in this country, big or little, is without
some form of safety organization.
While it may not be strictly germane to the topic assigned to me
I believe as a necessary prelude something should be said about
the development of the movement thus far.
It is hardly necessary for me to say in this presence that we
found the personal equation to be the most important factor; but
how to reach and influence it effectively was the most difficult prob
lem to be solved. Naturally, the first efforts were directed toward
correcting unsafe physical conditions along the road. These were
open to observation. -Most of them could be corrected by the ex
penditure of a little time and-money. A great and important work
has been accomplished in this regard. It was early recognized that
the great body of employees must he reached and enlisted in the
cause before any fundamental success could be achieved. For this
purpose mass meetings are held at principal division points, at which
speeches are made by officers and men, and stereopticon views and
moving pictures displayed, illustrating the safety idea.
In addition to mass meetings the men are being reached by Safety
First literature. Bulletins, pamphlets and magazines are being pub-
General Session
121
lished and distributed broadcast among employees and their fami lies. Out of this abundance of talking and writing has ^developed
A CONSPIRACY
a new class of literature, earnest, virile and abounding in hot shot which has caused the railroad man
Safety First, in its capacity as first aid
to sit up and take notice.
to the uninjured, is a
This warfare against^ careless ness and inefficiency has developed a new ideal among railroad em
conspiracy to rot> the doctor and the un
ployees, which is writing its record
dertaker.
every day in improving! the con
ditions under which men work and
in bringing to the. railroad men of this country a clearer vision of
their duty to themselves, their families and the public at large, in
the protection of life and limb and in the prevention of avoidable
accidents.
2
The results are most encouraging. The latest authoritative statis
tics available are furnished by the advance sheets of the report of the
Interstate Commerce Commission covering casualties of all classes on steam railroads for the quarter ending June 30, 1915. It says:
"As compared with returns for the corresponding quarter of 19x4 the figures show, for train accidents, a decrease of 18 in the number of persons killed and of 561 injured; for other than train accident a decrease of 162 killed and of 1,722 injured; and for
railroad industrial accidents an increase of 14 killed and a decrease of 2,109 injured, making a net decrease, all classes, of 166 in. the number killed and of 4,392 in the number injured."
There was a' decrease'Of 185 in the number of collisions and a decrease of 443 in the number of derailments. As compared with the corresponding quarter of X914 there was a decrease of 655 in the number of train accidents. Doubtless a number of elements have "contributed to these results* but in the face of -such a splendid record who shall say that the Safety First Movement on American railroads has. not made good, or that all honor should not be given
to the officers and men who by their effective co-operation have helped to secure such a conspicuous victory.
But what has the public done in reducing casualties on the rail-
122 Fourth Safety Congress
roads? Practically nothing. Seventy-two per cent of the fatalities
charged against the railroads for the year ending June 30, 1914,
were neither employes nor passengers; they were outsiders, repre
senting the general public. Twelve times as many people were
killed in highway crossing accidents as were killed in train acci
dents. Nearly three times as many trespassers were killed as em
ployees, and this includes the whole body of railroad employees of
all classes.
It is evident, therefore, that the public should be vitally inter
ested in this railroad safety problem. It may not concern the
man in the street what conditions exist in the operation of the
adjacent factory, but he can not assume that attitude with refer
ence to railroad operation. When a passenger, he places the safety
of his life and limb in the care of the c mpany. He has a right
to rely upon the soundness of its operating rules. But the rules
are dead and worthless things if they are not executed by compe
tent and careful employees. An efficient railroad employee, there
fore, is both a public and a private asset. He will observe .the
operating rules not only because they are rules but because they
are right; not only because irregularities may subject him to disci
pline but because he has adopted the principle of Safety First
as his rule of conduct.
But building up and maintaining a body of careful and efficient
employees does not solve the problem. We can control our own
employees to a degree but we can not control the public. Rail
road efficiency is matched by public inefficiency. RaiirOfid care
fulness is neutralized by public carelessness. Casualties to em
ployees are going down; casualties to the public are going up.
Do you know that of the 265 passengers killed on American
railroads for the year ending June 30, 1914, only 85 were killed
in train accidents? What happened to the 180? Forty-eight were
killed by falling from cars, 69 while getting on or off cars, 47 by
being struck or run over at stations or in yards, and 16 from mis
cellaneous causes. Without attempting to relieve the railroad com
panies from any responsibility, which may rest upon them for these
casualties it is safe to say that a large percentage of them could
have been avoided by the exercise of greater care on the part of
the injured persons and that many of them were due to their rank
carelessness.
~
General Session
123
How did it happen that 69 passengers were killed and 2,788 pas
sengers were injured in getting on or off cars ? Of the death cases
unquestionably the great majority were caused by the passengers
trying to get on or off moving cars. The injury cases came from
a variety of causes: Too great haste, baggage and bundles which
obscured the sight and occupied the hands, the distraction of babes
in arms and children, inattention to the tread of the steps, and the
. distance of the lower step of the car to the station platform, high
heels and narrow skirts, and in addition to this a natural confusion
of mind of the infrequent traveler in boarding and alighting under
strange conditions.
How do you account for the fact that 48 passengers were killed
by falling from trains, exclusive of those injured while boarding
or alighting?
_^
An examination of the record would show that in most cases the
passenger unnecessarily placed himself in a position of danger.
These were caused by passengers standing on car platforms while
the train was in motion and especially by passengers standing on
car steps long before the train had reached their station, so that
the moment it stopped, indeed usually before it stopped, they could
jump and run for home or office.
How did it happen that 47 passengers were killed by being struck
and run over at stations and yards? Some of these accidents were
due doubtless to the carelessness and sometimes the extreme care
lessness of railroad employees, but the greater part were caused by
indifference to danger on the part of those injured. When not,
fenced in passengers will swarm over the tracks, sometimes at con
siderable distance from the station platform, and take all kinds of
chances of being struck by moving cars or engines, just because
they follow an idle fancy to stroll around and kill time. Time sur
vives, but they do not.
Based upon these official records, supplemented by the experience
of all those who are charged with the duty of investigating such,
matters, it is clear that too often there is a spirit of utter reckless
ness on the part of the traveling public which materially helps to
swell the list of casualties on American railroads.
There is another prolific-class of accidents in which the public
has a joint responsibility with the railroads1--those which occur at
highway crossings. In the year ending June 30, 1914, 1,147 persons
124 -Fourth Safety Congress
were killed and 2,935 were injured
TRESPASSERS
at railroad highway crossings--a total of over 4,000. The railroads
are making large yearly expendi
Seventy-two per
tures in the elimination of grade
cent of railroad fa talities for 1914 are not chargeable to passengers or em ployes, but to tres
crossings and this policy will be consistently pursued even though at great cost. Frequently the un willingness of municipalities to join with the railroads, and some times their active opposition, have
passers.
1
held up progress in this direction to the disadvantage of all con
cerned. In addition to this work
of elimination new and improved safety devices are being installed
and the number of flagmen and crossing gates or barriers has been
largely increased. Some roads, notably the Long Island, have dis
played large signs and posters at important crossings warning-the
public against careless driving. But notwithstanding these ad
mittedly improved - safety conditions, there will be an increasing
number of highway crossing accidents, due to the perilous situation
caused by the phenomenal growth of the automobile traffic.
There is scarcely an issue of the daily press which does not con
tain the record of some horrible automobile accident at a railroad
crossing. With everything in his favor--a machine presumably
under perfect control, no horses to become frightened and unruly
and the power to stop almost instantly, if exercising even a mini
mum of caution--the driver, disregarding warning signals even to
the extent of often plunging through the safety gates, sends his
machine upon the tracks only to he struck by the swift and power
ful locomotive and hurled to his death.
The courts have taken cognizance of this increasing peril, not only
to the automobiiist but to the traveling public. The United States
Circuit Court of Appeals, in a recent decision, said:
"With the coming into use of the automobile, new questions as to
reciprocal rights and duties of the public and that vehicle have and
will continue to arise. At no place are those relations more im
portant than at the grade crossings of railroads. The main consid
eration hitherto with reference to such crossings has been the
km* ii;*'5 -wl
t 1' 1
j '^- -- - v^~ *-
1:.
j jP5jBSgjja^| v ,,; _rr.
'f.'~ ^-f i
.i
General Session
125
danger to those crossings A pon- f`
' ' :
derous, swiftly moving locomotive followed by a heavy train, is sub-
WGrdaUdIec vCrUroasSsMinIggSs
jected to slight danger by a. crossing foot passenger, or a span of horses and a vehicle; but, when
__________ Twelve tirmoes as
-the passing vehicle is a ponderous
steel structure, it threatens not only the safety of its own occu-
_m__a__n__y,, _people we__r_e_ killed in crossing ac-
pants, but also those on the collid-
mg tram. And when to the perfect control of such a machine is added
cc;idaeennttss ^as wweerree kkiilllleedd in train accidents.
the factor of high speed, the temp-
_________
tation to dash over a track at a
terrific speed makes the automobile, unless carefully controlled, a
new and grave element of crossing danger. On the other hand,
when properly controlled, this powerful machine possesses capa
bilities contributing to safety. When a driver of horses attempts to make a crossing and is suddenly confronted by a train, difficulties
face him to which the automobile is not subject. He cannot drive
close to the track, or stop there, without risk of his horse frighten
ing, shying, or overturning his vehicle. He cannot well leave his
horse standing, and if He goes forward to the track to get an unobstructed view and look for coming trains he might have to
lead his horse or team with him. These precautions the automo
bile driver can take, carefully, and deliberately, and without the
nervousness communicated by a frightened horse. It will thus be
seen an automobile driver has the opportunity, if the situation is
one of uncertainty, to settle that uncertainty on the side of safety,
with less inconvenience, no danger, and more surely than the driver
of a horse. Such being the crse, the law, both from the standpoint of his own safety and the menace his machine is to the safety of
others, should, in meeting these new conditions, rigidly hold the au
tomobile driver to .such reasonable care and precaution as go to his own safety and that of the traveling public/5
The terrible toll which is being paid each year by this class of
accidents demands that remedial action be taken both by the rail
roads and the public. During the year ending June 30, 1914, 5,471 persons were killed
126
Fourth Safety Congress
and 6,354 were injured while trespassing on railroad property. In spite of all that has been said and done to minimize this evil the slaughter goes on undiminished. It seems even to flaunt itself with brazen effrontery, asking what we are going to do about it. Primarily the responsibility must rest with the public. This is so because the people make the laws and in the last analysis public officials will administer the law according to public sentiment. It may surprise you to know that thirty-five states have no laws specifically prohibiting trespassing on railroad tracks. Some have such laws but with penalties so trivial as to make them a farce; if not, then the average magistrate will proceed to make them a farce on his own hook.
Nowhere in Europe is there any such record of casualties. Heavy penalties are enforced against trespassing on railroad tracks and as a result the number of injuries due to railroad trespassing is only about 5 per cent of the number in this country.
This evil is nation wide. It has been characterized by Mr. Marcus A. Dow in his striking article on the subject as "A Nation's Neglect," but notwithstanding the many efforts which have been made to improve the situation it is still the nation's neglect in all essential particulars.
In securing the highest standard of safety in railroad operation the cooperation of the public is essential. Such cooperation must not stop at simply wishing the railroads good luck in their task. The people as a whole must he trained along safety lines and the laws and the courts in administering the laws must embody and enforce safety standards which represent the enlightened convic tions of the people. There must .be the same painstaking effort in the education of the public as has been put forth by industrial con cerns in the education of their employees. The fact is that the people as a whole have lagged far behind in this safety propaganda. As an illustration, laws have been enacted recently with the object in view of relieving the traveler on the highway of any legal duty to look or listen at railroad crossings under certain circumstances. As an easy way of avoiding crossing accidents it is argued in some quarters that the railroads eliminate grade crossings. It might also be said with equal force that the way to stop a drought is to make it rain.
There must not only be cooperation, but it must be organized
'i&' j -
i; > w?&f r*$ ;
3?%xa gswsgpr* -
nyrtg*-
General Session
127
cooperation. Sporadic efforts will produce no lasting effect. The problem is nation wide and too big for individual or disassociated action and I believe the National Safety Council is in a position, to wield a powerful influence in molding public opinion in organiz
ing the people in a campaign against the crime o carelessness. May we speed the day when the ideals for which this Council
stands shall he realized, when railroads and all employers of labor will vie with the people and public officials who represent the people in reducing the perils to life and limb which lurk about us on every hand, and in the prevention of these avoidable casualties which are such a blot upon the fair name of pur country. (Applause.)
President Campbell: Our next paper will be on "The SafetyIdea as Related to Credit Granting," by Mr. Charles E. Meek of the National Fire Protective Association.
THE SAFETY IDEA AS RELATED TO CREDIT GRANTING
Charles E. Meek (American National Bank, New York; Presi dent of National Fire Protection Association, and Past President of National Association of Credit Men) : Definite results are always welcome to those seriously interested in the work of an organization like the National Safety Council. :
Your records are doubtless filled with a mass of evidence of such a convincing nature that the doubting Thomases, of which there is always a plentiful crop, are in danger of. being persuaded that there really is something of value in. cooperative action.
My eyes were opened as to what the safety movement really means when a few days ago I visited a large manufacturing plant, and in the course of conversation, with the company's -financial manager was told that about eighteen months ago the company added to its staff of experts a safety engineer, and that the result was highly satisfactory, for at the end of the fiscal year it was found that less than one hundred dollars had been paid out to injured employees. -I was told that every inch of this vast plant, where thousands of men are employed, had been treated to a full dose of safety methods. This treatment not only produced actual results iti reducing the chances of accidents to the minimum, but it eased the minds of the managers, giving them more opportunity for the development of their regular work. The safety expert of
irtlam
128
Fourth Safety Congress
this company is consulted regard
Safety Doctor
ing every proposed change in the plant and its machinery, and noth
ing is left undone for the protec
"Every inch of the
tion of life and limb. There is an important consider
vast plant had been treated to a full dose
ation which should not be lost sight of, namely, the effect of safety methods on the expense
of safety methods*' with splendid results.
account. The highly successful manufacturer is the one who is able to keep down the cost of pro
duction; protection against acci
dents will help to accomplish this. It is impossible to find a single argument why the introduction
of the safety principle into any business is not a good investment.
In fact, there is everything in its favor. At the same time, you are
doubtless experiencing the same uphill fight in the development of
your work that other organizations have experienced. This should
not be a cause for discouragement, but rather should be an incentive.
There is more satisfaction in winning a hotly contested fight than
to have an easy walk-over.
For twenty years the National Association of Credit Men has
been engaged in educating our business men in the application of
safety principles to the granting of credit. It lias endeavored to
impress upon its members that the giving of credit should be based
upon substantial facts, and that the "take a chance" idea is gambling, pure and simple. The credit man of today keeps in close touch
with the business of his customers. He watches every de
velopment and does not hesitate to criticise the weak points, or
commend the strong points, in the policies of those with whom
he deals.
A highly important factor in credit work, and one strongly
emphasized of late years, is that of fire insurance and fire protection.
It is on this common ground that the National Association of Credit
Men and the National Fire Protection Association meet. The credit
men discovered that a^great many of their customers either neglected
to protect themselves against loss through fire or handled their
insurance so indifferently that it oftentimes was of no value. A
General Session
129
.vigorous campaign was started, in
which printed matter and speakers ' were used to show the necessity for
Keeping Tab
full insurance placed with responsi
ble-companies, and every one was urged to know thoroughly and
The credit maxi ,o
live up to the requirements of the ' insurance contract. No opportun-
ity was lost to- impress upon every
today keeps in close touch with the
one that a credit unprotected against danger of loss through
(safety) business of
fire belonged to the "take a chance" class and should not be tolerated. Questions regarding insurance were
-his customers. i____________________________;_______
introduced into financial statement forms, and the mercantile
agencies aided the movement through special work. Today the
relation of fire insurance and fire protection to credits is on this
basis: Insurance reinforced with fire prevention methods stands
first; insurance, alone, ranks next; the use of fire prevention
methods without insurance is third; and the absence of both-insur
ance and .fire protection removes every excuse for the extension
of credit. Tire prevention methods not only reduce the hazard, but
also the cost of the insurance^ In some instances the latter is
probably the only incentive to their use, but in many cases a broader
view prevails and consideration is given to protecting- life and
removing, so far as possible, the unpleasant experience of having
a life's work destroyed.
While great progress has been made by 'the National Association
of Credit Men in this direction,'the work is by no means finished.
It has, however, reached a point where it is handled with less diffi
culty. In view of this, why not seize the opportunity to advance
another step by encouraging the employment of safety methods,
or, in other words, .place a. premium upon their adoption, in the
same manner as outlined in the reference to fire protection? By
adding to the financial statement: form a single question,1 the atten
tion of thousands of business men will be attracted, many of whom
will realize the value of the safety movement. There are some
who might consider inquiry into this subject as impertinence, but
there is every justification for it, for the reason that bankruptcy
130 Fourth Safety Congress
has frequently followed accidents where loss of life or serious injuries have occurred; and it is the duty of every credit man to use his influence toward the elimination of every cause of bank ruptcy. An employee who has met with a preventable accident is no longer an asset, but belongs in the liability column, and it is the overloading of this side of the ledger which results sooner or later in failure. In my work I have visited manufacturing plants of every description and invariably have carried away an impression as to the business ability of those responsible for their management. The dean, light workshop, where every precaution against fire and accident is taken, is evidence of good management, and under such conditions the product is bound to be superior, all of which tends to influence a higher credit standing.
Employers are doubtless often discouraged by the lack of appre ciation on the part of their employees, who fail to use the means provided for the safety of their lives and limbs. The other day I stood in front of a large plant, the entrance to which was crossed by several railroad tracks. A subway had been provided, at each end of which stood a prominent sign reading, "Don't Cross the Tracks--Use the Subway." As it was dose to the noon hour, I waited to see how may would follow the sign and was not surprised to see it entirely disregarded, for not a single person used the subway. A splendid exposition of our "jay-walking" habit.
It is estimated that 35,000 workers were killed and 2,000,000 injured during 19x4.
During the same year $236,000,000 worth of property was de stroyed by fire.
In the same period 18,000 business failures occurred, with liabili ties of $358,000,000.
This tremendouse waste is being fought.by your organization, together with the National Fire Prevention Association and the National Association of Credit Men. How closely related is the work of these organizations; for in theTast analysis it is the con- ' serration of life, property and credit that they are all standing for. It is an uphill fight, full of discouragement; and when one considers that in spite of the vigoroust campaign carried on for years against fire we keep on burning up about the same amount annually, isn't it a strong indictment against the intelligence of the American people?
-- General Session
,131
I assume that your work is not limited entirely to your members and those eligible for membership, but that you are spreading the doctrine of safety broadcast throughout the country. The extent to which work of this character can be carried on depends, of course, upon the funds available for such a purpose.- The two organizations I represent have to an extent solved this question. They have developed from their membership men who can intelli gently and interestingly discuss questions pertinent to their policies. These men have invaded the public platform, the meetings of trade organizations of every character, and the school house. And the last-named is an effective working place, for if we get the youngster thinking the right way, we are saved the hard job, later on, of converting a grown-up. There is little expense connected with this; it means, more, a sacrifice Of time. The development of classes for the study of the theory of credit and the present mediods applied to the management of a credit department, has far exceeded the brightest hopes of those^ responsible for their introduction. Men are today being shaped, up for business better than ever before--a profitable investment in the long run.
A great national safety movement is on the way. It embodies the same principles the organizations I have named stand for--the protection of the lives, property and credit of the people of the /United States. The great problem of this movement is of a financial nature. Just think of it! The American, people will bum up during the next few years property the equivalent of which would build all the battleships and fortifications needed.
In closing, I present to you the greetings and good wishes of the organizations I represent, and pledge to you their cordial coopera tion. As time goes on may these three great business organizations become more closely bound together, for we are engaged in a righteous cause and are building for the future prosperity of America and its people. [Applause.J
THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF THE TRAINED NURSE IN INDUSTRIAL WELFARE WORK.
Mrss Florence Hughes (Superintendent Palmerton Neighbor hood .House, New Jersey Zinc Co., Palmerton, N. J.) : Upon first thought the subject assigned to me appealed to me as being one
132 Fourth Safety Congress
upon which all would be so well
The New Industrialism
agreed, and one in which the facts are so self-evident that it was not open to discussion, and therefore
there was nothing to be said. Then
We are shifting the center of the in dustrial universe so that it revolves around the man who
I reflected that perhaps those who were preparing the program knew
the needs and interests of the ex pected audience better than I.
The welfare field is not a new one in which to. find the nurse.
works.
The industrial world has been gradually opening its doors to the
profession, but the broader - scope
of industrial welfare work is one into 'which the nurse has most
recently entered.
-
I presume that the most of us here represent some corporation.
The trust--that great octopus upon whom so much attention has
been focused, and of whose wrongdoings We have all been made familiar--I am not goirig to discuss any pros and cons of that sub
ject, but I do want,to say, that out of airthe publicity, the exposed
'wrongs which in so many cases did, and do, exist, there is arising
the new order of organized industry--the new type of corporation,
and gradually we are shifting the center of the industrial universe
so that more and more it revolves around the man who works, rather
than solely around the question of product and profit.
In approaching the nurse's part in this new scheme It is impos
sible to point to any one path or outline, any one method of pro
cedure, either for the nurse or the industry, for it would be hard
to find any two with the same needs on the part of the employees
or the same requirements on the part of the organization. Where-
ever the work may be or whatever its scope may be there is one
essential which we have to consider--the element which enters into
success in any work which deals with human beings--personality.
Therefore, the corporation which wants vital work done by the
trained nurse must know the essentials which it ought to demand
in the way of qualifications---for without certain of these essentials
the work will fail, no matter how well equipped, or what salary is
paid. The nurse's cap is not always a halo which spells perfec-
___Ha;iiUS5KJBIIIK
ijm.
. . General Session
133
tion. The first qualification, as In
all skilled work, is that the; nurse should be well trained. You may-
One Essential
think that this is too obvious to
need mentioning, but it is not, for I do not mean well trained simply in the profession of nursing--I
There is one essen tial which we.have to
mean that in addition to her hos pital and professional training, the industrial welfare nurse meeds to be trained . in social work, and
consider --- personal ity. There can be no real safety work
needs to be trained in district, visit ing and to have proven to. be fitted"
without it.
for both of these phases of work,
if she. is to be a vital factor in your efforts to. do industrial welfare
work.
After ascertaining the question of. this varied training--and here
Iet: me say that one way in which, to find nurses who have had this
specialized training is through the American Red Cross Service--
the next asset of importance is for the nurse to be well and strong.
She needs also to have a good , mentality--by which I mean a men
tality that is warranted to have common sense, good judgment and
discernment. She also needs tact; to know how and when to mind
her own business, to have, patience, and to know how to fight for
a cause; when needed, and to be a humane, human being. I am not
describing an impossible being, for I know, of several who measure
up most favorably, to these; standards-:--I. have also, unfortunately,
known such pronounced illustrations of the lack of some of these
qualifications that I can. not refrain from, giving them, to you as
warnings. The first is a. nurse who, went into a corporation, armed
with all the qualifications needed except that she-did not. have tact
and did not know how to mind, her own business. She had an
abundant energy and did splendid; professional work. She organ
ized classes, gave lectures, in fact- was a host in herself. But the
office, not- hers but the company's, was npt screened---she thought
it was a bad' example and file company was compelled to buy. screens
for peace sake. Any condition at the plant which did not meet
with her approval became the object of- her campaign, and no direc
tor's meeting was safe from her, until it became a question as to
t. naiilitJl
mmm tinsamm
134
Fourth Safety Congress
who was running the plant--the nurse or the company. Numbers at least were on the company's side and the nurse was dismissed-- a distinct loss but a great relief.
In another instance a nurse went into one of our large corpora tions with apparently all the needful qualities, but unfortunately proved to have an imbalanced sympathy. One of the heads of this corporation told me that she could never be "held off" when a case needed relief. No matter how important a business interview he might be having, he would be compelled to give her an audience
while he heard the urgent tale of woe, and only by giving money, coal or whatever help was needed--right then and there, could his business affairs proceed. At the time I heard the story he was looking for a trained nurse. There are other instances I could cite, where lack of dignity and proneness to gossip have proved stumbling blocks to the success of otherwise well-equipped people,
and so I have put my first emphasis upon personal qualifications. When the right nurse is found her field of labor is practically
limitless. If you do not, some of you, realize this, here are some of her problems: The one you will all concede, and many will think will cover her work---is nursing of the sick and injured--that is but a small part of her work. The teaching of sanitation and hygiene, the teaching of prevention of disease, come next in order. But she must also conduct a never-ending campaign for infant wel fare, she must be ready to act as a Children's Aid Society, she must help to solve the problems of child labor, she must know how to deal with the drug and dope fiend, she must fight the liquor evil, help the shiftless and useless, she must know the industrial laws of her state, and she must be on the watch for causes of absence from labor, and help in the problem of fitting the right man to the right job--one of the outcomes of medical examination of employees, in which the nurse is also of great assistance. Can she do all this alone and unaided? No, but she must often be the sole discoverer of all these-needs and be the one to lead the needy to the right source for relief. In order to make It possible for the nurse to include the various phases in her field of> work she needs unlimited co-operation along each line of her work. She can not successfully teach sanitation unless it is possible for employees to work under sanitary conditions and their families to live in sani tary houses. She cannot consistently teach prevention of disease
General Session
13S
unless the corporation is doing all in its power to prevent and overcome occupational and other diseases. And so the nurse comes into close relations with the industrial and civic problems of her community.
The nurse whom we have at Palmerton has been an important factor in helping us to get at living conditions in the foreign homes and to understand their needs, both from our standpoint and from theirs. She has been largely instrumental in making the bungalows for small families popular in preference to the larger houses, over crowded with boarders. One of the regular duties of our nurse is to . call each morning at the employment office for the list of men reported off duty. These.are at once followed up and the com pany soon knows whether the absence is a legitimate one, or whether it is a case of too much drink. Another feature in this follow-up work is that it makes it possible to put a check upon quite a com mon practice of a man reporting off--Htnaking one visit to a doc tor's office in which he complains of some ailment, stomach or other wise--receives some medicine, loafs at home a week and receives sick benefit money from his lodge, and then goes back to work--in reality not having been side at all.
All cases of accident at the plant are at once reported to our company surgeon, examined and if necessary, treated at the hospital. But many minor injuries not reported to the foreman, and "bombuls," as all boils and like ailments are called, are often brought direct to the nurse for treatment. The men sometimes receive unexpected treatment from the nurse. Not long ago, at a wedding celebration, a visitor from Wilkesbarre had celebrated too freely and as a result hit his wife over the head with a bottle. Fortu nately, the nurse happened to be in the neighborhood. While she was dressing the woman's head her husband was seized with another quarrelsome attack and started to finish the work he had begun on his wife's head. That was more than the nurse could stand for, and taking him by the collar she shook him good and hard and then sat him down with vigor in a chair. The man sat in surprised silence for a 'moment and then asked, "All policemen in Palmerton women police? Me go Wilkesbarre." We were glad to let him return.
The nurse, upheld by our chief of police and the company, is making wife-beating unpopular in Palmerton. One woman, who
M : im*maim.
136
Fourth Safety Congress
had moved up from Bethlehem- had
THE NURSE
occasion to call upon the nurse for repairs after haying been beaten
by her husband. The husband was
Must know many things and be pre pared for almost any emergency ---- her field, of labor is prac
warned that it must not happen again. The warning was not heeded, of course. So, on the next occasion, the nurse called upon the chief of police. Philip spent a few days in the lock-up. When he came out he was told that
tically limitless.
the next time he would be sent up to Mauch Chunk jail and when He came out the company would,
not give him a job again. The man replied: "Whose wife is this
woman ? She my wife, not company's wife. Me move Bethlehem."
But he reckoned without his host, for his wife refused to leave
Palmerton. That was a year ago, and just the other day when
Philip had some trouble with a foreman and quit his job, threat
ened to leave town, his wife refused, saying it was the first time
Philip had been good and for a year "he no. beat." It was neces
sary for her to intercede in his behalf, and he is once more on
his job and bids fair- to have to remain, or go away without his
wife.
"
When we had our last annual "town clean-up," it was the trained
nurse who had most influence in getting the foreigners to clean
out cellars and backyards. It was she who gathered together a
squad of men and Jed them to an open lot which sadly needed
cleaning. When they were through and filed home at five o'clock,
shovels over their shoulders, they said, "Good-bye Missus, we like
woman section boss." I could tell many ways in which the nurse
becomes identified with the whole life of her community, but I
shall refrain from any more except one, which from a small: and
humorous beginning led to an important climax. A Slavish woman
was trying to raise some geese. They had hatched too early and it was only with vigilant care that' she succeeded in keeping, five
of theni. Early in their history one of them broke its wings. It
was a matter Of great amusement among the neighborhood workers
when we learned that the nurse had been sent for and had set and
^General Session
137
bound the wings to cardboard.
But they grew to be perfectly good, wings and we had almost
THE NURSE
forgotten Minnie and her geese,
when one day the nurse met Min nie coming weeping down the road followed by three bright green geese. It was with difficulty that the story was learned. Some , workmen, who worked on some construction work just across the
Must often be the sole discoverer, of the needs of her people and be the one to lead. them to the
creek from Minnie's house had
taken the geese at night and , painted them. The nurse and Min
right source of relief.
nie and the green geese and the policeman went to the justice of the
peace. The result was that the workmen paid $5 apiece for. the
geese, including the two that died, lost their jobs and had to leave
the town. These may seem like drastic measures, but the geese were
being raised for market and meant good money. If the men had
escaped to enjoy their joke, the many foreigners living in the, sec
tion adjacent to the new plant would have been victims of further
practical jokes. As it was, it was the only one attempted. These
cases to which I have been referring all show the nurse in rela
tion to the welfare phase of her work. You can not separate the
two and say, "Now, the nurse is doing welfare work and now she
is doing industrial work," and yet it is possible for the industrial
work to so monopolize the nurse's time that the welfare work, other
than physical welfare, is a small unit in her work.
I know of instances where the nurses' work is confined wholly
to dispensary work, others to nursing of injuries and plant ill
nesses, others where in addition to this the nurse gives talks at the
plant on hygiene and sanitation. This I call industrial work, for it
deals with the workman from the standpoint of his physical- wel
fare as a working unit and in relation to his work alone. It pro
tects the corporation and adds to the efficiency of the corporation
as its direct aim. The benefit to the workman is the indirect factor.
The same Isolds good, of course, where the nurse is employed for
women and girls. Many of you have your works located on the
outskirts, perhaps in the center of a city or large town, and have
138 Fourth Safety Congress
been saying that these instances do not fit your case. Probably they do not. Your conditions are entirely different from those I have been, describing. But that does not alter the fact that your workingmen or women have homes, or a barren or overcrowded place that takes the place of home, and if your nurse is to be of vital importance in their welfare she must know their home con ditions, for back of all poor workmanship and inefficiency lie the problems of unsuitable food, poor housing, late hours, wrong use of recreation time, etc.
If, you say, you have too many employees to be looked after, too much work to be done and the nurse cannot follow them out side, I say get more nurses and let them alternate in the field work and indoor work, so that they can deal intelligently with their prob lems and do vital work. The up-to-date emplo3rer is usually broad minded enough to see that healthy and contented employees mean better work and it is only through the combination of industrial, betterment and practical welfare work that we can have healthy and contented workingmen and women.
I am going to quote to you some direct testimony that was given to me when I asked one of the officials of a large corporation for some of the good results he had noticed as an outcome of the trained nurse's work. He said: "The nurse, by keeping in touch with all cases of ill employees, effects through her service a more speedy return of the man to his work. This means a gain in plant efficiency. She undoubtedly prevents actual illness and attendant loss of time, in many instances, by urging ailing employees to con sult a physician. Before we had a nurse much time was lost by men who were detained at home to attend to a sick wife or child. Since we have had the nurse this feature of home cares is left to her, thus relieving the men for their work." "Another feature of the duties of our nurse is the giving of advice for proper diet and nourishment of the employee and his family. The results of this are effective in efficiency." "And," quoting the gentleman who was speaking, "the following may seem questionable, but it is true; we have had numbers of instances where intemperate employees who have been helped by the nurse in recovering from their sprees, who through shame or appreciation, or both, have actually given up drink." This nurse is doing industrial welfare work of vital importance.
: ^j' fLf<pwj^jjgy ,g..
.'
*3g~
General Session
139
I will close by saying that the trained nurse who will be able to give the best service and do the most vital work for all con-" cerned is the one whose employer has at heart the general welfare of his employees, and thinks of them as fellow human beings. (Applause.)
STANDARDIZATION OF SAFEGUARDS
Carl M. Hansen (Secretary, Workmen's Compensation Service Bureau, New York City) : The subject itself is so big that to attempt to cover it in twenty minutes" would be folly. At best it will be possible to hit thehigh spots only, because each industry as such would require a volume in order to do justice to it.
I shall not confine my remarks to safeguards as they are popularly defined; that is, as usually viewed, a safeguard is some afterthought or attachment designed to conceal or cover an existing danger which has been overlooked in original design of the machine or equip ment. To confine ourselves to such items would be entirely in consistent with principles which our experience as safety engineers has developed. We must go further and view the entire subject from its very basis, making it thereby impossible also to confine ourselves to machinery and equipment. We must, in addition, take under consideration the structures in which such equipment and machinery is housed, because they present often as serious a 'menace to life and limbs as do any individual object.
I take it we are all agreed as to the necessity of uniform stand ards.
First, standards are necessary for the buyer and seller of equip ment in order that they may buy and sell intelligently and profitably, whether the equipment under consideration be complete machines, attachments thereto, or the structure in which it is to be located.
Secondly, standards are necessary for the governors and the governed to avoid favoritism or apparent favoritism in the framing and applications of rulings.
Thirdly, to come home to the particular field in which I am en gaged, standards are necessary for the insurer and the insured in order that the insurer may value on a predetermined specific basis the hazard in the plant of the prospective insured.
Fourthly--and this is the most important--only through stand-
&.&W-
"mmm
140
Fourth Safety Congress
ardization will we ever be able to
A Safe Machine
actually achieve results in reduc tion of the tremendous waste oc
casioned by accidents- We must
Equipment is safe enough only when it
adopt standards as high and as nearly correct as engineering skill and human ingenuity can possibly
is as safe as that piece of equipment can. possibly- be
frame them. . And then, when adopted, we must insist upon their enforcement with equity and fair ness to all. To put it in terse
made.
phrases: Our standards must be
high, comprehensive, practical, sim
ple and positive.
By high standards, I mean that a piece of equipment is safe
enough only when it is as safe as that piece of equipment can
possibly be made and only when it is as safe as any other piece of
equipment which will perform the function for which it is de
signed in such a way as to. afford all possible protection to life, -
limb and property from accident and fire hazards. In other words,
the first great principle before us as a basis for safety standards is
"That the standards adopted afford all possible safety to the oper
ator of the equipment, to surrounding workmen and, in case of fire
that it afford protection for the property involved." That, in
other words, is axiom Number i in safety geometry.
Other principles forming the foundation for standards are ampli
fications of, or deductions from, the first. A safeguard for instance,
should be, if possible, automatic in its action, application or opera
tion, thereby removing those uncertain human factors, as knowl
edge, memory and involuntary acts, etc.
Forgetfulness, for example, is not a crime deserving capital pun
ishment ; it is one of;the universal inherent frailties of humanity.
The problem is, therefore, to destroy as far as possible the inter
relationship between safety and the universal human shortcomings,
which can be done by designing the safeguards on machines- and
equipment so that if a man's acts are essential to his own or some
one else's safety, it becomes mechanically necessary for him to
perform this act before: proceeding with his. task.
This brings us to the third principle, namely, "That a safeguard
General Session
141
be, if possible, an integral part of
the machine itself, that it he part of the original design of the ma chine rather than as has already
A Safe Man
been mentioned--an afterthought." Make the safeguard as essential to
Has overcome hu
the operation of the machine as the driving pulley or the gears. A manufacturer of . machine tools
man factors---lack of knowledge, lapse of
should consider it ah ^insult to have a buyer add to his product certain now recognized essentials after it
memory and invol untary acts.
has been installed. The designer
of the machine or the equipment,
after having considered the productive capacity of the machine,
should equally consider the fact that every machine must receive
constant or intermittent attention from an operator. He should
on that basis make the provisions necessary to safeguard the oper
ator. He, the designer, is particularly the one who is best able
to do it, because he can do it cheaper and better than any one
else. The foregoing applies particularly to machines and equipment
under contemplation, that is, something that is going to be effected
in the future, but unfortunately we cannot "scrap" all the machines
and tools now in use and replace them with modern types embodying
the above principles. We must, as practical men, consider existing
installations and here it naturally becomes necessary to solve the
problem by extra attachments. Still, part of the foregoing princi
ples can be employed here also. Safeguards for these machines,
can be so designed, manufactured and erected that they become an
integral part of the. equipment, that they become an essential oper
ating part of the machine, and that should be the basis upon which
invelitive genius should exert itself. It is a sad commentary, but
none the less a fact, that certain manufacturers of safeguards in
their .advertisements, forHnstance, call attention to and feature
qualities* in their product in direct opposition to these principles.
For example, we often note a manufacturer of sawguards featuring
in his selling arguments as an advantage the fact that "the guard
can be easily removed" om"thrown out of the way at will." The
142
Fourth Safety Congress
gentlemen who use that argument are--undoubtedly not with pre meditation, but unconsciously--working against the entire safety movement. The safeguard manufacturer who instead of the above would feature such arguments, as "cannot be removed" or "can only be removed or adjusted by using a key" or "is essential for the operation of the machinewould be on the home run to per fect safety. A device embodying such principles will prevent the careless or ignorant employee from becoming a menace to himself and fellow workmen.
It is a foregone conclusion, however, that by -patching old instal lations we will never achieve that degree of safely as will be possible when the safety idea is truly' embodied in the original designs. We must look to the future for evolution in industrial methods, ma chines and tools, to give that maximum safety which on account of past neglects cannot be obtained at the present time. The standard requirements of all machine and equipment builders in the future should be safety, efficiency and convenience. These three cardinal principles should be embodied in the original design, with always Safety First.
A fourth principle is involved in standardization. That is, "a safeguard shall not .materially diminish the output or efficiency of the machine to which it is applied." Unless a safeguard meets that requirement it will never obtain wide use and unless it complies with that principle, there is something radically wrong with it. The man who designed it did not have a clear understanding of the problem he was about to solve. Many are the ideas advanced which have seemed to meet every requirement except that one and for that reason the devices were thrown away by the user and antagonism to all safety requirements was aroused in his mind. That, therefore, gentlemen, is one of the real fundamentals of the problem and can be solved only by close cooperation as between the practical and technical men.
The foregoing principles applied will not only give a high stand ard but will give a comprehensive standard, standards which will apply equally to Pennsylvania, California, Massachusetts, South America or Europe, whether it involves a machine, a safeguard or an entire building. They will be simple, so he who runs may' read. They will be positive, that is, they will do something or cause something to be done or absolutely prevent something from
-*s-,r iHiiwi :'- -g*r-:
iaai,m,.
General Session
143
being done, rather than simply serving as a suggestion for doing the act or performing the functions part of the time only, thereby still leaving the chances for accidental injury if they have demanded the confidence of the operator and caused him to depend upon the safeguard for unfailing action.
The next question naturally is "Where can we obtain such stand ards ?" Well, ``Where have we gotten our industries ?" "Where did we get electric lights, modem transportation methods, materials for modem buildings?" The answer is obvious. They are all the product of constructive, practical and educated minds and in this problem we must look also to men who can take' theory and apply it practically to working conditions. In doing this, we may occa sionally find something we were not looking for or we may look for one thing and find another, but the great majority of safety standards must come from the application of preconceived theories. The principles outlined must be assumed to be true and with them in view we must take the case under consideration; advance new theories, apply them, test them in application, revise the effected details, and thereby produce standards that will in fact advance the art we are working in by adding safety in larger proportions. The accepted safety principles must be applied by analytic thought in a constructive way. We must take existing hazards and analyze them, find why the hazard exists, what are all the contributory causes, what is the weight of each, and then supplement the thought by constructive work and criticism.
We cannot stop using brick because brickmaking is dangerous. We must find a way to make brick safely. We cannot destroy an industry. We must construct an industry in which the equipment will perform the necessary functions safely without wasting raw materials, tools, money or men. We must remember that men's lives and limbs are worth money to society and. are worth still more money to the men themselves.
But coming back to the source of standards, as has already been stated, they must be developed by the minds of the men who have made the Industry that requires them. Legislators, as such, never made an industry, never designed a machine. No! The engineers are the forerunners of civilization and peaceful vocations. The engineers are, therefore, the men we must look to for standards. We can,' to be sure, support our engineering standards with favor-
cbMML
im-
144 Fourth Safety Congress
able legislation. That's all right.
REMEMBER
But we cannot look to our legis lators to produce these standards,
which, unfortunately, we have
Men's lives and limbs are worth money to
done in the past. To illustrate a typical case of
the differences of legislative and
society and- are worth still more money to the men
engineering standards--long ago . the danger of moving elevators
and open shaft doors was demon strated and realized by the killing
themselves.
and maiming of hundreds of indi viduals. The legislators, seeking
to eliminate the hazard, passed statutes to the effect that it was unlawful for an elevator operator
to start his car untiLthe doors of the shaft were closed and latched.
That is a typical standard produced by a legislative body. But that
does not prevent the recurrence of elevator accidents. It does not
because it is impossible to enforce the act in time to stop the acci
dent. The only thing that a ruling like that does is to establish
responsibility for accidents after they have occurred, without saving
any lives or limbs. Now consider how the engineer would set about to solve the same
problem. He analyzes the mechanism, finds the contributing causes
which produce the hazard, and re-designs his elevator so that it
is a physical impossibility for the operator to reproduce the 'dan
gerous condition. This, by making it necessary in order to obtain
motive power for his machine to close the door first, thereby posi
tively preventing the elevator from starting until the danger point
has been eliminated. The engineer, in other words, is not par
ticularly interested in placing personal responsibility for the acci
dent. He tries to ignore the human equation by compelling the
operator of the elevator to perform a certain. act, which act pre
vents the conditions to obtain that which actually produced the
accident. This same theory can be applied down'through'the ;end
less lines of mechanical contrivances used in modem industries,
and if so applied, stondards complying with all the principles here
tofore outlined will be produced. Assuming now that a manufacturer of machinery or equipment
* 5. &-Sjfr4-g8i
General Session
145
is perfectly willing to conform to
the principles here outlined, -how is the purchaser to know whether
GOVERNMENT
or not--if such claims are ad
vanced for a given product--they are actually true? The question, in other words, is "Shall a manu facturer's statement as respects his
No functi on should be delegated, to the Government
own product be accepted as prima facie evidence of compliance with these principles. I think not. Any man when discussing his
which can be better performed by its citizens.
own particular product is naturally
biased. It is human to be so. An
impartial body, representing- neither the buyer nor the seller,
should sit in judgment as to the degree of compliance with the
principles involved. Only through such a medium will we ever get
absolute justice. Who shall constitute that body? Under what
auspices shall it exist? I know the answer from many quarters will
be at once--"The Government." Now here, permit me to state
I am as loyal a supporter of our Government as any American.
In fact I am too loyal to permit delegated to that Government any
function which can be as well or better performed by its citizens.
I do not believe we should extend paternalism any further than
it already exists, and I am anxious, further, to see a plan adopted
which will be reasonably certain of enforcement and to that end
we must view it from its economic aspect as the strongest compell
ing force in existence. After once, in other words, having adopted
a certain standard as complying with the principles herein out
lined, it may be well to give them legislative support. It is a well
founded axiom, however, that no legislation can be enforced to a
greater degree than does it meet with the approval of the governed,
and this is particularly true in a democracy. Therefore, if we can
reenforce the legal standards with an economic incentive, we are
likely to achieve betterrfesults.
Who has the greatest direct economic interest in safety standards
aside from the employers? I think we will agree that underwriters
of the hazards have. The insurance companies stand in a unique
position to this whole question. They are neither sellers nor buyers
146
Fourth Safety Congress
of machinery and therefore may well be considered unbiased as respects the nature of the standards; except it is in their economic interest to have them as high as practically possible on the thesis that "the greater the safety, the lesser the loss." They further have the economic incentive to offer the employer in the form of lower insurance rate, where that employer complies with the standards, an incentive often far more effective than legal requirements. Through the Underwriters' Laboratories, the fire companies have for years maintained such standards with signal success and good results. Is it not logical therefore, to extend the scope of operation of that institution to embrace the casualty field as well ? In other words, it is admitted the engineers in the different industries must, in connection with the engineers of the insuring interest, establish the standards for that particular industry. After such adoption, however, it is essential that it be dcthmeSy established whether the standards are continually being complied with on the machinery, equipment or other product turned out by the different manufac turers. The buyer is entitled to be abSc t know at a glance try some universally adopted mark cm the machine whether or not it meets all requirements- The seller on the other hand, is entitled to know that all competitors are required to comply with the same standards as he is. As the insurer is the final artster as to whether or not the machine is properly guarded so as to entitle it to recog nition in rating, he should be governed solely by that adopted mark of approval. On this plan we would get results; we would obtain uniformity from the beginning, starting with the original design of equipment. (Applause.)
After an informal discussion moving pictures were shown. The meeting then adjourned.
: twmmmi;
"Your 0*wn Property Is in Hanger When Your Neighbor9s House Burns99
10* Safety Council
SSSSStx vSis
OWfieTJL MCLAflt, C&&rnaia
Ciuannn of <dfew .*mv mrSn.i'S'rar e/f tlmerteiM
Cement Muubctaren'
CTWff>iSP><e<g f.
Pve"'8Wtiii> mod Imnnutce
HE MEETTNG"w?ts railed m order by the Chairman shortly
T
after 9 A. M.ywith about sixty-five persons present. The Chairman spoke briefly. He opened the meeting by giving
a comprehensive resume of the history of the accident prevention
work of the Association of American Portland. Cement Manufac
turers, dealing with its activities and scope. He dwelt upon the en
couraging fact that the Association figures for 1915 to date show a
decrease of about 40 per cent in the number of fatalities when com
pared with the corresponding figures for last year. He then .made
some very pertinent remarks on the importance of educational work
and the great efficiency of safety committees in plant accident pre
vention work. This, he said; was conclusively shown by his own ex
perience in connectiorrwith an inspection by the New York Compen
sation Rating Board. His company had spent a considerable sum in
the construction -of mechanical and structural safeguards, for which
he expected to obtain some premium rebate. He thought that the
work of the safety committee might result in a small additional
rebate, but as a matter of fact the inspection resulted in their
obtaining nearly three times as much rebate or credit- for the
147
148 Fourth Safety Congress
educational work as that awarded for the mechanical safeguarding. He laid considerable emphasis on the foregoing statements.
The Chairman then introduced Mr. R. A. Medina, of the Inde pendence Inspection Bureau, with a few remarks on Mr. Medina's work as an accident prevention engineer.
ACCESSIBILITY--HEALING WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDARD WALKS, PLATFORMS, STAIRS, LADDERS, ETC.
R. A. Medina,,
Engineer, Independence Inspection Bureau.
Gentlemen: I don't! know whether you think that Mr. Sinclair,
in introducing me, painted me black or white. I am not satisfied
just what he did, but I am afraid some of us will assume that it
was black. He made a reference to having papers this morning--
and I am sorry to say that I have not prepared a paper, but have a few notes here, which I will use to make a more or less ex tempore
talk, regarding this as informal.
"1-
Regarding accessibility, my subject, I think there are two points
to be considered: First, what in the cement plant must be access
ible; and, secondly, how are we going to make it safely and prac
tically accessible ? In going over in my mind some of the accidents
that I know have happened in cement plants, and some of the con
ditions that I know of that must certainly make causes for accidents,
I have made a short list of some of the difficulties that have to be
overcome.
First of all, I have.placed bearings, boxes. I think we are all
agreed that most every bearing in the cement plant should be
oiled, and should be felt occasionally to see whether or not it is
growing hot. In many plants that is not the practice. In one
plant I visited it was the practice to let the boxes go unoiled so
that, by the different squeaks, one could tell whether the elevator
was running or not. We have to get at the bearings if we want to
have an efficient plant; but we have got to make each bearing
easily accessible.
Secondly, we have got to get at our belts for dressing, at our
chains for lubricating, and at our belt-shifters and clutch-levers.
We have got to get at the spouts, at the gates in the spouts or
aw iiaa
'-.mi* 1
Cement Sectional Meeting
149
chutes; and, in passing, I- would say that this is, perhaps, one of the difficulties that is given the least attention in cement plants. I have seen a man crawl out on an angle-iron roof truss to get at a gate, lean down and slam it shut, and then crawl back over this angle-iron again. That is not safe accessibility.
Next, we must make accessible the tanks and hoppers, par ticularly the openings in them that we use for measuring--for getting into the tanks to repair- them, and so on.
We must make all the valves in the plant accessible; we must be able to get at the steam-valves; we have to get at the watervalves and air-valves; and, as you all know, a great many of these valves are located high above us, so that we cannot reach them, unless by a portable ladder, which is probably hard to find when needed.
Next, we must get at the different parts of elevators and con veyors for inspection and repairs.
We must get our samples. We must be able to sample from pur conveyors and elevators, as is often done. Sometimes I have seen used sampling machines which we have to get at occasionally.
We. have to get at the mill-feeds very often. We have to get at our motors for lubricating and inspection, and so that the electrician can have them in absolute working order at all times. We have to get at the .electric switches. Electric switches are mostly located in the power-plant, where there is a switch-board, but sometimes in different parts of the plant.
AN UNSAFE PRACTICE.
I know of an installation in a power plant which, to my mind, was anything but desirable. This small switchboard for power and lighting was located in the engine-room, about, I should say, 25 feet above the floor/ and directly over a platform used to get to an idler-bearing. In order to get at this switchboard, which, by the way, was a very poor board, without handles on the switches, it was necessary to climb a set of steps--loose steps--climb out on the top of those steps, place one foot on the platform-railing, and reach up at arm's Jength in order to get at the switches.
Those are the chief things we must make accessible In our plants. The question is, how are we going to do it? What are we going
-t^rSSj.
-'If-'
-'y-'*^-fi^glBS3g!gS ^-jg.;-.ti-;c-# -y-
150 Fourth Safety Congress
to use---ladders, stairways, walk-r
TROUBLE
ways, and platforms, and where are we going to use these things ?
In speaking of that subject, one of
"What is the use
the first things is avoiding so many short cuts. We all know that our
of trying to save yourself trouble
operating men in cement plants take short cuts--we call it taking chances; but I firmly believe that
when it is so easy to borrow it?"
nine-tenths of the gentlemen. pres ent in this room will take a short cut without regard to danger time
1 - and time again. And the same hap pens in a cement plant; you. won't
stop to take the longest way, the safest way, but take a short cut.
The other day I was in a cement plant and saw two very
fast-moving belts completely railed off. There was a clutch over
on one side and one on the other side of this railed inclosure;
and I watched. The operator Wanted to shut that machinery doWn
very quickly, and what did he t o? Instead of walking around the
path made for him--he was in very much of a hurry, as we mostly
are--he stepped from one side over to the other, over the tops
of these railings, directly over these belts, which, if he had fallen
on them, would have dashed him'into eternity--undoubtedly. There
was a case where a man took a chance; and there are many other
cases that I could mention, if we had the time.
IDEAS FROM WORKMEN.
They are the things we have got to look out for--we have to
make our means of accessibility as short as possible; and to do
that we have to find the way and see the way of going about
these things. The men are the ones .that have to do these things
day after day and year after year; and they know how they will
do it. We cannot go into a plant and say: "The way to do this
operation is to oil this bearing, and then that one, and then this
one." The man who has had the experience knows he can do
it in a given time by oiling the second one first, perhaps; and so,
if we watch him, we get certain other ideas regarding building
platforms and walkways that we never would have thought of
ourselves".
=
.
wwwai
Cement Sectional Meeting
151
As to the difference between a
ladder and a stairway: To get
to overhead walks, are we going
Only One Enemy
to use stairways or ladders? Are
we going to use portable ladders
or permanent ladders? I believe
There is no , neu
that wherever we can get rid of a portable ladder we are doing a great thing from the accident
trality i you enlist in the war against ac
prevention - standpoint. First of all, we want to have permanence in our stairs; we want to have a
cidents and fight for Safely First.
stairway of a proper pitch, prop
erly railed, leading to these over
head walks and platforms; and if we cannot get in a stairway,
then we might put in a ladder--an iron ladder, making it permanent.
Very often we find ladders used as stairways; by that I mean
pitched so that a man could use them as a stair. He faces outward
in going down the ladder, instead of stepping onto the ladder,
facing it. In one plant I. found it has been the practice, when they
wanted to build a stairway, to go out in the woods, cut down some
small trees, and bring them into the plant and dry them a little bit.
In about ten minutes they had a stairway. That is not the way
to build a stairway. I think we are all agreed on that.
As to platforms, first of all they must be rigid, and as wide as
we can have them; make them to fit in with the rest of our equip
ment, so as not to make the use of them impractical. We must
rail them. It is getting to be the practice, these days, to place
toe-boards on platforms, to keep loose materials from falling to
the floor below. Now about the railings for these platforms;
I was. talking yesterday with a man who has had considerable
experience with safety work in the chemical industry; and he said
they had just built a railing around a pickling-tank; they had built
in three feet high, and then they had their first accident. A man
sat on the railing-to eat his lunch, fell backward, and emerged--
pickled. This shows clearly that we must build railings so that
a man doesn't have a tendency to sit on them. Build them just a
little bit higher. A height of about forty-two inches has been found
correct from this standpoint.
152 Fourth Safety Congress
Another thing about, walkways and platforms is the matter of
projections in them that cause a man to trip and fall. These should
be,, avoided as much as possible.
Dust is a great proposition in a cement plant; and time and
time again I have seen solid wooden platforms when the dust load
had deflected a ten-foot platform probably a foot or more. That
is not a safe condition. You want to get rid of this dust; filter
it, if you can.
-----
BEST TYPE OF FLOORING.
I think the best type of flooring to use is a grating or perforated
metal or something of that sort. Often I have found the screens
from mills used as platforms and walks; and although those may
not be used in some cases, in others their use is proper. In one
case where those screens were used I found projecting bolts and
holes, and things of that sort; it only goes to characterize the
general methods of makeshift safeguards that existed in that par
ticular plant.
--
In closing, I want to bring out one point regarding the relation
of platforms and walks to the operating machinery. If an accident
happens--let us say a man crawls out on a loose plank, which we
find in a great many plants instead of platforms, to oil a bearing;
the bearing is close to a belt and pulley (the pulley not protected) ;
the man slips on the platform and throws his arm into the spokes
of the pulley, and his arm is broken or he is killed--where is the
fault ? Is it because that pulley wasn't covered or we didn't protect
the platform, or because the man is careless--walks right into
danger? To my mind it is possible to have all those causes enter
into that accident; and if we can prevent one of those causes we
go a great ways toward preventing the accident; if we can prevent
all of them it is impossible for the accident to happen.
. Therefore, I say that we must not be satisfied at building good
platforms and walkways; but we must temper that with the educa
tion of our operatives and the reasonable protection of moving
parts. I thank you, gentlemen. (Applause.)
DISCUSSION.
A Member : I would like to ask why you build iron stairways. My experience has been that an iron stairway is liable to become charged with electricity^
'.TP-ftiwsag'gfruv? * .
i
Cement Sectional Meeting
153
Mr. Medina : That depends' upon the electric -wiring, to a great ` extent. I think we are agreed that in a cement plant, with the
kind of labor that we have in many cases, it is pretty hard to keep the wiring in good shape; but I don't think that the fact that a stairway is liable to become charged should prevent us from build ing them of iron. In the same way any other metal structure in any plant might become charged provided the wiring was defective. I don't know whether that answers your question or not.
A Member: Mr. Chairman, we think the practical experience has been that an iron stairway and any other kind of iron work becomes very slippery under, cement. The wooden would wear out sooner, but it would be a safer tread.
Mr. Medina: It might be a good plan to call upon some of the cement men that are here as to their experience regarding- the slipperiness referred to.
The Chairman : There must be some of those here who have had experience with iron walks and iron stairways in that respect.
Mr. Hess: Mr. Chairman, most of our stairways are iron. We have angle-iron in the corner of the stairway, with perforated iron right back of it, and there is no slip to it at all, and no wear to it. I read in the books about belts being protected in enginerooms. There was a passage provided under the belt so - that a man could pass underneath. That part would be all right, I think, if you can do it; but is it not more dangerous to pass right in front of the engine, where the cylinder-heads can come out, than to walk through a belt ? I know that we had experience with three of of our engines--the cylinder-head going out and the man going around in front of his engine. I had a talk with one of our men this week and asked him whether it would be good policy to have a passage through a belt or to go around the front of the engine. He said: "I would rather not go around the front of the engine. If the belt gives out, it gives notice, while the cylinder-head will not give you - notice-r-it w6uld come right out."
Mr. Medina: I think that is a very pertinent suggestion, Mr. Hess. I would say, however, that the guarding of any belt is dependent on the local conditions. If you happen to establish a standard for protecting engines, it will probably not fit each case
if r
154
Fourth Safety Congress
Safety First
imaginable; and I also think there isn't any degree of safety in walk ing through a belt, no matter how
He is free from
strong it is, if you can help it; so that I think if you have got to get through to your engine-room
clanger who, even when safe, is on his guard. -Be a Safety
through the belt it is six of one and a half-dozen of the other.
A Member : I would suggest that it is under the next paper.
fan.
- The Chairman : It may be somewhat pertinent as a matter of
accessibility. We have had some testimony to the effect that iron walks or stairways do not become slippery, and there must have been considerable experience with
them. It would be interesting to know if any one here has, in their
experience, found that iron stairways or walks have become danger
ously slippery.
Mr. Hess : I have had experience with plain iron being slippery, but not with perforated iron. We are now using perforated iron.
GRATED METAL WALKWAYS.
A Member: Wooden walks are really dangerous. In our place we find there is great risk of fire, as a rule. They are never safe for a great length of time, as they are often overloaded and the cause of a great many accidents by breaking. I don't think a solid metal walk is much safer than a wooden walk, except for stability. Our company has gone through the experience of wooden walks; I think it better and L think they have found it so, too, to use grated metal walkways and grated steps on stairways. They allow no place for cement or dust to collect. We all -know that a stair loaded with a half or one inch of dust, and I have seen them with the dust three inches thick, is not a very safe thing to step on; whereas if it is a grated walk, it is impossible for any dust to collect on it, and it is also impossible to slip on a grated walk.
Mr. Hill: In regard to the desirability of wooden stairs and walkways, I have seen them in use in the kiln room of a certain plant, giving access to Jbhe elevators, coal tanks, and cooler tops.
Cement Sectional Meeting
1S5
These walks, used regularly in or
der to reach the machinery, to which they give access, were in several
Lincoln Said:
places burnt almost through from
the hot clinkers falling oh them, and were anything but sate; and
"I don't think
that applies directly to the unde
much of a man who
sirability of wooden construction in relation to both the fire hazard and
is not wiser today
the safety of the employees^ . In regard to stair treads, I know
than he was yester
that some of the companies use channel-iron filled in with con
day."
crete, the surface of the concrete
slightly roughened. Now, the slipping possibilities on such a
surface are, in my opinion, negligible, because it corresponds very
closely to several of the abrasive materials gotten out particularly
as safety treads.
EXPANDED METAL, CHANNEL IRON AND CONCRETE.
Mr. Gunning: After considerable examination of our walk ways we are going to do away completely with wooden walkways and put up gratings. We are now trying the expanded metal, and, for our permanent stairs, are replacing all the wood with the chan nel-iron and concrete, as Mr. Hill has suggested. We have quite a number of these stairways and they are very satisfactory. I be lieve the grated walkway is the best walkway, and you can get very good results with bar iron on edge spaced about an inch and a half apart. We have found it very satisfactory.
Mr. Rawson: We have recently tried what they call in Can ada "Ferro-Dovetail"; it is the same as that which the Brown-Hess people put out. It is the ideal platform, as you can lay the material right on a couple of angles ^md then put about an inch or an inch and a half of concrete on top of it. It makes a walk that is easily built, doesn't take very much time to construct, and will stand pretty near the same amount of strain as the steel work will carry.
The Chairman : Does it act as a reinforcement ? Mr. Rawson : Yes, as K reinforcement.
.
156 Fourth. Safety Congress
A Member: For several years our company has been using iron walks and stairways; some of them are perforated--the ma jority, I think--and I think during the whole of that time there has never been an accident due to them. I don't altogether agree with the use of expanded metal and cement filling for the simple reason that it acts as a great collector for dust, which is something we want to keep off our walks. We do not want anything that will allow dust to accumulate; and I don't think there is anything better than a perforated walk or stairway when it comes to a question of safety. When the steps become slippery they need renewing. I think there is much greater danger in a solid walk, platform, or stairway where dust will accumulate and which gives every possi bility for a man to slip or stumble over things hidden under the dust than in the perforated or grated style, which is self-cleaning and "non-slip" in character.
The Chairman : I inferred that the solid construction almost entirely referred to stairways.
Mr. Medina : These solid concrete reinforced slabs are used for treads, and not for walks; is that not so ?
A Member: No, sir. They are used for walkways.
Mr. Young: In comparing gratings with perforated platforms, the surface exposed for the collection of dUst is very much smaller in a grated platform than in a perforated--very much smallerThere is practically no horizontal surface in a grated platform for catching dust.
A Member: When I speak of perforated platforms, I do not wish to eliminate the grated platform. I mean any platform at all that has openings in its surface to. permit dust to filter through.
(It -was here necessary to transfer the meeting to a much larger room, due to the unexpectedly large attendance.)
The Chairman:" As we have an opportunity and care to, I think may be the members would like to have a few words from you (addressing Mr. Richard H. Guiiagan), as to the character of the work that we do from the insurance company's point of view, because in doing safeguarding work not only is the safetyend'of it, as far as the lives of the workmen are concerned, most important, but, there is another important feature, and that is that
Cement Sectional Meeting
157
we get some financial return for it, if it is possible, in the shape of a credit in insurance rates, where insurance is carried; and there are certain technical requirements about that that might be not quite complied with when it might be just as easily done in, accordance with the insurance company's requirements as not; but if they are not quite understood, one might miss the credit by not entirely understanding the matter.
SAFEGUARDING BELTS AND SHAFTS
' Me. Richard Guhagan
Engineering Department, the Fidelity and Casualty Company, i -New York City.
If we are to say that all belts and shafts are to be-guarded, re gardless of local conditions, it makes the problem-a hard one to solve. It is easy enough to believe that belts and shafts should be guarded, but to know how and why they should be guarded is a far different matter; therefore we should view the problem from as many different viewpoints as we can. The law, statistics, in surance company regulations, and the employer's own point of view should be taken into consideration.
Laws intended for the prevention of industrial accidents and fixing a relation between the employer and employee have been passed in almost every State in the Union. These laws have been further augmented by the passage of Workmen's Compensation Acts for the purpose of better protecting the employee and his family. Laws regulating the protection of belts and shafts are now in force in twenty-five different States.
Unfortunately, there are no two States having the same law cov ering this subject. The laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl vania read, in part, as follows:
"The owner or person in charge of an establishment where machinery is used shall provide belt shifters or other mechanical contrivances for the purpose of throwing on or off belts or pulleys. Whenever practicable, all machinery shall be provided with loose pulleys. All .... belting, shafting, set screws .... and ma chinery of every description shall be properly guarded."
We are informed that along these lines the State of Illinois has enforced the guarding of over 43,000 belts and pulleys, and com pelled the removal of over 18,000 set-screws. These changes cost the employers over $4,000,000. It has become no longer a question
p4af?F
SjjtjBffWtK.
. HHil*Bil -
158 Fourth Safety Congress
of expense and trouble, but a neces
Stop, Look, Listen
sity. This being true, it behooves us to study the problem with the
greatest care and to obtain exact
knowledge before we lend our aid
He who will not
to the making of more laws, for,
listen to Safety may have to listen to the
in order to be just to the employers of different States, laws should be uni form through the country. Mere
sound of an Ambu lance Gong. --
laws not intelligently made will not solve the problem. The excuse that the burden is ultimately borne by
the consumer is a poor one if the
expense is needless and not justified.
There is a right side and a wrong side in this as in every other
question. We all want to be on the right side, and one of the
best mediums we have is our own National Safety Council.
EXACT AND UNIFORM INFORMATION.
Many of the States are now collecting statistics covering every cause of accident. Claims under Workmen's Compensation Acts in thirty States are furnishing statistics that will be of the "greatest assistance to us. The Workmen's Compensation Service Bureau of New York has adopted a standard form for the use of the various companies in order that exact and uniform information may be obtained. In this work they make use of the Hollerith Tabulat ing Machine System. Think of the value of this work, which will give exact information on every State where Workmen's Compen sation laws have been enacted!
To illustrate what a small part of accident prevention is con cerned with belts and shafts we find, in a report of the Industrial Accident Board of Massachusetts, a statistical digest of about 9,000 accidents, of which 475 were fatal. The number of belting acci dents reported as fatal was 6; shafting and set-screws were re sponsible for 9 fatalities. This gives a total of but 15 deaths due to belts and shafting. . The Industrial Commission of Wisconsin, in a digest of 1,486 accidents, covered a period from 1911 to 1914 of about thirty-one months, showed the following:
S3KMmB3*LJ1I!ML_
j2tm i
-Cement Sectional Meeting
159
Accidents due to belts. .7___ 21'
Accidents due to shafting. ... 74 Accidents due to pulleys..... 55 Accidents due to set-screws. . 35
Use Your Brain
377
From New York accident reports for two years, 1912 and 1913:
Belts and pulleys................................ 124 Shafting .............................................. Set-screws..........................................
You can teach a
parrot to say "Safety First*' but he won't 33 know what it means. ir Do you?
None fatal.'
16S
Insurance companies fully appreciate all the various conditions bearing on the subject, and, therefore, view the problem in its broadest scope. The employer, as a client whose interest is to be conserved, must be furnished safe insurance at the lowest possible cost. Insurance companies will not insure against breaking the law, but at the same time, in their inspections, they cannot act as a police power. They have been the pioneers in accident pre vention work, and have always considered every phase in order that no unnecessary hardships should be imposed on any one con cerned.
The Workmen's Compensation Service Bureau has affiliated with the Underwriters' Laboratories, and the Jaoel of the Underwriters' Laboratories on any article will mean that it has been inspected for its safety qualifications as well as others. This system alone will almost solve the problem.
Insurance companies recognize the value of guards in giving credits in the schedule rating of the plants inspected. This amounts to as much as 40 per cent of the manual rate. Belts and shafts make up a part of this percentage, according to their number and class. Unguarded transmission belts and shafts have a charge levied against them' varying from 25 cents to Jfi.oo in premium, based on the character and extent of the hazard presented, and with no limit on the total charge under this class. Belts and shafts on working machines, when fully guarded with the other danger points, receive a credit per^fnachine, and it is this class of belt and
l- ;'sawwmimii.*g
i :awwMwiwWai
160
Fourth Safety Congress
shaft danger which, when removed, forms a portion of the credit given the risk. A great deal can be accomplished by giving due consideration to the plant equipment. If this can be done in part before installation, so much the better. Like other details of management, plantinspections should be thorough, frequent and at regular intervals. The designer of a plant carefully takes into consideration buildings, boilers, steam engines, generators, and other prime movers along with the machine tool equipment and the product to be turned out, but the transmission machinery, that is, the belts and shafts, is often overlooked and left to work out its own salvation. When we stop to consider that a 12-inch belt on a 30-inch pulley running at 100 R. P. M. will transmit about 25 H. P. we realize that it needs attention.
REGULATIONS FOR BELTS.
Natural regulations would appear to be that horizontal belts
should be guarded when within 7 feet of the floor or platform
level; vertical and inclined belts should be guarded to a poijit 6
feet above the floor, or if a railing is used, it should have at least
15 inches clearance and be 3^ feet in height. If necessary, a toe-
board might be placed to protect the opening where the belt passes
through the floor. Belts should run true at proper speed. They should not be
made of short lengths, and their size should be suitable for the
horse-power to be transmitted. Excessive belt tension should be
avoided. Splices should he glued, jointed smoothly, and securely
riveted. If metal fastenings are used, care should be taken that
there are no exposed metal parts. Raw-hide lacing should be
smooth and flat, with the ends cut off and turned in. Hooks,
clips, and wire lacings are often a source of injury. Hangers
and hooks should be provided for belts when idle, as belts
should not rest on running shafts or against the rims of revolving
pulleys.
-
Belt-shifters should be permanent, convenient, and always within
reach of the operator. They should be positive in their action, and
so locked as to prevent the belt from creeping from the loose to
the tight pulley. Shifting belts by hand should not be done on
any belt, regardless of size: it should be done only by using a belt
pole or a proper shifter.
Cement Sectional Meeting
161
A three-inch shaft revolving at zoo R- P. M. transmits about 25 H. P., and to allow such a shaft with a projecting set-screw or keyway to come in contact with the person or clothing is almost sure to result in a fatal accident. Inspection should be made of the method of securing stringers to structure, the method of secur ing and spacing hangers. All shafting should be perfectly aligned with couplings running true and pulleys firmly secured. Revolving shafting should be guarded where exposed by being encased in such a manner as to effectively prevent any part of the body, hair, or clothing of the operator from coming In contact with it. Vertical and inclined shafts should be encased to a height of six feet from floor or platform level. Horizontal shafting less than six feet from the floor or platform level should be completely encased or pro tected by a standard railing. All shaft dead-ends seven feet or less from floor or platform level should be cut off or protected by enclosing in metal casings.
Shafts which run along the floors should be entirely protected. Pipe railings with proper clearance may serve the purpose. Re volving shaft covers or tubes have proved satisfactory under these conditions. Wire-mesh, expanded or perforated metal can be, used to advantage in the construction of shaft guards.
Hangers should be strong and properly secured to the structure. They should be self-oiling, self-adjusting, and self-aligning. Drippans and cups should be securely fastened so that if struck with ladders or material they^will not be displaced.
Pulleys are deserving of frequent inspection, as castiron arms may be cracked. ' A hammer test will detect such flaws. Loose pulleys should be so designed as to be readily oiled, and, it close to a hanger, should be-completely guarded. Large size and high speed fixed pulleys should be well secured and keyed to shafts. They should be perfectly balanced and run true. Arms of pulleys can be guarded by metal discs. Pulleys, where the space between them is less than the width of the belts, should be guarded or else the pulley should be flanged.
Platforms giving access to belts, shafts, and pulleys should be substantial and so placed that the transmission machinery may be easily reached- They should, preferably, be of the grating type, so as not to hold dust. Standard railings and toe-boards should be provided where necessary.
- -jpgrpirgia
. 162
_ Fourth Safety Congress
Attention should be paid to the
CLOTHING
clothing worn by employees, espe cially oilers. Flowing neckties, torn sleeves, or loose overalls should
not be allowed. Oiling should be
Don't wear loose
done by one man and never while the machinery is in motion. Oil
baggy clothing where
cans should be furnished with suita ble spouts. Portable ladders should
it is liable to be
have hooks at the top ends, and the
caught in machinery.
lower ends provided with non-slip ping feet or metal points.
All collars, whether solid or
splits, should be round and free
from exposed set-screws. Set-screws should' either be recessed or
protected by flangesr on the collar. Couplings should have no
exposed nuts or bolt-heads. Flexible couplings should be free from
projecting studs, keys, buffers, or exposed nuts and bolt-heads.
Projecting keys should be covered with metal caps.
Clutches should be so placed that machinery can be conveniently
started and stopped. Every floor, every room, and every machine
should be under separate control ifthe operator is to be properly
protected. Clutches should be positive in their action, and so de
signed that they will_ not engage unless operated. Worn frictions
should be renewed. All clutches within seven feet of floor or plat
form level should be guarded.
On countershafts, loose pulleys and spindles should receive con
stant attention and riot left until they run hot and "freeze" in the
bearings. The method of lubrication should be pecfect. All parts
should line up true "with driving pulley. Countershafts should be
so placed as not to foul or crowd belts or machines.
All set-screws or revolving parts, where exposed to contact,
should be countersunk or protected by covering with a smooth sur
face. It has been reported that 1,500 people are killed or injured
every year in the United States by projecting set-screws. Manu
facturers of safety set-screws have given a great deal of attention
to the problem, and furnish safety set-screws in all sizes and kinds
to meet every requirement. Exposed set-screws are a constant
iiieuace to life and limb. The hazard may be overcome at a small
rtgjswi- ! -i iatiiibr;g-ffw swmww
... -< "
k-igggmi._kJiLllnZ'afra-i*,.: ! jU>g
Cement Sectional Meeting
163
cost in any one of the following
ways: By countersinking, having the set-screw slotted to take a
TODAY
screwdriver, or hollow, to permit
the use of a socket wrench, by cov ering with a sheet-metal plate or
Never put off un
metal caps or by covering with a wooden ring. The use of string and leather around set-screw heads is
til tomorrow the Safety work you
not recommended.
~
The advertisement of a manufac
turer of set-screws reads as follows:
should have done yesterday.
"The need of safety set-screws
is so well recognized by those
who are familiar with the use of set-screws in manufacturing plants
and industrial works and the danger of loss of life and the con
sequent liability of tremendously extensive damage suits caused by
the use of projecting set-screws which are so evident to owners
of factories and mills that it has now come to be regular shop
practice to use safety set-screws."
OLD-FASHIONED SET-SCREWS.
Another manufacturer has covered it as follows:
"With the old-fashioned set-screw destruction comes with warning."
Even the lowest type of society's enemies gives some warning of intended destruction, but the set-screw with projecting head, never. The only time "you see the head of a projecting set-screw is when it is not revolving--when it is harmless. If you have to learn a danger by experience, you'll get the experience sooner or later where set-screws with projecting heads are in use.
In the materials to be used in the construction of guards we have a choice between wood and metal. Guards made of wood naturally appeal to those in wood-working trades and guards of metal to those in the metal-working trades. Circumstances, as a rule, will decide.
Wooden guards may be either open or solid. If solid, they do not permit of ready inspection and may add materially to the fire hazard. For example,-vertical wooden guards connecting two
i-ftSSlii. -yj~ -<i
tpi :T jBPffW#! '
7 `ftmt?
; ' WffyS-Bl ' f-i;
, T.
i^wi ~ V--fe ,,v_, ;;|. ryn
164 - Fourth Safety Congress
floors might be decidedly hazardous. Wooden guards also collect
grease and dust, thus adding still further to the fire hazard.
Where wire-mesh guards are objectionable, due to their collect
ing dust, then, of rcourse, some substitute, such as iron piping or
structural iron shapes, may be used. In addition to the pipe railing
heavy wire screens or sheet metal may be attached to the railing,
for the ready removal of guards. Sockets should not project
above the floor. Hinged sides on guards prove very convenient
at times.
.-
Metal guards can he readily made from expanded or perforated
metal. The metal should be free from burrs and the edge pro
tected and reinforced by structural shapes, or else bent up on edge.
This depends upon the material, whether it be expanded or per
forated metal. Wire-mesh guards, when made of heavy gauge wire,
may be more expensive to fabricate than expanded or perforated
metal, due to the higher cost of the wire workers over the machinists.
MOST GUARDS ARB QUITE SIMPLE.
Guards should be substantially constructed, light, and, where pos sible, so constructed as to admit of visual inspection. Hinged covers may be used where necessary. Guards may appear, when in place, as complicated in construction, whereas in fact most of them are quite simple. Belt-guards should be made strong enough to offer protection in case of a belt breaking while running. This can hardly be expected of a shafting guard. A guard that hampers the oper ator, reduces his output, or increases the danger, fails in its design. Insofar as is possible we should all exert our efforts toward the standardization of guards.
The excuse so often given that only one man is exposed to danger from a beltjar shaft is not worthy of consideration. This principle soon finds a way to have but one man exposed to any danger-point. The isolated engineer has just as much right to protection as the workman, one of a group.
Changes take place in the design of machines from day 'to day, and what may be modem and up-to-date, may be obsolete before the machines wear out. Therefore, it may be cheaper to buy a new machine,with the safety attachments incorporated in the orig inal design than to attempt to make the old machine safe. Accord ingly, buy your machinery properly guarded. If a machine is new
Cement Sectional Meeting
165
in design, have all the safety features taken care of by the designer. The installation of motor drives does not, as a rule, entirely
eliminate belts and shafts, which, for a long time to come, will play an important part in the industrial plant. It may mean that, in time, main line and jack-shafts, together with counter-shafts, will be eliminated, but often motors are placed on the floor near the machine and belts and shafts are simply brought into closer con tact with the operator. If belts and shafts are exposed, they should be guarded.
Last, but not least, if you know of a better and safer way to effect any guarding, doril and then tell others. If you do not know yourself, inquire of manufacturers of safety appliances. If they cannot tell you, communicate with the National Safety Council.
(Applause.) -- DISCUSSION
The Chairman: This paper is open for discussion; and in connection with safeguarding belts, it occurs to me that in the case of the law regulating belts there are some requirements, I believe, on the part of the Compensation Bureau, that guards shall be a certain distance away from the belts. Is that not true, Mr. Ganagan ?
Mr. Gunagan : They make a statement that--"Vertical belts shall be inclosedor, if there is a clearance of fifteen inches, then your pipe railing---36 inches, about, is the standard. I have heard the criticism of some -of the inspectors that the insurance com panies figure too exactly. I don't believe that that keen point of - demarcation is made, and, knowing that a man is guarded by a rail 33 or 34 inches high, perhaps more, which meets the condi tion, if I were the employer I should certainly take issue in case the effectiveness of the protection was disputed. It is no easy task for a man to spend money for guards and then, because somebody else, perhaps, has a different opinion, know that it must be all wiped away; and I feel, from that point alone, how careful every one should be.
Mr. HaSding : Do you regard a shaft about six feet above the floor as dangerous?
Mr: Gunagan : Guarding shafts does not depend on their size, because even if a shaft were only an inch in diameter and had any thing on it that would catch a man's clothing, it might prove fatal
*UjW3S5 -j:,.!-'
>WM.
: jimkj ..-i i-
--: '--a
<Wt
166 Fourth Safety Congress
to the man. You might go up to a
Call Attention
four- or five-inch shaft and, ofcourse, have that much more head
way, and the same catastrophe or
To all tools, ma
accident would happen ; and so it is stipulated that you must guard
chines, or appliances you know to be
that shaft. I am not making the distinction there that the State law shows, because that is a different
unsuitable, improp er or defective.
thing., If you put a boxing around that shaft, the fire insurance man may come along and raise the rate
of insurance, but if you have a shaft
exposed, you have got things so the
man is liable to come in contact with the thing and get hurt.
Mr. Harding : We have had suggestions in regard to safetybelts. We have used safety-belts with a rope on them fastened at the top to keep ajrnn from falling down onto the pile of stone. We put -a man on the top of the pile and the stone fell down and hit the man--Impracticable, because we have to put another man up there to hold the rope so that the man won't fall down on the pile.
.
BELT GUARDS AND BELT MEN.
Ms. Medina: I would like to say something regarding the pro tection of belts and -the consequent danger of applying guards in case the belt breaks. It is absolutely practical to build a guard that will resist belt-breaking--and I think there are gentlemen. in this room who can substantiate that statement. I don't think that applies to a wooden guard at all; and the tendency is in these days to get away from wooden guards entirely and use metal; and I have seen" cases where a mill, driven by perhaps a 40-horse-power motor-- something of that sort---has had its belt protected by Jfj-inch iron --in an angle-iron frame; and I have seen the places where the belts have broken and simply dented those guards. I don't think it is impractical to protect a belt against breaking.
Mr. Harding * What kind of a mill do you operate ? Mr. Medina: I don't operate a mill.
Mr. Harding : I am- a Safety First man, and the company T
Cement Sectional Meeting
167
am with believe in it--just as much
as . anybody in the business; but your suggestions along: impractical lines don't appeal to me.
INSURANCE
Mr. Medina : I absolutely agree
with you; and I brought that point up to show you that it was prac tical, as I have seen it done.
Safety First is the best insurance you
Me. Harding: That may be, in some cases. Take a cement-mill:
can get--both for
every well-regulated _cement - mill has a belt-man, whose job is to see
yourself and family.
that the belts are kept in good con
dition. We have had a lot of acci
dents ; we have had inspectors from the liability insurance company
write enough suggestions to choke a boiler-shop: you don't get
anywhere; and when I ask them, "Do you recommend these things ?"
"Yes." "How much will they cost?" "I have not experimented."
"We will give you the job." Then they can't do it for $5,000: it is
all impracticable! The cement manufacturer is looking for some
thing practical: he is not looking for a lot of hot air, because that
doesn't get him anywhere,
PRACTICAL WORK NEEDED.
At what time of day do the most accidents happen in the cementmills ?
Mr. Medina : Mr. Hill could tell us that.
Mr. Harding: From xi to 11:30, and from 4 to 4:30, in the change of shifts. It is The practical thing that the manufacturer wants. You can make a lot of rules. I have been in this game about twenty-eight years, running mills. It is something practical that is needed.
Mr. Young: Dp youYlaim that this is not practical?
Me. Harding : You can guard, but it doesn't amount to any thing, because the minute a man's eye sees something moving, if is the bfest Safety First proposition he can meet.
Mr. Young: There should not be a moving shaft which is not guarded allowed anywhere in a cement-mill.
ew
f
fin
168 -- Fourth Safety Congress
Mr. Harding : I do not agree with you on that.
Mr. Rawsok : In guarding belts we put in two upright 8-inch channels near the pulley, with lugs in the floor, so that they can be removed; between these is placed 3-inch plank on edge to catch the belt; and if it comes off it is absolutely stopped by this barrier. I think this scheme very satisfactory.
The Chairman: Is there any further discussion of this paper?
A Member: Wh?* are considered the best handbooks on safe guarding standards iL For instance, Mr. Gunagan has spoken of the 36-inch height when the railing guards are used. I can not remember all these things, and would like to know whether there are any handbooks which would help in getting these standards, so that we can erect safeguards according to standard practice?
VALUE OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Mr. Palmer : In connection with that, the gentleman said Penn sylvania standard. Our inspectors (speaking as the Chief Inspector of Pennsylvania), have a sort of guide for them, and it is the means of their explaining tothe employer what a guard is and what proper care is--we have furnished all of them a copy of the Universal Standards, put out by the Workmen's Compensation Bureau, and I think it covers practically all of the standards that we have out. It gives your inspector a chance to go into a plant and show some thing--if you can show a man a picture of something, he under stands it a great deal better than if you say it is 15 inches away and so high or less than that and so much higher. The picture makes it stick in his mind. Some of you know those standards; they are colored; the safeguard part is colored green, and it is of a convenient size, and is a good means of educating your safety man. I am of opinion the Universal Standards adopted by the Bureau are open to being obtained by any manufacturer. Are they not, Mr. Gunagan ?___
BOOKS ON SAFETY.
Mr. Gunagan : Yes, sir. Any of the books can be purchased for $3.50; but, on the other hand, in order to facilitate matters-- I shall be pleased to hear from you: as far as our company is con cerned we would only consider it a compliment and an honor for you to address us.
rVg'm-"'H-i' niwwwa^; ......SWK- ~~. j ^
: -: _______-*- -xj-MMWffliffr' -ct; ;;j-:.iL`.ii.
Cement Sectional Meeting
169
The Chairman: IT imagine it would be well worth while for manufacturers to have those books when they are putting in any improvements of the kind--to put them in, where they can, in conformity with the standards.
Mr. Gunagan : The books are so designed that the information they give a man is a keynote as to what are the best standards in all parts of the world, and it is indeed a guide: you can hand it to your foreman and say, "Here! it carries out an idea;", and, like wise, the Independence Inspection Bureau have certain standards.
A Member : They would apply in all states if they are good.
A Member: If we follow out the standards embodied in the book published by Mr. Hansen, will that apply to the Pennsylvania State standards-----cover ryour requirements?
Mr. Palmer: There are just a few minor differences, but that doesn't make any material difference: you can change the dimen sions, when you build guards, to suit the Pennsylvania standard: but you have a pattern there--a picture of what Pennsylvania wants you to do. I don't think there is- any regulation but what practi cally that regulation is covered in the Universal Standards.
Mr. Rejstinger: The Lehigh Company is operating plants in four States, and all our superintendents have been taught to use the Universal Standards book and make all their guards according to those standards.
INTERSTATE-STANDARDS FOR SAFEGUARDS.
Mr. Palmer: I hold-here in my hands the names of the of ficers of the Governmental Section of the National Safety Council, and one of their objects will be to make interstate standards for safeguards. Colonel Bryant--it has been officially announced--has accepted the offer to become the chairman of it; and, being a mem ber of the National Safety Council Executive Committee, I am to act temporarily as the secretary of that section until they get organ ized.
A. Member : One thing that will come up in Pennsylvania with regard to the cement industry, to show the fairness of the Depart ment of Labor and Industry in that connection, is that in your standards of the Workmen's Compensation Bureau, you Vviil see
170 - Fourth Safety Congress
the. "Permission for Passageways
Not in Safety Work
under Belts," and you have quite a good deal of that in the cement trade; but where you want per mission to have a passageway
under a belt in the State of Penn
One way to make yourself disagreeable is to explain to folks
sylvania, it is taken up with the Department of Labor and In dustry, and the inspection decides whether the passageway will be permitted.
that they are wrong.
Mr. Brobston : I regret very
___
much that my good friend Mr.
Harding does not think it is possible to protect shafting and belts sufficiently. Both Mr. Gunagan and Mr. Medina certainly made
it very plain that individual conditions would have to be met in
a great many cases, and neither one of them claimed that any
particular type of guard would be applicable to all cases; but I
think that all the practical men will agree that it is not only advisa
ble, but necessary, to protect all belts and shafting in some way, if they are 6 feet or less from the floor, so that onr workmen will not step into them or run against them, or be injured in any manner by a moving belt or shaft; and I think that we have all had experience
enough to state that, by studying out each individual proposition,
we can arrive at a satisfactory guard for both the shafting and the belts.
REBUILDING CEMENT MILLS.
Mr. Harding: If that's the case, all the cement mills in the Lehigh Valley will have to be rebuilt, Mr. Brobston.
Mr. Brobston : "We are rapidly rebuilding them on those lines. (Applause.)
The Chairman : We know that, notwithstanding the questions that Mr. Harding has raised, he is doing some very substantial work along the safety lines.
Mr. Harding : The statement that I have made is this; we be lieve in Safety First, but we don't believe in furnishing a child's nurse and a doctor and a wet-nurse to go around to every man we have got. We believe that the proposition. Safety First, is nearest to
Cement Sectional Meeting
171
the heart of my company; we have,
our hospital; every man in our plant is directed to see his physician be tween now and the first of January; we are taking1 care of our men. If a man is careless, we discharge him; if we know a man to be careless, we won't employ him. I had a doctor
Safety First
"Does not necessi tate a child's nurse and a doctor and a
at our mill for a month examining men, even taking their bloodpressure, to determine their physi cal condition; but it is practical ideas, not theoretical ones, that I
wet nurse around to man."
to go every
am looking for. '
The Chairman : I am going to introduce Mr. Hill without any further ceremony; and Mr. Hill is personally known, I presume,
to most of you here. To those who may nor have that privilege,
I would say that the accident prevention work of the Association of Cement Manufacturers^ had grown so that the secretary, and
those in the office who had been attending to it, could not find the time to give it proper attention; so Mr Hill was engaged specially
for that purpose, and he has been giving his entire time and atten tion to that work.
THE SAFEGUARDING OF BINS, HOPPERS, AND TANKS
Robert Brinton Hill, Department Accident Prevention and Insurance, Association of American Portland Cement Manufacturers, Philadelphia, Pa.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: Bins, hoppers and tanks are as integral a part of the manufac ture of cement as the kilns and grinding-mills. They are located in every department, and absolutely indispensable. Their position requires, in order to make them easily accessible, the use of ladders or the installation of walkways and platforms.
Before going into the subject of making conditions as nearly fool-proof as possible, it might be well to take up several accidents, reports of which have been received at the office of the Association of American Portland Cement Manufacturers.
172 Fourth Safety Congress
' Reports of fatal accidents occurring in the various cement com panies, received over a period of years, and, therefore, dependable, shows that io per pent of the total number of deaths were due to accidents occurring in and around bins, tanks, and hoppers. Hence the importance of the question.
FATAL. ACCIDENTS.
The first fatal accident of which I will speak had no witnesses. However, the mill-runners in the raw department noticed that one of the fuller mills was not feeding properly, and accordingly shut down the mill in order to investigate the trouble. They found the deceased smothered in the hopper over the mill, with his body upright and his feet sticking out at the bottom. No one saw this man go to his death, but, nevertheless, whether he stepped off a walkway and fell in, or deliberately entered the bin in order to inspect the feed, the result was the same.
The second fatality occurred in a shale-bin having a flat bottom, with a row of spouts 5J4 feet apart which discharged into cars tunning on a track beneath the bin. The victim's duty was to see that the spouts fedL properly, and in one corner of the bin was a little room or housing in which the man was safe from falling or sliding shale. It was occasionally necessary to leave this hous ing and go up on pop of the shale-pile in the bin. Shale, on this occasion, it is supposed, had arched over a spout and caved in under the weight of the" man. He was later found dead near one of the spouts. The bin was about half full at the time of the accident, and no material was being delivered to it.
In the third accident the report fixes the cause as "smothered to death by being caught in a slide of stone." The accident occurred in a stock-box in the raw department, the injured man having been employed as a stock-box tender for two years. Unfortunately, de tails of this accident are not available.
The fourth death was due to the hare-brained practice of under cutting piles of cement when hoeing to the conveyor from the bin. Here is an accident which conclusively demonstrates the futility of depending upon the intelligence or common sense of the work men--only too often it's entirely lacking'.
At io o'clock one might in the kiln-room a certain workman went to find out the amount of coal in a coal-box. The kiln-room was
iM-ft -
j&asBift--HfrEtatsWg* aBWma*!
tmatmmm
Cement Sectional Meeting
173
well lighted, but the report says that it seems certain that he opened the manhole of the coal-box and placed a lighted match inside to see where the coal stood. The coal-dust was set afire, and ignorance and thoughtlessness claimed another victim. He died five days later as the result of his burns.
Here's another coal-tank fatality: According to the report the deceased was on top of the coal-bin, and as the material was hang ing, it failed to feed the screw properly. The workman took a piece of pipe and punched it into the bin to make the coal feed. The material gave way suddenly and caused the flood which was ignited by the kiln. The man, in trying to get down from the top of the bin, slipped and fell from the ladder, a distance of about six feet and through the flame. The fire lasted only a few seconds, but the man was killed.
It is recollected that at the time of this accident a certain indi vidual expressed the feeling that the victim should have had fore thought enough to jump out of the window nearby instead of attempting to go down the ladder from which he fell. The senti ment is on a par with that expressed by a New York employer who, when the matter of proper fire-escapes was being discussed, said that no escapes were necessary from the second floor, as the em ployees (the majority of Them girls) could easily jump out of the windows!
And so I could go on with the rehearsal of more accidents and fatalities occurring in. and around bins, tanks, and hoppers.
CARELESSNESS, THOUGHTLESSNESS AND IGNORANCE.
From the accidents 13ia-ve mentioned and others, reports of
- which have been received by the Association, it is easily appreciated that the chief cause of accidents around bins, tanks, and hoppers is a lack of properly enforced operating rules. The accidents are the result of carelessness, thoughtlessness, and ignorance, and they are not due to any mechanical dangers of the devices themselves. For this reason the problem is of an educational nature, and calls for active intelligent supervision on the part of foremen. In turning to the safeguarding feature of the problem it must be realized that there is little moving machinery around bins, tanks, and hoppers, and that, therefore, the prime consideration is not the mechknical safeguarding, but the enforcing of strict and per tinent operating rules. The only machinery connected with the
li mri iiiii
liil
174
Fourth Safety Congress
containers is the screw conveyor,
which conveys the material from
Bad Habits
the container to the next point in the manufacturing process.
As a rule, tanks and hoppers
Keep out of debt
are arranged in rows--over kilns or grinding-mills. They must be
and danger. Both are alluring but are
reached with more or less regu larity, and, therefore, ' it is im portant that substantial walkways
poor friends to make.
running along the line of contain ers be built. Walkways are very
important along coal tanks and
boxes, as attested by the facts of the last accident mentioned, where the workman fell from a ladder
in his hs.ste to escape being burned. In this case the walkway would
have served as a means of escape, as well as being placed primarily
to give access to the tanks. Walkways should run the entire length
of the row of containers, and preferably have stairs or permanent
ladders at each end. The use of ladders for access to individual
tanks or boxes is not desirable--ladders should be eliminated
wherever possible, as they are the- cause of numerous accidents.
Where walkways cannot be run over the tops of the containers,
they can be placed along the side and have platforms giving access
to the individual hoppers or tanks.
All tanks, boxes, and hoppers should have tight-fitting covers.
Manholes should be located where walkways run over the top,
not in line with the walkway, but at one side, so that they are easily
accessible, and at the same time the walkway is open for its entire
length, even though men be in the tanks and the manholes open.
Manhole covers should be solid, hinged, gravity closing, and kept
locked at all times; except when men are actually working in them.
The key should be in the possession of the department foreman,
'and if it is necessary to enter the tank or hopper, let the foreman
be notified and have him personally superintend the work and be
responsible for the safety of his men.
It is recommended that small holes be provided in tank tops
large enough to admit a measuring stick. These holes should be
located near the walkway, so that a man can determine the height
Cement Sectional Meeting
175
of the material in the container
without leaving- the safety of the
walkway or opening the manhole. Loose manhole covers are unde
An Able Body
sirable. They may be removed by any one, authorized or not. They
Is thereward of Safe
are often left off and the manhole left open. For this reason the above recommendations are made.
ty. Untold misery is the penalty of care
Manhole-cover handles, where covers are acting as part of a floor, should be of the type which, when
lessness or thought lessness.
not in use, drop into a recess in the
covers, thus presenting a smooth
surface.
The safety of stock-bins depends to a great extent upon their
original design. One company had two fatalities during a year in
the same bin, due to slides of material, while a workman was in
the bin seeing that the spouts were being fed. In order to obviate
this hazard they are rebuilding these bins, putting in a V-shaped
bottom, so that spouts are fed with little or no attention from the
bin-tender.
THE HUMAN" ELEMENT.
We will now turn to the human element, which in the cement industry plays so important a part in accident prevention work. After having made conditions as nearly accident proof as possible, the education of the employee and the enforcing of operating rules must be considered.
The majority of these accidents, as is true of all accidents, are due to either carelessness or ignorance. The sad fate of the man who placed a lighted match in a coal-box emphasizes the need for careful supervision of all work by the foreman. Men should be forbidden to enter tanks or hoppers on their own initiative, and in case of trouble, they should immediately report to their foreman for instructions.
The following accident occurred in one of the member companies' mills. A kiln-room foreman and his assistant entered a raw feed tank to discover why the kiln "was not being properly fed. They had safety feelts and ropes attached to them when they entered the
176 Fourth Safety Congress
tank, but on finishing their- work they undid them and intended to climb out of the tank. Before they got out they were both over come by gas present in the tank, and fell back into the tank. The foreman died of asphyxiation, and his assistant was in the hospital for weeks as a result of the accident. This brings us to the im portance of supplying safety belts and ropes, insisting on their use whenever a' tank or hopper is to be entered, and the educating of the `men to put them on before entering and to keep them on until they are safely out of the tank.
SAFETY ROPES.
A man or men working in a tank should always have a fellowworkman nearby in a safe place and keeping careful watch over his or'their safety. Men in tanks should have their safety fopes attached to something permanent outside the container. In the event of their helplessness, they can be pulled out from above, and if'still conscious and physically able, they can pull themselves out. The men stationed to watch them should watch and do nothing else. They-should never leave their posts while workmen remain in the containers unless other men take their places.
It is common practice to hoe cement from bins to the conveyor leading to the packing department. . A man can accomplish more with less effort by indulging in the reprehensible practice of under cutting piles and causing small slides. This practice should be pro hibited and made a cause for immediate discharge.
The chances workmen take are almost unbelievable, and for this reason the habit of caution must be drummed into them. Men working around bins, tanks, and hoppers should be informed of the dangers incident to the work, and of the accidents which might occur to them. They should be made to realize the importance of their always being sure of their safety before starting any piece of work. (Applause.)
DISCUSSION
The Chairman! Has anybody had any experience in connec tion with this subject that they would like to bring before the meeting, or any unsolved problems in connection with this that they would like to bring up?
Mr. Forttjin : I would like to ask Mr. Hill a question with reference to undermining, which w.e call bridging. How can you
Cement Sectional Meeting
177
prevent it, when the men are taking cement out of a bin? When drawing from a bin, you have got to get a certain amount of material out and cart it a short distance; the top of the material in the bin will sometimesjbridge over--it is not undermining, and it is not the fault of the bin.
Mr. Hill : You mean that in taking material from a bin it mayarch over, causing a dangerous condition? The minute such a condition is found, workmen should leave the bin, and the arch be broken down from above.
Mr. Fortitin : It is a case of the material working out; and there is no access to permit of -working overhead. Then how will you take care of it?
Mr. Hill : Every bin should be accessible from above.
Mr. Harding : Let me make a suggestion in regard to the de signing of a bin, and it is one of the most important features in regard to bins. In the Lehigh Valley a great many bins are built in a certain way--because they were built that way about forty years ago they are still being built that way. In cementmills the bins are being built larger and larger, in order to give greater storage capacity. Some are built with concrete walls, some plants using one method and some another. We have a slab stockhouse at our place, built some years ago, and there are some cracks in it. We are reinforcing it with iron and steel col umns inside, taking put the wooden bins and putting steel columns in place of Wooden ones. - -
As to the suggestion in regard to locks on manhole covers-- a lock on a manhole would last about twenty-four hours; and if you could get to the lock, you couldn't get the key in it, because it would be full of cement. ~
Mr. Spaceman ; It seems to me that the main cause of most accidents in bins is. the failure of the bin to flow, which Involves the necessity of a man entering the bin to start the flow by manual labor. I have been able to overcome this difficulty very largely, in a number of bins, by inserting in the bins perforated pipes, through- which air at high pressure is forced. This will break up the arching "and cause the bin to flow without the necessity of
178
Fourth Safety Congress
any one entering it, and I believe
The Root of It
that if this scheme is followed out, it will greatly reduce the necessity
of men entering a bin until it is
Seventy-five per cent of accidents can be reached only
practically empty. Another device . I have found
valuable in determining the quan tity of material in a bin is, instead of a rod, a flexible cord with foot
through organization and education-
marks on it, and a light attached to the end. The material in the bin is very apt to have a funnel-like surface, and it is difficult to form
a correct estimate by putting a rod
down; but if you have your cord laid off in feet--your lamp-cord with a lamp on the end, the' man can make a very close estimate
without going into the bin.
Mr. :Palmer X would like to stay with the Section through this entire meeting, but it is impossible. However, before I go, I would
like to say a word here and get out.
While I was in San Francisco, attending the National Safety Council, Dr. Tucker, of the Riverside Cement Company at River
side, California, presented a very splendid paper, and showed
some mighty interesting films. I am sure your Association, if
you have not already seen them at some time, could make very
good use of them. Dr. Tucker is also one of the best safety men
that I have seen--and when you say that before the Cement Asso
ciation it means something. He spoke, in connection with the
bins, of some accidents that they had in bins. I cannot describe
the conditions of the accidents, but he mentioned that they had,
since those accidents, installed a means of sounding an alarm In*
case of trouble--the alarm being sounded by.the second man sta
tioned at the bin in case of accident. He said that later on a man
was caught in a bin ; the bell was rung, sounding the alarm, and
assistance came. Dr- Tucker seemed to think this a very good
plan.
Now I want to say just a word about the standards--the stand
ards of safety. TheDstandards should be practical; and at Harris
burg, Dr. Jackson Has relied' on the men from the industries, and
Cement Sectional Meeting
179
particularly men from your Asso
ciation, to assist our industrial board in developing practical stand
PENNSYLVANIA
ards. He is a manr who has
been out in the industries--a con
sulting engineer; and I, also, have
Doesn't think that
had. some experience in plant safety work and know this: that
simply safeguarding
simply just guarding your ma-
a few machines set
chines cannot effect a reduction of more than 35 per cent in your
tles the question of
accidents. What our inspectors
accident prevention.
going into the plants of Pennsyl
vania are preaching is that 75 per
cent of the accidents can be reached only through organization
and education; but we do say this. much,--and I said it in our
plants when I was out and around--that safety begins at the top.
"We cannot say to the employee in the busy mill: "We have made
our plant reasonably safe." We have got to clear our own dooryard
and our office, or else we haven't any foundation to stand on.
Pennsylvania doesn't think that simply guarding a few machines settles the question. They know that it is a bigger problem, and
it is mighty hard to educate and to organize, but, you must organize,
and through organization^ educate.
Speaking, for the National Safety Council, as the First Vice-
President, I want to thank you for the splendid work that you
are doing: Pennsylvania can consider herself mighty fortunate
to get the messages that will come from this meeting. It is
going to help all the cement people in the national organization
to state that it was not considered necessary to establish a separate
cement section organization because you are doing the work so well.
That, I think, indicates the Council's recognition of your standing.
Please, I there is anything that you think can be done to improve
the service of the National Council, in the way of this sectional
work or any other, write to the officers, and they will be
very glad to consider the suggestions. We are here to give service,
and we consider that you are simply part of us.
I also- want to say that I am glad that you had Mr. Sinclair as
your Chairman today.. (Applause.)
180 Fourth Safety Congress
The Chairman : '^Mr. Palmer has referred to the minutes of this meeting, and I want to say that we are endeavoring to take notes that will cover the discussions here. They will be sent to all those who desirer them; and such suggestions, for instance, as Mr. Spackman just made about some device for bins and other things that come out, may be valuable to the members, and they may care to follow them up. If, in speaking about any of these suggestions, you will be kind enough to talk loud enough so that the stenographer can get the notes, we will be in position to give you a pretty fair resume of all that is said here.
Mr. Young, Chief Engineer of the Alpha Portland Cement Company, has been land enough to consent to give us a talk on Safeguarding Coal Mills, which is a matter of vital interest to every cement manufacturer. "Mr. Young.
SAFEGUARDING COAL MILLS
W. J. Young, Chief Engineek, Alpha Portland Cement Com
pany, Easton, Pa.
Mr. Chairman and ^Members of the National Safety Council: The problem of safeguarding coal mills is the greatest safety problem with which the manufacturers of Portland cement located in the eastern part of The United States have to deal.
Where gas or oil is not used as a fuel in kilns, bituminous coal reduced to a fine powder is essential with the present system of manufacturing Portland cement, and we are compelled to dry, pulverize, convey, ancL store it. We have in this department the same machinery risks that prevail in the pther departments of a cement mill, but I will not attempt at this time to cover this subject, as the discussion of the hazard of coal-dust explosions which is peculiar to the coal mill will occupy our time profitably.
The Accident Prevention Bulletin No. 17, entitled, "Coal Dust Hazard," published in May, 1914, by the Independence Bureau for the Association of American Portland Cement Manufacturers, is a clear presentation and discussion of the problem of safeguarding coal mills operated today. This Bulletin, after citing a list of acci dents in which 23 men lost their lives, describes the cause of the explosions and points^ to the best practice for preventing them. If we follow the rules laid down in this Bulletin in operating the
Cement Sectional Meeting
181
present-day coal mills, we will reduce the explosions to a minimum. The report of the cause of the explosions given in this Bulletin
agrees with our experience in the operation of coal mills. We have found in almost every case a careful investigation of an explosion
in the coal mill disclosed the fact that it .occurred in falling coaldust, and many explosions have resulted directly from attempts to clean up some part of the coal mill.
I believe we will all agree that, even in the best operated coal mills of the present day, there is always the latent danger, and, while it is true by extreme care we succeed in operating for long periods without explosions, it is equally true that explosions occur without any known change in the conditions or care in operation.
We all know that coal-dust in bulk (as in storage) and layers (as it collects on all horizontal surfaces and in every recess or irregular ity in the coal mill) is ndt explosive, but when, for any cause, it is scattered in the air, forming a cloud of coal-dust, and flame enters this cloud, the coal-dust is almost certain to bum violently, causing what we know as a flash or explosion." We do not always have the flash when the flame comes in. contact with the cloud of coaldust, because the mixture is either too rich or too poor. Many experiments have proved that flashes can occur when a very small amount of coal-dust is suspended in the air. The flash is often small and causes little damage to property, yet even the small flashes sometimes result in serious injury to employees. When the
flash occurs in a large quantity of coal-dust suspended in the air, the explosion becomes very violent and often results in serious, dam age to property and death or injury to several employees. They have been known to occupy several hundred cubic -yards of space, and spread out into the open air for distances as great as ioo feet.
The Alpha Portland Cement Company has for several years kept a record of the explosions in the coal mill which caused injury to its employees. This record shows that 90 per cent of the ex plosions can be readily traced as occurring in falling dust, and in 50 per cent of them the. falling dust was caused by cleaning ,up some part of the coal mill. Moreover, our experience has been that large explosions occur in dust falling from a considerable height, and that no flash of large size has occurred in dust falling
from a distance of less than six or eight feet, and we have never had a flash in dust on the floor of the'- coal mill.
182
Fourth Safety Congress
Our Problem
As before stated, we are com. pelled to dry, pulverize, and store
bituminous coal for burning clinker,
and I am satisfied that all the
elements necessary for an explo
Is to prevent the
sion always exist in the coal mills
proper mixture of
of the present day. That is, we have the coal dust, air, and flame
air and coal dust
always present, and our problem
from coming in con
is to prevent the proper mixture of air and coal dust from coming
tact with the flame.
in contact with the flame. Nearly
all the cement manufacturers to
day are using great care in the oper
ation of coal mills, and the men operating them are properly in
structed, yet explosionsstill occur and will continue until we change
the design of our coaL mills. Fire is always present in the furnace of the drier, in the hot
clinker discharged from the kiln and the kiln itself. Fire is also
often started in the driers by overheating, in the pulverizing mills,
elevators, and conveyors by friction. It is also often present in the dust collected in the crevices and on horizontal surfaces, where
it exists often for a ccmsiderable time, burning so slowly that it is not discovered by the operators. An inspection of the horizontal surfaces of a coal mill will often show an irregular line of burned
coal running sometimes for several feet. We cannot dry, grind,
and pulverize coal without fire, but. we can and should prevent the mixture of air and coal-dust which would cause an explosion,
and, while care in the operating of the department has much to do with it, yet we can fully accomplish it only by designing the coal mills so that there is no place for the dust to collect above the
level of the mills and reduce the places for dust to collect above the
floor level to a minimum. The problem then is largely one of design, and I think it would
be well to consider it under the following heads:
Location.
Pulverizing.
, Building.
'
Elevating and Conveying.
Drying.
j:
Bins.
Power and Transmission,
Cement Sectional Meeting
183
Location.--The coal mill should
be placed convenient to the kiln mill, separated from it by a fire
FRANKNESS
proof wall or, better still, by a
motor or power shed surrounded by fireproof walls. The other three sides of the coaT house should be
Safety meii'are of ten. the severest crit
, exposed, and it should be separated
from any other building' by at least
75 feet.
'
Building.--By a proper design
ics of industry, and they place the blame where it properly be
of the coal mill building we can reduce the hazard in this depart
longs.
ment to a minimum. The coal mill
building of the present day is entirely too high, and constructed
in such a manner that there are plenty of places for the collection
of dust at distances of from 15 to 40 feet above the floor level.
A proper designed coal mill should be a shed roof, concrete building,
with just enough head room for the economical operation and repair
of the grinding machinery. The partition wall between the drying
and pulverizing rooms should have no opening at all. The building
should be well ventilated by open spaces just under the roof. No
horizontal surfaces should be permitted inside the building, except
the tops of the mills, line shaft and mill piers. The structure should
be without any possible place for the collection of dust, with win
dows and doors flush with the inside of the building, and so con
structed that there is no offset on the inside face. Even the openings
in the walls should have no horizontal surfaces, but should slope
sharply to the outside. The roof should be entirely of reinforced
concrete, and all wall surfaces should be finished as smooth as
the walls of an office or dwelling. In a building constructed in
this manner it is impossible for sufficient dust to collect to cause
an explosion.
1
Drying.--The drier should be designed so as to prevent the gases
at a high temperature from coming into contact with the coal. The
temperature of the gases should be under the control of the operator
at all times, with instruments placed for indicating and recording
this temperature for the direction of the operation and information
of the superintendent. ==
184
-Fourth Safety Congress
Pulverizing.--The mills used for pulverizing' coal should be dust less.
Conveying.--All dried or pulverized coal should be conveyed in dustless screw conveyors. No screw conveyor should be per
mitted inside the coal mill building excepting the. one carrying the pulverized coal from the grinding mills, which should be placed below the floor level.
Elevator stacks should be entirely outside the coal mill build ing, constructed of concrete, and just large enough for proper clear ance for the buckets of the elevators, with no bearings allowed inside of the elevator stack.
Bins.--The bins for storing, drying, and pulverizing coal should be erected entirely outride the building, and, if any part of the bin is allowed to extend inside the building, it should be without offset of any kind for the collection of dust.
Power and Transmission.---The power necessary for the opera tion of the machinery in the coal mills, all the line shafting and drives, excepting drives for the grinding mills in certain "types, should be in a building separated from the drier "and pulverizer room by fireproof walls. (Applause.)
DISCUSSION
Mr. Harding: How often do you suggest that coal-houses be cleaned, considering conditions in the Lehigh Valley today ?
Mr. Young: It is a physical impossibility to keep the presentday coal-house clean. It is hard for me to state how often they should be cleaned--I would say about every five minutes. (Laugh ter.)
:Mr. Harding With regard to ventilating coal-houses, I have had coal-houses ventilated at the top by slots in the roof monitor, where large fires have occurred; then I have had coal-houses where incipient fires have taken place, where the ventilation is along the eaves of the roof of the house. The best method we have had of fighting fire in the coal-house is with cement--just take cement and throw it right on the coal-dust, thus putting the fire out. We put out one or two fires in that way. Now, you say no conveyors above the- floor level: how do you propose to feed this ideal coal-house, with no-conveyors above the floor level?
diaiaaBam&JBBgWL:
,t..L;Me!aat-
Cetnent Sectional Meeting
185
Mr. Young: No conveyors above the coal-house floor level. I
Stated that the conveyors that are above the floor level should be entirely outside o the building, in the open air.
Mr. Harding: How would you feed this drier?
Mr. Young: Very simple matter to spout it down to the drier from outside the building.
Mr. Harding : Are you going to have this drier down below the floor level?
Mr. Young : Below the floor level ?
Mr. Harding : You say that the screw conveyors should be below the floor level. You have got to get the coal into this drier in order to dry it. . _____
Mr. Young : The coal-screw carrying the coal to the drier should be entirely outside of the building--above it; and the.bins should be on the top of the roof.
A Member: While this is applicable to the manufacture of cement, I also have had experience in the use of pulverized coal; and 'the speaker has just said that the building should be low. We are crushing in the neighborhood of 2,000 tons of coal a day. We lift it 165 feet, at the rate of a ton and a quarter every twenty-nine seconds. We get the nut and the slack and the dust. The company which I represent, which is a subsidiary of the Steel Corporation, has had one or two very disastrous explosions from coal-dust. . Our plant was investigated as to the safe preparation of this fuel.We know that coal as a fuel is desirable in two conditions: the ideal condition is the gaseous one; and the next one is the pulverized or powdered form; but the gaseous is less explosive--is more con trollable. When reduced to impalpable powder, it is more dan gerous.
As I stated, we raise it 165 feet. . We have a steel structural building; the crushers are at the very top of that building; but all the substructures have all the horizontal ledges capped with a deep concrete covering, so that there can be no possibility of lodgment of the dust--and so long as you do that you are on safe ground. It is the accumulation of it in a powder form, with the proper equiva-
186
Fourth Safety Congress
lent of air and the presence of a
The Old Quaker
naked light, which constitutes that trinity that causes explosions, as
you call them, and means disaster
Thought the first
to the plant in which it exists. Now, it can be safely handled,
thing to do was for everyone to get a
and I agree with the speaker on a great many of his points, and as to the one who asked how often a coal-
broom and begin on his own doorstep.
mill should be cleaned, it reminds me of the old Quaker who thought they ought to clean up the town. He
thought the first thing to do was for
every one of the people in the town
to get a broom and begin on his own doorstep'. So it means viligance,
and constant attention to it; and if cleanliness is a virtue, and a
godly virtue, why, then, it behooves us in the manufacturing world
to be vigilant and to be cleanly in all our operating pursuits. No
matter how much or how -often or how long the dirt accumulates
it is a menace.
The Carnegie Steel had a violent experience in an inclosed build
ing where they were crushing coal. The National Tube Company
had a similar one at Lorain, Ohio, and the National Tube at Mc
Keesport also has had similar accidents. They have all begun to
build in the manner mentioned at first. Now, of course, the coal
goes to the highest point; it is crushed; the dust comes down; there
is no chance of lodgment; and there are no inclosures below the bins
which receive the coal. The dust is passed into the conveyor, and
then the loose dust is cleaned up from the surface of the ground. No
naked lights are permitted in that structure--everything per
taining to it is electrical. I heartily agree with you in many of
your recommendations, and I speak for the benefit of the others---
that coal in the pulverized state is almost on a parity with gun
pcowder.
DUST EXPLOSIONS.
Mr. Spackman : This question of dust explosions--not only coal-dust, but all dust - explosions--is one about which, it seems tc me, there is an inexcusable ignorance or disregard. The necessity of preventing a lodgment of it is a very Important one, especially
Cement Sectional Meeting
187
with all driers, where spontaneous
combustion can start. A flash will go through the loose dust in' the
In Germany
air, that may make an explosion,
though it only occupies a cubic foot of air space; that starts the
They treat the
air moving and you bring all the dust down.
What I experimented with was
dust-producing mill the same as a pow
keeping the air moist. Xn Ger many, where they are. very care ful in these things, in the dyewood
der mill---explosions Eire rare.
industries, and where they are
handling wood, they require hy
grometers around, and the air must be kept saturated--and there no
dust explosion can take place, where the air is highly saturated with
water. I wondered whether anything had been done along that
line with coal-houses. In Germany they treat the dust-producing
mill the same as a powder-mill.
A Member: We did experiment with moistening the dust; but
we didn't find it of any benefit. By observing necessary precautions in not allowing it to lodge any place or to accumulate if was un necessary tO moisten it.
Mr. Young: In the pulverized state coal is highly explosive. I
have seen six or seven explosions in rapid succession and not onehalf of the dust burned. Xt is astonishing how that dust does hang onto the horizontal surfaces.
LIGHTING COAL MILLS.
Mr. Medina : I would like to ask Mr. Young if he could tell us something about his experience with lighting coal-mills. That is, it is a recognized hazard that the bursting of an electrical globe can set fire to coal-dust. The Bureau of Mines has experimented along that line, and I wondered what Mr. Young's thoughts were.
Mr. Young: I cannot tell you anything about it. You see, I presuppose that fire exists in the coal-house all the time--and it does.
Mr. Medina: Don't youjthink we can eliminate a great deal of
this fire?
^
188 Fourth Safety -Congress
Mr. Young : You are going to continue to have explosions; be cause the fire is bound to be there. Even the static electricity from belts will cause explosions and has been known to cause explosions.
Mr. Medina: Taken in connection with the subject that we are driving at, don't you think it is necessary to do all we can to elim inate fire, even though we have presumably an ideal mill ?
Me. Young: Yes, but I wanted to make it plain that we must prevent the vapor mixture, coal-dust, and air, because we can't protect ourselves entirely against fire from that cause unless we do. A bursting incandescent globe would likely cause an explosion if it happened in a coal-dust cloud. .
LIGHT FROM THE OUTSIDE.
Mr. Medina : Where there is hazard from oil-vapors, and in water-gas plants, where there is the hazard of gas, sometimes the practice is to light from the outside; that is, there are openings in the wall in which the. lights are located, and glass coverings on. the inside so that the light is all from the outside; and the switches and fuses and wiring are on the outside of the mill. I wondered if you had given that matter any thought.
The Chairman : I would say, in regard to the danger of igni tion from the bursting of electrical globes, that engineers claim that there is very much less danger from the Tungsten lamp than from the ordinary carbon lamp. The use of the Tungsten lamp reduces this hazard very greatly.
Any further questions to ask Mr. Young? Any further discus sion of this very interesting subject? If not we will pass on to conveyors and elevators. I suppose we all look upon a screw con veyor as a necessary evil and Mr. Reninger, of the Lehigh Portland Cement Company, has been kind enough to prepare a paper on this subject. Mr. Reninger.
Cement Sectional Meeting
189
SAFEGUARDING CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS
A.Henry
Reninger, Special Representative, Lehigh Portland
CementTCo., Allentown, Pa.
Gentlemen: It gives me great pleasure to be here today, more particularly to listen and learn from the other speakers than to speak myself, for they are all men experienced in the cement busi ness. However, I shall be pleased to open the discussion on the Safeguarding of Elevators and Conveyors by giving you our experi ence and methods in protecting these useful pieces of machinery.
In the present advanced period of activities, manufacturing and industrial concerns are vitally interested not only in capacity and production, but in the conservation of human life. Plant efficiency was at one time based upon barrels produced per man, and the labor item being a large part of the producing cost. This naturally re flected upon the machine operation, and considerable care and at tention were given to keeping these to high efficiency. In the excite ment of keeping up the pace men were maimed and killed to such an extent that the cost of accidents offset this advantage. Thus, from a-conservation and cost point of view, has accident prevention thrust itself upon us to such an extent that the Safety Department is becoming a necessary and important department of an industrial concern.
Elevators and Conveyor's are a necessary evil, and 'until we find some better way of transporting the materials used we must put up with the present styles, and since we have them, we must protect them in one way or another. I have no doubt you all have done much toward guarding them, and I hope to hear what some of the rest' of you have accomplished. If you have not done anything in protecting these dangerous pieces of machinery, begin now, for with guarded elevators and conveyors a great many of the serious and more of the slight accidents will be eliminated, and as that is what we are all striving for, get busy !
In the Lehigh plants we are using the belt and chain bucket ele vator in raising the various materials to bins and stock-boxes and coolers; the belt conveyors in transporting stone, coal, and clinker-- the scraper line is used for stone, clinker and coal, and the screw conveyor for the pulverized raw material, coal, and cement.
iat*M{a,M4Ki wsmshsms .
'l|aiW!tT-BT-z
190
Fourth Safety Congress
-
Taking; them up one after an
Get Busy
other, let us consider the "bucket elevator. It was not so many years
ago that these elevators were en
If you have not
tirely unguarded; the pit was open, and all had'a chance to fall into it,
done anything in protecting dangerous
not to mention being hit by falling material or falling elevators. The elevator carrying the pulverized
pieces of machinery,
material was the first one inclosed, --with wood--but the pit itself
begin now--^getbusy.-
was left open. Then came the guard-rail. The
drives, shafting, sprocket, chain,
and belt were exposed. The oiler crawled through and around them,
risking his life many times a day, and we had many accidents. But
a change has taken place. Safety First is now the slogan throughout
the land, and every manufacturer is t>aying some attention to safe
guarding. What has been the result? We began studying our acci
dents. The association compiled statistics and we know that in
1914 we had twenty-one accidents with elevators.
To protect our employees and ourselves we found that the safest
way to protect the elevators was to inclose them entirely. Angle
and sheet iron bolted makes a firm and safe casing. This applies
to all but the clinker elevator guards. Doors have been left at top
and bottom, so as to allow for repairs or cleaning out a choke.
These doors must be kept closed and locked, to be opened only by
the foreman in charge"f the department or of the repair gang. The sprockets, chains, and dangerous pieces of shafting are either pro
tected by standard hand-rails or guarded with wire mesh or ex
panded metal.
The making of the guards is slow work, but we hope by spring
to have all our conveyors cased in and all dangerous parts guarded*
The Belt Conveyor, which is from appearances usually slow mov
ing, and considered, perhaps, the least dangerous of all the types
used, had 22 accidents to its credit in 1913 and 37 in 1914.
"Riding on belt conveyors is strictly prohibited," and immediate
discharge is the result of disobeying this rule. If this practice can
be stopped, some accidents can be avoided, but guards are necessary.
Cement Sectional Meeting
191
Where tilting belts or trippers
are used, the runway or floor open ings should .be protected by rail
"Meat Choppers"
ings along the openings farthest
from the belt. A top rail with a toe-guard 12 inches' high will pro
Caused 27 accidents
tect the openings and keep the run way clean. Grating or heavy mesh
in 1913 and 34 in
screening can also be used to pre
1914. With safe
vent men from stepping into open ings where there are no railings.
guarding this . num
The intake of the belt on the end
ber can be reduced.
of the pulleys and spokes is guarded
completely by a guard of angle-iron
and mesh screening.
_
Where a belt is of considerable length, a step or walkway over it
should be provided, with standard railings on both sides. Where a
belt discharges through a floor opening, a sheet-iron guard, 334 feet
high, is provided. By protecting, your belts with high guards or
high toe-guards your runways are kept clean, thereby eliminating a
hazard.
Scraper Lines have two accidents to their credit for 1913 and the
same number for 1914. "3
The ends of our lines are guarded on the turn with a wire-mesh
guard; the sides are protected for a distance of two feet, and at
several places railings have been erected to prevent a person coming
in contact with the line. A sheet-metal guard placed along the
rails, as high as the rolls, and fastened securely about 1 inch from
the rail Is a big protection. If such a guard is used, attaching it in
sections, it is unnecessary to remove the entire guard for repairs.
The Screw Conveyor.--Too much attention cannot be paid to safe
guarding this conveyor. The prevention of one accident will more
than pay for time and labor involved in guarding this "meat-chop
per." We have learned that from experience--and experience is
costly. There were 27 accidents in 1913 and 34 in 1914. With safe
guards, this number can be reduced. All screw conveyors in our
stock-Jhouses or elsewhere are covered with substantial grating. This
grating is made with bar iron 34-inch x 1^4 inches, spaced 134
inches apart and on edge. The same is held by two rods running
192 Fourth Safety Congress
through the iron bars, which are spaced with cut pipe washers. But in the latest gratings the ends are turned and riveted through on i ^z-inch angles. Grating is in 6-foot sections, each section bolted to the floor. The old-style loose wood or sheet-iron coverings have been discarded.
Overhead conveyors above floor are made with sheet-iron trough and sheet-iron lids. Lids are fastened in place with hinges. All overhead conveyors are easily accessible; runways and platforms make it easy to get around, and therefore lessen the danger. The gratings are removed for repairs only, and then by the foreman after he has stopped the conveyor. While repairing, an additional precaution is taken---the clutch is loosened or locked, or the chain thrown off. The oil or grease cups are flush with the floor, space enough being allowed to turn down without danger, as gratings are at least 6 inches above the conveyor.
While we have been doing a great deal of work in safeguarding elevators and conveyors, we have not completed our task, for as long as one wooden trough, screw conveyor with the loose wooden cover, and the open-bucket elevator are in existence, safeguarding is not complete.
We know from experience that, although we have done a great deal of work in safeguarding our plants, the number of accidents recorded this year is considerably larger than in 1914, because this year even all minor accidents are being reported; but while the number of accidents is larger, the fatal, permanent, and serious acci dents are considerably less than in 1914.
The association reports show 67 accidents by conveyors in 1913, and 99 accidents for 1914, but we have no reason to say that safe guarding does not bring results. However, with all machines safe guarded, the work o f safety is but 30 per cent complete, for it is the education of the man which is going to count in the long run. It is by education that our records will show fewer accidents, for, guard as you may, it is not possible to make all guards fool proof.
DISCUSSION
:The Chairman Any discussion of this subject? Captain Reninger, what do yon do in the event of the screw conveyor being choked-1--when it is locked?
Cement Sectional Meeting
193
:Mr. Reninger The foreman is notified, and he stops the con
veyor.
--
The Chairman : Can that be done in time to prevent any in jury?
:Mr. Reninger Sometimes it can ; sometimes it cannot.
:The Chairman However, that is what you depend on ?
:Mr. Reninger Yes, sir, we depend on that. It is a dangerous proposition. We would like to do away with conveyors--we have too many accidents; but we cannot remove the conveyors under present manufacturing conditions.
The Chairman: According to statistics that the Association has gathered, quarry accidents in 1913 and 1914 were about 25 per cent, if I remember aright, of our total accidents; and while that same percentage may not hold on a day's lost basis, yet the very large percentage shows the great importance of our accident prevention work in connection with quarries. Mr. Croll, Superintendent of the Atlas Portland Cement Company, has prepared a paper on the Safe guarding of Quarries. Mr, Croll.
SAFEGUARDING QUARRIES
A. J. Crowe, General Superintendent, the Atlas Portland
Cement Company.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: I have been asked by the Program Committee of the National Safety Council to make a few remarks regarding the safeguarding of quarries. The remarks which I will make will have reference to the safeguarding as practised at the plants of our company. The Atlas Portland Cement Company.
We consider the quarries one of the most hazardous departments of our industry, and _ consequently have taken special precautions and adopted special rules to prevent accidents. These rules and regulations relate to the different operations in the quarry, the handling of dynamite, the storage of the same, the loading and shooting of fsoles, the protection of employees from slides of rock, as well as the safeguarding of such machinery as is in use.
194 Fourth Safety Congress
The care of dynamite begins
DYNAMITE
upon receipt of the car at the plant. When the car is received, the seals
are checked and compared with
Men unloading
the shipping notice. After this the dynamite is stored in concrete
cars or working in magazines are re
magazines and kept under lock and key until used. The same man is always in charge of the maga
quired to wear rub ber shoes
zine, and no strangers are allowed anywhere near it. A record is kept of -the dynamite taken from the
magazine, and this is compared
with the blasting foreman's record
of the dynamite used in order to check the amounts; any dynamite
drawn from the magazine and not used by the blasters is returned.
We have our magazines, sis well as the thaw-houses, surrounded by
earth embankments. - The men unloading cars or working in the
magazines are required to at all times wear rubber shoes, which
are provided for this purpose.
Dynamite is never stored or left in the same building with caps,
exploders, or fuse. In cold weather, when it is necessary to thaw
dynamite, it is thawed in separate houses built for that purpose, and
the employees are not allowed to thaw it in any other way. The
thawing houses are kept at a temperature below ioo F. Our rules
for opening dynamite boxes require that they be not opened in the
powder magazine, and that they be opened by the use of a wooden
wedge and a wooden mallet which are supplied.
In transporting the dynamite from the magazines or thawing-
houses to the drill-holes it is required that the boxes be so packed
that there can be no movement or shifting in the wagon or cart,
and in no case are the employees allowed to carry caps, exploders,
or fuses at the same' time they are handling dynamite. Smoking
or the carrying of matches while handling dynamite is strictly
prohibited.
-
In preparing for a large blast, which consists of the shooting
of a number of well drill-holes, careful preparations are made to
protect all employees. No one is allowed in the danger zone of
the quarry floor. Before charging the holes they are examined
Cement Sectional Meeting
195
to be stare that there are no loose
stones or earth above that are likely to fall.
SMOKING
In loading holes no more men
than are necessary are used in the powder gang, and the same men
Or the carrying . of
are used at all times for this pur
matches while han
pose.
--
In tamping the dynamite in these
dling dynamite is
deep-well drill-holes, nothing is used but a wooden pole. This pole is free from nails and from
strictly prohibited. Be careful.
any iron or steel, and is kept clean
and free from grit and gravel.
When the pole is brought up out of the hole, it is rested on a canvas
pad one inch thick. The holes are tamped by pressing on the
tamping pole and not by ramming. When we are through loading,
all dynamite left is returned to the magazine.
In inserting exploders into cartridges we open the paper at one
end and insert a pencil-shaped piece of wood, then put in the
exploder, pull the paper around it, and tie it with a string. This
we consider very necessary to prevent misfiring.
In getting- ready to fire, the lead wires are never connected with
the exploders until we are ready to make the blast. In connecting
the exploder wires, we see that all joints are secure and well made,
and insulating tape is used on the connections and bare spots. The
batteries are not connected until the signal for the blast has sounded
and all the men are in a place of safety.
Before any shot is fired, a signal is sounded consisting of a
certain number of blasts of a whistle. The number of blasts of
the whistle indicates the location in the quarry at which the shot
is to be fired, these signals being known to all the quarry employees.
In case the quarry is near a public road, men are sent out to notify
the public.
- -
After the blast is shot it is required that the blasting foreman
make an examination to see that all 'the shots have been fired,_and
that there'has been no misfire, and until he gives the signal the men
are not permitted to leave their places of safety.
It is the duty of the foreman to see that the pile of rock is safe
LiflBei
-
: , ,.! v
juama
196
-Fourth Safety Congress
at all times and that it is not undercut. This is to afford protection to the men against slides of rock.
The machinery used in connection with the quarry is guarded in the usual manner, all gears and moving parts being protected.
No strangers are allowed in the quarries, and fires are very carefully guarded against.
No blasting is done in our quarries except between sunrise and sunset, and at no time on Sunday.
In conclusion, I would say that every precaution is taken in our
quarries to prevent accidents. We believe that as few men as possible should be exposed to danger in the handling of explosives, and that only men thoroughly familiar with the same should be allowed to handle them. The men should be taught that dynamite or other explosives are dangerous, and that they should be handled accordingly. We UT our men to handle dynamite as they would
a box of eggs which they owned and did not wish to break.
We believe that the best protection the quarry employee can have is a careful, conscientious, and competent quarry foreman and quarry superintendent. (Applause.)
DISCUSSION
The Chairman: Is there any discussion of Mr. Croll's paper? X think all experience points to the fact that there is no part, in any of our manufacturing establishments, where discipline is more necessary than in the quarry; and that, it seems to me, emphasizes the point that Mr. Croll lays stress upon in closing his paper; that is, the great responsibility that rests upon the foreman.
A Member: What method do you use for thawing dynamite? You say you use a thawing-house?
:Mr. Crole Yes, hot-water heat from outside the house.
Mr. Harding: What is the largest charge you have ever fired in your quarries?
Mr. Croee: I don't know offhand.
A Member:
your plant?
You say "outside heat." n.
Ho you get that from
s- ilg '.''a a,i T;^ '*-&
Cement Sectional Meeting
197
Mr. Crot.t. No, from a separate boiler which supplies heat for the thawing-house ouly-
Mr. Young: I would like to tell of an experience we have had, and see what you think of it, in connection with Mr. Harding's report. About three months ago there was a shot of 37 holes, about 60 feet in depth which were being made ready for firing. Always before we had a separate switch-house that was portable--that was carried about when they fired these special shots; but this time there was a motor-shaft driven by air-pressure which was handy; and the man in charge allowed himself to be overpersuaded and they fired it from this switch. The switch was open, and the electrician was getting up his wires; he connected up one of the wires, and as he touched the point for connecting the other wire the explosion took place. Now, it didn't cause any accident, because everybody had been warned and was out of the way; but the current was so weak that it only fired part of the holes.
Then came another mistake. After an examination by the man in charge he decided to connect again and fire the charge. He did it, with the result that a great number of men were injured --one man 350 to 400 feet away, inside of the mill itself, lost his arm from the blast. We had two mills located near each other, and from one we obtain power to fire blasts. We purchase power once in a while from the power company. This particular day we had taken power to run a trolley-car, and this shot, we believe, was fired from the ground--through the ground.
This is a case that happened with us. I would like to know from Mr. Croll what he would do--what precaution he would take in case of failure to go off--say of a hole 150 to 160 feet high, a deep well hole---what he would do in that ease?
Mr. Croll: In that case, I would put it up to the quarry super intendent. [Laughter and applause.]
:Mr. Harding How many exploders do you use in a hole ?
Mr. Young : We have made several experiments with shooting
with exploders; and after a time we decided that it took an exploder
for every two boxes of ^dynamite to get the proper results, and
made .that our practice--to have an exploder for every two boxes
of dynamite.
^=
198
Fourth Safety Congress
Mr. Spaceman: How do you
We TeH Our Men
load your deep holes ? How do you get the dynamite down to the
bottom ? Do you lower it down,
To handle dynamite as they would a box of eggs which they
or just drop it?
Mr. Croll: We drop it down.
Mr. Medina: I would like to ask sfeveral of the gentlemen who
own themselves and not wish to break.
have had experience with loading deep holes whether they think it is practical to use the lowering de
vices on the market--I don't know
whether they are on the market
or not, but they are in use in some places--for tripping a trigger
by the use of a rope when the. dynamite is near the bottom of the
hole. I don't know whether any of you have used that device or
not, but there has always been a question in my mind as to whether
it is entirely practical or not.
Mr. Young: You know how it is: If you have never had an accident you keep on using the same practice; but we have never heard of an explosion happening in a cement quarry from dropping the explosive down into the hole. The reason for that is, the hole being so irregular, there are so many obstructions that it does not allow the explosive to fall as it would in open space: it goes down with a gradual fall in many cases; especially is that true when you are loading with 4-inch cartridges. We use 554-inch. holes.
Mr. Harding: We use 4^-inch--our holes are 115 feet deep.
Mr. Warner: Does Mr. Croll do block-holing?
Mr. Croll: To a certain extent, surely.
:Mr. Warner In loading a series of block-holes, what practice do you require of a than doing that work, in carrying his explosives with him, with caps and with fuses, and in the cutting of cartridges to a suitable size, as^T for example, we are confronted by that problem quite extensively and a man has to climb over a pretty
Cement Sectional Meeting
199
rugged lot of rock to get at the different points where he wants to work. We require him to carry a little wooden box, with three or four cartridges, some exploders, and fuse. The amount of dyna mite that any hole requires--it might be one or two inches of a stick--has to be cut off a cartridge. Is there dangerous practice in any of those features which we could avoid ?
The Foreman
- The best protec tion the quarry em ploye can have is a careful and compe tent foreman.
Mr. Croll : We do very little block-holing that requires less than a stick, as we load entirely by steam-shovel. It is only very large rocks that are block-holed.
Mr. Harding: What percentage dynamite do you use?
Mr. Croll : I couldn't tell you right offhand.
Mr. Harding: 6o, 30, or 40?
Mr. Croli,: Oh, 40 and 60.
Mr. Young: I would like to say, in answer to some of this gentleman's questions, it is not good practice to let the man that carries the dynamite also carry the exploders.
Mr. Harding: Our electrician is the man that fires the shots from instructions from the quarry boss--the quarry boss signals him when to fire; he is the one responsible for closing the switch. We have operated along that line with deep-hole firing now for about four years, and so far have had very good success, very few accidents--haven't had any accidents, so far as explosions go; hope we won't have any. We never have the dynamite delivered at our plant until the day we are going to fire it.
In reference to the concrete magazine, we have simply a wooden shed; we make it like a powder-mill. In other words, if there is any explosion going to take place, we are going to let it go. A powder-mill is built with ends left open, and when the explosion takes place, it lifts the rooft throws the sides down, and there is the end of it.
200 '
Fourth Safety Congress
Mr. Croll: Your powder-magazine is a wooden building?
Mr. Harding: Yes, a wooden building.
A Member: Why are two kinds o dynamite used? We have very good success in using only one percentage dynamite.
Mr. Crole: There seems to be a large difference of opinion among quarry foremen and superintendents as to whether one per centage or two shoulcL be used. Some use one and some two. We do it in our own practice--some places we use one, some places two.
A Member: We are using one kind successfully. Our holes are 60 to 100 feet deep.
Mr. Harding: Do you find that using 40 per cent throws out
the bottom ?
_
A :Member Yes, sir.
A :Member Isn't one stronger than the other, so that one would go off quicker than the other?
:Mr. Fortuin Sixty per cent is used in the bottom, for the
reason that there is so much toe there that it requires greater strength to throw it out--jt doesn't require so much at the top. That is the reason we mix it up. If you have a straight face high up, you could use 40 per cent or 50 per cent alone. The method of loading all depends upon the character of the face.
The Chairman: I judge from Mr. Harding's remarks about wooden powder-magazines that the State of Pennsylvania possibly
permits a wooden powder-magazine, but I imagine they don't else where. In New York State they require them to be fireproof and' bullet-proof--and it is interesting to know whether in Pennsylvania they allow wooden magazines.
A Member : I think the concrete house is built with a weak end
which offers only a slight, resistance to any explosion.
Mr. Hill : The Bureau of Mines has conducted experiments with powder-magazines and found that the cement-mortar magazine, made with a 1:3 mix, using fairly fine gravel as aggregate, was almost entirely disintegrated by the force of explosion, so that no
Cement Sectional Meeting
201
large fragments were thrown--and that is the magazine they recom mend--fireproof, waterproof, and bullet-proof.
Mr. Crodd : We would -consider a wooden magazine a very dangerous thing around_a plant, because a rifle-bullet could be shot into it and explode it at any time.
Mr. Harding : If you -use a dynamite that you can drop 100 feet without having it explode, a rifle-bullet wouldn't explode it. We have dropped dynamite down in our quarry that didn't explode. Take 60 per cent nitroglycerin dynamite, such as is made by some other powder companies*: and probably what you say is so. If, you use non-freezing safety-powder, you get very good results.
Mr. Medina : Some dynamite might explode, and other dynamite might not explode, under presumably the same conditions.
Mr. Harding: Some dynamite explodes if you look at it; some dynamite explodes if you don't look at it at all--just because at the psychological moment it lets go.
Mr. Medina : Take two sticks of dynamite of the same chemical composition. Is it possible to bum one stick without exploding and to have the other one explode under similar circumstances ?
Mr. Harding : You will have to ask Mr. Du Pont that. I am not a powder man.
:The Chairman Gentlemen, we have completed our formal program inside the time that was allotted to us. The persons who are gathered together here don't have an opportunity to get together very frequently, and if there is any other subject that any one would like to take up, we are not strictly confined to the program. If not,
I would say that the National Safety Council hopes to make this
kind of meeting one of the features of their regular annual congress, and it is hoped that this meeting has been interesting enough to gather you together again on a similar occasion.
We are indebted to the gentlemen who have been kind enough to prepare these papers that have opened some interesting discus sions ; and we are also under obligation to the National Safety Council for affording us the opportunity to get together in this meeting. The chair will be very glad to entertain a motion of
202
Fourth Safety Congress
thanks to the National Safety Council for affording us this oppor
tunity before we adjourn. Will someone be kind enough to make that motion?
Mr. Young : I make that motion.
:The Chairman It is moved and seconded that we extend a vote of thanks to the National Safety Council for their invitation, the arranging of this program, and affording us this opportunity of getting together.
[Motion carried.]
:Mr. Fortuin Is it the intention to have these papers published and distributed among the members?
The Chairman: Yes.
Mr. Young: I movewe adjourn.
The Chairman : FT there is no further business, the meeting now stands adjourned. z
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7-------------------------------:
Do Your Utmost to Prevent Accidents. It Is Part of Your Day's Work r.
-_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________-
National Safety Council
Laundry Sectional Meeting
Philadelphia, Pa.
October 20, 1915
EL G. TRIMBLE, Chairman
Msniger, Employers* Indemnity Exchange, Kansas City, Mo.
HE Laundry Sectional Meeting held on Wednesday, Oct. 20,
T 1915, showed convincingly that this important industry is eager to co-operate in the nation-wide movement of Safety First. Formal steps were taken to establish and give it an indi vidual and distinctive place in the National Safety Council. A constitution and set of by-laws had been provided, and, with the consent of the meeting, were presented by the chairman. After reading, it was voted to adopt same. Those present proceeded to elect officers as follows:
E. G. Trimble, chairman. M. F. Wilkinson, vice-chairman. T. M. Jenkins, secretary. There were more than eighty people present, all of whom showed a keen interest in the proceedings, and their appreciation of the papers^ read and addresses, given clearly showed their desire to further this splendid and humane work.
203
204
Fourth Safety Congress
The program was as follows:
"An Ideal Laundry Plant--Emphasizing Welfare Work," Miss Jane Seymour Klink, manager Welfare Department, Pilgrim Laun dry, Brooklyn, 3ST. Y.
"Danger Features in Laundries, Including Extractors and Flat Work Ironers," M. F. Wilkinson, president Wilkinson Laun dry Company, Readings Pa.
"Automatic Covers on Hydro-Extractors," C. W". Price, assistant to the commission, Industrial Commission of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.
"Pneumatically Operated Laundry Machinery," J. Dewey, master mechanic, American Laundry Machinery Company, Rochester, N. Y.
"Some Danger Places in the Average Laundry and How They May Be Safeguarded," John Woodhead, safety engineer. Employ ers' Indemnity Exchange, Kansas City, Mo.; illustrated with lantern slides. .
In addition to the above program, important points were taken up and discussed by those present, including Mr. Hansen, author of "The Universal Analytical Schedule of Rating and Inspection," and Mr. W. G. Ashton, commissioner of labor. State of Oklahoma.
The chairman in his opening remarks pointed out that the laundry had become a big industrial factor and a power to be noticed. He called attention to the specialized machinery required in the steam laundry of today, andLbow special instructions should be given to employes on Safety First, the fundamental principle of which is self-preservation and watchful care for the life and limbs of our fellow men. The first number on the program was an address by Miss Jane Klink of the Pilgrim Laundry, Brooklyn, N. Y. Miss Klink, being unable to attend on account of sickness, sent a paper which was read by the chairman.
At the request of the chairman, Mr. Hansen gave a brief but interesting talk on the aims of his system, which is now in use in many states. He said that one of the results of safeguarding and credit-rating for same was the saving of $900,000 of life and limb in one year, and that the system has been substantiated by five' years' experience, sufficient data having been gathered during that time to justify what might appear to be drastic measures to some
Laundry Sectional Meeting
205
plants concerned. The meeting developed, in the main, two very
important matters:
-----
First--The social welfare of laundry employes.
Second--How to bring a laundry to the highest point of safe
guarded efficiency.
WELFARE AND SAFETY WORK.
That welfare and safety work tends to better understanding and more cordial relations between employer and employe has been most amply demonstrated- In the instance provided at this meeting, it was found that the employes take their lunch in a well-appointed dining room, the menu being of a wholesome nature and the charge for same nominal. A trained nurse and dispensary are provided for ``first aid/' During the winter season social entertainments of various kinds are arranged at stated periods, the employes working hand in hand to make each event a success.
By the means of quiet talks and an earnest desire for their wel fare, employes are taught to cultivate a "four-square" moral life and a sincere attitude to the employer, with' the result that dis honesty is but little known and when the time comes to sever their connection with the firm this testimonial is invariably given by the employe: "I feel the better for having worked in your plant."
The moral, Mr. Laundryowner, is: Show your employes that you are interested in their welfare and you will he repaid with better service and a co-operative spirit that will leave no necessity for the labor organizer to enter your doors.
EFFICIENT SAFEGUARDING.
The matter of protecting life and limb by efficient safeguarding
brought forth many excellent short talks on the following sub
jects:
"
"Fencing the Flat Work Ironer." "Automatic Covers for-Extractors." "Suitable Guard for Body Ironer." "Standard Gears for Belts, Pulleys and Flywheels." "Eliminating the Slippery Starchy Floor," etc.
The flat work ironer has been found to exact the highest per centage in "limb" value. It was strongly urged that all laundrymen
206
Fourth Safety Congress
CO-OPERATION
The essential fea ture of modern ex istence is team work.
take the necessary precaution and provide adequate fencing', whereby operators -will be prevented from reaching over the rolls. In this particular, human appeal is not enough; the best safeguard against crushed and burnt limbs being a proper fence on all four sides of the machine.
No one is too great
AUTOMATIC COVERS FOR EXTRACTORS
or small to respond.
The value of the automatic cover
for extractors has been fully sub
stantiated. In the State of Wis
consin the matter has received such close attention that the Indus
trial Commission has made it a law that each laundryman must
equip his extractors wjth the "foolproof" cover. The difficulty of
attaching this latest device to some of the old extractors has been
solved by a mechanic in the city of Janesville, Wis.; although the
invention is yet only in its first stages of demonstration, it has been
proved to be successful in many instances and will no doubt be on
the market in a short time. In the State of Oklahoma it has been
found that nothing but the automatic extractor cover will do.
Within the last six months three arms have been lost on account of
extractors not being so equipped. When the commission of Wis
consin made the "fool-proof" cover law they found the laundrymen
ready to co-operate heartily. This example, it is to be hoped,
will be supported by all employers in the laundry industry through
out the United States. Safety First is a most humane movement
and its principles have been placed on the efficiency plane in dollars
and cents. This has been proved, especially in the State of Wis
consin, where a distinctcredit off the basis rate is given for extractor
cover efficiency. This credit, it was pointed out, can surely be
likened unto an investment of money in a dividend paying propo
sition.
7
Standard guards for belts, pulleys and flywheels, it was sug
gested, should be made up of a framework of angle iron or iron
pipe, filled in with perforated iron, which is much more durable,
more sightly and less of a fire feeder than a guard made of wood.
iaBa
3,mrnmeM&zm-
^waw^awwi. ****CJ^Hmt'msr&r ;
Laundry Sectional Meeting
207
The concluding item in the'pro
gram by John Woodhead, safety engineer of the Employers' In
EXPERIENCE
demnity Exchange and Employers'
Indemnity Corporation of Kansas City, Mo., was an address illus
Shows that the
trated with lantern slides showing some danger places in laundries and
how to safeguard them, which very
greatest sociologists of today are our en
appropriately and graphically em phasized many of the features pre viously brought up. That this ad
gineers ------ Safety men.
dress has done good wherever it
has been given was clearly shown
in that several persons present, who had seen and known of it be
fore, stated that they had come for the express purpose of seeing
and hearing it again.
AN -IDEAL LAUNDRY PLANT--EMPHASIZING WEL FARE WORK.
Miss Jane Seymour Klink (Manager Welfare Department, Pilgrim Laundry, Brooklyn, N: Y.)
Some eleven years ago the "Women's Municipal League of Man hattan asked me to undertake an investigation of laundries for the purpose of learning their conditions in regard to ventilation and sanitation... I knew nothing of laundries, but if I were to investigate I must at least know what I was to look for.
I encountered much nebulous matter in the way of tales con cerning disease and crushed limbs, but specifically I started out with the idea to look for set screws, whirling belts, and dark rooms. I encountered neither one, but found all three, although in by no means so many cases as I had been led to expect. I learned, as we used to say when we began our childish compositions, that there are many kinds of laundries--French laundries, bulk laundries, private bundle laundries, Chinese laundries, a few hand laun dries, hnd others "too numerous to mention."
On the whole, eleven years ago the general conditions in the
208
Fourth Safety Congress
laundries were not by any means perfect, yet better than X had thought to find. Within the last few years I have revisited many of those plants and have noticed a great change. The best ones are better, the poorer ones have improved, and I find in visiting plants here and there in the United States that the general condi tions of work in laundries are better than conditions in many other occupations. They are above the average.
What has made the change? It is not so much that the clothes may be washed better, for that is a result inherent more from com petition in business than from outside influences. Neither is it so much a change in equipment, because that would necessarily follow from improved methods of work. There is a real vital change in conditions. Such things as lighter workrooms, better floors, care fully guarded machines, locker facilities, etc., have been provided because employers are realizing that the human factor is the impor
tant factor in their work. The topics chosen for discussion give concrete proof of this fact.
THE PILGRIM PLANT.
Most of the ailments in life are due to disturbances in the stomach :and digestive apparatus. Hence a lunchroom has been established where a simple, well balanced meal may be had at cost. The sur roundings are pleasant, the table linen clean, the china whole, the silver polished.
We all run the risk of being ill: therefore, the employes of the Pilgrim have organized and maintain a mutual aid society, with dues at i per cent of the weekly salary of each employe. The amount collected from the employes each week is duplicated by the firm, and this fund takes care of illness for periods from one day to eight weeks in a year. Membership in the society prevents appre hension for the future. There is also a death benefit fund.
The Pilgrim plant is equipped with bubbler drinking fountains, which supply filtered water, cooled in summer to the right tempera ture for health, by passing over chilled pipes.
The Pilgrim employes work forty-nine hours a week. One full hour is given at nooa and there are rest periods of five minutes every one and one-half hours to prevent the accumulation of fatigue poisons in the system.
-A careful watch is kept over each employe to note the first sign
S'anj3Mwa.iam^
I ;-.v i-rt
Laundry Sectional Meeting
209
of illness or unusual fatigue, `for we want the men and women in our employ to be strong" and healthy.
In order that our employes may be mentally alert, numerous plans have been devised for their diversion and instruction. There is a well patronized traveling library; occasional talks on timely topics; dramatic entertainments, minstrel shows, etc., from two to five times a year. There are regularly organized monthly meetings in charge of the officers of the company, when policies are discussed, suggestions given and plans formulated for the betterment of the business and those in the business. A monthly paper, "Pilgrims' Progress," is published by the employes; the September issue was devoted to Safety First and over one hundred contributed their parts toward upholding standards of carefulness.
It is my privilege as welfare manager to be concerned with the attitude and development of this human factor, and to create and foster the right attitude in the employes, to encourage and assist their development through the constant maintaining of that right attitude is to me the aim of welfare work.
I want my people to stand four-square to the world. Strong physically. You cannot look at the world in a straightforward way nor regard your particular task in the world in the right manner if your angle of vision is sharpened by indigestion or out of plumb through crooked heels, or obstructed with any bodily ailment. Therefore, a hospital room has been provided for the welfare of the employes, and the following figures show the neces sity for its existence:
HOSPITAL RECORD.
Treated for various ailments and illnesses..................................... 515 Treated for slight accidents, bums, scratches, cuts, bruises,
received either at home or in plant.............................................. 60 Severer hurts sent to physician for treatment and necessitating
absences of from two days to one week in length................ 5
Total number treated in hospital from July, 1914 to July,
*9*5 ................................................................................-.................... S8o
MONTHLY MEETINGS.
A regularly organized meeting of the overseeing help with the president in charge holds monthly sessions, when policies are dis cussed, suggestions given, and plans formulated for the betterment
210
Fourth Safety Congress
HAPPINESS
Depends not so much on means and oppor tunities as on the capacity of using them.
of the business and those in the business.
A similar monthly meeting1 is held of the salesmen with the treas urer in charge, which has the addi tional feature of a supper and a smoker. A monthly meeting of the factory committee, composed of a member elected from each depart ment, which exercises a helpful in fluence all through the plant in assuming personal responsibility for the member of each depart ment.
SOCIAL SERVICE.
We never talk down to our people, but as one said last week on leaving: "I have learned so much here that I shall always be thankful for my four and a half years in the Pilgrim." We want our people mentally strong and always looking for the "beyond"-- that is, everywhere. Morally upright. Creeds differ, but the oldfashioned principle of truth, honesty and loyalty are always the same, the ten commandments are a safe guide, the Golden Rule is a good rule to measure by, and we try, sincerely and earnestly, to endeavor to be on earth what good people hope to be in heaven. The question is not "what is right for the other man to do, bnt . what is right for meFto do." As- an illustration in perfectly good faith, we have had one umbrella stolen in four years! We have 480 silver knives, forks and spoons. In two and one-half years one spoon disappeared. We do not want our people perfect, for then .. we should be uncomfortable, but we try to help them to be honest, God-fearing men and women.
Physically strong, mentally alert, morally upright, what is the other side of the square?
Pilgrim employes are socially helpful. We are not put into this world alone. We need each other in our work and in our play, and we do not play enough. So every Tuesday evening we play. Each department in turn takes a Tuesday evening, employes' friends, parents and sweethearts being invited. Recently the collar depart-
Laundry Sectional Meeting
211
ment gave a reception to a member
who was leaving to ' get married. On another occasion the ladies'
GROUCHES
clothes department gave a "chil
dren's party" at which many of the young people appeared as children
Prunes are better
from one to ten years of age, wear ing costumes of striking originality. At another "Tuesday" the shirt de
than pills-----educa tion better than
partment gave a barn rdance and still again the office force held a
masquerade ball.
fault-finding and scolding.
There is another way in which
we try to be socially helpful, and
that is in inducing our people to form the habit of saving money
regularly.
This year we saved $770 for our vacations, and the Christmas
savings for 1915 amount to nearly $2,000. Also, many have started
saving for their vacations in 1916. The following plan has worked
very well with us, and some others might wish to try it. Payments
are arranged so that they may be made weekly by means of stamps
through a. period of fifty weefcs. They may begin with 2 cents the
first week, 4 cents the second, 6 cents the third, adding 2 cents each
week, until at the end of-the period of fifty weeks- they will have
$25.50, or they may begin with a payment of $1 the first week, 98
cents the second week, 96 cents the third, etc. In either case the
amount saved is $25.50, In January, 1916, we expect to start a
series of 100 employes who wish to save for the next Christmas.
Many of these savings are transferred to the bank.
Socially helpful! The men or women are indeed poverty-
stricken who have nothing in themselves to give to others. Abnor
mally selfish are those who will not give as God hath prospered
them, to relieve the sufferings of those less fortunate than them
selves. I do not wish to boast, but I am glad to say that the Pilgrims
give and give largely. Itjnatters not whether it is to fill Thanks
giving baskets, or big red stockings to Dayton sufferers, the Red
Cross, or a building for the Y. W. C. A., we give from ready and
willing hearts, for we really try to live up to our motto, "Non solum
nobis" ("Not to ourselves alone").
lVMW
212
--Fourth Safety Congress
THE INTIMATE RELATION.
But there is a closer, more intimate relation. We try to help
each other by giving- of ourselves, by being- patient, gentle, trying to
overcome our many faults, and by reason of that overcoming to
help others to become good, square women.
"Where does the laundry work come in ?" you ask. The work
is always there. By it we live and move and have our sustenance;
but these things move in and around and through our work, keeping
us in close touch with it and with each other, giving us the attitude
of helpfulness so that we try to create an atmosphere which is just
as real to us who breathe it, and are inspired by it as all the stones,
bricks and mortar oh our beautiful plant.
Do you say: "This sounds like a Sunday school." Little do I
care what it sounds like. This one thing I know that, added to the
strength of a strong organization, permeating it, vitalizing it, making
it a real live, growing organism, is the practical carrying out of the
Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would that they should do
to you," and this I consider to be the essence of welfare work.
(Applause.)
_____
DANGER FEATURES IN LAUNDRIES, INCLUDING EX TRACTORS AND FLAT WORK IRONERS.
M. F. Wilkinson (President Wilkinson Laundry Company, Reading, Pa.)
When I received an invitation from Mr. Cameron to take.an active part in this mating and discuss "Danger Features in Laun dries, Including Extractors and Flat Work Ironers," I was inclined to turn it down, as I felt there were many men far more capable of handling the subject. After considering -the matter I realized if everyone would decline such an invitation there would be no movement in the safety question.
Comparing the laundry industry with other industries, I consider it one of the least hazardous, and Pennsylvania state reports will verify this statement. Out of 9,508 accidents reported for May and June, the laundry industry shows eight; six of these were males and two females. Two of the injuries to males were serious
MiMiitiamMti
Laundry Sectional Meeting
213
(which, means disability for fourteen days or more) ; the minor injuries were six of the eight, which means disability less than fourteen days. Considering the number of employes in laundries in the state, this is a small number; at the same time we may have some serious hazards, but not if employers use a little precaution.
Where shafting and belts are used, naturally we have the same dangers as any plant, such as the set screw, low shafting and unguarded belts. Laundries in general have gas-heated machines and iron stoves; using forced air with gas and the danger to em ployes who do not or will- not keep their faces away from open end of machines or over the stoves when lighting them.
Bad belts, bad floors, habit of letting starch get over the floor where employes walk--in other words, carelessness.
Crowding of machines too close together, not allowing room for operators. This feature may have existed more in the past than it will in the future, for it occurs mostly in old plants started in small places or dwellings, then additions to machinery having been made without getting extra room. Most plants now being built are allowing for expansion.
Bums, considered by many a necessity to the business, are far less than they used to be and will grow less in future, due to more room, better light, and pipes being covered and located better.
Lack of light is as dangerous as any one thing and is one of the easiest of hazards to -guard against if considered when building.
Ventilation is a necessity from a sanitary standpoint, the absence of which becomes a hazard, for any employe working in a poorly ventilated room (no matter what occupation) becomes dull and careless.
The old bosom machine, no doubt, has its dangerous features,, as does all roll machines, especially at point of contact, but unless operator becomes careless are not very dangerous.
Old-style shifters on washers are somewhat dangerous. Taut as these machines are the shortest lived in the plant, they are fast disappearing and hardly worth considering.
ACCIDENTS -USUALLY SERIOUS ONES.
The extractor, a machine considered as dangerous as any in the plant, looks harmless and is harmless, or nearly so, if operators do not get careless. Few accidents occur, but what do usually are
214 Fourth Safety Congress
serious. Extractors become dan
Most Men
gerous when not fastened down properly, not loaded evenly or run
at excessive speed, allowing the rub
bers to become hard, which will
Do not realize the hazard of their occu
crystallize the shaft--then no one can tell what may happen or where the basket may go or what damage
pations and for that reason do not use
it will do. Time was when baskets would break, but this feature has been improved by the manufacturer
due precaution.
until such cases are rare. The careless habit of operators
putting brakes on hard and quick,
overloading, and goods put in loose are practices in most all
plants and hard to guard against, as carelessness of the employe
comes up again, but if canvas covers are used the goods cannot
jump out near as= easily- Men on extractors with small loads,
not loaded evenly, try to get the machine going by holding rim
of basket to help steady it. Some even help stop machine by
holding a rag or net against basket--a careless and dangerous
habit, as well as to try to punch down the canvas cover in the middle
before the machine stops. In either case if one's hand catches the
arm will most likely go at the shoulder. Besides canvas covers, all
extractors should have metal covers or lids, but as this subject will
be covered by someone else I will not enlarge on it.
Flat Work Ironers.--When these machines were called mangles
they sounded dangerous. While some danger is connected with
them, they are considered by some people to be the most dangerous
in a laundry, which I think is not the case. In fact, I consider them
no more dangerous than any roll machine, except there are more
operators on thenT than the other machines. Operators become
more careless on these than most any other machine in the plant.
=- SPECIAL HAZARDS.
The point of contact is, of course, more or less dangerous, and if not guarded by doffer roll or guard, careless operators will, in spite of all you can. tell them, put their hands over the guards, no
:v -; -*3?ih.--' T -" -W^-'^i^- SPlBWlSiSaB -t^r.igf;.^
Laundry Sectional Meeting
215
matter how guards are applied, or
will remove guards at times to ac complish some work in the easiest
Making Good
manner.
Long four-in-hand ties or rib
bons hanging down so as to catch
It is every man's
under rolls, finger rings, bracelets or flowing sleeves ; in fact, anything
wish to make good,
that can catch in or junder the rolls
yet very few of us
are a menace to operators. Turning on steam quickly when
understand wherein
machine is cold, or not allowing
that state exists.
the air to escape--quick heating up
--causes quick expansion, of the
metal and constant ^expansion and contraction will cause crystalli
zation. The machine should not be stopped at same place every
night, for by so doing it v 111 cause unequal expansion - and con
traction at water line. As there is, in most cases, some water
left in the machine, all these help to cause explosions, and I think
you will notice most explosions happen in the morning soon after
' steam is turned in, caused mostl}1- by. quick expansion. The effect
of these explosions you are all familiar with, and no one can
tell how bad the results may be.
LIGHT AND VENTILATION.
I have used the words careless and carelessness several times, for I consider these and lack of light and ventilation the most dangerous hazards in the laundry industry, with emphasis on the carelessness on the part of employes themselves. Careless help is a detriment to the laundry industry, not only from accident point, but from work turned out as well.
In some cases the employer is as careless as the employe. I saw an extractor running some time ago with- the brake broken. The proprietor was operating the machine himself. "When he wanted to stop it he took a piece of goods, holding on to the rim of the basket. I asked him why he did not have it fixed and he replied that no one operated the machine but himself, but I saw an employe operating the machine before I left his laundry. I tried to show him his mistake, but he looked at the fifty cents
216
-Fourth Safety Congress
it would cost and the little trouble. This, I admit, was a small
laundry, but all plants are judged by such when an accident happens. To me it appears if carelessness of operators or help could be
overcome accidents would be reduced at least 75 per cent, which shows the most dangerous features in laundries is careless help or carelessness. No "matter how much you tell them, they become over-confident or, if seems, case-hardened to danger of accident.
\\
."Our First Rule: Say* Life
First When Fhat _ Lone Protect Our Pre perty 99
National Safety Council
Mining Sectional Meeting Philadelphia, Pa,
October 20, 1915
H. M. WILSON, Chairman
Associated Companies, FitUb<nj;}>, Pa.
MINING SECTION.
HE Miningr Bound Table Sectional Meeting held in connec
Ttion with the Fo'urth Annual Safety Congress of the National Safety Council was called to order at 9:3c a. m., October 20, 1915. About 100 were present. Mr. H. M. Wilson of the Associated Companies, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
acted as chairman and Mr. Joseph H. White of the Bureau of Mines acted as secretary.
The following is a list of the prepared speeches that were de livered:
THE PROGRAM.
1. "The Bureau of Mines as a Factor in Mine Safety,"
Van H. Manning, Director, Bureau of Mines, Washington,
D. G.
*
2. "Sanitation as a Safety Factor in Mining,"
J- H. White, Sanitary Engineer, Bureau of Mines, Pitts-
' burgh. Pa. yj
217
assy
S.2U
i *>*
j.iaaiiaja,
iil aW= tnmtm
218 -- Fourth Safety Congress
3. "Fatalities and Diseases in Coal Mining Districts," Dr. W. A. Lynott, United States Bureau of Mines, Pitts burgh, Pa.
4. "Accident Prevention in Metal Mines/' B. F. Tillson, New Jersey Zinc Company, Franklin Fur nace, N. J.
5. "Accident Prevention in Coal Mines," R. Dawson Hall, Editor Coal Age, New York City.
6. "Safety in Electrical Installations in Mines," H. H. Clark, United States Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, Pa. '
7. "Fire Prevention in Mines," John Lloyd, Efficiency Engineer, Lehigh Valley Coal Com pany, Wilkes Barre, Pa.
8. "Mine Accident Prevention and Workmen's Compensation," H. M. Wilson of the Associated Companies, Pittsburgh, Pa.
13IKFOBMAL ISCUSSION.
The following is a list of those who participated in the informal discussion of the various papers:
Sim C. Reynolds, Safety Inspector, Aetna Insurance Company. Dr. Peter Roberts, Secretary, Industrial Dept., Y. M. C. A. Dr. Backs, Chief Surgeon, W. J. Ramey & Co. H. J. Brown, Keystone Plaster Company, Nova Scotia. Dr. Lloyd Nolan/~Superintendent, Health Department, Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway Company. Dr. W. S. Rountree, Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway Company. B. F. Tillson, New Jersey Zinc Company. C. E. Tobey, General Superintendent, Mining Department, Dela ware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Company. H. G. Davis, Superintendent, Mining Department, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Company. John Lloyd, Efficiency Engineer, Lehigh Valley Coal Company. C. E. Pettibohne, Chief Safety Inspector, Pickands Mather Com pany. W. G. Wildin, Division Superintendent, Lehigh Coal and Naviga tion Company. R. Dawson Hall, Editor Coal Age.
------- ----' fflMMiB war'-HMHHi' :
a; HWW T -Kg; va ;
MWW^J' !
Mining Sectional Meeting
219
Edwin Ludlow, Vice-President and General Manager, Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company.
D..Lloyd, Mining Department, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Company.
H. M. Wilson, Associated Companies, Pittsburgh, Pa. Joseph H. White, Sanitary^ Engineer, Bureau of Mines.
THE BUREAU OF MINES.
In the discussion ~of Mr. Manning's paper the benefits derived by mining companies co-operating with the Bureau of Mines was discussed.
Following Mr. White's paper the financial return of sanitation and social welfare work was discussed. . By improving conditions at a gypsum mine by ventilation and washhouses mining costs were reduced 60 cents per ton. The reduction of 4 cents per ton by one large company could be accounted for in no other way than by sanitary and social welfare work. Care of sanitary privies and the design of miners' washhouses were discussed. It was brought out that many details of best sanitary methods in and around mines had not yet been perfected.
The discussion ofllr. Tillson's paper developed that suggestion boxes did not bring good results, only 285 suggestions, in one in stance, coming from a labor force of 20,000. . Men would tell their suggestions to a safety, committee but would not write them. Some felt that it was difficult to introduce a bonus system for least time lost on account of accidents among organized labor. An employer of 10,000 strongly organized men stated that no opposition was en countered in his operations, members of the union being on the safety committee for each mine. In his work, instead of giving a bonus, a loving cup was presented annually to the district having least loss of time due to accidents.
Advantages were claimed for a constantly changing safety com mittee, members of which served for two weeks, only one member changing at a time. This permitted a great number of the workmen to be connected with Safety First movement in an official manner.
At a general safety meeting of all the workmen, held by district inspectors of a large company, the local foremen and bosses were not permitted to be present, so that the men would not have any hesitancy in criticizing unsafe methods or practices of their bosses.
SUBtatier "mi-
'y'?FWWWW"(-.rwtkit:3ir'?r '^-t''3.1igfit-rwwawi>
'WtaE.'U.ZiMMk
220
Fourth Safety Congress
Watchfulness
The "more com
petent,-----alert class"
of our workmen re
ceived the fewest in
juries.
=k
Nature of accidents were dis cussed. One safety inspector told how the regular hoisting engineer was knocked senseless by a crank while lowering fifteen men in a 350foot shaft; the reserve engineer, present on the platform while miners were being raised and low ered, stopped the cage without an injury to any of the men on the
cage. The superintendent of one colliery stated that 70 per cent of the accidents with his company oc curred at the working face.
HARD AND MACHINE MINING.
R. Dawson Hall's paper aroused an interesting discussion. 'Sta tistics from two bituminous mines--one worked by hand mining and the other by machine--showed that more accidents occurred in the machine mine than in the hand mine. Mr. Hall believed that
this was because hand miners were a more competent, alert class than the loaders found in connection with a machine mine. It was said that in the anthracite mines there were many less acci dents where machines were used than where hand mining was done, and that the mining machine was considered a great safety device by the anthracite men.
It was discussed whether accidents should be quoted as so many
per thousand men employed or as so many per million tons mined. Divergent views werfr voiced. Some held that from the point of view of the operator accidents per million tons mined was the fair way to judge, but from the point of view of the individual miners the accidents per thousand men employed was the important con sideration.
Dr. Lynott's paper brought up the question whether steel lockers or ceiling hooks were^better for a miners' wash and change house. It was generally believed that if properly installed either lockers or ceiling hooks would give satisfaction. The importance of venti lating each locker and the necessity of spacing the ceiling hooks suitable distances apart (about thirty-six inches) was emphasized.
jjsaaii;
Mil
^a;fiaiaiai-B::
Mining Sectional Meeting
221
Some companies use both ceiling
hooks and lockers, the hooks being used for the mine clothes and the
Good Business
lockers being used jfor the street
clothes.
--
"There are 1,000
Favorable comments were made on Mr. Clark's paper on "Safety
men employed to
in Electrical Installations in Mines."
save life and 1 3,000
In discussing Mr. Lloyd's paper on "Fire Prevention in Mines," one manager told how_ high insurance
men to be protec ted." And they got
was reduced by installing fire fight ing equipment and having well-
results.
drilled fire squads at each mine.
Although fire lines were present in each gangway, there is a marked
tendency not to keep these extended to the working face, simply
through carelessnesS7
One superintendent described an emergency fire-fighting car,
maintained by his company, which was subject to the'call of any
of the mines much the same as a mine-rescue car. The equipment
of the car consisted of 500 feet of 2^-inch pipe in xo-foot lengths,
brattice cloth, axes, wrenches, saws, nails, etc.
A division superintendent displayed blue prints, which were a part
of his system of preparedness for fighting fires. These prints
showetTm each gangway the location of water pipes, the-air lines into
which water might be turned in case of fire, the valves, outlets,
etc. The foremen of each mine were quizzed periodically not only
as to their knowledge of their own mine, but all the company mines,
so that in case of necessity they could assist their fellow foreman.
Fire fighting in metal mines was also discussed. It was brought
out that a smouldering piece of timber in a metal mine might produce
carbon monoxide gas sufficient in quantities as to be dangerous.
R. A. Quin, General Manager of the Susquehanna Coal Company,
at the Edgewood Park meet of the Susquehanna and Lytle con
cerns gave the following facts concerning the companies:
RESCUE AND FIRST AID MEN.
The companies have 200 rescue men drilled in the use of breath ing apparatus, 325 first-aid men, not including those who have had
222
--Fourth Safety Congress
training and have Seen advanced to higher positions, 50 safety in spectors employed by the company to provide for the protection of
their men, and 475 persons employed as foremen and assistant fore men and men in like positions, whose duties while partly economic are first and foremost to seek safety.
Roughly speaking, there are 1,000 men employed to save life and 13,000 men to be protected. Mr. Quin said that as a result of the efforts to guard their men from danger, fatal accidents in the first eight months in 1915 were only 17 against 32 in the previous year. He regarded it, as indeed all must, as a full recompense for the time and money spent.
BASE RATE ESTABLISHED.
Mr. Wilson's paper, "Mine Accident Prevention and Workmen's Compensation," brought up an interesting exchange of views on the
four methods of obtaining compensation insurance. The four meth
ods discussed were: Self-insurance, mutual insurance, state insur ance and stock insurance. The system of The Associated Com panies, which is a company made up of ten large casualty companies whose special business is to insure mines, was described. A base
rate of so many dc.lars per hundred dollars of pa3Troll has been
established for each mining state. This rate was fixed after a care ful study of accidents and hazards in each state. Each mine apply ing for insurance is carefully inspected and a reduction in the state rate is offered for every safety measure adopted, or, conversely,
an increase in state rate is required for neglecting reasonable pre
cautions. By this-method companies attempting to operate mines safely do not shoulder the burdens of those who operate indiffer
ently.
~
BUSINESS SESSION.
A committee consisting of Mr. B. P. Tillson of the New Jersey Zinc Company, Mr.-John Lloyd of the Lehigh Valley Coal Com pany, and Mr. W. G. Wildin of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, was authorized to draft by-laws which would govern the Mining Section of the National Safety' Council.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE.
The committee submitted the following by-laws, which were read and unanimously adopted :
Mining Sectional Meeting
223
BY-LAWS.
NAME.
Section i. This organization shall be known as the Mining
Section of the National" Safety Council.
object.
Section 2. The" object of this Section shall be to promote the science and practice of safety in metal and coal mining, quarry and open pit operations; to recommend the adoption of approved meth ods and appliances for safety, first-aid, and rescue work; to pro mote the adoption of proper safeguards against injury or loss of life or property; to promote the standardization of recording and fating of hazards and accidents, and to obtain and circulate informa tion on these subjects.
MEMBERSHIP.
Section 3. Membership shall include all members of the National Safety Council who shall be interested in the activities and purposes of this Section and who shall signify to the Secretary of the" Na tional Safety Council, or to the Secretary of this Section, their desire to affiliate.
OFFICERS.
Section 4. The officers of this Section shall be a Chairman, three Vice-Chairmen, and a Secretary, who shall have the usual, duties of such officers and whose terms shall extend to the annual meeting of this Sectionr following that of their respective election, or Until their successors are elected.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Section 5. Nominations of officers shall be made by a Nominat ing Committee of three appointed by the Chairman of the Section, which committee shall report at the annual meeting its recommenda tions, which report shall be followed at said meeting by the elec tion of officers for the ensuing year. At this meeting other nomi nations may be made by any members. Nominees should be selected, as far as practicable, to represent various branches of the mining industry with- appropriate geographic distribution.
224
Fourth Safety Congress
YOU!
Never mind who was your grandfa ther----what are you? Are you a Safety man ?
MEETINGS,
Section 6. There shall be an an nual meeting of the members of the Section held during the period of the Congress of the National SafetyCouncil, notice of the time and place of which meeting shall be posted at the information desk of said Congress. Other meetings of members may be held on due call and notice by the Sectional Executive Committee.
___
COMMITTEES.
Section 7. The affairs of the Section shall be conducted by a Sectional Executive Committee which shall be composed of the Sectional Chairman, three Vice-Chairmen, and a Secretary,. and the. Secretary of the National Safety Council, who shall be ex-officio a member thereof, and the Chairman of the following four stand
ing committees, which committees shall be appointed by the Sec
tional Chairman. ~ 1. Membership and Publicity Committee. 2. Standardization Committee.
3. First-Aid s I Rescue Training and Contests Committee. 4. Program andTPublication Committee.
~7 IN GENERAL.
Section 8. The Sectional Executive Committee shall appoint such other officers of committees and amend these by-laws or adopt other laws and do such other acts and engage in such activities as' may be needed to wisely further the objects of the Section.
SUPERVISION BY NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL.
Section 9. This section shall be under the direction of the Ex ecutive Committee of the National Safety Council. All by-laws and amendments thereto, activities, expenditures, literature, bulletins and published data of this Section shall be subject to the prior approval of the Executive Committee of the National Safety Council and all publications of the Section shall be under the name of the Section
Mining Sectional Meeting
225
as a Section of the National .Safety-
Council. The same committee was also
Should Be
authorized to act as a nominating
committee and it submitted the fol
lowing names as officers for the ensuing year. These men were unanimously elected:
"One example is worth a thousand ar
OFFICERS ELECTED.
guments." Have
Chairman--Mr. H. M. Wilson of
you learned your
The Associated Companies, Pitts
burgh, Pa.
Safety lesson?
First Vice-Chairman--Mr. B. F. Tillson of the New Jersey Zinc Company, Franklin Furnace, N. J.
Second Vice-Chairman--Mr. EL G. Davis of the Coal Mining
Department, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Company,
Scranton, Pa. Third Vice-Chairman--Mr. W. A. Luce of ifce Ellsworth Col
lieries Company, Scranton, Pa.
Secretary--Mr. II. M. Wolflin, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, Pa.
THE BUREAU OF MINES AS A FACTOR IN MINE SAFETY.
Van H. Manning, Director of the United States
Bureau of Mines.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council:
One of the most important results of the work of the Bureau of
Mines since its organization has been the development of the move
ment for great safety and better health conditions in the mining,
metallurgical, and allied industries in the United States.
To show the relation between , mine inspection service and the
fatality rates at coal mines from 1870 to the close of 1914, and to
illustrate the effectiveness of close inspection, I submit a few statis
tics which should be of interest to you. The coal produced in the
rionrinspection states is less than 1 per cent of the total at the present
time.
-
226
-Fourth Safety Congress
The fatality rates per i,000 men employed in inspection states, in 1870 and 1914, are, .respectively, 5.93 and 3.22. The number of
fatalities per million tons mined was 13.47 for 1870 and 4.78 for 1914. The number of tons of coal produced per fatality in 1870 was 74,238, while in 1914 it was 209,261. The number of tons of
coal mined per man per year in 1870 was 444, while in 1914 it was 673 tons. During the first ten years of mine inspection the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed remained practically stationary, while
the number of fatalities per million tons mined showed a slight reduction. From .1897 to 1907 the number killed per 1,000 em ployed increased considerably, reaching the highest point in 1907,
from which year there has been a marked decline. The increase in the fatality rate from 1897 to 1907 is not necessarily due to. less efficient mine inspection. The conditions under which the mines were operated were changing. The mines were growing deeper; there were more old, abandoned workings in which gas and dust would have a tendency to accumulate; haulage systems were more extensive; electricity had been introduced into the mines, and more men were employed in the individual mines than in former years,
so thaFin case of. a gas or dust explosion the likelihood of trapping more men was greater by reason of a larger number of men being
employed. During this period there was an influx of foreign labor ers, many of whom came from the agricultural districts of South eastern Europe ; they had no experience in mining and did not know the English language, and, hence, were not capable of understanding and carrying out orders that were made in a tongue foreign to them. Although the inspection service has been increasing in effi ciency from year to year, the various hazards, as noted above, are
increasing. The increased fatality rates, due to mine disasters, from 1897 and culminating in 1907, have been the means of the passage of more stringent laws for the operation, of coal mines. States are establishing rescue and first-aid stations, and nearly every large mining company has its safety engineer and Safety First committee,
with the necessary rescue and first-aid equipment.
CO-OPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.
An educational campaign on mine-accident prevention has been conducted since 1907, with the result that there is much closer co operation of miner, foreman, operator and inspector than In former
Mining Sectional Meeting
227
years. The work of- these various agencies has resulted in a gradual
decline in the fatality rate from 1907 to 1914-
The Bureau of Mines has been able to work out co-operative
agreements with many of the State agencies having to do with the
reduction of accidents, and has received the hearty support of the
mining companies throughout the United States in all of its efforts
to reduce the hazards of this great industry. In conducting its
campaign for the increase of safety in the mining industries, the
following general plan'of co-operation between the National Gov
ernment and other large agencies has been adopted: (1) That the
National Government conduct the necessary general inquiries and
investigations in relation to mine safety, and disseminate, in such
a manner as may prove most effective, the information thus ob
tained and the conclusions reached; (2) that each State enact needed
legislation and make ample provision for the proper inspection of
mining operations within, its borders; (3) that the mine owners
Introduce improvements with a view to increasing ^safety as rapidly
as the practicability of such improvements is demonstrated; and
(4) that the miners and mine managers co-operate in drafting and
enforcing safety rules, regulations and laws. The States--miners,
mine owners and other agencies--are now showing a commendable
willingness to co-operate with the National Government in this
safety work.
The Bureau of Mines is only one of several agencies working
to accomplish a great- end, and its activities can be most beneficial
only in those cases wherein it is cd-operating with individuals and
organizations who have an interest in the matter of safety.
INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY BUREAU OF MINES.
Among the principalJnvestigations conducted by the bureau tend ing toward the reduction of coal mine accidents are those relating to gas and dust explosions, the use of explosives and electricity and a study of safety lamps. It has also done much work in the development of mine-rescue and first-aid apparatus, and has con ducted a campaign of education whereby these appliances may be used most effectively. ~ Thousands of the ablest miners are now able to administer first aid to their injured fellow workman. Suffer ing is- reduced and many lives saved.
When Congress first authorized the investigation of the causes
228
Fourth Safety Congress
of mine explosions it was not gen
HUMANITY
erally believed that coal dust alone could spread an explosion through
out the mine. Now that the explosi-
"The Bureau's ef
bility of coal dust has been demon strated by the bureau through work
forts are being di rected toward the
in the laboratory, in the field, and in its experimental mine, the bureau's efforts are being directed
preventing or arrest ing of explosions."
toward the devising of effective and practicable methods of pre venting or arresting explosions.
Through the development and use
of rock-dust barriers and other
devices the intensity of future coal-mine explosions will .most
certainly be decreased. A. systematic investigation has been
made of the possibility of coal-mine explosions starting from im
proper use of explosives or using improper explosives, or from
electric sparks, miners' lamps, mine fires or other agencies. Various
tentative conclusions^ and proposed recommendations regarding
proper precautions are now being tested on a practical scale in the
experimental mine near Pittsburgh.
The bureau has carried on a number of investigations into the
nature of explosives used in mining operations, with a view to
changing the character of explosives so as to meet the needs of the
various branches of mining, and especially to increasing safety in
coal mines. Both the wrong use of explosives and the use of an
explosive not suitable for certain classes of work have resulted in
coal-mine disasters. The bureau has brought about what is little
short of a revolution through the introduction of new types of
low-temperature, quick-fitame powders, designated as "permissible
explosives," in the more dangerous coal mines of the country.
In the bituminous coal mines of the United States, the fatality
rate from explosives, per 10,000 men employed, has been reduced
from 3.39 in 1903 to 0.96 in 1914, largely as a result of the use of
"permissible explosives."
The investigation of explosives is also important to metal miners, .
whose health and efficiency are seriously affected by the use of
explosives.
Mining Sectional Meeting
229
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS.
Through the activity of the bureau
CO-OPERATION
in calling attention to dangers in the
use of electrical machinery in mines, manufacturers have devised safer
` 'The greatest go od
types of apparatus and States have enacted stricter laws governing elec tric installations. An investigation
can only be accom plished where there
of electric lamps for miners has re sulted in greatly improving the types now offered for sale. In re
exists a spirit of co operation."
gard to safety lamps, other than
electric, tests have been made to
ascertain the comparative merits of different types of safety lamps,
including their usefulness in furnishing light to miners, their relative
safety, and their value in indicating the presence of explosive gas.
In considering the Bureau of Mines as a factor in mine safety, it
must be remembered that the greatest good can only be accomplished
where there exists a spirit of co-operation and a willingness on the
part of each agency, state, federal and individual, to assist each
other. (Applause.)
SANITATION AS A SAFETY FACTOR IN MINING.
Joseph H. White, Sanitary Engineer, United States
Bureau of Mines.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: Some thirty years ago there was launched a nation-wide movement --intensely human in its purpose--which was based upon the dis covery that much sickness was unnecessary. Before that time ^sick ness had been accepted as inevitable; much of it was found to be preventable, and agencies for conserving health were established all over our country whose motto was "Prevention Is Better Than Cure and Far Cheaper."
Following in the wake of health conservation came accident pre vention. Accidents had been accounted for by a vague "hard-luck" or "price-of-progress''-3heory. The real reason was that accidents
magi
yggggig
230
Fourth Safety Congress
had not been given the proper consideration. The proof of this
is the big reduction in accidents since the policy of numerous large industries has been defined with clearness in the terse but extremely significant phrase "Safety the First Consideration," or Safety-
First. The purpose of these two great movements is identical, namely:
The conservation oJL human life. In considering safety in mining,
protection from disuse should be considered as well as protection from accidents--make sanitation a true safety factor. In consider ing this subject, favorable as well as unfavorable elements affecting the health of mining people will be touched upon.
UNDERGROUND CONDITIONS.
What are the underground conditions under which the miner
works which might have an influence upon his health? First, the circulation of air through coal mines, which is essential in order to prevent disastrous explosions, insures for the coal miner a steady supply of wholesome air. As a rule the temperature conditions in the mines are about the same year in and year out and this absence of variations is perhaps slightly conducive to good health.
The question of -fatigue has been receiving attention by investi gators of occupational diseases. In mining this, perhaps, is not seri ous. Most miners work only eight hours and the periods of rests-- while waiting for cars, changing drills, timbering, repairing track,
etc.--during those eight hours is an alleviating consideration. More over, in most states, the compensation rate per ton is so high that a reasonable day's- wages can be made without dangerous overexer tion. In many mines modem devices have been introduced for replacing or lessening the muscular labor of the miners. Finally, due to the unsteadiness of mining work, the number of days spent in the mine per year~is perhaps considerably less than the number of working days in other occupations, so that they can hardly complain of being overworked.
The effect of the dust inhaled into the lungs by the miner while at work is of importance. It has been held by some investigators that coal dust is not only harmless but is actually a preventative against tuberculosis:^ Some say it is the germicidal quality of the coal dust that causes the miner to be immune from pulmonary tuber culosis ; others attribute the immunity to the stimulating effect of
Mining Sectional Meeting
231
the coal dust on the lung tissue. Contrary views are held. There may be some uncertainty about coal dust, but it has been pretty
definitely proven that in certain metal mines the hard, sharp, silicious dust particles produced in the drilling and blasting fill the lung cells and make the victim susceptible to disastrous infection by tubercle germs. Certain mining companies are introducing water
drills and water spraying devices for the purpose, of allaying this dust and remedying this evil. In certain states legislation is re quiring these installations.
As a general rule, coal miners do not drink much water while at work. They quench their thirst by tea or coffee which they carry along in their dinner buckets. The tea, having been boiled, elimi nates the danger of infection, but does the miner get enough water for the physiological functions of the body and is the stimulating effect, due to this steady use of the tea or coffee, injurious ? Due perhaps to the warmer temperature in some metal mines, the miners
drink more water than coal miners. They either carry this in their buckets or flasks or very often the company transports it to con venient places in cans, kegs, and water cars of various types. In some. mines modem sanitary bubbling fountains are installed at the different levels. Improvements along these lines are being steadily introduced.
SANITATION.
Chiefly because privacy has not demanded them, underground toilets have not been installed in many mines. Toilet conveniences underground are more common in metal mines than in coal mines, due perhaps to the lesa perfect ventilation of the metal mines which would give rise to disagreeable odors if nuisances were committed indiscriminately. The absence of dirt or shale, as in the gobs of the coal mines,, for covering the stools, also makes the need of underground conveniences in the metal mines more marked. Port able dry closets, toilet cars and a few water-flush closets are in use. In many mines the use of these conveniences is rigidly enforced, and men found committing nuisances indiscriminately are promptly discharged. In certain places the sanitary disposition of feces is necessary to prevent the dissemination of hookworm and the revolt ing, disease caused by this parasite, as the temperature and moisture condition of the mine is often ideal for its propagation.
232
Fourth Safety Congress
MINERS'* WASH AND CHANGE HOUSES.
To Be Clean
Curses are often changed into
blessings. The very dirtiness of
mining has compelled the miner
"It is difficult to
from time immemorial to take a
measure how great a
daily bath. It is questionable if members of any other occupation
health agency is the
bathe so frequently and so con
miners' wash and change house."
sistently as do miners. There was a time--and with some mining com panies there still is -- when this
daily bath of the miner was taken
under the most trying conditions,
in the washtub before the kitchen stove. In many places now a
wash and change house is established near the exit of the mine, so
equipped that the miner may remove his soiled and sweated work
ing clothes, take a shower bath, dress up in his clean street clothes
and return to his home looking more like a clerk than a miner.
It is difficult to measure how great a health agency is the miners'
wash and change house. Wash and change houses are now required
by law in seven mining states and though not required by law, they
have been introduced voluntarily in eleven other mining states.
MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL SERVICE.
In most mining communities the men and their families receive medical, dispensary, and hospital service under what is known as the "contract system." A fixed sum, usually about $1.00, is de ducted each month from the wages of the miner in return for which he may summon the doctor whenever he or any of his family do not feel well. Thus, on the slightest symptom of illness, the people do not fail to get medical treatment and there is not the danger of delaying, in the hope of saving a doctor's bill, until the disease has reached an acute stage, as is so often the case in other communities. This system often keeps one doctor in touch with the physical status of all the men, women, and children in the community, and un doubtedly it is an agency for making the health of a mining com munity better than that of an independent, diversified village.
Mining Sectional Meeting
233
--
FOOD SUFFIXES,
The quality and method of hand Usually the Case
ling the food supply is an im
portant element in the health of a
community. So much has been
"It was the abuse
written against the company store of mining towns, the compulsory
of the system, not
trading therein, extortionate prices
the system itself that
charged, that in many states the company store has been legislated
was at fault." (The
out of existence. Undoubtedly in
company stores.)
the past there were good grounds
for this criticism; it was the abuses
of the system, not the system itself, that was at fault. Much
can be said in favor of the company store. Because of the credit
system it can extend, it can do a large volume of business, carry
a better and more complete grade of merchandise, and sell at lower
prices. Company stores are usually housed in light, well-ventilated
buildings, are equipped with modern conveniences and appurte
nances, and the clerks are as a rule neatly uniformed. The large
company store in the mining village is more hygienic and healthful
and of better appearance than the small competitive stores of an
independent village of similar size. The company store possesses
both the advantages and dangers of any other monopoly. From
observations of a large number of stores within the past two years,.
I believe its advantages on sanitary and hygienic accounts does
much to outweigh its dangers on other accounts.
, . _WATER AJSD WASTES.
It is impossible to make a general statement regarding the do mestic water supply of mining villages, as some very good and some very bad conditions have been observed. In respect to quality of water furnished, it is believed that mining villages are as well off as other villages of similar size, but in respect to the conveniences, that is, the extension of the water lines into the houses, the mining villages are inferior. ~r--
As a rule the sewer facilities of a mining community are not as good as are found in other places. This is perhaps due to the tem-
S. : is.;.;-; iMwmiaffiaegaiaE.
234
Fourth Safety Congress
porary and uncertain life of the mining village, which does not, perhaps, warrant anrinvestment in a sewer system. In most mining towns dry closets are in use and some shocking conditions formerly prevailed around these filth holes, but these have steadily improved as the knowledge of diseases caused by such has been disseminated.
The cleanliness of the streets, alleys, and yards in a mining village depend largely upon the interest that officials of the company take in these matters. Mining towns are like the proverbial little girl with the naughty little curl: "When they are good they are very, very good, but when they are bad they are horrid." This is due to the fact that the inhabitants of many mining towns have no proprietary interest in the town--they own no property and consider their pres ence there but temporary. Insanitary conditions and premises often result from this indifference. Some companies formerly thought that their obligations were fulfilled if they had an annual clean-up day. Living for.a year amidst the gradually accumulating filth, rub bish, and the general- by-pr.oducts of life, is not conducive to good health, and many mining villages have now regular weekly scavenger service whereby all the debris is moved away from the zone of habitation.
HOUSING CONDITIONS.
The improvement jn the character of the houses in mining vil
lages is very notable in recent years. The old-time "mining patch"
is becoming a thing of the past. Men following mining dwell
and raise their families in mining villages, not "camps" as formerly.
Congestion has never been as serious in mining communities as in
the crowded tenement districts of large cities. Miners have usually
dwelt in cottages, so that there has always been plenty of sunshine
and good air in circulation. In the colder climates, perhaps, the
miner has had too much air--the flimsy box houses with cleats over
the cracks not furnishing sufficient shelter. Well-lighted, well-
ventilated, warm, attractive houses are now found in most of the
recent mining villages. Fences are built around the lots and neat
yards and attractive gardens have supplanted the rubbish heaps
of bygone days.
ADMINISTRATION.
The final health element to which your attention is drawn is the system of administration of the mining village. This is a most potent factor----it pervades all the others.
Mining Sectional Meeting
235
Even when scientific truths are well established,.it requires time
for these to become absorbed by the people at large. Sinister in fluences are slow working and it is difficult to bring people to realize their danger. Many of the insanitary evils are of just such ah in
sidious nature. They do not, like accidents, have the spectacular effect which grips our feelings, stirs our sympathies, and challenges our efforts. Sanitary evils insinuate themselves into our daily lives,
doing their damage in a quiet, cumulative manner. The vitiated air of an overcrowded bedroom does not, like mine gas, announce its deadly work by an explosion. In spite of strenuous educational efforts it will be some time before the housefly is considered a real danger. Mining companies about to introduce sanitary reforms
may expect their efforts to be received with indifference by some of the people who are to be most benefited. Many mining villages are owned and administered by the company; and the delays, wastes, prejudices, and politics of a self-governing community do not have to be overcome in introducing sanitary improvements. This system
reposes great power in the hands of the mining officials--great re sponsibility accompanies this power.
Many large mining companies are making wholesome improve ments in the living conditions of mining towns, and as a whole company-controlled mimng towns are perhaps healthier places to reside in than independent diversified villages.
The administration of a modern mining town with its variable human units and expanding social life must be handled differently from the practice in the past. The time is coming when the town management and mine management will be separated. The manage ment of a modern mining town can no longer be considered as a
mere side issue of the mine superintendents1 duties. One cannot proceed far in any constructive mine town program, before he sees that the mine superintendent cannot run the mine and the town with out doing an injustice to them both and to himself also. In no sense is this intended to discredit the ability of mine superintendents; as an all-around, broad-gauged, level-headed, energetic type of man, the average mine superintendent has not many superiors and few equals in any industry. Our eyes, however, cannot be closed to this fact: If the old-time mining camp, with all its primitiveness and> its inadequacy, suffered largely because the mine superintendent could give it scant attention, how manifestly impossible will it be
236 Fourth Safety Congress
for him to find time to manage a
With the Men
modern, complex mining town, par ticularly when we realize that his
underground duties are steadily in
"It is absolutely
creasing and the work of removing
necessary for the
coal or ore becoming more involved. Already some mining men are de
mine superintendent
crying the fact that mine superin
to keep in first-hand
tendents are spending too much of their time on the surface and in the
touch with condi
office, and are shifting the more
tions."
disagreeable but vitally important underground duties into the hands
of their subordinates. These min
ing men feel that it is absolutely necessary for the mine superin
tendents to keep in first-hand touch with conditions in the mine if
the material is to be mined economically and safely.
In conclusion, attention is again called to the fact that sanitary
improvements should go hand in hand^with the Safety First move
ment. An attempt Has been made to point out the debits and credits
of the mining occupation. Before inaugurating a sanitary cam
paign, it would be well for each company to consider all these
conditions and to make a comprehensive program so that the worst
evils will be corrected first. It will be some time before perfection
is reached; in the meantime it is important that the most good be
squeezed out of every dollar spent on this kind of work. (Ap
plause.)
FATALITIES AND DISEASES IN COAL MINING DISTRICTS.
W.Dr.
A. Lynott, United States Bureau of Mines,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: The Bureau of Qibor Statistics of the United States Department
of -Labor has published bulletin No. 157 on Industrial Accident Statistics, .illustrating the importance of the industrial accident prob-
Mining Sectional Meeting
237
lem. This bulletin presents an es
timation that 25,000 fatal industrial accidents occurred among American
The Result
wage earners during 1914, and that
approximately 700,000 accidents oc
curred which involved a disability
of more than four weeks' dura
tion.
__
The industries which contribute
to the greatest number of fatal acci
"There has been
an increase in the
general
interest
taken by miners,
mine owners and the
dents are railroad and agriculture
public." Result--
work, each causing about 4,200
less accidents.
fatalities' a year. Building and con
struction work cause only 1,900
and general manufacturing about 1,800. The rate of fatal accidents
among metal miners 1S 4 per 1,000, in fisheries and navigation 3 per
1,000, and in manufacturing 0.25 per 1,000. The last figure is
based upon a grouping so broad as to have small value, as the
group includes everything from the iron and steel industries in
which the accident rates are high, to the textile and clothing in
dustries in which the rate of fatal accidents is practically negligible.
Among coal miners, of whom are about 750,000 employed, the rate
of fatal accidents is 3.5 per 1,000 or 2,625 deaths annually.
A century ago coal mining was conceded to be a most hazardous
occupation, and we are told a society was formed at that time for
the prevention of accidents in mines. This society was instrumental
in having the English government appoint a special, committee to
inquire into the cause of accidents with a view of suggesting some
means of prevention.
Since the investigations were started by the Bureau of Mines,
there has been an increase in the general interest taken by miners,
mine owners and the general public in all questions relating to
safety. Despite the fact that there has been a considerable increase
in the amount of coal mined and in the number of coal miners em
ployed, there has been a decrease in the number of fatalities in
mining operations. The loss of life resulting from fatalities in
mines represents but a very small proportion of the great loss that
is being sustained in the peaceful prosecution of the industries of
our country. The chief idea in the minds of the American people
i it Vrf-
238
Fourth Safety Congress
at this moment is, can they further reduce the unnecessary loss of
life?
FATALITIES IN COAL MINES.
Statistics, as compiled by Albert H. Fay of the United States
Bureau of Mines, for 1914, show that fatalities in coal mines In
the United States weft 334 less than during the preceding year. The
principal causes of accidents that show a material decrease were
coal dust explosions, 96 per cent; haulage, 11 per cent; and falls
of roof and pillar coal, 10.6 per cent. The net decrease in under
ground fatalities was 14 per cent.
There were 331 fatalities due to gas explosions as compared with
91 in 1913, making a net increase of 240. Of the total gas explosion
fatalities, 261 were due to four serious explosions. There were
slight increases in accidents due to explosions and electricity. There
was also a net increase of 26 fatalities in shaft accidents, or 42 per
cent, while on the surface the net increase was 5, or about 3 per
cent. The net decrease for the year for both underground and sur
face accidents at coal mines as compared with 1913 was 12 per cent,
while there was a reduction of 12 per cent in the number of fatal
ities. There was also a reduction of 10.5 per cent in the production
of coal.
=
The United States. Geological Survey estimates the production for 1914 as 310,000,000 short tons as compared with 570,048,125 tons
for 1913. The fataSty rate per 1,000,000 tons of coal produced in
1913 was 4.89 and in 19x4, 4.81. With the exception of 1912, when
this rate was 4.41, the 1914 rate is the lowest yet recorded for the
United States. The. amount of coal produced per fatality in 1914
was 208,078 short tons, which, with the exception of 1912, is the
largest on record, jhe production per fatality in 1913 was 204,685
tons; 1912, 222,469 tons, and in 1907, 144,325 tons. There were
316 lives lost in disasters in which more than five men were killed
at one time as compared with 464 in 1913, a net reduction of 148,.
or 32 per cent, in this class of accidents.
It is not possible to attribute these lower rates to any one par
ticular influence. The decreased rate of fatalities may be assigned
to any of the following agencies or to a combination of any or all
of them:
1. Closer and more careful inspection by the state inspectors.
2. Better enforcement of laws and regulations by the operators.
Zfining Sectional Meeting
239
3. Miner's realization of the dangers attending his daily work and his efforts to reduce accidents due to the educational campaign
conducted in his behalf. 4. The more general use of safety or electric lamps in gaseous
mines. 5. The use of permis|ible explosives. 6. Humidifying dusty mines. 7. First aid and mine rescue training. 8. Enactment of industrial accident compensation laws. 9. Last but not least, the co-operation of all concerned.
VENTILATION-.
- In well-ventilated mines the atmospheric changes due to breathing of men and animals, burning of lamps, decay of mine timbers and the firing of shots are very small as compared with the changes due to occlusion of oxygen by the coal and the extrusion of gases from the coal, roof and floor of the mine.
Nearly all mines throughout the United States are under the supervision of state mining departments, whose representatives make frequent inspections. Many operators also employ their own in spector's, who, in connection with their regular inspections of safety conditions throughout the mine, ascertain the amount and character of air in circulation. IrC a mine the temperature of the air ap
proaches that of the ground and varies little from one season to the next, thus affording an even temperature for the miner in which to perform his work. Some mines are naturally damp while others are made so in order to prevent coal dust explosions, and this would seem to prove harmful to miners, but very little com plaint has. been heard from this source because most working places are well ventilated.
Constant fresh air which is supplied to the miners is free from certain impurities usually found in outside air in thickly populated sections. Where mines have a low temperature, germs which cause tuberculosis, pneumonia, etc., do not seem to propagate, hence the miner is not subjected to as many dangers in this respect as people in other walks of life.
Many * surgeons in the mining districts say coal dust retards the growth of tuberculosis, others claim coal dust destroys tuberculosis
240
Fourth Safety Congress
germs, then others are of the opin
ion that coal dust prevents tuber
TUBERCULOSIS
culosis. The latter opinion seems to possess merit, as a visit through
In eighty-one coal
eighty-one coal mining districts with a total population of 33,395 in
camps with a popu lation of 33,395 not
habitants, revealed the fact, from statements by camp physicians, that not more than 50 miners were tuber
more than 50 miners had tuberculosis.
culosis victims. It is true you will find tuberculosis among the fami lies of miners, but the majority of
miners themselves seem to have a
certain immunity.
In days gone by many of the miners were asthmatic victims, due,
it is thought, to imperfect ventilation or an excess of carbon dioxide.
Among the miners of today rarely, if ever, do you find asthmatic
conditions because of the better ventilation. It was thought coal
dust had a tendency to cause asthma but in mines where you find
excessive dust accumulation with perfect ventilation, little or no
asthma will be observed among the miners.
After all, the work of a miner is not arduous. Most of the mines
work eight hours a.jiay, but the actual labor performed by the miner
does not ordinarily amount to over- six to seven hours. Delay is
caused by waiting for cars, track repairing, luncheon, etc.
JORimCUSTG WATER X3ST MINES.
It has become a custom among miners, particularly coal miners, to fill tire tops of their dinner buckets with tea to be used for drink ing purposes. Water is not used a great deal to relieve thirst. This in a measure] is a very good practice as the germs are pre viously destroyed in the boiling of water preparatory to making of tea. 'Water, however, is used by some miners but the character of the domestic supply in many of the mining districts is far superior to the water supply of some cities. Deep wells, ranging from 100 to 400 feet,. are found in many mining districts. The water from some of these wells is softened before it reaches the consumer. Marked improvements along these lines are being stead ily introduced.
Mining Sectional Meeting
241
TOILET FACILITIES IN- MINES.
Bowel discharges are in a meas
SANITATION
ure responsible for the dissemina
tion of the hookworm. Dr. Hotch kiss of the Public Health Service
Seven states have
states that mines having a tem perature above 72 degrees Fahren heit, sufficient moisture to make
passed laws com pelling operators to
them damp, and less than 2 per cent salt or 0.1 or 0.2, per--cent acid or alkali, are favorable for the
establish wash and change houses.
development of the hookworm dis
ease. Most coal mines, -however,
have a temperature and humidity low enough (about 60 degrees
Fahrenheit) that the hookworm has not an ideal home for propaga
tion. The dejecta is permitted to remain in the mine, but so few
cases of hookworm have been found in the coal mining districts that
the sanitary disposal of human excreta has not been considered
necessary.
:
WASH AND CHANGE. HOUSES.
The operators in many mining districts throughout the country realize the importance oiL providing wash and change houses for the miners and have expended large sums of money to bring about
this change. Recently tlae: Legislatures o Kansas, Arizona, Illinois,
Indiana, Montana, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania passed laws com pelling all mine operators to install wash and change houses for convenience of employes__.Where washhouses are installed it means several changes ; the clothes a miner will wear leaving his home in the morning will be exchanged for working clothes at the mine; when his days work is done another change is necessary. Few miners, however, object to the extra work entailed. The work of a miner being dirty it necessitates a daily bath. As few mining homes are provided with bathtubs, a washtub in the kitchen is usually employed. Generally speaking, the miner bathes more fre quently and consistently than followers of any other occupation in the United States.
242 Fourth. Safety Congress
MINE SURGEONS.
The diseases prevalent among miners are colds, tonsilitis, grippe and intestinal troubles. Rarely do you find cases o infectious fever or epidemics. There is a reason. In nearly all mining camps doc tors are paid on contract system. The operators deduct $1.00 a month for the married miners and 50 cents a month for the single miners. This entitles them or their families to call a doctor when ever occasion demands. A physician employed at a mining camp is a very hard-worked man; on the slightest symptom he is called. If the nature of the illness be serious no delay is occasioned in getting proper treatment. The doctor is in constant touch with the people and if epidemics are found the people are warned imme diately and an effort will be made to check the spread of the disease. In cities and independent and diversified communities this is not the rule; the doctor is paid for each visit and usually his services are not requested ^until the symptoms are pronounced. In cities and villages a number of doctors may have private practice, each doctor treating his own patients, and he may find five or six cases of infectious diseases but will not consider them alarming. His neighboring physician may be employed similarly but as there is no health department and no discussion of physical ailments the whole city or village may be involved before the true condition is known. Hence the mining district with one physician in charge, who keeps in constant touch with the physical condition of all the men, women and children, is undoubtedly the only agency for making the health of a mining community a better risk.
TUBERCULOSIS RARE IN MINING CAMPS.
In nearly all cities you will find crowded tenements. Congested play houses and congested street cars are conducive to the propa gation of tubercular, pneumonia and grippe germs. Pneumonia, tuberculosis and grippe are rare in mining camps because the homes are usually sufficiently separated, no street cars are in evidence, play houses are not common and rooms are not congested. The homes of -many miners are well ventilated, well lighted, warm, attractive and clean. Still more progress along this line should be encouraged.
Mining Sectional Meeting
243
WATER SUPPLY, GARBAGE AND SANITATION.
Many mining communities obtain the domestic water supply, from deep wells. The operators have realized that if a man is well he is able to work and they are improving conditions so his physical condition will noti be impaired by impure water, insanitary condi tions and environments. Sources of contamination have been re moved and usually the supply of water in each camp is up! to the standard. In cities where typhoid is prevalent the source of in fection is not always traceable but in mining camps, only one water supply being used, the mine physician is in a position to trace the source almost immediately, if the source of infection be the water.
The sanitary disposal of garbage and ashes in the mining camps is now realized by the operators to be conducive to good health. They know that diseases are caused by the throwing of refuse into yards and nearly every mining camp may now boast of garbage and ash receptacles. The operators remove the contents of the receptacles weekly or semi-weekly, as the occasion demands., Fences are built around the lots and neat yards and attractive gardens have supplanted the rubbish heaps of by-gone days.
Unfortunately all camps are not supplied with closed or vault closets. One open closet in a camp may contaminate all the resi dents in the community, or flies gathering in outhouses may carry germs from human refuse back to the homes. However, the oper ators are trying to eliminate this nuisance and in a measure are succeeding. In many camps vault closets are supplanting the abom inable, death dealing, open outhouses, and in a comparatively short time this nuisance will be entirely abated.
CREEK BEDS.
Until two or three years ago many outhouses abutted on creeks and the water was insufficient to carry the excreta down the stream. Hence a source of infection was permitted to remain undisturbed and many of the operators did not realize the need of lessening the danger. "Within late years this nuisance is being abated and very few closets are now found along the creeks. Refuse from kitchens, including tihT cans, often found a resting place in the creeks, in many instances blocking the streams, and stagnant water was in evidence. Fortunately this also is being attended to and
244
Fourth Safety Congress
Your Buddy
Don't expect your helper to be as good a workman as you are. He isn't ; he's a helper.
most of the streams are now free from obstructions and pollution.
CONCLUSION.
The health of the miner com pares favorably with the health of people in other walks of life. His labors are free from mental work; he is accorded sufficient rest; he receives medical attention at the onset of disease; and the air during his working hours is free from im purities. (Applause.)
ACCIDENT ^PREVENTION IN COAL MINES.
R. Dawson Hall, Associate Editor, Coal Age, New York.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: A careful analyst of the conditions favoring accident prevention must close his eyes to the outcome of his figures and accept facts even when they do not coincide fully with his preconceived ideas and wishes. It is in this manner that the investigator must approach the question as to the effect of coal-cutting machinery on the haz ards of mining. IfLit be proved that such machinery is the cause of more fatalities per ton mined than hand operation--as has been alleged by former State Inspector John Dunlop of Illinois and Thomas Moses, General Superintendent of the Bunson Coal Com pany in that state----then it behooves us to study diligently how the difficulties can be met.
Hitherto, too often we have been supplied with only the vaguest of generalizations. ~It is not sufficient to prove that in one district where machines are much used accidents are many, in proportion to the number of men employed, and in another where they are less generally used the accident rate is low. This may be only a co incidence. In Pennsylvania, for instance, where the argument has been advanced by State Inspector Thomas K. Adams, there is a marked difference between the machine districts in Western Penn-
Mining Sectional Meeting
245
sylvania and the districts in the cen
tral portion of the state where machines are on the whole in less
Your Shoes
general use. In this connection it
is essential to note that the coal is not so thick in Central Pennsyl
"Every no is the
vania and consequently inspection of the roof is easier and the rock has a shorter distance to fall.
proprietor own shoes.
his Be on
Propping also is not so difficult and is proportionately less expen
sive and therefore likely to be more
the goSafety
side of
prodigally used. The Freeport coal,
which is worked in the central coun
ties of the state, has a roof which is probably s dangerous or more
dangerous than that of the Pittsburgh bed. Put that treacherous
coal seam is largely worked out and the beds now being mined in
Central Pennsylvania have an excellent roof. In fact, there are
very few beds which have a more reliable covering than the Lower
Kittanning.
Consequently in endeavoring to exhibit the dangers or the im
munities of machine mining relative to hand digging, or shooting
from the solid, it is well to compare the work in neighboring dis
tricts and in the same bed and to avoid making comparisons between
conditions essentially different.
VALUE OF ACCURATE REPORTS.
In the State of Illinois an exceptionally complete report is made annualfy of all the details - under which mining is conducted. The beds worked are carefully noted in connection with every operation and entries are made from which may be determined the manner of working--by hand, by machine or by combined hand and machine methods. For this reason, probably, Illinois has often been re garded as a good point to choose for this investigation, though the inquiry might be .made successfully in some other states.
By ascertaining what the percentage of accidents per ton is in the machine mines in any one bed and comparing it with that in the mines worked entirely by hand, it seems as if it might be
246
Fourth Safety Congress
possible to form some definite conclusion as to the relation between the safety of the two methods as mining is actually practiced, and in at least one instance that attempt has been made. The results promise to be the more valuable because the areas over which any one bed is worked are small and the roof and other conditions probably not largely variant.
Of course, the work in some of the beds is so inconsiderable that it would be obviously unfair to draw any conclusions from fatality and production records. The fatal accidents and outputs of these beds have been obtained and tabulated but the percentages have not been calculated for this table because if stated they could not fail to be misleading.
The estimates here quoted have been based on the tons produced, and not on the number of men employed. The writer believes that this is the correct plan. Industry demands unfortunately a cer tain tonnage per annum regardless of deaths. No one is prepared seriously to propose a restriction of output. Coal is such an essen tial in the well-being and even in the preservation of the life of everyone that while the loss of life in mines is deplorable and is to be prevented as far as possible, no one seriously considers closing our mines to assure^ a reduction of those accidents we so much deplore. Consequently we have to discover a means of mining
which will permit us to secure the tonnage desired, with the minimum
of fatalities per ton.
However, those who base their rates on the number of men employed, as insurance men are sometimes prone to do, will natur ally desire to see the figures calculated on that basis. Valuable as such a calculation would be, nothing has been done as yet to the knowledge of the writer in this direction.
It has been suggested that to obtain the relative hazards of machine and hand mining we compare the fatalities from falls of roof, coal and slate and to that end these accidents have been care fully segregated. As a result it may be deduced that in the machine mines operating bed No. 5 there were 1.442 fatalities per million tons produced. Ini the hand mines of the same bed the fatalities will show only 0.930 lives lost per million tons, giving apparently a fatality rate of 55 per cent higher in the machine mines due to machine operation. The tonnage of No. 5 bed was, however, small.
Mining Sectional Meeting
247
so that the evidence, even if our method of calculation is sound, is not really enough to justify any definite conclusions.
The statistics of No. 6 bed are corroboratory and even add to the strength of the presentment. In that bed the class of fatalities thus arbitrarily selected embraced only 0.972 deaths per million tons in hand mines as against 1.906 per cent in machine mines, a difference of 96 per cent. By adding the fatality rates of both beds it will be found that the machine rate for these supposedly significant causes is 1.8293 per million tons whereas the hand rate is 0.9589 per million.The machine-mining fatality rate for these specified causes is 90.7 per cent in excess of the hand-mining rate.
But several objections may be taken to a method of comparison which relieves the record of hand mining from many of the acci dents undoubtedly sequent on its adoption and includes many ma chine-mining fatalities which may be due more to the personnel of the men employed to load after machines. To correct $he first diffi culty--that of overlooking many of the dangerous conditions-from hand mining not covered by falls of roof, coal and slate--an attempt should be made to base the comparison on a larger class of accidents which for want of a specific all-embracing term have been grouped under the column headed "Certain specific fatalities."
SHOOTING FROM THE SOLID.
It is necessary to explain what these should be and consequently it should be noted that the introduction of machinery reduces con siderably the practice ^f shooting from the solid, which in Illinois is quite dangerous- and yet is permitted by law. Machine mining by excluding solid shooting makes fatalities from dust explosions less frequent. To the deaths from falls of roof, coal and slate should therefore in alL justice be added those from shooting acci dents in both hand and machine mines. These are unfortunately quite numerous. Thus two men were killed in a hand mine in No. 5 seam from an explosion caused by firing two dead holes, one man was killed by the afterdamp resulting from this explosion. A driver was killed by flying coal, this evidently being due to the violence of a shot. A miner met death in a similar manner and a shotfirer in exploding his holes traveled with the current thus laden wi,th impure gases and was suffocated as a result of his indiscretion. This raises the fatalities from 8 to 14.
248 Fourth Safety Congress
It seems fair to regard these
WASTES
fatalities as the outcome of heavy firing due to the failure to under
cut by machine. But this does not
need to be proved absolutely if they
Accidents are
are also charged up to machine min ing where like fatalities occur. In
wastes. In the mod
machine mines operating No. 5
ern scheme of things
seam no such accidents as these can be found. Had they occurred they
waste has to go.
should be added because we should include like fatalities in both lists in
order to secure perfect impartiality
in our record.
But there are fatalities of a class which can be rightly charged to
machines alone, though there was only one of these in No. 5 bed.
That fatality was due to contact with an electric-machine wire.
This death would most evidently not have occurred had hand min
ing been the practice. As a result then of this revised method of
classification the machine work in No. 5 is found to be but little
more dangerous than hand work. The fatality rate in hand mines
is 1.628 per million tons and in machine mines 1.682 or less than
4. per cent higher.
The following accidents 'were added to the fatality list of the
hand mines in bed No. 6: Men killed (1) by a premature explosion
of powder, (2) by a shot which the victim had just ignited and (3)
by a shot blowing through between entries. As a result the loss
of life in No. 6 hand mines is raised to 22.
In the machine niihes of No. 6 are added the following accidents:
A man was drowned when rafting pipes in a pond, another was
killed in a shot explosion, a third was mangled by his mining ma
chine, a fourth fell into a tank of boiling water, a fifth was killed
by an explosion of dynamite caps in a box containing permissible
powder and a sixth man was killed by the falling of a machine jack
down a shaft. Perhaps some of the accidents in the hand mines
might just as well have occurred in those worked by machines, but
as they belong to the type of accidents prevalent in hand mines
for the sake of fairness they have been included in both lists of
accidents.
--r
Mining Sectional Meeting
249
The boiler accident and that due
to rafting may have resulted not from mining - machine equipment,
ALWAYS
but from the use of electric haul
age, hut wherever a doubt was possible the accident Jias been ac
Every accident is
credited to the form of mining practiced at the mine. This has been done with consistency. The
a notice that some thing is wrong---
result, just or unjust, shows that hand mining in No.. 6 caused a loss from the selected causes of
men, methods or ma terials.
1.125 men per million tons mined
and machine mining a loss from
similar causes of 2.192 men per million tons. Thus, by this method
of calculation, which is still open to objection, the deaths in machine
mines are 95 per cent higher than in hand mines.
Combining the results for beds Nos. 5 and 6 it is found that,
granted our manner of calculation is permissible, in hand mines the
fatality rate is 1.278 per million tons and in machine mines 2.108,
making the machine fatality rate 65 per cent larger than the rate
in hand mines. Realizing that any choice of fatalities on the part of the writer
of this article would appear liable to bias, he has endeavored to
vindicate himself by figuring all the fatalities regardless of cause.
He must preface his indulging in. a manner of calculation which he
conceives some might desire by saying that of all methods this Is the one most subject to warranted unfavorable criticism.
COMPARISON OF FATALITIES.
Owing partly to an accident in a hand-mined working in which four men lost their lives in an explosion of gas the number of fatalities of all kinds in the hand mines of No. 5 seam is 3.255 per million tons, whereas the fatalities in machine mines in the same seam from all causes is only 2.643 per million tons mined. The difference is 23 per cent in favor of machine tnsnihg.
But in No. 6 seam the showing is not in favor of machines. In this bed that method of operation in this hit-or-miss manner of calculation shows fatalities of 3.145 per million tons while hand
250
Fourth Safety Congress
mining took only 2.403 lives per million tons. Machine mining thus calculated gives a figure 31 per cent higher than hand mining.
Bulking mining in both No. 5 and No. 6 seams together it is found that there were 2.663 fives lost per million tons in hand mines and 3.062 lives per million in machine mines. The difference is 15
per cent. The year taken for these figures was one in which at no one time
were more than four lives lost, so it may be said that there are no
catastrophes to make figures unrepresentative. If anything the possibility of a great disaster is more threatening .in mines where solid shooting is the rule than in mines where the coal is'undercut and as great disasters in bituminous mines are more likely to occur in hand mines with solid shooting than in machine mines with carefully undercut coal the absence of a great disaster in 19x3 probably militated against the relative record of the machine mines.
Undermining by machine reduces also the number of mine fires, which are often the occasion of catastrophes of the first magnitude. Heavy shots demand the limiting charge and often contain more than this amount of powder and consequently mine fires and explosions are far more likely to occur in hand or- solid-shooting mines.
-------
ANALYSIS OF FIGURES.
It may be added that a careful analysis of the figures of the year
before (1912) showed that a similar result would be reached if
the matter were followed to a conclusion, for the fatalities due to
falls of ground in machine mining were found to be much more
numerous in propoi .ion to tonnage than those due to the same cause
in hand mines, but as said, these figures are not as some think deter
minative of the relative hazards of the two forms of mining.
At one point in this paper it was suggested that the figures might
well err because they did not consider the personnel of the men
engaged. It is proper that this consideration should now be given
attention. In the _ mines of No. 5 seam worked by machine only
one machine worker was killed, yet there were 6 men killed by falls
of ground. Thus less than 17 per cent of the fatalities from rock
and coal falls occurred to men who were actually cutting with a
machine.
^
The evidence from No. 6 bed is almost as striking and because
it is of large volume is even more corroboratory. There were 40
Mining Sectional Meeting
251
men killed by falls of groundin the machine mines of No. 6 seam; of these only n were machine runners or helpers. Thus the actual machinemen killed constitute 27.5 per cent of all men killed by falls of ground.
Of course some men who work with machines may be termed "miners" in the report but even if all the 5 miners (one is excluded who was taking out props and the coal fell upon him) killed by falls of coal in that seam in machine mines were really machinemen then the percentage would only rise to 40 per cent.
FiTAlITIES IN THE DIFEEEENT COAL BEDS OF ILLINOIS DIVIDED AMONG
OPERATIONS USING HAND OR MACHINE METHODS TEAR ENDING JUNE SO, 1913.
Fatalities from Falla Certain Specified
'*5 or Ground
|i il 25o Saso*
ex *=
S
3
as5s
1 Sand . .
1 Machine
1 Both ... 1 & 2 Hand .. 1 & 2 Machine
332,483. 9,288
157.999 00,362
442,991
000o
o
2 Hand ...............................4,019,O43_
923,808 1.082 5
o3 Hand ...............................
4 Hand ...............................
80,llgL 1,1301
o
o4 Machine........................
12,010
5 Hand ............................... 8,801,254 8 1,075,156 0,930 14
Fatalities
s.L.
gf3
MM
923,808 1.082
614,375 1-828
All Fatalities
; i,
sHS-s
O.................................. o ...... .... 0 -................................. 0 3 .....................................
1O1 4.1.9.,9..1.3 2..3.8..1 o ...... ....
28 307lisa 3-255
55
6 6 6
7
101
1 AS
2
Machine........................4.160.05^
Hand ..... ..............19,556,070" 19 Machine ........20-.--9---8----5---.-4---5--3 40 Both .................................. 788,206^ 2
Hand ............................... 1,235,551 O
Both_________________ 21,02JL O
Hand ...............................
6.190 0
All ..................................... 49,755_ 1
All ...............................
. 609.353 _
All .....................................4,6a,043T
693.441 1-442
1,028,298 0.972 524,836 1.908
7 X 22 46
0502011
594.379 1.682
888,939 1.125 456.205 2.192
11 378,241 2.643
47 41Io99 2^403
60 217.981 3.145
3 2
...............................................
0 *.., ...
3 11
............................
3 AH ........................ 4 All ........................
.......... 13,146 O
65 .13,529,408 14 .41,330,332 81
7 All ............., 1,256.572 0
10 AH .....................
5,190 0
2 Tong' wall, hand... 4,279,949 5
968.380 677,546 ... . . ..................... 855,989
1.035 1.476
.... ....
1.188
O 21
72 1 0
5
111 1111
644.258 574,032 ....... .......
855,089
....
1.552 1.742
. .... 1.168
O 41 710
2 0
11
......
329,985 856,296
.. . 389,086
.... 8.030 2.807
2.570
3 Long wall, hand. 5 Long wall, hand.. T Long wall, hand..
53.522 259,300 451,423
0 0
mini .... ..................... ....
O 0
^ ..... . .......
.... ..
...... ....
O O ...
,t
All
AH All AH All
Long wall, hand-. 5.495.627 6 1.099.125 0.910 5 1.099.125 0.910 11 499.802 2.002
Hand .......... 34,437.8Q7_32 1.078.G58 0.928 42 821.376 1.217 R8 392.020 2.551
Machine
25,610,382 46 556,747 1.796 53 483.215 2.069 80 320,130 3.124
Both................................. 1,734,729 S AH ..................................... 61,842,018 81
..................... 763.493 llaiO 08
631.050 1.585 ITS 857.474 2.797
(In compiling this table two fatalities have been omitted--a man who was killed while handling a keg of powder with his lamp on his head and one caught between a motor and a trip of loaded cars. In each case the report was not sufficiently clear as to the manner of operation of the mines. Neither of the accidents has any real rela tion to the relative dangers of hand and machine mining.)
252
fourth Safety Congress
One cannot avoid the inference
RULES
that the use of machines was only a secondary cause for the bulk of
the accidents. It determined rather
"The miners must
the character of the men than the intrinsic degree of danger.
guard themselves be fore the roof shows
The primary cause of the fatali ties was the character of men employed. The miner who does
the least sign of stress or failure."
all the extraction himself can come and go as he pleases and never find he must wait for his place to be
cut. The better skilled miners are
attracted by these freer condi
tions of labor. The men who work in the machine mines are on
the whole not the equal of the men in the other mines as far as
safety is concerned. _ Many do not know English and for this reason
cannot be instructed in safe mining.
It should be stated also that falls of coal in No. 6 seam constitute
a danger even in hand mines. Four men were killed in the year
under consideration. This is 21 per cent of the men killed by falls
of ground in the hand mines of that same seam, despite the fact
that almost all the coal in hand mines is shot from the solid and not
undercut.
Nevertheless it should be urged that timbering in machine mines
should he as mechanical as cutting. Nothing should be left to in
spection and judgment. The roof should be propped liberally and
promptly with systematic profusion before it gives an indication
of weakness and this should be done even if the props must later be
removed in the further handling of the machine. When the work
ing of the roof cs mot be heard because of the din of the machine,
the miners must guard themselves from disaster by protecting the
roof from fracture before it shows the least sign of failure or stress.
The use of shortwall and punching machines will make conditions
safer for both machine runner and miner. But above all, if machine
mining is to become a better risk, the operators must take care that
opportunities for work are made so favorable that the best men
will not gravitate to the hand mines. (Applause.)
Mining Sectional Meeting
253
SAFETY IN ELECTRICAL IN STALLATION IN MINES.
Responsibility
H. H. Clark, United States Bureau of Mines., Pittsburgh, Pa.
"The reduction of
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: If we do not consider the responsibility of the individual miner, which is, of course, a factor, the reduction of electrical accidents itT mines de
accidents depends, first of all, upon the attitude of the mine operators/'
pends, first of all, upon the opera tors of the mines and their attitude towards the safety movement. Second, upon rules or instruction as
to how to safeguard electrical installation, and, third, upon an organization to carry out such rules and instructions.
FAVORABLE TO THE SAFETY MOVEMENT.
At the present time_it seems as if the sentiment of the operators was favorable to the safety movement, and some of them have adopted rules to govern the installation and use of electricity in their mines. Such rules will, of course, go through many stages of development before they become both effective in the cause of safety and acceptable to the operators of the mines. Their final form will probably be a code of rules included in the mining laws of the various States. Some states have already adopted such a code. That of Pennsylvania is one of the best.
If such rules are effective it will be because they are instructive as well as capable of enforcement by law. Since conditions are so various, rules that would cover all contingencies would be im~ practically voluminous and therefore something must be left to in
dividual judgment. It follows therefore that much will depend upon the personnel of the organization that is to carry out such instruc tions. It has always seemed to me that the safety of electrical installations rested largely with the men who have charge of the underground electrical work and the support that they received from their superiors. A capable electrical force is a first essential for safety.
254
Fourth Safety Congress
A LARGE FACTOR OF SAFETY.
I want to put especial emphasis upon the efficacy of a large factor of safety in mine electrical work. Electrical accidents are caused by combinations of circumstances that would be considered fanciful if one were to cite them as the basis for installing safeguards. Here is an illustration of this: The combination consisted of a trip of cars, an electric locomotive, a slippery rail, and six men in one of the cars with a small tin can of black powder standing on the iron drawbar that passed along the bottom of the inside of the car. The motorman in starting applied sand, the motor lost its contact with the rail, the current ran back along the drawbars just as the jerk of starting knocked over the powder can, which fell in such a way that its cap struck a bolt that was in connection with the rail, blow it happened that dirt collected in service had insulated the cap of the can from the can itself and the current passed through the powder within the can and the resultant explosion burned the six men very badly. ^
On another occasion the combination of a thunderstorm, a tree, a fissure in the rock over an entry and a man standing directly beneath the fissure with one foot on the rail, caused the death of the man and the injury of one of his companions. Of course acci dents of this sort are-infrequent- I mention them only to give point to my contention that electrical accidents happen in most unfore seen ways, and to support my opinion that a large factor of safety is essential to the reduction of electrical accidents.
The factor of safety is the saving grace, but sometimes it is not easy to obtain recognition for it. The need of it in a general way is not denied but frequently it is hard to prove where the factor of safety ends and unnecessary expense begins.
CAUSE AND EFFECT.
Where the problem is a simple one it is not difficult to secure the adoption of safeguards. For instance, it is manifest that a man will be seriously injured if he falls into a shaft, hence shaft openings are usually protected with guards and gates. It is evident that men will be hurt if a cage-starts while men are getting onto it. Hence we have signals to control the operation of cages. It is admitted that high tension conductors are dangerous and the con-
Mining Sectional Meeting
255
ductors are usually fenced off in places where men gather and warning notices are posted there. These problems are simple ones. It is easy to see the connection between cause and effect. But when the problem becomes more obscure and all the factors that may cause an accident cannot be marshalled into view simultaneously, it is not so easy to recognize the possibility of danger, and in order surely to prevent disasters factors of safety must be used.
The factors of safety Lhat I have in mind relate to all parts of the electric system and include such things as the use of good ma terials, sturdy equipment, soldered joints, switches on all branch circuits, adequate devices for interrupting the circuit, first class, conscientious workmanship, and finally real inspections that serve to keep handles on switches, copper wire out of fuse blocks, insula tion on conductors and the whole electrical system in repair.
To sura up: Granting that operators are favorably disposed to ward the safety movement, the reduction of underground electrical accidents depends upon r _
1. A code of rules for guidance. 2. A capable underground electrical force. 3. The adoption of a large factor of safety.
Rules, electricians, factor of safety--and the greatest of these is the Factor of Safety. (Applause.)
FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE FIGHTING AT THE MINES.
John Lloyd, Efficiency Engineer, Lehigh Valley Coal Company, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council--
This paper will be devoted exclusively to the Anthracite Mines of
Pennsylvania.
.
Fire hazard, in connection with breakers, engine-houses, fanhouses, and miscellaneous colliery buildings, until recently was con
sidered very great, practically all of such buildings being of wood
construction. The breakers, structures of all-wood construction,
constitute the highest risk, a fair average amount of lumber con-
256
-Fourth Safety Congress
tained in one of these structures
being about 800,000 feet, board
PROGRESS
measure. In the last five years great prog
In five years great
ress has been made toward elim inating fire risks, all new buildings
progress has been made toward elimi
being constructed of fireproof material. Modern breakers are being constructed, using an all-steel
nating fire risks in coal mines.
framework, with sides and roof of corrugated iron and floors of rein forced concrete, thus rendering
them practically indestructible by
fire. This same construction is fol
lowed in the case of other colliery buildings, tile being sometimes
substituted for the corrugated iron for sides and roof.
Considerable improvement is also noticeable in the precautions
taken to safeguard existing frame buildings -from destruction by
fire. Breaker structures are provided with a complete system of
fire lines, water barrels, buckets and liquid fire extinguishers. Prac
tically all of the coal companies have a well organized and efficient
fire brigade at each colliery, consisting of about ten men, in charge
of a fire chief, who makes a daily inspection of all fire fighting ap
paratus. The brigade holds a practice drill about twice each month,
at which times a fire alarm is sounded in the same manner as is in
vogue in city fire departments, a certain number of blasts of the
whistle signifying'an outbreak of fire at some particular locality.
In order to give some idea as to the promptness with which a
brigade can respond to such an alarm, it may he interesting to note
at this point that ^within thirty seconds after the sounding of the
alarm, 200 feet oL hose has been placed into position and water
brought to play upon the flames.
In some instances the fire brigade is also required to assist the
colliery foreman In keeping the premises cleared of accumulated
rubbish, and to see that all refuse is properly disposed of.
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.
In addition to the above-mentioned fire-fighting equipment, the Lehigh Valley Coal Company has installed an efficient sprinkler
Mining Sectional Meeting '
257
system, which is entirely independ
ent of the regular fire system, and I understand that other anthra
PRECIOUS
cite producers contemplate adopting
such a system or have already done so. The operation of this sprinkler
Carefulness costs
system is not automatic, but it is so
you nothing and its
arranged that one man can put the system in use, instantly flooding the
value cannot be
interior of the structure. Tests of this system before a committee of the Underwriters' Association of
measured. First.
Safety
the State of Pennsylvania have re
sulted in a substantial reduction in
the high rate' of insurance on buildings so equipped.
The sprinkler system consists of a main standpipe of sufficient
capacity to carry all of the water passing through the spray nozzles
and is carried to a poinlr about ten feet higher than the upper
most spray, from which point a return pipe is carried down to the
upper floor of the building, where branches are taken off to supply
water to this particular floor. From this point the pipe is reduced
in size and carried to the floor below, where a cross is inserted and
the main return again reduced, and so on down to the bottom of
the structure. No valves are used, with the exception of one oe.
the main line. This_system, when in operation, fills the interior of
the structure with a steady downpour of water, similar in effect
to a heavy rainstorm.
-
SPARK ARRESTERS.
The duty of safeguarding property against loss or damage by fire naturally devolves upon the property owner, and every precau tion is taken with this object in view. The small locomotives utilized in the transportation of the coal between the various points of the colliery operations are all equipped with spark arresters and a down draft exhaust in order to eliminate the possibility of fire from this source, and stringent rules are enforced against the careless deposit of loose, combustible materials in and about the colliery buildings and yards. In ^addition, regularly appointed inspectors are placed in the field, whose duty it is to carefully examine, at stated intervals, all fire-fighting apparatus, to see that it is always
258 =.Fourth Safety Congress
maintained in the highest state of efficiency and ready for instant use, as weli as to investigate every nook and corner for the presence of combustible waste materials. These inspections tend not only to maintain the premises in good condition with respect to fire risk, but also have the effect of placing the colliery foremen continually on their guard against any infractions of existing rules governing the maintenance of equipment and the promiscuous deposit of in flammable rubbish in out-of-the-way places.
OUTSIDE EQUIPMENT.
The collieries also are not entirely dependent upon their own fire
fighting facilities, asr arrangements are made with cits' and borough officials to tender all possible assistance, upon request, even though
the colliery is not located within the boundaries of the municipality,
special hose connections being provided when necessary.
As a result of tire adoption of the various precautionary measures herein enumerated, it will no doubt be of interest to touch briefly upon the frequency of fires about the collieries and the approximate amount of damages incurred by reason thereof. The number of buildings destroyed or damaged by fire are comparatively few and the monetary loss very low as compared with the amount of protec tion carried, and as a matter of general information, it has been ascertained, from figures furnished by one of the largest producing companies in the anthracite coal fields, that for the past ten years the average annual loss by fire did not exceed 2/100 of 1 per cent of the total amount of insurance carried.
Mine fires in the anthracite region are of frequent occurrence but in the majority jif cases are of trifling importance, as. they are quickly detected and extinguished before any damage is done. In some sections though, especially when the pitch of the seams is over 30 degrees, it is very difficult to detect a fire until it has gained considerable headway and it is equally as difficult to combat. In some cases, many hundreds of tons of coal must be removed before the fire is reached. The mines are fairly provided with fire-fight ing equipment, such as water pipes on the main roads, fire hose and liquid fire extinguishers.
Rescue apparatus and smoke helmets are provided to guard against accidents and to revive any one that might be overcome by smoke or after-damp.
Mining Sectional Meeting
259
STIMULATES INDIVIDUAL EFFORT.
The question might be asked-what has all of this to do with safety, and my answer would be that it has a far-reaching effect, because it helps to stimulate Individual effort. These men, who are organ ized for the protection of property, are also interested in the pro tection of human life. They are enthusiastic workers in the safety and first-aid movement. While our first duty is to do everything possible to prevent accidents, we must not overlook the fact that accidents will always happen and that the unfortunate must be cared for.
In first-aid work the anthracite regions are well organized, every colliery having from six to forty men--depending on the size of the colliery and the number of men employed. We have also a wellorganized and fully equipped force of men trained in the use of smoke helmets and mine rescue apparatus. (Applause.)
MINE ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION.
M.Herbert
Wilson^ Director of tiie Department of
Inspection and Safety, The Associated
Companies, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mr. Chairman: The mining industry is one of the most funda mental, the greatest in point of magnitude and geographic distri bution, and the most diverse ,,in its hazards to health, life and property, of any of the industries. In magnitude it is second only to agriculture in the production of natural resources. It far ex ceeds agriculture in the amount which it contributes to the freight transportation of the country, furnishing over 60 per cent of the total railway freight. There are approximately 1,047,000 men em ployed in coal and.metal mining and quarrying.
Under these circumstances, and especially in view of the hazards of mining, it is surprising that so little attention seems to have been given the industry' by' insurance. This is not strange, however, in view of the paucity of knowledge in the past concerning the causes of accidents in mines and the means of preventing them, in con-
260
fourth Safety Congress
sequence of which it has been neces
MINE FIRES
sary to protect the insurance com pany by placing the premium rates
so high that they have been prac
TKe introduction of comparatively inexpensive fire
tically prohibitive. The field for mine insurance is as
extensive as is the industry, and in view of the rapid development in re
fighting appliances, the adoption of
cent years of scientific knowledge concerning the causes of mine acci dents and the means for their pre
proper regulations.
vention--as developed through the
investigations- of the Federal Bureau
of Mines--this field may now be
considered a virgin one in which to write insurance. It is only neces
sary that the insurance companies give expert study to the risks
to property, health. and life in mines for them to ascertain the
conditions under which they may offer reasonable insurance
protection.
--
MINE FIRES.
The causes of mine fires and the means of preventing or com bating them have -been clearly set forth in a report of the Mine Fire Committee submitted to the National Fire Protection Associa tion in May, 1912, as well as in a paper by the author before the same association injNew York in May, 1911, and in one before the Miners and Mechanics' Institute at Urbana, 111., which latter treated largely the question of fireproof construction in mines. I quote below from the paper delivered before the National Fire Protection Association in New York, May, 1911:
"Fires in mines are a far greater menace'to life and property than is generally appreciated. Two of the most serious'disasters in coal mines within the last few years--one at Cherry, III., and the other at the Pancoast mine, near Scranton, Pa.--originated from trivial causes. Two of the most destructive disasters in metal mines in recent years--at Tonopah, Nev., and Copperhill, Tenn.--resulted from similar causes^ At Deadwood, S. D., one million dollars were spent in fighting a metal mine fire.
"The nature of the combustible material found in metal mines
Mining Sectional Meeting
261
offers varying but usually good op
portunities for the spreading of a fire. "While the progress of a fire
MINE FIRES
might, at first, be slow, in some
cases it may spread quickly and in
volve a large area and result in
tremendous damage if not promptly
extinguished.
_
TTie institution of a reasonable system of fire drills will mini
"Among the most fruitful causes of mine fires are--in approxi mate order of importance---the ig nition of timbers, wooden stop
mize fires with con sequent little damage to life and property.
pings and brattice cloths; the igni
tion of hay or oil-soaked materials
by open torches; the ignition of coal by blown-out shots or ex
plosions of fire damp or coal dust, or the improper use of explosives;
surface fires communicated to the mine through the shaft or tunnel;
underground furnaces and boiler plants; ignition by friction of
oily, wooden rollers or rope haulageways; fires occasioned by spon
taneous combustion of coal, timber cr greasy waste.
"The introduction of comparatively inexpensive fire-fighting ap
pliances, the adoption of proper regulations, and the institution of
a reasonable system of fire drills will minimize fires and confine
others tc a brief period of time with little damage to life and
property."
health: of mine workers.
The health of the miner has in recent years received much con sideration from some of the larger mining compannies, from the Bureau of Mines, and from a few of the life insurance companies, and many of the problems bearing on the health of mine employes, gathered together as they frequently are in company-owned towns, have been amplified in detail in technical papers and miners' cir culars issued by the. Bureau of Mines. Among the more important problems affecting the health of mining communities, and which call for consideration by those responsible for the management of mining towns, are such underground conditions as the means of caring for human and animal excrement, the prevention of dis semination of germ diseases such as tuberculosis, hookworm and
mm.
ruamam -ltc::
M&y
262
' Fourth Safety Congress
typhoid, and those-diseases o the respiratory organs due to the breathing of finely divided rock dust; such housing conditions as water supply, sewerage, and company medical and hospital service. These latter are all of a kind not dissimilar from those familiar in surface industries, though they are more readily controllable under company management.
Finally, the miners' wash and change house, including its facilities for keeping the miner in good health through the medium of clean liness, has been discussed in recent technical publications.
There is no doubt that the conditions of health and sanitation in company-ownd mining towns should be under better control than in other communities of the same size, since the owning company has the power, and should have the desire, to improve these con ditions.
Regarding the elements affecting the general health of the miner, such as the disposal of garbage, crowding in tenements, insanitary toilets, bad house ^drainage, unhealthful or illy ventilated living rooms--these are all matters easy of analysis and of remedy. The one great drawback to the introduction of better sanitary and living conditions in and about mines has been heretofore, and will continue under certain conditions still to be, the uncertain tenure of life of the mining town---the fact that the mine may be worked out in a few years, wherefore it would not pay to introduce the more per manent sanitary improvements. A careful study, however, of all of the conditions bearing upon this subject leads to the belief that the miners' health should be as good as that of other industrial workers, since he resides usually in uncongested communities, breathes, in the average well-ventilated mine, air free from impurities, and labors under conditions free of mental stress or the rush of the city worker.
CASUALTIES IN MINES.
The subject of casualties in mines, their causes and the means for their prevention, has been admirab^ set forth in the numerous bul letins, technical papers and miners' circulars issued by the Bureau of Mines, and embodying the results of its tests and investigations. The statistical data gathered by the Federal Bureau, and based on the statistics gathered by the state mine inspection departments, furnish a fairly adequate basis on which to rate the hazards of acci dent insuranceLin mines.
Mining Sectional Meeting
263
These statistics show that in 1913 there were injured in the mines and quarries of the United States 168,380 men, and that 3,651 men were killed. More important, from an insurance standpoint, they show that since the creation by Congress of the Bureau of Mines, with its exhaustive tests and investigations concerning mine acci dents and their causes, there has been a constant and very great re duction from year to year in the number of accidents and injuries to miners. Thus, in 1907, there were 3,197 fatalities in the coal mines alone; in 19x0 there were 2,840, and in 1914 only 2,451-- a reduction of 23 per cent in seven years--though in the same time the number of employes in coal mines increased from 655,418 to 742,868, or 12 per cent.~ For metal mines and quarries approxi mately the same ratios are believed to obtain, though the statistics for these branches of the industry are less complete prior to 1911.
PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS.
Using coal mining as a basis for examination of the causes and possible means of preventing injuries by the application of appro. priate safety measures, we find that the ratio of fatalities to serious injuries is about 1 to 3.33, and of each to slight injuries about 1 to 8 and x to 2.4 respectively. Of the total fatalities over 48 per cent are due to falls, of coal or roof, nearly 15 per cent to haulage, 5 per cent to use of explosives, 3 per cent each to electricity and mine fires, and to that apparently most serious, because most appalling,
cause, the catastrophes due to explosions of mine gas or coal dust or both, are due but 14 per cent.
As an aid to applying preventive measures it is possible to so analyze the separate hazards which go to make the sum total of each of these causes as to warrant the assertion that, within a com paratively few years---and already for some of the most progressive mining companies--the accidents from some of these causes may be almost eliminated and others greatly diminished in number and severity, or duration of disability, to an extent which the author ventures to predict may, in the aggregate, amount to a reduction of at least 50 per cent.
With these facts as a-basis it is possible for insurance under writers to write mine accident insurance, under workmen's com pensation legislation, with reasonable safety, and already ten of the strongest American vnd British casualty insurance companies
264
Fourth Safety Congress
have organized an association for this purpose. This promises to be a powerful factor for protection of the mine owner and the mine
worker under workmen's compensation acts, and to exert a potent influence for increasing safety in mining. This influence will result from the fact that The Associated Companies have applied the wellknown fire and liability principle of schedule rating based on careful technical inspection, whereby a reduction in insurance rate can be offered for every safety measure adopted, and, conversely, an in crease in rate for every neglect of or increase in hazards.
In conclusion, it is:the belief of the author that the large mass of well-digested statistical data gathered in the last few years by the Bureau of Mines, and the vast fund of information being now rapidly acquired and made public through that Bureau, as a result of its investigations and tests concerning the causes and the possible means of preventing mine accidents, insurance interests will soon be in a better position with respect to underwriting the life, fire and casualty risks in the mining than in any other industry. (Applause.)
After an informal xliscussion the Section adjourned.
I I'll.Hi..
Field Contests and Prizes Awarded MINING SECTION.
NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL.
(Successor to the American Mine Safety Association.) FORT WORTH, TEXAS, MAY 1, 1915, FIRST AXD, INTER-COMPANY.
( STATE-WIDE.) Thurber Team--Lee Americas, Cesare Piancenzo, Joe Pagliai, Saverio PnsBoni, Marco Andrei, Contra Rmaldo. The first first-aid contest ever held in the Texas coal field took place at Fort "Worth May 1, in the Chamber of Commerce Auditorium. Eight teams contested. Team No. 2, composed entirely of Mexican miners, and Team No. 7, all Italian miners, tied for first place. Both teams were "from -the longwall mines at Thurber, Tex. Some of the judges were from the Fort Worth Medical College, and some were practicing physicians in the city. A feature worthy of note is that there were no prizes offered- The contestants, as their transportation expenses, amounting to aa much as $10.00 per man for some
teams, were home by the companies and local miners ' unions, did not expect prizes, and came for the honor of winning the contest only. However, after it was concluded, they were informed that the American Mine Safety Asso ciation had provided medals for the winning teams. Probably no other eontest has been, held under just these circumstances. There was great earnest ness and good feeling manifested. The teams were trained by H. H. Chis holm, of the bureau, and the Texas operators and miners rendered all pos sible efforts to make the contest a success.
CONTESTS IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT. E. B. Sutton under date of May 5 reports as follows: Two contests are being arranged for in May, one at Pineville, Ky., May 15, and one at Bir mingham, Ala., May 29. There will be a field day and contest at Big Stone Gap, Ya., July 2 and 3 and another in early autumn at Knoxville, Tenn. In anticipation of the Birmingham, meet, the Republic Iron and Steel Com pany held an intra-company contest between their first aid organizations at Eepnblic, on March 27, in which 14 miners ' teams, two boys5 teams, and three ladies' teams participated. From 1,500 to 1,800 people attended the meet, after which a barbecue was served by the company. Again, on April 17, the
- 265
....
266
^Fourth Safety Congress
eompauy hold, a field day among its negro first aid organizations in which 12 negro miners' tennis were.represented, which was well attended, and the r pany officials and many "others visited both meets.
On April 10 the Brookside division of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Company held a field day at Cardiff in which four first aid teams from Brookside and Cardiff participated.
On April 17 the Alabama. Fuel and Iron Company held a field day among its men in which seven white first aid teams and eight colored teams partici pated. The day was declared a holiday, and at noon the general manager, C. F. DeBardeleben, gave: the men a barbecue. Music was furnished by a string and a brass band.
The Maryland Coal and Coke Company contemplates holding a first aid meet at Sipsey on May 81 The Republic Iron and Steel Company intend to hold another field meet in May at which will be represented first aid organ izations from its coal mines and furnace operations; the management expects that at least 25 teams will participate.
On May 15, the Kentucky Mining Institute will hold its annual institute meeting and field day at Pineville, Ky., and it is expected as many as 25 to 30 teams will participate. G. T. Powell is at this writing making a tour of Eastern Kentucky with Car 3, preparing teams for that event. J. M. Webb and W. T. Burgess will be actively engaged in perfecting first aid or ganizations in Alabama until after the Birmingham contest. After June 1 it is expected that Webb_will review first aid organizations in "Virginia for the Big Stone Gap meet, July 2 and 3, after which he will instruct first aid teams in Tennessee for the Knoxville meet. Webb's subsistence expense in practically all of this work has been and will be borne by the mine operators.
CANTON, HiIi., MAY 1, 1915, FIRST AID, INTER-COMPANY.
( STATE-WIDE.)
1. Gillespie.
^
2. Herrin.
W. D. Ryan reports an enthusiastic and satisfactory contest at Canton on
May 1.
--
The teams taking first, second and third prizes made scores of 98%, 93 and
97%, respectively; the next two teams tied with a score of 96.
The teams were rated by giving them three problems and averaging the
results.
----
There were 11 teams in the contest and a judge for each team. By rotat
ing the judges, three passed on the merits of each team.
Byan states further that great credit is due to First Aid Miner W. W. Flem
ing for the work he did in Illinois prior to the Canton meet.
BUTTE, MONT., MAY 9, 1915, FIBST AID, INTER-COMPANY.
1. Anaconda, Anaconda Copper Mining Company--Pat. McGuire, Joe Boyd, J. W. Stuart, W. F. Murray, Chas. Collins, Anthony Thomas, Boas Barclay.
Mining Sectional Meeting
267
2. High, Ore., Anaconda Copper lining Company--Thos. Murray, J. C.
Patterson, Kenneth Chisholm, Ralph Crawford, Douglas Crawford, Dan J.
Harrington.
3. Washoe, Washoe Reduction Works.
Brief mention of this contest was made in the May record'. The following is quoted from the Butte Daily Post of May 10:
* * Two thousand spectators watched the first aid contests held yesterday at
Columbia Gardens Ball Park under the auspices or the American Mine Safety
Association and directly under the direction and authority of the officials of
the United States Mines Rescue Bureau, J. L. Boardman and his assistant,
G. W. Grove, first aid instructor, who have been in this locality for several
weeks imparting instruction .to classes of miners. It was the first of such
contests ever held here. The success with which the event was accompanied
almost guarantees that it will be annual. The enthusiasm and sincere work
of Mr. Boardman and Mr. Grove is responsible for its success. They worked for such a contest since they came to Butte and the results justified their
fervent efforts. The work of the various teams was an education to the large
crowd.
"^=
The highest average rating was
per cent, made by a team from the
Leonard mine, which won the American Mine Safety Association's medals.
The lowest average was 92% per cent. Cash prizes amounting to over $300
were awarded.
A demonstration of rescue work was given by men wearing breathing ap
paratus in a temporary gallery or drift built of canvas on the surface.
HUNTINGTON, W. VA., MAT14, 1915, MINE RESCUE AND PIE ST AID.
(INTERSTATE. )
FIRST AID.
1. Louisville C. & C. Company, Goodwill, W. Va.--Fred J. Bailey (cap tain),- G. O. Bailey, Geo. R. Scott, John Mitchell, Ralph Shrewsbury, Mason Kelly (Pat).
2. Empire Coal Company, Landgroff--P. K. Randall (captain), Peter Farquhason, G. A. Leyton, E. S. Swim, C. Manors, E. Hall (Pat).
3. Consolidated Coal Company, Fairmont--Alex. Thom (captain), S. Hig ginbotham, J. R. Walthour, H. S. Bell, W. G. Keener (Pat).
MINE RESCUE.
1. Pocahontas Cons. Coal Company, Pocahontas, Va.--R. C. Cofel (cap tain), Wm. Evans, Frank. Stevens, J. A. Demshoek, A. Hall.
2. Thacker C. L. Company, Thacker Mines, W. Va.--A. F. Marshall (cap tain), J. R. Aliff, Geo. Massing, G. E. Horn, P. M. MeClosky.
3. Solway Coal Company, Big Sandy, W. Va.--J. R. Booth (captain), O. W. Hehnadollar, M. G. Cline, C. H. Sowers, Geo. Booth.
This meet, held under the auspices of the coal operators of the Norfolk and Western field in connection, with' the U. S. Bureau of Mines, Huntington
268
Bourth Safety Congress
Chamber of Commerce and the West Virginia State Medical Association, was
the first State-wide first aid and mine rescue meet ever held in West Virginia.
The efficiency of bureau methods of instruction was well demonstrated. Prom
the first atop of Car 8 at Elkhorn, last November, to the final stop at Chat-
taroy in May, this meet had been earnestly discussed, with both operators and
the employes, by every member of the car crew, so that much interest and
enthusiasm was manifested. Twenty-six teams participated, in the first aid
contest, and eight of these in the mine rescue meet. Problems in the first aid contest consisted of one and two men and team events. The judging of
this contest was under the direction of representatives of the American Na tional Bed Cross, assisted by those of the West Virginia State Medical As
sociation. The judges in the mine rescue contest were Messrs. Wallace, Byan
and Schoew. A team of the Louisville Coal and Coke Company took first prize in the
first aid contest and a team of the Pocahontas Consolidated. Coal Company
won the mine rescue contest. The Pocahontas team wore their own 1911 type Draeger apparatus, equipped with helmets. Prizes with a total value
of $194.50 and $102.50 were offered in the first aid and mine rescue contests
respectively.
_
Car 8 reached Huntington, the night of May 8. Messrs. Jones, Seip and
Parker, with the assistance of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce, con structed the mine, smoke bouse and wooden explosion gallery, laid off. the field
and had everything ready by the night of the 13th. Prior to the meet. Doctor
Lynott gave the doctors^selected as judges of the first aid contest suit
able instructions. J. W. Paul was present. Two explosions were demon
strated in the gallery, one in the morning, the other in the afternoon, with
satisfactory results. Three thousand enthusiastic spectators were present. Music was furnished by the Huntington concert band. The following letter was published in the Bhlefield Telegraph of May 23, 1915:
LETTER PERFECT IN FIRST AID WORK.
.. "Editor Blnefield Telegraph. "Dear Sir: As a visitor to the first aid meeting held at Huntington on the
14th day of May, I was astonished at the remarkable way in which the teams, made np as they were of miners, etc., performed the problems of first aid to th6 injured which were given them. There was not one team there that did not know exactly what they had to do, and how it should be done and done well. They were all letter perfect in team work and efficiency. The fact that six teams tried for first place in the full team events, fifteen men in the one-man event and fourteen in the two-man events, shows how hard it was for the judges Jro pick the winner. My first inquiry was, ` Where did these men, whose occupation is hard manual labor, acquire the skill, knowledge and dexterity which they possessed 1' This 'seemB to have been the one thing which most forcibly struck all those attending the contest. The fact of the matter seems to be that the men on mine rescue car No. 8, who have been in the field for the last few months, have at all times given their
Mining Sectional Meeting
269
services freely and ungrudgingly to the training of these teams. Indeed, they have gone even further. They' have tried to stir up an interest in the art of `keeping little hurts from getting big,* and the great principle of helping one's fellow man, thereby bringing each and all into a closer brother hood. Too much' praise cannot be given these men for what they have under taken and for the results obtained, as evidenced by the meet at Huntington. The operators on the Norfolk and Western should be thankful for having had the rescue car in the held, and no doubt the operators in other fields of the state will be as pleased when the car reaches their district. As a result of the display at Huntington, these other operators should no longer merely be pleased to have the car in their district, but should demand that they, too, be given a chance as soon as possible to reap the benefits of the training given by the mine rescue crew of Car No. 8.
LandgrafF, W. Va.
" Eaeh for all is good. All for each is better,
lighting for ourselves. Brotherhood we fetter." yours truly,
McKeseachee.
PINEVXLLE, KY, MAYJ5, 1915, HIRST AH), INTEB-OOMPANT.
(state-wide.)
1.. W. G. Duncan Coal Company, Greenville, Ky.--T. J. Ancon, E. E, Taurants, J. H. Spence, S. E. Hite, "W. It. Cash, J. E. Middleton.
2. Castro Team, Cent. Coal Corporation--John Barton, "Walter Green, Elijah Burke, Jas. P. Barton, Clarence Barton, Gregory Bruce.
3. Stonega Team--Big Stone Gap, Va. At the annual meeting of the Kentucky "Mining Institute, Erank H. Cas sell, of Louisville, discussed the further development of the Eastern Kentucky coal fields and its relation to Louisville manufacturing and mercantile inter ests. Senator Joseph Bosworth, of Middleboro, laid stress on the importance of good roads. " W. N. Ewald,~of Louisville, proposed that the association em ploy an expert to visit the mining camps and make plans to promote the social welfare of the miners. E- F. Wright, of Bevier, was unanimously elected president of the association and Ivan P. Tashof, of Lexington, was re-elected secretary and treasurer. Seven vice-presidents were elected. The meeting was dosed by a first aid contest under the direction of E. B. Sutton of the bureau. Many prizes were awarded by Mayor W. L. Moss. The first prize went to Team No. X of the W. G. Duncan Coal Company, of Greenville; Continental Coal Corporation Team No. 20 was second; the Stonega team from Big Stone Gap, Va., third; and the Continental Barker Team No. 2, fourth.
PORT SMITH, ARK., MAY 18, .1915, FIRST AID, INTER-COMPANY.
1. Calhoun, Okla.--N. M. Duncan (captain), Lee Todd, Geo. Conway, Wil liam Brown, Arthur Stout, Grover Poe.
270
Fourth Safety Congress
2. Jenny Lind--HugET Howard, Sam Corbin, I*. L. Johnson, Richard "Vick, Jas. Mooney, Pat. Mooney.
3. Hartford, Ark.--L. Oewig, John Conroy, Garrett Clayborn, Jesse Pedyard, Jas. Brad&oek, Luther Parks.
The following is abstracted from a newspaper report under date of May 19:
"Hardly so large a crowd was in attendance as could have been hoped, because of work being very slack in most of the Arkansas mines, but the audience took a keen interest in the contest. The problems were complicated and required knowledge land skill, the discount sheet was drastic, but every team stayed above the nintey mark in its average on the three problems. Six teams reported for the contest. The judges, local physicians, rotated with each problem, no judge ruling twice on the same team. The Calhoun (Okla.) team took first place in the team event and the two-man event, and won the highest number of points in all events, receiving 889 points out of a possible 900. Jenny Lind (Ark.) team took first place in the one-man event and sec ond place in the two-man and team events. The team from Faria took third plac-e in the one-man USlBt.
" Close scores ruled in all events. Paris and Hartford tied for second in the one-man event and ^forked the tie off in an additional problem. Hollow ing the contest, a demonstration was given by a trapper boy's team. Each team eaptain asked for and received the score cards showing the exact weak nesses of his team. Immediately following the contest, the Arkansas Mine Safety Association, a blanch of the American Mine Safety Association, held a meeting and elected the following officers for the ensuing year: Hr. H C. King, president; William McLachlin, vice president; C. J. Eskridge, secre tary. Referring to the teams competing in this meet, W. D. Ryan says; `The score demonstratesjthat they have been well trained, which speaks vol umes for the bureau boys who trained them. ' ' '
McALESTER, OKLA., MAY 22, 1915, FIRST AID, INTER-COMPAISTY.
1. Lehigh Team--Win. Ogilvie (captain), A. Ogilvie, T. Gold, Wm. Shoe maker, H. Bemkworth, Win. Strang.
2. Dow Team--Thos. Hairley (captain), A. Hastiek, Wm. Sherman, V. Warren, I. N. Kuykendall, Thos. Welch.
3. Kreb's Team--Lewis Thompson (eaptain), Ed. Ralston, Lee Ilolstead, John Holstead, Hrank Lawrenee, Rock Eernall.
This was the third of Lhe series of State-wide first aid meets for the South western district. In spite of unfavorable weather a crowd of 500 assembled for the meet, in which nine teams competed. Kreb, Coalgate, Lehigh, Savanna, Brewer, Dow, Wilburton, Gowen and the Oklahoma School of Mines were rep resented, the honors going to the Lehigh team, with a perfect seore on the three team prohlems. Dow was a close second with 97% and the School of Mines and Krebs tied ter third with 96 each. Krebs won the one and twoman events, making an ^exceptional record in the one-man event with a record of five perfect scores fori as many successive problems.
Mining Sectional Meeting
271
The judges were doctors, one for each team, and they judged progressively, judging another team after each problem.
At the conclusion of the meet the Bureau of Mines motion pictures of the first national mine safety demonstration, and mining at Gary, "West. "Va., were
shown to a capacity audience and elicited much favorable comment. The explosibility of Oklahoma coal dust was demonstrated in an So by 4%
by 6-foot gallery erected on the field. Unfortunately only the first three shelves of dust were overturned so that the explosion was confined to the first third of the gallery length, but the experiment was repeated on the evening of May 24 with .convincing results.
The majority of the prominent mining officials of the operators' and the miners' organizations and the district mine inspector were present. Some of the nearby mines remained idle on the day of the contest to allow the miners to attend. District Engineer .T. .X. Rutledge distributed the prizes, and Mine Safety Commissioner W. D. Ryan acted as announcer. Prior to the meet descriptive hand bills printed in English and Italian were sent to the various mining towns. J. W. Eoster and a local committee arranged for the meet.
The Lehigh team will compete at Kansas City, probably late in June, in an interstate contest to decide which team shall be sent to San Francisco.
PITTSBURG, KAN., MAY 29, 1915, FIRST AID, INTER-COMPANY.
1. Cherokee Team--Pittsburg Coal Company.
A first aid contest was held under the auspices of the Kansas coal opera
tors and miners and the Bureau of Mines on the grounds of the State Normal
School, with a fair representation of operators and miners, nine teams taking part. The first prize -in the team event went to one of the teams of the Cherokee and Pittsburg Coal Company, Frontenae, Kansas. Two teams from
the State School of Mines at Weir City, Kansas, like the Oklahoma teams
from the Oklahoma State School of Alines, were composed of miners, who are
studying in the mining school. Rescue apparatus was demonstrated in a representation of a mine, con
structed of boards. A demonstration n? lire Cornelius and Knowles electrical
shot-firing apparatus was also given.
The State commissioner of labor, P. J. McBride, and all the present mine
inspectors and nearly all of the former ones attended the contest. Foreman
A. I. Young of the Pittsburg, Kansas, station and a local committee made
all arrangements. XV. D. Ryan, mine safety commissioner, acted as master
of ceremonies.
"
BIRMINGHAM, ALA., MAY 29.
This meet, although the firstjof its kind in Alabama, was, it is believed, the biggest first aid meet ever field in the United States, if not in the world --SO teams participating. - A separate contest was held in the morning be tween 27 negro teams. Also several ladies and boy scout teams took part.
The meet was held under the auspices of the Alabama Safety Association,
272 . Fourth Safety Congress
Bureau of Mines, American National Bed Gross and. the Alabama Goal and Metal Mine Operators' Association, and was successful beyond all expecta tions. Copies of the souvenir program, a work of art which contained among other things the constitution and by-laws of the Alabama Safety Associa tion, may no doubt be procured from 33. B. Sutton, on request. Throughout the demonstration emphasis was laid on the rule *cto practice safety first, never put yonr foot or hand where your eye can't follow."
The first grand prize for the white men's team, the Alabama Association Silver Loving Cup, was won by the Bepublic Iron and Steel Company's Palos team, rating 97% per cent; the second grand prize, six subscriptions to ` ` Goal Age," by Alabama Fuel and Iron Company's Acton team, rating 97% per cent; tbe third grand "prize, an electric blower fan, donated by the American Blower Company, by the Cardiff team, rating 97 per cent. The American Mine Safety Association 'a bronze medals were won by the ladies' team from Wylam, Ala., rating 96 per cent. There were several ties, for which addi tional prizes were awarded; it would probably ha%-e been better, time per mitting, to have had the teams work off the ties.
The following abstract is from a Birmingham newspaper: `` There were fifty events in the demonstrations at Bickwood Park, work done under many of the ordinary eircuiflstanees in time of trouble or accident being presented. The events were so arranged as to include practically all the probable acci dents at mines and manufacturing plants. Por instance, the following pos sibility was included: `Driver boy, bitten on right arm by mule, bright red blood, bruise on left hip from mule kick. '
` ` Of course, ` Overcome by gas, ' ` Hurt by fall of coal, ' ` Hurt by timber, ' ` Run over by cars, ' ` Mashed between railroad ears, ' c Hurt by falling weights, ' and so forth, were included in the events and all covered what would he done in case of necessity, IThe women's teams made a splendid showing, for in time of trouble the women have a duty to perform, and the training that is being given is to have effect. There is much women can do in time of dis tress other than provide sandwiches and coffee for those who are doing the rescue work, and the demonstrations at Rickwood gave a little insight into their training. And the boys, too, come in for a share of the work.
Moving pictures of_ the demonstrations at Biekwood were taken and will be shown throughout the country, as well as in Birmingham, in order that the people may get an insight into what is being done in the way of train ing against carelessness and the rescue work after an accident has happened."
Band concerts were-given throughout the day. In the evening Bureau of Mines motion pictures were shown by H_ M. "Wilson in the Chamber of Com merce Auditorium to a packed house, speeches were made, and the prizes were awarded by District "Engineer "E. B. Sutton, who was in general charge of the day's events.
Credit is due District Engineer Sutton, Foreman W. J. Burgess, to whom especial mention is due; Foreman J". M. Webb, who was in Alabama only a few weeks before the meet, and to Dr. W. S. Bonntree, for their untiring'ef forts to promote "safety first" in the Southern district.
Mining Sectional Meeting
273
TBACEX, MONT., MAX 29, 1915, FIBST AID, ISTEE-COJCPAJST.
1. Tracey--C. S. Hall (captain), Valentine Gregrich, Steve XonteHi, B.
Gillin, C. C. Penwiek, Wm. Jaap. 2. B. & B. Smelter---Pete Kommers (captain), B. J. Peterson, J. Mc-
Nanght, A. Elliott, P. P. Mossaline, W. P. StafifeL
3. Stoekett (4)--John Peters (captain), Paul Tataria, Nick Danda, Steve
Evanko, Andy Bacha, Jos. Slannia.
After three weeks of training by Car 5 in Cascade County, this contest
was held between teams from Tracy, Sand Coulee and Great Pails. Foreman
John Boardman superintended the affair. The first place was won by the
Tracey team, who received the-challenge cup for mine rescue and ''rat aid
to the injured, presented by Dr. W. G. MacDonald, which was heret
a held
by the Stoekett team. Each member of the Tracy team also receive
$2.00
watch. A big crowd, among whom were most of the mine officials - _e dis
trict, witnessed the work. Great Palls doctors did the judging.
PXBST ATP CONTEST IN ABIZONA.
The Arizona Copper Camp, Of Bay, Ariz., of May 7, dec
the first of
a series of first aid contests being held by the Bay Consoli. 2d Copper Com
pany at Bay on May 5. Pour teams participated, their r; gs being as fol
lows: 91.6, 85.2, 71.8 and 64.6, indicating that the discc schedule or the
method of judging must have been different from and n> e strict than those
generally used at other meets, as the percentages made .ually average from
20 to 30 points higher.
------
The contest was in general charge of G. W. Salisbury, formerly of Car 2,
but now with the United Verde Copper Company. J. T. More, also formerly
of Car 2 and now first aid instructor for the Bay Consolidated Company, rep
resented that company at the meet.
DES MOINES, IOWA, JUNE 5, 1915.
FIBST AID AND MIKE RESCUE DEMONSTRATION, IHTEB-COMPANT (STATE-WIDE) .
3. Socking'--John Harwood (captain), Peter Hayward, Clyde McDonald,
John Wilson, William Cherihgton, Ed. Thropw
2. Mystic.
3. Colfax--Noah Barker (captain).
At this State-wide field meet 11 teams competed before an audience of
about 1,000. President John P. White of the U. M. W. A. opened the pro
gram with an address and was followed by Governor Clarke. A band fur
nished music. W. D. B.yan directed the contest, assisted by J. J. Porbes and
A. I. Xonng, who took Car 4- to Des Moines for the occasion. H. M. Wilson
also attended.
_
The team from Hocking, la., won first prize, receiving 886 points out of a
possible 900, and will enter the interstate contest at Kansas City. Two teams tied for Becond place and worked the tie off by an additional pro'blem. Ten
Des Moines physicians acted as judges.
274
=Fourth Safety Congress
MOBERLY, MO., JUNE 7.
This -was the second annual first aid and mine rescue demonstration, and was State-wide. The winners will go to the interstate meet to be held in Kansas City. No report has been received from Moberly since the meet. H. M. Wilson, W. D. Ryan, J. JL Forbes, A.-I. Young and Car 4 were present.
RAY, ARIZONA, JUNE 18.
This was the second local first aid contest between teams of the Ray Con solidated Copper Company. There was only one judge, J". C. Roberts of the bureau, the mine management desired that there should be no local judges in this contest. It was decided to let three teams wort at a time and to give different problems to S5ch group of three teams. Each group of teams had received practically the same amount of training. The rules governing the contest were those found in Miners' Circular 15, and were strietly adhered to. The winning team from each group contested in the final for a hand some cup presented by the company. The team winning each local contest had its name inscribed on the cup and the teaming winning the cup three times owns it permanently. Two events were given to each group, the order of the groups' appearance on the field being reversed in the last event. Teams No.' 2 and No. ~6 participated in the final event, which was won by the American team from No. 2 mine. The work of these miners was of a high character, and the management is to be highly congratulated ou the interest shown by their men. The training of the men was done entirely by J. R. More, who was formerly foreman of mine rescue Car No. 2. The eontest was witnessed by a large number of miners, mine officials and citizens of the town, and great interest was evinced.
At the time of the meet nearly 75 men had been trained at this mine in first aid and were examined for certificates from the bureau. The company has had some handsome: certificates engraved and proposes to issue one to every man who takes the full course in mine rescue and first aid work. It also presents a solid gold pendant for a watch fob to every man who com pletes the course as laid down by the safety inspector, Mr. More. The classes in first aid are held five, nights of the week, and on two afternoons for the night men. The doctors stated that since the inauguration of this first aid movement three men's lives have been saved by prompt and efficient first aid to the patient prior to the arrival of a doctor on the scene. All first aid men carry first aid packets and first aid boxes are distributed at convenient points in the mine. The first add packets are issued to the men on deferred charge and if one is used in service a new packet is issued without charge, but if maliciously destroyed 25Zeents is deducted from the man's pay.
BIG STONE GAP, VA., JULY 2, 1915, FIRST AID, INTER-COMPANY.
1. Laurel Team--C. CL Corp. 2. _ Inman Team--Y. I. C. & C. Company. 3. Keokee No. 1--S. C. & C. Company.
Mining Sectional Meeting
275
BIG STONE- GAP, VA., JULY 2-3, 1915.
This first aid contest and _ explosion demonstration was held under the
auspices of the Big Stone Gap Athletic Association as a 'part of the Fourth
of July celebration at Big Stone Gap. The mines in the entire Big Stone Gap
district were closed down on these two days in order that everyone might at
tend. There were over 2,000 spectators at the first aid contest. The judging
was done by doctors appointed by members of the American National Bed
Cross. Twenty-five mines of three companies were represented by 20 teams,
or a total of 102 men. Cups, cash, medals, and 'other prizes were awarded.
The first prize in the full team event was won by the team from the Laurel
mine of the Coal and Coke Corporation, rating 93 per cent. On the second
day, July 3, in a big woodenl gallery built for the purpose, demonstrations
of the relative safety of perniiSsible explosives as compared with black powder
when fired into coal dust were given under the direction of 33. B. Sutton of
the bureau, and proved of great interest to all those present. The Bureau
of Mines was officially represented at this meet by Messrs. Sutton, Barker
and Webb.
------------1
KANSAS CITY, MO., JULY 10, 1915.
FIBST AID AND MINE RESCUE DEMONSTRATION, INTER-COMPANY (INTER-STATE).
1. Lehigh, Okla., Team--Wm. Ogilvie (captain), Wffl. Strang, Thomas Gould, Wm. Shoemaker, Frank Brinkworth, Alex. Ogilvie.
2. Frontenae, Kan., Team--James Murphy (captain), Thomas Murphy, W. A. Smith, Patrick McQuade, "Thomas O 'Donnell, Walter Brennan.
3. Hocking, Iowa, Team--Jack Harwood (captain), P. Hayward, "W. Cherrington, John Wilson, Clyde McDonald, 33d. Thorpe.
KANSAS CITY, MO., JULY 10.
Three thousand people witnessed this interstate mine rescue and first aid inoet, in which the best teams from Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma. and Arkansas contested for the honor of representing their district in the national meet at San Francisco next month. Everything went as planned, and the meet was a real success. The team from Lehigh, Okla., took first place and, as a result, will be sent to the San Francisco meet September 23 and 24. Funds to cover this team's expenses-" and from San Fxaneiseo were furnished by operators and miners in the five States named above.
BILLINGS, MONT., JULY 23, 1915, FIBST AID, INTEE-COMPANY.
1. Butte (Leonard)--George Ethier (captain), Homer Hagens, James McLead, Saul Ryan, William Barraugh, Frank C. Deakin.
2. Butte (West Colusa)---Frank Tanhauser, B. Alien, Jas. Blakes, W. Lewin, W. Kelly, B. McDermott.
3. Anaconda (Washoe Beduction Works)--Emery Kell, Geo. Shutty, H. I. Frisbie, J. B. Boyce, E. I. Gruab, Ed. Kalles.
iwti .aSiat; mmsma atjaatl
276
Fourth Safety Congress
BILLINGS, MONT., JULY 23 AND 24.
The second state-wide first aid meet was held under the auspices of the Montana Coal Operators' Association, United Mine Workers of America, Dis trict No. 27; Anaconda Copper Mining Company, Bureau of Mines, and the American Mine Safety ~ Association. Teams from Klein, Bound-Up, Sand Coulee, Washoe, Bed Lodge, Bear _ Creek, Stockett, Great Falls, Butte, and Anaconda were present.' The committee on arrangements consisted of Henry Drennan, James Hunter, and Botert Condon, president, rice president and
secretary-treasurer, respectively, of District No. 27, U. M. W. of A.; C. W.
Goodale, chairman of the bureau of safety of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co., M. F. Purcell, secretary-treasurer of the Montana Coal Operators' Asso ciation; W. D. Byan and John L. Boardman, of the Bureau of Mines.
The first day was devoted to a mine-explosion demonstration in a gallery built of boards and tar,paper, a mine-resene demonstration, and some of the first-aid problems. The rest of the first-aid problems were worked on the second day.
Prizes were awarded as follows: First prize, A. M. S. A. silver contest medals and a silver loving cup donated by Mr. McDonald of Stockett, team No. 5 of the Leonard Mine at Butte; seeoud prize, A. M. S. A. Bronze contest medals and $75.00, team No. 9 of West Coluse mine at Butte; third prize, $50.00, team No. 10 of the Washoe Seduction Works, Anaconda, (tied by team No. 6 of Klein, but won in the work-off) ; fourth prize, $30.00, team No. 6 of Klein; fifth prize, $20.00, team No. 8 of Tracey. A special prize of a silver loving cup presented by the Montana Coal Operators ' Association,, and held for the past year by the Bed Lodge team was won this year by team No. 10 of Anaconda, that team having made the highest average in the team problems.
BILLINGS, MONT., JULY 23 AND 24.
This was the second annual first aid contest and demonstration held under the auspices of the United Mine Workers of America and the Montana Coal Operators' Association. "The first aid problems were similar to those usually worked out in these contests, the report of the second day's events has not been received. The big features of .the first day, the mine-explosion demon stration, is- described by a Billings newspaper dated July 24 as follows:
` ` Immediately following this contest was the mine explosion, the feature event of the exhibition. Several men entered the demonstration mine, con structed of timbers coveted with tar paper, and presently the fun began.
c * The first act showed the mine_ examiner and his .staff entering the mouth of the shaft. He returned presently and reported the finding of gas in Stope No. 3 to the mine superintendent. The superintendent hurried into the shaft to investigate. Next came a wordy argument between the trackman and a miner. This argument constitutes an important step in the development of the plot and is the direct cause of the `accident.' _ AH the minors excepting the dissenting trackman and miner heed the danger signal sent out by the superintendent. These two disregard the signal and meanwhile smoko poured
Mining Sectional Meeting
277
from the month of the shaft and the spectators craned forward in their seats. "Presently there was a loud report and the trackman was hurled through
the side of the 1 mountain' while the entire top of the same unfortunate moun tain was blown high into the air. Smoke poured forth from the 'tunnel' and the flames crackled and roared as they licked hungrily at the inflammable tar paper covering of the shaft.
` ` Several miners, equipped with helmets and life-saving apparatus, dashed
into the stope and emerged with the 'body' of the `entombed' miner. He was revived by the efficient work of the flrst aid corps. The trackman was carried on a stretcher improvised by shovel handles and `jumpers' to a place of safety. He, too, was ` revived.3 In less than ten minutes after the ex
plosion the `mine' was a charred and blackened skeleton of smoking timbers." The Bureau of- MineB was officially represented by W. D. Kyan, John Board-
man, G. W. Grove, and Car No. 5.
CHE ELUM, WASH., JULY 31, 1915.
FIRST AID AND MINE RESCUE, STATE-WIDE.
Pirst Aid: 1. Northwestern. Improvement Company, Cle Elum No. 7--
William Saul (captain), Joseph Parker, Pred Ashurst, Wilson Clarke, Henry
Owens, Joseph Andreotity (patient).
2. Northwestern Improvement Company, Cle Elum No. 7 (No. 2 team)--
Prank Koester (captain), Joseph Hodgson, John Stofko, William Clarke,
Isaac McGee, Budolph Mayto (patient).
3. Cle Elum No. 2.
------
Mine Beseue: 1. Northwestern Improvement Company, Koslyn No. 6 Mine--
A. Stanfel (captain), J. M. Broke, William Bedner, A. Tometich, W. Mohar. 2. Washington-TTnicm Coal Company--B. B. Ober (captain), John Ismay,
Robert Wigley, Thomas Wigley, Thomas Kruger.
3. Boslyn No. 5 Mine (Northwestern Improvement Company)--W. A.
Sneddon (captain), D. Shields, B. Lucas, J. Heathcock, Luther Floyd.
This, the second annual state wide mine rescue and first aid contest to be
held in Washington, was under the auspices of the Bureau of Mines, the
American Mine Safety Association, the Washington Coal Operators, and the
IT. M. W|. of A. The general committee in charge was composed of J. J.
Carey of the Bureau of Mines; James Bagley, State Inspector of Coal Mines;
Martin J. Plyzik, president of the XT. M. W. of A., District No. 10, and D. C.
Bottling, commissioner Washington Coal Operators' Association. W. D. Byan
and U. M. Wolflin of the bureau; C. H. Younger, chief inspector of the
department of State Paetory Inspection, Kirkland, Wash.; Clarence Parker,
industrial accident commissioner; E. Jacobs, secretary. Western Branch of
Canadian Mining Institute, Victoria, B. C., and high officials representing
practically every mining company in the State were present. The prizes
consisted of two silver cups furnished by Du Pont Powder Company, before
the 1914 meet, one for the first aid contest and one for the mine rescue contest, which when won twice in succession become the permanent property of the
winner, and 135 contributed by mine workers, operators, and citizens of Cle
278
--,Fourth Safety Congress
Elum. The citizens also hired a band and paid for printing- and miscellaneous expenses of the meet.
The mine rescue contest, held in the ball park, just outside the city, was witnessed by 3,000~people. Seven teams participated. The first prize, the Du Pont cup, A. MT S. A. medals, and $10 cash, went to the team from Roslyn No. 6 mine of the Northwestern Improvement Company, rating 95 per cent. This team, having" won the cup in two successive meets, will retain it permanently. The second prize, $30, was won by No. 2 team of the Wash ington Union "Coal Company, rating 84 per cent. The judging was done by Dudley Michel, instructor in mine rescue and first aid for the British Columbia Department of Mines, Victoria, B. C., assisted by Mr. Wolflin.
Explosion demonstrations given in the manner outlined in a descriptive memo randum recently sent to all car and station men with both permissible and black powder were successfully carried out before spectators. The material for the bid wooden gallery constructed for the purpose was donated by C. C. Anderson, general manager of the Northwestern Improvement Company, and the expense of actual construction was borne by the citizens of Cle Elum.
For the first aid contest a space a block long was roped off and the surface watered and rolled. AI space 95 by 25 paces was occupied by seats arranged for the comfort of the 2,000 spectators. Great interest and enthusiasm was manifested in this work. The judging was done by Dr. W. N. Lipscomb of the American Bed Cross and. a body of Washington physicians. First prize, the Du Font first aid cup, A. M. S. A. medals, and $10 cash, went to tha team from Cle Elum Mine No. 7 of the Northwestern Improvement Company, which was rated 100 per cent. The second prize, $10, was won by the Car bonado team of Carbon Hill Coal Company, rating 97 per cent.
D. J. Price, formerly of the Bureau of Mines and now in charge of the grain-dust explosion investigation for the Department of Agriculture, writes: "I had the pleasure of attending the mine rescue and first aid meet.at Cle Elum, Wash., last Saturday, July 31, and was much impressed with the har mony displayed by all parties interested and the success of the various con tests. The first aid worlT was equal to any that I have ever witnessed, and in a number of cases attracted the special attention of the doctors who were acting as judges. The eo -operation between the Bureau of Mines, the operators and the miners was especially significant and indicates distinctly what can be done when all interested parties endeavor to woTk together."
ELDOBA PARK, A JG. 14, 1915, FIRST AID, INTER-COMPANT.
1. Ellsworth, Ellsworth, Pa. 2. Pittsburgh Coal Company, Gallitzin, Pa. 3. Testa Coal Company, California, Pa.
HARVET'S LAKE, PA., AUG. 14.
The first aid demonstration at the annual picnic of the Delaware, Lacka wanna and. Western Coal Company, before 8,500 spectators, is reported to have surpassed those of former years. Although the meet was held under the
Mining Sectional Meeting
279
auspices of the company mentioned* teams from a number of other companies participated, 25 teams contesting. Cash prizes amounting to $170 were dis tributed, the first prize of $75 going to the Loomis inside team of the D. L. & W. Company by a rating of 100 per cent in all problems. The character of work done by all the teams was remarkable. Charles Enzian had general charge of the demonstration and contests. Toward the close of the afternoon an unexpected opportunity to demonstrate practical first aid was given to the contesting teams, when a young swimmer was severely injured in an accident on the chutes along the lake front. Within a few minutes after the accident first aid treatment was rendered which, according to reports, was solely re sponsible for saving the young man's life.
JACKSON, CAL., AUGUST 15.
After considerable preliminary training in this district, G. W. Biggs arranged and conducted this meet. The teams were rated as follows: Argonaut mine, 96, Plymouth mine 92, Kennedy mine 91, South Eureka mine 90%. Teams from the Central Eureka, Bunker Hill and Black Oak mines failed to appear. Mr. Eiggs states that the equipment of the teams was the best he has ever seen and that all the teams made an excellent showing. About 1,000 people witnessed the entire contest. The men in the teams worked fast and neatly and each dressing was explained by Mr. Eiggs to the spectators.
PALATKA, MICH., AHG. .22, 1915., FIBST AID, INTER-COMPANY.
1. Verona Mining Company.
2. Balkan Mining Company.
,,
A contest between the first aid teams representing the Verona Mining Com pany and the Balkan Mining Company, one team from each company partici
pating, was held on the lawn of the club house of the Verona Mining Company
at Palatka, the winning team to be entered in the contest to be held at Iron-
wood, Michigan, on September^, 1915. Five hundred spectators were present.
Music was furnished by a local Italian band. The judges were Mr. Chapell,
in charge of first aid and mine rescue work for the Oliver Iron Company, at
Iron Mountain, Mich., and E. H. Seip, first aid miner of the Bureau of Mines.
One one-man event and four full-team events were worked out. The problems
were made up by the judges^ and the problem for each event was given the
captain of each team two minutes before the event started. The teams tied
with a percentage of 85%, necessitating the working of another problem.
The final averages for the six problems were as_ follows: Verona Mining
Company team, 86 5/6 per cent; Balkan Mining Company team, 86% per cent.
Both teams showed marked proficiency in their work.
BOSWELL, PA., SEPT. 4, 3915--FIRST AID, INTER-COMPANY.
1. Boswell No. 2. 2. Brothers Valley Team Pen Mar No. 3 of McDonaldton. 3. Consolidated Coal Company team of Ocosta.
280
Fourth Safety Congress
BOSWELL, PA., SEPT. 6.
This was an inter-company contest held under the auspices of the Pennsyl vania State Young Men's Christian Association and was managed by secretary George 33. Landis. During the winter several teams faithfully trained and _ five had completed in a local contest on the Pourth of July. For two months previous to the meet, W. J, German, C. O. Boberts, and Jesse Henson of the bureau gave much time tezthe training of all the teams. For two weeks the mine rescue autotruck had toured the field and much interest was aroused.
On the morning of the contest 28 teams of six men each, representing com panies from twenty-three-mining towns, reported. At 10 o'clock a mining institute was held and a crowded house listened to addresses by Austin King, chief inspector of the H. C. Prick Coke Company, and BL D. Mason, Jr., of the bureau. Three thousand feet of moving picture films on safety, first aid, and safe methods of mining were shown.
After noon, with two bands, all of the teams paraded to the ball ground and in the presence of $3,500 people the contest was staged. The twentveight teams--168 men--lined up in a long row, in spaces ten feet wide. po3i. tion being assigned by lot. At the sound of the gong the patient advanced to his place and at the next signal those who were to administer aid followed him and proceeded to work.
The average of scores for the three events showed four teams with S9.3 per cent each. These teams worked off the tie with the result that Orenda Team No. 3 of Boswell hd 100 per cent and took first prize. The events were vigorously contested and the judges marked closely. On the ties, there were three judges to each team. The judging Was done by surgeons of the American National Bed Cross1
P. W. Cunningham, State mine inspector, twentieth bituminous district, to whom much of the success of the meet is due, presided at the speech making and awarding of prizes.
IKONWOOD, MICH., SEPT. 6.
The second annual first aid contest in the Lake Superior District under
the auspices of the Gogebic Bange Mining Association was held in the baseball
park before about 1,800 Spectators. The field places for the teams were
arranged in the form of an are in front of the grandstand and bleachers.
Fonrteen teams took part, the first prize, $175 to defray the expenses of a
trip to the Minnesota State fair, was awarded the team from the Verona
Mining Co., of the Menominee Bange, rating 93% per cent. The San Francisco
contest rules were adopted insofar as they would apply. The judging was
done by Dr. A. F. Khoefel and six other doctors who came from Indiana as
guests of the institute and the range association.
After the meet the wi..aig team was presented with the American Bed
Cross medals by the chairman of the judges; the medals were pinned upon
the breasts of the team by"five ladies. Edwin Higgins acted as master of
ceremonies.
----
Mining Sectional Meeting
281
BUTTE, MONT., SEPT. 0.
The day 'was completed by a banquet at the Northern Hotel, where speeches
were made, and the prizes presented. A resolution was adopted regretting
the death of former Director J, A. Holmes and commending his life of faithful
service to the mining industry.
In a former contest between various teams from the Anaconda Copper Min
ing Company's group of mines, and between the teams from the Boston and
Montana group, one team from each of these groups was selected to contest
on the above date for the honor of representing its district in the national
contest held at San Francisco, Sept. 23-24. Because of the big prizes at
stake, unusual enthusiasm was shown by the members .of the team and the
spectators, of which there were several thousand. The San Francisco contest
rules governed- The finals were as follows: Original team of the Anaconda
Copper Mining Co., 89%; Leonard team of the Boston and Montana group,
89%.
'~
Foreman John L. Boardm ah, formerly of ear 5, is entitled to much credit
for the work done by his car in Montana during the past year.
BLACK DIAMOND, WASH., SEPT. 6.
A mine rescue and first-aid contest was held between teams from the Black
Diamond, Burnett and New Castle mines of the Paeifie Coast Coal Company,
to select a team to represent-the company at the San Francisco field meet;
five teams were entered. In arranging and conducting the meet the company
had the cooperation of D. C- Botting, the operators' commissioner; State
Mine Inspector Bagley, district vice president Ernest Newsham of the IT. M.
W. of A., and Foreman Corey of the bureau's Seattle station. The judging
was done by a corps of disinterested doctors. The first place was won by Captain 33. J. Bergin's team from Burnett with a rating of 97.6 per cent.
The most interesting event was the mine rescue contest, in which four teams
participated. During the afternoon, a drenehing rain fell, the sky was black
and by the time the fourth team entered the ` ` mine" it was dark and the
safety lamps and flash lights were put to practical use by the rescue men.
The rescue problem was: Fire discovered at the extreme end of gangway.
Enter the mine by crossing the overcast and passing through the crosscut,
and build a stopping to seal off the fire. After the stopping is completed,
one of the rescue team is overcome. Carry him back over the overcast to
fresh air, disregarding the crosscut, and revive him. Time, thirty minutes.
That is, the victim had to be taken through a small passage of considerable
length that rose on a pitch of 45 degrees, then ran on a level, and then down
again on a slope of 45 degrees. The different teams used different methods
to perform the feat. One strapped the victim to a board and dragged, him
out, another pulled him bodily without the use of the board. Captain Morgan,
of Black Diamond team No. 1, "Which took first place, with a rating of 91.2,
laid down, had the victim placed on hia back, and crawled through the hole
with him, thus effecting the rescue in one quarter the time used by the other
teams.
~
282
Fourth Safety Congress
As a result of the Black Diamond contest new enthusiasts for first aid. and mine rescue work have been added to the thousand or more that attended the Cle Elum meet.
KOCK SPRINGS, WYO., SEPT. 6.
This first-aid meet was held for the purpose of selecting a team to represent Wyoming in the national meet held at San Francisco Sept. 23-24. The Union Pacific Coal Company, Gunn-Quealy Coal Company, Kemmerer Coal Company, and Superior Coal Company were represented by teams. The day's events were commenced by a labor day parade in which all of the first aid teams marched. The meet was held in the ball park. The wings of the park from the fence to the grandstand were marked off immediately in front of the grandstand and divided equally between the teams; a supply base 8x8 feet was allotted each team for the purpose of keeping first aid supplies immedi ately behind the space SxdD feet where it performed; and a space of 12 feet was maintained between team bases. This arrangement afforded the thousands of spectators in the grandstand a clear view of all the first-aid events. The judging was done by doctors and mine ofiicials. The progressive system of judging was adopted. JV J. "V. Forbes of the Bureau of Mines acted as master of ceremonies. The first prize, the honor of representing their State at the San Francisco meet, was won by the Superior Coal Co. team from Superior, Wyo., rating 97%. The events closed with a smoker in the evening.
WALLACE, IDAHO, SEPT. 12.
This inter-company contest, the first event of its kind ever held in the
Coeur d'Alene district, proved a wonderful success. Teams representing all
the companies of the district were entered. The BCecla. team took first prize
with a rating of 99% per cent. In the evening a banquet was held, and
speeches were made by many doctors and officials. Foreman Boardman of
car 5 urged the continuance and permanence of the work so well begun. A
resolution was passed that the first aid meet should be an annual affair in the
Coeur d'Alene district and a general committee on arrangements was elected,
consisting of Mr. Boardman, chairman, and most of the mine managers and
team captains. The selection of the executive committee was left to the
general committee, which will meet later to make more definite plans for the
next contest.
- ~-
FIRST AID AT THE KAPITON COPPEK WORKS, PERTH AMBOY, N. J.
The following is summarized from "The Ingot" of September: ` ` The rapid development of the Rariton Copper Works first-aid corps, which was organized under the direction of the General Safety Committee last Feb ruary, was convincingly demonstrated to the several hundred spectators who witnessed the events held on the baseball field adjoining the plant, Saturday, September 18, 1915. During the past eight months, the class has studied first aid uuder the company surgeon, Dr. W. E. Ramsey. Commencing Mon day, Aug. 16, a class of fifty men, five from each department, received special
Mining Sectional Meeting
283
instruction for a period of five days from Jesse Henson of tho United States Bureau of Mines."
"The contestants marched on the field about 2:15 p. m., -with drill sergeant Anthony Hansen in the lead, in perfect order, all dressed alike in grey flannel shirts and khaki trousers, and wheeled into position at the places assigned on each side of the grounds end facing the spectators, leaving a middle space reserved for the judges and officials of the meet. The judging was done by Berth Amboy physicians. Two teams participated. A tie was worked off which resulted in a seeond tie, necessitating still another problem. In this, team No. 9 lost by one point, which was deducted because of failure to test the improvised stretcher, thus giving first place to team No. 1, which scored 100.
Between the regular events and the two extra problems, an apparatus demon stration was given. At a given signal, smoke started to arise from a small sback and a man ran out shouting that someone was in there overcome by the smoke. Two men rapidly adjusted breathing apparatus, seized a stretcher, dashed into the dense smoke and brought out the victim. The lungmotor was applied immediately and the jmtient was soon "brought back to life.1' The shack burst into flames shortly after removal of the victim, and burned to the ground. Motion pictures were taken of the day's events. The celebration closed with a bawjuet, Ur. Bamsey, acting as toastmaster.
SAN FBANCISCO, SEPT. 22-24, 1915.
MIKE RESCUE ACT EffiST AID DEMONSTRATION------INTERSTATE. MINE RESCUE :
1 -* Utah Fuel Company, Castle Gate, Utah--M. M. Detwiller (captain); Jieph Thomas; J. J. JohnsonGeorge Clark; J. W. Iiittlejohn; Geo. Usher.
2. Boslyn Fuel Company, Boslyn, "Wash. 3. Goldfield Cons. Copper ^Company, Goldfield, Nev.
FIRST aid:
1. Homestake Mining Company, Lead, S. U.--C. L. Ayers (captain) ; M. Ellis; B. Harwich; I. Peters; "William Yaeger; P. E. dough (manager).
2. Nevada Cons. Copper Company, McGill, Nev. 3. Bronson Coal Company, Westville, HI.--John Krainoch; C. B. Elliott; Joe DeBarba; Steve Shafer; Strill Boots; C. E. Noonan. The State-wide first aid meet, held under the auspices of the California Metal Producers' Association and the Bureau of Mines, was participated in by nine teams representing eight companies and nine mines. There were about one thousand people in attendance. Prizes were as follows: Third prize, Baldwin Acetylene lamps, won by the Empire Mines Company; second prize, eup donated by Coast Manufacturing and Supply Company, to be competed for annually, won by Argonaut Mining Company; first prize, medals and silver eup donated by the California Metal Producers Association (the cup to be competed for annually), won by the Mammoth Copper Mining Com pany. Bronze medals of the California Metal Producers' Association were given to each member of each competing team, except the winning team. The
284
Fourth Safety Congress
judging was done by twenty army and navy surgeons. Twelve Bureau of Mines employees were present.
SAGINAW, MICH., OCT. 6, 1915--HIRST AID INTER-COMPANY.
1. Saginaw, No. 2. 2. Bay City, No. 1 and 2. 3. Divided. This first-aid contest, held during fair week, is reported to have been an unqualified success, over 5,t>00 people being in attendance. The bureau was represented by Dr. W. A. Eynott, who assisted in the arrangements for the meet.
BINGKNEYYIEEE, IBB.
FIRST AID AND MINE RESCUE DEMONSTRATION-----INTERSTATE.
1. West Frankfort Team--J. C. Duncan (captain); Roy Medill; W. Cowell; Wm. Scarrett; Thos. Dean.
2. Herrin Team--John H. Burnett (captain). 3. Du Quoin Team--Andrew Dunning (captain). This mine rescue demonstration and first-aid meet was held in conjunction with the Perry County Pair and under the auspices of the Illinois Mine Rescue Commission. G. T.' Powell and C. B. Hanraty of car 3 assisted in training men in Southern Illinois for the meet. With one possible exception all the teams have been newly organized and many of the competitors had never competed in a previous meet; further, that three mines out of the seven represented had aer had an organized first-aid team prior to Sept., 1915, and that the team of the Peabody Coal Company from West Prankfort, organized by Mr. Powell, was the first to represent that company in a firstaid meet, although it has fifteen mines in Illinois.
BIRMINGHAM, ABA., OCT. 9, 1915--FIRST AID, INTER-COMPANY.
1. Palos--Republic Iron & Steel Company. 2. Dolomite--Woodward Iron Company. 3. Warner Division--Republic Iron and Steel Company. This very successful first-aid contest and demonstration was held under the auspices of the Alabama Safety Association, in conjunction with the Alabama State Pair, which financed the meet. Twenty-four teams contested, represent ing 17 mines and 9 companies, and it is stated that there were fully 5,000 people in attendance. The contest was won by the team of the Republic Iron & Steel Co., Palos Division, which made a perfect score in all events. The judging was done by doctors of the Jefferson County Medical Associa tion. The bureau was represented by E. B. Sutton and W. T. Burgess.
BICKNELL, IND., OCT. 30, 193 5--FIRST AID, STATE-WIDE.
1. Olipbant Wasson Coal Company, BrocevilJe, Ind.--Edgar Bivingston (captain), Paul Brown; Robt. Bogan; John Mosley; Glen Olipbant; Dan Ellis.
2. Knox Coal Company, No. 1, BickneH, lad---Andrew Henderson; Wm. Bogle; John Stafford; Henry Thompson; Tom Gillespie; James Henderson.
Mining Sectional Meeting
285
3. Green Valley Coal Company^ Jasonville, InoL--EC. W. Baker (captain), Jas. Diven's; John M. Bowryj M. A. Lowiy; Oliver Keagy; Sherman Bledsoe.
BICKNBI/L, HSTO., OCT. 30.
The first of the annual state-wide first-aid meets in Indiana was held at Bieknell, Oetober 30, under the auspices of the local unions of the United Mine Workers of America, coal operators of Knoa: County, merchants of Bicknell, the Federal Bureau of Mines, and the American Mine Safety Association. This was one of the largest state first-aid meets of the year. Numerous prizes were awarded.
Jii iiTiiiiiiWiiJillfciBto r :atii>hs-
Standard Practices in Mine Rescue and First Aid
MINING SECTION.
NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL.
(Successor to tE American Mine Safety Association.)
RESCUE APPARATUS AND RESCUE TRAINING.
1. Breathing apparatus used for mine reseue and mine recovery work should be of such types as have passed the tests of the Bureau of Mines.
2. The course in rescue training as outlined by the Bureau of Mines sched ule for educational purposes and for familiarizing miners in the use of the breathing apparatus^ should be followed, as should the recommendations of the bureau pertaining thereto, to the extent that for actual mine reseue work supplemental and practical training of two hours each should be taken" at intervals of not more than: three months. (The Use ana Care of Mine Rescue Breathing Apparatus, by James "W. Paul, ^Miners' Circular No. 4, Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C.)
3. All mine reseue stations should be equipped with at least five breath ing apparatus and the necessary accessories for t.he continuous operation of the apparatus for 24 hours, and at remote stations 4S hours. Such equipment should be so located as to admit of its assembly in one hour at a central point for emergency use_
4. The beeping of birds and mice at rescue stations for the purpose of detecting carbon monoside is desirable.
5. All persons before being admitted for rescue training should, present a medical certificate qualifying them for rescue work and stating that they arc free from contagious diseases.
6. The Bureau of Mines should be requested to prepare lists of stations, together with the names and addresses of the persons who have completed training with" mine reseue" apparatus, and to list the names on a roll of honor to be submitted for publication by the press in the various mining localities. Mine rescue volunteers should be compensated for services and should be con sidered when promotions/are being made.
7. The smoke-room is best adapted for the first course of training. In addition to the smoke-room training as prescribed by the Bureau of Mines outline, supplementary practice to be taken underground is desirable.
RESCUE OPERATIONS. S. In mine reseue work untrained men should not be permitted to use breathing apparatus except when such course is necessary in the saving of
286
Mining Sectional Meeting
287
life and will not unduly jeopardize the life of the reseuer. In selecting un trained men, those should be chosell who are readily amenable to discipline.
9. A desirable outline of procedure before and after entering a mine fol lowing explosion or mine fires is as follows:
OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION.
a. All openings should be_earefully guarded. &. There will be a man in charge of outside arrangements who should see that ventilating appliances are put in readiness for operation when required. c. Competent men who can be relied upon to obey the orders given them .should be stationed at all mine openings. d. A competent person should be placed near the mine entrance to examine all safety lamps before they are allowed to be taken into the mine. e. Some specified person should be placed at the mine entrance to record all persons going into and coming out of the mine. f. Proper food and shelter "should be provided for parties engaged in res cue work. g. A physician should be on band while rescue parties are in the mines. 7t. Around all openings there should be established safety lines inside of which no "open lights should be allowed. i. A man should be placecT in charge of the rescue squads to organize and have them ready to enter the mine when called upon.
INSIDE ORGANIZATION.
a. A man should be placed^ in full charge of the inside operations on each
shift.
---
b. An advance squad under1 a competent leader should explore the work
ings in advance of the stretcher squads and the other squads who are ad
vancing the ventilation, making repairs, etc. The squads should advance in
the following order: (a) Breathing apparatus or advance squad; (&) stretcher
squad should advance second when they act with breathing apparatus, other
wise to follow the temporary ventilation squad; Qc~) temporary ventilation
squad; (<2) material squad; (e) permanent ventilation squad.
c. An inside station should be established as a base of operations. A com
petent person should he placed in charge to re-examine all lights before they
pass to the interior of the mine.
d. A telephone communicating with the surface should be established at
the inside station and should "be carried forward as fast as possible.
e. A doetor provided' with necessary supplies should be present at the in
side station.
f. JSTo person should go in "advance of the ventilating current except the
advance squad, which should diamine the atmosphere for gas, and examine
the return air current frequently for indications of fire; also for any other
dangers which are likely to exist.
g. The advance squad, when proceeding into the mine, should mark all
unexplored openings with a danger sign.
h. Strict discipline should be maintained at all times.
WM;4. si
tr- M-y W--BM^a'aSiE3-L
2SS
.._.
iFourth Safety Congress
10. The maximum distance rescue crews may safely proceed beyond fresh air should, owing to the different conditions in different mines and the haz ardous work undertaken, be left to the decision of the trained official in im mediate charge, in conjunction with the mine officials, who should be gov erned by the probability of being able to save human life, using the time limit on all explorations.
11. Except when absolutely necessary, the shift of rescue men should not exceed two hours. This should be followed by not less than six hours' rest.
EESCTJE CONTEST AMD KUX.ES.
(Eules for Mine Kescue and First Aid Contests, by James W. Paul, Miner's
Circular No. 15, Bureau"of Mines, Washington, D. C.)
12. The outline for conducting field contests with rescue apparatus as pub
lished in Miners' Circular No. 15 of the Bureau of Mines is recommended
for general adoption. The rules and table of ratings recommended for the
government of such contests are as follows:
a. Eaeh crew shall consist of five men, one of whom shall be the captain.
Each man shall be prodded with a breathing apparatus, safety and electric
lamp, and each crew shall carry a canary bird in a cage to the base of op
erations.
^
&. The captain shali_ command his men by signals given by a gong or
horn after the men have put on the apparatus.
c. Before putting on the apparatus the pulse and respiration of each man
shall be taken by a surgeon. The apparatus shall be placed at a point con
venient to each man, and upon command of the captain each man shall first
examine his apparatus, make such tests as will convince him that the appara
tus is in proper working order, and put it on without assistance.
<3. The captains shall inspect eaeh apparatus, noting the number of each
apparatus worn and the ^reading of the oxygen pressure gage. Eescuer No. 1
should insp^vet the apparatus worn by the captain.
c. The team, with its captain, the latter wearing apparatus, shall appear
itrfore the judges, who shall be men trained and experienced in the use of
breathing apparatus and lamps. The judges shall make rigid inspection of
each apparatus and discount for any improper connection or adjustment of
the apparatus, lamp, or accoutrement.
/. Each crew shall then be required to trot 100 yards, then immediately
enter an air-tight cage containing strong formaldehyde fames and remain 10
minutes. As the men come out of the cage their condition shall be ascertained
by a surgeon to determine the pulse and respiration of each man; and if the
pulse or respiration of any man is abnormal, he shall be dropped from the
crew and the crew shall be penalized by heavy discount. (The weakness of a
member of a crew would, of course, prevent the crew from participating in
the subsequent rescue wjerk unless a substitute should be added who success
fully underwent the same test.)
g. . If during the recovery work consecutive members of a crew become
separated beyond an interval of two yards, a penalty will be applied.
biltiaffiefl
Mining Sectional Meeting
289
h. Failure to stop at intervals of 300 feet for periods of one minute for
resting will be penalized.
--
t. For not having`a full charge of oxygen and a fresh charge of chem
ical at the time the apparatus is first put on a penalty will be applied. The
committee may arbitrarily designate a supply of oxygen sufficient for one
hour as a full charge.
3. For failure on the part of any member to comply with the commands
of the captain a penalty will be applied.
7c. A fire boss will be stationed at the entrance to the mine who will ex
amine the safely lamps carried by the reseue crew.
J. A recorder designated by the judges will cheek each member of the
crews as he goes in and comes out of the mine, taking his name and giving
him a check as he enters and replacing on the board the check as he comes out.
13. The method of judging should be by a system*of penalties or dis
counts such as the following:
SPECIMEN TALLY SHEET JPOR MINE BESCUE CONTEST.
Name and number of event.......................................................................................................... Team. No.
Discounts 12
1. Apparatus not having a full eharge of oxygen........
5
3
2. Apparatus not properly assembled..................................................... 10
3. Failure of test apparatus before putting on.................. 10
4. Failure to make record of tests.................................................. 5
5. Failure of captain to command properly........................... 5
6. Failure of any member of crew to obey command......... 10
7. Failure to maintain proper interval in marching..... 5
8. Failure to rest for one minute at stated intervals. .... -9. Failure of a member to pass doctor's examination. ...
5 5
10. Failure of apparatus to deliver oxygen in quantity equiv
alent to the time in actual service................................................ 10
11. Failure of lamps to bum orlbe in proper and safe con
dition .....................................................................................................
io
SAFETY LAMPS AND ELECTRIC LAMPS.
14. No open light should be used.
15. In coal mines only such types of safely lamps and electric lamps as
have passed the tests of the United States Bureau of Mines should be used.
(The Use and Care of Miners' Safety Lamps, by James.."W. Paul, Miners'
Circular No. 12, Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C.)
16. Electric lamps unaccompanied by safety lamps should not be used un
less the party is equipped with breathing apparatus.
17. Both safety lampB and electric lamps should always be used up to
the point where breathing apparatus is put on, and beyond such point no safety
lamps should be used except one carried by the leader of the pasty; if ex
plosive gas is present in dangerous quantities, even the leader should not carry
a safety lamp.
~
290 Fourth Safety Congress
FIRST ATP METHODS.
18. The Schafer method of artificial respiration, is the preferable method, provided no injury of the person to be resuscitated prohibits the use of this method.
1.9, In the case of dislocation of a hip or a shoulder, the dislocation should not be reduced, but the limb should be fixed in the line of deformity.
20. A man injured with a broken back should be handled as little as possible. If found in any other than recumbent position, he should be kept in that position; if found in a recumbent position, posterior splints extending from the head to the feet should be applied, or he should be laid on rolled blankets.
21. In the treatment of any fracture of a long bone it is necessary to apply splints long enough to fix the joint above and below the fracture; for example, if there is a fracture of the lower part of the leg, the splints should be applied so that they extend below the ankle and above the knee. Long splints are especially to be recommended in fractures of tbe legs. The forearm and arm Splints designated by Dr. 'M. ,,T. Shields and described in American. National Red Gross textbook on first aid, page 71, are commendable.
22. It should not be the duty of a first-aid man to reduce a dislocation except of the lower jaw or a finger.
23. The triangular bandage should be used in preference to the roller bandage.
24. A first aid man should not wash a wound. The application to a wound of any foreign substance other than a sterile substance should be condemned.
25. In the case of a severe hemorrhage that is being controlled by a tourniquet, if no sterile or antiseptic dressing is available, no dressing should be applied to the wound. This suggestion is applicable to all wounds.
26. An injured person should be carried first on a stretcher, unless there be some reason for TSTcontrary method.
27. In the case of an electric shock the current should first be either cut off or short-circuited, if possible; if not possible, the rescuer should insulate himself and removerthe patient from the body that carries the current. The treatment of electric shock prescribed in Miner's Circular 5, of the Bureau of Mines, should be adopted. (Electrical Accidents in Manes, by U. H. Clark and others. Miners' Circular No. 5, Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C.)
28. In moving anT injured man his injured side should be next to the first aid men lifting him. A rescue corps bearing an injured man should in all cases have the right of way to the surface.
FIRST -ATP TKAXNUTG.
30. The duties of a first aid man are to act intelligently and efficiently between the time of an aceident and the time the injured man is placed in the hands of the physician or surgeon or in a hospital.
31. The subject "Instruction; Its Kind and Amount," "Training and Braeties; Kind and Amount," and " Systems of Training: Red Cross, Navy,
MBHM-';. \,Z'.Z[--T f
\ZT~asmmm i...'
-r>' ^ii
ala
Mining Sectional Meeting
291
or New Combination; "Value t>f a Standard System for Miners," should be treated as one subject, and the Ked Ctobs system of first-aid training should be adopted as the standard.
32. Successful first aid work at any given mine must have the personal interest of the operating officials, the financial support of the mining company, and the cooperation of the mine physieian, surgeons and employees.
33. Every mins should at all times have a sufficient number of first-aid men on duty to take care of . any persons injured during any of the 24 hours of the day. The outline for conducting field contests in first aid as published in Miner's Circular No.-15, of the Bureau of Mines, is recommended for gen eral adoption.
FIESl AID CONTESTS AND RULES.
34. Nor the larger companies having a great many mines, intra-company
contests are to he preferred as against exhibitions, whereas for the smaller companies, operating only one or two mines, inter-company contests are pre
ferable.
The rules and table of ratings recommended for the government of such contests are as follows:
. A team is composed of five (5) men one of whom shall be captain.
Any employe of a coal company may be a member of a contesting team, pro
viding he is not a physician or a trained nurse.
. The captain will select a patient and designate the member or members of the team to perform Jihe event.
c. The captain will control his team in their field work by giving audible
commands.
2. The eaptain may select himself as one of the members who will perform
the event.
TM
e. The eaptaxn or other members will not prompt the person performing
the event unless he is one of the performers. This will not apply to full
team event.
--
f. At the conclusion of any event, the captain will raise his right hand and announce his team number. The team will remain at post trntil relieved
by the judges.
____
g. The teams will bring their own first aid material, including bandages,
splints, blankets, stretchers, etc., and will not be allowed to leave the patient
to secure material.
--r
ft. The triangular bandage will be the standard used in the contests, but
roller bandages may be used and equal credit will be given for their proper use as with the triangular bandages.
i. All splints must be /prepared on the field for each event requiring their
use. Specially designed splints may he used, hut they must be assembled during the time of each event requiring their use.
j. No practicing will be allowed on the field before the beginning of the contest.
Tc, The teams will be numbered consecutively, beginning at No. 1, and they will occupy their consecutive positions on the field.
3igi:.-i- :rfclKg;.^5i;M
.'rfg,;
:......-...wJst ~ .*
... iMii
292
Fourth Safety Congress
l. The judges -will perform their work progressively, judging such number of teams in each event as the judges may determine and announce before
the beginning of the contest. m. In events involving resuscitation, the rescue of the patient and stretcher
drill, the judges may require the teams to perform separately. n~ Each judge will mark the team number, event, and discount for each
team judged, sign his name and deliver, to the recorder, his record. o. The recorder will foot up the discounts and mark points made by each
team in each event. The total points will be divided by the number of events and the quotient will be the average for each team for the whole contest.
p. Time will not be an element unless the team or men performing run over the allotted time or fail to give treatment properly. All events shall
commence and be finished at the sounding of a gong. q. All exceptions to these rules must be made to the Committee on Kules
not later than tea (loydays prior to the day of the contest. The decision of
the committee will be final. r. The prizes will be listed by the Committee on Awards. 35. The method of judging should be by a system of penalties and dis
counts such as the following:
DISCOUNTS 3?OK JUDGING BEST -ATP CONTESTS.
Discounts
(Points)
1. Not doing the most important thing first.........................................................
6
2. Eailnre of captain to command properly..................................................................... 1
3. Slowness in work and lack of attention............................-.........................................2
4. Failure to entirely cover the wound or being unable to give location
of injury ............................................................................................................................... 4 5. Ineffective artificial respiration................................................................................................13.
6. Splint improperly padded or applied............................................................
6
7. Tight, loose, or improperly appliedbandage.................................................................. 5
8. Insecure or granny knot.............................................................................................................. 4 9. Unclean first-aid material.............................................................................................................. 3 10. Failure to have our hand sufficient and proper material to complete a
dressing ............................................................................................................................................ 3
11. Lack of neatness r.............................................................................................................................. 2 12. Awkward handling of patient................................................................................................... 4
13. Assistance lent by^ patient ........................................................................................................ 3
14. Tourniquet improperly applied .............................................................................................. 7
15. Failure to stop bleeding .........................................................................
8
16. Not treating shock ............................................................................................................................ 5
17. Failure to be aseptic ...................................
7
18. Improper treatment............................................................................................................................12
19. Failure to temporarily control hemorrhage previous to application of
tourniquet ..r..............................................................................
7
36. Each contest should consist of not more than five events. The judges.
MlitaniiifciagtjlMaifcgi;
Alining Sectional Meeting
293
who should be surgeons Or first aid men, should be o sufficient number so that one judge does not inspect in any single event more than three teams, and preferably less. These judges should inspect sets of teams progressively.
37. In all contests speed should not be an essential element, but a certain time should be allotted to each event. Failure to finish in the allotted time should be discounted 1 point for each minute over time.
HOSPITALS AND FTBST AID STATIONS.
38. Underground surgical hospitals are unnecessary, bnt there should he deposited at different points in the mine a sufficient number of first-aid pack ages properly equipped with first-aid emergency dressing. In addition there should he located central first aid dressing stations at the bottom and at the surface opening of the mine.
SAPETY SIGNS AND SIGNALS.
39. Universal Danger" Symbol; a circle, filled in solidly with red, making a
red ball upon a white background.
40. Universal Safety Symbol; an arrow indicating the direction to safely,
painted in any distinctive color, made with a chalk or other marking material,
or made of metal.
!
41. Universal symbol for ladderway or stairway; a ladder painted in any
dark color upon a light colored background.
AccidentsAre No More a Matter of III Luck, Lhan Good Fortune Is a Matter of Good Luck:
National Safety Council
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
Philadelphia, Pa. October 20, 1915
............. ............
>
S. F. SHATTUCK, Chairman
Kimberly-Clark Company, Neenali, Wi*.
N THE absence of Chairman R. B. Robertson, Mr. S. F. Shat-
I tuck, Kimberly-Clark Company, Neenah, Wis., took the chair and conducted the meeting.
Mr. E. P. Gleason, Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Company, Port Ed
wards, Wis., was appointed temporary Secretary.
Those in attendance at the meeting were;
E. T. Walsh.
--
Howard W. Taylor, Dill & Collins Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
Thomas V. Hodges. ~
E. J. Scott.
E. P. Gleason, Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Co., Port Edwards, Wis.
F. M. Harp, Employers' Mutual Insurance Company of New
York.
H. D. Scully, Canadian Manufacturers' Association, Toronto.
295
296
Fourth Safety Congress
G. H. Curtis, Solvay Process Company, Syracuse, N. Y. W. T. Doyle, Mechanical Engineer, New York State Department of Labor. R. S. Turner, West Virginia P. and P. Co., Mechanicsville, N. Y. Joseph Gantnier, Aiisco Company, Binghamton, N. Y. George H. Young, Ansco Company, Binghamton, N. Y. A. G. Richardson, Laurentide Company, Ltd., Grand Mere, Quebec. W. H. Williamson, Finch-Pruyn Company, Glens Falls, N. Y. E. H. Lowjari, Purchasing Agent, M. R.' Wood, Lithographer, N. Y. Frank W. Calvert, Scott Paper Company, Philadelphia, Pa. F. P. Klund, Hammermill Paper Company, Erie, Pa. Geb. T. Kamps, Riverside Fibre and Paper Company, Appleton, Wis. John Wright, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Hartford, Conn. Henry W. Stokes, York Haven Paper Company, Philadelphia, Pa. David M. Allan, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Albany, N. Y. John M. Taylor, Diamond State Fibre Company, Bridgeport, Pa. R. R. Ray, Michigan Workmen's Compensation Mutual Insurance Company, Detroit,_Mich. W. I. Fell, Michigan Carton Company, Battle Creek, Mich.
R. P. Blake, Independence Inspection Bureau, Philadelphia.
W. K. Harris, Barrett Manufacturing Company, New York City. A. Jones, Armstrong Book Company, Lancaster, Pa.
T. K. Lowry, Armour & Company, Chicago, III. H. Liebeck, Scott Paper Company, Chester, Pa. J. L. Long, Scott Paper Company, Chester, Pa. S. F. Shattuck, Kimberly-Clark Company, Neenah, Wis. ^ The object of the meeting--to organize a Paper Manufacturers' and Allied Industries Section of the National Safety Council along the plan outlined by the Council--was discussed and approved. The Section was then duly organized, on motion of Mr. Kamps, seconded by Mr. Klund. The vote was unanimous. Discussion was opened on the proper name for the Section. It was brought out that the name should be broad enough to include the retailers and jobbers of the industry, as well as the manufac turers of paper and pulp. The detail name was left to the Execu tive Committee of the Section.
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
297
The Nominating Committee appointed, in accord with the Coun cil plan, consisted of Messrs. Harris, Stokes and Camps. The com mittee reported and recommended the following officers:
President, Mr. S. F. Shattuck, Vice-President, Mr. R. B. Robertson. Secretary, Mr. E. P. Gleason. The report of the committee was concurred in and the officers nominated were elected.
The Sectional Program, as outlined in the Congress Program, was then taken tip, the chairman introducing the speakers and an nouncing the subject of the papers.
SAFEGUARDING MACHINERY FOR MAKING PAPER.
Edward T. Walsh:, Plainfield, N. J.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: I was somewhat surprised to be asked to address you at this con vention on the subject of "Safeguarding Machinery for Making Paper." Just a year ago Mr. Carl M. Hansen, Secretary of the Workmen's Compensation Bureau, asked me to investigate the hazards of papermaking and its allied industries. In starting this investigation I decided to visit the mills and find out, by personal contact with the men employed on this work, the dangerous features of the machinery employed therein and then take up with the manu facturers of these machines the question of safeguarding the dangerous points without destroying the prime functions or pur poses of the machines. In my investigations I received help from everybody I approached and can heartily express my appreciation of the splendid treatment that was accorded me.
IN GENERAL.
In general, all drives in the shape of belts, gears, tools and shaft ing should be guarded according to the methods which have been approved for this purpose. Stairways should be properly propor tioned and guarded with hand rails. The working room about the machines should be generous, so that a man can perform his duties without the constant fear of being caught in the moving machinery.
ewa ^jswaigfm^aaagfas BW1
mamm
298
Fourth Safety Congress
The Work Room
Proper lighting should be provided; this, not only for the benefit of the workmen, but for the greater output of the product.
The working room
SORTING ROOMS.
about the machines
There is very little hazard con
should be generous,
nected with the work in the sorting
so that a man can perform his duties
room, except that of dust and a slight hazard of contagion. In order to eliminate the dust hazard
without fear. __
all bottoms of the tables may be
screened and connected to an effi
cient exhaust system. In the mat
ter of contagion there have been instances of this, but it was due to
the operatives carrying away with them clothing, which they had
found in the rags, and wearing it.
DUSTING.
In general the dust machines are fairly well guarded, except the drives. These should be guarded, as mentioned under the heading of drives, generally. Some paper manufacturers have very suc cessfully guarded the railroad dusters by enclosing the gears in a heavy wire mesh guard.
There should be sLUust exhaust system, which will remove the dust from all rooms wherein the rags are prepared for the boilers. The dust is not only dangerous to the health of the operatives, but there is more or less danger of fire, due to the collection of dust on beams and other members of the building construction.
CUTTERS.
The cutters, while appearing to be dangerous, I found to have a
fair record. As the operative controls the feed roll he is more or
less in the position of controlling whether his arms will be carried
into the knives or nob During my investigations I heard of but
one accident.
The gears and feed-roll drives should be guarded, and all knives
should be covered with a hood, which should connect to the exhaust
system. .
~
:.i'- -
'-j ~ ' -r j : .
. r 1L.___ _
lwww
Paper Manufacturers' Sectioned Meeting
299
boilers. -
The trapdoors from the charging
LIGHTING
floor to boilers should be guarded
and closed with a substantial cover ing when not in use. The drives to the boilers should be enclosed with
. Proper lighting should be provided;
the proper housings and walkways or other facilities provided for the oiler to perform his duties.
not only for the benefit of the work
BEATERS AND WASHERS.
The housings over the rolls
men, but for greater output.
should be substantially built and
firmly secured in placeTso that they will prevent knives flying out
in the event of their becoming detached from the rolls. The drives,
whether in belts or chains, should be enclosed, also the gears which
operate the washers. _
JORDANS.
Jordans are dangerous only through their belted drives, or the couplings, when directly driven by motors. These should be pro tected according to the approved methods. The end of the shaft which extends beyond the bearing, due to "setting up" the Jordan, should be covered with a cap.
TANKS.
Tanks should be placed with the tops not lower than three feet above the floor. If placed with the tops level with the floor they should be covered with a heavy plank flooring. The gears driving the agitators should be enclosed, as these form considerable hazard.
When it is necessary to enter the tanks, the driving belts should be removed, and a sign--indicating that a man is working in the tank--placed where it can be readily seen.
_ SCREENS.
The screens at the wet end of the machines should be guarded at their drives and the walkways provided with hand railing.
BttUML.
..Haassts. .. .i.^
3CX) Fourth Safety Congress
WIRES AND PRESSES.
The drives to the shaker head of the wires, as well as those to the press rolls, should be guarded by housings and railings. The footboards across--^from one side of the machine to the other-- should have handrails, which should be securely fastened to the frame of the machine, or if fastened to the footboard these should be bolted to the frame, so as to make it impossible for a man to lean against the railing and upset.
In washing felts on the presses great care should be used that men are not pulled in. The felts should be roped or spread out from the front side and not the back. It is well to have a man sta tioned at the starting lever while this work is being done. Planks placed across the pits, under the presses, are a great convenience for the men, who have to do the work of washing out.
On the cylinders of the cylinder machine it is only necessary to
guard the drives.
DRYERS.
The passageway between the' presses and dryers should be
guarded, on the dryer side, by a wire guard or solid board parti
tion. Also, there should be a guard over the baby dryer. It would
be desirable to have more clearance between the felt rolls and dryer
cylinders because of the danger of getting pinched in passing paper.
The committee appointed by the Wisconsin Commission to in
vestigate the hazards of papermaking recommended that "doctors"
be placed on all lower cylinders of the dryers. Oil pipes should be
carried from every bearing on the back side of the machine to the
top of the frame and there end in an oil cup, to eliminate the neces
sity of the oiler having to get down to the bearings to perform his
work.
__
Gears should be housed with full housings, which are equipped
with wire net, to cover the spokes of the wheel. A substantial walk
way should be provided at the back side so that the upper parts of
the machine may be readily reached.
___
CALENDERS.
The calenders have been a fruitful source of accidents and various means have been devised to eliminate them with more or less success. The committee appointed by the Wisconsin Commis-
lift*
imms.;:im;.:-ts^:. . lessee* --I1-^afaaM.Bi:::. --~mm
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
301
sion, mentioned above, recommends that if the paper feeds over the top rolls the calenders be provided with a feeding belt. This is in use in the Kimberly-Clark Company's mills in Wisconsin. The nips are sometimes guarded with round rods or angles.
The Warren flexible "doctor," which is controlled from one point on the stack, eliminates to a great extent the necessity of an opera tive getting up to remove foreign substance from the rolls.
A plank placed at the bottom nip forms a very effective guard.
REELS.
The best method of eliminating the danger of being caught in the reels is to remove the reels of paper from the frames to rewinders. Where fixed reels are used they should be so equipped that the rolls of paper cannot be reeled closer than eight inches between and eight inches above the floor. Permanent stops should be pro vided for this purposesr
The Warren winder, with hood over drum, is fai safe. If the paper is threaded, through, so that the drums ^ out, it is perfectly safe. However, it is contended that paper wound does not make a hard and close roll, as when the drums r in.
CUTTERS.
A great deal of attention is being given to e rely enclosing the gears and drives of the cutters. This sometiir is effectively done by a sliding partition, which drops down in f jnt of these driving gears.
In the connection of eliminating hazards around papermaking machinery, a great deal depends upon the discipline maintained. More accidents occur during horseplay than while actually at work. The posting of reasonable rules and a rigid enforcement of the same will do more to prevent accidents than will most any other form of safeguarding.^
Gentlemen, I thank you. (Applause.)
HAZARDS IN' WOODYARDS.
S. F. Shattuce, Treasurer, Kimberly-Clark: Company,
Neenah, Wis. Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: Of all the operations of the paper industry the work of the woodyards
302 __Fourth Safety Congress
has seemingly offered the greatest
The Wood Yard
difficulties to the securing of sub stantial results in accident reduc
tion. The natural hazard of the
work is great, and this factor, com
The greatest of all
bined with its seasonableness--mak
hazards-----the human
ing necessary the employment of large numbers of new men during
element--is at its maximum in the
the wood season--is a hard combina
tion to overcome. The greatest of all hazards, namely, the human ele
wood yard.
7
ment, is at its maximum and the chance of mechanical safeguarding
is at its minimum.
As in all other lines of activity, however, safety and efficiency go
hand in hand. In tome of the operations' of the Kimberly-Clark
Company, greater efficiency has followed in the .wake of our safety
and sanitation campaign, but this sequence has rather been reversed
in our woodyards; here greater safety has been one of the most
marked results of increased efficiency and improved system.
CAR STAKES.
The matter of car stakes is, perhaps, the most vexed question right now, at least, in our section of the country. For years, whether loading cars in the woods or loading out of the woodyards for the woodroom, it has been customary to use a rough stake fitted into the stake pocket and tied to the stake directly opposite by wire. The dangers fb a man breaking down such a load are too well known .to need description; suffice it to say that only last winter in our Niagara woodyard, a man whose duty it was to cut these car stakes was caught and pinned under the falling load and escaped death only by a miracle.
Aside from the hazard of this crude type of equipment is its cost. Firms doing logging on any scale must buy wire by the car load, and when to . this is added the value of the car stakes and the labor of fitting and binding, it becomes evident that there is eventual economy m resorting to an automatic stake, which can be used many times over and which can be tripped without danger to life and limb. _The Industrial Commission of Wisconsin has
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
303
interested itself in this matter and their committee on logging- rules has recently submitted its findings to the Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers' Association with the recommendation that the follow ing order be adopted by the com mission :
The Remedy
As in all other lines of activity. Safety and Efficiency
"On logging -roads owned by lumbermen, the stakes or binders
go hand in hand in the paper industry.
used on logging cars
to hold the load of
logs in place when being transported, must be so de
signed as to make it possible for the operator to loosen
or disengage the stakes or binders when standing away
from the front of the car and in a safe position."
The above recommendation, which will undoubtedly soon have the force of law in Wisconsin, does not cover cars owned by rail roads, for the reason: that the Industrial Commission does not have jurisdiction over railroads, but the fact is that lumbermen are practically unanimous in their condemnation of the old type of stake and the hope is expressed that the railroads may see their way clear or be otherwise induced to equip their cars, used in the logging service, with the automatic stakes.
The one essential feature of an automatic car stake is that it can be tripped when the man is standing either on the opposite side of the car or at one end and many good devices are to be had, either patented or home made, at a cost of $25.00 to $50.00 per car.
CHAINS.
The Central Safety Committee of our company has consumed more time, endeavoring to formulate arbitrary rules and regula tions governing use of ^chains, than it has put on any other single subject in the last two years. We have tried to set a limit, at which chains should be discarded on account of stretch and to set arbitrary dates when chains should he sent in for annealing, but the net re-
:*
W-:
111411,
304
Fourth Safety Congress
suit of our deliberations has been to go the. round of the circle and come back to reliance upon the common sense of an experienced chain man. In our woodyards the chain inspector makes a semi
weekly inspection, link by link, of every chain, and the top loaders and others whose safety depend upon the strength of chains are instructed to--and do--make daily and sometimes hourly inspec tions of the chains they are working with.
DERRICK CARS.
The noticeable reduction in hazards and consequent lessening of accidents has come through the introduction of the derrick car. This equipment not only makes it possible to do the work of the woodyard in a safer and more economical fashion, but it auto matically reduces the normal woodyard crew 30 to 40 per cent, which in itself is a big factor in the safety equation. The use of the grab bucket makes it possible for a man to stand off at a safe distance both in the loading and unloading process. Our original derricks were equipped with a beam 70 feet long, which we used until one of them capsized one day, pinning a man underneath the bed of the car on which it was mounted, after which a 14-foot section was taken out of the-middle of the beams, leaving them at 56 feet, which we believe to be the safe length for this service. In our Kimberly woodyard we reduced the number of accidents last season 40 per cent and the lost time on account of accidents 64 per cent, principally through the use of the derrick cars.
THE HITMAN ELEMENT.
In my opening paragraph I referred to the unusual hazard of
woodyard work and to the prominence of the human element. This is well reflected in the record of 86 consecutive accidents occurring in our Niagara woodyard, showing that 41 out of these 86, or 48 per cent of the total, were caused by falling or rolling logs. Sixteen accidents, or 18 per cent of the total, were due to slips and falls; 6 accidents, or 7 per cent, were the fault of fellow workmen, while 8, or 9 per cent, were due to the improper or careless use of the pickaroon. Thus, 82 per cent of the entire number may be charge able to the inherent hazards of the industry and the carelessness and inexperience of the workmen. In other more favored sections
i'WWwdglWBiipiiiajiPMM'aiw; r hw r
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
305
of the country it may not be necessary to resort to the labor agency in rush seasons, but unfortunately in Wisconsin we have many times been forced to this extremity- The Safety Bulletin, the printed page, the public meeting and the_personaI word of caution all help some, but so long as inexperienced men must be put up against dangerous jobs the accident rate is bound to be high. There fore, let us be open to every modem device and improvement, which promises to do this heavy and hazardous work better with a smaller number of more experienced men. (Applause.)
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS FOR SPECIFIC DANGERS IN PAPER PLANTS
E. P. Gleason, Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Company,
Port Edwards, Wis.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: I have been asked to bring to your attention and open for discussion some of the specific dangers in paper plants and safety instructions and warnings for them.
Coming from Wisconsin--a very active safety state, and from one of the larger paper industries of the state--I have considerable valuable and interesting data to which I can hardly more than call your attention in the brief ten minutes alloted me.
Let us consider first: Is the paper manufacturing industry a dangerous one? The 1914 records show that this industry employed approximately 3.6 per cent of the men, had 7 per cent of the compensatable injuries, and was fifth among the twelve classified in dustries in number of accidents. These are in order:
1. Woodworking, 2. Metalworking, 3. Construction, 4. Public utilities and transportation, 5. Paper working industries, 6. Food, beverages and tobacco, 7. Mining and quarrying, 8. Leather working.
306
_ Fourth Safety Congress
ACCIDENTS
So long as inex
g. Vehicle manufacturing, io. Others--Chemical, laundry, printing, etc. ix. Textile industries, 12. Miscellaneous.
perienced men must
A DANGEROUS INDUSTRY.
be put up against
Surely these figures show paper
dangerous jobs the accident rate will be
manufacturing to be a dangerous in dustry and well worthy of the at tention to safety work which it is
high.
getting and will get from those in
terested, and the more intimate
knowledge that we, who are familiar
with the details of the mills, possess, confirms this statement.
Having established our position let us classify the accidents, tak ing those of our company as a fair example.
For the first nine months of 1915 there occured in our mills-- employing approximately 600 men--eighty-seven accidents on ac count of which the employes lost one day or more of time. They were divided as follows:
Item No.
1 Cause of Accidents
No. of Acc'dts
1--Cuts on hands and smashed fingers.................21
2--Handling logs find pulpwood in yard...................16
3--Cuts and eye injuries on barkers......................11
4--Blocks fell on feet.......................................................... 11
5--Trucking . . .^...................................
si
6--Injuries around paper machines..............................7
7--Pickeroon, struck foot.............................................. 3
8--Stepped on nails.............................................................2
9--Boiler-room burns.................................................. .. . 2
10-- Pinched in belts............................
2
11-- Coupling cars ................................................................ 1
Total.....................................................................87
Total
24.1% 18,4 12.65 12.65 12.65
8.06 3-46 2.3 2.3 2.3 1.13
100.0%
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
307
A careful study of this table re
veals the fact that one-fourth of all accidents were from minor cuts and
Experienced Men
bruises and 18 per cent from
smashed toes and fingers caused from handling logs and pulpwood in the yards. A furtherrstudy of the
Let us be open to every modern device
history of these eighty-seven acci
which promises to do
dents shows that not more than ten could possibly have been prevented by guards or safety devices installed
this hazardous work with more experi
by the company, and that the re
enced men.
maining seventy-seven, or 89 per
cent, were caused by carelessness or
thoughtlessness on the part of the men themselves.
EDUCATION IN SAFETY WORK.
This may seem, gentlemen, a little far from the topic assigned
but it leads directly to the statement that the greatest specific danger in our paper industry, and I believe in any industry, is the Careless Man and the greatest: specific problem with which we are con fronted is, how to reach the careless man. The answer is, educa tion in safety work; __
1. Education thru bulletin boards, monthly safety publications,
etc.
--
2. Establishment of a safety organization in which these men have an active part and interest.
3. Judicious use of signs and posters at dangerous points in the mills.
4. Contests or records of safety progress in the various mills and departments. --
I will briefly take up each of these subjects and endeavor to give you our methods and results of treating same.
1. Bulletin Boards, Publications, Etc.--We have established in
each of our mills three: bulletin boards, as illustrated here, on which is displayed each week the National Council Bulletins, together with data and interesting facts from our own plants.
We publish for the Employes a monthly Safety Bulletin, combin-
308 Fourth Safety Congress
ing safety and welfare work and distribute them with the pay
checks. We are sure that our bulletin boards are appreciated and that
the Safety Bulletins are read not only by the men in the mills but by their families.
2. Our Safety Organization--Planned along the lines advised by the National Council, our safety organization is based on the fundamental and necessary principle that the men themselves must do the active work if they are to derive the benefit. Xo this end the workmen's committees, consisting of three men in each mill, have one new man each month, by which plan we shall eventually have every employe a member of the workmen's safety committee. Our experience and the interest shown by the men has convinced us that the policy is the right one to follow.
3. Signs--Our policy has been to use signs carefully, believing that a multiplicity of them is worse than too few. We have, at very small expense, made and used blue print signs, similar to samples, to good advantage in the more exposed places, a few of which I have here.
We believe that the extensive or rather promiscuous use of danger signs is confusing and defeats their main purposes, to warn em ployes of the more dangerous places and to give the foreman the necessary backing in enforcing the safety rules and regulations.
4. Contests and JSafety Records--During the last three months of 1914 several of the mills of our section entered a safety contest, the prize--a large Sa,fety First flag--going to the mill having the least number of lost-time accidents, based on the number of men employed. Did this pay? Our records show an average of 31..3 accidents per month for the first nine months of 1914. For the last three months the average was only 17 lost-time accidents per month making a reduction of 46 per cent.
For 19x5 we have had an intermill contest with this (illustrated) emblem as a prize going each month to the mill with the best acci dent record. Our garage number of accidents for the first nine months of 1915 was- twenty, or 36 per cent below the corresponding months of 1914. 7
I have, gentlemen, endeavored to show you that the educational part of the safety work is our greatest specific problem and en deavored to illustrate our methods of attacking it. Guards are
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
309
necessary, but with a well-managed safety organization the limit of guarding is ultimately reached and the Human Factor must be given the greatest attention. (Applause.)
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS FOR SPECIFIC DANGERS IN PAPER MILLS.
G. E. Williamson, Strathmore Paper Company.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: One of the most difficult and, at the same time, important aspects of safety work in industrial plants is to place before the persons you wish to reach suitable safety instructions and warnings in such a manner that these instructions and warnings will be read, under stood and heeded, i
In the discussion which follows, the writer will endeavor to pres ent briefly the methods employed in the four mills of the company with which he is connected, to bring before the employes the dangers incident to their every-day work, make them think constantly of Safety First and act accordingly. No attempt will be made to deal with a lot of generalities bearing on the subject under discussion, nor to suggest rules or methods applicable to all conditions which exist or may arise in paper mills, but rather to recite personal experi ences, in the hopes that the way may be opened for an exchange of ideas and experiences beneficial to all, as this is the true function of the round table meeting.
It may be well to explain at the start that early in the present year the company with which the writer is connected instituted a Safety First campaign and followed in general the recommendations of the National Safety Council as to organization and procedure.
safeguarding of machinery.
It has been our experience and doubtless that of most companies which have instituted the safety movement in their plants, that, to the majority of industrial workers. Safety First means largely the safeguarding of machinery and other plant equipment. Our main efforts, therefore, are necessarily exerted in an endeavor to show even more important, and the greatest of these is the education of these people that important as safeguards are, other features are
310 --Fourth Safety Congress
Safety Rules
Place before the persons you wish to reach suitable Safety
the workers themselves. An impor tant feature of such education is pointing out to the various classes of employes the specific dangers which they encounter day after day" but little realize.
The methods employed thus far are as follows:
instructions and see
FIRST------BULLETIN'S.
they are read and
In each mill are bulletin boards
understood.
upon which are posted bulletins fur nished by the National Safety Coun
cil. In place of these bulletins,
drawings and sketches--made on tracing cloth and blue printed--
--are posted at frequent intervals. These drawings show parts of
actual machinery or processes in the mills, and have printed on
them matter relating to the particular danger which the drawing is
intended to emphasize. We have found the drawings to be of much
value in pointing out specific dangers, showing as they do actual
scenes or conditions that possess much human interest and are
eagerly looked at by the employes, especially when first posted.
SECOND-----PRINTED INSTRUCTIONS.
It has been found, advantageous to provide printed instructions, which are permanently posted in various parts of the plants. One of the most important of these is "Instructions for Operating Ele vators,", which, printed in large type, framed and posted under glass at each elevator entrance, gives specific directions for the operation of elevators and forbids acts which may lead to danger. Other signs--printed and framed in similar manner--bearing on unsafe practices, cleanliness and orderliness, are likewise posted at various carefully selected points around the mills.
In addition, -typewritten instructions, addressed to the heads of departments, are frequently made out, and when drawn in the form of a personal letter, relating to a matter of particular interest to the' recipient, have been found to be of much value, particularly when written and signed by an executive officer of the company.
wftwfe'.'
wmaiMw :~.':i -ij-.?;
j; i<u
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
311
At other times typewritten' safety instructions or warnings are ad dressed to all employes or certain departments and posted on bulle tin boards.
Safety Committees
THIRD-----SIGNS.
If properly devel
Signs are being used in increas
oped! the Committees
ing numbers both in and out of doors to point out particular dan gers. These signs are made of wood, having black letters on a
can accomplish an immense amount of good.
white background, with the familiar
red ball danger signal occupying the center of each sign. Particular attention is given to the wording
of these signs, that they may be brief, easily read at a reasonable dis
tance, concise, and readily understandable. Signs like these, posted
in various rooms and at dangerous points outside, cannot fail to at
tract the worker's eye frequently and impress upon him or her the
importance of care at all times.
The fear of even a slight accident resulting from disregard of a
big sign nearby is often deterrent to the chance-taker, for no man
wants to run the risk of receiving the jibes of his fellow workmen under such circumstances, and the psychological effect is undoubt edly good. In order to make signs understood by every one due
regard must be paid to the fact that not all of the employes read
English.
FOURTH------SAFETY COMMITTEES.
One of the most vital parts of an industrial safety organization, we believe, is the local safety committee, for, if properly developed, the committee can accomplish an immense amount of good. It has been found to our advantage to divide each mill into sections and allot to each member of the local safety committee a particular sec tion during his term of service on the committee. He is expected to visit all parts of his allotted territory at frequent intervals, ob serve all conditions which make for or against safety, and take immediate action or report his findings to a higher authority.
Here we have, found one of the most positive and satisfactory
m. <*~= ra-a
l:g;afi Kit1 ii :rmmmtm
312
Fourth Safety Congress
means of reaching the individual employee. By properly instructing the committee members it is possible to bring before employes, who may be habitually careless or indifferent to safety motives and other wise difficult to reach, a message which will appeal to their reason, , coming, as it does, from one of their fellow employes and thus
produce results otherwise unobtainable.
FIFTH------PUBLICATIONS.
There are many industrial concerns which issue at stated inter vals some kind of a publication that reaches the employes. This is a most excellent means of appealing directly to each individual worker, and full advantage is taken of a publication issued monthly, in the form of a booklet, to issue safety instructions, point out specific dangers, and appeal to the rank and file for their co-opera tion and best efforts.
A means is also provided for each employe to submit for publica tion any views he. may hold, or suggestions he may have to offer along lines of safety, and points are thus frequently brought out which, under other circumstances, would lie dormant.
It goes without saying that the above suggestions do not comprise all methods of issuing safety instructions and warnings practiced in paper plants, and it probably would be impossible to gather such in one short treatise, but those mentioned are all of a simple but practical nature and are being employed successfully at the present time. (Applause.)
SAFETY INSPECTION METHODS FOR LARGE AND SMALL PAPER MILLS.
A.Dr.-
D. Risteen, The Travelers' Insurance Company.
Mr. Chairman mid Members of the National Safety Council: To adequately discuss the inspection of paper mills of all sizes in ten minutes is a task from which the boldest might shrink without fear of criticism. I shall, therefore, touch upon a few points only, and will dwell mainly upon things that pertain peculiarly to paper mills, as distinct from plants of other kinds--though it will be under stood, of course, that the inspector has certain general duties and responsibilities in all plants, whether they are paper mills or not. He must look out, for example, for the guarding of belts, shafting.
.f; # ":--V-3S' W-aWCr~a ;S^:JtSeittig J iuw2I AlS
tiMmSf if.
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
313
gear drives, pulleys, and saws, and for rails and toeboards about stairways, overhead gangways, and floor openings, and many other things not peculiar to paper mills.
The engineering and inspection division of the Travelers' In surance Company, which I represent, has published two little book lets dealing with the general problem of accident prevention in paper mills, copies of which may be had by those who are interested, and I shall try to merely supplement the counsel that these booklets con tain. Moreover, I shall speak only of wood-pulp mills, and shall not take up any of the special problems that arise in mills making paper from rags. _
The inspector should take note of the yard conditions in general, and should give particular attention to the way in which the wood and sheet pulp are stored. The piling is sometimes so carelessly done that the stacks topple over, and the men often pull pulp wood away from the base of a pile so that overhanging ledges of interlocked pulp blocks are left projecting into space over their heads. Where portable elevators are used the inspector should note whether of not good judgment is used in placing each elevator in a firm and stable position, and whether or not guards are provided about the moving
parts. Where conveyors are used to carry stock from the yard to the mill the entire apparatus should be inspected to see that there are no points at which a careless workman might be caught.
INSPECTION AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
The driving mechanism of a paper mill is often located in the basement and operated with insufficient light, low head room, un guarded shafts, and wet, slippery floors. The conditions prevailing in a place of this kind should be very carefully studied and the in spector will usually be able to suggest improvements that will tend very markedly toward lessening the hazards without being in the least degree impracticable.
There are several places in a paper mill where proper ventila tion has a direct influence'on the health of the employes and on the accident rate. Dense clouds of steam are often present in the grinding room, for example--particularly in cold weather. The condensing steam keeps the floor in a very slippery condition and the steam itself greatly reduces both natural and artificial light. Workmen who are obliged to breathe an excessively vaporous at-
31^
Fourth Safety Congress
mosphere every day are naturally
VENTILATION
susceptible to contracting' colds and other ailments. Adequate ventila
tion will tend to keep the atmosphere
clear and will thereby greatly re
Adequate ventila
duce the likelihood of accidents, as
tion will tend to keep
well as promoting the health of the men. The same conditions prevail,
the atmosphere clear
to a lesser degree, in the machine
and greatly reduce
room, where large quantities of va por are given off by the wet pulp as
accidents.
--
it passes over the steam rolls.
The use of electricity for power
purposes is becoming- more and
more general in paper mills, and it is therefore necessary for an
inspector to be familiar with standard and approved practice in
this direction. Inferior equipment, faulty installation, and lack of
proper maintenance present specially serious hazards in paper mills.
Dry flooring is more or less efficient as an insulator in protecting
the men against shock from contact with electrical conductors, but
in paper mills the floors are wet almost everywhere and instead of
affording some protection against shock they actually increase the
danger. It is, therefore, vitally important to see that motor frames,
transformer cases, and machines directly connected to electrical
apparatus and circuit conduits, are adequately grounded; that wires
carrying dangerous potentials are suitably enclosed or located well
out of reach; that adequate protection is provided at rheostats,
starting panels, and switches, and, finally, that the control devices
are located in easily accessible places.
SIGNALS A3NTE> THEIR USES.
The inspector should note the method of warning employes when dangerous operations are to be undertaken or machinery is to be started. If sound signals, such as bells or whistles, are used, it is essential that the sounds shall be loud and sharp enough to be readily heard above the noise of the mill, and if dependence is placed upon signal lights, these lights should be located so that the workmen cannot fail to see them. I believe, personally, that an
MHtfiMt.:aanli-
r-,:-' rj-
:' c? mnWim i:IM:E;.ij.&a3i- L ..ift*Wga>1 WmMftriEijUMrW'Mlh !' 'tUK
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
315
intermittent flashing- signal is bet
ter than one. that shows steadily. This principle is favored by adver
STEAM
tisers using illuminated signs and I
believe it could be advantageously
employed in our industries.
Workmen who are
Careful attention should be given to the digesters, in every respect.
obliged to breathe
The inspector should look them
excessively vaporous
over, with the utmost care, for evi dences of leakage, and. when a leak
atmosphere are sus
is found he must do his best to de
ceptible to colds.
termine its cause and significance.
If he deems it necessary to do so, he
will, of course, insist that the digester be shut down, and that the
cause of the trouble be investigated thoroughly and immediately.
Naturally, however, he will not resort to such a heroic measure as
blowing off a half-cooked charge of chips unless he has pretty definite
and positive grounds for doing so. In many of the problems that
arise in connection with digesters the inspector's lot is not a happy
one and his task frequently calls for all the astuteness and ability that
he can command. Those who are disposed to criticize an inspector
who has had a section of lining removed from a digester, only to find
that the corrosion that was feared had not occurred, should remember
that it is hard for the human eye to penetrate six or eight inches of
brick and cement and that hindsight is invariably clearer than fore
sight.
In entering a digester the inspector should be sure that it is
free from gas, and well ventilated; and he should also see to it,
personally, that the blow-off valve is closed, so that steam and gas
cannot back up into the digester that he is in if another one in the battery is blown off.
TROUBLES OF THE INSPECTOR.
He should examine the lining carefully at all points, to detect any places where the acid has penetrated it. Any defects that are found should be remedied as soon as convenient, but it should be remembered that a hole in the lining does not always mean imme diate danger of corrosion. The inspector should have with him a
316 --: Fourth Safety Congress
piece of flexible steel wire, similar to the "snakes" that electricians use for passing small electric conductors through conduits, and when he finds a hole he should investigate its depth and general direction by probing with the wire. If the hole is merely a small pocket it may be of no immediate importance, but if it is of some length, and especially if it appears to run to another opening at a somewhat different level, it may .require attention at once. A hole that runs clear in to the metal of the shell may not give rise to much corro sion, not only because the acid will be brought into contact with the shell only in one limited spot, but also because the acid that enters the hole will soon become saturated with iron and then it cannot do further damage until a fresh charge is placed in the digester and fresh acid enters the hole. The most dangerous holes are those that are ^> some length and that open into the lining at two places. There may be a continuous current of acid through a passageway of this kind. If the hole runs along in contact with the metal shell the corrosion will be rapid, because the acid, being then constantly renewed, will go on dissolving more and more of the metal until it has cut quite a deep groove in the shell plate;
Scaffolds are often built inside of digesters, for the use of the men who have to repair the linings. They should be solidly and substantially constructed, because a fall from the top of a big sul phite digester down to the bottom of it is a serious matter. These scaffolds are often very poorly put together, however, and the cross bracing is particularly likely to be slighted. The lack of care that is shown" in building them is doubtless due largely to the fact that a digester must be idle while the repairs are going on and the man agement is naturally anxious to get it back into working order again as soon as possible so that it can be producing pulp. Hence the tendency to cut down the time allotted for building the scaffold. The inspector often has a good chance to look over a scaffold of this kind, especially when the lining is to be wholly or partly re newed, because he is then supposed to be notified, so that he can examine the condition of things when the lining is out.
A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
I am here reminded of a special hazard in connection with a particular digester T was once inspecting. The lining required extensive repairs and a pole scaffold had been constructed in-
gi &; ---MW.
tamea. i.-feL
***** - & %
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
317
side the digester, so that the men could get at every part of the
shell. I went over the lining myself, looking for trouble, while
the men (who were French Canadians) were making the repairs.
I was in there for perhaps two hours and all that time the French
men were droning away upon one long, continuous, monotonous
song. I don't remember what it was about--perhaps about the
doings of the brave Papineau--but there must have been ten
thousand verses to it for it was in full blast when I went in and
was still going on with undiminished fervor when I came out. The
hazard to which I refer, in this connection, was the one to which
those Frenchmen would have been exposed if I could have laid
hold of half a brick with eight good sharp corners on it. About
an hour after I came'out the scaffold collapsed and timbers and
Frenchmen fell to the bottom of the digester, and I should have
served as a foundation of the whole pile if I had stayed inside.
One man had an arm broken, another had a collar bone broken, and
most of them were considerably bruised. I was sorry for the poor
fellows, but I could not help feeling that perhaps the collapse of
the scaffold was to some extent a judgment on them for that in terminable and unendurable song.
The blow-off valve and all its connections should be examined
with great care, to see that they are sound and strong in all parts, and the inspector should see that proper precautions are taken,
whenever a digester is to be blown off, to prevent men from being
caught' in the room or=yat into which the digester discharges. I
recall one case in which a man fainted or went to sleep in this place.
Somebody called out a warning and as no reply came back the
blow-off on a big digester was opened and tons of boiling-hot sul
phurous pulp was discharged over the unfortunate man. The inspector should assure himself that all the reducing valves
and safety valves used in connection with the digesters are in good
working order, and in particular he should see that there is a safety-
valve on the distributing^ tank from which steam is drawn off for
the digesters.
^
The boilers used in paper mills sometimes develop bulges from
overheating caused by deposits of pulp on the- heating surfaces--
the pulp fibers being introduced with the feed water. Whenever
there is reason to think that this might possibly occur (as, for in
stance, when there is another pulp mill higher up on the same
Baaftw -<i-
iwiaif
JH.
MBartwtt
Mtm
318
_ IFourth Safety Congress
stream), the feed water should be
CRITICISM
passed through a filter of some kind, which will effectually remove any
particles of pulp that the water may
contain.
Criticism should always be construc
Finally, let me say that the in spector's criticisms should always be constructive. That is, they
tive and point out definite and practical
should be helpful and suggestive, and should point out definite and practicable ways in which the diffi
remedies.
culties may be overcome. Mere criticism without further assistance
may be of some benefit, but its
value is increased a thousand fold if the right way to do the thing is
clearly pointed out. (Applause.)
RELATION CEE EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT TO GENERAL SAFETY PROBLEM IN PAPER MILLS.
H. W. Stokes, President, York Haven Pater Company.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: Speaking broadly, a paper mill is very much like every other kind of manufacturing establishment in that it contains machinery. Ma chinery when it is at rest is safe, when it is put in motion whatever latent danger is injit becomes at once potential and an element to be reckoned with and controlled as far as possible, but it is always present.
Those who have preceded me today have given an outline of the character of machinery in general use in paper mills and the proper way in which it should be protected, so further reference to this on my part is unnecessary.
To obtain the highest degree of safety and protection to the em ploye, two sides of the problem mtist be considered, viz: The phys ical and the mental.
It requires no great expenditure to make machinery reasonably safe without impairing its efficiency, although it seems to be the
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting
319
idea of some of the theorists who
make our laws or who are em ployed to execute them that all ma
The Careful Man
chinery should be so protected that
the hazardous element is eliminated
entirely, or in other words made "fool proof," thereby reducing the efficiency of the machine to a mini
Impress on the . mind of every work
mum or rendering it almost useless
man that a careful
for its intended purpose.
man is the best
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS.
All shafting should be boxed in
Safety device known.
as far as possible, every set screw
on a pulley removed, and proper guards of frame or iron pipe of a
reasonable height placed around danger spots.
The mental side of the question involves some different prob
lems.
"
It may be taken for granted that few, if any, employers are really
indifferent to the safety of their workmen, and that no one wants
to have a man killed or even injured; yet the average employer is
careless about it, and to my mind it is this carelessness on the
part of both employer and workman which is responsible for most
of the accidents.
v
By ingenuity and invention we have been able to create most
everything, yet we cannot create life, though we can destroy it. A
real responsibility, therefore, rests on every employer to insure as
far as possible the life and welfare of those working for him, and
every encouragemnt should be given to foster a spirit of care and
watchfulness, not only on the part of superintendents and foremen
but down the ranks to those in the lowest positions.
Where there is a danger spot put up a sign of caution. A man
may get used to seeing it there and not notice it always, but the
knowledge that it is there and the spirit which caused it to be there
will have a subconscious influence, which, like an unseen hand, will
warn him, and make him "stop and think" for a moment, and it is
that moment which will quicken his faculties and make them alert.
Under such circumstances the risk of injury is minimized.
The main idea is to impress on the mind of every workman that
-HBWfflS ,.........................'/."yrawitt:*;
- -HT.;:-'IBBfiai
320
Fourth Safety Congress
a careful man is the best safety device known, and the employer must not lose sight of the fact that Safety First means as much to him as to his employe; that it is more economical to stop a piece of machinery a few minutes to adjust it or to put on a belt than to run the risk of an accident with the consequent claim for damages and the hardships to those dependent on the injured party.
FACTORY INSPECTORS.
Many of the states employ factory inspectors to make periodical
visits to investigate conditions and suggest or order changes or additional safety devices. They are usually appointed through po litical pull, but as a rule have some qualifications for the job, and while some of their recommendations are not of great value they are human and appreciate a courteous reception.
From interviews with the factory inspectors of Pennsylvania, ex tending over many years, I am convinced that a hostile attitude to ward them by the manufacturers, especially the smaller ones, is the rule. These manufacturers would he spared a considerable amount of expense and inconvenience if a different reception was accorded by them to the inspectors.
When an inspector finds the employer trying to reduce injuries and willing to meet him more than half way the result is doubly beneficial. It not only creates a friendly feeling on his part, but when he comes in contact with the workmen, will indicate to them that their safety and welfare is receiving proper consideration by those in charge of the management.
Workers should be encouraged to study the safety problem and make suggestions which will reduce the risk, to watch for and re
port defects in machinery, and the employer should co-operate by their safety and welfare is receiving proper consideration.
Employes are quick to sense the attitude of their employer and equally quick to reciprocate it, and the knowledge that Safety First is the motto and desire of the management, even though it may at times appear to bring a temporary loss, will in the long run pay a handsome dividend in greater efficiency, an increase of output, and a spirit of co-operation among the workmen which only those who have tried it can appreciate, and, what is still better, the satisfac tion which comes to one from having done something to help his fellowmen. (Applause.) The Section then adjourned.
MSiL
Mwawn*. ~T ':r.':.::.Wte.3i-. rgfS3^fe.;.'';L::,.':-;.vyT' /...ay.gjvi;
The Prevention of Accidents Is a Duty I Owe Myself, My Fam ily and My Fellow Workman
National Safety Council
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
Philadelphia, Pa. October 20, 1915
DR. EL B. ROSA, Chairman
Acting Director, Bureau of Standards, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C.
W. J. CANADA, Secretary
Electrical Engineer, Bureau of Standard*, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C.
WEDNESDAY MORNING SESSION
HE meeting was attended by about two hundred, the capacity
T of the room, with many standing. Dr. E. B. Rosa, Chief Physicist of the Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C., * acted as chairman, and Mr. W. J. Canada, Electrical Engineer of the same bureau, as Secretary. The following papers were pre sented :
"Linemen and Their Hazards," by Mr. Charles B. Scott, General Manager, Bureau of Safety, Chicago, 111.
"Danger of Low-Tension Shocks/9 by Mr. H. S. Warren, Elec trical Engineer, American Telegraph and Telephone Company, New York City.
321
aasagw" -itMf
K'MW-- ..
eJliaU
322 --FourthSafety Congress
An additional pageron the same subject, by Mr. Elam Miller,
also of this company.
"Hazards of High-Tension Lines," by Mr. B. E. Morrow, Chief
Engineer, Utilities Mutual Insurance Company, Schenectady, N. Y,
"Hazards of Gas-Works," by Mr. James B. Douglas, Manager,
Claim Department, United Gas Improvement Company, Philadel
phia, Pa.
^
"Hazards of the Street," by Mr. Edward C. Spring, Manager,
Philadelphia Division, Lehigh Valley Transit Company, Allentown,
Pennsylvania.
--
The papers brought forth considerable discussion, among those
taking part being the following:
On Mr. Scott's paper Mr. Gannett of Chicago, Mr. Ash of Pitts
field, Mr. Vincent and Mr. Spencer of Philadelphia, and Mr. Clem ents of New Haven7 Mr. Warner of Youngstown, and M.. Burton
of Chicago. Mr. Scott's paper brought out the fact that the most
serious hazards in the electrical industry are those of the lineman,
and that a large proportion of these accidents are due to the human
element and principally on account of physical and mental unfit
ness for the work, lack of effective rules, indulgence in dangerous
practices and the misunderstanding of orders. Numerous instances
and some statistics were given in support of this statement, and suggestions were given as to the selection, the discipline, the de
tailed instructions, and the guards and protective equipment which
might reduce the hazards of linemen.
The points particularly emphasized in the discussion were the
necessity for the foremen's constant attention and the importance of
getting men to use the safety devices provided and to take sufficient
interest to abandon dangerous practices. The great importance of
proper instruction and supervision by foremen was particularly
emphasized.
Considerable discussion also developed relative to the merits of
the prone-pressure method of resuscitation as compared with meth
ods employing mechanical breathing devices. The general experi
ence appeared to indicate that the use of mechanical devices is of
less moment than the immediate adoption of the prone-pressure
method by men familiar with its application and directly at hand,
since the mechanical devices usually are somewhat delayed in arrival
bn the scene of accidents and such a delay may be fatal. Various
SIMM--MtiHiMf
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
323
methods of arousing ir :erest in safety among linemen were also discussed.
The paper by Mr. Warren on "Danger of Tow-Tension Shocks" discussed briefly the difficulty of securing reliable data on injuries by low-tension circuits and the doubt frequently existing as to whether a higher voltage did not actually supervene in cases of fatality assigned to low voltages. The factors involved in the se verity of shocks were outlined, including the character of the body surfaces, the portion of the body included in the circuit, the internal body resistance and the duration of the shock. The physi ological factors were also mentioned, and the suggestion made that in most cases it seemed probable to the speaker that persons in a normal physical 'condition would rarely be subject to injury by low voltages.
In the paper presented by Mr. Miller on the same subject, some outline was given ps to the sources from which our present informa tion on physiological results of electric shock and the voltages from which serious shocks or bums may result, are based. The doubt as to the voltage concerned in the accident was emphasized by this speaker also. In the, newspaper reports of low-voltage fatalities the use of resuscitative measures is not reported to have been at tempted in a majority of cases. In many cases the conditions were favorable to the fatality; that is, the person was standing on a damp floor or had his body wet with pt eviration or otherwise. In
over a third of the cases, however, resuscitative measures were reported to have been used, and in one-half of these n mechanical appliance. Some data was given by Mr. Miller as to the body con tact resistances and assertion made of the probability that these will usually be high with accidental contacts. A quotation was also included from the report of the Commission on Resuscitation from Electrical Shocks, showing that the nervous effect on the muscles of respiration can usually be counteracted by prompt measures, whereas any interference with the regular beating of the heart is more likely to result in fatality.
Additional data was given with regard to relation of voltage to severity of shock, asishown by experiments on dogs, but no infer ences were drawn with respect to ability of the human body to withstand electrical shock. A series of experiments made in Eng land was referred to, Iwith the conclusion of the experiments that
rTiBtWHgf C:r-YS?F
k;U
324
Fourth Safety Congress
the dangers of electric shocks at
Safety Habit
500 volts have been misunderstood and exaggerated, and resulting in
the further conclusion that in most
Safety, Security,
instances of fatal accidents oc curring from voltages under 500
Success-----Safety af
volts unusual conditions must have
fords Security to all who work under its rules. Success fol
existed, either external to the per son or physiological.
The final conclusion drawn by the speaker was that low-voltage
lows.
fatalities are very infrequent, ex cept where quite special condi
tions exist. The discussion was
taken part in by Dr. E. B. Rosa, Mir. B. E. Morrow, Mr.
Ash, Mr. Gannett, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Cannon, Mr. Canada and
others, and brought out the fact that a considerable number
of accidents do actually occur from low voltages and that
the frequency of "unusual" conditions is sufficient to warrant at
tention to the protective measures against such accidents. Special
locations, such as boiler-rooms, laundries, bathrooms, etc., were
noted as particularly liable to cause good contacts should the human
body be made a part of an electrical circuit in these locations. Cer
tain experiences were: cited in which linemen had been subjected
to circuits of 28 volts d. c. to 36 volts a. c., these proving as high
as they would with good contacts be willing to endure. Instances
of physical examination showing apparently excellent physical con
ditions in persons injured by moderate voltages, were given. The
discussion brought out the point that safety from low-voltage haz
ards is usually readily obtained by the grounding of external metal
surfaces and the suitable guarding of live parts--two means of
protection in which the manufacturers of electrical apparatus and
devices can largely assist and in which the value of standardization
of future practice is very apparent.
In his paper on "Hazards of High-Tension Lines" Mr. Morrow
brought out the great differences existing in different sections as
to what is considered high-tension. The advantages of strong line
construction in preventing line failures were submitted, and the
necessity was shown of providing sufficient working space to permit
.''-mmtf' IIL: igT-~afi"" T": "
' lEiOSiLiiP '
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
325
line work to be carried .on in com
parative safety. The usefulness of tags and grounds was also men tioned as a means of safeguarding
The Safe Course
work on normally live parts. The
advantages of portable lights for
Wben in doubt
emergency work on overhead lines and the disadvantages of port
take the safe course.
able telephone sets, on telephone
If you don't under
lines carried on transmission pole lines, were mentioned. The speaker
stand your work,
also brought out the point em
don't attempt it.
phasized in the paper by Mr.
Scott, with relation to the great
advance in accident "prevention by the proper instructions and by
close supervision of linemen, in the same way as is now becoming
common for station men, was urged.
The discussion was taken part in by Mr. Sells of Atlanta, Mr.
Spencer, Mr. Scott and others. The difficulty that comes from the
nomadic tendencies of linemen was brought out, together with the
great advantage that would result to the linemen themselves and no
less to employers by the training of linemen in all parts of the coun
try in reasonably uniform safety methods, such as are provided by
suitable nationally adopted safety rules, since in emergencies result
ing from considerable line failures or other causes, linemen need to
be brought into one section from many others and the first few days
is frequently a period of numerous accidents.
In his paper Mr. Spring emphasized the necessity for more actual
work toward producing greater safety on public streets. The use
of warning signs, barriers, and watchmen on guard about street
excavations, pole work, and similar operations likely to increase the
hazard to the public, was brought out. The necessity for establish
ing zones for loading and unloading passengers was mentioned, and
the advantages of school instruction of children in street precau
tions was advocated. Playgrounds were also advocated as a means
of keeping children off of streets as well as of organizing their
play. The dimminfpof headlights was shown to have its disad
vantages, as well as advantages, in making possible certain types of
grade crossing accidents.
326
Fourth Safety Congress
The discussion was taken part in by Mr. Doherty, Mr. Read, Mr.
Smith, Mr. Morrow, Mr. Mack, Mr. Gannett, and others. It was
brought out that the-need o public instruction is very great and
it is now necessaryZfor public utilities to instruct their men to
think for the public and to anticipate foolhardy acts on the part of
the public, particularly of children. A considerable discussion de
veloped as to the advantages or disadvantages of paying employees
for time spent by them in safety discussions and glasses. Many
reported that the best results had appeared to come when the men
met voluntarily and without pay. Others expressed the attitude
that the cost of accidents is finally borne by the industry and that
instruction in safety is fully as important as any other portion of
the work in the industry. Some suggested also that where a man
is paid he realizes the importance of his work, otherwise regarding
it as somewhat perfunctory. It was generally agreed that instruc
tion, not only of employees but of the public, must precede the at
tainment of any very considerable results in accident prevention by
the growing hazards of streets and highways.
The paper of Mr.James B. Douglas listed the percentages of
accidents in the gas industry caused by various features involved
in the carrying on of work by emploj'-ees. The fact was clearly
brought out that the_purely gas accidents constitute a small per
centage of all accidents in the industry, the larger number being
due to causes which are common to all mechanical processes. A
number of typical accidents were given and a number of additional
hazards were instanced for which illustrated accidents were not
included in Mr. Douglas' paper. The subject matter of this paper
had been so closely condensed by the writer and confined so entirely
to very definite suggestions that abstracting is difficult. (The paper
is, therefore, given in full in another place.)
Discussion was contributed by Mr. Morrow, Mr. Connor, Mr.
Sells, and others, arid a number of the points brought out by Mr.
Douglas were again efnphasized by the experience of others, but
the paper proved so ^complete that little new material was added.
Part of the discussion was upon the relative merits of different
types of mechanical breathing apparatus, no conclusion being
reached, but the advantages of breathing apparatus appearing to
be reasonably well supported by good results in a number of asphyx
iation cases.
~
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
327
The talk on the "Training of Street Car Platform Men'7 was given extemporaneously by Mr. Wamock, who emphasized the value of careful selection of employees, the close relation between honesty, courtesy, and carefulness, and the reduction of accidents in street car service as the time of service increases. The advan tages of careful instruction and supervision were presented to gether with the importance of choosing the trainers with the utmost care. Various methods were suggested of obtaining and retaining the close interest of all the trainmen.
Before the close ofl the session Mr. C. B. Scott, as chairman of a special committee on by-laws of the Public Utilities Section, pre sented his report which was adopted and the by-laws accepted. Pro ceeding to the selection of officers, the session nominated and unani mously elected Mr. Harry Lucas of Philadelphia as chairman of the section and Mr. Alonzo P. Ewing as secretary.
Respectfully submitted,
W. J. CANADA.
LINEMEN AND THEIR HAZARDS.
Charles B. Scott, Middle West Utilities Co., Chicago, III.
Accidents to employees o f electric light and power properties show a very large percentage to the linemen as compared with those en gaged in other occupations incident to this industry. A careful study of the accident records of such properties also shows that those engaged as linemen sustain a large proportion of the serious and fatal accidents, which fact demonstrates that the importance of the safety of linemen is, in fact, greater than the numerical pro portion of all accidents would indicate.
In dealing with the problem of the safety of linemen, it is very important that we do not forget that at least eighty-five per cent of the accidents to this class of employees are due to the human element and about fifteen per cent to mechanical or physical con ditions of the property. Consideration of this ratio is fundamentally necessary in any intelligent plan for their protection. A careful analysis and the study of this failure of the human element develops that chief among the contributing causes for man-failure are phys-
328
Fourth Safety Congress
ical or mental. unfitness for the
FOOLISH!
work, lack of definite rules, dan gerous practices and misunderstand ing of orders.
The records of the Common
When you fake a
wealth Edison Company for the
foolish chance you
year 1914 show that in its- Street Department, which includes both
invite someone to do
overhead and underground work,
likewise. Don't do
the percentage of employees who sustained accidental injuries was
it. Be careful.
twice as great as the percent
age of all the other departments
combined.
During the year 1914 the Public Service Company of Northern
Illinois, a company operating both gas and electrical properties
largely within the inter-urban districts adjacent to Chicago and oper
ating about eight hundred miles of transmission lines, serving, ap
proximately, one hundred and eighty communities, had a record of
nine accidents of over thirty days' disability, eight of which were
in the line department.
The Middle West TJtilities Company operates public service prop
erties in the smaller communities of several states. An analysis
of the fatal accidents to employees reported by the subsidiaries of
this company for the years 1913 and 1914 and up to October 15,
1915 shows a total number of fourteen fatal accidents to employees,
of which ten occurred to linemen. Of the total amount of money
expended on account of these fatal accidents to employees, three-
fourths was expended on account of the fatal accidents to
linemen.
From these facts we fully conclude that the safety of the line
man is a most important factor in the accident prevention problem
of these industries. *
1. Selection: Particular attention, therefore, should be given
to the selection of men for this kind of work. Men of temperate
habits, physically and mentally competent to perform the duties,
should be selected. Men addicted to the use of intoxicants should
not he employed in the line department. Frequently, sufficient at
tention is not given to the selection of linemen. Especially is this
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
329
true where extensive construction
work is about to begin, when the man who happens mlong and de
clares himself to be a lineman is
SPLENDID!
given employment and no effort is
made to ascertain his fitness or
It is a splendid
qualifications to perform the work with safety to himself and others.
thing to risk one's
2. Rules and Practices : Many
life when duty de
companies have certain definite rules and practices which are to
mands it, but it is
be followed. Frequently newly em
foolish otherwise.
ployed men, and sometimes men
who have been employed for some
time, have ideas of their own which do not conform to the
rules which the company has found by experience to be necessary.
A certain discipline should control these conditions. A careful
study of the practices of men should be made by the foreman and
any hazardous practices corrected.
3. Particular and Detailed Instructions by Foremen:
Some foremen consider their duties fulfilled after they have briefly
outlined the work to be performed, but, in order to '' "sure the safety
of the employes performing the work, their knowle: work should not be assumed. In all such cases
regarding the ey should be
given detailed instructions by their foremen ar chese foremen
should closely observe the men while they are at ,rk in hazardous
positions.
^
4. Prober Guards and Protective
^ipmeni : Rubber
gloves, line shields and other approved pro :ive devices should be
furnished by the companies. In order to ' are the use of protec
tive equipment provided, there must be < .nplete co-operation be
tween the linemen and the foremen. Su^' co-operation can best be
secured by interesting both foremen and linemen in accident pre
vention work. This interest can best be created by a direct appeal
to the men--impressing them with the serious importance of such
co-operation, of their own personal interest in their safety and of
the beneficial results- which may be accomplished by persistent co
operative effort. It cannot be maintained by occasional and spas
modic efforts in accident prevention, but the foremen and linemen
330 Fourth Safety Congress
must be impressed with the fact that accident prevention is an important part of their everyday work.
5. Allow Sufficient Time for Performance of Work: In some cases the engineering- department arranges for the work to be done and also arranges with the operating department regarding the length of time that the lines are to remain dead. In many in stances sufficient time is not allowed for the work to be done. In such cases the workmen are hurrying to finish the work and the foreman is also hurrying the men to complete the job in the time given and the men do not take time to provide proper protection.
DANGER OF LOW-TENSION SHOCKS.
H. S. Warren, Electrical Engineer, American Telephone &
Telegraph Company, New York.
I wish first of all Jo apologize for presuming to speak to you on a subject about which I know so little. The request to participate in this program was received at the office during my absence on vacation, and on the day after I returned, as I was considering whether it would be wise to accept the invitation, I received a copy of the printed program -with my name included thereon. I con cluded under the circumstances to undertake to comply with the request rather than to subject your committee to the inconvenience of procuring another speaker, my decision being based on the fol lowing three principal considerations:
1. That I wishedLto show my interest in and support of the work which your organization is seeking to accomplish.
2. That while.I knew little or nothing about the subject I hoped to be able to study up something which would enable me to fill in the brief time assigned.
3. That if I declined in favor of someone else who was well informed on the subject the allotted space of ten minutes would be all too short for such a one to cover the subject adequately, hence he would doubtless prefer to make his remarks on some other oc casion when more time could be devoted to them.
By way of further apology I have also to confess that my. efforts to acquire information which might serve as a basis for some help ful remarks at this time have not been as successful as I anticipated.
mmmm'
lM
tfcaiiSM]
ff. i pi
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
331
partly on account of a very busy Western trip, which has kept me quite fully occupied,'and partly because reliable information and illuminating facts on this subject are hard to get. Indeed, I have come to wonder whether the hypothetical individual mentioned above who knows a great deal about this subject is not purely a myth. At any rate, if he really exists I suspect he is of a retiring disposition and that difficulty may be experienced in finding him and getting him to appear and divulge what he knows. Hence what I say to you today must be very general in character and largely derived from theoretical considerations.
At various times I have heard, and no doubt you all have heard, of persons being fatally shocked by contact either directly or through some intervening agency with an ordinary no to 120 volt lighting or power secondary. T do not know personally of any instances of this sort and cannot assert their genuineness.
It is generally difficult, even for those most intimately concerned in such occurrences to find out exactly how the accident happened. Usually there are some important factors which are not known and from the nature of the case can never be known. It may be that the person supposed to have received 120 volts was actually sub jected to a higher voltage than superficially appeared or that by some diseased condition of the body he was abnormally susceptible to shock, electrical or otherwise, or some other unsuspected circur istance may have -figured in the case. However, without at
tempting to pass on the actuality of any cases of this sort that may have been reported where persons in good physical condition are supposed to have been fatally shocked by electricity at voltages of 125 volts or less, let us see whether any reasonable explanation can be offered whereby such a positive occurrence may be ac counted for.
I fancy there is no :one in this room who has not at some time, and probably many times, sustained a shock of no to 120 volts, and in view of the trifling sensation and lack of effect other than an involuntary start produced by such shock it seems impossible that so slight an influence could be a direct cause of death in any case. To myself, personally, such shocks are unpleasant to about the same extent as the taste of fat meat, which I happen to dislike.
I recall that when in college it was something of a custom for us electrical students, when passing through the dynamo-room, to reach
!- ~:i
-
iSmlUfc BWM;
aaaai-;
332
Fourth Safety Congress
with the two hands across the
A Truth
brushes of a certain 220-volt gen erator which was located near the
passageway. This practice was re
pugnant to me, as I disliked the
"Many a truth is
sensation of the shock, but it was
said, in a joke."
less annoying than it would have been to confess myself a molly
It is easier to issue
coddle and incur the ridicule of
orders than to give
my fellow students by making a fuss about it.
instructions.
It is probably unnecessary to say
that the 220-volt shocks never did
any of us any harm.
Not only have we first hand evidence that shocks from secondary
voltages are ordinarily harmless, but also there appears to be many
cases where persons have sustained shocks from enormously higher
voltages and yet escaped with their lives and even in some cases
without injury. I do not Speak from personal knowledge of any
instances of this sort and no doubt in some cases the voltage
actually sustained by the person was less than. the full voltage of
the circuit involved. To find out just how much voltage the person
actually sustained would require more information as to the entire
electrical circuit at that time than it is ordinarily possible to obtain.
The voltage consumed in resistance to earth is often a large and
unknown factor. However, there seems no reasonable doubt that
instances have occurred where persons have sustained without harm
shocks of several thousand volts.
It appears, therefore, that experience as well as theory gives coun
tenance to the view that voltage alone is not the controlling factor
in determining the effect of an electrical shock. It has been sug
gested that the amount of current which flows through the person's
body, rather than the voltage impressed, is the true criterion of
the danger. No doubt the volume of current is more controlling
than the magnitude_of the voltage, but I venture the opinion that if
the phenomena of^electric shock were fully understood they would
be found to he quite complicated and the effects dependent upon
the following several factors which are named in the possible order
of their relative importance:
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
333
1. Distribution of current thru
the body. 2. Rate at which electric energy
The First Law
is dissipated in body.__
3. Total electric energy dissi
pated in body, involving time of
Help us prevent
duration of shock. These assume the subject to be
in normal physical condition. To
accidents--look out for yourself first, the
what extent susceptibility to injury varies with certain sorts of ill health I am not prepared to say.
other fellow afterweird.
Also, of course, alternating and'
direct currents produce quite dif
ferent physiological effects, but this phase of the matter is not
considered here.
If the above assumptions are in general correct it would follow
that one of the most important factors in the problem is the mag
nitude of the resistance of the human body and particularly the
contact resistances at the points where the current enters and leaves
the body. The contact resistances probably constitute in general by
far the greatest part of the total resistance of the body. If, there
fore the person sustaining the shock is in some unusual condition
with respect to surface; contact, as, for example, with his hands im
mersed in baths of mercury between which a voltage is impressed,
the surface contact resistances would be relatively small, hence the
total body resistance would be abnormally small, the flow of current
through the body correspondingly large and the energy dissipated
in the body would be large and probably would be concentrated more
or less at vulnerable points. In such a condition a voltage which
ordinarily would be entirely harmless might produce serious or
possibly even fatal results, especially if the shock were prolonged
for a considerable time; To speak with confidence on this point
or to state what conditions are essential to produce a fatal result
would require a considerable amount of quantitative information
which I do not possess^
My personal opinioiTds that for practical purposes voltages of
250 or less are not dangerous except possibly under very extraordi
nary conditions of exposure. When the maximum flow of current
ei-JgUiia
iMa
r.-fc'c-gj grTCgSt.
zm.
334
Fourth Safety Congress
is restricted by a substantial amount of resistance in circuit voltages considerably higher than 250 are not dangerous. For example, if the resistance were three or four times the total voltage it is im probable that a fatal shock could be caused even under the worst possible condition of exposure. If fatalities to persons in normal health have occurred at ordinary secondary voltages I believe they must have been due to some such extraordinary condition of surface contact as would allow an extraordinarily large current to flow and therefore cause an abnormally large energy dissipation for the voltage impressed. A similar line of reasoning would tend to explain how persons may be subjected to contact with high voltages and still not receive injury. If the contact resistance is large it may apparently, in some cases, amount to many thousands of ohms and the flow of current through the body and resultant dissipation may be small. Even if the impressed voltage is large, and par ticularly if the contact is of only momentary duration, no harmful results would follow.__
I regret that the ideas above expressed are not founded to a larger extent on observed facts and hence may be largely in error, but my experience has not been such as to bring me in close personal touch with accidents of this sort. I trust, however, that these few remarks may suffice to assist in suggesting to others, points upon which they can furnish information which will be helpful in draw ing final conclusions. it
DANGER OF LOW-TENSION SHOCKS.
Elam- Miller, American- Telephone ajstd Telegraph: Company, New York.
In preparing these notes on the danger of shocks from low-tension electric sources, I have attempted to present the available informa tion in such a way as would lead to a general discussion of the subject. I have confined myself to the consideration of fatalities which, it is reported, have occurred on potentials of under 500 volts. This, in general^ means light and power secondaries of 440, 220 and no volts. After having examined the engineering, legal, medical and journalistic data, and conferring with persons whose
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
335
duties presuppose familiarity with dangers from this source, I am of the belief that it would have been somewhat better to have assigned a title in the, form of a query, that is: "Is There Danger from Low-Tension Shock?"
At the very outset I must say that engineering literature is almost devoid of references jto fatalities occurring from voltages of 220 or under, and there are but few references to fatalities occurring from voltages under 500. In general, the medical literature bearing on this subject is confined to the physiological discussion of the mechanism of death by means of the electric current, and the dis cussion of experiments on animals, particularly dogs, from which certain inferences may" possibly be drawn as to the effect of the
electric current on the human body. Autopsies performed on the bodies of electrocuted criminals Jiave also added to medical knowl edge of this subject. From legal sources may be abstracted the testimony of experts who, however, in general, base their opinions upon the existing medical knowledge and such information as they may have been able to gather from engineering sources. Newspaper accounts of fatalities reported as resulting from contact with lowvoltage sources are fairly prolific, but, after having attempted a fairly careful analysis of a considerable number of such accounts, I have been forced to the conclusion that this sort of information is not of great value. In many cases there is a doubt as to whether the voltage that caused the fatality was not very much higher than that reported.
Despite the fact that it is my feeling that the information obtain able from journalistic sources is not oi great value, I shall, never theless, briefly describe my findings. In all, I have been able to obtain newspaper descriptions of sixty-three fatalities, covering a period extending over the past five years, occurring on voltages reported to be under 500. Of these, twenty are reported to have occurred on voltages of 110 or less, twenty on voltages from m to 220, and twenty-three on voltages from 221 to 480. In twentyseven of the sixty-three cases the statement that the victim "died instantly" occurs, and in none of these cases is there any mention of resuscitation methods having been applied. If it is a fact that resuscitation methods were not attempted in any such proportion of the cases as is here indicated I think we may properly reach the conclusion that a considerable proportion of the fatalities were the
336
Fourth Safety Congress
result of neglect, in that apparent
WAR!
death was mistaken for real death. In sixteen of the cases reported,
conditions surrounding the accident
The greatest
were admittedly favorable to a fatality--that is, the victim was
enemy of Safety is
either standing- on a damp floor,
Carelessness. Con quer him or he will
standing in water, or his body was covered with perspiration or his clothes were wet. In fourteen of
cause you injury or
the cases there is clear evidence
death.
that death may not have been due to electric shock, but to secondary
causes, such as a fall which re
sulted in striking the head, internal injuries from a fall, a weak
heart or other physical debility of some sort, a broken neck, etc.
In twenty-four of the cases it was reported that resuscitation
methods were applied, and in eleven of these it is reported that the
pulmotor was employed, the time of employment varying from
twenty minutes to two hours.
With respect to the physiological effects of the electric current,,
all medical authorities agree that the paths followed by the cur rent, the current density, and the time, are the important factors.
This at once leads to the conclusion that the location and degree
of contact are important. Depending upon the location and size
of the electrodes and the sort of contact made, the resistance of
the human body varies over wide limits. In certain cases it may
be of the order of_ 200,000 ohms, and in other cases under 1,000
ohms, though this lower limit would be unusual-in the case of acci
dental contact. Much of the resistance is surface contact resistance
and is particularly high when the cuticle is thick or where callouses
exist, as, for instance, on the palms of the hands and soles of the
feet. With specially prepared electrodes located at selected points
the resistance may be quite low. In penal electrocutions, it is re
ported that fromy to 10 amperes are forced through the body by
potentials in the neighborhood of. 1,700 volts. Under these con
ditions the resistance of the body is, therefore, of the order of 200
ohms. That suchJLow resistances could ever result from accidental
contact seems quite improbable.
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
337
It is generally agreed that death
from electric shock may result from either of two causes, and at this point I think I cannot do bet
SAFETY
ter than quote from the report of
the Commission on Resuscitation from Electric Shock, presented at
"Safety should he
the thirty-sixth coarsbentiors of the National Electric TLight Association
made the first consid
in Chicago in June. ~gt 3
eration of every em
"The electric current may kill either by t=esn.po~arHX paralysing" the nervous control j~. - the rau'scles of respiration, or by stopping
ploye."
L
Be Careful!
the regular beat Of the beart. When the heart is seriously affected
it ceases to contract as a -whole, but continues to contract in parts
here and there, so that it appears to quiver. It is then said to
'fibrillate-' In this condition the heart fails to keep the Mood cir
culating and death quickly results. At present no practical pro
cedure has been discovered which will restore the regular beat of the heart in man after it begins fibrillating. Hope of resuscitation
is now restricted to proper treatment of the cases of paralyzed
respiration; and since deprivation of oxygen for about ten minutes
injures irremediably some of the nerve centers of the brain, it is
particularly important that measures for resuscitation be applied
immediately and continued until natural breathing returns. In some
instances, however, the heart may be merely weakened without being
made to fibrillate; in such cases artificial respiration may be of vital
importance, because a greatly weakened heart leads to impairment
or total stoppage of respiration, which in turn destroys the last
vestige of the heart-beat. In all cases, therefore, an attempt should
be made to restore natural breathing. Fortunately, artificial respira
tion can be applied by laymen without immediate need of compli
cated apparatus." y-
This report then goes on to recommend the Shafer, or "prone-
pressure," method of artificial respiration with which electrical
workmen are becoming more and more familiar.
In so far as I have been able to discover, there is no completely
reliable information with respect to the maximum current that the
338
Fourth Safety Congress
human body will withstand when the path of this current traverses vital portions, such as the heart, brain or spinal column, as, for obvious reasons, direeFobservations cannot be made. One authority. Dr. Henry Lewis Jones, in his work entitled '`Medical Electricity,"
states that: "In the absence of direct observations, the minimum fatal current
for human beings may be estimated at about one-half to one
ampere." As complete a set of physiological experiments as I have been
able to locate are those that were carried out by Dr. A. M. Bleile, Professor of Physiology in the Ohio State University, and reported in the transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engi neers for the year 1895, under the title "The Cause of Death in Electric Shock." DfT Bleile made his experiments on twenty-seven dogs, using a 130-cycle alternating current source of comparably low voltage--that is, 100, 70 and 5 volts. His electrodes con sisted of copper plates covered with sponges moistened with salt water and applied at the base of the skull and over the middle of the back. Currents of the order of 0.2 ampere resulted in death when the time of application was of the order of 4 seconds. With currents of the order of 0.5 ampere, death usually resulted when the time of application was but one second. The dogs experimented upon weighed on the average about twenty-eight pounds. Methods of resuscitation by means of artificial respiration were, in Dr. Bleile's experiments^ unsuccessful. Dr. Bleile did not find in his experiments that the current had any disintegrating effect on the brain or nerve tissue, in so far as could be determined by micro scopic examination. He does not attempt, on the basis of his experi ments on dogs, to generalize with respect to the tolerance of the human body to electric shock.
In engineering literature may be found two particularly interest ing papers on electric shock read before the Institution of Electrical Engineers (British) on February 27, 1902; one by Dr. Alexander B. Trotter, entitled "Electric Shocks at 500 Volts," and the other by Mr. F. B. Aspinall, entitled "Electric Shocks." Mr. Trotter carried out a series of experiments with the view of determining whether or not any considerable danger resulted from accidental contact with 500-volt trolley circuits. He made experiments upon himself and some thirty other persons, including twelve women and six children.
;Sgjgi?MjMAg.ir-:.:- > .feaft
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
339
and reached the conclusion that the dangers of electric shocks at 500 volts have been much misunderstood and greatly exaggeratedlie discusses cases of fatal accidents from 500 volts arid shows that in all such cases the fatalities could be attributed to the existence of unusual conditions which resulted in very much more perfect contact than would ordinarily occur in electrical accidents, or to marked physical debility of the victim. Mr. Trotter concludes that with sound, dry boots, hardly anybody can feel a shock when stand ing on the live raibjof an electric railway with one foot and a run ning rail with the other. With damp or wet boots a shock is felt, but in no case was it serious. He states that while wearing dry boots, without large hails, the resistance was so great that it was perfectly safe to touch a wire in contact with a trolley wire while standing on the ground or on the rails. Mr. Aspinall discusses in an interesting manner certain pertinent questions with respect to electric shock in general. He emphasizes the fact that everyone is not equally susceptible to an electric shock, and concludes that the physiological condition in which one is at the time one receives an electric shock makes a very great difference with respect to its severity. The interesting conclusion is reached that in cases of severe electric burns the likelihood of a severe shock is reduced, as the bum is evidence of a high surface contact resistance. With respect to the voltage required to cause death, he states that below 600 volts the- conditions must be abnormally favorable; that below 1,000 volts the conditions must be favorable; and that above 1,000 volts the higher the pressure the more probable it is that the condi tions necessary to cause death will obtain. He compares the relative dangers of alternating and direct current and comes to the con clusion that there is nothing more dangerous in one than in the other.
Our own experience in the telephone industry has not led us to the conclusion that there is any particular danger from low-tension sources. Our troubles from electric shock are not those that arise from voltages employed in signal service, but occur from accidental contact with foreign electrical sources. In an attempt to determine from a reliable source whether or not fatalities occur from contact with low-tension circuits .1 interviewed Mr. J. C. Robinson, Claim Agent of the New York Edison Company. Mr. Robinson tells me that in his experience'as Claims Agent for the New York Edison
3jfiF:;..3 iW
1WBWWH
340 Fourth Safety Congress
Company, extending over a period
of seven years, he knows of no
HUNCHES
fatality occurring on"' 220 volts or less; There have been cases of
fatalities occurring on such circuits,
"When you scent
but in each instance it has been
danger, stop! look 1
definitely determined that it was due to a breakdown between the
listen I Something
primary and secondary of a trans
may be wrong. ^ Be
former or to other causes which impressed upon this circuit a volt
sure of Safety.
age in excess of normal. Mr. Rob
inson states that this is not only
the experience of the New York
Edison Company, but is as well the experience of distributing com
panies in general throughout the country.
HAZARDS OF THE STREET.
Edward
C.
Spring, ^Assistant to President, Lehigh Valley Transit Company, Allentown, Pa.
On account of the universality of the subject and the wide scope which street hazards have, it will be impossible for me, in the ten
minutes allotted to this subject, to do other than to touch lightly
upon the more important points of street hazards. When we take into consideration that 57 per cent of the acci
dents today are upon the public highway there is certainly a large amount of work to be done to eliminate this great sacrifice of life. In the month of February last there were as many people killed by automobiles on the streets of New York City as during the opera tion of the elevated and subway lines from their construction to the present time. Statistics tell us that one person is killed for every 8,000 population upon the highways of the country, whereas on the steam railways only one for every five and one-half million. The time has come when strenuous action must be taken in safe guarding the interests not only of utility companies but of the public in general, and less talk as regards Safety First, but greater action. z
IW,
h- .
ijaila jMMal
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
341
You will pardon me if I confine
my remarks more particularly to
public utilities, as I am more fa miliar, perhaps, with this line- of
Saves Time
accidents than any other.
More attention must be given
Remember, it
when opening up streets for track work, conduit, sewer, water, gas
takes less time and
and other excavations of a like
trouble to prevent an
nature, that ample protection is made for the safeguarding of the
accident than report
pedestrian, with flags by day and
it. Think safety.
lanterns at night. Foremen of gangs
must be better posted upon the re
sults of careless work and they must be brought to a more realizing
sense of the responsibility that rests upon them in the protection
of their companies' interests as well as the public at large.
In all work upon underground conduits, when the manholes are
open, barriers should be placed about the same and a red flag or
a man in attendance on the surface. In all work upon poles in the
city streets, particularly through congested sections, the linemen at
work on the poles should be protected by a ground hand, who should
keep people away from the pole while work is in progress, as a
pair of plyers or gas tongs, or any other tool used by the lineman
in falling might injure a pedestrian most seriously.
A greater co-operation with municipalities and municipal boards
of control must be entered into for the establishment of safety zones
for the loading and unloading of passengers and for such traffic
regulation as will avoid any congestion.
As I am a firm believer in the education of the child, that the
future interests of Safety First may be more permanently founded,
the work among the children in the schools cannot help but be of
the most effective character. The safety campaigns. which are being
conducted at the present time in our larger cities by companies
such as the Brooklyn Rapid Transit, Boston Elevated, Philadelphia
Rapid Transit and Lehigh Valley Transit, are showing such results
of a convincing nature that the money spent in this work is one of
the best investments of any public utility company. 'I he safeguard
ing of the children's interests in going to and from school by street
mmms . l--dt;a..
342
Fourth Safety Congress
monitors appointed from the upper classes is working out to good advantage, and the training, through lectures and moving pictures, of the mind of the child is carrying its effect to the parents as well. The cautioning of the child to cross streets at the prescribed inter sections, to keep away from all wires that are hanging loose, and to "STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN" before crossing steam or elec tric railway tracks are all factors which go to make a campaign of this character most effective.
I would strongly advocate the co-operation of all utility companies with the local authorities in the establishment of playgrounds in various parts of the municipality. Not only do these playgrounds offer a physical training for the child but then it keeps the child off the streets and away from the greatest hazards which their lives are subject to.
The Boy Scout movement of the country is one to receive the highest commendation m the work that it is doing, and there is no other factor today that can be utilized to better advantage than the co-operation of the Boy Scouts of America in the safety work of the National Safety Couhcil. They have already proven their effec tiveness in many cases where large crowds have been brought to gether in the better handling and regulation of the same.
The turning out of Jieadlights and the dimming of the same on the part of transportation companies is being asked for universally, but this is a matter which every transportation company must look into most carefully, that their interests will be thoroughly safe guarded in case of an accident.
The grade crossing, both on the highway and in municipalities, is one which is demanding the universal attention of the country today. The terrific slaughter of life at grade crossings is unparal leled save by the terrific war across the water. Municipal regula tions and legislation and stringent action must be exercised in elimi nating this feature of accidental death, as the public today does not seem to realize and does not take the precautions necessary to safe guard its interests at such a hazardous point.
The advent of the automobile industry in this country today is showing increases in accidents along this line of over 100 per cent, and the country has no other hazard today upon our highways to contend with more than the reckless, unlawful and insane manipu-
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
343
lation of automobiles by careless and inefficient drivers. I believe in more than preaching Safety First. Rigid action is necessary in the elimination of this accidental feature.
The company with which I am connected has instituted a system of obtaining the number and entering prosecution at once where an automobile passes a common carrier when loading and unloading passengers. In all cases where an automobile driver violates the laws of the road or in any other way shows his inefficiency to handle his machine, these-numbers are also taken by the train crews and other-employes of the company and a letter is written to the owners by the claim department of the company calling their attention to this violation of sane operation and placing the same upon file in the claim department, should a future accident occur to this same machine, that it may be used in evidence against them.
I strongly advocate the solicitation of the co-operation of automo bile clubs< in various communities, that a representative interested
in safety work may take up with the various clubs the necessity of co-operation in Safety First, that the large number of people who are daily losing their lives shall cease.
Our company has had the most pleasant relationship with the Li censed Chauffeurs' Association and it may be of interest to note that in all the accidents that our company have had of this nature none have occurred, nor any complaint made of any mention, that has been handled by a licensed chauffeur--the majority of acci dents being by inexperienced and reckless drivers.
In summing up this brief report on the hazards of the street, we must first bring about a closer co-operation between the employe and the company, that the employe may he thoroughly enthused with the Safety First idea; that he may know what an accident means to his company, that he may know what the loss of life or injury means to a human Jbeing. After we have accomplished this, then a closer co-operation with the public at large. No work can be accomplished and no end successfully attained without the thorough accord and co-operation of all of those interested. One of the gigantic tasks that the National Safety Council has to meet today is its relationship with the public, and until such a time as the public in general becomes jnore alive to' the work of the National SafetyCouncil and safety in general the large number of accidents upon our highways will not decrease.
344
Fourth Safety Congress
APPRECIATION
Your efforts to prevent carelessness and correct danger ous conditions will be appreciated. __
HAZARDS OF HIGH-TENSION LINES.
Bryce E. Morrow, Chief Engi neer, Utilities Mutual Insur ance Company, Schenectady, New York.
In many companies the highest operating potential is called "high tension" and in some companies it is as low as noo volts. A well known authority when asked what he considered high tension said:
"Up to 300 volts low potential, 300 to goo volts medium potential. Above 900 volts high potential. Above 1500 volts extra high potential/'
Limits, however, are not definite as engineers may differ. Cer tain hazards exist on all lines, even those carrying low voltage--the contact itself not being fatal, but falls from high places are often caused by slight shocks^which result in serious accidents.
TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION LINES.
On account of their exposed position the transmission lines are
possibly the weakest link in the high-tension transmission system
and even the failure of a single insulator may cause a complete shutdown of the system. - It is, therefore, necessary that very careful consideration be given to the design and erection of such lines.
In general, steel towers are used for high-tension transmissions of a permanent character, as they insure an increased reliability which is a feature of special importance where there is competition from unfailing steam plants located in the same field of distribution. However, many wood, iron and reinforced concrete poles are used and excellent results have been obtained.
The more important reasons for the greater reliability of a steel tower line over one of--wooden poles are their substantial construc tion, which makes them capable of withstanding sweeping storms.
<Wi7-"~ T. ywwwiS
-------iiMS
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
345
Lightning troubles, such as splin
tered poles, etc., are not present, and they are, o course, indestruct ible from forest fires. On the other
The New Man
hand, easy access to either circuit
can he obtained in a double circuit
The new man, to
tower, making it possible to keep up service on one circuit while re
whom you give the
pairing the other.
hand of fellowship
In repair work or changes where a hazard exists, clearance or work ing space should be such that the
today, may injure you tomorrow.
workmen may carry on repairs
without being in dangerously close
proximity to the live circuit. Before starting any work on dead
lines they should be short-circuited and grounded at the place or
places where work is to be done. As an additional precaution it
is considered good practice to ground and short-circuit lines at both
ends as well as to tag the switches controlling them. If these pre
cautions are taken there is little chance of workmen becoming con
fused and attempting to work on live circuits.
Artificial fight is necessary and is almost indispensable where re
pairs or changes have to be made during the night. The light should be portable and o such design as to enable a man to carry it, as
there are places on many systems which can only be reached on
foot. Attention should be paid to tools and appliances used on
the work. "Where working space is limited, tools not fitted, for the
work may easily cause serious accidents. Many devices are used
for making temporary or permanent repairs while transmission lines
are energized, such as the so-called "floating insulator," or specially
designed tools, which are mounted on the ends of insulated wooden
rods. The work is done during the day, and it is claimed, at a
considerable reduction in- cost.
The importance of not interfering with the service, where only
one transmission line is "used, is of considerable value. Telephone
fines rurt pn the same pole or tower line as the transmission circuits,
if not properly installed^ are a source of danger. Likewise, the
practice of having patrolmen using portable telephones and tapping
on the line, in order to acquaint station operator of his whereabouts.
346 Fourth Safety Congress
is bad practice, and men have been seriously injured thereby. On a long transmission line, the system may become accidentally grounded, which induces a dangerous potential on the telephone wire. Telephone wires have broken and have swung into high tension lines, oftentimes with fatal results. There is a well estab lished system of providing telephone booths, which may also be used for the storage of repair materials, or insulated stands with
the telephone apparatus properly protected. By far the greatest hazard in construction repairs or changes on
high tension lines is the "human element." Linemen, as a rule, are of a roving disposition and are not contented for a long time in any one section, journeying back and forth to all parts of the country. Many receive their training with telephone or telegraph companies and fail to appreciate the difference between this and power trans mission work. Due to climatic conditions, in sections of the country where precipitationis slight and the air dry, men have changed insu lators on a live line operating at 20,000 volts with bare hands and with comparative safety. If this were attempted in other localities a fatal accident would result. One can understand how a man accustomed to work in a section where insulators are changed on high tension lines with circuits alive would very probably forget the danger he might incur while at work in a location where climatic conditions are different.
Instruction books which are furnished linemen contain informa tion which, if studied, would be of material assistance to them in their work. However, experience has demonstrated that they are seldom if ever consulted. Unfortunately, instruction books are of little value unless'the management demands and enforces strict compliance with rules. This can only be brought about through frequent talks and by the use of pictures illustrating good and poor practice in the work.
Rules furnished linemen should be as simple and as few as pos sible. Much gooff can be accomplished by a few minutes' talk by the foreman as to the hazards on the particular work to which they are assigned and the all-important fact instilled into their minds by frequent repetition that the only earning power they have in the world is a sound body, for which no settlement could possibly compensate in cases of serious injury, and that chance takers are not desirable employees.
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
34-7
The habits and physical' condition of the workmen engaged in line work have an important bearing on elimination of accidents. The time has arrived when operating officials must give more con sideration to the class of men that are hired for line work. They should have preliminary training in power plant or substation work, as well as training as groundmen, in order that they may acquaint themselves with the operating conditions in a general way, and be made to realize that their work is of just as much importance as the station or office men and that accidents are a reflection on their ability as workmen.
When operating officials give the same thought to the education of line foremen and linemen that at the present time is given other classes of help many of the hazards that now exist in high-tension lines will be eliminated.
HAZARDS OF GAS WORKS.
B.James
Douglas, Manager Claim Department, The United
Gas Improvement Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
With but few exceptions the hazards met in the operation of gas works are those met in other industrial plants. Many persons think that "gas accidents" predominate in the casualty experience incident to the manufacture of Illuminating gas. Such, however, is not the case. The result of a survey of some 6,200 employee accident cases
reported by 119 gas companies located in thirty-five states, which
I have just completed for the American Gas Institute, showed that the accidents peculiar to the industry were:
Leakage of gas, outside (including three fatalities), 1.03 per cent. Leakage of gas, inside, 1.62 per cent Explosions (including three fatalities), 3.01 per cent. Amounting in -all to but 5.66 per cent of the total cases received.
The remaining classifications were: Machinery in'`operation (including one fatality), 2.63 per cent. Elevators (2 fatalities), 2.19 per cent. Falling in or through openings (one fatality), 4.23 per cent. Hot material (one fatality), 4.88 per cent. Objects, hanging or swinging, .73 per cent Objects, protruding, 4.36 per cent
348
Fourth Safety Congress
Objects, falling (one fatality),
ir.29 per cent.
Your Brother
Flying particles, 7.87 per cent. Vehicles (three fatalities), 8.69
per cent.
Warn any man when danger is near.
Nails, wires, etc., 6.53 per cent. Handling of material, 9.73 per cent.
If he knows, all
Slipping or tripping, 8.93 per
right. If not, you
cent. Hand tools used by injured, 12.80
may save his life.
per cent.
,
Hand tools used by fellow em- '
ployee, 2.19 per cent.
Animal bites, 1.75 per cent.
Miscellaneous (one fatality), 5.52 per cent.
From this it will be observed that in combating the accident fre
quency we are confronted by the problems met by other employers
in the industrial world.
Although time forbids going but lightly into the subject to which
I have been assigned, I shall endeavor to give you an idea of some
of the most likely causes of accidents around a gas works:
In the generator house some of the accidents are due to:
Employees not standing at a safe distance from the mouth of
the generator after opening the lid, in order to avoid being burned
by the burst of flame which immediately follows the removal of
the lid.
it
Pieces of fuel falling from overhead conveyor and its supporting
structure. To be prevented by trimming and the removal of any
loose pieces lodged overhead.
Tripping over obstructions or tools left on the floor, and catching
feet in holes in the floor. Of course obstructions should be re
moved as far as practicable. Tools should be stored out of the
way, preferably in racks, and the holes should be closed.
Falling of tools and similar articles from floors. This type of
accident is prevented by copings or toe pieces around the edges
and openings of the floors.
Hot material getting into workmen's shoes while they are en
gaged in clinkerlng; striking knuckles against the floor or against
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
349
standing objects while engaged in
the same operation; misblows in sledging; also scalds due to care lessness in not standing at a safe
Your Brother
distance when wetting down clink
ers. Accidents in the class first
Some of tke men
mentioned are prevented by lacing shoes snugly or by wearing Con
in our plant are in
gress shoes. To prevent accidents
experienced and do
in the other classes, it is only neces sary TO BE CAREFUL FIRST.
not know where dan
Collisions between and with fuel
ger exists.
buggies and barrows. Where con
ditions permit buggies and barrow^
should not be returned over the course used when loaded, In other
words, a one-way passage is the safest.
Loose floor plates. Uncovered seal pots and relining bricks in
securely piled are also hazards to be looked for. All floor plates
should be securely fastened in place when set and if they become
wobbly they should be immediately secured in place. Seal pots
should be covered or surrounded by guards, as serious accidents
have been caused by employes stepping into these pots and sustain
ing burns which have become infected.
It is important to see that bricks are so piled that they will not
become overbalanced. (In this connection, I am glad to note strik
ing illustrations of the safe and the unsafe ways of piling bricks,
in Bulletin No. 90 issued by the National Safety Council.) When
men are at work relining generators it is advisable to place a screen
over the opening in the tops of the generators to protect those inside
from being injured by falling bricks and fuel.
Foot injuries, due to the absence of toe guards at the floor levels
of elevatGr shafts, are also experienced from time to time. These
are prevented by toe plates installed at the floor levels. If the plate
is set at the proper angle the employee will involuntarily withdraw
his foot to the platform as soon as it is touched by the toe guard;
if not, the toe guard itself will automatically return the foot to the
plaform and serious injury will be avoided.
In the retort house are found a number of hazards in addition
to some of those just mentioned. They are:
350 Fourth Safety Congress
Unguarded coke holes in floors in front of retorts, resulting in
employes stepping therein while clearing up coke, etc. Unless care
is exercised to see that employees working in the cellar near these
holes are warned before the hot coke is dropped they are liable
to be burned. -- Steam, which results in scalds when employees stand too close
`to the pile when wetting down hot coke.
Hot tar, which causes bums and eye injuries when employees fail
to wear goggles and gloves while bulling or cleaning the pipes which
conduct the gas from the retorts to the hydraulic main.
Employees are also liable to be run into by charging and discharg
ing machines while closing retort doors if not very careful. It is advisable to place a signalling device, such as a horn or gong, on these machines to give warning \ffien they are about to move. It is important also to see that the gears of these machines are guarded.
The wheels also should be guarded to prevent foot injuries.
In the boiler and engine rooms care should be exercised to see
that the passageways are kept clear, and that fire tools, barrows
and other obstructions are kept in their proper places. Fuel and
ashes should also be kept within restricted limits.
At times nails and pegs are found extending from walls at face
level to hold tools and clothing. Such projections make dangerous hazards when not in use and they should be removed. r"'othing should be hung in lockers and firing tools should preferably be kept
in racks.
It is also dangerous to leave Weights on dampers and regulator levers on account of the likelihood of their falling and causing
injury.
=
Loose bricks are frequently found on the tops of boiler sets and
they should be promptly removed or rebedded.
Where a safety valve blows off across the top of a boiler the
outlet should be so extended that the steam will be discharged ver tically, above body level if practicable. ' The bursting of I water gauge glasses is comparatively frequent
and care should be taken to see that proper guards are installed
to protect the eyes of employees engaged in adjusting these gauges.
Where boilers are connected in batteiy separate blow-offs should
be run in order to avoid the possibility of the steam backing up
while the boilers are being cleaned or repaired.
. jam
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
351
Moving machinery, shafting and belting should be guarded either by railings or expanded metal screens. (It is important to become familiar with the safety standards prescribed by the state.)
When cleaning purifier boxes in purifier houses, employees are liable to be effected by gas in the absence of proper ventilation. Care should be exercised to see that employees do not work in too close proximity when forking oxide. Minor injuries, such as puncture wounds due to fork tines, because of the presence of the oxide, are very likely to result in blood poisoning.
The soles of the shoes worn by employees engaged in this work should not have holes in them, because of the likelihood of infec tion following a mere scratch on the foot.
The passageways between purifier boxes usually being narrow, it is especially important to see that tools are not allowed to remain therein.
The principal hazards in the coal shed are falling objects and insecure walkways and platforms, and unguarded trestles, from which employees have fallen and sustained serious injuries. Every effort should be made to keep loose pieces of coal and tools off trestles and the ledges at the tops of the bins in order to avoid head inj uries.
Care should be exercised to see that walkways and platforms are of the proper width and that proper railings are provided where practicable.
Naked flames should not be permitted where coal dust is present, as they might ignite the dust.
In the yard care should be exercised to see that barrows and carts are stored in their proper places in order that they will not be run into by thoughtless employees. If necessary to have a guy line at body level a warning sign should be hung thereon.
Valve stems and boxes above grade in passageways should be leveled in order to avoid the tripping hazard-
13 oards and discarded material should be piled at points desig nated therefor. It is safest to bend over or remove old nails from loose boards.
Small pipe lines running across yards should be boxed in or placed below the ground level, preferably the latter.
Care should be exercised to avoid placing guys and marking stakes
352
Fourth Safety Congress
where liable to cause employees to
The Next Man
trip, and as soon as the guys and stakes have served their purpose they should be removed.
Gates should be made fast so that
When you finish a job leave conditions
they will not swing in the wind and strike employees.
All persons should be kept off
safe for the next
the ash dumps as far as practicable,
man. It only takes
owing to the likelihood of their stepping into concealed fires.
a moment. ~
Exhausts should be made to discharge vertically and above head
level.
Sumps or steam'pits should be so located that the steam will not
cloud passageways.
Railings should be placed along stairways and around platforms
and walkways of holders, also on the galleries in front of siphon
valves.
-----
Loose material should be removed from tops of holders, stair
ways and platforms, from which it is likely to be blown and do harm.
It is advisable to drill holes in any depressions in the platforms
and walkways in which water gathers, in order to let off the water
and avoid the formation of ice, which might result in slipping
accidents.
Of course, systematic safety work is the most effective step to
wards results in this field. At our Station A works in Philadelphia
the decrease in working days lost due to accidents during the first
nine months of the present year was 17 per cent, as compared with
the same period of last year, when less men were employed.
A varying difference in the conditions and the size of gas com
panies makes it impossible to outline a safety organization that will
meet every demand, but the following simple plan should fulfill
the requirements of the average gas company:
The safety organization to consist of a chairman, who should
be the manager, superintendent or his assistant, a safety inspector,
and three other employees appointed from the manufacturing, dis
tribution and commercial departments by the chairman of the com
mittee. This committee should meet at least once a month, when
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting
353
the work of the month should be
gone over and discussed. Special
meetings of the committee should be called in the event of a serious
Safety Rules
accident or of one of peculiar inter
est. Safety items in the trade journals should also be reviewed
Every man should
and the committee should compile and issue such information and sta tistics as are applicable to the
read and understand the book of rules.
company and existing? conditions, should pass upon articles, pic
Have you a copy?
tures, etc., for bulletin boards;
should investigate and act upon such
recommendations as have been submitted, and should devise ways
and means to keep alive the interest of the employees to the im
portance of exercising care to prevent accidents. Interest in the
subject is, of course, intensified by safety talks, lantern slides and
motion pictures. First aid competitions, etc., are also very beneficial.
The safety inspector should be chosen from among the employees
of the company and should be one who can devote a good part of
his time to the work of looking after safety details. He should
make thorough inspections of the plant periodically, noting all acci
dent hazards and hazardous working conditions. It should be bis
duty to pass upon the installation and maintenance of safeguards.
The man appointed from the several departments should be
chosen from the rank and file of the employees. Care should be
taken in making these appointments, as the men chosen should be
proficient in their own work and should command the respect of
their fellow employees. The duties of these men should be to be
always on the alert to note and report accident and fire hazards and
to make weekly inspections of company work and property. All
recommendations should be referred to the safety inspector, who
should investigate the conditions reported and submit the result
to the committee. Theseraen should meet with the safety inspector
at such times as may be desired by him, when all new cases should
be reviewed and new prevention work and ideas discussed.
The personnel of the employee members of the committee should
be changed from time ter time in order that all suitable employees
- fmrnmm
354
Fourth Safety Congress
may eventually receive training in safety and broaden their knowl edge of the work. _
I trust that in the foregoing, which is necessarily incomplete, I have given information that will prove useful to all who are endeav oring to eliminate the accident hazards in gas works. (Applause.)
A PRAYER.
Lord, grant me this, while at my daily task. That"I may neverbe unmindful of my brother's weal; That all his erring steps I may foresee. Forewarn him of a thoughtless act; to ever feel The wondrous blessing of the sight undimmed. The gratitude for body, clean, unmarred; Make me alert, let my perception be for him, a guard.
Grant unto me, tfiat in no home shall come.
Through fault of mine, the reaper grim; That widow's tears may not be shed, because of him; That childish eyes may never peer in vain To welcome back the toiler to his rest; Make me--Thy Servant of Immunity--grant me this That he unto the,end may go--by Safety blest..
rH&aOTvg..
Individual Precaution for Safety by Every Employe Is the Only Guarantee Against Accidents
National Safety Council
Textile Sectional Meeting:
Philadelphia, Pa. October 20, 1015
JOHN CALDER, Chairman
President, Manufacturers' Equipment Company, Boston, Mass.
HE meeting was called to order at 9:15 o'clock by the Chair
Tman, Mr. John Calder, President, Manufacturers' Equipment Company, Boston, Mass., one hundred and seventeen members of the Council being present. The first paper of the Session was read by the Chairman on "Safety Provisions in the Textile Industry Abroad."
SAFETY PROVISIONS IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY ABROAD.
JOHN CALDER, PRESIDENT, MANUFACTURERS' EQUIPMENT COMPANY.
Ladies and Gentlemen' of the National Safety Council: It has been said that death and taxes are the only human certainties and accident is a good third, but there is a healthy skepticism as to
355
356 Fourth Safety Congress
whether we have reached the irreducible minimum in the ratio of any of them. Public opinion, fortified by facts, insists that com pensation at its best is a poor "cure" for accident and demands more "prevention." It is no answer to this in the twentieth century to say that the mill owner knows his own business best and that he needs no prompting or assistance from others. During the last decade safety engineering has grown to professional standing and the mill owner must prove his protective capacity, as well as assert it, by securing, as others are doing, progressive reduction in the number of preventable casualties.
The total industrial injuries in the United States are enormous and greatly exceed those of older civilizations, but the statistics, unless carefully analyzed, easily lend themselves to exaggeration and unjust conclusions as to responsibility.
This is the age ofcscientific method in business and the humani tarian argument will lose nothing of its force by the application of the former to ascertain the truth about industrial casualties. Con fining myself strictly to cotton mills, let me ask what is the historical setting, what are the economic factors and statistics of death and injury in the industry, and what are we doing about it?
In both the Eastern and Western worlds the textile industry was, in the order of industrial development, the foremost in adopting power processes and self-acting machinery and it has maintained this lead to the present time. No industry has so large a proportion of mechanical appliances per employe and in consequence the risks attending all extensive use of machinery were first noticeable in the cotton industry and were soon found to be of a serious nature.
FIRST FACTORY ACT.
The machine cotton industry arose in England at the end of the eighteenth century. It did not imply the "cotton mill" as now exist ing, but it involved the rapid displacement by the factory system of production of domestic cotton working, which had been conducted with manual labor for at least one hundred years previous, and it massed the operatives in populous places and confined premises un der unsanitary working conditions, which caused the serious deteri oration of their health in a single generation. Early in the history .of the machine cotton industry the state had to step in to protect the child, both against its employer and its parents. The first factory
Textile Sectional Meeting
357
act, largely a dead letter through lax enforcement, was passed in 1802 to abolish the exploitation of pauper children by local author ities who offered them on an indenture system to cotton manufac turers. The latter, carried away by the vista of great wealth, were unable to see to what this employment of young people of tender years for long hours at unremitting tasks would lead. This act, however, took no notice of the accident risk.
The epoch-making inventions, which made the cotton factory sys tem possible, were quickly carried to New England, whose valuable water courses were soon harnessed to mills of a similar type. In England, where water power was poor and of relatively small vol ume, there were 188 water power cotton factories in operation in 1788. The first Boulton and Watt steam engine was placed in a cotton mill in 1785 and the perfecting of Watt's invention led, early in the nineteenth century, to great extensions in the factory system of cotton working and intensified the previously existing evils under which the operatives suffered. The exploitation of children con tinued and the parents were equally desirous with the employers that this should be so.
In New England the large, valuable dfid economical water powers were for long the cotton factory sites and are still of great import ance. The development of the industry here was more gradual, and the hardy native stock, which formed'the first operatives, was con sequently less affected by working conditions--novel alike to them and their employers. From the first, however, the cotton mill has
been inherently a dangerous place, and little foresight was exhibited in constructing some of its mechanical appliances with due regard to the ignorance and eagerness of the agricultural laborers who flocked to the mills. The invention of cotton machinery and of the steam engine practically brought about an industrial revolution in both countries and it was long before the consequence -> the oper atives were generally perceived and reflected upon.
It was not until 1844, In England, and due to the la' s of Robert Owen, a prominent cotton mill owner, and Ford Ash a afterwards the great Earl Shaftesbury, and a few others, that y notice was taken by the state of the havoc wrought by injur; .om machinery on the operatives. The evidence, however, v i so overwhelming that in a legislature, injwhich the laborer had j control and little representation, the non-provision of certain sr guards was made a
mmm ^iswia-tawwiiWBiwMt.
: .STlg-WP
zaaMiMWB t.' EHi-aiSaaMB:i
358
Fourth Safety Congress
criminal offense. Even then the
protection afforded extended only
Is It to You?
to prime movers and transmission, the actual cotton machinery not
being- dealt with. A step in the
The Safety Move
right direction, however, had been
ment is an earnest,
taken and the example of what could be done to safeguard, by giv
honest effort to pre
ing thought in the whirl of wealth
vent accidents and
creation, was not lost upon many of the more enlightened and hu
save lives.
=
mane mill owners; but it was only
through a succession of statutes,
each strongly opposed and covering
the next thirty years, that the legal right of the cotton mill operatives
to have a healthy and safe work-place provided by their employers
was established in Great Britain.
SHORTENING THE WORK DAY.
All this development had as its subject only cotton, and later other textiles, but it was seen by 1867 that no logical distinction could be maintained between these and the much larger volume of power manufactures which had sprung up with the advent of the steam engine; and the statute of that year made the safety and accident provisions identical for all factories. The lassitude which
a twelve or fourteen hour day caused in women and children, pre disposing to accident, was partly relieved by the ten hour law passed in England in 1819, though negligently enforced, but it was not until 1874 that Massachusetts led the way in the United States with a similar law.
The industrial revolution in the United States did not reach its climax until about eight years after the Civil War. At that period employers'- liability rested only on common law, factory restrictions were practically unknown and child labor laws little respected. In the meantime, a large part of our textile machinery was imported and it benefited fromTsuch protection as foreign makers had stand ardized. In other safety respects as late as 1874 protection was wholly dependent upon the initiative of mill owners. It was not until thirty-three years after the first English statute
lay*;
Textile Sectional Meeting
359
providing for safety in cotton mills
had been passed in Great Britain that the State of Massachusetts, al
To Make Good
ways in lead in the United States in education and industrial better
Some one has said
ment, first recognized industrial safety in its Legislature by the Act of t877, in which tihte main provi
that "the man who has a job has a
sions of the English Factory Acts were duplicated.
For the next quarter of a cen
chance.*' Yes, he has a chance-----to
tury in the United States, after the Massachusetts Act of 1877, little
make good.
. legislative progress was made in
the matter of safety and conditions remained decidedly below Euro
pean standards. Nevertheless, in individual plants striking improve
ments were effected by employers in co-operation with state officials,
insurance undertakers, and manufacturefs~of machinery. The total
of injuries, however, never fully revealed owing to inadequate re
porting of accidents, could not be hid, and the great interest awak
ened a decade ago in the conservation of our natural resources
speedily spread to the vital statistics of our industries, with results
which have been felt all over the land through the attention of nearly every state legislature for the past five years in the form of
laws, both wise and lesswise.
During the quarter of a century following 1877, a great change
for the better came over the English machine cotton industry, the
stunted operatives of 1844 recovered their physique, the native stock
persisted in their adherence to the cotton business and are now, in
physical working condition and inherited skill, the best body of tex
tile operatives. A large part of this they owe to the body of English
Factory Legislation, which, though stoutly opposed, placed the em
ployers in the closely competitive cotton business on an absolutely
equal footing, and enabled employes to demonstrate greater effi
ciency with a shorter working day and a safer work-place.
EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGNERS.
The development In the United States has been quite otherwise. The cotton manufacturers here have had to face a great industrial
360 Fourth Safety Congress
revolution, which they were powerless to control. The native stock raising its standard ofL living and ambitions gradually forsook the cotton mills and its place was taken in succession by a series of for eign races in the order of the immigration from Europe and prac tically in a decreasing order of intelligence and standards of living. It became difficult in some districts to procure any English-speaking labor and this handicap (gradually extending to overseers as well) seems destined to become permanent. Nevertheless, it must be reck oned with for effective progress in industrial safety. We need more, not less, precaution in our cotton mills than in Europe. Many American employers in our textile and other plants have risen to the occasion and gone far beyond any local statutory requirements in their anxiety to cope with the situation. Special mention may be made of the United States Steel Corporation, which, in some of its plants, has had to cope with something like seventeen languages and dialects and has obtained remarkable reductions in casualties. The safety committee work of Ludlow Associates, one of your own members, will also well repay study by mill executives. Such cases, however, have been the exception rather than the rule. As a matter of fact, the industrial tragedies of the forest, the field, the street, the factory, and the miner, for a long' time weighed very lightly upon the American conscience. Employers, employes, and the general body of citizens were alike in responding chiefly to catastrophes and in having little concern to prevent the daily loss of life and limb during our great industrial development which obsessed us very much
as it did the early cotton manufacturers in England and grew beyond all anticipation. The American cotton manufacturer has made all industries his debtors for the way in which he has co-operated in the scientific reduction of mill fire losses. This has been accomplished without legal pressure and solely by mutuality in experiments, ex perience and burden. It is only logical to expect that mill casualties will be attacked in the same businesslike and successful manner. Today, happily, the majority of employers in all our industries are deeply concerned to avoid accident to employes and they are guided by no narrow interpretation of the existing statutes. It is wholly in accord with the American spirit that so much has been accomplished without legal pressure in the last ten years of wide publicity on in dustrial injuries.
I do not propose toJtouch here on the subject of compensation for
Textile Sectional Meeting
361
accident. Indeed, I do not believe that a compensation burden on an industry is in itself the creator of the best accident-reducing condi tions, though the excellent technical assistance of the safety experts of insurance undertakers has been beyond question helpful. The
wave of interest due to the recent incidence of this new economic burden upon the cotton industry is bound to subside, and sooner or later the consumer will foot the bill. As a matter of fact, it is not in the mill counting house, the state house or the insurance office, but in the mill itself and amongst the responsible executives there that we must look for the initiative that will procure the reduction of the present accident rate in cotton manufacture and a corresponding relief in compensation-payments and insurance cost, not to speak of the moral gains.
It is well known that the economic factor has been and must still be the mainspring of the cotton manufacturers' progress as of all other industrial enterprises, but this does not shut out consideration of employes whose health and safety affect the long result. To an extent regretted by all mill owners, the mill is still to many of its operatives only a stepping stone and the seeds of precaution and of safety habits have to be sown largely on a moving soil.
RECORD OF CASUALTIES.
For the statistical portion of this necessarily limited discussion I confine 'myself to the accident returns from the cotton mills of Massachusetts whose records are well maintained and whose casualty experience is not the least favorable to the industry. What then is the extent of the reported injury sustained in the cotton mills of that State which represents the most advanced safety practice in the industry? These mills employed between July I, 1912, and June 30, 1913, an average of 112,384 operatives, of whom nearly one-half were females, and in that time 7,489 casualties were reported. Fatal ities do not figure prominently in the cotton mill risk. In the above, thirteen males--two of them minors--were killed, and 7,476 persons more or less injured; the injury ratio being 66 per 1,000 employes per annum. Seventeen hundred and sixteen (1,716) of the acci dents or 23 per cent occurred to females. Specific mutilation was sustained in eighty-one of the non-fatal accidents and involved the loss of four eyes, two hands, one foot, two or more fingers in twelve cases, one finger in sixty cases and one toe in two cases. The other
yawfifim
-
p"*SSE-rTS-f*i
362
_Fourth Safety Congress
injuries varied from serious wounds
ALWAYS
and contusions to trifling hurts in volving no absence from work.
The disability due to these injur
Keep your eyes open for danger. _ You
ies was under two weeks in over 76 per cent or in 5,711 cases; two to four weeks in 862 cases; four
may step over it go
to eight weeks in 564 cases; eight
ing, but you may step into it coming
to 13 -weeks in 205 cases; 13 weeks to six months in 113, and over half a year in twelve cases.
back.
This, in brief, is what happened
in one year in the cotton mills of
one State, and any helpful study of
prevention involves the further questions: Where did these acci
dents occur, how and why, and what can be done in the premises?
Owing to the supreme place necessarily occupied by machinery in
the cotton industry, it is desirable to isolate at once all trivial occur
rences and these beyond remedy from physical safeguarding though
not necessarily unpreventable by better supervision and instruction.
When this is done we find that in Massachusetts in one year the
three chief mechanical elements in all mills, viz.: belting, shafting
and gearing, caused three times as much lost time per employe in
cotton mills as in the thirteen other leading industries (Table 1),
and the element otgearing alone was four and one-half times more
dangerous.
_
If we compare the lost time in cotton mills from the above causes
with that in another industry also using much machinery, we find
the ratio is over fivetimes and the special item of loss of time from
gear accidents nearly thirty-four times.
Such economic facts should lead cotton mill owners not to rest
on past achievements, hut to organize more thoroughly than has
been done to reduce these losses and others which they imply on
both employer and employe. There are not lacking indications that
the burden on the industry of compensation premiums will shortly
be increased, owing to alleged unfavorable experience with the cot
ton mill accident risk.
In the cotton industry the amount .of machinery investment per
employe is much larger than in most others, and its speed and in-
Textile Sectional Meeting
363
tensive use for productipn increase
the chance of injury to operatives from machinery sources. The in herent mechanical risk of the indus
FORBIDDEN
try is well recognized and is further illustrated by the analysis in Table 3
"No . employe is
of 557 textile accidents reported consecutively in . Massachusetts.
It was noted that in 192, or about
permitted to remove guards or operate
a third of these injuries, no lost time was caused; in 277, or one-
machines -without
half, the absence was under two
them.*'
weeks, and in 88 cases, or about
16 per cent, disability extended over
two weeks. It is not my present purpose to go into the details of the
well-known methods for preventing, by more physical safeguards, a
number of these accidents, but rather to urge such executive interest
as will secure their constant application and improvement. The
comparison made in Table 2, between cotton mill and shoe machinery
gearing accidents, illustrates the results where the commercial re
sponsibility for the safety conditions on leased machines lies wholly
in the hands of the maker; in this case a single large corporation
with a well-deserved reputation for care in this matter. On the
other hand, though cotton mills might copy with advantage many of
the protective precautions adopted with gears in the shoe industry,
the cotton accident risk is distinctly increased by reason of the mul
tiplied places at which a single worker may receive injury as com
pared with a shoe machinery operative. These considerations are
mentioned in order to make fair comparisons, which cannot be done
by quoting statistics alone.
CLEANING MACHINERY IN MOTION.
It is worthy of notice that 120 of the above accidents or, more than 20 per cent of the total, occurred while operatives were clean ing machinery in motion, a cause of accident much more prominent in the textile industry than in any other. The technical necessity to clean at frequent intervals in order to maintain quality and quan tity of product, the economic disadvantage of idle machines, the interest of employe, employer and frequently overseer in the earnings
' turwinsi
364
Fourth Safety Congress
TABLE 1--DATS LOST TIME EEOM INJURY PER 1,000 EMPLOYES.
Cause--
Thirteen Industries. Cotton Mills.
Ratio.
Belting ..................................;................................................21.7
43.6
2.0
Shafting .................................................................................12.4
30.2
2.4
Gearing.................................r. i..........................................21.1
98.2
4.6
Total ..............................................-.................. .55.2
171.9
3,1
TABLE 2--DAYS LOST TIME PROM INJURY PER 1,000 EMPLOYES.
Cause--
-
Shoe Industry. Cotton Mills.
Ratio.
Belting.....................................................................................20.0
43.6
2.2
Shafting................................................................................. 7.7
30.2
3-9
Gearing............................ ., ,,........................................... 2.9
98.2
33.8
Total ..............................................................................30.6
171.9
5.6
due to absence of stoppages, all tend to make cleaning in motion one of the problems of the industry. So difficult has it been to pre vent such dangerous employment, even where both the intention and the action of the management have been directed towards safety, that mechanical solutions of the difficulty have been sought. Where no strenuous effort is made administratively to check cleaning in motion, it goes on daily as a matter of course with inevitable acci
dent. The administrative solution demands a good deal closer super
vision and education of employes than overseers, as a rule, have
been able or willing to give to the matter, and, unless mill owners
take up the issue vigorously, little improvement can be expected from
executive handling of the class of labor now available for textile
operations.
^
The mechanical solution is a sure remedy for a number of the
frequent injuries due to cleaning in motion. It involves consider
able expense. It will not take care of the risk due to permitted
cleaning in motion of main line shafting and transmission, but it
does solve a large part of the cleaning accidents. It consists in de
veloping interlocking machine and gearguards which automatically
prevent the application of power to any machine while the guards
are removed or are opened up for cleaning purposes. There is
nothing new in the principle, which has long been applied to military
apparatus and many other types of dangerous appliances. It is
applicable alike to gearguards, roll covers, clothed cylinders and parts
running at high speed which can cause serious injury even after the
power is shut off. ^Machinery builders will gradually standardize
Textile Sectional Meeting
365
TABLE 3--ANALYSIS OF PARTS CAUSING- 557 CONSECUTIVE
. ACCIDENTS.
Mechanical Elements Involved.
1 Machinery--
CQ CD
.s > O to* _ ca O OS as - O
4J
1
X-oCnafw->oith
XC3C3 a
CQ
CaD* M*
w*3 1C33
mo
Openers and. pickers. 6 r 4
51
*.
XaAX2 ma |
M. gs a'S
..
&. g.
3a *te3o>*O? 4
a< Hm
ss bo aa
*3 3 S JEJ S
2
-4 s
H 22
Cards .................................... 21
19
72
1
,, * . . 50
Lappers ........... 7 , .
. . 7 16
Combers............................. 8 E 2
3 # . 13
Drawing............................. 7
6 .
, . 7 20
Speeders...................
14 *. .
1 25
. ~ 40
Spinning; twisting.. 18 ^ 12
5
55 2 92
Winders; qnillers. . . 3 3 2
a
10
Beelers......................
11
2
Slashers ............................. 3
3 .-
6
Beamers ........................... Mules................................... . .
,,.
2 6
24 5 4 15
Looms ................................. 4
15
7
33
> 117 176
Marline layers.............. . Dye plant-...................... 19 Printing ............................. 2 Calenders ........................ 8 Cloth, winders................ 4 Folders................................
. 2
E2 _ .
..
i 1 2 ,j
#*
4
JL 22
. - >* 4
,. .# 8
_# 4
,, m 21 21
Shearers ........................... Miscellaneous.............. 3
. 3
j. 5 -
5 ,,#
5
28
2 23
Total..........................113 ^ 85 41 5 37 87 34 155 557
such appliances if mill owners will take the initiative and specify them on new machinery, but they are sure to be omitted if the buyer exhibits no interest in this regard. Interlocking devices have al ready been applied tot openers, pickers, cards, lappers, doublers, drawing, slubbing, roving and ring spinning frames, etc. Wherever they have been insisted upon they have been forthcoming, and it is a significant commentary on the influence of factory legislation in effecting improvements that twenty years ago Russian cotton mills were importing safer machinery than we now use because of the strict safety regulations under which that nation permitted the ex ploitation of the moujik in its textile business.
366
_Fourth Safety Congress
MORAL RISKS INVOLVED.
Taking Chances
Wonders in accident prevention have been already accomplished by
plant owners in other industries,
Remember it is
comparing in every respect with the experienced, intelligent and privi
better to cause delay
leged men who own and operate our cotton mills. The textile in
than it is to cause an
dustry owes it to itself to get busy
accident.
on this matter and I have no doubt that, as the consumer must foot the
the bill in the end, the nation will
not be unwilling to bear a share,
though it will probably, in the future, scrutinize most closely the
itemized particulars of any claim for assistance.
This analysis of cotton accidents and their prevention would not
be complete without frank recognition of the moral risks involved in
the industrial world. I have investigated many thousands of acci
dents, both in the textile and non-textile industries, and the blame
is pretty evenly divided between careless employes and neglectful
employers. The chief causes are ignorance, carelessness, fatigue,
unsuitable clothing, insufficient lighting, unsafe structures, obstructed
and defective floors, dangerous machinery, dangerous operations,
absence of safeguards, and not least, absence of safe-working super
vision.
In a great many instances the carelessness and ignorance of oper
atives are contributory and cannot be off-set by physical safeguards
or legal enactments, but they can be greatly reduced by painstaking
instruction and supervision. The National Safety Council, and the
affiliated Boston Safety Society of which your worthy President is
a Vice-President, consists of employers in every description of in
dustry and their responsible executives and engineers who have set
themselves to get at the truth about industrial accident and who will
accept nothing but facts. They have got them a-plenty. They
are after "prevention'': not "cure," and they include in their mem
bership the best safety experts in the country who give' their
services and advice to the council, free of charge, for industrial
betterment.
--_
Bawsw
tmU4-ia-.misa-
]- nmmm
mrnmwmmm
Textile Sectional Meeting
367
NEEDS OF TEXTILE MILLS.
What our textile mills need in the first place is an awakening of
Poor Parents
interest among mill superintend
ents, foremen and overseers in safety work. In spite of the age
Negligence is the
of the machine cotton industry and its long acquaintance with accident,
father of disaster-----
it has not taken the "place it
Carelessness the
should have done in the modern safety movement. It was the first
mother of accidents.
to experience and combat the in- ,
dustrial dangers due to power in
dustry and it ought to be in the front rank today in co-operating
with other industries in solving what is a common problem, which
demands enlightened executive action, rather than reliance upon
pressure from the state, which can never be more than an advisor
and inspector of performance. The safety committee on which oper
atives from various departments serve, along with executives, the
Safety Suggestion System, the organization of workers against
dangerous practices, are conspicuously absent in many cotton mills
where more expensive attempts to safeguard are not lacking. We
need to take greater advantage of our moral resources in the mills
and to profit by the increasing knowledge about the psychology and
physiology of industrial accidents.
In all the work the societies I have mentioned undertake, they
lay emphasis upon the conversion of mill executives to an active
propaganda and on the absolute necessity for socializing the safety
movement, which required for success the pooling of industrial
accident experience and a co-operation of forces which no legislation
can procure. When the cotton manufacturer has complied with the
minimum legal safeguarding provisions and has posted various pro
hibitory notices in his plant and drawn the attention of overseers
to the state restrictions upon employment about machinery, he has
only touched the fringe olLthe subject. It is still necessary for him
frankly to recognize and apply his mind to the continuing casualties
in his own and other mills, to challenge every assertion that reduc
tion is impracticable and to be foremost in. inoculating his staff with
aaser- ife nmtuHMmmMW.
WrMMfe- Z JLL. MBS 1
368 Fourth Safety Congress
a spirit of hopefulness and ambition in all matters o industrial bet terment.
If the man higher up does not find time to do this, then nobody will, but, if he becomes a convinced advocate of the new safety measures and realizes his privilege and responsibility, he will effect changes which will react upon the whole spirit of his establishment and will greatly aid in the solution of the admittedly serious diffi culties at present experienced in training and retaining the only labor now available for textile operations. (Applause.)
Chairman--The next speaker will be Mr. W. C. Swallow, of Manchester, N. H^iwho will speak on "The Hazards of Openers,. Pickers, Cards, Etc." Mr. Swallow.
THE HAZARDS OF OPENERS, PICKERS, CARDS, ETC.
W. C. SWALLOW, AMOSKEAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
Mr. Chairman and Ladies and Gentlemen of the National Safety Council: In taking up the subject of hazards in connection with cardroom machinery we are brought at once face to face with the most dangerous machinery operations in the manufacture of cotton cloth, and after an examination of the machinery involved we are driven to the conclusion that the manufacturers of textile machinery have not as yet seriously considered the matter of accident pre vention.
The possibility of arousing the manufacturers by the concerted demands of the users of this machinery will, I have no doubt, be discussed at this meeting. We will proceed to consider the hazards of pickers and cards as they are found in the ordinary cotton mill.
In our experience at the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company we have found that while only approximately io per cent of the total number of employes work in the cardrooms, over 25 per cent of the injuries about machinery are confined to this department. This covers picking, carding and roving machinery. We have found that one of the worst hazards of all is the beaters on the pickers, and if it is possible for the operative to open the beater covers or any of the covers on the picker, accidents--serious accidents--will surely follow. If, on the other hand, these covers are fastened in such a way as to prevent their being opened while the machine- is in opera tion, the picker asjan accident-maker loses much of its serious aspect.
Tex-tile Sectional Meeting
369
Before locking these openings we had many accidents to picker hands, many of them non-English speaking, and in some cases new to the work, caused by opening those covers to remove some obstruc tion while the machines were running, and losing a hand or an arm in the beater, which revolved so rapidly that the operative failed to see or appreciate the deadly consequences of reaching into the open ing. The fact that opening these covers was contrary to orders did not prevent their being opened "when the Boss was not around."
The photographs of-the lock-guard for beater bonnets will give you a good idea of how the lock was applied and its operation. There is a bar which slides over each cover and securely locks it while the machine is running and the machine must be stopped before the locking bars can be drawn back, as in order to clear the covers the rod indicated in the photograph must go through the hole in the flange on driving shaft. This prevents the picker being started until covers have been replaced and the lock thrown back over them.
HEWING WITH BROADAXE.
Much can be done beyond these protective guards to reduce the hazards of the picker, but we, at the Amoskeag, are new in the safety movement and have been hewing away with a broadaxe at the high spots. We hope to be using finer tools when the next Safety Congress .convenes.
The revolving top flat card has been the cause of a considerable number of injuries. There are many places on our ordinary card
where more or less serious injuries to the fingers or hands can be received in gears or belts or against the clothing, but the two greatest hazards--the ones which have been productive of the most serious injuries--are the licker-in cylinder, with its cover unfastened, and the main driving pulley, guiltless of belt shipper or other protective device to prevent the hand or arm of the operative from being caught. The sharp, coarse teeth of the licker-in makes short work of the fingers or hands that come in contact with it while in motion, and as an effective means of preventing injuries in this particular place we have fastened the covers with bolts and nuts and the cover is removed only by the grinder when the card is stopped. I believe nearly all makers now adopt this practice, but we had a considerable number of older cards on which the licker-in covers were not fast ened.
iMgii, :js:
Ui
1L
370
_I Fourth Safety Congress
Probably the most serious of our
BELTS!
injuries on cards have been caused by the operative getting an arm caught in the belt operating the
Never try to shift a moving belt by hand. Never reach
main drive pulley. This was a very serious hazard, as we found that a man who got his arm caught in this way was nearly always thrown
up onto the card, in one case with
between large, fastmoving belts.
sufficient force to break off the bur nisher roll stand which is about three-quarter by three inches of
castiron. You can well imagine
that the injuries received in this
way were very serious and sometimes fatal. By adopting the belt
shipper, shown in these photographs, we have gone a long way in
eliminating accidents of this kind. These cards ran for" years with
no shipper or other guard and belts were ordinarily shipped by
hand or with a stick or bobbin.
One particularly bad spot was a lot of about 300 of a certain
make of card. These were more than ordinarily dangerous, so far as the driving pulley is concerned, because on the inside, between
the main driving belt and the side of the card was another pulley, driving, by about a 2-inch belt, over to the licker-in cylinder. If the
operative had occasion to put on this small belt he often, against
the rules, of course, reached his arm through the main driving belt.
This brought him into a very dangerous position and the results were sometimes disastrous. To avoid this hazard it was necessary to change the driving arrangement completely. These photographs and sketches will perhaps better explain the situation. The pulley on the main shaft which carried the licker-in belt, was removed and
the shaft shortened so as to bring the main driving pulley close up to the card, and the flange of the licker-in pulley removed; then the licker-in driver was arranged on the other side of the card, as
shown. As these cards are now being operated they are no more dangerous than the newer models.
We have also added to all our cards the roller to collect the strips
from the top flats and so cause these strips to roll up into a lap
instead of dropping down on top of the doffer cylinder. Previously
Textile Sectional Meeting
371
when these strips did dr.op down
it happened, in several instances, that the cover which is opened to
NEVER
grind and strip the cylinder was
carelessly left open and when the operative attempted to collect the
Don't try to oper
strips a serious injury to the hand was the result of coming into con
tact with the clothing on the main
ate a machine you don't understand.
cylinder, On some cards the cover or hood
over the doffer cylinder allows too
See the foreman for instructions.
much space, this space being in the
form of a wedge, so that the fingers
may be drawn in and injured by the clothing on the doffer.
This might happen when the doffer clothing was being ground--
the grinder having occasion to feel of the surface. "While acci
dents sustained in this manner are not serious it is far better that
the cover be close to the surface of the doffer and that the cover
end abruptly instead of being beveled away from the cylinder so as
to allow a wedge-shaped apperaturej or, better still, that a part of
the cover be hinged so as to allow the hand of the operative to be
easily withdrawn if caught in this manner.
From a sanitary standpoint the dustless stripper now in use on
the Amoskeag has a distinct advantage, as the dust from the strip
ping operation is largely, done away with.
STEADY, WELL-TRAI NED HELP.
We believe that a steady, well-trained lot of help are a great deal less liable to injury through carelessness than the more shifting and unstable class, and the young and therefore more irresponsible boys. At present only adults work on cards and pickers in our plant, and-- while a considerable percentage are of foreign birth, their standard of wages is such that the turnover of employes has been very greatly re duced. This can only result in a more stable and highly trained organization.
Many injuries on pickers and cards are received by men new to the work and we are now working on a plan to insure the careful instruction of such beginners and to lay upon the overseer, with
372
Fourth Safety Congress
increased emphasis, the necessity of care and forethought required to properly discharger the obligation which the company assumes when it puts a man to work amid new and unfamiliar surroundings. These are tentative forms which are being considered and will, no doubt, be adopted in substantially their present form. It is planned to have these certificates filled out for each learner who enters the employ of the company, on work where any appreciable hazard is involved. These certificates will be issued from the employment department, where all help is engaged, and will be filled out by the overseer and second hand and returned to the employment depart ment and filed in the personal record of the employe. From a legal standpoint they will refute the claim of any injured person that he was not properly instructed or warned against the danger of his work or that the machinery or apparatus on which be was set to work was not in a safe and suitable condition; and inasmuch as the overseer has to go on record in the matter it is safe to assume that the provisions of this certificate are carefully carried out.
Another blank we propose to file in the employe's personal record is this small one which is the overseer's statement that he "had occasion today to warn said employe against doing the following act in violation of the rule of the company." We have had some trouble and one or two serious accidents to men starting motors, not especially in the cardrooms but trouble might occur at any place where motor drives were in operation. To avoid starting machinery before the motor is Up^to speed, and thereby causing an overload and a possible blowing out of an oil switch, we have devised a starting signal consisting of a line of green and red lights which runs the length of the room. When the man whose duty it is to start the motor enters the motor room he switches on the red signal lights and they burn until the motor is up to speed, when he switches off the red lights and turns on the green which is the signal to start up.
SAFETY ORGANIZATION.
We have completed a safety organization within the past six months which is made up of a safety board composed of the plant superintendents and department heads--a safety committee of four men, one of whom acts as safety inspector and gives his whole time to the work, and the works committee which are changed in the various rooms each six months. This safety organization totals
Textile Sectional Meeting
373
600 men, who wear the safety button and are alive to suggest safe guards and anything which will improve the work conditions in their department. While we are too new at the work to give any concrete results, we believe that a persistent educational campaign and the co operative efforts of these committees are bound to result in a re duction of accidents inthe Amoskeag plant. (Applause.)
(Several interesting photographs of the machines guarded as de scribed in Mr. Swallow's paper were exhibited and attracted favor able comment.)
DISCUSSION".
The discussion following Mr. Swallow's interesting paper brought out many points worthy of mention. The certificates to be filled out by overseers and second-hands when hiring inexperienced employes had not, to the present time, been put into practice, but inasmuch as the management of the Amoskeag Mills had the hearty support of all the overseers they believed that the project would be success ful in keeping all new employes duly warned of the dangers which
confronted them. In order to socialize the movement among the foremen, a general rally was held and an address made by Mr. Mar cus A. Dow of the New York Central Lines, New York City. The overseers realized that the safety movement .was by no means a joke. The Chairman emphasized this point very considerably by stating that wherever safety was most successful, it was largely because the
foremen had been sufficiently energized to take a wholesome inter est in keeping down the number of accidents.
It was disclosed that although the figures, as stated by Mr. Swal low, indicated that 25 per cent of the textile accidents occurred in the cardroom, yet in his opinion the relative cost of these accidents was considerably in excess of that amount, for the reason that nearly all accidents in this department are of a very serious nature.
The Amoskeag Mills have not tried guards on their picker belts, but where the belt shippers were installed on the cards they were found to be astonishingly effective as guards. At this point the Chairman declared that one of the great reasons why textile machin ery was lacking in guards was because the guards were not insisted upon when the purchase of machinery was made. Every purchasing agent should have written across the top of his stationery a notice
374
Fourth Safety Congress
An Experiment
Injure an exper-' ienced man and a new man takes his place. A new man is always an -experi ment.
to the effect that all machinery on which bids are submitted must be completely guarded. It would not be fair for manufacturers to ex pect to purchase, at the present time, guarded machinery at the same price they would obtain if the machinery were unguarded. How ever, it would not be long before standard castings for gear covers and other guards could be devel oped, and in a comparatively short time the prices would drop back to where they are at present.
Chairman--The next speaker will be Mrs. Annie Leisenring, of Allentown, Pa., aiTTnspector for the Department of Labor and In dustry.
CLEANING MACHINERY WHILE IN MOTION.
MRS. ANNIE LEISENRING, INSPECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND INDUSTRY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
The speaker stated that her experience had been largely confined to the silk industry, and she had found that the employes in these mills considered their occupation as merely a stepping stone to some thing better. There were all nationalities to be dealt with, the great majority of whom could not speak a word of English. At the present time all employes under 16 years of age must present a certificate of education, nevertheless we hear of a Jamily landing one day at Ellis Island and on the second day the father and the older hoys are at work in a steel and iron plant, the older women engaged in cigar making, while the children have found their way into the silk mills. The reason for this is that certificates in a great number of cases are forged and handed from one to another among families and friends.
The guarding ofbelts and gears is not all that must be considered. Shop organization!^ by far the most important. If the organization is well established it should inspire confidence between the manage ment and the employes. When we consider that several cases were
bpiww. -
Textile Sectional Meeting
375
disclosed where during the period
of six weeks employes" had been working- in eight different indus
Sure Enough!
tries, the need of good shop or
ganization is apparent. One acci dent was related where, in a jute mill, a woman operator had been injured on a machine where all
There is a vast dif ference between "falling" for a thing
gears were guarded and shifters provided on all belts. In some man ner she had reached up from the
and "tumbling" to it. Start right by doing
floor more than fifteen inches be
it the safe way.
yond the inside of the guard and
lost her fingers in some gears. She
had lived for three years in the United States, yet spoke no English,
and could not understand a word of German. An investigation was
made to determine whether notices had been posted to warn the
employes against cleaning while in motion and it was found that
notices to that effect had been displayed in four different languages
but her own was not included--probably if it had been she could
not have read it. In such a case as this a good shop organization
among the employes would, no doubt, have brought her to realize
the danger she was running at the time she was hurt, and the acci
dent thereby avoided.
There are several reasons for dissatisfaction among the younger
employes. At 14 years the children very frequently leave school and
enter the workshops, where the discipline is, of course, not so strict
as at school. If a thorough organization were established among the employes and a few of the careless ones were discharged for gross
carelessness, or horse play, there is no doubt but that much of this
trouble could be overcome. Furthermore, employes should be re
quired to report all danger points to the foremen.
DISCUSSION.
In discussing this subject the Chairman told of the method carried out "in France, whereby the children under age were obliged to at tend schools located in the mill yard for half a day before they were permitted to work the^ remainder of the day in the mills. By this method the forging of certificates was impossible. A child was
376
'Fourth Safety Congress
taught not only the fundamentals of general education, but was also instructed as to the dangerpoints in the section of the mill where he was to work during the afternoon. After the child had passed his lessons in a satisfactory manner he was given a safety certificate, but if any inspector in the mill found this child to be careless, the safety certificate was revoked and the child dismissed from his job. The tendency of the times has been to criticise the trusts and larger employers of labor, yet in this humanitarian safety movement it is almost without exception that we find the large employers of labor leading the way, and it is the small shop, located in some inconspicu ous place where the inspector seldom visits, that the great mass of preventable accidents may be said to be at present occurring.
Mr. Burns, Chief Inspector of the American Mutual Compensa tion Insurance Company of New York City, told in an interesting way about the educational work which is being done in all the textile plants insured in his company, particularly those mills located in and around Utica. Safety lectures were given at regular interval-; and a doctor from the Red Cross Society delivered lectures, giving illustrations on first aid to the injured. After the course had been completed a major surgeon was sent from the National Red Cross Headquarters at Washington to conduct an examination, and only one out of twenty-five candidates failed to pass. The interest dis played by these employes in first aid was merely incidental to the enthusiasm which the other fellow workmen displayed, and an ap preciable reduction in the severity and number of accidents has been most evident. (Applause.)
Chairman--Mr.TETenry A. Hale, Jr., of Boston, will speak on "The Hazards of Bleaching, Dyeing, Printing and Finishing."
HAZARDS OF BLEACHING, DYEING, PRINTING AND FINISHING.
HENRY A. HALE, JR., MANAGER, BUREAU OF SAFETY, AMERICAN MUTUAL LIABILITY INSURANCE COMPANY.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Coun cil, Ladies and Gentlemen--As in many other industries a con siderable part of the accidents in bleacheries, dyehouses and print works may be attributed to unguarded gears, belts, pulleys and calen-
Textile Sectional Meeting
377
der rolls, together with lack of instruction and discipline, but it is to a few of the peculiar hazards which prevail in these plants that I will give particular attention. I will npt attempt to discuss the various machines arid processes in the order in v/hich they are found in finishing textiles, as many of the machines are used several times in different stages of the work.
There are some important features in general construction which should be given consideration, particularly lighting, floors, arrange ment of machinery, and the handling of the steam which escapes from vats and machines. A larger percentage of accidents in these industries may be attributed, directly or indirectly, to improper re gard for these important features. Poorly lighted rooms, and dark corners and passageways, are too frequently found in many dyehouses and print works. Floors are too often allowed to remain in a slippery condition and in need of repairs. Where well-drained floors of con crete are not used, plank flooring with space between each plank for drainage should be maintained in first-class repair. This will eliminate a great number of the accidents which are daily occurring. By giving ample thought and consideration to the arrangement and installation of machines, much expensive guarding may be done away with. Steam pipes and moving parts can often just as well be placed out of reach instead of being located near passageways, where they continually invite injury'. In this repect an ounce of forethought is worth many pounds of safeguards.
During cold weather, particularly, clouds of steam and vapor are responsible for many accidents that might be prevented if the em ployes were able to see properly. By installing suitable curtain-like partitions for confining the steam, and introducing ample exhaust systems much of this trouble can be easily overcome. Such parti tions should extend from the ceiling down to a point which will just permit ample head'clearance for the employes and machinery.
CHLORINE FUMES.
The methods of handling acids in a bleachery deserve careful study. Fumes of chlorine and chlorine ^compounds should be elim inated and the liquids handled in an enclosed pipe system so far as possible, in order to avoid the injuries which are caused by the splash ing of acids where carboys are used. The method of dissolving chloride of lime, in order to obtain the desired bleach, generally
378
Fourth Safety Congress
entails a serious hazard owing to
"I Am for Men"
chlorine fumes, and in cold weather it is, of course, essential that all ventilators and windows he kept
open, even though discomfort and
This is the: motto
annoyance are encountered. A bet ter way is to purchase chlorine gas
of the Safety Depart
in pressure tanks or cylinders, and permit the gas to flow into tanks
ment, and it includes
of water until the desired strength of acid in solution is obtained. In
all men, too.
this method no fumes are given off
and there is no lime precipitate to
be taken care of. The acid solu
tion should then be pumped into receptacles at the top of the
building and fed by gravity through a pipe system to each machine,
where the flow may be regulated by valves. The piping systems
for acids, starch and dye liquors should be so arranged that in
every instance the regulating valve is within easy reach on the
outside of the machine, and the pipe outlet located where it can be
reached without coming in contact with gears and other moving
parts. Many bleacheries are now using more acid carboys and hand
receptacles tham is necessary. If carboys are to be used at all, suit
able inclinators or acid hand pumps should be provided.
Center bars, arbors and print rolls are responsible for scores of
injuries which occur in all parts of a plant, largely on account of carelessness on therpart of employes in handling. Suitable trucks should be provided and sufficient warning given to make the em ployes appreciate the dangers that lurk in this prolific source of trouble. Many of these accidents may be avoided through persistent work in education--extremely elementary though it may appear.
The common type of sewing machine, which is used to sew to gether the ends of the pieces of manufactured cloth, is f^und to cause many innocent looking scratches, which frequently oecome
septic owing to the nature of the materials handled. These scratches come from the needle points on the rim of the wheel, and may be prevented by substituting, for the points, a simple spring clamp to hold the cloth. The points now used frequently break off and by substituting the clamp many injuries will be prevented. ____
Textile Sectional Meeting
379
A FATAL ACCIDENT.
A strange accident to a keir boy occurred in a plant with which the writer is familiar. The boy became tired and went to sleep inside his
Too Many Cooks
That may be true
keir. Before the lid was closed for turning on the steam, a workman called out for him, but receiving no
in a kitchen, but there can't be too
answer it was supposed that the boy had gone out riiito the yard. When the keir was opened the poor lad was found "well done." For
many Safety men in the factory.
this reason, the plant I have in mind has since that time made it a practice to send two men inside each
keir as it is being filled.
Not many accidents can be attributed to hydro-extractors, but they are very serious whenever they occur. While an extractor is
in motion the employe in attendance is strongly tempted to tuck back any loose ends of,cl Dth that may fly out. As a result. several
amputations have beenp>rought to our attention. A remedy for this
hazard is to equip all hydro-extractors with rigid metal covers, so attached that the machine cannot be started unless the cover is closed, and also so that the cover cannot be raised until the machine has stopped.
Exhaust systems for carrying off lint and waste are imperative
on such machines as mappers, shearers, singers, etc. Plants are in operation today which are lacking in this respect, and, as a conse
quence, we find many accidents reported due to "cleaning while in motion."
I have withheld from the discussion of guarding gears, but as a single exception would mention the protection of the gears on the
side of printing machines which drive the engraved rolls. Most manufacturers contend that these gears cannot be guarded without seriously impeding the work. If a large crescent-shaped plate is
laid close over these gcrrs with a hole at each hub for making ad justments, the necessary protection can be obtained without incurr ing inconvenience to the operatpr.
In closing I would jcall attention to a pernicious practice that is
UlM safgJjj.fi; ifeSS^.
380
Fourth Safety Congress
prevalent in nearly every bleachery and dyehouse. Lunches and dinners are eaten by the men as they tend their machines or vats, with no attempt to first wash their hands or eat the food amongst clean surroundings. Bottles of tea are often warmed in the hot liquors and not wiped off before the men drink out of them. Em ployes should be relieved at their machines and compelled to wash before eating, and under no circumstances should the food be con sumed inside the workrooms. Until this evil is corrected severe cases of chrome poisoning and disorders of a similar nature will continue to prevail. ( Applause. 1
(A number of stereopticon views were shown illustrating several points brought out in the foregoing paper. An analysis of accidents in these lines had been prepared by the Bureau of Safety of the American Mutual Liability Insurance Company, and was distributed to those present. This synopsis showed in detail the number of slight and serious accidents involved on the several hundreds of the machines found in these industries.)
Chairman*--Mr. P. S. Beyer, Manager Accident Prevention De partment of the Massachusetts Employes' Insurance Association, Boston, has prepared the following interesting arguments in favor of the need of safety standards for new textile machinery, but owing to his unavoidable absence from the meeting, the paper will read by the Chairman.
THE NEED OF SAFETY STANDARDS FOR NEW TEXTILE MACHINERY.
DAVID S. BEYER, MANAGER ACCIDENT PREVENTION DEPARTMENT, MAS
SACHUSETTS employes' insurance association.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: There is a peculiar element of danger in the operation of textile machinery from the fact that "flyings" or waste, so commonly pres ent in textile plants, tends to collect in the gearing and other moving parts, necessitating frequent cleaning of machinery. Since many of the operators in this industry are on piecework there is a natural tendency on their part to clean the machinery while it is in motion ; this undoubtedly accounts, to a considerable extent, for the high ratio of gear accidents in the textile industry', as compared with
Textile Sectional Meeting
381
those in other industries. (See paper entitled "The Prevention of Accidents in Cotton Mills," presented by John Calder before the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers, and re-printed in "Safety Engineering" for October, 1915.)
On account of the above-mentioned conditions, the mere provision of ordinary guards is not sufficient. Many accidents occur in this industry on account of employes removing guards and being caught in the running machinery. To overcome this difficulty the inter locking principle has been applied to gear guards, beater and cylinder covers, lap machines, etc.--that is, the guards are interlocked with the starting mechanism in such a way that they cannot be opened while the machinery is running and the machines cannot be started without the guards ini place.
Such safeguards are required by law in some foreign countries. Accordingly they have been standardized by the principal "builders of textile machinery^nd will be furnished if specified at the time new machinery is ordered. They can be secured at little additional cost, where it is expensive, and in some cases, impracticable, to provide them later.
DEFINITE STANDARDS ESSENTIAL.
It follows that, in the textile industry, more perhaps than in any other, definite^safety standards are essential for the elimination of many preventable accidents. Notwithstanding the fact that Safety First has become a watchword throughout the United States, newtextile machinery, in an unprotected state, is being constantly in stalled in plants in this country which would not be accepted in England or even in Russia.
In the State of Massachusetts, during a period of one year, there were 573 gear accidents in the cotton and woolen mills alone, or more than one-half of all gear accidents occurring in the state. ( See First Annual Report = of the Massachusetts Industrial Accident Board.) Special machinery, peculiar to the cotton and woolen mills --such as openers, pickers, cards, spinning and drawing frames, slashers, looms, etc.--caused 3,177 accidents during the same period of time. This record clearly indicates the need of practical safety standards for new textile machinery, such as those mentioned above.
The textile industry is especially notable in the large number of machines of the same type which may be found in a given plant.
asMiigatJi.fwWl.
V-^nM^SOIitfir
rr^i*EBWW
382
^Fourth Safety Congress
There may be several hundred, and in the larger plants several
thousand, machines of the same kind, and a few dollars expense
per machine for safety devices rapidly mounts into large sums.
Obviously it would be impossible, from the manufacturer's stand
point, to immediately provide interlocking guards for all the equip
ment already in place. There would seem to be no good reason,
however, why the new equipment which is being ordered from time
to time should not be equipped with this important form of protec
tion.
--
To secure such protection, definite safety specifications must be
used at the time an order for new equipment is placed. Such speci
fications should be adopted ^voluntarily by the textile plants, and
regulations for safeguarding will undoubtedly find their way into the statute books of the various states in the form of definite legal
standards as time goes on. (Applause.)
After discussion on Mr. Beyer's paper and a few words of appre ciation by the Chairman, the Section adjourned.
Habits of Care and Watchful ness Are More Important Than Safe Machines and Safe Places
National Safety Council
Section of Industrial Hygiene
,Philadelphia, Pa.
October 20 1915
=2^1 K*
DR. OTTO p. GEIER, Chairman
HE meeting- was called to order at 2 o'clock by Chairman
TGeier. The
" Chairman ;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
This marks
the first meeting of the Section of Industrial Hygiene of the Na
tional Safety Council. Those of you who have attended the general
sessions have learned that it is the purpose of the Executive Com
mittee to permanently organize sectional meetings.
You have learned that this organization is to take place as fol
lows: That the various^sections are to elect their own chairmen, vice-chairmen and secretaries; that the chairman of each section
is then to appoint four committees; that the three officers, plus the
four chairmen of committees, plus the Secretary of the National
Safety Council, Mr. Cameron, shall comprise the Executive Com
mittee of each section. " ^
The Executive Committee has deputized an individual to come
before each section at the time of organization to present this plan.
I will ask Mr. Avery to address the meeting at this time, so that
we may take care of the matter of organization first, and then pro
ceed with the program. ---- 383
384
Fourth Safety Congress
Mr. Avery: The Executive Committee thought best that we have a uniform plan or outline for the organizing of these sections and have drafted an outline that I will read:
BY-LAWS OF THE SECTION OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE OF THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL
NAME. Section x.
This organization shall be known as the section of industrial hygiene of the National Safety Council.
object.
Section 3.
The object of this Section shall be to promote the purposes, ob jects and activities-of the National Safety Council as the same more particularly apply to the special problems of the members of
this Section.
^
membership.
Section 3.
Membership shall include all members of the National Safety Council who shall be interested in the activities and purposes of this Section and who shall signify to the Secretary of the National Safety Council, or to the Secretary of the Section, their desire to affiliate with this Section.
OFFICERS.
Section 4.
The officers of this Section shall be a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary, who shall have the usual duties of such officers and whose terms shall extend to the annual meeting of the Section following their respective election or until their successors are elected.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Section 5.
Nominations of officers shall be made by a Nominating Commit tee of three appointed by the Chairman of the Section, which com mittee shall repofUat the annual meeting its recommendations of
s;.- ;!agjg
- '***<*-
Section of Industrial Hygiene
385
officers, which, report shall be followed at said meeting by the election of officers for-the ensuing year. Other nominations for offices may also be made by any members of this meeting.
MEETINGS.
Section 6.
There shall be an annual meeting of the members of the Section held during the period of the Congress of the National Safety Council, notice of the time and place of which meeting shall be posted at the Information Desk of said Congress. Other meetings of members may be held on due call and notice by the Sectional Executive Committee. "
- COMMITTEES.
Section 7.
The affairs of the Section shall be conducted by a Sectional Ex ecutive Committee which shall be composed of the Sectional Chair man, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary, and the Secretary of the Na tional Safety Council, who shall be ex-officio a member thereof, and the chairmen of the following four Standing Committees, which committees shall be appointed by the Sectional Chairman.
1. Membership Committee. 2. Standardization Committee. 3. Committee to study causes and remedies of hazards in the Section's field of activity. 4. Program Committee,
IN GENERAL.
Section 8.
The Sectional Executive Committee shall appoint such other offi cers or committees and amend these by-laws or adopt other laws and do such other acts and engage in such activities as may be needed to wisely further the objects of the Section.
SUPERVISION BY NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL.
Section p.
This section shall be under the direction of the Executive Com
mittee of the National Safety Council.
All by-laws and amendments thereto, activities, exp? 'iture, lit
erature, bulletins and published data of this Section
be sub-
A -(MigHwia
i.MESg^S!giriaiLi.L.-
feeffagBas^l
&MM.
386
- Fourth Safety Congress
"Taking a City"
Controlling your
ject to the prior approval of the Executive Committee of the Na tional Safety Council and all pub lications of the section shall be under the name of the section as a Section of the National Safety Council.
temper will oft-times prevent accidents to yourself and others.
The Chairman : Are there any questions to be asked by the members in regard to this method of organization? (No questions asked.)
The Chairman : The very auto cratic Executive "Committee of the National Council has com manded me to appoint a nominating committee. I will appoint on such nominating committee: Dr. Sidney McCurdy, Youngstown, Ohio, Chairman; Dr. F. W. Keough, New York; Dr. J. W. Schereschewsky, Pittsburgh.
We will ask this committee to retire and during the course of the afternoon to bring in a report as to nominations.
It now becomes my pleasure to introduce to you Dr. George M. Price, who will present the subject of "Systems of Health Super vision (description and scope of various systems now in actual oper ation)." Anything that I might say in' introduction of Dr. Price
would be superfluous to any of you at all familiar with health super vision of industries. Dr. Price. (Applause.)
SYSTEMS OF HEALTH SUPERVISION. Dr. George M. Price, Director Joint Board of
Sanitary Control, New York City.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: If I were to follow the program, "Systems of Health Supervision (description and scope of various systems now in actual operation)," I would probably not be able to get through today, and probably would be left without an audience. I shall try only, in my brief remarks, to give the general outline of the subject, and to stick to general principles, except in one instance where a more detailed account will be given.
Health supervision in industries is based on two principles:
.-a.4a8i$& .;g[ --MIBli
::wrnm
w rnmss.mm.iL,
jii.ntaain
Section of Industrial Hygiene
387
First, The principle of industrial
justice. Second, The principle of
industrial efficiency. - The first recognizes the importance of the
Well Done!
human factor in industry. The
second recognizes the intimate re
ff you have been
lations between the health of the worker and the output of the in dustry, or the industrial efficiency.
the means of pre venting an accident
Health supervision in industries is rather of recent origin, but it presents already a large number of
during the year, you have done well.
types--a variety of types of super
vision, from the simplest to the
most complex. Perhaps the most simple type of health supervision
is that found in a plant where an arrangement is made by the manu
facturer with a physician in a neighboring locality or dispensary
to give first aid to some of the injured in his plant. From this
primitive type, I might call it, or simple type, to the very complex
health supervision as we have it already, or as it ought to be, is
quite a long step. It is perhaps better for us to give a skeleton
outline of what our conception should be of a complete health super
vision of industry. When we are clear about such conception we may perhaps give a plan by which we may change the various types
of health supervision found in the various plants in this country.
Of course, our first conception is more or less individual, and my
conception is not necessarily the universal conception which should
be accepted. Now, my idea of a complete health supervision is one
that takes in the following five aspects of industry: First--Sanitary supervision.
Second--Industrial Hygienic supervision.
Third--Purely Medical supervision.
Fourth--General Hygienic supervision.
Fifth--Health Insurance.
SANITARY SUPERVISION-.
The first "aspect is the sanitary supervision of the plant. No health supervision can get along without this, and this is the first step in any industrial health supervision.
388
^ Fourth Safety Congress
By sanitary supervision I mean supervision o the plant, its con struction, its light (or illumination), its ventilation, and its care for the comforts and necessities of the employes within the shop. Whenever I speak of sanitary supervision I always remember the physician of a big lead company who, when he came before a hear ing of a New York factory commission, was asked whether there was any hot water in the plant. He said: "I don't know." I do not call that proper health supervision. Sanitary supervision is the
first part. The second part is industrial hygienic supervision. By this is
meant supervision of the processes in the industry as well as condi tions in the industry which affect, more or less, the worker in the plant. This, of course, embraces the various processes involving dust, gases, fumes and poisons; and those processes which have, perhaps, certainrinfections or infectious diseases in their train. In general, industrial supervision of processes tends to promote the health of the workers.
The third part is the "purely medical." That is, first, the physical examination of workers as they come into the plant or before they come into the plant; second, a periodical examination of the work ers while at work; third, a first aid and emergency treatment of those injured in the factory; fourth, the treatment of acute and chronic diseasesiof the workers while in the plant.
The fourth aspect of complete industrial health supervision is what I call general hygienic supervision. I was struck by a re mark of a man in Rochester who said: "Of what avail would it be to take care of the workers from 7 o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock in the evening, when we let them off, without supervision, from 6 o'clock in the evening until 7 o'clock in the morning?" It seems to me that a complete health supervision must include a gen eral health supervision, not only of the worker but of his family, his general surroundings, his addiction to alcohol, or other abuses.
health; insurance.
Lastly, there is what I call health insurance, or social insurance, whichever name you want to give it. To me it seems that to make health supervision complete there must be some system by which the worker who Is more or less disabled Is taken care of while dis abled. The worker should be given some work which is up to his
Lja.
1)
I
;
f
!
I
FIRST A ID ROOM FOR INDUSTRIAL. PLAN'J Safety Exhibit, National Safety Council Annual
FflKtSfliaiBi': aSi a -i
:Jfe2
Section of Industrial Hygiene
389
strength, and he should not be given work which he is not able to do, nor should he have to work in time of sickness or invalidity. It seems to me the complete health supervision of industries should comprise, as well as possible, social or health insurance--should take care of the worker while disabled, while sick, while invalided.
So much for the systems of health supervision. Now, as to their sources: There is at present principally one source, and in theory there are three sources, of industrial health supervision: First, in dividual; second, industrial; third, the state.
By individual health supervision I mean that which emanates from the factory owner himself. This is, practically, the system which is at present in vogue all over the country where some sys tem of health supervision^ has been adopted. There are, of course, objections to such a source. A system of supervision which is dic tated by the owner himself is apt to be too autocratic--and, well, shall I say, despotic and paternal ?--and has a great many chances for abuse. The workers jas a whole are not as yet ready to accept this source of health supervision as a panacea for industrial con ditions.
The third source, we^are perhaps not ready to accept in this country. At least, individualistic tendencies are such that we may regard state supervision^s too socialistic; and, perhaps, it has cer tain disadvantages which may militate against its adoption, at least in the near future.
JOINT SUPERVISION.
The second source, which I have indicated/as ^"industrial super vision," is that supervision which is conducted by an industry in stead of by an individual factory owner. In this embryonic type it has. been in practice in this country by the steel industry, which, although one corporation, still is practically embracing a large part of the industry. In Germany the industrial associations are hav ing a very complete system of health supervision, which seems to be in the right direction. In this country we have an example, of which perhaps many of you have heard, of the control of sanita tion by an industry--namely that of the cloak, dress and waist in dustry of New York City. In this industry we have a supervision which is rather complete. --It embraces sanitary supervision, indus trial, hygienic, medical and insurance, rather complete at present, so much so that workmen going in must be examined, and every
-iMiiai.- aai wiaiiM _
390
Fourth Safety Congress
factory in the organization must
undergo the introduction of a sick
Pay Once
benefit association, which is at pres ent taking care of 25,000 workers.
In this industry we have a control
Let one accident prevent another. If
by the industry; that is, the manu facturers' associations, comprising some 600 manufacturers organized
experience is worth
into a large body. The workers
nothing, you are in a
are organized into large unions. These have come together by col
bad way.
lective agreement, and have formed an institution which is called the
Joint Board of Sanitary Control,
and this institution has supervision of the health of the industry.
It seems to me this is an ideal method of supervision. There
cannot be any quarrel between the manufacturer and the worker
because both are represented in the board and the work is financed
by both of them. The manufacturer pays half of the cost while the
union pays the other half. All the actions of the board are under
supervision by both sides and the Joint Board of Sanitary Control
at present has complete sanitary inspection and supervision of the
shops. We also have a fire drill division, which takes charge of
fire drills in every shop in the industry; also a first aid division,
which gives the proprietors first aid boxes for their shops and sends
a nurse to every shop once a month to instruct in the use of the
first aid outfits. We also have a physical examination which takes
care of all workers coming into the industry, those who feel them
selves ill, and those who are to be sent away for their own benefit.
We also give attention to dental and eye diseases. Thus, we prac
tically perform a careful medical supervision of all the workers
of the industry, consisting of about 85,000 men and women.
This is simply a type showing what, in my conception, should
be the source of complete health supervision of an industry. Per
haps it will be for other industries to follow. I believe, however,
it is a step in the right direction. (Applause.)
:The Chairman The Chairman has allowed himself the privi lege of extending Dr. Price's time. It seems to me, however, that
Section of Industrial Hygiene
391
inasmuch as we have a *very full
program we will have to limit the speakers to ten minutes apiece, expecting they will have another
The Easiest Way
opportunity in the discussion.
Just at this moment we will take an adjournment. I have protested
It is easier to do a
to the board of directors against the unsanitary conditions, the light ing, ventilation and crowded con
thing right than to explain why you did
dition of this room, and we will adjourn now to another room.
it wrong.
(The meeting adjourned to room
hack of the ballroom.)
The next speaker. Dr. W. H, Clarke of Worcester, Mass., comes
to us with a great deal of force because of the fact that he is one
of the pioneers in this movement of medical supervision of in
dustry.
:The Chairman Dr. Clarke will now address us on "Prac tical Experience, With Methods of Health Supervision." (Ap plause.)
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, WITH METHODS OF HEALTH SUPERVISION.
Dr. W. H. Clarke, Norton Company, Worcester, Mass.
Norton Company is a company situated at Worcester, Mass., which manufactures grinding wheels and grinding wheel machin ery. Up to 1911 we had no medical provision for the treatment of sickness or accidents except such as existed in the first aid kit in one of the experimental laboratories. In May, 1911, the policy of a medical department was adopted and a doctor was employed. There was at that time no equipment other than above mentioned and the entire department as it now exists has been gradually built up. During those four years and a half the department has changed from a one-room emergency department, in which physical exam inations were made as well as the handling of accidents and sick ness, to a three-room department, thoroughly equipped for making
-w rVjfr-
392
-- Fourth Safety Congress
physical examinations of every employe and for treating' aielmess
or accident occurring' in the works.
At the end of the first six months it was evident that the depart
ment was going to be a success and that more help would be neces
sary to handle the cards. A male nurse, who had had the experi
ence of serving in the United States Navy Medical Corps, was added
to the department and has remained with It up to the present time.
So active has the department become and so valuable to the board
of directors that when the new administration building was erected
in 1913 one comer of it was divided into three rooms and given
to the medical department, fully equipped for work. The factory
up to this time had about 1,200 employees on its pay roll. Re
cently, however, the plant has expanded and the number of em
ployees has now increased to 2,000. This has thrown so much work
on the medical department that it has been necessary in the last
three months to add, first, a clerk to handle the cards and records,
and, second, an additional doctor to assist the surgeon in making
physical examinations and handling accidents and sickness. The
department has gone under the name of the Department of Health
and Sanitation. It has never been considered welfare work but
a business proposition and has ranked in equal importance with
other departments in the shop.
During the development of the department from its beginning
to the present time many changes have taken place in the ideas of
the department and it is the results of this practical experience
in methods of health supervision which I will discuss in this short
paper.
~
FUNCTIONS OF DEPARTMENT.
The functions of the department are six in number:
1. The examination of all applicants prior to entering the em ployment of the company with a view (a) to the elimination of men totally -unfit for the work to which they are assigned; (b) an adjustment of those partially unfit to suitable departments; (c) to enable the employe to realize bis defects and to co-operate with the doctor in reducing these to, the minimum and thus increase his efficiency j (d) to introduce the prospective employe to the doctor and the medical department in order that in case of subsequent sick ness or accident he will know where to go.
Section of Industrial Hygiene
393
2. The care of minor sicknesses and the . diagnosis of any cases of serious sickness applying to the hospital for advice.
3. First aid and the subsequent treatment of all accidents. 4- Supervision and the maintenance of good sanitation through out the shop.
5. Publicity upon health matters. This is done by the distribu tion of leaflets written by the doctor in charge of the Department of Health and Sanitation and distributed in the pay envelopes monthly.
6. The following up of all men absent from work for more than forty-eight hours, to determine whether they are absent on account of unreported sickness or accidents or for other reasons.
The above is a baste outline of the Norton method of health supervision. We will now discuss the more important of these functions, giving the conclusions at which we have arrived as a result of experience.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYES.
This should be done before the man is definitely hired. (a) In order to prevent contagious diseases becoming -estab lished in the works. (b) To prevent grossly defective men attempting w>_ k for which they are incapable. (c) To allow adjustments, by transferring a slightly defective employee from one department to another where his defect will not have any effect upon his work. For several years we have tried having no examination until after the employee has been with the company for two weeks. This was to enable us to find out whether the man would be satisfactory. before going to the expense of a physical examination. We found, however, that men started work who were grossly unfit for the type of work at which they were placed and several cases of contagious diseases were discovered when the men came up for examination. We therefore started the present system of a physical examination of the applicant before admission to the working force. It is evident that there is a very close relation between the hir ing department and the medical department. The hiring depart ment selects a man who appears to fulfill every requirement and
SShl.
am:
.jam..
394
Fourth Safety Congress
then sends that man to the doctor
FOREMEN!
for an expression of opinion as to whether his physical condition is
such that he will make a good
A preventable ac
workman in the department to which he has been assigned. If
cident is a disgrace -to the foreman in
the man is not satisfactory from a physical point of view for that department he may be for another,
whose gang it hap
and it is the duty of the medical
pens.
department to point this out to the hiring clerk in order that he may
make such a change, if possible.
If it is not possible the man should
not be allowed to work in the factory, for his work will be inefficient
and he will probably receive lasting harm from it.
At Norton Company the hiring at present is done early in the
morning, thus making it necessary for the doctor to be at the works
very early if he would make examinations before the men go to
work. In order to avoid this a preliminary examination was insti
tuted. This is made by the nurse, after receiving a course of train
ing by the doctor. This preliminary examination has proved very
satisfactory, as every case is checked up by the doctor at the sec
ond, or complete, examination, made within two weeks of the time
the man is hired. Any man found defective by the nurse is held
and not allowed to go to work until the doctor has examined him.
I consider this, however, to be a make-shift device, and while work
ing well in our case, where we have a particularly competent nurse,
I feel it is not a system that should be recommended. Undoubt
edly the most efficient and best method is to have the doctor make
a complete physical examination before -the employee is taken into
the shop.
_
HOW THOROUGH SHOULD A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION- BE?
At Norton Company we find ourselves becoming more and more thorough as time goes on. Each addition to our routine has been made because of necessity and not for theoretical reasons. We now make an examination which takes from twelve to twenty min utes, and which includes blood pressure but not urine analysis, ex-
Section of Industrial Hygiene
395
cept in cases of 40 years,or over,
and in younger individuals when indicated by blood pressure of 150
THE DOCTOR
systolic. Otherwise the--examina
tion is about as complete as for life insurance. The patient is com
"The majority of
pletely stripped before it is con cluded. We have never had any trouble from men in accepting this
the men show great interest and thank
examination as a preliminary to being hired. In fact the majority of men 'show great interest and
the doctor for the ad vice he gives them."
thank the doctor for the advice he
gives them in regard to minor de
fects. It has been stated by doctors at different meetings that a com
plete physical examination should take at least an hour. We are
willing to admit that from twelve to twenty minutes is an extremely short time in- which to make a complete physical examination but
unless this short time is taken physical examinations of employees in factories would be impossible without such a large staff of nurses and doctors that the expense would be prohibitive.
In my work I hear a great deal from the manufacturing side. I find that the enthusiasm of the board of directors is not great towards spending large sums of money for physical examinations and it is very easy to frighten prospective adopters of this system by unnecessarily strict examinations.
There are few if any doctors in private practice who take more than twenty minutes in making physical examinations of their private patients. I venture to say there is no life insurance com pany which Jakes more than one-third of an hour for an actual physical examination. Why, then, should we suddenly develop an idea that the healthy workman should require an intricate system of examination far more thorough than that used in other branches of the medical profession. :
During my experience at Norton Company we have found
practically no cases in which our primary physical examination
proved later to have been ^inadequate. And such lapses, when
they occur, are rapidly corrected as a result of subsequent
examination.
-
immm
agyaafr
tiestL
396
Fourth Safety Congress
WHAT CASES OF SICKNESS SHOULD BE TREATED?
A few words will suffice. We believe in treating all minor cases, that is, all men applying to the hospital with conditions not severe enough to need a doctor but where advice and some simple drug is advisable to keep them at their work. All cases of sickness should, however, be examined and a diagnosis made. For this reason I like to consider the medical department as a diagnostic clearing house in which the seriously sick cases are promptly discovered and sent to their family physicians or to a general hospital, while minor cases are given advice and a little medication if such seems indi cated.
HOW SHOULD ACCIDENTS BE HANDLED?
Treatment of accidents has been so thoroughly thrashed out that there is hardly anything to be said upon the subject. X believe that where possible, as in our case, a central hospital, where all acci dents are sent, is more satisfactory than multiple first aid stations. In large shops I can easily see that this is impracticable, but I feel sure that more thorough work is done in the hospital than at the first aid stations.
The fact that we have never had an infection in any wound treated at the Norton hospital shows, in our case, at least, that it has proved efficient: Each department should, however, have a first aid outfit to use for serious accidents, and the foreman in each department should be instructed in the use of these few simple things. The outfits should, however, seldom require renewing.
HOW SHOULD THE PROBLEM OF SHOP SANITATION BE HANDLED?
Sanitation belongs to the medical department. The doctor should
make weekly inspection of all sanitary arrangements throughout the shop and should arrange as to the cleaning of these. After the routine has been established it may be left safely in the hands of an
assistant, who should have under him a sufficient number of men who give their whole time to following out the routine. It is only in this way that toilets, locker-rooms, etc., can be kept in good
condition.
--
HEALTH PUBLICITY.
We believe that this can best be maintained by leaflets published monthly and distributed in pay envelopes. These should be in the
Section of Industrial Hygiene
397
simple language of the patent medicine advertisements. The patent medicine advertiser is not working for his own amusement, but knows he is going to reach the public. I know of no better way to reach the public than by following his evil example. We may later be able to take to better things but our first plan should be to write so that every one will understand it.
FOLLOW UP.
A list following up all sick and injured employees should be re ported to the hospital. I do not believe this should be a function of the medical department though we have made it such at Norton Company. This belongs particularly to the hiring branch of the factory and again emphasizes the advisability of union between the hiring department and the medical department. The medical de partment notifies the hiring department each day as to the number of men out on account of sickness or accident , and this department follows it up. This will materially reduce the work of the follow up men. The value of the follow-up system to the factory in keep ing men at work has been dealt with in other papers and in other places. These are the most important facts which I can bring out as my practical experience in methods of health supervision. (Applause.)
The Chairman : This sectional meeting is apparently justifying itself. It is apparent there is a deep interest in the supervision of the health of the workers.
We will next hear from Dr. Sidney A. McCurdy on "Results Accomplished."
RESULTS ACCOMPLISHED.
Db. Sidney A. McCurdy, Youngstown Sheet and Tube Com
pany, Youngstown, Ohio.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: I
found, after I began the preparation of this subject that it was very
difficult because of the lack of accurate statistics. I desire to take this subject up in three aspects.
Any discussion that may be of value upon the practical results of the physical examination of people must be approached from three different angles and by two divisions of each angle. If rated
g feta;
398
Fourth Safety Congress
as valuable it must satisfy the
You Know Him?
needs of the individual; of indus try, and organized society, both as
to its economic and humanitarian
A. dangerous man is one who acts with no thought of conse
assets. Unfortunately at this time the problem has been so little studied that it is difficult to draw accurate conclusions from the dis
quence to others. He soon becomes a men
jointed mass of statistics, but a fair estimate may be made and a theo retical deduction of its present and
ace to every one.
future results fairly constructed.
It is my purpose to consider
each one of my three divisions sep
arately, though ofnecessity each much blend into the other, as all
things co-operative ^must join hands for the common good.
WEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
That the value to the individual is not the least I am certain, though at times a single example may seem to work a hardship. The object of the examination, as far as the worker is concerned, at our plant is designed for his benefit as well as for the company's. I find that to be the case in other industries, so far as. I am ac quainted. Since a man's own wage and reward for service are in direct ratio to his physical ability to work, anything that increases the number of days that he can work will necessarily make him more prosperous. As a man's savings depend upon how he spends his earnings, anything that diminishes an unnecessary doctor's bill increases his saving-margin. This is exactly what we are attempt ing to do and are -accomplishing. At the Norton plant, under the guidance of Dr. Clark, it has been shown that those who were ex amined and advised as to their health have lost many less days' time per year than those who were not examined. lie has also proved that those who reported at the dispensary with minor ail ments were ill a much shorter time, because of early and appropri ate care, than those who did not report. Dr. Meade of the Ford plant informs me that the difference in absenteeism, under a very well organized medical department and follow-up system, has caused a decrease from one and one-half per cent to three-quarters of one
Section of Industrial Hygiene
399
per cent. Dr. Patterson "of, Phila
delphia has shown that under the complete medical system that lead
His Right
poisoning with its loss of time to
the. worker has practically been eliminated and a consequent in
A worker has the
crease in wageaccomplished. Thus, we see the economic value to the worker from the lessening of lost
right to expect to be free from danger
time. On the humanitarian side there seems to be a generous credit. A worker has the right to
during his working hours.
expect to be free from danger
from contagious and infections dis eases during his working hours. It would certainly be unfair to need
lessly expose any man to tuberculosis, syphilis, smallpox, etc., yet
this is what we have been doing under the old system. Dr. Mock
of the Sears-Roebuck Company of Chicago has conclusively proven
that as his work becamejtnore thorough and extended over a longer
period of time, that after the once over, when he culled out the
most of their tuberculosis, he has always discovered less and less
as he went on, proving- that he was not hiring new foci of infec
tion and was constantly eliminating the old. In time he will prac
tically eliminate tuberculosis from their working force. Two cases
of smallpox appeared in our tube mill one morning and were dis
covered by my assistant. Dr. Dobbins. These men were sent home and 2,204. men immediately were vaccinated free of charge. Of this
number 1,183 were fair or good takes, in spite of the fact that
many-bad been previously vaccinated, and there was not an infec
tion or more than the expected vaccination illness in a single case.
Syphilis, the cause of more disaster to the human race than most
any other disease, is spotted and eliminated, if in the infectious
stage. We had a very interesting experience with a man who came
to my office to consult me regarding a simple stomach disorder.
I found upon questioning"him that he ran a 100-ton hot ladle crane
--a job that requires accuracy and judgment for his safety, that
of his fellow-workmen, and for the preservation of property. This
man was diagnosed as haying paresis or insanity due to syphilis.
He was at once removed from this important work. Three weeks
400
Fourth Safety Congress
later be tried to kill bis mother and six weeks later he died in an insane asylum. Trachoma, a disease of the eye that often causes blindness and surely impairs vision, was found by us to be present in epidemic form. Major J. W. Schereschewsky examined our force and found in 5,962 men 76 cases of positive trachoma, a per centage of 1.3 per cent. He also found in the school children, mostly sons and daughters of our workmen, ten cases, or a per centage of 1.53 per cent. We opened, at our expense, a hospital for the quarantine and treatment of these cases and practically elim inated trachoma for the time being. Since then Dr. Dobbins and myself have examined the eyes of 9,000 men and have found that forty-two new applicants had trachoma. These men came from all parts of the country, conclusively proving that trachoma is quite prevalent in the United States, especially among the foreign workers. It has been our custom to treat all cases of trachoma, whether applicants or not. Railroad men depend for their safety and the safety of others upon their eyesight and their ability to read the color signals. Machinists who have deficient vision should have their eyes corrected in order that the handicap they possess may be removed and they: may fairly compete with men of good vision. Hernia ran 2-6 per cent in our examination. It has been our cus tom to have all men in. our employ either wear a truss or be oper ated on. The operations have been done by my assistant or my self free of charge if the patient was unable to pay. We have in sisted, where possible, that the patient pay the hospital bill but if in dire circumstances we have arranged that the person might be cared for through the various charitable agencies. Up to date we have done forty odd operations, none of which have had a recur rence and none of which have been off work more than six weeks. We have over a hundred men wearing trusses and we inspect these men at least once in two months in order to see that their trusses are being worn. The taking of blood pressure has been a valuable help to the men. May I illustrate with one case that thought we were meddling with his welfare? We discovered a man with a pressure of 210. This man was offered the chance of seeking lighter work in our organization and taking treatment. In anger he left us and ever after, while living, boasted that he was doing harder work than before. Six months later he died (from a stroke of apoplexy) while he was doing the hard work that we had denied
Section of Industrial Hygiene
401
him--a condition that wAhad predicted and explained to him. This man, with reasonable care, might have lived and been a good pro ducer for many years if he had but listened to advice. I might go
on and write a book upon the individual benefit, but believe that these cases will assist the development of the discussion along this division.
I can not leave this subject without calling to your attention one company that is a leader in one phase of this work. The Good rich Rubber Company has kindly given me some figures of the value of the dental inspection erf the mouths of their employees and some of the results of their dental clinic. I think that they are point ing a way that others will follow.
THE NEEDS OF INDUSTRY.
There must, of course, be some benefit to an industry that en gages in this work. Just what that benefit may be in dollars and cents is as yet very hard to estimate, and as to the benefit in a better understanding between employer and employee I am not so sure, since the employee has seen fit to be suspicious of any good intention of his employer. It is my belief that the employer re ceives his benefit in a reflex manner after the employee has first received his. In some cases of new applicants the industry is able to reject their labor for the applicant's benefit arid in others for its own. The fact, still remains that any employer is benefited by a system that' will keep his force more constant, as it is a large drag upon industry to pay the cost of hiring and bringing to efficiency any unnecessary number of men. This has been worked out surely by at least one company, the Avery Company of Peoria, which, under the leadership of Mr. Avery and the management as well as Dr. Famum, for they have proven that the number of men hired has been markedly diminished and the efficiency and consequent pro ductivity of those selected has been much increased, both to the workmen's advantage and that of the company. Safety has been advanced to new possibilities, for the man who is physically fit to do his work is a safer man to himself and his fellow-workmen, and when accidentally hurt becomes well in a shorter space of time. Hernia, which was the common cause of fake and unfair claims made upon a company for damages, has been reduced to a mini mum. Epileptics, who were a source of danger to all, have been
;a mm* i**
402
- Fourth Safety Congress
r The Common Good
Individual good or harm must be forgot
placed in positions of safety. Out of it all, when the clouds clear away, I firmly believe there will be a common ground established upon which employee and employer can meet, for the benefit of both and the common, good of mankind.
ten in the endeavor
ORGANIZED SOCIETY.
to advance civiliza tion.
Lastly, we must consider such a movement and radical change from
the viewpoint of organized society.
Individual good or harm must be
forgotten in the endeavor to. ad
vance civilizatiorrand the welfare of humanity. 'We must ever have
before us the thought that wealth is produced by the accumulation
of the endeavors of individuals and the savings by them of the
results of their productivity. Wealth, which buys us many of our
pleasures, depends absolutely upon the health of the producers in
all walks of life. In this movement we have the first real organized
effort to actually make the science of preventive medicine a reality.
Here we have a compulsory education of adults that will teach all
the value of their bodies and that will instruct the world in methods
of preserving their bodies. Here we inaugurate a movement that
strikes at the fundamentals of the world's production and human
happiness. With this knowledge we are ready to attack the problem
as to what to do with the unfit. Certainly as this work progresses
we will have an ever decreasing number of unfit, but at the present
time it Is a real question. I do not blame the manufacturer for
the lack of care of the unfit, but place the blame where it belongs
--upon organized society. This work is relatively so new that,
there really has been no opportunity to prepare for the care of the
unfit. Because I reject a man for employment in the steel industry
is no sign that he is unable to work anywhere else. Our steel work
Is so hard that no man with heart trouble, for his own good, should
be engaged in it. It simply means that he must seek an industry
filled with easier burdens. At the present time we have no agency
that can direct such a man to his suitable place. I see in the city
state employment bureaus of Ohio, when they realize their obligation
Section of Industrial Hygiene
403
to society, the means by. which men
may be vocationally guided accord ing to physical fitness. " Properly
The Common Good
conducted and socially efficient,
they should have the lists of places
suitable for unfit humanities to
nation can build
work in, a place profitable for themselves, and where they can
a system of efficiency
produce' the maximum commen
that will produce in
surate with their health.: For those who are incapacitated- through sickness or old age I firmly believe
finitely more formerly*,-
than
that we should establish a sys
tem of state insurance and old-age
pensions, so that a man, while well, may be compelled to save a
small sum to care for himself or fellow-workers when sick. Under
this plan there can be no question that a nation can build a system
of efficiency that will produce infinitely more than formerly and
still care for those who have been incapacitated in a far better and
more humane manner than at present. (Applause.)
The Chairman : The next paper is that of Dr. J. W. Schereschewsky, of the United States Public Health Service, on "Stand ardization of systems of Medical Supervision." Dr. Schereschewsky has been doing a splendid work for industry and we shall be glad to hear from him at this time.
Dr. Schbreschewsky: It is evident that in the few minutes at my disposal I cannot enter into any discussion of my subject, "Stand ardization of Systems of Medical Supervision."
I believe I can indicate a few points in regard to such systems which should be standardized. It is plain, the benefits to be derived from medical supervision, are very generally recognized.
STANDARDIZATION OF SYSTEMS OF MEDICAL SUPERVISION.
Dr. J. W. S chereschewsky. United States Public Health
Service, Pittsburgh, Pa.-
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: I can touch but lightly on this subject in the few minutes at my disposal. It is
mm, '!is jteiliianitt^K wwwiiW
- -Wfe. ;
< V. m*'-
^ :.zxn Sr'fe-ijff ,,
,-:mm
404
Fourth Safety Congress
plain that the benefit to be derived from systems of medical super vision of workers is becoming generally recognized, yet the whole subject, at present, is in a state of flux. Different ideals exist of the functions of medical supervision, its place in the industrial world, and the ends it may be made to subserve. We are now in its for mative period. The useful evolution of the future depends largely upon our treatment of this subject in the present.
It needs but ^casual inspection of the 'various supervisory sys tems now in existence to determine that the greatest diversity, both in scope and efficiency of execution, exists at the present time. In the majority of-industrial plants any system whatever of medical supervision is conspicuous by its absence; in others, some form of medical supervision is present, but, as a rule, is very far from accomplishing what it might accomplish. In still fewer plants there is a systematic endeavor at medical supervision with a resulting service which conforms more nearly to the conditions we would
desire in an enlightened industrial world.
MEDICAL SUPERVISION AND RELIEF.
All who have studied or have had practical experience in this subject are unanimous in the belief that medical supervision is a good thing; all who are interested in medical supervision would like to see the idea become universal in practice. Yet the very diversity in organization and results create confusion and retard evolution. Moreover, medical supervision and relief, as it exists today, is, in a large measure, devoid of systematized methods for the collection of certain essential data which are necessary for the study and development of this particular field of industrial evolu tion. The presence of this data would greatly facilitate progress.
It is believed, therefore, that if we could agree upon a basic plan upon which such systems could be organized, if practice could be rendered uniform, if all of us could start in this work with the same ideals, if all the important data collected in the course of the work could be preserved in systematic form for comparative refer ence, we would make a most important contribution to the wel fare of man.
The objects of the medical supervision of workers have been elsewhere described. Its fundamental purpose is to prevent the transmission of disease, needless physical deterioration, the safe-
.aaMiaiaBMiye
;im
Section of Industrial Hygiene
405
guarding- of the worker from preventable industrial hazards, the continuous maintenance of health--in other words, to render in dustries "safe" from a health as well as from an accident stand point. Prevention is, therefore, the keynote of the system. But because medical relief is often itself of a preventive character, such relief must also be provided for in systems of medical supervision.
In addition to the above, provision must be made for the system atic recording of the valuable data which results from such systems, so that their study will yield the indispensable information as to benefits derived, the cost, the prevalence of defects and diseases among groups of workers, the direction in which hygienic improve ments should be effected and the suppression of activities which are superfluous or ineffective.
PLANT PHYSICIANS.
There is need, therefore, for standards in the following particu
lars, which fall naturally into two general classes, to wit: (a)
Standards of personnel and equipment, and (b) Standards of prac
tice. Under the first head we must consider the employment of
whole time or part time plant physicians; the number which should
be employed for a given factory personnel; the aids, in the form
of clerical, nursing and other assistants, which should properly be
supplied the plant physician; the function of such assistants; the
floor space required, the construction arid equipment of the relief
department, and similar questions.
^
Under the second heading we must-put:
i. Standards of physical examination.
12. Standards with respect to rejections.
3. Standards in regard to physical defects and diseases not im-'
plying rejection, including the provisions for those physically sub
standard.
4. Standards of practice in regard to injuries.
5. Standards for the treatment of cases requiring medical re
lief.
L_
6. Standards for the sanitation of industrial plants.
7. Standards for efforts at health education of the plant per
sonnel.
8. Systems of recording and compiling records.
It is evident from the foregoing that this question is highly com-
WPwilW '
'-mm
406 ' : -- - Fourth Safety Congress
plex. There is so much that might
be done, yet we are hampered at
The Two H,s
every hand by cost considerations, misapprehensions of the benefit in
curred, and many other discourag
A. bed at Home is
ing features. Nevertheless, it is
worth two in a Hos
important, if medical supervision is to fulfill its predestined function,
pital. It is better to
measure up to the constructive
be careful than crip
ideals it stands for, that all the standards enumerated above must
pled.
be considered in their turn and
due provision be made for their
adoption.
I cannot close without referring to a provision which will largely
simplify the solution of the problem. Economists tell us that sick
ness insurance, which is a fact in European countries today, must
sooner or later be introduced in this country. This is, of course,
an economic provision of the future. We have not got it now.
Yet well organized systems of mutual sickness insurance exists in
many plants. I need hardly say that pending the legislation on sick
ness insurance which seems bound to come, such private mutual
sickness insurance provisions should form part of the department
of medical relief. In this way means may be furnished for prop
erly distributing the cost, increasing the efficiency of the super
vision and establishing and realizing in actual practice some of the
essential standards which I have indicated above. (Applause.)
:The Chairman We in Ohio believe that the Industrial Com mission of Ohio is in a way to set new standards. We in Ohio be lieve that our State Health Board is setting new standards for health supervision. It, therefore, gives me great pleasure to intro duce Dr. Emory R. Hayhurst, of the Ohio State Board of. Health, who will speak tor you on "Standard Forms for Recording Medical
Data."
:Dr. Hayhurst In order to make intelligible what I am going to talk about I have brought some 200 forms, and I will ask you to help me distribute these forms, in the shape of cards.
Section of Industrial Hygiene
407
STANDARD FORMS FOR RE
CORDING MEDICAL DATA. Dr. Emory R. Hayhurst, Direc
"I Told You So"
tor Department of Occupa tional Diseases, Ohxo State
Tell the man in
Board of Health:, Columbus, Ohio.
The desirability of adopting
charge of the shop before an accident
standard forms for industrial health relations seems very oppor tune at this time because (i) the
happens-----not after ward.
movement for state-wide sickness
insurance (similar to that of acci dent insurance) is on foot for all who are gainfully employed; (2)
legal action against employers on account of alleged industrial sick
ness is becoming more and more frequent; (3) juries and courts are
becoming more and more inclined to consider that the word "in
jury" in compensation laws includes occupational diseases; and (4)
efficiency men and industrial economists have begun to look into
the question of the health of workers with a considerable degree
of seriousness.
ZL
As a beginning, it seems desirable to limit the number of so-called standard forms which may be used for obtaining data to two in
number--one for the worker and one for the work place. From
these two forms as a basis, other forms may be developed to fit the
peculiarities of time and place. The forms ^submitted for your
scrutiny are intended for the first physical examination, and, in
the case of sickness complaint on the part of any worker already employed, for an inspection of the workplace or work qualities
with which he is surrounded. Follow-up forms, forms for repeated
examinations or inspections, and forms for making summaries will
not be considered here. Also, it is not presumed that we are dealing to any extent with acute medical conditions which suddenly inca
pacitate for work.
^
USE OF FORMS.
In the use of these forms, it is suggested^ that cards of the same size and respective colors; but left blank, be kept oh hand for re cording additional or special data. In brief, the yellow form, headed
kMHW frw- WlWgBMgfe-IWwBilT
a
-t-aitga
408
Fourth Safety Cotigress
"Personal Health Data," considers the worker as a unit. In estab lishments undertaking physical examinations, this form should be filled out for each worker as fully as policy and means permit. The filling out of this form should be the first requisite in under taking physical supervision of workers. The filling out of the white form, entitled "Employment Health Data," it is expected, will be done next in order. The two forms are kept together, along with any additional information collected, and the whole placed within a folder so that each worker's record, complete, is kept in a folder by itself. Cards and folders are so sized that they will just fit into the standard filing cabinet drawer of 5x8 inches in dimensions. It will be observed that one edge of the folder protrudes about half an inch and upon this should be typewritten the worker's name, number, and other desirable identification features. Caution is ad vised in increasing the number of forms. In connection with the forms here presented, it is believed that most essential features have been included. In fact, your general comment at first glance is undoubtedly to the effect that the forms are too extensive. This preliminary opinion requires some comment. In the first place, it will be noted that all the information is of basic character respect ing the worker and his work place, that there has been kept in mind health, efficiency, and prolongation of working life, and that all has been arranged for on two conveniently sized cards. For persons who have a natural inclination to write in a large hand, or to pre fer space, there is no reason why the information upon these two cards may not be spread out upon cards of larger size. All that is necessary is to adopt a size fitted to some of the standard cabinet drawers.
Taking up the yellow form ("Personal Health Data") in more detail, it will be observed that headings are listed down the lefthand side of the card with blank lines extending to the right for recording findings. Just exactly what to record is indicated by the small type words printed in succession just beneath each line. By this means practically the whole card may be written upon almost as though it were a blank, yet the specifications are all present.
Here and there, especially toward the ends of lines, room is left for miscellaneous information. The form is gotten up with the idea of saving writing time as much as possible; also reading time, and yet to leave out nothing of importance. To do this, it is sug-
Section of Industrial Hygiene
409
gested to use a simple common code composed of X, XX and XXX, which indicate degrees of defects, with "R" for right and "L" for left. The note at the top of the card explains this use. By so doing, not only writing time is saved, but space, so that where it become^ advisable to record other data, the space is at hand for
so doing. The factors for *`Identification'' are, it is believed, pretty well
covered, and, in general, those for "Previous Health." It was found impracticable, however, to include the numerous features which might be present in different cases as to "Present Health (complaints)" in the space allowable, so two blank lines without comment have been left for this purpose. The features of "Habits," "Family,5' and "Health Interest" are self-explanatory. Under the head of "Physical Examination," if is believed that the most im portant conditions to be sought for, for the purposes at hand, have been indicated by the cue words beneath the lines.
KEEPING THE RECORDS.
It is to be noticed that considerable relative space has been de voted to the "Eyes." This is in keeping with the findings of physi cal examinations. In Ohio, for instance, where 15 per cent of the industrial workers of the state are now physically examined, eye defects have been found to be the chief ones in number. Even with the space allowed, it is to be noted that the single word "di sease" stands for a multitude of possible conditions. Under the head of "Ears," "scars" refer particularly to those of former mas toid operations. Undoubtedly the dentist would have us devote more than one line to the subject of "Teeth." In connection with "Gums," "discolor" would include lead lines, copper lines, etc. It is thought well to put the word "Voice" down since this feature alone is sometimes very suggestive. The cue words to the three lines devoted to "Chest" include suggestive conditions, but the entire space may be used in some descriptive manner, especially if none of the terms seem to apply to a case in question. It is believed that the cue words under the head of "Abdomen" will catch most physi cal imperfections of this region as well as of the dorsum. The same may be said of oniof the cue words under "Pelvis, Genitals, and Rectum." In Ohio, the second chief physical defect appears to be "hernia." Space is left here for recording the degree (by the
- fjggim fijl
JiBii
jLMjtgii .
410
Fourth Safety Congress
use of the Xs), the position ("R"
The Difference
or "L"), and for a word or two of description, if necessary. A line is
also present for the examination in
Between a wise man
the case of the female. In regular procedure of physical
and. a fool is the fool's mistakes never
examinations, the "Lower Extrem ities" conveniently come next in order as the examination proceeds,
teach him anything. Think it over.
while peculiarities in the upper ex tremities come last. Significant cue words are subtended for each.
The ascertaining of the pulse in
both wrists simultaneously (the
same should also be done in the case of the ankles) is also empha
sized. Attention is specifically called to "Brachial Arteriosclerosis."
"Blood pressure" should be taken both before and after exercise.
The amount of exercise should be standardized and it is suggested
that the bending movement in attempting to touch the toes and then
extending the body upward and backward, ten times in about twenty
seconds, would suffice for a proper exercise standard. Usually
some idea of myocardial efficiency can be determined thereby. The one line devoted to' "Urine Analysis" with its cue words, is believed
to be sufficient. -Definite standards should be adopted for indica
tions arid methods of procedure in blood pressure determinations
and urine analysis and perhaps for blood and sputum analysis, but
I consider these beyond the scope of this short paper.
For the three lines devoted to "Mental Tests," acknowledgment
is made to the United States Public Health Service's scheme em
ployed at immigration depots which is here considerably abbrevi
ated. Finally, on this^card a little space is left for "Miscellaneous" in
formation, for "Summary" or "Diagnosis," and for recording the
"Disposition" of the case. Here latitude may be given in that the advised disposition or the actual disposition may be recorded.
The "Employment Health Data" form, the white card, is ar
ranged to be of use (i) for the self-inspection service of a plant;
(2) for private inspection bureaus (insurance companies and the
like) ; and (3) for official or governmental inspection services. It
Section. of Industrial Hygiene
411
requires not only a keen observer'
but one who is skilled in the effects of hazards upon health to fill out
The Other Fellow
this blank properly. Hence, the
plant physician or other physician should always perform this duty.
While busy mak
It has been somewhat difficult to devise a single form which would answer for all three types of in
ing yourself safe, take a little time to
spection services. Yet it- appears very desirable to have all inspec tions alike in both elements and
make your fellow workmen safe, too.
methods. Otherwise it is 'useless
to discuss standards. -As far as
possible, the individual worker should again be considered a unit
in the use of this form and this form should be filled out when
ever and wherever a worker complains of indisposition or sick
ness. A very broad view should be taken of this word "com
plaints/' The medical examination of the individual, which has been
previously completed, should be kept in mind, for it may exhibit
physical findings which do not occasion any complaint on the part of
the worker but may yet be due to, or endanger him, in certain fea tures connected with his work. Whether" the worker makes his com
plaint to the factory physician, or to his own physician, or at a dis
pensary or hospital, or directly or indirectly to the State Factory In
spection Service, this same form should suffice for the necessary in
spection. It will be noted that- "Home influences" and "Habits"
are provided for.
IDENTIFICATION AND PERSONAL HISTORY.
This form makes use of a slightly different system of record ing than that described for the physical examination. After the first few lines, which are devoted to Identification and previous in dustrial history, the examiner or health inspector passes on to a consideration of the health-hazards to be taken under advisement. Just which work place to undergo analysis is a matter which de pends upon the object of the inspection, (i) In the case of a private physician, a dispetSary, or hospital which is making an in quiry into the industrial relations of a patient, that work place where
412
Fourth Safety Congress
it is considered the chief hazards existed should be taken and its name written in the space marked "Work Place." It should also be indicated explicitly whether the information concerning the haz
ards is according to the statement of the patient, or whether it is the result of an actual investigation of the work premises where the afflicted worker was employed. In case it appears advisable to obtain information upon two or three work places which may have influenced the health of the worker detrimentally, it is necessary to use two or three_separate cards. (2) In the instance of an in spection service conducted by an insurance company, or by state or federal authorities, the information would be the result of each actual inspection of a premise. In case an individual worker was not the subject of interest, the unit might be taken as a trade-process or an entire department or work-space in the establishment. (3) In the case of a factory physician's survey, after completing his physi cal examination of the worker' and learning either of industrial health complaints or hazards from the worker or suspecting the
same from the results of the physical examination, he should go to the worker's place of employment in the plant with this card in his hand, and after careful observation, check and estimate the various hazards as he encounters them. It is presumed that the information obtained will be brought to the attention of the man agement or of the efficiency bureau in the plant.
By all means an attempt should be made to standardize the terms used which indicate the occupation and the industry of the worker. In order to accomplish this, it is very advisable that the nomencla ture of the United States Census Bureau, as exemplified in its re cent publication entitled "Index to Occupations, Alphabetical and Classified," be used. On this account a column has been left in the table on this card under the head of "Industrial Data" which is headed "Census Symbol." Here should be placed the number which the census classification gives to the particular occupation or trade-process which the worker is pursuing. In addition, in the columns headed "Industry" and "Occupation," the exact termin ology should be used as laid down in this manual. A few months' work with this manual has convinced me that its 9,000 or more occupational designations cover practically every form of industrial
application and that elasticity enough is furnished to cover all others by following the. directions.
,^jr*a@iaaiF!iSfli i & ijufea.;'yftav.s:;t
Section of Industrial Hygiene
413
HAZARDS OF THE OCCUPATION.
Now, as to the hazards of the occupation itself (and these imply hazards to health only), an arrangement is submitted covering, in the left-hand margin of capitalized words, all of the hazards usually encountered, e. g. `'Dust," "Air," "Fatigue," "Poisons," etc. The balance of the space to the right is devoted almost entirely to cue words which answer the specific question "Why Hazardous ?" Here will be found a fairly full delineation of all of the incidents per taining to the work place, the workman, and the supervising force which may have a bearing upon the reasons for calling attention to "Dust," "Humidity," "Air," etc., as hazards. It should be the object of every inspection to determine how much the hazards af fect the efficiency of the worker and for that reason this word is placed along with almost every hazard, where it may be marked X, XX, etc.
The method of using this part of the card is really very simple. It requires very little writing. If it is obvious at a glance that "Dust" is no hazard, then all of the words qualifying that idea are passed over, but if "Illumination" is a possible or obvious hazard, the reasons are specified by marking the cue words themselves with X, XX, or XXX, according to the degree of the conditions found present. If it is desired to indicate that such hazards are not so much the fault of the process itself as of the work space in which it is being carried on, or of the locality or region, it is marked re spectively "S" or f<U' in addition to the Xs. (See footnote on the rear of card.) Finally, there is enough space on the left-hand mar gin to grade each hazard as a whole.
It is truly surprising how an analysis of this character will un cover features in connection with work which have remained 'un- ' suspected for a long period of time. In fact, the chief value of this inspection service is to^get right down to the bottom and find factors which may be causing slow-going or chronic affections-- that great class which is so much on the increase and is the chief bane of the American people today, and is, in many respects, pecu liarly American,* according to the findings of our statisticians.
In order to illustrate the practicability of these forms, it is not out of place to say that this is the system which was adopted in making the recent survey of industrial health-hazards and occupa-
414
Fourth Safety Congress
tional diseases in Ohio. All of the information of the survey is contained in eight drawers accommodating 5x8-inch cards, the card forms and their method of use being practically the same as these. In summarizing surveys for large numbers of items, the most easily workable system I is to give each sub-hazard or defect a number which will stand for that hazard or defect wherever used and does away with the time and space required for the constant rewriting of terms. By these means, 1,040 establishments employing 235,000 wage-earners were covered in the State of Ohio within the space of eighteen months with a part-time working force of half a dozen physician-investigators and a total appropriation of $14,000.
In conclusion, it is not expected that even two persons, much less a body of interested individuals, will agree upon standards for any purpose, unless each is fully prepared to relinquish some pet ideas and opinions. The two forms submitted are, therefore, not offered to you as perfection exemplified. An attempt to keep down
the number of forms, to be comprehensive and at the same'time to be specific, to produce something workable, and to satisfy dif ferently interested classes who are seeking efficiency, but whose information should be the same--these have been the chief objects in arranging these specimen standard forms for recording medical data. (Applause.)
PERSONAL HEALTH DATA
(Yellow Form)
Note: Use X for slight defect * XX, more marked; XXX, very marked; R, right, L, left, as required.
DATE........................................................................
IDENTIFICATION: Name................................................................................
Address
Surname
Given name
No.
Street
City
Age Sex M. S. W. D. Place of birth Nativity of parents
.^itaai'M,----
Religion
Section of Industrial Hygiene
415
Date cTf immigration
Time in this vicinity
Apparent age
Height
Weight
Posture
Gait
Gross deformity
-- Apparent general condition of health
Degree of intelligence ;
Ability to understand English
Miscellaneous
PREVIOUS HEALTH: ....................................................................................
Medical or surgical attention, especially since 12 yrs of age, such as:
Diseases
Mutilations
Fractures
Cures
Health migrations
Venereal diseases
PRESENT HEALTH (Complaints)
HABITS: Present.......................^ . Past...............................
Alcohol L,,
Tobacco
Tea
- Drugs
Coffee Gum
FAMILY - . ........................- . .......................................................................
Tuberculosis L
Arterial disease
Diabetes
Cancer
Insanity
INTEREST: ...................... In own health
Miscellaneous
416
Fourth Safety Congress
PHYSICAL EXAM.--HEAD :
Gray hair
Parasites
Scalp disease
Deformity
FACE:..................^7.......................................................................................................
Pallor
Suffusion
Cyanosis
Skin dis.
Deform.
EYES (Snellen Chart) :
Without glasses
With glasses
Color blindness
Squint
Proptosis
Diploplia
Nystagmus
Increased tension
Lid reflex
Deformity
Disease
Puffiness
Icterus
Pallor
Injection
Pterygium
Pupils: unequal, contracted, dilated, irregular, opacity, reflexes
EARS: Hearing
Wax
Cotton
Discharge
Odor
Eczema
Tender mastoid
Scars
NOSE * ...............:= Obstructed breathing
Nasal voice
LIPS: .................. Color __
Movements
Ozeana
Deform. Defects
TEETH: ....................
Tartar
Caries
Irregularity
Malocclusion
Absence
Odor
GUMS .............."7 Retraction^ Redness
Dental work
Use of brush
Pyorrhoea Discolor Atrophy
'wnjfc .aar sunwAi -4 iMWi
:f-
''* - ~ f;
-! 4.> - iH:I? iiMiiSWB ^-t--4i-li'PftSi:!!
;aa.
Section of Industrial Hygiene
417
TONGUE .........................rr................................................................................................
Coated
--
Defects
Movements
PALATE:....................................... UVULA:......................................................
VOICE:.....................................
TONSILS:.................................................
PHARYNX:.................... 5. ... TEMPERATURE:..............................
NECK: ................................ '.I'..............................................................................................
Goiter
Glands
Pulsations
Scars
Movements
CHEST: .................................................................................................................................
Skin affections
Flatness
Sunken apices
Emaciation
Limited expansion
Suspicious breathing1
Bronchitis
Pleurisy
Tuberculosis
Pneumonia
Emphysema
2
Stoop
Spinal disease
Breasts
-- Deformity
Valvular disease
Myocarditis
, Pericarditis
Miscellaneous
ABDOMEN: ....................7.....................................................
Skin affections
Adiposity
Distension
Dullness (flanks)
Ventral hernia
Liver?
Gall bladder? Spleen? Kidneys? Visceroptosis
Tender points
Abnormal swellings
Scars
Lumbar or sacroiliac affections
PELVIS, GENITALS AND RECTUM:
Hernia
Patency of rings
Adenitis
Varicocele
wwmnm - i,. - immet- a-gs~v;j
418
- Fourth Safety Congress
Hydrocele Deformities Skin affections
Venereal diseases
Hemorrhoids
Fistula
Miscellaneous
Defects or diseases of female organs
EXTREMITIES:
Deformities
Scars
Ulcers
Varicose veins
Skin affections
Edema
Arches
Toes
Toe nails
Soles
"Pulse at ankles
Patellar reflexes
Ataxia
Fingers Hands
Wrists
Arms
Pulse (both wrists)
Arteriosclerosis (radia, brachial)
Glands
Miscel.
BLOOD PRESSURE:
Before exercise..................................................................................... -- - - -
After exercise...................................................................................................
Systolic
Diastolic
Pulse pressure
URINE: ..........^......................................................................................................... Appearance Sp. gr. Reaction Sediment Albumin
Reducing substance L MENTALITY TESTS:
Indican
Microscope
Day
Month
Date
Year
Place
Ship
Months in year
Names
Backward -
Counts 1-20
Days in week Counts 20-1
Names Mistakes
Section of Industrial Hygiene
419
Repeats figures
Grasps funny story
Construction blocks
Cube tests; line
~
Trials
Reverse
Alternates MISC. SUMMARY DISPOSITION
-- Mathematics
Binet age
Signed.............................................................................
EMPLOYMENT HEALTH DATA.
(White Form.)
Note: Use X for slight hazard (within limits of natural TOLER ATION) j XX, more marked hazard (hut within limits of nat ural ADAPTATION at least for a time); XXX, bad hazard (is producing DISEASE, or will rapidly do so).
NAME: Surname
ADDRESS: ........... No,
DATE: .......................
Street
Given name City
Age
Sex
M. S, W. D.
Place of birth
Religion
Nativity of parents Date of immigration Time in this vicinity
HOME:.................... Congested: neighborhood. house, apartment, tenement
No. floors Heating
Vent. Renter
Light Owner
Dampness Boarder
t-i -Hi'-f-'rgmHtrr 4j
- 1 iglr,, ^
420
Fourth Safety Congress
Home industry
No. adults
No. children
Sleeping room: Vent., Light, Dampness, Heating, No. pres.
Bathing facilities
Toilets
Organization memberships
HABITS: Food. ..........................................Clothing..........................................
Spare time: .............................................................................................................
Dissipative
Recreative
Other work
Sleep
UNEMPLOYMENT CAUSES:.......................................................................
INDUSTRIAL DATA:
Names of Employers
Adresses of Employers
Industry
1 ..................................-........................................................................................................... 2 ................................. ..............................................................................................................
Occupation : - _^
Census Symbol
Date Begun
Date Stopped
"
WORK PLACER (Specify which employer: I, 2 or 3)
HOURS ............ . Day
Night
Overtime
Noontime
Other recesses
Per week
Steadiness
Seasons
HAZARDS .
......................................
WHY HAZARDOUS (suggestions)
DUST: Type .:.7.....................Amount; breathed, skin, eyes; preven tion, confinement, removal, respirators, carelessness; dry sweep ing, dusting or cleaning during work hours; promotes ineffi ciency, sickness...................................................................................................
L2JjMMLi
xmL
Section of Industrial Hygiene
421
DISORDER (DIRT): Building- structure, floors, surroundings, materials, insufficient .cleaning, ordering; negligence; promotes low standards, inefficiency and injuries....................................................
HUMIDITY: Water, steam, vapors, dampness; confined damp ness or dryness; promotes injuries, sickness and inefficiency
ILLUMINATION: Obstructed surroundings, limited window space, lighting (AEGO and by process) ; shadows, contrasts, flickering, glare, brilliancy, colors; poor shades, eye shades, goggles, helmets, screens; dark-room work; facing light source; promotes sickness, injuries,, inefficiency.......................................................
AIR: Stagnation, room temperature (high?), humidity (low?); fine dust, smoke; leaks of gas, vapors, fumes; open fires, gas flames; very close confinement; promotes sickness, and ineffi ciency ............................................................................................................................
HEAT: Insufficient protection, rest intervals, drinking facilities, showers, baths, lockers, change rooms, clothes-drying quarters; long hourspermitting undue exposure; promotes sickness, in juries and inefficiency................................................................................................
COLD: Insufficient heating, clothing; drafts, inactive work, alter nations with heat, outdoor closets; weather exposure; basement work; promotes sickness and inefficiency. ......................................
FATIGUE: Laborious work, long hours, piece work, speeding up, monotony, constant standing, prolonged strains, chairs without backs, faulty postures, hard floors, jarring processes, pressures against body, eye strain, noise; Insufficient rest periods, female quarters, variations,\1 rotations, recreations...............................................
INACTIVITY: . Sedentary work, limited movements, mental con centration, confined work space....................................................
PRESSURES: Caissdfr work, diving, high altitude, concussion.
MLafifiiijifiMslHM.
i-----i______________^'--*- 7.' . '
w*m***''*m : ~ :.v.^
422
Fourth Safety Congress
ODORS: Sickening. ELECTRICITY....................................................
INFECTIONS: Materials.............................insects, animals, persons; mouthed articles, short intervalled handling of objects, wiping rags, oil; frequent trivial injuries, bums, flying particles; prox imity to others, spitting on floors, common towels, cups; insuf ficient wash places, closets, gloves, goggles, cuspidors, rules, medical care, physical exams., first aid, hospital arrangements
Venereal diseases: suggestive pictures, writings, language-- especially where sexes work together........................................................
POISONS: Name and form................................................................amt. of risk, worker ignorant, careless; instructions insufficient, disre garded, wrongful, harmful; mislabeling; eating at work, in work room; mustache, beard, indifference, medical supervision, gloves, respirators, clothes, lockers, washing facilities, lunch room
Mechanical protection......................................................................................... work variation, rotation....................................................................................
THIRST: Drinking water not good, or convenient, or properly cooled, improper beverages preferred........................................................
ALCOHOLISM AND DESIRE FOR STIMULANTS: Thirst, dust, fatigue, tradition, habit, physical weakness; permitted dur ing work; saloons near, ignorance of effects; no home gardens, no efficiency department.................................................................................... Signed.....................................................................
N. B. In addition to the marks X, XX, and XXX, use L for haz ards which are due to the Locality (or neighborhood), and S for hazards which belong to the Space (or work room) in which the work is done. All other hazards are presumed to be due to the nature of the Process itself.
DISCUSSION.
The Chairman : The Chairman believes that the discussion of these subjects will possibly prove fully as interesting as the papers themselves. Discussion will now take place on the first five papers. In addressing the meeting, the chair asks that those discussing the papers give their names, residences and business connections, so
wmmmm i-rum*
.rnm-mmumm-
Section of Industrial Hygiene
423
that the stenographer may make note of the same. He also asks that they step forward, if that is possible considering the crowded condition of the room.
(A motion was made, seconded and carried that the next two papers be included in the group to be read before the meeting pro ceeded with the discussion of papers. The writers not being pres ent the chairman asked for a discussion on the first five papers.)
The Chaxrman : If the abstract problem were put to us--as to the value of the physical examination and supervision of the health of the industrial worker irrespective of the method, there would be a general agreement that it was best for industry and for society that this matter be undertaken. The thing that has brought forward controversy has been the method of supervision, with the resulting conflict between labor and capital.
STATE MANAGEMENT.
Mr. H. A. Bulixjck (Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company) : I fancy that a good many of us in this meeting are, so to speak, be tween the upper and nether millstones. On the one side we have a force of workers that we want to influence in the interest of their health and efficiency. On the other side we have certain business conditions limiting and determining the amount of funds and the procedure that can be adopted with the workers. Whether we happen to be executive officials or not we have to go over the income accounts to determine how much may be applied to one object or another and determine whether a method is practicable in view of certain necessities of the business. If we were starting the whole subject--if we were building society anew--we would not be in that position. But, unfortunately, we are never building society anew, any more than a great city is building anew when it tries to modify or improve its transportation system or any other municipal facility. Therefore, I doubt whether state management of many of these problems is going to be realized quite so quickly as some might wish to see, through the compelling influence of the state and the state's ability to raise money by taxation.
The state's ability to impose taxation upon its members for work men's compensation and similar legislation is limited. I do think we are going to see a power that-will produce a rapid enough result to satisfy the workers. I believe that when we realize that- we are
424
Fourth Safety Congress
an aggregation of industries under
Every Man
similar conditions we can set up machinery to handle these prob
Has a right to live
lems, and it will probably get the best result. But the greatest num
and we want to help him to live his life in
ber of industries are not in that condition today. The public serv ice corporation is practically the
perfect safety. We must have his co-op
only one of its kind in the town; there is not another one in a local ity near enough to cooperate with
eration.
it; so it becomes autocratic and uses the paternal method. -
When it comes to providing prac
ticable methods fordoing these things, if we can advocate the med
ical work so that the industry finances it--where the medical work
comes in contact with the industry itself, such as in employment--
and let the industry share at that point and encourage the workers
to assist by providing for sick benefit insurance. I think we will
make steadier progress in attempting to adapt our ideals to practical
conditions than if we go too far in attempting to have industry
take all the cost or to put too large a part on the worker. We will
lose a great deal that otherwise might be accomplished. (Applause.)
The Chairman! Dr. Alice Hamilton of the Federal Bureau has
come into the room, so we will proceed with the regular program. Dr. Hamilton will speak to us on the subject of "Some of the Objec tions to Health Supervision, Including Suggestions for Caring for the Physically Unfit Workmen."
SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS TO HEALTH SUPERVISION,
Including Suggestions for Caring for the Physically Unfit Workmen.
Dr. Alice Hamilton, - Hull House, Chicago, III.
Mr. Chairman: I was very much disconcerted when I saw the title of my paper as printed in the program. When I saw that the program committee had planned a section devoted to the physical examination of the working men, I suggested to the committee that
Section of Industrial Hygiene
425
the side of labor ought to be pre sented, and suggested that they ought to have a trade unionist come
A Question
and tell why there is a great oppo sition among working men to the
"I wonder how
physical examination. They asked me to present it instead of having a trade unionist, so I am only a
many doctors would care to have a com
spokesman, and when I am pre senting objections I am presenting his objections. What may seem
pany physician de cide how they shall
to you unreasonable, seems to him to be reasonable, and you who rep
live?**
resent one class in the industrial
world should know the attitude of their class with regard to meas
ures you have adopted or which you may think of adopting.
. So, with that proviso--that what I say is an attempt to present
the attitude of the working men--I will give you the objections
as I understand them. If based upon mistaken ideas, then I think
you ought to try to clear up the mistake, because, if you don't, the
opposition will undoubtedly and inevitably grow. Those of us who
are interested in laws for the direction of the working men believe
that the working men will combine against all such laws and go
on taking chances under the old haphazard system.
Now, their first objection is the effort to get rid of the so-called
agitator. They believe it has taken place and feel they can prove it.
The second objection is that your system of examining a man
in order to see whether he may get a job or hold a job results in
throwing out a lot of workmen who believe that they still have a
good many years of active life before them but who have been found
to have some physical defect which the employer, insured under
the workmen's compensation laws, believes increases his risk. Sup
pose a man is found to have a heart weakness or hernia. Of course,
any physician would say it is much better for that man to be pre
vented from doing any hard, strenuous physical work. That is true,
but put yourself in his place--I wonder how many doctors or other
professional men would care to have a company's physician decide
how they shall live? Many may be told they are under too great
a mental strain, and you may believe that; but would you be will-
~ aim-; Mag&isim
426
Fourth Safety Congress
ing to pass from a large salary to a smaller salary if told that there by you would prolong your life?
ARGUMENT OF THE WORKMAN.
With the worker, he must pass down to a lower position. The employer thinks he is doing the very best he can when he gives, say, his machinist a position as watchman or elevator man. He thinks he is doing the best he can; but the skilled workman is passing, probably, from $3 a day to $1.65 a day. That is just as bitter for him as it would be for you to accept a subordinate position after being at the head, and that is what the workman opposes under this system of compulsory examination. They say they have no objec tion to a physical examination, especially in regard to communicable diseases, or for workers under compressed air, knowing that the strain is too great. They are willing to accept that; they are will ing to accept a regular examination for occupational diseases. They do not object to it when it is needed for the safety of the public. The railroad conductors say they have always had such examina tions. The Amalgamated Street Railway employees also say they have no objection to it. What they do object to is the physical examination that is carried out, they believe, in the interest of the employers only--to lessen the employers' risk.
We must all remember that I am speaking as if I were the work ingman. He does mistrust the company physician, no matter how
unjust that suspicion may be. He says if the examinations are to be carried out, they should be by neutral, impartial physicians--such systems as Dr. Schereschewsky and Dr. Patterson and Dr. Hayhurst have instituted. They say that the health supervision should be by the state or municipality, not by an interested physician.
They say, also, that the system is spreading like wildfire in the United States, as it is not in any other country, even in England, where workmen's compensation is in force and after which we have copied. They say it is due to the American speeding-up sys tem. They see the world of workingmen being put through the sieve of physical fitness--the physically fit passing through and those left not being provided for.
LACK OF PERSONAL INTEREST.
We must realize^that there are a great many concerns employing unskilled or semi-skilled workmen, where there is no personal re-
,:asiaa
Jmk*
:;r wmeum >
Section of Industrial Hygiene
427
lation at all to the company, and where the workman is not pro vided for when declared unfit. They say there is no provision made for these men. They say no employer has a right to cast out the physically unfit until two things have been done--the health of the workingmen in all trades safeguarded and some system of state insurance for invalidity and old age provided. Mind, I say ``in validity." I think the majority of working men would say that the sick workingman, the actually sick, is apt to be looked after by the humane employer, but the man invalided and unfit for work, and too old--we know it is the truth when the workman says it is al most impossible for a man forty years old or older to get a job when thrown out. The workingman says this must come first-- you must provide for Ihe man who is thrown out before you pro vide for a system which will throw him out.
Now, probably what I have been saying seems to most of you only partly reasonable and to many unreasonable. To me it does not seem unreasonable. I have only tried to give the attitude of the workingmen, and I hope there will be an opportunity for you to say how unreasonable you think it is. I may be able to answer some of the objections. (Applause.)
:The Chairman We are, indeed, indebted to Dr. Hamilton for presenting the workman's side of this question. The Chairman was sorry to learn that the workingmen would not be represented on the program, as in Chicago, by a member of their own body, but I am sure Dr. Hamilton has presented their side as well as any rep resentative could do it. We will now hear from Dr. Francis D. Patterson on the subject of "Medical Supervision in Small Plants: Suggestions for the Combining of Several Small Plants Under One System." Dr. Patterson is Director of the Accident and Sanitary Department of Harrison Bros. & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
MEDICAL SUPERVISION IN SMALL PLANTS.
Suggestions for the Combining of Several Small Plants
Under One System.
F.Dr.
D. Patterson, Philadelphia, Pa.
Mr. Chairman and Ladies and Gentlemen of the National Safely Council: It seems to me that it is a very big advantage to the state at large if measures can be taken to extend medical super-
428
Fourth Safety Congress
vision throughout the industries.
Labor's Lesson
In the first place, it is a very dis tinct advantage to the employer of labor. In the second place, it is
"Medical supervi
of equally great advantage to the employe. It seems to me that in
sion is an absolute
any medical supervision the two
boon to the working
should have a common meeting ground and that we should try to
man and the jworking woman."
put before labor, both organized and unorganized, the fact which I say--knowing that it will be dis
puted--that medical supervision in
the industries is an absolute boon
to the workingmen and the working women, and is something
which they, on their part, should encourage and help, and that it
should have their support--which I am sorry to say it has not
received.
--, .
From the standpoint of the employe it has been urged by organ
ized labor that medical supervision is an infringement of the per
sonal liberty of the American citizen, be he male or be she female.
[Laughter and applatise.]
Gentlemen, organized labor stands practically as a unit in oppos
ing medical control, and they do it for several reasons. In the first
place, because they have asked, and naturally so, what is going to
become of the physically unfit ? The time at my disposal does not
permit of making a plea for state insurance to take care of those
who by reason of having to go into labor before maturely devel
oped have lost what should be the heritage of every American citi
zen, and that is good health.
We are going to see, in every state in this country, state insur
ance, but this is not the lime to discuss it. I want, however, to en
able my people to have a two-fold education--an education, in the
first place, of the employee to the fact that one of the greatest boons
that can come to him is to have medical supervision in the plant ; ,
that he will have at that plant', at certain stated hours during the
day, a competent medical man to whom he can go as guide, philoso
pher and friend, to whom he can look for the maintenance of his
"health in the industry.
a^iiKafilia^i
mum
Section of Industrial Hygiene
4259
For the employer it means that
'
"
he has a doctor on the job in his plant at a certain stated hour in
I'TiDnfaC.e wSqqU,,uo.aTree *pPCfeig_g
the day, and that he is going to
-------------
examine the applicants for employment--not so much for the rejec-
tion of the physically unfit as for
TTrryyiningg ttoo ppuutt ththee _.
nmaaann iinnttoo hhiiss pprrooppeerr .
the classifying of the job to die particular man, finding out what
the man's particular capacities and
ppjlaacceeiinntthhee iinndduussttrryy,, nnootttthheessqquuaarreeppeeggiinn
capabilities are and t^ing to put the man into his proper place m
tthihee rroouunndd hhoollee.. -
the industry, so that he does not .
try to get the square peg in the . round- hole, with consequent disorganization, not only from the standpoint of the plant but also decreased earning capacity from the standpoint of the man himself.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION,
I believe it is perfectly feasible. I am doing it in. Philadelphia, and I believe it can be done in every state throughout this land--to have a doctor go to the plants at a certain specific hour, let him there examine the men and see the accident cases that occurred the day before, and which were dressed by the first aid men, and confer with the worJlSs Let him take, sometime during his stay at the
factory, a walk around and see what the conditions are. A doctor soon gets experience enough in the factory to determine whether conditions are right- or not. Let him make a friend of the super intendent of the plant, so that the superintendent will look to him for. advice and assistance in solving these problems. I am convinced that if this is done, and carried out on a sufficiently extensive scale, we will succeed in stamping out septic infection in the industries.
I believe the time has passed, in most plants, when a man has his finger cut that he is allowed to tie a dirty rag on his finger, and eventually land in the hospital with a serious infection. If the men at the plant know they have first-aid boxes and a first-aid attend ant and can have dressings made, and that the next day they are going to see a company surgeon, who will be there, I am satisfied-- as satisfied as that I am standing here--that cases of septic infec-
FiMS;... -*.#w- dllMSi a ; aagiiiMMW.
430
_Fourth Safety Congress
tion will disappear^ I know we have done it in our plants, and I know everybody else can do it.
I believe, as was said here yesterday, that we must have a com bining of the German and English characteristics in this country. We must have not only supervision on the part of the state, but we must also have amenability on the part of the worker. I believe if we can educate the workingmen, organized and unorganized, to the fact that medical supervision of workingmen in the plant-means what I know it means--increased wages for them--I am satisfied
that in the not far.distant day we will have a class of workingmen in this country who will live so long that they will need neither old age nor invalidity pensions. [Applause.]
^ DISCUSSION.
Tee Chairman : This very interesting group of papers is now open for discussion.
Mr. Bijlixick : In my previous discussion I had this in mind, and, forgetting the limitation of time, I said, perhaps, too much by way of preparation. It is very easy, in practical experience, to wreck the best intended and most theoretically perfect plan that can be devised, butting up against either financial difficulties--inability to get the money-*--or operating conditions, which for the time being can not be disarranged.
We are more or less in the same position as a man who has a house built fifteen or twenty years ago which he has always main tained in a reasonably sanitary condition, and in which he has brought up his family, and who has a neighbor next door who builds a new house for his family and in it he puts the latest devices in plumbing and sanitation. The man who is obliged to continue in his old house, because of inability to build all over again, is not thereby chargeable with any less regard for his family or himself or the community. JPractically, in almost every going industry, work of this kind must be arranged on top of conditions already there. Especially in an industry like public service, we are liable to wreck the institution. I believe, therefore, if we are able to get an equit able distribution to the financial" burden it is possible in every plant to have the medical inspection directly in contact with the direct supervision of the industry.
... fciaam^
Section of Industrial Hygiene
431
Pending such day as all these things may be taken care of by the state--if they are ultimately taken care of in this country, which still is largely individualistic and not communistic--leave the insur ance phase to. the mutual benefit associations, which in most large industries are successfully maintained with the assistance of the company. I think tinder those conditions you are more likely to develop sympathy on both sides, because both sides appreciate the practical advantage of it and have a certain share in its management and financial support.
MILWAUKEE ROU3VD TABLE.
Ms. Price (Wisconsin Industrial Commission): I feel as if
some one ought to say something about "keeping the bail going."
In Wisconsin we have had, in Milwaukee, a round table as to physi
cal examination. It was the most interesting round table we have
ever had, and I want to speak of two facts that have stuck to my
mind--two thoughts everyone took home from that meeting.
First, it was brought put by all the speakers, giving the figures
and the concrete examples, of the very large number of cases of
men found with physical defects who are put on their feet and not
discharged. One company representative spoke of the rule they are
following, of taking a man who has applied for employment and
who has some minor defect, and putting him on his feet and then
giving him a job.
-
I believe, friends, that the laboring men have not got at the facts,
and we have not helped them to get at the facts in regard to what
is really being done. I don't believe any of us have got at the real
facts as to how much of the discarding of men will be absolutely
necessary. Personally, I went home from that meeting more con
vinced than I have ever been that physical examination is a boon,
as Dr. Patterson has said, to the workingmen. For instance, the In
ternational Harvester Company has examined 13,000 employes.
Their system is this--of course, they examine every new employe,
but, especially in Chicago, they examine the old employes--the nurse
goes through different departments and picks out suspects, men who
are pale, perhaps, and they are sent to the doctor. I think the fig
ure is 25 per cent of the suspects were found with some degree of
tuberculosis. They take those men and do one of three things with
them: The men, first, in the incipient condition--not serious--are
432
Fourth Safety Congress
given short vacations, and it is re
Lincoln-Like
markable what it has done in re gard to putting men on their feet.
The second class are sent to their
"Do the very best
homes and a nurse is sent to the homes to teach them how to take
you know, in the very best way you
care of themselves. Third, it is arranged (by the payment of money) with one of the best sani
can/' This applies to safety.
tariums near Chicago that the com pany can send the men who are in the more advanced stages to this
sanitarium. One case, I remem
ber, was very striking. It was the
case of one of the very best foremen in the Deering works who was
caught just in time by the physical examination to save his life.
[Applause.]
STANDARDIZATION OF SYSTEMS.
Dr. Graham Rogers (New York State Department of Labor) :
The discussion here seems to be entirely from the manufacturer's
side. Of course I have to speak from the side of the enforcement
of labor laws and collection of data and statistics upon which to
base such laws. "Medical Supervision and Care of Employes" is the title of a paper read in 1907. New York City was the first to
have medical inspection of factories and from the material we have
gathered it has grown to a bureau of medical experts. It seems to
me, from the work in factories, the prevalent idea is that it should
be confined to mere physical examination of the workers. We must
go further than that. It is really, now, the enforcement of indus
trial hygiene. The medical man is responsible for that; a good med
ical man should have industrial supervision of a factory. He must,
first of all, be a factory inspector--must know every process and
portion of the industry, he must co-ordinate with the safety man
and mechanical engineer to get results. I will go down the list
of papers and try to say something on each of them.
The practical experience and results accomplished have proven
that this medical supervision and industrial supervision of hygiene
is philanthropic on the part of the state. That is, according to busi
ness principles an3Teconomics. The small plants cannot afford high-
ftwaaatq-'.jraih^ fffg<Sis8reffli-;psw iHgs$g^-
x-fi-*-.-.'-'Mms:. 9m-;.gv.?iig L..:mi~.
im- wmiM m&.meweB&:-.-':LZ2Sj*.
Section of Industrial Hygiene
-433
salaried experts. Who is going to
help them? It is going to be the state, with its experts. The larger
Lincoln-Like
plants will also consult with the
state.
\$i
The standardization of systems
"If your knowl
is absolutely necessary. In New
edge falls short of the
York we did not take an ordinary plan for results, we had forms and
ideal, keep on trying
made physical examinations with out any law for it, because you cannot examine a man if he does
to learn." Try to be safe.
not want to be examined. That is.
his constitutional right. But as to
the child, in New York City we put a law on the books that gives
us the right to examine the child. The child of today is the nation
of tomorrow. If you want to find out what is the matter with a
man you will not try to do it by merely considering his symptoms;
you must find the cause. The real cause of malaria--which used
to be thought to be caused by cold and exposure, dampness and so
forth--was not known until we made analysis and found out it was
a germ. The same with yellow fever. So, in' industry, you must
analyze the process. If a man comes in -leaded or with arsenic, find
out where it is used. We follow up; and find out where he got it
and then apply the remedy.
Every medical man must work with the mechanical engineer. If
his trouble is caused by dust, it means the practical installation of
exhaust systems, not theoretical arguments. Then again, on the
question of safety, there are just as many accidents from poor light
ing as there are accidents that can be helped. You may put a guard
on a machine, but there may be a guard that will set up neurosis.
It is not purely a physical manifestation, in the machine room, not
merely a guard that is needed--but consider it an out-and-out prob
lem of industrial hygiene.
I could go on and talk for hours on this thing, showing where you
must study it. You cannot take a man out of a medical school and
put him into a plant and make a plant expert out of him. We are
just waking up now to the fact that there is such a thing as indus
trial hygiene. It is just as much a specialty as is the eye, ear, nose
434
Fourth Safety Congress
and throat branch of medicine a specialty. The way to make a good plant physician is to put him into the plant and let him see conditions for himself. He will then say: "Yon must take such and such a man off the monotonous work he is now doing or else relieve the monotony in some way." If a respirator is needed, he will tell you to supply a decent respirator. The thing is to study the condition and find out the cause; then remove the cause.
[Vociferous applause.]
need of experts.
Chairman: Something might be said to emphasize what Dr. Rogers has said regarding the unfitness of the average medical ex
aminer for his work. In the American Medical Association's Con
vention, held in San Francisco this year, in a session on industrial
sanitation, it was brought out that the average medical man was unfit for this work. It was impressed on the meeting, and later
published to the country at large, that the profession must prepare
itself for the larger industrial field. The members of the associa
tion realized that the greatest possibilities for social service exist
along this line. I am glad that Dr. Rogers indicated the scope of this
work.
___
This is not a destructive system that is being introduced into in
dustry, but the most constructive one yet suggested to labor. The
reason labor has objected to it is because they are blindly antagonis
tic and fail to understand the possible net results of conscientious
medical supervision. Knowledge is what we need on this subject
and we have a painfully small amount of it today. Let us frankly
know and state how many physically unfit society is supporting. It
is up to the officers of this Section to see to it that out of the work
of its committees shall grow some actual data from which work of
this kind may be promoted.
PROPER DISTRIBUTION OF EXPENSE. '
Mr. Ash (Pittsfield) : There have been two thoughts brought out at this meeting; I would like to emphasize one. What is to be the proper distribution of expense in handling this problem; what should the manufacturer carry, and what should labor carry ? There is a fundamental law with that which most of you are familiar, a very simple law, and that is what we call the "half-and-half prop osition." Any of these things, to be a success, must be put on the
Section of Industrial Hygiene
435
basis of an equitable distribution of expense between the two par ties. For instance, under this proposition, where the employes are contributing so much toward a sickness and death benefit fund, the plan we use is, for every $ioo that is paid out by the employes, in a benefit fund, an equal amount is the company's share of the bur den. That plan can be applied all through, I think. For instance, in maintaining a restaurant, the economic plan we want to get is to "break even." It is difficult to do that, but if we can get those mediums to work out that way, there is no question as to success.
Another thing is to get the sympathy of labor in all these things. I think where we have difficulty in getting the sympathy of labor it is our own fault, and because we do not try to get it and educate the men in safety work. Those who have used such efforts in edu cating them for safety work have gotten results. I have talked a great deal, and I think you will find that the average workingman is very receptive as to the truths of the thing if you will put it to him in a number'of ways; approach the problem in perhaps a dozen different ways, and you will not have any difficulty in being success
ful. You must educate the worker up to the things you want to accomplish. . The getting of appropriations to do these things, and then getting the sympathy of the workingmen, are pretty big prob lems, and they are what we should aim to solve. [Applause.]
EXAMINING FOR EMPLOYES' BENEFIT.
Dr. Horigan (The Larkin Company, Buffalo, N. Y.) : I did not come here to make a speech or to say anything, but we have had such a large experience in our plant that I think I might tell of it, with the idea that it might be of some benefit. The Larkin Com
pany has expended considerable money along the lines' that have been discussed today and they have always done it with the idea that they were expending the money for themselves, for the benefit of the plant, and have always carried that thought to the workman --that while they were examining him for his benefit they were also examining him for the plant's benefit. When taken sick they helped to take care of him, and for the benefit of the plant. They have helped to take care of him when injured, and that was for the ben efit of the plant as well as for his own benefit. I think that is one of the points that ought to be brought out--that we are not doing this work purely for the benefit of the workingman, or trying to get
436
Fourth Safety Congress
the workingman to believe we are
Are You Alive?
doing this for him alone. It is not honorable and he doesn't believe it
anyway.
The mem who
Another pointto be brought out. is that-all must" work together--
doesn't boost for safely isn't alive to
the employer, the workingmen and the doctor. We talk of physical examinations: You- cannot make
his own best inter
ests.
-
a physical examination if the per son being examined is not joining with you in the examination; that
is shown under the old methods,
_ under the old trolley cases--negli
gence cases. The family doctor had an enormous percentage of
advantage; the patient was with him and he understood the symp
toms ; the doctor examining the man for the plant was always at a
disadvantage.
__
Up there we have done a great many things, but we have not
said much about them. I don't know whether anyone has ever talked
about them. We have examined everybody, and we follow up the
examination. If we=find a case that needs half an hour's rest, they
get half an hour's rest, and we furnish an excellent restroom for that
purpose. If we feel they should have half a day's rest, they get it,
and we furnish the restrooms for them to rest in. If we feel they
should have a month's vacation, we have a farm in the country
where we send themrfor that month's vacation. If we find they are
developing- incipien.^iiberculosas, we find otifc where as the best place
to send them and we send them there. If it is a chronic case of
tuberculosis, we find the best place for that and see that they get
there. Sometimes we have a difficult problem in inducing them to
go to these places. We have a difficult problem, oftentimes, in get
ting a man with incipient tuberculosis to believe that he has in
cipient tuberculosis. We often have a hard time to get a man with
chronic tuberculosis to realize his condition.
I have told you of our experiences as a little help. [Applause.]
(Question)
Doctor, would- you give us an idea of what per
centage of men have been discharged on account of--as a resulf
Section of Industrial Hygiene
437
of physical examination ? What percentage of men applying have been refused labor on account of physical examination?
Less Time
PERCENTAGE OF REJECTIONS.
It takes less time
Dr. Horigan : We don't follow
to explain why you
that principle--of what you would say is the "turning down of the
were late than to
physically unfit." A. man who
make out an accident
comes and applies for a position, and finds that he is not physically
report.
fitted for the position, generally
agrees with us that he should not
take the position. We don't turn him down, but if he doesn't fit
the position he is convinced he doesn't fit the position, and we
haven't any place for him.
(Question) : What percentage, doctor, are among the con vinced ? Is it a large percentage ?
Dr. Horigan : : No, a very small percentage. If a man comes with a hernia, and the position open to him is not suited to his con dition, we argue with; him and show him that he should have the hernia corrected. No one in the plant loses his job on account of the physical examination and its finding.
(Question) : He is given a different kind of work?
Dr. Horigan : Yes, if a man working in the lead department
shows any sign, of lead poisoning he is taken away from that kind
of work; or a man showing a heart strain is taken from his particu lar line of work and given another kind. We do not carry the en tire burden. He helps to. carry it, too.
(Question) : Suppose a hundred men applied for work and you have them given a physical examination, how many would not be hired on account of physical condition, approximately ?
Dr. -Horigan : I could not say. I should say about two per cent. I do not mean to say that is so at all. That point, I think, was brought out today--that all this data should he coUected. We are collecting it but we have not summarized it.
aata. t
438
Fourth Safety Congress
Dr. :Hayhurst We might give another side of the question, that the very best method employed with the physically defective was to find a place for him, though in many instances he had been so long out of work it was difficult. It is also pointed out very ex plicitly how places could be fitted for the defective.
Mr. Ackesly (Eastman Kodak Company) : It may be interest ing to know that the physical examination of employes actually works out. A few years ago we examined 7,000 employes, and not a single man was turned down. We are not laying off any employes. It is comparatively easy tcTadjust the men to work of their capacity.
Dr. Price: I want to ask the man from the Eastman Kodak Company, when he says not a single employe has been discharged-- what percentage have-not been hired as a result of the physical ex amination?
Mr. Ackerey: I cannot tell that, I am sorry; but I am very sure the percentage Is very small; that is, a great deal less than has been stated by anybody who has spoken so far.
few men rejected.
Dr. Robinson Jordan (Syracuse, N. Y.) : I think there are many industries coming into this country which are going to change these figures. Take the woodworking industries--there will be, per haps, very small occasion to reject men in that; but with the devel opment of some of the lines of chemical industry, as developed in Germany, a very much more careful examination is to be made. So the figures made In one industry, of one or two per cent--there might be many more than that rejected in some of the new indus tries coming into the United States. I think that when examina tion discloses abnormal conditions of heart or kidneys, it might be sufficient to unfit a man for some of the chemical industries--more so than in the woodworking or garment industries.
M .r Robertson (Eastman Kodak Company) : There was a good reason why there were few objections when we started physical ex amination : Because~we guaranteed all of the employes of the com pany they would not lose their jobs on account of it. -We had them, they were in our employ, and we stated that we would keep them regardless of what happened--would simply change them to give
SO-nB;
'WiW&c
- s**; r.- ""' - - r:.1 msmm-^T--mw~ ~^ngi
Section of Industrial Hygiene
. 439
them work more suited to their capabilities. Since then it runs be tween 6 and 7 per cent, slightly increasing as we draw the lines a little tighter.
(It was moved and seconded that the time of the meeting be ex tended half an hour later than the schedule, which placed the time of the adjournment at five o'clock. Motion carried.)
:The Chairman We will now have the next paper, by Dr. Lloyd Noland.
ORGANIZATION OF SYSTEMS OF FIRST AID IN PLANTS.
Dr. Lloyd Noland, Superintendent Department of Health,
Tennessee Coax,, Ison and Railroad Company,
Birmingham, Ala,
:Gentlemen I have been honored with an invitation from this Congress to speak on the subject of "The Organization of Systems of First Aid in Plants."
We have gone, I think, more into the question of handling employes than anyone in this country. We have 18,000 employes, who live with their families on company ground, in company houses, and yet are entirely independent of the company. We employ thirty-seven physicians. I would like to add that about 50 per cent of the cost of these physicians is contributed by the employes on a monthly basis, averaging 75 cents per man per month. I say this to show I am not backsliding on the subject of "first aid."
First aid, in the sense now generally accepted by the public, con sists in aid to the injured by laymen or fellow workmen who have been given some special training for this work. Broadly speaking, this training consists in special instruction and drill, teaching meth ods for the covering of open wounds with sterilized dressings; the control of hemorrhage; the splinting of fractures to prevent com pounding and to relieve pain; resuscitation of the drowned, electro cuted, or gas-poisoned, as well as methods for transporting the in jured. Such training is well enough in its way and no doubt many lives and much suffering have been saved by its pupils in situations where skilled medical attention was unavailable.
There, is, however, another side of this question, for no line of endeavor has ever more completely demonstrated the truth of the old adage, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
440 Fourth Safety Congress
SKILLED FIRST AID.
"Carelessness"
Any surgeon who has treated a
large number of injured men has
Is a man careless
observed cases of paralysis and seriously impaired circulation from
who has never been taught the Safety-
a too tight application of tourni quets when no tourniquet was re quired, of eyes seriously damaged
First method of do ing his work?
by over-zealous first aid men en deavoring to remove foreign bodies, of fractures so tightly put up that
serious harm is done, or so loosely
treated that compounding has re
sulted, and so on ad infinitum. In addition, and evensmore impor
tant than the above, are the hundreds of cases treated by ordinary
first aid, who, believing or being told that all necessary attention
has been given, later develop serious infections or deformities which
could have been avoided by skilled and proper treatment.
The field to be covered in the proper training for this class of
work is so enormous and every detail is so vitally important that it
is an impossibility to so train workmen to care for injuries that
harm will not frequently be done. It must be admitted that under
certain conditions the good far outweighs the harm, and that on the
. battlefield, the frontier, in small logging camps and other situations
where medical aid cannot be promptly secured, first aid training is
necessary and is to be encouraged.
The above statement, however, does not apply to manufacturing
plants located (usually) in or near centers of population and employ
ing a sufficient number of men to justify the expense of adequate and
skilled care for the injured.
To put the matter more clearly, I wish to draw a strong and clear-
cut distinction between first aid rendered by unqualified laymen and
first" aid administered by persons qualified by education and long
and careful training in every phase of the work--or in other words,
professional first aid as against the effort of the amateur.
I would strongly urge that every, plant employing more than a
very few workmen arrange to have its first aid work done- by a
qualified surgeon, or an extremely well trained nurse, and that the
-JMBKbfflil...-,3i.
Section of Industrial Hygiene
441
time of the workmen hitherto given to first aid training be devoted to instruction in accident prevention.
"Recklessness"
WAYS AND MEANS.
Now as to ways and means: Let
The "Don't give a
us take for example a plant em ploying a thousand men. Such a plant will usually have a contract
d----------" spirit is re sponsible for a lot of
or other arrangement with a sur
accidents and a great
geon of standing in the commu nity and with a good hospital cov
deal of suffering.
ering the care of the seriously
injured, so that this phase need not
be gone into very deeply. From a practical standpoint an ideal ar
rangement for the best class of first aid work would be the estab
lishment of a well equipped emergency hospital, locatecLas^ near as
possible to the center of the plant. An entirely adequate hospital
should provide a dressing-room, a minor operating-room, an emer
gency ward of, say, two beds, and an office and bedroom for the
physician in charge. The construction and equipment of a build
ing of this character requires a very modest outlay. A well-trained
young physician and a male nurse should be all the personnel re
quired for its running.
If the plant covers a large area a motor ambulance is essential,
but if the plant is concentrated, stretchers will serve well, for the
transportation of the injured. Ambulance or stretcher stations
should be located at various points in the plant and these stations
should be designated by number. If such an arrangement is in force
there will be no necessity for first aid equipment and boxes all over
the plant, and much unnecessary turmoil and consequent lost time of
first aid men will be avoided.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION.
Now as to practical application: Every employe should be in structed to report at the emergency hospital for the immediate treat ment of any injury, no matter how trivial, if a break in the skin is sustained, or if an eye is injured. When a serious injury occurs a call should be immediatedly telephoned to the emergency hospital.
----------------WWWlWttWt
/m******
M-ifefcSaEs
jsaKHtiaateanig iasasamo
442
Fourth Safety Congress
giving' the number of the nearest ambulance station, and if the serv ice is properly organized the physician or nurse with the ambulance should arrive within five minutes. The necessary first aid is then immediately given in the proper way, and the patient conveyed to the emergency hospital for appropriate treatment under proper con ditions and later removed to his home or to a hospital if necessary.
The two great factors which have stimulated first aid are infection and hemorrhage. As to the first: From a bacteriological standpoint every penetrating wound of the skin sustained under working con ditions is an infected wound, the infection being carried in from the individual's clothing or on the object creating the wound. The bac teria infecting ordinary wounds are, generally speaking, never air borne. Practically this means that the immediate covering of the wound by sterilized dressing is unnecessary and that a lapse of time, of say one-half hour or less, is of little consequence, provided the wound be properly treated at the end of that time.
HEMORRHAGE.
As to hemorrhage:- In an experience covering many thousands of injuries resulting from almost all types of industrial accidents, I have yet to see a case of fatal or even serious hemorrhage that could have been controlled by the ordinary first aid man, and as a matter of fact serious hemorrhage except inter-cranial and intra abdominal is an extreme rarity in industrial injuries.
If the above be true there can be no objection to the man with a
minor injury walking to the emergency hospital for treatment or to the serious injury waiting for perhaps five minutes or less for skilled attention.
In a critical survey of several thousand injuries occurring in a large plant where the routine advocated above is followed, I am unable to find a single instance where harm has resulted from the lack of first aid training in the usually accepted sense, and I am sat isfied that the substitution of a system of this character in any large plant where general first aid training is now practiced will show an enormous decrease in the number of days lost time per accident, as well as tremendous saving of hitherto wasted time on the part of first aid men. [Applause.]
:Chairman The next paper will he read by Dr. M. J. Shields, of the American Red Cross Association, Washington, T>. C.
Section of Industrial Hygiene
443
MEANS AND DESIRABLE EXTENT OF INSTRUCTION TO WORKERS IN FIRST AID.
Dr. M. J. Shields, American Red Cross Association,
Washington, D. C.
I have taken the liberty of discussing the last part of the title of this paper first, and on account of its importance I think it should come first. If I had been asked to write a paper only on extent of instruction of workers in first aid, I could have done that very briefly, for my fifteen years' experience in teaching first aid has given me some very positive and practical ideas.
The instructor in first aid should always be a qualified surgeon or physician and in his lectures or talks he should not teach too much anatomy. The outlines or gross anatomy of the human body is sufficient--some practical physiology and the working functions of the principal vital organs. He should shear his language of all tech nical and medical terms ^possible, using practical comparisons, such as the stopping of bleeding in like stepping on a hose, the bone rep resents the ground, the artery the hose, the compress the foot; also lay special stress on the abuse, danger and damage of tourniquets, especially in venous bleeding by the use of bell cords, rope, fish lines and wire. The men should be made to understand plainly that first aid doesn't mean to make doctors out of "car knockers" or quacks out of "trouble shooters."
They should be instructed not to wash wounds, excepting in case of very greasy wounds, when gasoline can be used. They should be instructed to paint the wound with a weak solution of iodine, or use iodine ampoules and apply a plain sterilized dressing; how wounds become infected, that the germs are not usually on the thing that cuts or causes the wound, not to any appreciable extent in the air, but the germs are on us, under the finger nails, on the hands and clothing; that a handkerchief that has been used on the mouth and nose doesn't have fifty-seven varieties, but twenty-seven kinds of bugs, and that nature does not need carbolic acid, iodoform, bi chloride or that popular thing, "wind and water peroxide," to heal a wound. That punctured wounds, like stepping on nails, running wires into the hand, and wounds made with screw drivers, are serious on account of what the nail or wire pushes in, and the best first aid is the immediate services of a doctor in this particular kind of injury.
444 -- Fourth Safety Congress
WARNING
That it is not their work to set fractures or reduce dislocations, but simply to apply temporary splints and retaining bandages.
Every accident is
CARE OF INJURED WORKMEN.
a notice that some thing is wrong. Cor
In burns the covering of the burned part as quickly as possible with moistened picric gauze, lin
rect the cause and eliminate accidents.
seed. oil and lime water, or, in an emergency, with any kind of oil, used on gauze or clean cloth.
Never use absorbent cotton or
waste next to the burned surface.
The workers should be emphatically told the serious danger of eye
injuries and of foreign bodies in the eye and their prevention by the use of goggles, and not to have sharpened or burnt match sticks, toothpicks, pencils, blades of knives, steel picks or men's tongues used in their eyes, but to use harmless things like a clean horsehair loop, absorbent cotton on a toothpick or a corner of a clean hand
kerchief, or to go to a doctor immediately. They should be taught and thoroughly drilled in artificial respira-
tin--the "prone method"--together with the danger and avoidance of electric contact. The treatment of surgical shock without giv
ing a bath of whiskey; in fact, not to give alcohol at all in accidents. They should be taught simple methods of the care, covering,
handling and transportation of the injured; also the practical
stretcher drill. As a rule not much roller bandaging should be taught, as it has
been brought to my attention that patients have been delayed fromgetting to the hospital by the men applying a fancy bandage. Very simple and few dressings should be used. The shell wound com
press and bandage^ the small cut and finger dressings are very prac tical, quickly applied, and the use of these should be taught.
Just here I anrglad to tell you of the recent organization of the American First Aid Conference. This organization is composed of
representatives of the Army, Navy, public health services, prominent chief surgeons of'railroads and other large industrial plants. Its sole purpose is to standardize first aid materials and first aid' train-
;a~i;w.ig!rowi,!ih HWBjaiii;
Section of Industrial Hygiene
445
ing, so in the latter class we might
have in this country a large, trained personnel who could be used should
ANGELS
the emergency arise. ,, A special
board has been appointed by the Surgeon General of the Army,
May preserve fools
who is, president of the conference,
and drunkards who
to recommend and have adopted standard first aid dressings, pack
take chances -----do
ets, etc., for all industrial accidents.
you care to qualify?
The workers should not be taught to give medicine, as very
Be sure of safety.
little medicine is required in acci
dents, possibly the only remedy
would be aromatic spirits of ammonia to be used in place of whiskey,
where a stimulant is required. The use of the hypodermic needle
should never be taught and its use emphatically condemned, also the
use of any drops in the eye.
The men should be taught how to care for accidents peculiar to
their occupation and in the plant in which they work.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
There are a number of methods used in teaching first aid, but any method or plan adopted should be one that will make this instruc tion bring the best and most beneficial results in accidents. Illus
trated lectures and practical demonstrations are the methods most generally used. The lectures illustrated by lantern slides and moving picture reels, anatomical charts and diagrams. Some teachers use the mounted skeleton. I hardly think the whole skeleton is neces sary, the bones in the arm and leg and perhaps the ribs would be sufficient, and as I said before it isn't practical to teach too much anatomy. Practical demonstrations in the treatment of specific acci dents on the living model I think is the best way to impart first aid so that it will be permanent and bring results in real accidents.
I give, the following as a suggestive plan: Suppose, for example, that first aid has never been inaugurated in the mine, plant, factory, shop, or at the railway division point. A mass meeting is held in the plant, or at a convenient hall, at which the surgeon or physician lecturer gives a condensed lecture, illustrated by practical demon-
446 ^ Fourth Safety Congress
stration, aided in this by several employes, the program of which could be showing methods of arresting bleeding, treatment of wounds, methods of applying temporary splints, treatment of shock, artificial respiration (especially in an electric shock and gas poisoning), prac tical methods of carrying and transporting the seriously injured.
At the close of the meeting volunteers to join the first aid class should be asked for, holding out such inducements as Red Cross first aid certificates, merit marks, names placed on the honor roll and prizes. The men who volunteer ought to represent various depart ments and sections of the plant. The class is then organized, elect ing their own officers if thought best, except the surgeon or surgeons who teach the class. These should be selected by the management, and I think the surgeon should always have an assistant so as to take his place in unavoidable absence. The first aid course is then begun. A regular specific series of lectures should be given, based
on and conforming with the various Reid Cross first aid textbooks. There are, as you perhaps know, a Miner's, Railroad Man's, Indus trial, Police and Women's edition; also the Industrial edition is printed in four foreign languages. The meeting of these classes should not be oftener than twice a month. Cards can be printed and issued giving the place, date, and hour of the meetings. These meet ings should not last over one hour and a half. The doctor's lecture, say thirty to forty-five minutes, the rest of the time devoted to prac tice in applying first aid to imaginary injuries, drills and asking and answering questions, the doctor in charge supervising the practice.
The classes should not be too large, say not over fifty members. Where the plant is large, the men could be divided into groups of fifty and, of course, new classes can be formed and taught each year. Limiting the size of the class to fifty has worked out very practically in my work with the Associated Bell Telephone Com panies and the mining companies.
RED CROSS EXAMINATIONS.
The men should be encouraged to take the Red Cross examina tion at the completion of the course, and it has been my experience that they are eager to do so and they prize their diplomas very highly. These examinations are held locally by an examiner ap pointed by the Red Cross and the examinations are very practical in character, further details of which can be had by referring to any
Section of Industrial Hygiene
447
of the Red Cross textbooks. I might also mention that the Red Cross has two special funds from which cash prizes are awarded for meritorious first aid, one for railroads and one for other indus
trial workers. Where there is a well organized Safety First department, with a
number of members, men for first aid training can and ought to be obtained from this department without holding a mass meeting, as safety and first aid go together. In fact, they can hardly be separ ated. First aid aids greatly in the best first aid, which is "first aid to the uninjured," and it also helps to bring out the humane side of accident prevention.
Everyone engaged in Safety First work, I think, realizes that the human element is the most important element in accident prevention and I know by years of experience that first aid training is of un told value in Safety First. This can be proven by the statistics of several large corporations. In two instances where systematic first aid training has obtained for several years fatal accidents have been reduced 50 per cent, non-fatal accidents reduced 30 per cent and the time lost after accidents reduced between 30 and 40 per cent. [Ap plause.]
REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE.
:Chairman We will now have the report of the nominating committee. Dr. McCurdy, chairman.
Dr. McCurdy: First comes the name of the Section. The committee recommends that hereafter this Section be designated as the Section of Industrial Hygiene of the National Safety Council.
The committee nominates the following as officers of the Section, in accordance with the by-laws governing the Section:
Chairman, Dr. Otto C. Geier. Vice-Chairman, Dr. George M. Price. Secretary, Mr. G. L. Avery. (The Chairman asked Mr. Aveiy to take the chair.) It was moved and seconded that the report of the committee on nominations be adopted as read. The motion was carried and the men whose names were read were duly declared to be the permanent officers of the Section. On motion, the meeting adjourned.
feist :-i*
tgr.
!3L mdUm
One Man's Effort Toward Safety May Seem Small, but All To gether We Can Do a Great Deal
f
v:
National Safety Council
Railroad Sectional Meeting
. h ' - Philadelphia, Pa. -- Oct. 20 and 21, 1915
MARCUS A. DOW, Chairman
General Safety Agent, Neir York Central Uses
WEDNESDAY MORNING SESSION
Railroad Representatives Present
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western: W. C. Wilson, Claims Attorney. J. J. Pierce, Trainmaster. G. C. Ferris, Assistant Trainmaster. H. C. Harris/Foreman Buffalo Division. C. B. Vanetta, Chief Clerk, Mechanical Division. C. E. Robinson, Fire Chief, Transportation Department. H. A. Rowe, Secretary, M. L. Division Safety. W. D. Sturtevant, Assistant Claims Attorney.
Erie: - Charles T. Banks, Safety Supervisor.
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy: E. M. Switzer, Safety Supervisor.
' 449
z&mmmt:. - '.zLimamm i-.*&
an
450
fourth Safety Congress
Illinois Central: S- S. Morris, Chairman, General Safety Divi sion.
Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo: G. C. Martin, General Freight and Passenger Agent and Chairman Safety Committee.
St.' Louis & San Francisco: W. B. Spaulding, Claims Attorney. Frank Wightman, Superintendent of Safety. C. H. Balzell, Superintendent.
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh: J. S. Rockwell, General Agent. E. M. Bentley, Special Representative Engineering Department.
Bessemer & Lake Erie:
A. D- Chittenden. T. C. Whiteman, Manager Relief Plant.
Delaware & Hudson: M. L. Snyder, Inspector of Transportation.
Chicago & Northwestern: R. C. Richards. James Sullivan, Safety Inspector. H. J. Bell, Safety Inspector.
El Paso & Southwestern: R. P. Kyle, Safety Superintendent.
Northern Pacific: F. M. Metcalf, Special Representative of
Vice-President.
-
Pennsylvania Lines East: R. H. Newbern, Superintendent of Insurance. F. T. Bowler, Engineman. Mr. Riggs, Blacksmith-Foreman.
L. F. Smurthwaite, Examiner. Vincent Colleli, Office Superintendent of Telegraph and
Italian and English Instructor. R. L. Kell, Assistant Supervisor.
Wm. H. Gates, Carpenter. E. F. McKenzie, Conductor. D. C. Irving, Accident Clerk. G. D. Chenoweth, Supervisor... -M. M. Sheedy, Safety Inspector. M. J. Davis, Assistant Engineer Motive. Power.
iBW? iirittfffelt Hrefo- -i--I--Jfc;. S m~
if^hiiiinjilrTfUiiiiMfli'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiM^AiiiijMiMiliiiiiiiiBii
Railroad Sectional Meeting ** T. H. Carroll, Safety Inspector. J. C. Rose, Chief Claim Agent.
451
Boston & Maine: S. G. Watkins, General Secretary Safety First Organization..
Hocking Valley: G. S. Welch, Trainmaster. F. C. Amos, Assistant Trainmaster.
New York, New Haven & Hartford: Examiner on Operating Rules.
F. W. Mitchell, Chief.
Baltimore.& Ohio: E. R. Scoville, Chairman General Safety Committee. John T. Broderick, Supervisor of Special Bureaus, Operating
Department. Dr. Robert I. Randolph, Eye and Ear Specialist. C. W. Egan, General Claim Agent.
Union JPacific: J. M. Guild, Safety Supervisor.
Rock Island Lines: L. F. Shedd, General Safety Supervisor.
Chicago, St., Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha: G. L. Wright, Chair
man General Safety Committee.
'
Central R. R. of Georgia: C. H. Findley.
Pullman Company: M. E. Arkills, Safety Engineer.
Lehigh & Hudson: C. F. Merrill, Superintendent.
Norfolk & Western: C. H. Blakemore, Chairman Central Safety Committee. J. L. Durham, Member of Safety Committee.
Southern Railway: L. L. Oliver, Law Department. P. H. Quinn, Claim Department.
Pennsylvania Lines West: C. W. Garrett, Office of Vice-Presi
dent.
-
Canadian Pacific: F. R. Heney, Claims Adjuster.
Cumberland Valley Railroad: T. Hamilton, Master Mechanic. Youngstown & Northern: W. Greenwood, Safety .Engineer.
452
Fourth Safety Congress
Vandalia: J. E. Mechling, Master
STOP-LOOK-LISTEN
Mechanic. McKeesport Connecting Route:
113,570 killed. 123,611 injured in
William A. Cornelius, Man ager.
J. B. Ayres, General Safety
the United States in
Committee.
twenty-five years walking on railroad
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis: C. If. Crawford, Assistant
tracks or flipping on
cars.
_
Engineer, Mechanical De partment.
Duluth & Iron Range: G. S. Locker.
New York Central Lines:
Marcus A. Dow, General Safety Agent.
Frank V. Whiting, General Claims Attorney.
C. R. Myers, General Agent, Indianapolis.
G. A. Dabelle, Station Agent.
A. M. Rickerson, Conductor of Mohawk Division.
J. B. Chadwick, Assistant Superintendent, T. & O. C.
F. B. McGirr, Safety Agent. C. D. Shaft, Safety Agent.
S. Lenzner, Master Car Builder, Detroit.
R. S. Jarnagin, Safety Department.
F. W. Lees, Assistant Road Foreman of Engines.
F. H. Hansen, Assistant Master Car Builder.
C. B. Floyd, Safety Agent.
H. S. Balliet, Assistant Terminal Manager, Grand Central
Station, New York.
Wm. Morrison, Assistant Signal Engineer.
, F. H. Judd, Assistant Engineer.
'American Locomotive'Works: J. W. Kamper, Safety Inspector. Southern Pacific: F. B. WIegand.
San Pedro, Los Angelas & Salt Lake: Howard Elliott, Chairman Safety Committee.
MUM--.
:^:fcr?agBsnMi.^a-ialafci^s,
Railroad Sectional Meeting
453
OPENING ADDRESS. . Marcus A. Dow, Chairman.
Don't Do It!
FEEL particularly pleased and
I honored in being permitted to call to order the first Railroad
Sectional meeting of the National
The most danger ous thing you can do
Safety Council, and it is especially
is to crawl over the
gratifying to see so many roads represented in this gathering of railroad safety men, who are here
bumpers of cars blocking a railroad
in the interests of such a superior
crossing.
purpose as that of saving human
life and limb. Heretofore at the
annual congresses of the National Safely Council, the meetings have
all been of a general character, but with the rapid growth of the
Safety Movement throughout the country and the consequent in
crease in the membership of this Council, it was felt by many mem
bers that it would perhaps be more profitable for representatives of
certain industries to get together on one or more days of the Con
gress and hold meetings of their own. Accordingly, the railroad
members of the Council were formed into a Railroad Section and
the members of this section and invited guests are gathered here to
discuss Safety problems which affect their own industry.
The fact that so many railroads have entered vigorously into this
so-called Safety Movement does not mean that railroads are only
just beginning to adopt Safety as a principle, but it is evidence of
their progressiveness and indicates the earnest desire of railroad
officials to study the problem of accident prevention and improve,
if possible, an already enviable accident prevention record.
-----
The spirit of this movement has rolled across the continent like
a great tidal wave, and now railroads and other industries, as well as municipal organizations, everywhere are forming or have formed complete ..and systematic plans for work in this field of commend able endeavor. The growth of the movement has been greatly en hanced by the results that have been obtained where systematic and well organized plans have been persistently carried out. Experience has proven that spasmodic campaigns of Safety, launched with spec tacular displays of wasted energy and then dropped, will not bring
r-<aap..-i
iwiMi..
mmtmm fUaalik.aim-i; jKamaiL
454
Fourth Safety Congress
results. Any effort to prevent accidents through education must be continuous and persistent. Many railroads and other industries are able to show gratifying results in accident reductions secured
through such systematic effort. We expect to hear in these meetings from roads which have accomplished such results, just what results have been obtained and how they were obtained. Speaking for the
New York Central Railroad, I will say that in the year ended June 30th, 19x5, as compared^with the previous fiscal year, there were 167 fewer persons killed, aL decrease of 27^ and 2305 fewer persons injured, a decrease of 21This refers to all persons killed and injured on the basis of the Interstate Commerce reports for that period.
Railroad work is not the most hazardous of occupations. Con servative statistics show that there are at least four other great industries in this country where the number of persons killed per thousand employed is greater than on the railroads. That the rail roads stand firmly upon the principle of Safety as the first con sideration is manifest in every phase of railroad development. Im provements are made in construction, equipment and the efficiency of their personnel on the basis of Safety before cost, and as a result of this old established principle the record of passengers transported with absolute safety upon the railroads of this country is nothing short of phenomenal. During the fiscal year 1914, there were in the United States 313 operating companies with a mileage of 113,333 miles, which is nearly one-half the entire railroad mileage of the United States, and which if stretched out into one long railroad would form a steel girdle extending four and a half times around the world, on which there was not a single passenger killed in a train accident, although there were more than 450,000,000 passengers carried by these roads,--a number equal to four and a half times the country's population. In the cities of New York and Chicago during 1913 there were 774 persons killed in the city streets by being struck or run over by some moving street vehicle, while dur ing the fiscal year ending June 30, 1914, there were but 85 pas sengers killed in train accidents on all the railroads in the country, so that in those two cities alone there were nine times as many per sons killed by moving street vehicles as there were passengers killed on all the railroads of the country. But, while passengers on trains have been practically immune from serious or fatal injury, due to
Railroad Sectional Meeting -
455
the Safety and Efficiency of railroad operation, there is another class
of persons over whom the railroads have little control, who have found railroad rights-of-way increasingly unsafe. These persons are the trespassers who voluntarily and needlessly risk their lives by using the railroad tracks as public thoroughfares and who thereby contribute every day to a needless sacrifice of life and limb that is a disgrace to our civilization, and who by their reckless disregard of their own personal safety cause more than 50% of all fatal accidents occurring on railroads each year. This is a safety problem that is not within the power of railroads to successfully solve without the support and co-operation of the public, and this heedless yearly slaughter of more than 5000 American citizens, mostly thoughtless wage earners who walk the railroad tracks to and from work, will continue until the restraining hand of our Congress at Washington is raised and. a Federal taw enacted which -will effectively prohibit trespassing on railroad rights-of-way. While this particular prob lem is not set down for discussion on the formal program, I hope it may not be overlooked and that those who have suggestions as to how to interest public officials and the public in general in this phase of Safety work will give free expression of their views.
But there are other problems which may profitably be discussed in this session and an interesting program has been prepared. ' In the Safety work that has been conducted on railroads and in other industries two important elements have received attention. One of these is the mechanical element or the guarding of machinery, the installation of safety devices and the correction of conditions, which if left tmcorrected might contribute to unsafeness. The other is the human element, and it is this big, powerful, all-important factor which will undoubtedly dominate our discussions in, this meeting. Eor years there has been a nation-wide agitation in behalf of greater safeguards for employes of railroads, other industries and the general public. Jtn every state there has been a veritable epidemic of legislation with a view of protecting the working man from pos sible injury. Safety devices of every description have been installed, rules formulated, regulations adopted and mechanical safeguards invented and applied until it would seem that accidents never could happen. But, the disquieting feature of the situation has been that up to a year ago, in spite of these extraordinary precautions taken to insure immunity from harm, accidents resulting in injuries increased
mjag/Ey' .1mf.
`-mmm
~gUU-
.?>---mm rnimmm^m^
456
^Fourth Safety Congress
steadily and the very laws that were
Think Safely
made to lessen accidents actually seemed to foster them. It remained for the officials of the railroads and
other great industries to discover
Remember the
where the real trouble lay. The
wife and kiddies at
conclusion was reached that, with all the laws which might be passed
home and do every
and safety devices which might be
thing the safe way for their sake.
installed, there would be no success ful reduction in accidents until there had been enlisted the co
operation of those persons in whose
interest such precautions were being taken. In other words, it was found that the human element
was upsetting all the carefully laid plans of well-meaning legislators
and, it was with this fact in mind, that within recent years, this so-
called "Safety" Movement was started.
A study of the accident records of individual railroads as well as a
careful analysis of Interstate Commerce Commission records shows
very conclusively that at least go per cent of all injuries to employes
are caused by the fault of either the injured man or some other em
ploye. The Human Element l It can never be effaced by all the
laws that can ever be passed and enforced. The one great powerful
factor which will curtail and reduce and zvhich is already curtailing
and reducing accidents on railroads and in other industries is co- ..
operation between employer and employes to find the most effective
means of increasing the thoughtfulness of the employes, to teach
them to think and avoid practices which may result in injury to
themselves and others. It is this spirit of co-operation which will
prevent more accidents than all the laws that ever .were passed or
ever will be passed intended to regulate the Safety of modern trans
portation. All the laws that can possibly be written ,in all the statute
books of the world'would not prevent injury to the employe who
steps in between moving cars to adjust a coupler and who,' while in
that perilous position, stumbles and falls under the wheels, to be
dragged forth a helpless cripple, to be for all his days, if he lives,
a burden to himself and society, a poor unfortunate wreck of a
human being, racked by pain and soured by the bitterness of his
.imam..
mm
Railroad Sectional Meeting
457
lot, and all because he did not think,
or did not take the time to stop those cars before he went in be tween them. It is because the acci
Don't Take Chances
dent records conclusively show that the majority of injuries are caused by acts of carelessness similar to
on railroad tracks, and don't let your
this that the railroads have launched
children do so, either.
their Safety campaigns. How, then, can we most success
fully educate our employes "to
Do your part to cut down 55 per cent of
guard against injuring themselves,
railroad fatalities.
and how can we educate the public
to use the ordinary care which will
prevent injury to persons who are rightfully on or near our premises ?
Each representative here has had his own experiences in this work.
Many of you originated methods of education which have been
effective on your own roads. It is for the purpose of interchanging
ideas that we are gathered here in this meeting and to the end that
the greatest possible benefit to all may accrue it is my earnest hope
that every one here--will enter into the spirit of the occasion and
take active part in the discussions.
And may you all leave this meeting with a new incentive for greater effort. May you take away with you that truly American
spirit which places humanity above everything else and which will
enable you to whole heartedly continue to uphold and promote the
cause of Safety, first, last and always,--because it is for humanity,
-----because it is for economy-----because it is right.
I thank you. (Applause.)
Mr. W. B. :Spaulding Mr. Chairman, for the purpose of carry ing out the plan of the Executive Committee of the National Safety Council for our Railroad Section, I move that the Chair appoint a Nominating Committee, who shall provide a plan of bylaws for the
government arid operation of this Section of the National Safety Council, the bylaws, of course, to be in harmony with the plan and principle of the National Safety Council, and to nominate officers for the Railroad Section for the coming year.
(The motion was seconded, voted upon and carried. Committee
-tt__lMISOTL-
iMl
458
Fourth Safety Congress
composed of Messrs. Spaulding, Blakemore and Rockwell appointed by tiie Chair.)
Chairman Dow: We will proceed with the discussion of the very interesting and able address delivered by Mr. W. C. Wilson, Claims Attorney' of the Lackawanna Railroad, yesterday afternoon at the general session, entitled, "Public Safety and the Railroads."
Me. R. C. Richards (Chicago & Northwestern) : Mr. Chairman, I would like to make this ' suggestion in regard to. ,that discussion. Probably there are a great many people here today that were not here yesterday' and did not hear the paper. Now, if Mr. Wilson is here and would give us that paper it might help a whole lot, or give an outline of it for the benefit of those who did not hear it.
:Chairman Dow Mr. Wilson, I think that is a good suggestion. Will you come to the front and give us the gist of your talk yes terday ?
PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE RAILROADS.
W. C. :Wilson Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: "Safety
First," in its capacity as first aid to the uninjured, perhaps rightly
may be considered to be a conspiracy to rob the doctor and the
undertaker. As its objects are the preservation of life and limb, and
therefore the pursuit of happiness, it may be said to fall strictly,
within our constitutional rights and prerogatives. It is at least one
form of railroad activity in which a man can engage without danger
of going to jail. The Sherman anti-trust law does not touch even
the hem of its garment; standpatters do not condemn it, even though
it is a new fangled notion. The Progressives have not only embraced
it but have appropriated it for campaign purposes. Labor Unions
generally have accepted its principles and the Interstate Commerce
Commission has placed its approval upon it by saying in its 1912
report:
___
"Great possibilities in the solution of the problem of accident
prevention lie in the so-called Safety Committees which have
been organized on many roads. By making `Safety First' the
dominant idea in the minds of employes and continually point-
mmmmm mtdmsaigmma^
Railroad Sectional Meeting
459
ing out methods of its attainment an important step In the right direction is taken."
It was not so very long ago that railroading in this country was in its infancy. Roadbeds, motive power and equipment were primi tive. But the prophets^ of those days, with an abiding faith in the future and a courage which knew no retreat, ran their rails through the valleys, over the mountains and across the plains, adopting the standards of construction then in vogue. No sooner had they been built than the mighty and unceasing rush of population began to overtax the railroad facilities and require readjustments to meet these increasing demands. From that day to this the railroads of this country have been in a state of evolution. The engineering departments have been called upon to build and rebuild their lines. The motive power and equipment departments have been obliged to revise their specifications again and again. The operating de partments have been pushed to the limit to devise new and improved methods to meet the requirements of a traffic which was growing by leaps and bounds. Then again, these conditions imposed financial obligations which many roads were unable to stand. Receiverships
were common and even the strongest were, at times, in danger of default if not bankruptcy. Nevertheless, under these trying con ditions it must be conceded that the development of the American railroad to its present state of efficiency has been the greatest triumph yet achieved by American genius, aided by indomitable pluck and perseverance.
It is evident that, under these circumstances, the refinements of railroading would receive scant attention. It was railroading in the raw, and millions of property were squandered and countless human
lives and limbs were sacrificed to this untamed juggernaut. It re quires more stable conditions than have existed in which to cultivate the organized humanities. Human life was doubtless as sacred in former days as it is now but there were not so many safeguards thrown around it. The "Safety First" movement itself was an evolution, and when the time was ripe it stepped out, as an angel of light, into an industrial world that was ready to receive it, an old and yet new revelation of the duty of man to man.
"Safety First" as a distinct and organized movement started on
American railroads in 19x0, when Mr. Richards of the- Chicago and Northwestern sounded the bugle call and began his campaign. Since
460
Fourth Safety Congress
that time its growth has been phe
Personal Duly
nomenal until at the present time practically no railroad in this coun
try, big or little, is without some
The prevention o
form of safety organization.
accidents and in juries is a personal duty which every one owes to himself
While it may not be strictly ger mane to the topic assigned to me X believe as a necessary prelude some thing should be said about the de velopment o'f the movement thus
and to his fellow
far.
workmen.
It is hardly necessary for~me to
say in this presence that we found
the personal equation to be the
most important factor; but how to reach and influence it effectively
was the most difficult problem to be solved. Naturally, the first
efforts were directed toward correcting unsafe physical conditions
along the road. These were open to observation. Most of them
could be corrected by the expenditure of a little time and money.
A great and important work has been accomplished in this regard.
It was early recognized that the great body of employes must be
reached and enlisted in the cause before any fundamental success
could be achieved. For this purpose mass meetings are held at
principal division points, at which speeches are made by officers and
men, and stereopticon views and moving pictures displayed, illus
trating the safety idea.
In addition to mass meetings the men are being reached by "Safety
First" literature. Bulletins, pamphlets and magazines are being pub
lished and distributed broadcast among employes and their families.
Out of this abundance of talking and writing has developed a new
class of literature, earnest, virile and abounding in hot shot which
has caused the railroadman to sit-up and take notice.
This warfare against carelessness and inefficiency has developed
a new ideal among railroad employes which is writing its record
every day in improving the conditions under which men work and
in bringing to the railroad men of this country a clearer vision of
their duty to themselves, their families and the public at large, in
the protection of life and limb and in the prevention of avoidable
accidents.
_
fWWW|i*i *i .-SJ-;:
: aiwsr
Railroad Sectional Meeting
461
The results are most encourag
ing; The latest authoritative sta tistics available are furnished by
If You Forget
the advance sheets of the report
of the Interstate Commerce Com
Small neglects are
mission covering casualties of all classes on steaxn railroads for the quarter ending June 30, 1915. It
says: "As compared with returns for
the corresponding quarter of 1914
apt to cause serious accidents.
Let every em ployee make himself a committee of one
' the figures show, for train acci
to prevent accident.
dents, a decrease of 18 in the num
ber of persons killed and of 561
injured; for other than train accidents a decrease of 162 killed
and of 1,722 Injured; and for railroad industrial accidents an in
crease of 14 killed and a decrease of 2,109 injured, making a net
decrease, all classes, of 166 in the number killed and of 4,392 in
the number injured."
There was a decrease of 185 in the number of collisions and a.
decrease, of 443 in the number of derailments. As compared with
the corresponding quarter of 1914 there was a decrease of 655 in
the number of train accidents. Doubtless a number of elements
have contributed to these results, but in the face of such a splendid
record who shall say that the "Safety First" movement on American
railroads has not made good, or that all honor should not be given
to the officers and men who by their effective co-operation have
helped to secure such a conspicuous victory.
But what has the public done in reducing casualties on the rail
roads? Practically nothing. Seventy-two per cent of the fatalities
charged against the railroads for the year ending June 30, 1914,
were neither employes nor passengers; they were outsiders, repre
senting the general public. Twelve times as many people were killed
in highway crossing accidents as were killed in train accidents.
Nearly three times as many trespassers were killed as employes,
and, this includes the whole body of railroad employes of all
classes.
It is evident, therefore, that the public should be vitally interested
in this railroad safety problem. It may not concern the man in the
aHHS . :s ^Blgs-sat
j.... ...r;^ HW :
.: . --:sm
462
Fourth Safety Congress
street what conditions exist in the operation of the adjacent factory, but he cannot assume that attitude with reference to railroad opera tion. When a passenger, he places the safely of his life and limb
in the care of the Company. He has a right to rely upon the sound ness of its operating rules. But the rules are dead and worthless things if they are not executed by competent and careful employes. An efficient railroad employe, therefore, is both a public and a private asset. He will observe the operating rules not only because they are rules but because they are right; not only because irregularities
may subject him to discipline but because he has adopted the prin ciple of "Safety First'! as his rule of conduct.
But building up and maintaining a body of careful and efficient employes does not solve the problem. We can control our own employes to a degree but we can not control the public. Railroad efficiency is matched by public inefficiency. Railroad carefulness'' is neutralized by public carelessness. Casualties to employes are going down; casualties to the public are going up.
Do you know that of the 263 passengers killed on American rail roads for the year ending June 30, 1914, only 85 were killed in
train accidents? What happened to the 180? Forty-eight were killed by falling from cars, 69 while getting on or off cars, 47 by
being struck or run over at stations or in yards and 16 from miscel laneous causes. Without attempting to relieve the railroad com panies from any responsibility which may rest upon them for these casualties it is safe to say that a large percentage of them could have been avoided by the exercise of greater care on the part of the injured persons and that many of them were due to their rank care
lessness. How did it happen that 69 passengers were killed and 2,788 pas
sengers were injured in getting on or off cars? Of the death cases unquestionably the great majority were caused by the passengers trying to get on or off moving cars. The injury cases came from a variety of causes: Too great haste, baggage and bundles which obscure the sight and occupy the hands, the distraction of babes in arms and children, inattention to the tread of the steps and the distance of the lower step of the car to the station platform, high heels and narrow skirts, and in addition to this a natural confusion of mind of the infrequent traveler in boarding and alighting under
strange conditions.
Railroad-Sectional Meeting
463
How do you account for the fact that 48 passengers were killed
by falling from trains, exclusive of those injured while boarding
or alighting? An examination of the record would show that in most cases the
passenger unnecessarily placed himself in a position of danger. These were caused by passengers standing on car platforms while the train was in motion and especially by passengers standing on car steps long before the train had reached their station, so that the moment it stopped, indeed usually before it stopped, they could
jump and run for home or office. How did it happen that 47 passengers were killed by being struck
and run over at stations and yards? Some of these accidents were due doubtless to the carelessness and sometimes the extreme care lessness of railroad employes, but the greater part were caused by indifference to danger on the part of those injured. When not fenced in passengers will swarm over the tracks, sometimes at considerable distance from the station platform, and take all kinds of chances of being struck by moving cars or engines, just because they follow an idle fancy to stroll around and kill time. Time survives, but they do not.
Based upon these official records, supplemented by the experience
of all those who are charged with the duty of investigating such matters, it is clear that too often there is a spirit of utter reckless ness on the part of the traveling public which materially helps to
swell the list of casualties on American railroads. There is another prolific class of accidents in which the public has
a joint responsibility with the railroads--those which occur at high way crossings. In the year ending June 30,1914, 1,147 persons were killed and 2,935 were injured at railroad highway crossings--a total of over 4,000. The railroads are making large yearly expenditures in the elimination of grade crossings and this policy will be con sistently pursued even though at great cost. Frequently the un willingness of municipalities to join with the railroads, and some times their active opposition, have held up progress in this direction to the disadvantage of all concerned. In addition to this work of elimination new and improved safety devices are being installed and the number of flagmen and crossing gates or barriers has been largely increased. Some roads, notably the Long Island, have dis played large signs and posters at important crossings warning the
464
- Fourth Safety Congress
public against careless driving.. But
RULES
notwithstanding these admittedly improved safety conditions, there
will be an increasing number of
Rules and regula
highway crossing accidents, due to
tions can be adopted and signs posted, but all are useless unless every man is careful
the perilous situation caused by thephenomenal growth of the automo bile traffic.
There is scarcely an issue of the daily press which does not contain
to see that they are
the record of some horrible auto
maintained.
mobile accident at a railroad cross
ing. With everything in his favor
--a machine presumably under per
fect control, no horses to become frightened and unruly and
the power to stop almost instantly, if exercising even a minimum
of caution the driver, disregarding warning signals, even to the
extent of often plunging through the safety gates, sends his machine
upon the tracks only to be struck by the swift and powerful loco
motive and hurled to his death.
The courts have taken cognizance of this increasing peril, not
only to the automobilist but to the traveling public. The United
States Circuit Court of Appeals, in a recent decision, said:
"With the coming into use of the automobile, new questions as to
reciprocal rights and duties of the public and that vehicle have and
will continue to arise. At no place are those relations more im
portant "than at the grade crossings of railroads. The main con
sideration hitherto with reference to such crossings has been- the
danger to those crossing. A ponderous, swiftly moving locomotive
followed by a heavy train, is subjected to slight danger by a crossing
foot passenger, or a span of horses and a vehicle; but, when the
passing vehicle is a ponderous steel structure, it threatens not only
the safety of its own occupants, but also those on the colliding train.
And when to the perfect control of such a machine is added the
factor of high speed, the temptation to dash over a track at terrific
speed makes the automobile, unless carefully controlled, a new and
grave element of crossing danger. On the other hand, when prop
erly controlled, this powerful machine possesses capabilities con
tributing to safety. When a driver of horses attempts to make a
Railroad Sectional Meeting
465
crossing and is suddenly confronted
by a train, difficulties^ face him to which the automobile is not sub
CAREFULNESS
ject. He cannot drive close to the
track, or stop there, with risk of his horse frightening, shying, or overturning his vehicle. He can not well leave his -horse standing,
The more you in sist upon carefulness on the part of others,
and if he goes forward to the track to get an unobstructed view and look for coming trains he might have to lead his horse or team with
as well as exercis ing it yourself, the safer it will be for all.
him. These precautions the auto
mobile driver can take, carefully
and deliberately, and without the nervousness communicated by a
frightened horse. Zt will thus be seen an automobile driver has the
opportunity, if the situation is one of uncertainty, to settle that un
certainty on the side of safety, with less inconvenience, no danger,
and more surely than the driver of a horse. Such being the case,
the law, both from the standpoint of his own safety and the menace
his machine is to the safety of others, should, in meeting these new
conditions, rigidly hold the automobile driver to such reasonable
care and precaution as go to his own safety and that of the traveling
public."
The terrible toll which is being paid each year by this class of
accidents demands that remedial action be taken both by the rail
roads and the public. During the year ending June 30, 19x4, 5,471 persons were killed
and 6,354 were injured while trespassing on railroad property. In
spite of all that has been said and done to minimize this evil the
slaughter goes on undiminished. It seems even to flaunt-itself with
brazen effrontery, asking what we are going to do about it. Pri
marily the responsibility must rest with the public. This is so because
the people make the laws and in the last analysis public officials will
administer the law according to public sentiment. It may surprise
you to know that thirty-five states have no laws specifically pro
hibiting trespassing on railroad tracks. Some have such laws but
with penalties so trivial as to make them a farce; if not, then the
average magistrate will proceed to make them a farce on his own
hook.
466
Fourth Safety Congress
Nowhere in Europe is there any such record of casualties. Heavy penalties are enforced against trespassing on railroad tracks and as a result the number of injuries due to railroad trespassing is only
about 5 per cent of the number in this country. This evil is nation-wide. It has been characterized by Mr. Marcus
A. Dow in his striking article on the subject as "A Nation's Neglect," but notwithstanding the many efforts which have been made to im prove the situation it is still the nation's neglect in all essential
particulars. In securing the highest standard of safety in railroad operation
the co-operation of the public is essential. Such co-operation must not stop at simply wishing the railroads good luck in their task. The people as a whole must be trained along safely lines and the laws and the courts in administering the laws must embody and enforce safety standards which represent the enlightened convictions of the people. There must be the same painstaking effort in the education of the public as has been put forth by industrial concerns in the education of their employes. The fact is that the people as a whole have lagged far behind in this safety propaganda. ~ As an illustra tion, laws have been enacted recently with the object in view of relieving the traveler on the highway of any legal duty to look or listen at railroad crossings under certain circumstances. As an easy way of avoiding crossing accidents it is argued in some quar ters that the railroads eliminate grade crossings. It might also be said with equal force that the way to stop a drought is to make it rain.
There must not only be co-operation but it must be organized co-operation. Sporadic efforts will produce no lasting effect. The problem is nation-wide and too big for individual or dissociated
action and I believe the National Safety Council is in a posi tion to wield a powerful influence in moulding public opinion and in organizing the people in. a campaign against the crime
of carelessness. T' May we speed the day when the ideals for which this Council
stands shall be realized, when railroads and all employers of labor will vie with the people and public officials who represent the people in reducing the perils to life and limb which lurk about us on every hand, and in- the prevention of these avoidable casualties which are such a blot upon the fair name of our country. (Applause.)
Railroad Sectional Meeting
467
Chairman Dow : ~ Is there any discussion on Mr. Wilson's paper? I think that the subject of grade crossing accidents may be deferred until after the next address by Mr. Rose, which will cover that topic. But are there any other phases of Mr. Wilson's paper to be discussed, particularly the trespass proposition?
Me. H. S. Balliet (New York Central) : Mr. Chairman, I am curious to know whether Mr. Wilson has information which would give us a view of the relations between the reduction in acci dents for the first quarter of this year as related to the reduction of train movements, assuming that we have had reduction, generally speaking, through the United States.
Chairman Dow: Can you answer that, Mr. Wilson?
Me. :Wilson I do not believe there has been very much reduc tion in that regard, in train movements. You mean engine and car mileage?
Mr. :Baxx-iet Yes.
Mr. Wilson : As to the quarter ending June 30, 1913, the figures which I have got on the advance sheet issued for the press by the Interstate Commerce Commission, just one big sheet, which was laid on my desk only two or three days ago. And of course that did not give the train mileage and I have not any information on that subject; I do not just remember what the relations of traffic were for the quarter ending June 30, 1914* but I am in clined to think that the mileage this year tinder the present con ditions is even greater than it was in 1914. Of course it may not . be. I know that our own road is having all it can do to handle the traffic.
Mr. Metcalf: A short time ago I got up a circular on this question of trespassing--I am a Northern Pacific man--and ad dressed it to the agents and section foremen and requested the agents in particular to try and get the views expressed in that circular into the hands of the school teachers in the little villages and towns along, our line and give them a little talk about this question of trespassing. I also made a trip over the line and at all the impor tant towns I made it a particular point to see the newspaper re porters, give them a little interview, and I was fortunate enough to
468
Fourth Safety Congress
have a column, sometimes a col
Your Work
umn and a half, in some of these smaller town papers on this very
question of trespassing, calling at
It is as much your duty to be careful
tention to the danger that was in curred by going on the railroad track, not looking to see whether
and comply with
there were trains approaching and
safety rules, as it is your duty to properly
so forth. And I believe that a great deal of good can be secured by getting the newspapers inter
perform your work.
ested in the subject. As I ex
plained, it is something of common
interest; it is not solely for the rail
road that I was talking, I was talking for the public; and I got the
newspaper men as a whole generally to see it in that way and they
gave it a very good writeup. And I have asked our agents, I have
asked our superintendents, to have the agents send to them and they
would forward to me clippings from all the country papers along the
line showing just what had been done. It was my intention to get a
list of the newspapers along the railroad, check them over and see
which towns have not had a writeup and then I am going to make it
a particular point to reach the editor, send him some literature on
that subject and see if we" cannot get a little better dissemi
nation of the information that we want to get to them in
regard to trespassing.
I also at the same time got out a placard about trespassing, show
ing the number of people that had been killed and injured during
the last year. I had that posted conspicuously in all the depots.
And from some comments that I have received I think it is a ques
tion that is being thought well of and I am having a good deal of
co-operation in general by the school teachers and newspaper people
and even the clergymen.
:Chairman JDow Mr. Metcalf, have you tried to do any educa tional work among the employees of. manufacturing plants along
your right of way?
Mr. Metcalf: No, not yet. I have rather left that to the local officers and superintendent. The superintendent and trainmaster
Railroad Sectional Meeting'
469
are generally closer in totjcb with
the people whom we serve than I am, and they would pay a great
A Live Issue
deal more attention to them than
they would to me. Mr. Frank V. Whiting (New
A live issue stimu
York Central) : I would like to
lates publicity. Make
make a suggestion in connection with the trespass proposition. The
Safety work interest
Association of Railway Claim Agents have had a committee on the trespassing evil for at least two
ing and follow.
results
years. Last year we gathered the
statistics from practically all the
railroads in the United States covering accidents to trespassers, and
that information goes into considerable detail; showing the social
status of the trespassers killed or injured. The Association has pub
lished that report by states and for the United States and Canada.
We are at the present time engaged in the distribution of that report
to the newspapers and various periodicals throughout the United
States. It was early in the year furnished the members of the
Association of Railway Claim Agents and it is possible that the
safety men would like those reports. I do not know just whether
we have enough to supply the road, but the claim men, of course,
have the reports for their respective states as well as for the
country.
Chairman Dow: We have a list of members present here and if it is the desire of those present to have them I am sure Mr. Whiting will be very glad to mail them to those present.
Mr. G. S. Locker (Duluth & Iron Range) : Mr. Chairman, I would like to tell you gentlemen here the most effective way that I have found upon our railroad of interesting the general public, and especially on the subject that was brought before you by Mr. Metcalf of the Northern Pacific. I hold one meeting every month in four or five of the cities along our line, showing moving pictures and stereopticon slides, and particularly along this line of trespass. I go into that city and make my pictures and slides local. I show to these people in that community a picture of some of their own boys and
470
Fourth Safety Congress
girls climbing on our cars, playing around the depots, walking up and down our tracks, and then gaining the hearty co-operation of the superintendent of schools in that community on that very difficulty. I have these meetings in the afternoon for children only and for those who cannot attend the evening meetings, which I also hold in the same place. I use the moving picture theatres and in some places the opera house or auditorium. We have our own moving picture machine, which we move to these different places where one is not available. I have had as high as one thousand school children at a meeting in the afternoon. Some of those children see their own picture thrown on the screen, taken while they were trying to board one of our trains or playing around our yards or on our tracks. I have found that that had a greater effect on that community than if I would show some foreign picture. Making it local entirely I get more hearty co-operation from parents in trying to educate their children to discontinue any of these unsafe practices. And after I have created in that community a desire for those things, and have created a spirit among the school children and among the parents they desire to come there and learn those things. I have been able to put intocthree of the different schools, and I am going to put into several schools on our line, a little book, "Sure Pop and the Safety Scouts." I have that installed in schools in three of our cities. It has been put in as a supplementary reader and is taught to the children by the teacher. And I think that is one of the greatest helps in educating the younger generation and instilling into
their lives the safety first idea. (Applause.)
:Chairman Dow I would like to say just a word about the little book "Sure Pop and the Safety Scouts" which Mr. Locker called your attention to. This is a story published under the auspices of the National Safety Council, and one of the most interesting and absorbing safety stories that I have had occasion to read. I think that every member here will be interested in getting a copy of that book. The price is thirty-five cents in single copies and I think for ten copies it is twenty-eight cents. Copies of this book may be ob tained from Mr. Cameron, Secretary of the National Safety Council, in Chicago.
Mr. G. C. Martin (Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo) : I would like to tell you the propaganda we started on our little line in regard
Railroad Sectional Meeting
471
to trespassing. We carried on a campaign somewhat of the charac
ter of the Northern Pacific as outlined by their representative. We
have a large manufacturing city, a number of industries in the City
of Hamilton, and a great many of them are located along our line.
We did start to educate the employees of. these factories to keep
off our tracks with very good results. In many instances we have
had to send a special representative to the management of the factory
and ask them to caution their employes, which they have done.
We also took it out through the schools. We have great trouble
with school children. I believe we have, overcome that diffi
culty by circulars and lectures by the principals and teachers of
the schools.
We also instructed all our crossing watchmen to keep trespassers
off the tracks. Now these watchmen required a good deal of atten
tion-themselves before they really came to the conclusion that that
was part of their duty. We had our officers go along themselves. I
myself on one occasion walked along the track and asked the Watch
man, who did not know me at that time, who he was, and after
I passed by I asked him why he allowed me to walk along the track.
He said, "It is only a short distance and no trains in sight." I said,
"Is that your instructions ? Isn't it your duty to prevent people from
walking along the tracks?" He said, "Yes." I replied, "Why don't
you carry out your duty?"
We issued several circulars to our employees, particularly to our
section foremen, and to bring it home I might say that I was going
over the road on the inspection car one day with our roadmaster
and we stopped at a station for a few moments and there were some
trespassers walking along. The roadmaster was within a hundred
yards of me at the time. I allowed this trespasser to go on and see
what he would do, but this roadmaster passed this man, and then
I went home and made a safety report of it. It created quite a
little discussion and brought the thing right home. I do not
think we have much trouble today with either our section fore
men or others.
--
* Furthermore, we went to the magistrate in the City of Hamilton
and got him interested, so when we brought people before him
for trespassing they were properly convicted. I believe our laws
are pretty strong if we get them carried out and we have had good
results from that.
472
Fourth Safety Congress
Mr. T. H. Carroll (Pennsyl
TRESPASS
vania Lines East) : The Pennsyl vania Railroad has been actively
engaged in the prevention of in
Avoid walking on railroad tracks and
juries and fatalities to trespassers for a long time. And the figures show that we have been quite suc
before crossing on ANY TRACK, "Stop, Look a n d
cessful, as high as fifty per cent, we have shown a reduction in the fatal ities, but it is an endless job. The Publicity Department is all right.
Listen."
=
It is all right to talk to school children, it is all right to do any
thing that you can do; but after
you have done it, you will find that you have got to go over and
do the same thing. In other words, the gentleman who made the
speech here about the Duluth & Iron Range, that goes to the public
schools every day or every week or every month, in time you will
find that the school children are back in the same road. I do not
think that anybody would agree that one sermon to a child would
be a permanent lesson.
The point that I^want to develop is this: to what extent is the
railroad responsible for trespassing and to what extent should it
go to prevent trespassing? Of course we can plan something but
our efforts are necessarily spasmodic so far as the publicity end of
it is concerned. You could not get a newspaper to publish an
article more than every six months or a year, and all the other efforts
that we put forth are more or less spasmodic. And it seems to me
that we ought to face this problem to determine just exactly how
far the railroads should go. I would like that point developed.
:Chairman Dow It might be of interest to you, following Mr. Carroll's remarks, to hear briefly what the New York Central has done in this trespass proposition. In New York State we have a fairly adequate law which prohibits trespassing on railroad rights of
way. The trouble with the law was that till we took hold of the matter a year ago it had been a dead letter. We derided that we
would put a man on this trespassing work to devote his entire time to it, and accordingly a safety agent was assigned to that work. The
Railroad Sectional Meeting
473
first thing that we had him do was
to- begin at one end of the -road and go right through to the other
CROSSINGS
end and call upon every justice of.
the peace or judge of a court who
Keep off railway
had jurisdiction over these cases.
He took with him information as to the number of persons killed and injured trespassing in this country yearly and showed him
or crane tracks, exc e p t the regular crossings. Before crossing any tracks,
graphic maps pointing put the num
STOP! LOOK!
ber of persons injured on our road
and LISTEN!
in various localities. In almost every
instance, I might say ninety-five per
cent of the cases where these judges were called upon, they ex
pressed great astonishment at the facts we had given them. They
had been absolutely in the dark as to what this trespass proposition
meant; and in nearly every case they promised hearty co-operation
in the enforcement of the law.
This same man who called upon the judges would also call upon
the newspapers and solicit their co-operation, giving them the same
line of talk, imparting the same information, and we also found
that the editors of the newspapers were also astonished at this annual
slaughter of American citizens.
After this publicity work had been done and after the judges of
these courts had been ailed upon, we then went to the manufactur
ing plants and began to try to get the co-operation of the heads of
those plants located along the right of way. We printed a little
pay envelope insert which we furnished free of charge to the heads
of these manufacturing plants and asked them to insert it in the -
pay envelope. Those read: "The New York Central Railroad Com
pany has called our attention to the risks daily incurred by those
of our employees who walk along the New York Central tracks to
and from work. Government records show that more than five
thousand persons are killed in this country each year while tres
passing on railroad tracks. In order to prevent these accidents and
save human life, the laws of this state prohibit walking on rail7
road tracks by unauthorized persons. The railroad employs special
officers to arrest offenders and if you do not keep off the railroad
474
Fourth Safety Congress
track you not only run the risk of serious or fatal injury but
you are liable to arrest and punishment by fine not exceeding1 five hundred dollars or imprisonment for not less than one year or both.
"The practice of walking on railroad tracks by our employees must be stopped at once. The interest of personal safety requires that
strict observance of this rule must be enforced." Following this general plan of publicity and education we issued
instructions to our police department to begin making arrests. The general plan whicl was carried out was to select some point on the road where the trespassing was very intense and where a large number of persons were known to use the track during certain hours of the day as a public thoroughfare. Police officers would be put in this locality and instructed to make from five to ten arrests every day
and to continue that practice until the trespassing at that point had
been broken up. We selected the judge who had been most favor able, when our representative had originally called upon him, and these cases were taken before that judge and we got a large number of convictions. We got fines imposed ranging all the way from two dollars up to twenty-five dollars. We had prison sentences imposed ranging from five days up to three months. And I know of a num ber of those intense points where trespassing at the end of a week or ten days had been absolutely broken up by this practice, and- after a few weeks had elapsed, or less, perhaps, we would send the officers back to that point to see if there had been any recurrence of that practice, and he would perhaps have two or three arrests to make. But the practice on the same scale that it originally existed at that point had not recurred.
In addition to the publicity matter that I have already called your
attention to we posted conspicuously on all bridge abutments, tele graph poles and other conspicuous places, in large letters, the words, "Do Not Walk upon the Track." We prepared placards of this size (indicating) and printed in various languages, which were con spicuously nailed up on abutments, shanties or offices, at highway crossings and other points of ingress and egress to the right of way, calling attention to the law and reading in this manner:
Railroad Sectional Meeting
475
NOTICE.
TRESPASSING PROHIBITED.
Railroad Law.
"No person other than those connected with or employed upon the railroad shall walk upon or along its track or tracks except where the same shall be laid across or along streets or highways, in which case he shall not walk upon the track unless necessary to cross the same.
Penalty.
"Violation of this Jaw is punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by a year's imprisonment in a penitentiary, or by both.
Purpose.
"The purpose of this law is to save human life. Many hun dreds of persons are killed or seriously injured each year while walking on railroad tracks.
"By trespassing on the railroad you not only run the risk of being killed but are liable to arrest and imprisonment."
Now I think the great trouble with trespass laws, where they do exist, is that the general understanding of the public is that those
laws are made simply to protect the railroad property from trespass, from unlawful intrusion. If the public can be made to understand that those laws are not 'made solely to protect the railroad property, but in the interest of humanity, to save human life, and if we carry on our educational campaign along those lines, I think the greatest good is going to result. And I want to emphasize this to those of you who have laws in your state which prohibit trespassing, to im press upon the minds of the public the fact that the law is passed for the benefit of the people and not particularly for the benefit of the railroad company.
In some of the states through which we run we have no trespass laws. We have now assigned this same Safety Agent to the duty of going into the various large cities in these states where trespassing is intense and getting hold of the proper officials. Chambers of Com-
476
Fourth Safety Congress
merce and other public bodies, and
Quitting Time
trying to get a municipal ordinance passed which will prohibit trespass
ing within the city limits. Of course
At quitting time, do not hurry over railroad tracks or
this does not cover the situation as much as we would like, but it is giving us a start in those states
through dangerous
where we have no law.
places. Be on the
I think, gentlemen, that this cam
lookout and fake suf
paign which we have carried on
ficient time to be
persistently in the New York Cen
sure.
tral for the past two or three years
has brought us very good results.
We noticed in the year first after
this campaign wasistarted that it reduced our trespassers' death and
injury cases ver^ materially.
Mb. G. C. Martin (Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo) : May I ask what has been done with regard to employees off duty as trespassers ? We have had considerable difficulty, in fact one of our greatest diffi
culties was with our own employees after they had left their work, walking along the track through the yard; and we claim that they are trespassers and have forbidden it, but they have gotten away with it.
Chairman Dow: I do not know that we have especially taken up that feature of it. I do not know that we have any points where employees are the principal offenders, although I do know of places where employees walk the tracks. But we have devoted our energy mainly to the places where employees of manufacturers, and nonemployees and machinists and other outsiders use the tracks going to and from their work. We have made a specialty of those points.
Mr. Martin : Don't you think the railroad employees themselyes should set the first example? They are not known generally as railroad employees, and people see them passing along'the tracks by the watchman and others continue to do so. I believe the first lesson should be taught to our own employees and let them pass the word on to others.
Chairman Dow: I do think that is an important point.
tiitsgifc
--
gasifi
Railroad Sectional Meeting
477
Mr. Shaw (Ford Motor Car
Company) : I just wanted to say a word, that I came into your rail
Eyes Front
road meeting today and heard you
speaking about reducing accidents. We have another gentleman here from the Baker Motor Car Com pany, who have fenced-in their plant and employees are allowed to go out into the street so that none
Do not stand or walk upon the tracks except when your duties require it. Face the current of
will go across the track. Now our
traffic where possi
plant, the Ford Motor Car Com
ble.
pany, has done the same thing.
But as I came down to Philadel
phia I was noticing through a number of large plants the switches
run directly into the plants, where at noon time there are thousands
of employees swarming upon the tracks, and I just wondered.
Chairman Dow: I would like to ask the question whether the practice is general among railroads of instructing the flagman, brake-
man and other employees to keep trespassers off the way too, if the following speakers will touch upon that subject.
Mr. McKenzie (Pennsylvania Lines, East) : The trouble should not be as great in this district as we have on the Pittsburgh Division. That division, as you all know, is a producing division. They lay it
right out in the woods and dig a hole in the hill and start to hauling the coal out of it, and the railroad is the best path they have got. The county road is nothing but a mudhole. And in around the mill district it is the same way, generally bordered with beer kegs. I think it would be wise for the railroad to agitate with the state for better highways paralleling railroads. I think the trespassers as a
rule take the better footpath, and if they had a good wagon road or a good footpath along the railroads they would not be near as hard to keep off. It is not the uneducated man either that takes that. You will find just as many educated ones that know better and know the law of trespassing on the tracks as you will the more ignorant class. The same thing applies in all districts, and I have worked
from one end of the Pittsburgh Division to the other, in the coke
478
Fourth Safety Congress
region and in the coal district; and they have a great deal of trouble wherever they have a bad highway. Now the agitation all through the state is for better roads, and I think we ought to help the cause
along.
In this education of the public I cannot see that it is the duty of
the railroad to keep trespassers off. Every child that is bom is an asset to the government. By the time you give it a common school education you have got about four thousand dollars tied up in it and about ten thousand or fifteen thousand dollars in. a college edu cation, according to the class of college; and when we are talking of preparedness, I think it is up to the government to see that the life of that child is kept just as long as possible; and they could not begin better than by taking a hand in the trespass evil themselves without leaving it to the railroad people to arrest them, or leave it to some of you railroad men to pick them up when they kill them.
Mr. S. G. Watkins (Boston & Maine) : Mr. Chairman, our railroad we operate In five states. Some of those states have tres pass laws and some do not. In one state it becomes a question of
fact whether the ehgineman did all that he could to prevent the accident when he observed the trespasser upon the track. That of course lets all of our trespass cases go to the jury and the trespass question in that state is a troublesome one.
Now I believe in law, but I believe more in education; and a little more than a year ago, just as an experiment, I visited all.of the schools in my own home town and I asked each teacher to write me a letter telling what she thought of that phase of the work. And the teachers in some of the schools asked each scholar who heard the lecture to write me a letter, with the understanding that I should
receive two letters from each grade. When I received those letters I was very much surprised to find in every letter the child in some form or other had expressed these words: "I did not realize the danger."
It appeals to me something like this: If the child trespasses upon our tracks because he does not realize the danger we owe that child something that he is not getting. After this I took up the work of the trespass question and also the passenger question in our public schools and during the past year I have had the privilege of talking to over forty thousand children. Now it is a simple way to reach a
Railroad Sectioned Meeting
479
lot of people. Most of our schools have a hall, so that I have been able to get together from a hundred up to eighteen hundred children from the high school age down to about the Sixth Grade in each hall. So you can reach forty or fifty thousand children at the thinking age, at the age when they are learning some thing very easily.
I go first to the superintendent of schools, and in many cases the superintendent has visited the different, schools with me. I have been for more than twenty years a claim agent, and of course it has been part of my duty to investigate accidents; and I simply tell the children stories of accidents that I have investigated myself and know all about; and in this way I can appeal directly to the child. In every city and town that I have visited I have received letters afterwards from the superintendents of schools, in many cases from the principals, expressing their approval and their appreciation of this method of informing the public. I have a little circular printed and these are given to the teacher and she distributes them so that one circular goes into each home, and the child carries the circular home and explains to the parents the lecture that was held and the parents read this circular.
In many towns the reporters of the papers visited one school or another and in this way we got a fine notice in the newspapers. I present the subject entirely from the humanitarian standpoint and keep out of sight as much as possible the legal end of it.
Of course, as one gentleman has said, this is something that has got to be kept up, and that is the discouraging part of the proposi tion. But still I do feel, with the effort of the past year, and having reached over forty thousand children--and I don't know how many thousand families and I don't know how many newspapers and how many school superintendents and teachers--I do feel that the effort is worth while and that we have gained something not only along the line of trespassing, but also care while a passenger; and I feel that the effort in the public schools is really worth while. (Applause.)
Mr. Smith (Illinois Steel Company) : Mr. Chairman, I am not a railroad man, I am a steel man. We handled this subject, the trespass question, in Illinois the same way that has been spoken of here, and we have done a little more than I have heard today. Every schoolroom takes accident prevention ten minutes each week. The
480
Fourth Safety Congress
Spring Steel Car Company pro
Chance-Takers
vided twenty-one letters, which gave the teacher twenty-one days
to work out title safety talk. They
The chance-taker is not only a widow-
also have put in a safety scout Book in every school, and that assists the teacher in talking accident preven
and orphan-maker,
tion, thus finishing the information
but also helps sup port the undertaker
and instruction that this line has started. I don't know any better way than to have the scholars
and the doctor.
taught accident prevention some
period of time every day during
the week.
Mr. G. I_. Wright (Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha) :
We have a law on the statute books in the State of Wisconsin com
pelling the teachers in that state to devote, I think it is thirty minutes
a week, to the education of children on the trespass problem, tres
passing on railroads. There were a number of our school teachers
throughout the State of Wisconsin that did not know anything about
that law, did not know there was such a law on the statute books. I
visited a number of schools and I quoted this law to them and I
found that the results that have been obtained have been very bene
ficial. We had at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for instance, a number of
school children who, when they would leave the school on the -west
side of the track, right close to the track, would just simply swarm
over the yards there. I visited that school and gave a talk, there
along the lines spoken of by Mr. Watkins, and after I had spoken
about this law on the statute book the principal of that school got up
and said that he did not know there was any such law on the
statute books, he was surprised. And after that he made it a point
to devote thirty minutes of each week to safety talks in that school,
not only in that one but throughout the City of Eau Claire.
Now as one gentleman said over there about the railroad tracks
being the best highway. Gentlemen, I am right here to tell you that
I heard a man get up in the legislature in Minnesota, stand right up
and say that the railroad track was the only path that his constituents
had to go back and forth to the postoffice or to the store, and that
he was not going to favor any law that would be a drawback in any
MMItj*:: awjpBgiBMSMiailtl
Railroad Sectional Meeting
481
way to his constituents. That is 1**
!
Minnesota. We have got a trespass law in Wisconsin, but it is a
lTD/\AAATVNl^uG*iEEliIVR) f'!
farce as far as the law part of it is
------------
concerned. We tried to get a tres-
pass law in the State of Minneusoptaa,nbd, umt aw,kehesnuca,h aserneamtoarr,kwaisllt.hgrae.tt and talk along those lines there is
"WWaattcch out ffoorr -ttrraaiinnss.. DDoonn''tt ddeeppeenndd o__n_._t_h.__e ot.h er- fe.llow,.
AAllwwaayyss llooookk min
no use. of trying to do anything, I
both directions be
am satisfied of that.
fore crossing a rail-
As Mr. Watkins said, however, I
road track.
think that more can be accom- ________________________________
plislaed by going right Into the
schools and devoting ten or fifteen minutes to the scholars. I have made it a point to go through the different states through which we
run, to the different schools, and talk to those children along those
lines; being in the claim work for five years before I took up this
safety work, I was in a position where I could state cases that came
under my personal observation, and the results that we have obtained
have been wonderful.
Chairman Dow : Now I am sorry that we have got to leave this very interesting topic, but we have quite a long program here to get through with today and it will be necessary for us to go on.to the next topic. I hope that every one here has taken in all the sugges tions that have been made on this very serious and very important topic of preventing accidents to trespassers on railroads, which con stitute the greatest percentage of fatal injuries occurring on rail roads every year.
Mr. Brown: May I ask one question? Is there in the State of Pennsylvania any law about giving this instruction on safety ?
Chairman Dow: Will Mr. Rose answer that question?
[nr---n-rK' i
-
--
Mr. Rose: None that I know of.
Mr. L. F. Shedd (Rock Island) : Mr. Chairman, without expect ing any special privileges, I notice that they failed to touch on one . very important feature of the trespass law, and that is the laxity on
482 Fourth Safety Congress
the part of our employees to attempt to keep trespassers off our trains and engines. I do not assume for a minute that the Rock Island lines are the only ones that have experienced this, and I say it in all fairness that it has come to me that some of our enginemen said that they would not attempt to keep them off, and I followed it up and found it so. Possibly, as the gentleman down in front of me said, there is a very fertile held in which we might work of requir ing simple obedience to the rules among our employees, that they keep unauthorized persons off their trains and engines.
Chairman Dow : We will now pass on to the next topic.
We will now take up a very serious proposition, as affecting the outside public in respect "to railroad accidents. We have the topic before us, "Automobile Grade Crossing Accidents, What Can Be Done to Check this Fast Growing Peril?" This topic has been assigned to a gentleman who I am sure is going to give us a most interesting discussion of it. I take a great deal of pleasure in intro ducing Mr. J. C. Rose, Chief Claim Agent of the Pennsylvania Rail road Company.
AUTOMOBILE GRADE CROSSING ACCIDENTS.
JOHN C. ROSE, CHIEF CLAIM AGENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
RAILROAD COMPANY.
Mr. J. C. Rose (Pennsylvania) : I am going to take a little shot at the trespassing eviTjust before I start, so don't take my time until I begin. You are not going to get anywhere on the trespassing evil until you get an act of Congress enforceable by United States Mar shals and punishable by heavy fine and imprisonment. When you do that you will solve the problem. About the twenty minute talk in the schools, we did that with the Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad with some success. But like the practice of our friend Frank Whit ing and others, who used to read prayers every morning, what good did that do?
Of the many problems associated with the safety movement in its application to the railroad industry the most annoying, the most per plexing, and in some respects the most distressing, is the grade crossing accident, and it is a lamentable fact that of all it is the
Railroad Sectional Meeting
483
question to which the public with whom there is a perfect solution, give the least attention and in which apparently it is not at all con cerned.
The campaign for the improvement of the conditions surrounding the workman in his industry with respect to the personal injury hazard which, for the want of a better term, is called the "Safety First Movement," was inaugurated by a railroad man purely from humanitarian impulses, and it has been received with such public favor that it is now accepted as a vital principle of industrial progress.
The trespassing evil, which is next in importance, has received some little attention here and there and I believe has even become a part of the curriculum of some of our public schools. It also is something of a moving picture enterprise, and by these means the evil consequences of its indulgence is widely told.
But what of the grade crossing accident? What has been done
to check this fast growing peril ? By the general public absolutely nothing, and it is almost impossible to excite even passing interest in any attempt to remedy the condition.
What reason can be given for this indifference to the first law of nature and what explanation is there for the recklessness with which the traveler on the highway now enters into such places of known danger. Is it that our. long association with the hazard has caused a hardening of our senses ? When steam power first entered into the economic development of the country the dangers which it was feared would accompany the use of the locomotive were used as arguments of protest against the granting of charters to railroad companies, but contempt seems in this day to have taken the place of fear and timidity of the generation which has but recently passed. I have not time to go into the history of the subject which would be necessary in a more comprehensive treatment of the problem, but shall take the situation as it exists at this time.
There are on this day approximately two million automobiles in
active circulation throughout the country, and if the increase con tinues at the ratio promised, there will be within a few years a motor vehicle for every man, woman and child in the land. An official of one of the larger manufacturing concerns told me last week that his company had contracted for materials for the manu facture of five hundred thousand motor vehicles to be turned out
484 Fourth Safety Congress
during the year 1916, and that they
Call Him Down
already had sold one-half the pro jected output. It is reasonable, I
think, to assume that all the other
When you see a man do a careless
concerns in the United States will make an equal number so that we may expect to have our grade cross
thing, "G all him down," and don't be afraid you will hurt
ing hazard increased next year by thirty-three and one-third per cent, plus any increase in railroad traf fic.
his feelings.
The cars manufactured next year will, I imagine, be operated under
like conditions to those existing at
the present time--with respect to the moral, mental and physical
qualifications of the drivers, so that we cannot reasonably expect
any improvement in the maimer in which cars are run. Your obser
vation, I assume, corresponds with mine as to the non-observance,
or rather the non-enforcement of the speed regulations throughout
the country. There seems to have been a general relaxation in this
regard and the immediate future certainly promises no return
to conditions which controlled in the early days of the motor
vehicle.
2
While passing let us consider in comparison the conditions under
which railroad trains are operated, the character of the man at the
throttle of the locomotive engine and the long years that he has
spent in acquiring the knowledge that justifies the service; and the
fact that the railroad train is run upon a fixed way under rules and
regulations adopted and enforced to insure the safety of all persons.
This question of qualifications is of sufficient importance to be
considered by itself, and I regret that I have not time to treat it
more fully. But I desire to cite an instance which I feel will com
mand more' than passing attention and interest. Not forty-eight
hours ago I stood at the corner of Market and Fifteenth Streets
in this City for just ten minutes, during which time four automo
biles came up to the curb within my view and the occupants of
each in turn got out and went into nearby saloons. Would you
want to commit the safety of members of your family to the care
of a person operating an automobile who had taken even one drink
Railroad Sectional Meeting
485
of liquor? With due consideration
for the feelings of my friends, I respectfully Insist that a license
SERVICE
should not be issued to; a person
who indulges at all in intoxicants.
This may seem drastic, hut if you
will take the suggestion home at
night to jyour Own fireside, you
must agree with me that it is not
unreasonable.
_
I have noticed that of late intoxi
Success comes to those who take ad vantage of experi ence and seize oppor- 4 tunities, building upon a solid founda
cated automobile drivers are se
tion of service.
verely dealt with in some courts
but the punishment usually follows some serious damage for which there is no redress. "Why not elimi
nate this hazard by the more certain wise of refusing a license to
a rum drinker?
It is common knowledge that in all the states there are statutes
requiring railroad companies to provide certain safeguards for the
protection of the traveler on the highway and in most instances they
are not viewed by the railroad companies as unreasonable. We all
know, of course, that the perfect solution of the problem is the
elimination of the level crossing, and this is being accomplished as
rapidly as the resources of the companies and the aid of the public
will permit, but it is a very heavy burden and a great many years
must pass before this relic of our early poverty will cease to exist.
On the eleven thousand miles of line comprising the Pennsyl
vania System there are 13,027 highway crossings at grade. It costs
on an average of $50,000 to remove one crossing. Thus it will be
seen to eliminate all the remaining crossings on the line of the
railroad would entail an expenditure of $600,000,000. The various
companies of this system have, during the past twelve years, ex
pended over $66,000,000 in improvements resulting in the elimina
tion of 1052 grade crossings.
On the Long Island Railroad $15,000,000 have been spent in the
elimination of 305 crossings and that Company spends $300,000 a
year in the protection of the crossings that still exist.
The time at my disposal but permits of this brief statistical state
ment as to what the railroads are doing as their part of solving the
rg*'rtaftaii Mi>a:.:aHiia, I..:--. fl ..x; liSgaai.:. ,, sil., ^ i: ^ : ...wx. iw i- a
486
Fourth Safety Congress
problem. The figures of all the railroad companies in the country
of this experience would be startling in its magnitude. I shall also avoid statistics with respect to the number of acci
dents that are constantly happening, but I want to assure you that I am not becoming hardened to the terrible toll in tears and financial distress we are paying for this neglect of our obligations to society. The fatalist would view the situation as the toll of progress, but I am not willing to jshare the thought that this sacrifice is a necessary part of the development of the race. It is rather a blot upon our refinement and a shame to our generation.
But you ask me for a solution of the problem or a remedy for the evil and taking the situation exactly as I find it there is, in my judgment, but one certain cure, and that is a law carrying such penalty as will insure its enforcement, an act of Congress (and I have given due consideration to the limitations of the powers of the Congress) requiring the traveler on the highway' to give due regard to his own safety and those who have committed their lives
to his care, in this form:
ENTITLED; "An act to promote the public safety at highway crossings at grade, of interstate railways, by compelling the traveler on the highway to stop, look and listen before entering upon such crossing, under penalty to be enforced in the manner therein specified."
SECTION x: Be it enacted, etc., that any and all persons ap proaching at grade a railroad crossing, over which interstate com-; merce is conducted by steam or electric power, must, at a point not less than ten, nor more than forty feet from such crossing, stop, look and listen, before entering upon such crossing.
SECTION z: Any and all perse as who violate this act, shall upon conviction thereof, be liable to pay the costs of the prosecution and to forfeit and pay the sum of fifty dollars; one-half thereof to go to the informer, and one-half to the United States; which sum may be recovered, by and for the benefit of the informer, as are other debts in the several jurisdictions herein mentioned, by an action to be brought either in the District Court of the United States; or in any court, or before any Justice of the Peace, alderman or magistrate of any state, city, town or county, within the United
Railroad Sectioned Meeting
487
States, which, by the laws thereof, have cognizance of the recovery of debts of equal value, against such party guilty of the violation of dais act.
SECTION 3: This act shall become operative on the blank day of blank, etc.
SECTION 4: All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed. (Applause.)
Ms. McKenzie (Pennsylvania Lines, East) : Mr. Chairman, I think this meeting should go on record iii favor of a law as proposed by Mr. Rose. I know of two instances on the same crossing in Pennsylvania, in Westmoreland County, where the stopping of a car prior to going over the crossing would have prevented an acci dent. At Manor station, where the company has a watchman sta tioned, one car stopped with its engine under a moving freight car, the freight train coming down about thirty or forty miles an hour, and the gentleman was going to make a flying stop on an icy pave ment and stuck his engine under the car and it tore that off quickly. Fortunately no one was injured. In other words, the watchman tried to stop the gentleman and he stopped right on the crossing --a new seven passenger Chandler; and the passengers all got out, and when they got through with that automobile there was nothing left but the motor. If this law had been enforced in these cases they would have each had cars. And I think this meeting should go on record by all means in favor of that law as proposed by Mr. Rose.
Mr. Robertson (Ford Motor Company) : I will come up front, because I want to take issue with the gentleman. I happen to repre sent the concern mentioned that is going to build five hundred thou sand cars, and a law such as is proposed here, requiring an automo bile to stop, look and listen, never would get by, you know. Under stand, I do not want to take issue with the question of safety on crossings, because we are all interested in it. But the driver of an automobile and the owner of a vehicle of that kind has got some rights in the public highway as well as the common carrier crossing over the highway. We will build and sell five hundred thousand cars, with a total of two hundred million dollars investment to the purchaser--some investment, and some right to the investors to the
488 Fourth Safety Congress
use of the public highways with
In the Meantime
safety. So that it is a joint prob lem. It is not for me as the driver
of an automobile to entirely look
When, an irresist ible force meets an immovable body -- While this is going on we had better get
out for the railroad, but it is a joint obligation as between your railroad and me as the owner of a vehicle with an equal right to the use of the highway to look out for each other in some way.
busy on Safety First
Now the six hundred million dol
work.
lars mentioned by one of the gen
tlemen as. the cost of removing
your grade crossings is three times
the purchase price of our product to the users of highways for one
year. So that when you say to me as the owner of a motor vehicle
that I must stop within ten feet of your railroad and get out and
look and listen or go ahead, like a street car conductor does, it is
hardly fair.
I do not want to prolong my talk on this, but I simply wanted to
place some of those facts before you. Now our car, mind, is a cheap
car. The other five hundred thousand that was mentioned, which
will be probably a fair estimate of the actual number of automobiles
manufactured and sold during the present year, so far as the mone
tary value is concerned, would probably treble the two hundred
million dollars spent by purchasers for our cars. So that the total:
automobile drivers would invest in this single year is more than the
six hundred million dollars for the grade crossings. But that, of
course you say, is for the one road; and the multitude of roads and
the multitude of investments would be prohibitive; that is, it is
prohibitive for the railroads to ask them to elevate their grades at
tiie present time. _
Mr. W. C. Wilson (Delaware, Lackawanna & Western) : I would like to ask the gentleman what substitute he has for stopping, looking and listening. What ought the automobilist to do driving a Ford car?
Mr. :Robertson Well, I can't say. I will say this, with all due respect to our own company: that the drivers of Ford cars are the
Railroad Sectional Meeting
489
most reckless drivers there, are on
earth as far as my experience goes; and that is due to the fact that
BOOZE
everybody can buy a Ford and
everybody will try to buy one, re
Seven out of .ten
gardless of their knowledge or abil ity to drive the car. I heartily agree with the suggestion that the man who gets drunk--or maybe not go that far--is not fit to drive any car.
accidents are caused by carelessness. Cause: Liquor makes men reckless.
But I will go further and require
They or their fellow
the driver or owner or operator of
workers are injured.
an automobile to pass some sort of
a technical examination as to the
mechanical control of the car before he is permitted to drive it
a foot. You take your cars, you put them into the hands of men,
women and children; you go out on the streets not only of Phila
delphia but every other place and find ten, eleven and twelve year
old boys operating not only a Ford but a big six cylinder car
of some kind--a woman particularly--has no more idea of the me
chanical mechanism than a rabbit. And I have seen people taking
one of our cars,--we would send them out with a demonstrator, and
for fifteen minutes the demonstrator would have his hand on the
wheel and in another ten minutes he would say, "Well, there is
your car. Take it home. Run home with it;" and before he got
home he would get run over at a grade crossing. (Laughter..)
Mr.
V.Frank
Wecixing
(New York Central)
:
Mr. Chairman, I
think Mr. Robertson imperfectly safe in that suggestion that owners
of cars and would-be operators need to take a mechanical course. It would not interfere with the business of the Ford Company at all.
(Laughter.)
And then another thing occurred to me about his opposition to
Brother Rose's suggestion that the Ford Comprfby do not need the
assistance of the railroad companies to destroy the Ford cars in order to create a market for new ones. (Laughter.)
Seriously I think that the suggestion of Mr. Rose is a good one.
I am not quite so sanguine that the Congress could pass a law of
that kind, but in the interests of safety I think rt ought to be done.
490 Fourth Safety Congress
It is a rule of negligence in Pennsylvania that the traveler on the highway must stop and look and listen before crossing a track, and if he does not stop he is guilty of contributory negligence and cannot recover damages. That of course is not the law of the state and it is not recognized as such by the average traveler on the highway.
I am very glad to offer a resolution that the recommendation of Mr. Rose be adopted by this Railroad Section of this National Safety Council.
(The motion was seconded by Mr. Greenwood and several others, voted upon and carried.)
Ms. G. C. Mabtin (Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo) : Mr. Chair man, I have two suggestions to make in regard to the subject of what the railroad might do to help. In the first place, in cities, where we have gates lowered to protect the crossing, you have all heard and all know of automobiles running through the gates, par ticularly at night, because when a reckless man is driving an' auto mobile, particularly after he has a drink or two, he can't see any thing but red. I believe that most of our gates are protected by a yellow light at the present time, an ordinary lamp dropped down. I think that could be better protected by a red light. The objection to the red light has been that it could face an engineer and stop him possibly as well. Just before I left Hamilton a gentleman knowing that I was coming here brought me a couple of photographs of a newly patented lamp which will fill the bill. It shows a red light to the man on the street, but is blind to the engineer. It is a very simple little mechanical contrivance and simply goes over the ordi nary lamp.
Mr. Whiting: Is that for the gate or the flagman?
Mr. Martin: For the gate, when the gate is lowered. It is blank on the side of the engineer in both directions and shows red to the street. It is a very simple and very inexpensive contrivance. I will be glad to leave a copy of this with your Secretary.
Another suggestion that might help on outside crossings, road crossings. Some of those dangerous crossings are in such a posi tion that an automobilist going at even ten or twelve miles an hour is not aware of the railroad crossing until he is almost on it. We have many conditions of that kind. And in order to protect such
Railroad Sectioned Meeting
491
a crossing I am of the opinion that a railroad sign say one hundred feet away from the tracks on the road--it might mention the rail road, for that matter, on the sign--"Railroad Crossing ioo Feet Ahead,'* and that will give him information that the railroad is there and he will take better precaution, if he is sober.
There is another precaution. Following the resolution that has just been passed and in addition to the law as suggested, I would suggest this: every owner of an automobile must have a license and must carry a number. When he is to obtain his license why would It not be well to have a printed condition on that license and have them required to sign it? We have many conditions on tickets and baggage regulations and other things that we require passengers to sign. Now if each man getting a license for an automobile was required to sign a-certificate that he would, if the law is such, stop, look and listen before crossing the railroad, it would bring it defi nitely home to that man ; and if it was also definitdly stated that if he did not and was found guilty of not doing that he would lose his license, and in this way you will bring it right home to that man under the Pennsylvania Statute.
Chairman Dow : I would like to offer as a suggestion that one or two points be discussed in connection with this topic, the ques tion of whether or not the crossing flagman should be provided with a flag with which to signal the pedestrian or traveler, on the highway to cross the tracks. I suggest that for the reason that I believe there are railroads which have done away with the crossing flags on the
theory that a Sag signal given by the flagman is confusing to trav elers on the highway. I would also like to suggest the question as to whether the hooded lamp showing red in the direction of the highway is used by crossing flagmen on any railroads at night.
Mr. Blakemore : The objection to a red gate lamp would ordi narily be found by the operating people that they get to using the red more than absolutely necessary for such collateral purposes as that, on the theory that it cheapens the red signal. We had exactly the same proposition made to our men and they objected to it on that theory. They said that to use the red light or the red flag or red for any collateral purpose cheapened it. in connection with train operation. I just wondered _what your people thought about that. They did not find that objection to it?
492
Fourth Safety Congress
Safety Rules
The man who will not listen to Safetyrules may have -to listen to the sound of the ambulance gong.
You cannot afford to take a chance.
Ms. Marxist: Well, this red lamp does not affect die operation
of the railway in any way, as it Is blind to the engineer and the train men, but it does show for the man running the automobile, as the red lights are used on the rear of au tomobiles ; another man coming behind seeing a red light, he is mighty careful not to get too dlose to it. That is the feature that comes to us In regard to this very lamp I mentioned.
:Chairman Dow I would like to ask Mr. Richards, of
the Northwestern Road, if he will not say something on this
topic.
-
Mr. R. C. Richards (Chicago & Northwestern) : Mr. Chairman, I have been very much interested in what has been said on this red lamp. I have noticed it on the Southern Pacific, and especially in
Southern California they are using a signal of that kind, and they are doing the same thing on the New York Central, and it seemed to be very effective when the red was so hidden that the trainmen could not see it--I suppose on some such plan as this lamp you speak of.
The other question That the gentleman raised, about the sign some distance from the track, that is particularly used on the obscure and
dangerous crossings. -Now on the recommendation of one of the safety committees, of the Northwestern Road we commenced in stalling these signs some two or three years ago, and we put them up all the way from a hundred feet to a thousand feet from the crossing, depending on the conditions at each particular crossing. Just how effective they are of course we don't know. We have had some accidents on crossings that are so protected, but how many they have prevented we never will know. But we have had only a few and I think that a lot could perhaps be done in that way if we all got together and co-operated in getting up something that we could all use.
Railroad Sectional Meeting
493
Mb. G. C. Martin (Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo) : Pardon me
one moment. I want to say. that the last suggestion* I made there was
Team Work
right along the same lines, as you cannot make any of these precau tions foolproof. It is not more than a month ago since one of our trains ran into an automobile and killed five people. That crossing was pro tected by a bell and the bell was
Team work, every
man interested and
- helping, will do more
than anything else to
prevent
accidents.
Give your mate a
ringing all the time. Other automobilists who were in that vicinity
square deal.
got up and swore to that effect. In fact, the party was really given warning by one of the automobil.es
before he hit the crossing.
Now you cannot prevent accidents of that kind where there is a
fool in charge of the car. It was proven that the man who was driving it was nothing more nor less, and always had been in his
own home town. We got up his record and it was proven con
clusively that he had a very big head, because he owned the car
and wanted to drive it over and through everything. Well, he drove it for the last time. But we cannot prevent such fellows as that getting into trouble, and that is the reason why I suggested that license, so that he will have to sign it, and the first time that he
breaks the rule and is caught at it that his license be withdrawn.
Mr. :Richards I would like to say one thing on those licenses. You know those licenses are issued every year about the ioth of January, they begin to get them out, and it occurred to me when this gentleman was speaking that if this Section of the National Safety Council would get up something in the way of a printed warning to go out with those licenses and furnish them gratis to the state
official who issues those licenses we probably could very easily ar range to have them sent out at no expense, and it seems to me that is a thing we might do. Now the National Safety Council a year or so ago prepared a warning to automobile drivers and gave it very general distribution. That copy might be used for this Section, so that they can have something of that kind as a copy or draft to
HUS
494
Fourth Safety Congress
get out this proposed notice. I believe it would be effective and useful.
Mr. L-. F. Shedd (Rock Island): I would like to add to the record just a little bit. I am more or less disturbed over the remark that the representative of the Ford automobile made, in which he
conveyed the idea, I believe, indicating--to me, at least--that an automobile driver who would stop, look and listen would be doing the railroad a service. There is no attempt to criticise b:s remark at all. Isn't that the sentiment that we must meet hot only from the Ford people but manufacturers and owners of cars: namely, that when they stop they are doing the railroad a service? I do not
believe they are. Regarding these signs and notices, I believe that we ought to bend
our energies, as it were, a little more in following up Mr. Rose's resolution, part of the resolution made by Mr. Rose's suggestion, and not attempt to burden the railroads with a multiplicity of signs, five hundred feet, a thousand feet, and so on; because those fellows
surely cannot obey Jhem. The other is, can't we get hold of the Ford representative and through him, if he be willing--and we will be anyhow--see if we can't use him to bring about a change of heart among the automobile fraternity, both manufacturers and users, that if they stop, look and listen they will be doing themselves a favor and not the railroads? (Applause.)
Mr. Robertson" (Ford Motor Company) : Just in answer to that, we will be very glad to co-operate in every possible way, and inas much as we send to each purchaser of a Ford car direct from our
office a bill of sale for every car we sell, we probably could put into the hands of every Ford purchaser some sort of uniform card of warning that might be prepared by the association, and we will be very glad to furnish them. I think I could arrange with our sales department to have them sent to every purchaser. More than that, we publish our Ford Times, which goes not only to immediate Ford
owners, but old Ford owners. We are publishing an edition of 350,000 or 400,000 monthly, and we will be glad to publish in that such safety suggestions as might be prepared by some member of this Section or by the Council itself.
Now in answer to the other, about the automobile owner doing a service to the railroad by stopping his car, as a driver of a car for the
Railroad Sectional Meeting
495
last thirteen years my experience with the railroad at grade cross ings has been and is yet today a peevish experience. We come up to a grade crossing in a city or village and a freight train two miles
long stops across the crossing and holds you there from fifteen minutes to half an hour. If you courteously request them to cut the train they don't tell you to go to hell but they intimate that you can go to hell or fly oyer or go under.
If the railroads will co-operate with the drivers of automobiles to a certain extent and not hold crossings that way--they do it right in the heart of the City of Detroit; they hold a crossing against us from ten to fifteen minutes and they get five hundred automobiles backed up in the street. And it is a co-operating proposition and I would not have you feel or our members feel that the Ford Motor Com pany officially and myself are not ready to co-operate in every possi ble way to remove what is a present danger with the increased growth and the increased number of reckless automobile drivers and dangerous drivers on the streets. (Applause.)
D :Chairman
ow
I think that Mr. Robertson's suggestion as to
sending out these warning notices to purchasers of Ford cars is an
excellent idea, and if carried on further through other automobile
manufacturers will help to solve the very difficult problem as to how we can reach the automobile drivers with proper warning as to their
conduct at grade crossings.
It might interest you to know that on the New York Central Railroad something over a year ago I had an investigation made to determine with what degree of care the average person approached
places of danger at railroad crossings. We had representatives of the Safety Department stand an entire day at three separate grade crossings located at widely separated points. One of those crossings was at Syracuse, New York, another one was at Detroit, Michigan, and a third at Indianapolis. They kept a very accurate check on every person, either on foot or in any kind of a vehicle, who passed over these crossings between the hours of seven o'clock in the morn
ing and I believe it was seven in the evening; and if I remember
the figures correctly out of a total of 7,779 persons who crossed the tracks on these three crossings there were only 359, or less than five per cent, who took the precaution to look both ways before crossing the tracks, regardless of whether they stopped or not.
496 Fourth Safety Congress
Now, I personally fed and thor
The Employer
oughly believe that practically every grade crossing accident can be pre
vented by the simple precaution of
Remember that all the rules and reg ulations that can be adopted; all the safe ty devices that can be
stopping to look and listen, and X think this is a very important phase of this subject that we have under discussion. I would like to hear from some further safety man be fore we dismiss this topic.
attached to ma
chines; all the guards
Mr. Charles T. Bajub (Erie) : Mr. Chairman, I would like to
make a motion that a committee
be appointed to draw up a suitable notice for distribution. I think
that Mr. Rose ought to he put,on that committee. X would suggest
that he be made a member of that committee.
:Chairman Dow Is there any second to that motion ?
:Mb. Richards I second the motion, and I think that that notice ought to be not only to all automobile manufacturers but to all city officials who issue licenses.
Chairman Dow: You have heard the motion, gentlemen. Is there any discussion on the point?
Mr. Greenwood (Youngstown & Northern) : I would like to inquire why we should draw the line on any particular land of vehicle ?'
Mr. Richards: "That is the topic.
Chairman Dow: The proposition is reaching the automobile drivers through these various plans.
Mr. :Greenwood I look at it that way, too, but I think it would he discriminating to include only the automobiles.
:Chairman Dow What suggestion would you have to make for reaching the other class of travelers ?
Railroad Sectional Meeting
497
'M'w, Greenwood : I dq not know that I could make a suggestion, but I think possibly that this could be issued to every vehicle owner.
Can't r It All
(The question was called for..)
whic can be erec
Chairman Dow :
You have
heard the motion. All in favor sig
ted: ill the warning 3%pr j that can be
nify it by saying aye; contrary no.
pos :ed are useless
The motion is carried. The Chair will later appoint a committee to draw up suitable notice.__
unless every man is careful and insists on like treatment.
Mr. Ballxet (New York Cen
tral) : Mr. Chairman, not having
heard from the Lehigh Valley man or representative on the floor,
I offer a. suggestion, for your record following Mr. Martin's pro
prietary lantern. We should steer clear of proprietary articles as
far as we can, and I believe we should have the Lehigh Valley man
tell us their experience in shielded lanterns on grade crossing gates.
I have no knowledge myself, but I know they are conducting experi
ments. I have observed on the Central of New Jersey a change
from the old custom of having the gate crossing man give you a
hand signal light, by changing to a disk in red printed in white
on it the word "Stop." I have studied it somewhat. It seems to he
more or less cumbersome to handle, but it has the effect of giving
additional safety to the grade crossings and the people, that is, the
pedestrians and vehicles and automobiles. It attracts their attention.
(Lehigh Valley representative not present.)
Mr. C. F. Merrill (Lehigh & Hudson) : Speaking of that sign on the Jersey Central, I have noticed it at Phillipsburg, passing there one day, and the train was on the bridge. An automobilist looked at the train and judged the distance and went right on over the crossing. You can't do anything with signs. You have got to have a Gatling gun; that is the only thing that will stop them.
Mr. J. S. Rockwell (Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh) : I would like to speak a moment on one suggestion of the Chair in regard to this discussion, and that is whether a crossing flagman should in
ipwsibiV--'^ ' f
:.. ;---; ' ;^a.ifiSiBga ..r:;; aiM-jiS-
498 Fourth Safety Congress
any case use his flag to motion or to indicate to the driver on the highway to proceed; and I am utterly opposed to that principle. I think that the flag or the lantern in the hands of the crossing flag man should never be used for any purpose except as a signal of danger. We had a case on our own road whereby the crossing flag man being in the habit of shaking his flag and waving it hori zontally as a danger signal and then when the danger was past using it over his shoulder for a signal to go ahead, an automobilist misunderstood him and thought he was giving a signal to go ahead, and the result was an accident. I think that the flag should not be used in any case as a signal to proceed.
Chairman Dow: Before closing the discussion on this subject I will ask Mr. Rose if he has any closing remarks to make on the subject?
Mr. Rose: I just want to say about the red light: the red light will not show at all as a signal on the gates. On the bridge crossing the Raritan River at New Brunswick there is a gate indicating that the draw is open. There is a canal that runs through there and they take this draw off and this gate stands with a brilliant red light right in the center of the road. A man came down along there, going half way down the bridge, and passed another auto mobile. He was right behind him and he saw the red light back of his car and he rah around it. This man in the car saw him and saw he was going around, and he said, "If that fellow doesn't stop he is going overboard." It was a very dark night and this was a very brilliant light and he saw this and thought it was an other car right in the center of the road and he turned around that red light and went overboard. So I think until municipalities stop using red lights to indicate obstructions in the highway we cannot use them on the grade crossings, because all a man has to do is to run around it, and that is what they do.
Up in Trenton the other day a man ran in front of a green light. Evidently he didn't know what it was, blit he got killed. Therefore you can't use a red light as long as it indicates other obstructions of limited dimensions, because people will run around it. You have got to have something else. A green light'is best, it means caution; but a man has got to slow down.
I never knew before what color it was that a drunk recognizes.
;mb>
Railroad Sectioned Meeting
499
I thought he was .not safe with any color. Therefore I protest against the red light. I think there should be a definite crossing light. We have that on the West Jersey Railroad of the Pennsyl vania Division. In some respects it is good. It tells a man that there is a point of danger and he hurries up and gets away front it and gets in front of the train. You inform a man that there is a grade crossing there and if you don't compel him to stop he is going to huriy out of that sphere of danger and get in front of a train if a train comes along.
Now my whole argument is this: the railroads have done their duty, no question about it. They have observed every law that has been placed upon the statute books, and there is something for the public to do that it has not done. (Applause.) That is the whole gist of this argument. They must begin seriously, too. I hope it will not stop with this very interesting talk I have heard from these gentlemen and I hope that in the coming Congress, as I have sug gested, it will be met in some way and brought up to the attention of Our legislators in Washington.
I was very careful not to mention the Ford concern when I was talking about it. I want to say that the Ford people have been very hard put to get material for their cars. ` The manufacture of muni tions has taken a good deal of iron out of their course of manufac ture, and for some parts of their machines which are not very im portant they use scrap material melted down and make it better than new. Up along the railroad here there was a high wind not long ago that blew a tin roof off a house and the owner didn't know what to do with it and a neighbor told him, "Send it around to the Ford plant. They will buy it." He did so and this is the letter he got die next day: "I don't know what you hit with your car but I can put it in first class condition for fifteen dollars." (Laughter.J
Mr. Frank V. Whiting (New York Central) : I have got to make a little speech tomorrow and John Rose is going to follow me and discuss my speech, and this is the only chance I have got to get even with him. I always thought the Pennsylvania were up to date but I did not know they used green lights for caution. We use them for safety on the New York Central.
I think that we ought to do something to strengthen the hands of our men who protect crossings. It is not always the fault of the
500 Fourth Safety Congress
The ChanceTaker
traveler on the highway that he Is hit on a railroad crossing, and if the traveler stops every time before
The careless work man who does things
he crosses the track it won't pre vent all accidents by any means.
Personally, I fed that every flag that is in the hands of a crossing
in an unsafe way is a menace to his fel low workmen, as well
man ought to be taken out of his hands. There is not one man in a hundred knows a signal to stop from a white or a yellow flag. Our
as himself.
thought is that we will take cross
ing flags out of the hands of the
flagman, that we will provide them
with a disk, perhaps a white enameled background with the word
"Stop" on each side--something that will be light and convenient
and handy to use. Our thought before that idea was suggested was'
that we would teach our crossing flagmen traffic signals such as are used by traffic officers in the city streets. We have also in mind the idea of using as a substitute for gates at places where we felt that
we did not want to go to the expense of putting in gates, the now very familiar signal of stop that is used in Detroit and Chicago and
New York and other large cities by the policemen at the various crossings. We have experimented in painting the outside of our
gates red, not only the gate blades but the standards, and on the line east of Buffalo we use the red light on the gates. We propose to
make that standard for the system. It is also our intention to try
and develop--I am not very sanguine of our success--a red light for the use of the flagmenon crossings. It is going to be rather difficult to get the men to use that light so it will not be shown to approach ing engineers.
One of the most important things that I feel that we have under taken is the assignment or designation of some officer on the division or some man specially employed for that purpose to oversee the work of the crossing gatemen and flagmen and instruct them how to perform their duties and to study the problem of preventing crossing accidents. And I think there is a-great deal the railroads
can do on their part towards eliminating these highway crossing accidents, aside from the question of the public doing their part.
Railroad Sectional Meeting
501
Chairman Dow: The'time is getting along and we will have to pass to the next topic. We will ad journ in about fifteen or twenty minutes for luncheon and in the meantime we will take up the topic of "The Value of Prizes or Awards to Committeemen, Other Em ployees or to Divisions and Shops for the Purpose of Stimulating In terest in Safety Work," by Mr. W. C. Wilson, of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Company.
Think Safely
Some men never think before they act. As a rule it is best to think first, and the other fellow is" al ways safer for it.
rv
PRIZES TO EMPLOYES OR COMMITTEEMEN FOR SAFETY WORK.
Mr. W. C. Wilson (Delaware, Lackawanna & Western) : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen: The only reason that I was selected for this topic at this sectional meeting was that the Lackawanna was the only road that the committee knew of which had used the prize system in this way, and therefore they pressed me on duty, to present the matter. I feel somewhat embarrassed to be before you again. I have not very much to say about it.
I have here our Safety Bulletins and in No. n we have photo graphs on two pages. If you will kindly take it and pass it along while I am talking you will get a visual idea of what we are doing. On the first page is a picture of an award which- is a watch charm. Instead of a button or any other device, a watch charm of solid gold with enamel and so forth was selected.
Human nature is "the same in all classes of society and as safety work is an individual proposition and cannot be incorporated in mandatory rules--while they may be so incorporated the following of such rules is largely an individual proposition--we need a stimu lus, a stimulus of the individual in the railroad business and in any other business where the same conditions exist. And it occurred to our central committee, therefore, that if any award could be made on each division to the men who had done the most m the cause of
502 Fourth Safety Congress
safety on that division it aught stimulate an interest among our men; and that was decided upon. Then the next question was how shall the men be selected? And we decided that the division com mittee should by vote select the man to whom the award would go on that division. That was followed out. The result was great in terest among our division committees and quite a contest in two or three of them; and in one of them the man who was reported by the sub-committee as being their choice was entirely thrown out and an engineer was unanimously chosen as the representative of that di vision to receive this award.
The award itself, as you will see by looking at the picture, is a very handsome enameled face gold watch charm that they are proud to wear, made by one of the finest of our jewelry firms in New York City, and is a thing of beauty. Every man that got it this last year is proud of it. One man did not have a watch chain. He immedi
ately went in and bought a fine 14 karat watch chain and had this hung on it, and he is as proud as a peacock and it is a matter of talk among our men and we believe that it has worked very well and the contest is on for this year with a good deal of interest. I will not deal any longer with J;hat subject. On the face of the watch charm in the outside circle is "Award of Merit," and another circle inside "Safety First," and across the middle of it is "D., L. & W." and on the bottom the year, 1914. Then we decided to give a flag to the division which made the best safety record as to injuries to em ployees ; we did not include the public or anything else, simply con fining it to the record upon injuries to employees. A flag was presented to the operating division making the best record; and a Sag was awarded to the division, and then we have a separate flag for the shop. And these flags were awarded in a big public meeting. One flag was awarded to the shop at Scranton, which got the flag last year, before an audience of nearly three thousand people, with due ceremony, and the award of merit to the men was made an occasion for an affair which emphasized the whole business.
Then the M. & E. Division, which is our eastern division, got the prize flag for 1914, had a big meeting, had a flag raising. They took great interest in selecting the place where the flagpole should be and one man requested the privilege of being intrusted with the care of the flag and of the grounds around the flag pole. He wanted to have it beautifully lawned and with flowers and so forth, and he
ganE
Railroad Sectioned Meeting
503
' . ,1
*%
1
wanted the privilege of raising the flag every morning and lower
ing it at sunset every night; and he takes great interest in that and
we had quite a pow-wow when the flag was raised. The big en
gines all round tooted their blasts and the big crowd took off their
hats and made it quite an occasion. And the shop, you will see in
the pictures, has taken a great interest in the flag, in raising the
flag high in the air. Our Master Car Builder said that they selected
a place and put that flag where it could be seen for forty miles in
every direction, up on a hill right near the shop.
This is enough to show you that the men, at least, have taken
a great interest in this proposition. It has appealed to them and
they are proud of it and we believe that it is one way of stimulating
not only individual effort but associated effort towards securing the
result that we are after. (Applause.)
Mr. R. P. Kyle (El Paso & Southwestern) : Mr. Chairman, with due regard to Mr. Wilson's ideas about giving prizes and awards to stimulate interest, I do not agree with him in some re spects. It has been said and all agree that "Safety First" is simply a business proposition, ^economy and efficiency; and I think that when we go to spending money to arouse their interest by giving them prizes we are lowering the business idea. It seems to me it is a waste of money. We do not give the men prizes for learning the book of rules or anything like that; and the safety first rules are' the same ideas identically. They have got to obey safety first rules and I do not think we want to lower it by giving prizes. I think that some recognition of the division, being awarded a flag, is a good idea. We have a cup, which I do not like, because it has to be kept in a small place and is obscure, but the flag, I think, is a much better idea.
Mr. Chandler (Dodge Manufacturing Company) : Mr. Chair man, I am not a railroad man, but we have experimented quite con siderably with the element of bonuses and prizes, and the attitude our directors and president took on the point was this: that we are spending quite a few dollars every year for welfare work and there was no better welfare work than that of conserving the employees' lives and parts of their bodies; and money that was put into the bonus system is chargeable to our Welfare Association; the theory on which that was based is this: that a man will do more for the
504
Fourth Safety Congress
gang or his department than he
Accidents Repeat
would for himself; and that where he would take some chance, feeling
that he was perhaps a little bit of a
It was formerly believed that "Light
smart Aleck in doing it, to take a
little chance that might result dan gerously, the thought that it will
ning never strikes
get the department in bad has de
twice in die same
terred a great many of them. Our plan has been two days'
place." We know
extra pay for every man in the de
from experience that
partment that has had a perfect score. At first there was no thought
of that ever materializing, so they
qualified it by saying that if none had a perfect score, the next to
perfect would prevail. The first eight months it was not noticeable
that there was any great interest in it; but after that time about half
the departments had perfect scores. Then it was very noticeable, the
caution of the men, not for the eight months but for the last year
was very pronounced in cautioning one another against taking fool
ish chances; and many times we have heard admonitions from one
to another, cautioning him against getting the department in bad.
They do not caution so much about a fellow getting hurt as against
the gang losing two days' pay. I recall one instance, a fellow having
charge of a department had a hurt thumb; he had an accident policy
and had to I~y off four days to get in on it and he mentioned it and
was very proud of the fact that he had put it over on the insurance
company. At the end of the' year he was the only blot on the
department which cut them out of two days' pay, and he was
very unpopular, so much so that the management had to step in and
take steps to prevent him from being ostracised. So that they are
very keen on the records of the department because of that two
days' pay.
And as a means of showing the effect of it I have here statistics
which show the cost of our accidents per year per hundred dollars
payroll for the last live years. In 1910 it was fifty cents; the next
year, 1911, twenty-two cents; in 1912, eleven cents; in 1913, 7.9
cents; and in 1914 seven cents. It shows how the cost of accidents
has been pulled down. In the time off, beyond the fraction of the
Mgttsw Bi-ag.i'iW'jWjafWBa-s.'i
- -,i-j-,- rtMfipiW'i:
Railroad Sectional Meeting
505
first day of accident, .39 of one per
cent three years ago, the next year .19 and the next year .11; showing
Accidents Repeat
how the time off due to accidents
has decreased. (Applause.)
If you fail to study
Chairman Dow : I am sure that we are very much indebted to Mr. Chandler for his information.
the cause of your accidents and remove
Mr. E. M. Switzer: I would like to ask on what basis Mr. Wil
the cause, they are bound to repeat
son figures that the division or job is entitled to a flag. Is it on the
themselves.
fewest number of accidents or is it on the fewest number per hundred employees or on the fewest num
ber per thousand train miles.?.
Mr. W. C. Wilson (Delaware, Lackawanna & Western) : It is the percentage per thousand men, figured upon the percentage basis of a hundred men employed.
:Mr. Switzer Is that for the division also ?
:Mr. Wilson That is for the division also. The reward of merit is made not on the man's personal record of getting hurt or not getting hurt, but that is a record of recommendation for practical safety protection.
:Chairman Dow We will take an adjournment until two o'clock; and I want to call your attention to the fact that this afternoon we are going to have a very important topic for discussion, in fact, the next three topics relate to the education of the workman to awaken individual interest in the subject of the safety movement among the employees, and I think that is a very important problem that we all want to be here and discuss.
tTTOWWH . ;m-'
iiligg.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION.
The meeting was called to order at 2 :oo P. M. by Chairman Dow. :Chairman- Dow Is the committee which was appointed to draft the by-laws and nominate officers of this Section for the coming year ready to report? M . :r Spaulding These are the by-laws, gentlemen, that are drawn in harmony with the scope and object of the National Safety Council for the Railroad Section. (Reads.)
BY-LAWS OF THE RAILROAD SECTION OF THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL.
NAME.
Section, 1. This organization shall be known as the RAILROAD SECTION of the National Safety Council-.
OBJECT.
Section 2. The object of this Section shall be to promote the purposes, objects and activities of the National Safety Council as the same more par ticularly apply to the special problems of the members of this Section.
MEMBERSHIP.
Section 3. Membership shall include all members of the National Safety Council who shall be interested in the activities and purposes of this Section and who shall signify to the Secretary of the National Safety Council or to the Secretary of the Section, their desire to affiliate with this Section.
506
Railroad Sectional Meeting
507
OFFICERS.
Section 4-
The officers of this Section shall be a Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary, who shall have the usual duties of such officers and whose terms shall extend to the annual meetings of the Section fol lowing their respective election or until their successors are elected.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Section 5.
Nominations of officers shall be made by a Nominating Committee of three appointed by the Chairman of the Section, which Committee shall report at the annual meeting its recommendations of officers, which report shall be followed at said meeting by the election of officers for the ensuing year. Other nominations for offices may also be made by any members at this meeting.
MEETINGS.
Section 6.
There shall be an annual meeting of the members of the Section
held during the period of the Congress of the National Safety Coun
cil, notice of the time and place of which meeting shall be posted at the Information Desk of said Congress. Other meetings of mem bers may be held on due call and notice by the Sectional Executive
Committee.
~
COMMITTEES.
Section 7.
The affairs of the Section shall be conducted by the. Executive Committee of the Section which shall be composed of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary of the Section, and the Secretary of the National Safety Council who shall be ex-officio a member thereof, and the Chairman of the following four Standing Committees, which committees shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Section.
1.--Membership Committee. 2.--Standardization Committee. 3.--Committee to study causes and remedies of hazards in the
Section's field of activity. 4.--Program Committee.
508 r Fourth Safety Congress
IN GENERAL.
Do It Now!
Don't put off un til tomorrow to make that safety sugges tion you have in mind. It may save some one a serious accident.
Section 8. The Executive Committee of the Section shall appoint such other of ficers or Committees and amend these by-laws or adopt by-laws and do such other acts and engage in such activities as may be needed to wisely further the objects of the Section.
SUPERVISION BY NATIONAL
SAFETY COUNCIL.
Section g.
This section shall be under the direction of the Executive Com mittee of the National Safety Council.
All by-laws and amendments thereto, activities, expenditures, literature, bulletins and published data of this Section shall be under the name of the Section as a Section of the National Safety Council.
Chairman Dow: Gentlemen, you have heard the proposed by laws read. What action do you wish to have taken?
Me. R- C. Richards (Chicago & Northwestern) : I move their adoption as read, Mr. President.
(The motion was seconded, voted upon and carried.)
:Mr. Spaulding Under these bylaws and within the power that was conferred upon this Nominating Committee we were to agree among ourselves and offer you the names of the officers that are provided for in these bylaws, namely, a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and a Secretary. After thoroughly canvassing over the situation and trying to keep in view the interests of this Section and its progress, we came to the conclusion that we could not offer you a better name as your Chairman for the ensuing year than that of Marcus A. Dow, our present Chairman. (Applause.)
The Committee instructed me to say in this connection that they desired to put themselves on record as against the principle of the second election of any officer in this Section; in other words, that they want to put themselves on record as favoring rotation in office;
Railroad Sectional Meeting
509
that they do not feel in nominating
Mr. Dow and handing you his' name for consideration, that they
A Joke
are violating the spirit of this prin
ciple, because all of us of the com mittee, and some others that we talked to, recognize that the success
Yes, we agree with the fellow who said
of the meeting that we have had
that "Safety First"
on this occasion has been largely due, if not wholly, to the indefatig able efforts of our present presid
is a joke. Let us all enjoy it. But who is
ing officer, and the success with
the joke bn?
which he has conducted it we think
merits in this particular instance
the reward which he can receive at our hands. That is our feeling.
This will be in fact the first election of a Chairman that the Section
will make.
For Vice-Chairman we offer you the name of Mr. J. M. Guild,
the Supervisor of Safety of the Union Pacific Railroad, located at
Omaha, Nebraska. (Applause.)
For Secretary we offer you the name of Mr. H. J. Bell, Safety
Inspector of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, located at
Chicago. (Applause.)
Mr. T. H. Carroll (Pennsylvania Lines East) Mr. Chairman, I don't know whether it is the consensus of opinion or not that a man should succeed himself, but my experience in clubs and other or ganizations. is that if you get a good man in office you want to keep him, and I would like to go on record to that effect.
:Chairman Dow Gentlemen of the Railroad Section, I want to assure you that I very greatly appreciate the honor which this Com mittee has conferred upon me. I thoroughly agree with the sugges tion of Mr. Spaulding that there shall be rotation in office. I think it is due to the other railroads who are in this Section to have the selection of officers each year from various sections of the country; and I think that the suggestion made is a very good one, very timely. I will say this, however, that if the consensus of opinion of the members of this Section is that I shall retain this position for another year that I will do it solely with the idea that I can give to this
510
Fourth Safety Congress
Council and to this Section the very best efforts that I can to build it up. However, as stated, I feel in the way that Mr. Spaulding has spoken, that there should be rotation in office, and I would be glad to have any further nominations, especially for the office of Chairman, and I would be glad to receive from the floor any nominations that may be put into a motion.
A Member: I move the nominations close. (The motion was seconded.)
:Mr. Spaulding I move that the Secretary be instructed to cast one ballot of the section for the officers nominated.
(The motion was seconded, voted upon and carried.)
Chairman Dow: Gentlemen, X thank you very much for your kindness. (Applause.)
I think we ought to hear from the Vice Chairman, Mr. Guild.
(Mr. Guild was not present.) The newly elected Secretary is here, Mr. Bell.
Mr. H. J. Bell (Chicago & North Western) : I am sure I thank you all very much for this courtesy and I will try for my part to make the Railroad Section something of which the National Safety v Council will have reason to be proud.
5Chairman D w: I have a suggestion to make with regard to
the next two topics. The first one, "What Is the Best Way to
Create and Maintain Interest in Safety Work Among the Members
of Safety Committees and Employees in General," and the next one.
No. 6, "What Is the Best Method for Reaching Non-English Speak
ing Foreign Employees in the Conduct of Safety Work?" it just
occurred to me that we might expedite matters a little bit inasmuch
as those two topics are very similar and co-related in many respects,
if we have the principal papers read on both topics first and then
proceed to the discussion of both topics.
We will now hear from a gentleman who has given a great deal
of time and thought to the study of the problem of how to interest
and educate the employee in safety work, and I know of no one who
can give us a better paper on this subject, from experience and re
sults accomplished, than the gentleman who is to talk to you. I take
great pleasure in introducing Mr. W. B. Spaulding, of the Frisco
Line.
_
Railroad Sectional Meeting
511
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN INTEREST IN -SAFETY WORK AMONG THE MEMBERS OF SAFETY COMMITTEES AND EMPLOYES IN GENERAL?
The ways that have been followed by railroads having- a Safety First organisation to create and maintain interest in Safety work among safety committeemen and employes in general are substanti ally similar and well-known to you all. These ways have in the aggregate been successful, some of these ways being sufficient to arouse the interest and secure the confidence and co-operation of some men, while other and entirely different methods were neces sary to destroy the indifference, allay the suspicion and secure the co-operation of others, so it is manifestly impossible to select any one of these ways and label it the best way, all having been serv iceable in attaining to some distinct extent at least the result desired.
My subject implies that there is or may be a best way. Can we determine what that way is ?
The Safety First movement has been in active operation on prac tically all the railroads of this country for from four to five years. Its greatest effort has been to educate the men into a knowledge of the benefits that would flow to them from its success. The time that has passed since the inauguration of this movement, the effort that has been made and money spent to advertise it, the great de crease in injury and death cases it has brought about ought to have been sufficient to mobilize all railroad men in this country into a vast army of enthusiastic supporters for such a cause.
Has this happened? If not, why? Let us enumerate some of the reasons given by committeemen and other employes for their lack of interest and activity in this movement. They say:
i. That the movement is too one sided in that much is made of an error of an employe causing injury to himself or others, while no record is made or criticism heard of the short-comings of the company producing a like result.
Since the chief executive officers of the railroads invite just criticism of company practices or short-comings that have caused
512
-- Fourth Safety Congress
or are liable to cause injury and
The Boss Says:
provide their employes with printed postal cards for their use for this
purpose, believing that both the
It has always been, claimed that "it takes two to make a quarrel" We won't quarrel with you for
company and the employee will profit thereby, why is it that the criticisms have not been forthcom ing to an extent that no consider able number of employes should fed. that there was a just basis for
taking an interest in
this complaint? Is it because the
Safety work.
Superintendent is chairman of the safety committee and might feel
that such criticism reflects upon
him, and therefore frowns upon and discourages it?
They say:
2. That the present method of securing committeemen does not
tend to make the place one of honor or desirable, or gain for the
committeeman the respect and confidence of his. fellow-workers,
who .assume that the committeeman must take the company view of
all matters; that the committeeman is pointed out as a company
man--one who carries tales and therefore to be shunned, and, as
a consequence, the influence of the committeeman among his asso
ciate employes is destroyed. That where the names of employes to
act as members of future committees are secured by suggestion
from the members of a retiring committee, it often happens that
names of employes privately known to have scoffed at the Safety
movement and to have ridiculed the committeemen, are handed in
in order that such scoffer may be placed upon the firing line and
made to feel the humiliation and personal discomfort that he has
Inflicted.
__
They say: 3. "That there is no use to report anything, for you never hear
of it and. nothing is done to correct a condition that has been re
ported."
--
This assertion discloses how vast the, unattended-to thing sug
gested by an individual employe looms up in his mind, totally blind
ing him to the many thousands of things that have been done upon
the suggestion of other employes and upon the initiative of the com'
Railroad Sectional Meeting
513
pany itself to make things better
and safer for all, and indicates that a personal acknowledgement by the
HORSEPLAY
committee, of every suggestion,
along with information as to the action taken thereon and reasons
Many accidents
therefor, would prevent men from
are caused by fool
applying so false a test to so great a cause and immediately decrying it upon the results-'of that test.
They say:
ing, Horseplay and distracting attention of others, and they
4. That the appearance in the
sure hard to excuse.
minutes of the committee of the
names of employes who have been
responsible for accidents, along with criticism of such employes,
makes talk harmful to the Safety First movement.
They say:
5. That committeemen and other employes are reluctant to ex
press their real sentiments about the methods and manner of carry
ing on the Safety First movement for fear of putting themselves
on record as against Safety First.
Enough appears in the foregoing to disclose a regrettable lack
of that spirit of friendship and sympathy between employer and
employe necessary for the greatest progress in any undertaking in
which genuine, sincere and earnest co-operation is indispensable.
So it appears; that the best way to create and maintain interest in
Safety work among committeemen and employes in general is to
establish reciprocal and unwavering confidence between the junior
officials of the company and the men, so far at least as the
Safety First movement is concerned. Confidence must be won
by friendship known to be true. It cannot be commanded by
authority.
How can this reciprocal confidence be established and the place
of the committeemen be made one of influence and of honor?
Some Superintendents possess the talent of laying aside their
official authority and character when acting as the chairman of a
safety committee and making themselves a single individual unit
in a body of men intent upon the accomplishment of a common ob
ject beneficial to all, and can do the' same thing in connection with
Si
514
Fourth Safety Congress
any Safety First work. Such Superintendents have no apprehen sions in regard to the matter of allowing other members of the safety committee to act as chairman. Would not reciprocal con fidence begin to grow and thrive if all Superintendents would ac quire the same faculty? It has been my observation that interest and activity in Safety First work among the rank-and-file was the greatest and the position of a committeeman an esteemed place on those divisions where the Superintendent possessed and exercised this faculty, and that carping criticism, petty fault-finding and sus picion was confined to those divisions where he did not.
In my view, the Safety First movement belongs to the men be cause they control the majority of the causes of accidents and are the victims of them, and therefore they should control this move ment and the company co-operate with them, rather than they with the company. I think that interest and activity in the Safety First movement would be increased and much more be accomplished if this idea was made to predominate. So long as the notion exists that the men are being used in the Safety First movement to serve a purpose of the company, rather than the company being used to serve a purpose of the men, the Safety First movement will carry a needless handicap.
Americans are accustomed to representative government. They respect and honor the President of the United States, but would not consent to his picking out the persons who should serve in Con gress. Safety committees consist of one or more representatives from each class of men in the service. Would not confidence in and respect for the safety committee be increased if each class of men named their own representative on the committee, and the title "company man," now opprobrious, become one of honor?
When reciprocal confidence is established between the boss and the workers every man will rush forward and put his shoulder to the Safety First wheel and rejoice in the success of this great cause, anrt contentment, sunshine and happiness will abound. (Applause.)
Chairman Dow: As I suggested awhile ago, I think the best method to pursuers to proceed with the original paper on the next topic, and then we can discuss these two topics, which are very sim ilar. Unfortunately, Mr. Isaiah Hale, of the Santa Fe System, who was to give us a talk on educating non-English speaking foreign em-
'L hi <BMi:
ilfr IfI
lijn
Railroad Sectional Meeting
515
ployees, found out at the last moment that he could not get here, and we therefore have arranged'as a substitute to have a talk by a very interesting speaker, and while Mr. Hale has sent me a paper which I will read following the next speaker, I am going to intro duce to you a gentleman who was formerly the safely expert on the Northern Pacific Railroad but who has recently taken up this work on the Erie Railroad. He came to me about ten minutes ago and said that he had a great deal to say and hoped I would give him more than five or ten minutes to talk, and I know that he can fill in fifteen or twenty minutes and interest you very greatly. I am not going to confine him to the subject of foreign employees, but I want him to tell us about his experience in safety work generally; and I take great pleasure in introducing to you Mr. Charles T. Banks, Safety Supervisor of the Erie Railroad. (Applause.)
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN INTEREST IN SAFETY WORK? HOW TO EDUCATE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING EMPLOYEES.
Mr, Charles T. Banks (Erie) : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: I want to set the Chairman right first. I told him it would take me longer than ten minutes to express my own regret and that of the members here that Mr. Hale could not treat this subject him self instead of me. Mr. Hale has been so conspicuously successful in his safety work that it is rather embarrassing for me to say any thing on a subject that he was going to talk about.
The foreign speaking employee, I presume, is a condition that we are going to face forever, particularly in our track work and some of our repair work and shop work. Those occupations are no longer very attractive to American bom workmen. I think everybody will admit that the foreign speaking employee that we have now, the Italian and the Greek and some other nationalities, are mentally very young. I think perhaps mentally the tests would show that they are between thirteen and fourteen years of age. So, instead of looking upon an extra gang of Italians as men, should not we look upon them as children, in a way, and when we start our children to doing something like hilling up potatoes or some other of those little things that we try to put the boys and girls at work at, we do not give them a hoe and tell them to go out in the garden and hill
516 Fourth Safety Congress
up the potatoes, and mother does
Think of the
not give them a piece of cloth and a needle and some thread and tell
Other Fellow
them to hem a piece of doth; but we go out and show them how to
Do not leave draw
do it.
heads, couplers or other obstructions alongside of tracks,
Now I do not believe we do enough of that with our foreign employees. We hire a man to do
the rough work around the shop,
where perions may
and the foreman gives him a wheel
stumble over- them.
barrow and says, "Tony, go ahead and take that stuff off that platfom
and wheel it over here." But he
does not go over there and tell Tony that the peculiar part of
that work is not to let some of that stuff fall on his toes; and Tony
doesn't know that a drawbar is two-thirds heavier on one end than
it is on the other, and as soon as he takes hold of it he destroys the
center of gravity and smashes his toes. Now wouldn't it be nice if
the foreman would go over there with Tony and tell him how to
handle that drawbar or whatever the material is? And then if he
would go over this route with Tony--maybe Tony has to cross the
repair track somewhere where they move cars--and if he would ex
plain to Tony, even if Tony did not understand all the language, he
could demonstrate to him.
Now in the first place, after he has got all through with this, per
haps the foreman would have lost, as he claims, twenty minutes;
he thinks that is lost time. I think that is the best twenty minutes
he has spent in the whole day. And when he gets all through, Tony
says to himself, "This fellow must like me. Nobody else ever took
any pains to show me anything. This fellow here don't want me
to get hurt or killed. He thinks I am a good fellow." And Tony
tells somebody else in this same language about it, and after a while
that foreman establishes a pretty good reputation with his Italians
and Greeks and the trouble around that shop stops. And when
. we are going to do some track work or we are going to use the rail
loader somewhere--and probably this particular gang of Dagoes
never saw a rail loader; they don't know anything about it at all--
wouldn't it be a. good thing for the roadmaster or the supervisor or
Railroad Sectional Meeting
517
whatever your organization calls
the man that has charge of* the track forces, supposing that this
A Common Cause
supervisor went out and got hold of the foreign foreman of this track
of Accident
gang and said to him, "Tony, we
Avoid jumping
are going to take up some rails to morrow. We are going to get all the men out in the morning, and before we go to work we are going
upon moving cars or engines. Your work does not require it
to have a little demonstration, of
and you cannot af
how to make these hitches on the rail, how to get hold of it. Now
ford to take the risk.
I think you know how to do that,
and just to be sure about it I am going through the motions. We
are going to show you how to handle a rail without getting your
fingers pinched. Now after'we have got that rehearsal or demon
stration all over with, then, Tony, it is going to be up to you to tell
these fellows in your own language how to do it, and then we are
going to keep track here all this month to see how many men you
have hurt in this extra gang, and we are also going to keep track
of somebody else's gang every day, and pretty soon we are going
to know who the best foreman is on this division, the fellow that is
best, that teaches his men how to do the work without getting hurt.
And that foreman is going to be ace high with me, and maybe the
low man wouldn't have any job at all; I don't know yet. We will
talk about that a little later on."
Now Tonyi you know, after he got to be a foreman, thought he
was quite a fellow. He has worked quite a long while and he is
jealous of that. He gets a chance to boss these other fellows and
get maybe fifty cents a month out of them; I don't know about
that; they say he does. (Laughter.) But we don't care so much
about that; but, anyhow, we know he is jealous of his authority
and he don't like to think of having to go to work for the Lack
awanna or some other road, leaving a good road like the Erie.
(Laughter.) So he braces up, you know, and does the best he can
to educate his men how to do their work without getting hurt.
This probably sounds a little theoretical to you, and maybe you
think I am just saying this because Mr. Dow asked me to take the
i MgpiiM -
-B.
518
Fourth Safety Congress
place of a good man. But actual demonstrations of a year on a railroad showed that the educational work resulted in a decrease of forty-eight per cent of track men killed and twenty-nine and a half per cent of track men injured; and on car men and shop men, shop labor, a decrease of fifty-five and a half per- cent in killed and twenty-one and a half per cent in injured.
A Member: What period?
Mr. Banks : One calendar year, as compared with the previous calendar year, when they were not doing very much of this educa
tional work. I think that the responsibility for the accidents that occur on a
railroad which are chargeable to individual negligence--and some body said this morning that that was ninety per cent of them, but the best I could ever get was eighty-five, and that was enough--was due to lack of education. The gentleman who said that rather in ferred that that was the fault of the man who was hurt because he did not educate himself; but you know, I believe, it goes away back further-than that; I think, away back anyhow to the man on the railroad who is charged with the responsibility of handling the safety first work. It goes back to the trainmaster and superintend ent, the general superintendent and everybody else. They say that the man is individually negligent, but we ought to say that the man is ignorant, because he has never been shown how to do the work
any other way, and then when he gets hurt we say he was negligent, individual negligence.
The foreman knows how to do this work the right way or else he would not be a foreman. He forgets that there was a time when he didn't know how to do it and somebody was good enough to show him how. . Maybe he has got a finger or two off and every once in
a while when he wears gloves he thinks of that time. Outside of that he doesn't remember it.
We are trying to make a start on our foremen and master me chanics and our officials to get their mental attitude into the right channel so that they will follow this thing along down the line and take the time to educate our men. The statistics of the Safety
Department--and my personal opinion is that everybody ought to have those of some kind or other--are of great assistance in further ing this work. If you can go out, say in October, and tell the master
Kailroad Sectional Meeting
519
mechanic how many accidents he had on his district, what caused them, and then show him where some other fellow on some other district had only half as many, who had as many men and had as many locomotive miles to his credit, and all this, then you know that you can use it for comparative purposes, and you ask him why there is such a wide difference. The chances are he can't tell you. And when you ask him. the second time, by that time he has started to think a little bit; and the third time he has got the answer; because he probably has got the accident situation pretty well in hand by that time. I find that the use of actual figures in talking this matter over with our men on the line is of great benefit to us. I think perhaps everybody uses those figures. I know that it would be almost im possible for me to get along without them.
Mr. Dow has asked me to talk about anything else that I think of in connection with this matter, which was very generous of him; and I know all of you are going to be pleased when I say that I am not going to say anything more, but I am going to let this matter go as it is here and give somebody else a chance. I thank you. (Applause.)
Chairman Dow : I will read you the paper which Mr. Hale, who was to have been here in person and handle this topic, has sent me.
HOW TO EDUCATE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING EMPLOYES. San Francisco, Cal., October n, 1915.
Mr. M. A. Dow, Chairman Executive Comm., Transportation Sec tion, Nat*l Safety Council, Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear Mr. Dow: The Santa Fe Railway is singularly fortunate in having prac
tically all our foreign labor recruited from one race--the Mexican. I had not been long in safety work before I realized the handicap put on our efforts by the fact that we were working directly only about 56% of our employes--those located at division points, terminals, etc., and being entirely out of touch with the other 50% working at outlying points in extra and section, bridge and building, water service, signal gangs, etc. As a means of reaching these men my Company bought for my use last year a large seven passenger automobile which we equipped with a set of steel flanges fitted over the regular pneumatic tire.
520
Fourth Safety Congress
I am now nearing the close of a
Against the Rules
five months' trip in this car cov ering our entire System, and dur
ing which time X have carried a ten
Avoid jumping on cars or engines; your work does not re quire it and you can
minute safety talk to every man on the System employed outside of division points and terminals. Be
cause of the illiteracy of the Mexican laborer we could not suc
not afford the risk,
cessfully reach him with printed
neither can your
matter, because we have entire
family.
:
gangs in which not even one man can read, so I wrote a ten minute
talk along lines which I thought
most likely to reach and interest them, which article X had trans
lated into the peculiar lingo of the Mexican peon, and later had
recorded on two phonograph records.
Part of the equipment of my track automobile is a phonograph,
by means of which wc gave this talk to Mexicans standing along
side of track on one side of car, while I was personally talking to
foreman and any English speaking employes, on the other side of
the car.
I might add that this Mexican talk covers more than Safety--
it is a loyalty talk as well, and it is my opinion that aside from any
Safety value it may or may not have, it will, as a loyalty proposi
tion, more than pay for the time and effort it all cost--and believe
me, it has cost five months of as hard work as an ordinary man
often does.
I repeat--I am strong for this sort of thing from a loyalty view
point, for the reason that the average foreign laborer, unable to
understand the usual civilities one hears everywhere, has very little
to reach his understanding which is calculated to add much to his
respect for or interest in his associates or associations, so that when
he pricks up his ears and listens to the first real message of good
will, good cheer and good advice which has ever come to him, be
lieve me when I tell you it strikes a sympathetic and responsive
chord.
To further and more surely reach them I have made it a practice
that whenever I tie up at night in a place where we have an extra
Railroad Sectional Meeting
521
gang or large number of men em
ployed, I take the car down into that part of yard where their out
Use Your Eyes
fit cars are stored and give them a
musical concert of a dozen or more high grade Mexican or Spanish band selections, this concert lasting an hour or more and during which I make liberal distribution of Mex ican safety literature, safety but tons--and incidentally cigarette pa pers and smoking tobacco--the lat ter a sort of "Pipe of Peace,"
Look in both di rections before step ping upon a railroad track, especially in yards. Be particu larly careful when crossing tracks.
Experts tell me the phonograph records above referred to are some of the plainest and best talking
records ever made. During my trip just closing, approximately
20,000 Mexicans have listened to this talk, have talked about.it for
days after hearing it, and their foremen tell me have subsequently seemed to be more thoughtful and careful than before our new
' treatment--"a consummation devoutly to be wished." Sincerely yours.
Isaiah Hale.
Chairman Dow: We are now ready for discussion of the two topics presented by Mr. Spaulding and Mr. Banks. I think this is a very interesting and important subject and would like to have as many as possible take part in the time which we can spare to it.
Mr. H. J. Bell (Chicago & North Western) : Mr. Chairman, in
addition to the proposition that Mr. Banks spoke of, of giving the members of the safety committees and the employees generally the figures showing the extent to which the accidents have been reduced, we have found on the North Western Railway that they are very, very interested in knowing how many recommendations have been
made by members of committees and employees generally and how many of those recommendations have been adopted. Por instance, I think in the last four years, on the Chicago and North Western Railway, we have had something over 21,000 recommendations made on safety postal cards and otherwise, of which all but 678, or some thing like that, have been adopted and put into effect.
"y[JKsML
fa UMafil
522 Fourth Safety Congress
I think it is one very good way of showing to the men and the employees generally that the recommendations are reasonable and proper, but it also shows to the men that the company is willing to adopt and put into effect any reasonable recommenda tion they make.
Of course, I presume that most roads now take some method of recognizing in some way the committee of the road which makes the best record for safety during the calendar year, fiscal year. On the North Western Railway we have a safety banner for the division, one for the shop and one for the terminal district which makes the best record each year. Last year for the first time we went a little farther in the matter and granted a week's vacation with pay to the members of the various committees which won that banner. I think that is one very substantial manner in which the company can show its appreciation of the work done by the men, and it is bound to create a rivalry and competition between the members of different committees. I just wanted to give the gentlemen those thoughts for their information.
Chairman Dow: Supplementing what Mr. Bell has just said, on the New York Central since our committees were organized in May, 1912, the committee members have brought up for recom mendation approximately twenty thousand items, and to date the railroad company have corrected over eighty-nine per cent of them; and of the balance still uncorrected a great many are still under consideration by the central or general safety committees.
It just occurs to me that it is a very important matter where em ployees from the rank and file or committeemen on the safety com mittees make a report in writing of conditions or practices which they feel ought to be corrected in the interests of safety, that the chairman of the committee or the superintendent of that division should acknowledge the receipt of the communication and later in form the original man who reported that item as to what action has been taken. I think if that is not done that there is a great tendency to discourage the men who are trying to do the best they can in this safety work. Is there any other gentleman who will give us the benefit of his experience?
Mr. R. P. Kyle (El Paso & Southwestern) : Mr. Chairman, I would like to supplement your remarks and Mr. Spaulding's, about
t -f-
aft;;.{..!/frr;iai
fcgtajiSwi
Railroad. Sectional Meeting
523
the necessity of letting the men. know what becomes of their recom mendations. We publish the minutes of all meetings and. in them is given the standing of all recommendations. Some are passed on by the safety committee and then are published. Often a man makes a recommendation at one meeting and it is passed over to the central safety committee, and the next meeting when the matter is dis
posed of, he is not there and does not know what has become of his recommendation. He only sees that as time passes on nothing is done. And I think care should be taken to let the men know per sonally, each one, what is done with his recommendation; if it is followed, thank him for it; and if it is found impossible to carry it out in every way, give him the reason for it.
In regard to Mr. Banks* talk, I think that the whole point of the matter is that the foreign laborer has a mentality of fifteen or six teen, as Mr. Banks says, or perhaps lower. I have seen Mr. Hale*s car and his phonograph and have heard the records, and that is a mighty fine way of getting the Mexican laborers, because he goes right to them and they are interested in that kind of work.
On the El Paso & Southwestern I have gotten out a little bulletin in the Spanish of the peon and tried to make it as simple as I could. I have taken a picture of a. little boy who has been injured on a rail road. A picture I find they are interested in. Some of them cannot read, but a picture will catch their eye. Then in it I have talked, in as simple language as I could, of the important accidents that they meet with, and I have put it in language that will interest them. For instance, as you know, the national sport of the Mexicans is the bullfight. Well, in this bulletin I mention, "Be careful of motor cars, because they are like a mad bull. If you get in front of them they are going to hurt you." (Applause.)
Mr. Colleli (Pennsylvania Lines East) ; Mr. Chairman, I have the pleasure to be the Italian-English instructor for the Pennsyl vania Railroad. We have no methods like these mentioned, but I think we have the best method, so far as I know, and if any road has any other method I would like to know it, because I am very much interested in the subject. I was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad about three years ago, and I found that a great deal of the trouble came from the foreign element because they did not know what was going on in the company; in other words, they were
:wxass&miM.n
iMiiiMWM.... r--aMMU
524
- Fourth Safety Congress
laid aside, forgot. The superin
Personal Duty
tendent of the telegraph, who is directing the correspondence school
for employees, got hold of me
The prevention of accidents and injur ies is a personal duty which every one
and he told me to devise and cre ate something for the Italian. I began to scratch my head. But finally I sat down and I began to write lessons for the Italians to
owes, not to himself
learn English, for the Italians are
alone, but also to his
an intellectual people; they are will
fellows.
ing to grasp anything to elevate themselves, and I do not believe
the statement that many of them
are about or at the age of a boy of thirteen or fourteen. ( Applause.)
You would be surprised if you should go with me on the road to
find out that we have men employed as trackmen who have been in
the technical schools in Italy; but owing to their ignorance of the
language and the customs of America they have been compelled to
take a shovel and a pick. These are the class of men who have ad
vanced to track foremen and assistant foremen and they are giving
their best to the company.
To proceed with the lessons now, I have written, with the help
of some officials, thirteen pamphlets. The number of pamphlets
will be about thirty, according to my plans, and we are teaching in
very simple language how to use tools, how to economize tools, how
to save lives. Illustrations are in the books, because, as the gentle
man said, pictures are lessons by themselves. And in such a way
you will be surprised to hear that we have over three thousand
Italians enrolled in the Italian-English course, while learning Eng
lish and while learning the way to do railroad work without the
help of the foreman. For in my investigations I find that the mis
take is this: that most of the foremen are narrowminded; they are
jealous of seeing the Italians advancing and taking the place of the
English speaking people; and therefore they treat the employees
not very cordially. They are apt to call them son of a so and so.
Dagoes and Guineas, and this and that. They detest such a thing.
They come from a civilized country. They know what civiliza
tion is, and they do not like it, and they write letters every day
Railroad Sectional Meeting
525
into our office saying, "We can
not stand the language o the fore men. The foremen are brutes." The supervisors do not know of
The little Things
this, because when they go on the road they see the foreman and they ask the foreman, "Well, John,
Small neglects are apt to cause serious
what is it today ?" "I need the ties and I need the rails." "AH right. Good-bye." The supervisor doesn't know what is going on in
accidents. Vigilance a
watchfulness ins*-
the gang. As soon as the super
safety.
visor turns his back there the fore
man goes around and says. "Harry
on there, you Guinea, you Dago." and so forth. Ther^ ?s the mis
take. And on the
T?ad.road we are tryi to remedy
that mistake. We are cho<3m.sr
as foremen w understand
more or less of bussas**-*-
first, the principle safety first,
extends to save hurr-am
*f=e educational pan of it is to in
struct the employees -be,
ing of the life of a
me -me?-:*
It is not all in the sav be more or less human
towards our fellow mer
X do not want to feke *00
prepared a speech.
--
fA* here, because I have not
(Applause and cries of "Go
For the benefit of the Sliteratc people I have held meetings, safety first meetings, in Italian, and with other employees, like the negroes in the South, or the Greeks or the Slav, and so forth. Then we give the lecture in English and Italian and photographs or views showing the proper and the improper way of doing railroad work are thrown on the screen. I think that is one of the best methods, which is everlasting on the mind of the employees, whether they know how to read or write. Also, we listen to the complaints of these men, and we are apt to take their cases; and, as you see, on the Pennsylvania Railroad the gang of Dagoes are not forgotten; they are remembered. (Applause.)
Chairman Dow: I am sure that we have all gathered some new thoughts by this very interesting talk by the representative of the
Hiwm-ww - .Haaas.aK-,iiB-jTH'CT:awiiiijii
- :P
i
a4iaii,8
526
Fourth Safety Congress
foreign laborer. X would like to ask the gentleman whether in showing lantern slide pictures of unsafe practices you show, fol lowing the picture of the unsafe practice, a slide in the Italian lan guage explaining the picture, or is it explained by the interpreter? What is your method in that regard?
Me. f!rT.T.T?.T.T - We have slides explaining in English and Ital ian. We give the slide, for instance, in Italian, then follows the English, both.
Mr. T. H. Carroll (Pennsylvania Lines East) : We do not want
to monopolize all the time, but to corroborate what Mr. Colleli says,
we have a station on the Pennsylvania Railroad where 318 foreign
laborers are employed, and we have not hired or fired one in over a
year. We did hire one, and that was to get a good baseball pitcher.
(Applause.) And if he had not called attention to the fact that Mr.
Banks was in serious error in assuming that the foreigner was less
intelligent than the American in a similar capacity, I should have
done so. In fact, our statistics show that the proportion of track
men killed among the foreign element is no greater than it is among
the American element. And for ordinary stupidity I do not think
there is anything at all inferior in the foreign man. It is simply
the same problem with the foreigner or the American: the
man who comes into the service needs instruction, and unless
he is familiar with the operation he cannot know how to avoid
accident. It only requires a combination of circumstances for him
to get caught.
_
So the theory that Mr. Banks advanced was all right, only it
should apply to all of us just like it does to the foreigner. My
own opinion is, after very careful study of the subject, that the
most important thing to be done on the railroad today is to see that
a man is made aware of the hazard of operation before he is put
to work, or at least out to work by himself.
I want to call your attention to another point which was raised
and that is in regard to statistics. Disraeli, in advocating a certain
proposition in the English Parliament once, after somebody had
quoted a lot of statistics, said, "Lies, damned lies, and statistics."
And that is true of railroad statistics. You can quote statistics to
prove anything you want to. For instance, Mr. Banks said that he
had shown an improvement of fifty per cent. That might have been
<Mi! ^U*^
k&ttUJ
Railroad ,.Sectional Meeting
527
a bona fide Improvement. I believe it was * but nearly every railroad
in the country which has published statistics showing thirty or forty
or fifty per cent in the last year or two is simply publishing fiction,
for the reason that the work has decreased and the number of em
ployees has ordinarily decreased. The result that we have made
is astonishing. But we are not deceiving ourselves that we can
keep that up in 19x6 when business resumes. I hope next year we
will have something to report, but I doubt very much that we will
have as fine a showing as we have now.
To get bade to my point, it does not serve any. purpose "to say
that so many men were killed on Jones' or Smith's division; you
want to know how they were killed; you want to know how many
Dagoes and how many Americans. That is not all you want to
know. You want to know how many men were killed in proportion
to the number of men in the service. It doesn't mean anything
to say in a great b*g division where you employ four hundred
Dagoes, so many were killed;you want to have a comparison of the.
number that were killed with the number that were in the service.
We compile our statistics to show every occupation in the service
and we show the number of killed and injured, the number in the
service; and opposite, on another column, we show the percentage
of men injured. ,
Before I go any further in that respect, we believe on the Penn
sylvania Railroad that safety is an operating matter. We believe
that the man on the ground is the man who should be held respon-
sible for the proposition; and we put it up entirely to him. We go
before our staff officers and we take our statistics and begin with
conductors and go all the way down the line of enginemen, firemen,
brakemen and flagmen, and we call attention to the number injured.
in each particular occupation; and it is astonishing what a tremen-
dous interest there is and how surprising it has been to some of our
officials to learn the large proportion of men injured in some- depart- '
merits and almost total immunity in others. That is why it is neces
sary to segregate the particular accident from the occupation stand
point.
~
Then, after you have ddne that, there is still another proposition.
You want to couple the occupation injured with the cause of in
jury. I have been greatly Inspired by the addresses I have heard
here at this meeting. It does me good to get here before this meet-
] j i j
j
i j ; '
j
nnv.
. 528
Fourth Safety Congress
ing and hear the people voice
l
Never Too Soon
their sentiments. But, gentlemen, we are speaking for the most
part in generalities. Unless you get
The fellow who
to the point where you can put
said "*Tis never too
your finger directly on the spot
i
late to mend,*' was
where the injury occurred and show how it occurs, you get no
not talking about ac
where. And in carrying out that
cidents. Sew up the
thought we classify our injuries
rip before, an acci
according to the character of the
dent happens.
work, and then under each head
ing, seventeen in all, outside of
shop, and about nineteen in shop,
we classify them in detailed causes, three hundred and forty causes
in all, and three hundred and sixty in the shop. There are seven
hundred causes.
Now you go down the line of these causes. We will take, for
example, getting off or on engines and cars. The first thing we have
is defective steps or stirrups on the cars. We have the astonishing
fact that almost a whole year passed without a single accident from
that cause; maybe two or three or half a dozen on a railroad that
has 150,000 cars on its tracks all the time, which is a remarkable"
thing. The next thing, you come down to this: a man grabs hold
of a handhold and he slipped, and puts his feet in the stirrup and
slips. Is that carelessness ? Is there anything else or is there any
thing that can be described in those terms that indicate something
wrong with the man's mind. I say it is not. It is something that
might be characterized--the English characterize it as misadventure,
or something in the operation. There is no need of deceiving your
self about these things, because they constitute the vast majority of
accidents.
We go down further and come to operating brakes. The man is
on the top of the car and puts his brake clip on the wheel and he
pulls it down and it slips a little and he falls. That is not careless
ness. Come down further. A man will go to move a coupling lever
and bruises his hand. That is not carelessness or thoughtlessness
or ignorance. It is the same thing that happened to me when I went
to make a fire in the heater. I went to shove a stick in the heater
Railroad Sectional Meeting
529
in a hurry and it didn't go `in,
and stuck in my hand. That is the
way railroad men get injured. 'As
to the fatalities, people walk in
front of trains, and that is fre
quently absentmindedness. There is
a whole list of causes of occupa
tional injuries. It seems to me that
the crying necessity for the solu
tion of the accident problem is to
determine the man that is injured,
where he is injured and" how he
is injured. I thank you very much.
(Applause.)
__
Safety Committee
Let us all be Safely Inspectors. Report unsafe places to your foreman on the Safety Depart ment.
Mr. C. T. Banks: By some unfortunate and peculiar coinci- dence the figures which I have given here on my percentages were based in the same manner that the Pennsylvania bases its figures, on the number of men employed. We do not take the number of accidents in one year and the number of accidents in some other year and then perform a subtraction, but we base it on the intelligent foundation of giving consideration to the number of men employed. We go a little further than that, too; we base it on the locomotive miles made.
And as concerns the mentality feature of our foreign laborers, that is not my opinion at all. That is, I am not expressing it as hav ing arrived at those conclusions by anything that I personally have observed. I am taking the word of an army surgeon who made some actual mentality tests. If anybody has any quarrel with the situation they should discuss the matter with the mentality tests as they are made by our army surgeons.
Mr. S. G. Watkins (Boston & Maine) : Gentlemen, I come up front to speak with you because I want to see you and because I have learned it is not good safety first for me to talk with people behind me.
I wanted to carry Mr. Banks' idea just a little bit further. The situation on my road in regard to the section men is about like this:
We have the old-time Irish foreman and the Italian crew, and dur ing the year 1913 we lost twelve section men, and ten out of the
..... 1,1
-----.------ v^i^vh -- :H7Q:;
= "' -H.3M
530
Fourth Safety Congress
twelve were killed by being struck by trains. I wanted to find out
just what was the matter, so I spent a number of weeks out amongst the section men watching them work, and one day X .saw this: a crew of men were tamping ties and the foreman was watching them. A train came around the curve and the foreman hallooed, "Look out." The Italians didn't move, because "Look out" didn't mean anything
to them. And then he hallooed, "Take care;" and then he hallooed something else that I couldn't understand, only there were some swear words in .it, but the Italian looked at the man who was at this time swinging his hands and acting as though he was crazy;
and the Italian looked at the foreman in astonishment but he didn't see the train at all; and finally the foreman ran and pushed the man out of the way. And I conclude that the twelve men were killed, ten of them by being struck by trains, not because the Italian was a fifteen-year-bid boy, but because the workmen and the fore man did not understand each other.
So we immediately prepared a little circular printed in the Ital ian language, and a copy of that circular went to every track laborer on our system. We also interviewed the section foreman, and it was put up to him about like this: "Now here, if you lose a handcar you would be mighty disturbed, because you have got to account for it. But you lose a man and you simply say, "Well, it is too bad, but he didn't look out for himself." Now it is a thousand times worse for a foreman on the Boston & Maine Railroad to lose a man than it is to lose a handcar, and it is up to you to protect your men."
(Applause.) Now we are all interested in results. During the year 1913, as I
have told you, we lost twelve section men, ten of whom were killed by being struck by a train. During the year 1914 we lost two section men, and neither of these was struck by a train. I don't know what did it, but that is what happened. I was a good deal worried, and I wondered if we could do it again. Well, almost ten months of fif
teen have passed, and when I left home we had got through this year with a loss of only three; so I think we are pretty near going to do it again this year.
I believe the way to solve the problem of accidents to the track men is for the section foreman and the track men to get. together and understand each other.
I am afraid we are losing sight of one thing. The question was
Railroad Sectional Meeting
531
discussed here or some excellent papers were read about the better way to carry on the safety first work. That is not quite it, but you get the idea; and I have not heard any more about it. I hope that won't be forgotten, that phase of the question, because we are all
mightily interested to know what we can do to keep up the safety first interest on our road.
Now here is something that we have started on as an experiment. Of course I don't know how it will come out. Our road has
equipped for me a safety first car--not an automobile, by the way, but an old parlor car that we have fixed up into a lecture hall and so on. That car we placed down in the yard and I invite the men to meet me in that car, say at>eight o'clock in the evening, and we have a sort of get together meeting and talk over things there in the car. We also have an excellent stereopticon and we show on the screen some good pictures of scenes along the road, some that are interest ing, some that are instructive, and also we show pictures of some of the things that are being done that are killing the men. Well, of course we have the moving picture entertainment and all that kind of thing to compete with. Sometimes we Have the car full and some times we don't have many. But we go a little bit further. We keep that car open until midnight, and during the midnight hour we invite the men who work nights. We ask them to bring their lunches to the car and during that hour they look at the pictures and we go over these things. And by personal contact we get hold of a big crowd of men that work nights that we never have a chance to see in any other way. And I hope that we are going to get somewhere through that line of work.
I tried an experiment last week in a little town where we have only about twenty railroad men, away up in the country. I held a meeting at eight o'clock, and as we had only a few men we in vited the railroad men and their wives, and we filled the car full. We had something over forty, not because some of the railroad men had two wives but because some of them brought their daughters and their sons. Well, what interested me most of anything was that
during the six months we have lost seven men by being crushed to death between the drawbars. A man will go in to adjust the knuckles and a car will drift down and he is crushed. And I showed the pic ture on the screen of a man smoking an old cob pipe and adjusting the knuckle and a car drifting down just ready to catch him; and a
532
Fourth Safety Congress
woman spoke up in an excited tone
and said, "Why, the railroad men
Safety First
don't do that, do they?" I said,
r. "Ask them, they are here"; and
Do not kick draw bars or push them over with the hand or foot, or try to
she turned to the man at her side and said, "John, do railroad men do things like that?" Well, John hesitated but finally he said, "Well,
I suppose I do that every day
separate air or steam
of my life." The .woman didn't
hose, open knuckles,
say anything* but she gave John
or turn angle jcocks.
a look that led me to think that when they got home that mat
ter would be threshed out. (Laugh
ter.) And, gentlemen, I have an idea that when these things
are talked over in the home by the women and children and the next
day that John steps in to adjust that knuckle he will remember that
picture and he will remember the Wife and child and will do away
with that transaction. I thank you, gentlemen. (Applause.)
Mr. McKenzie (Pennsylvania Lines East) : For the benefit
of the brother that has just spoken in connection with protecting his
trackmen I will just state that on the Pennsylvania Railroad they furnish each foreman with a very shrill whistle, and it doesn't matter what the man is doing, when that whistle blows he gets clear. They
also station a man some distance away from the men in foggy weather to sound his whistle or alarm and the trackmen know what ever they are doing at that time, when that whistle blows to drop their tools and get off the track. And it might help if the idea was carried out all over the United States. I think it is a real good one. I notice it as I go by in the engine, and I know that it saved a whole track force of about a dozen men three years ago. The man that was in advance blew his whistle and went into the ditch as I passed him, and we were running pretty fast and the other fellows just scattered like tenpins as I passed them. If it had not been for the whistle I don't think that any of them would have got off.
Mr. S. G. Watkins (Boston & Maine) : This has brought to my mind a thing I had skipped. We instructed our foremen when they wished to warn a man of any danger to shout, "Clear the track," and
Railroad Sectional Meeting
533
never use those words for any thing else; and also to have a drill once in a while and shout "Clear the track" when nothing was com ing to see that the men all under stood it; and if a man didn't un derstand it, run and push him out of the way; so that a new man, no matter whether he was an Ital ian or what he was, would learn that that sound meant danger and would clear the tracks. " We use that instead of a whistle.
Safety First
Do not lift pin (when lever does not work), when cars are about to come together or are in motion.
Mr. C. H. Blakemoee (Norfolk & Western) : I just want to re turn to the statistical end of it. Believing in the fallacy of statistics
we use the standard of the payroll. Say in the shops if we injure a man a year for say ten thousand dollars payroll of men employed in that shop and the next year we injure only one man for every twenty thousand dollars of payroll at that shop, that is an improve ment, undoubtedly. You can't get around that. The same class of men are employed, at the same work, paid the same money, and if you injure only half as many men to the same payroll it is im portant. I should think that would be an absolutely accurate standdard. That would be no fallacy.
Mr. Cakroix : It would not be a fallacy in so far as you did
not employ any new men. Ten or fifteen per cent of the men hurt
on the railroad in busy times are men with less than two months'
experience.
-
Mr. S. G. Watkins (Boston & Maine) : That is true. That
would be an accurate standard, I should think. Now you said another thing about the accidents which would
happen, accidents which were not preventable, and it brought to my mind one of the things which happened in our shops. You said the other day you tried to put a stick of wood in the stove and struck it on the side of the stove and injured your hand. All those things are not non-preventable accidents, however; because it brought to
534
=Fourth Safety Congress
my TriinH a thing which happened in one of our shops in exactly the same manner. The man was working on some timber and he had
a little pile here and another pile here, and while working with an other tool it became necessary--he laid down a chisel, which was a wood chisel, and it became necessary for him to use a piece of wood
with his tool, so he picked up the wood chisel to lay it on the other pile; he had laid it down just as anybody would have done, with the blade towards him. He didn't think and he picked the wood chisel up just as he found it, which was with the blade towards him, he tried to lay it pn the other side, the butt of the chisel caught on the other corner, and you can imagine what happened. It cut through all the tendons and he was off for a long time, and his thumb was stiff when it did heal. That was not your case, but that was simply the motion of a man not thinking. It was just as easy to take that chisel by the butt as by the blade, but he didn't think.
It is just a question of thinking, largely.
Mr. Edward C. Spring (Lehigh Valley Transportation Com
pany) : At this morning's session of the Public Utilities the same
subject was presented as your first paper which was read this after
noon, the best way to get dose to the employees and to get the em
ployees interested in the Safety First work. The question came up
this morning and will be brought up this afternoon at the new Sec
tion of the Street and Interurban Railways: is it better to pay the
members of your special safety committees or to have them work
without pay? That is a question that came up this morning and will
be taken up later in the afternoon; and I would like to get an ex
pression of this meeting whether the steam railroads of this coun
try pay their committees or whether they work without any com
pensation.
__
Chairman How: I believe that the general practice on steam railroads, Mr. Spring, is to pay the time of the safety committee men attending the safety committee meetings, which are held usually
every thirty days.
A Member : And their expenses.
Chairman Dow : And their expenses. They are not paid outside of that.
i--WTtttSWW --. in
.... :tf5s: Hhmm
Railroad Sectional Meeting
535
Mr. G. C. Martin (Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo): Mr. Chair man, may I have one second on the statistics ? We have a little dif ferent plan from any suggested here, and we have turned them over and decided that this really gives more definite information than the others; and that is the number of men working per injury, the num ber of hours* work. The percentage can be drawn off. For in stance, if you only have one accident this year and have none next year, that is a hundred per cent; so working with small numbers, the numbers affect it very effectively. In this we have $42,000; number of men working per injury, 32. Then we go on, number of hours work per injury, 8,461; and so on. That gives a definite figure and something that won't lie, because you have got'the number of hours the men work.
Chairman Dow: We have here this afternoon Dr. Robert I. Randolph, Chief of the B. & O. Surgical Staff, and I am going tc ask him if he won't talk to us a moment or so. (Applause.)
I. :Dr. Robert
Randolph
Mr. Chairman and gentlemen:
There
are some few things that have occurred to me in listening to this
discussion. One of these things has been an absence of any but a
slight allusion to the question of discipline. I have felt after a long
connection with a big railroad in Baltimore that the question of
neglect is one which has not occupied our attention sufficiently.
Why, for instance, since early in January I have removed something
like four or five eyes and treated somewhere near two hundred eyes
for injuries of various degrees of gravity. I find in talking with
these men--and really we get very much closer to them as doctors
than any member of the staff--and I want to say here that I do not
agree with Mr. Spaulding in thinking that there should be anything
approaching intimacy or anything like familiarity between foremen
and the men under him. I think the more formality, the more rigid
adherence to the letter of duty and the letter of the law the better.
In talking with other men in the profession, with the Pennsylvania
men, the two Thompsons, Young of Burlington, Myers and Black
of Milwaukee, and Southern and the Chesapeake & Ohio, they have
pretty much the same sentiment, that the question has always been
one of neglect. We have a set of men who are absolutely oblivious
of the simplest way of taking care of themselves, and those things
can always he brought back to a man who has accidents.
536
Fourth Safety Congress
I had a talk with a man the
GOGGLES
other day whose eye I had taken out, a very handsome, tall fellow,
about twenty-three or four, recently
As long as our eyes are the windows of our soul, we may all look out for our-, selves. By the use
married, and he was permanently mutilated by losing one eye as the result of this, accident. I had to take an eye out, and I was asking him some questions in con nection with his accident and things
of goggles we can
that he told me. I asked him
protect our eyes.
whether he had a pair of goggles
on and he told me that he had no
goggles on. I asked him why. He
said, "Well, the men I meet are constantly jeering at me for taking
the precautions for safety of that kindand his wife told me that it
resolved itself into a question of vanity. His wife said that these
men did not want to wear disfiguring goggles--a perfectly safe thing.
I could tell you a number of instances where the value of the
thing has been demonstrated in a number of cases. Now I have come
to the conclusion, after dealing with those men, that it is far easier
for a doctor to become more or less--his personality becomes more
or less impressed upon the regular men or any of our patients than
most men who deal With them, and I find that the question of suc
cessful dealing with shop accidents, particularly, is better handled
by the most rigid exaction of not only duty but of some sort of
penalty in the case of infraction. They either should be put off, pay
reduced or a stop put to their promotion or their future in.some way
interfered with. I believe in exercising, so to speak, the ten com
mandments--"Thou shalt not do so and so"--clear through their
career, and I believe you will find a tremendous lessening of this
class of accidents.
The question then of neglect. Some few years ago I instituted a
postal .card system, which, by the way, appears in nearly all the big
cities .in this country now; that is, trying to put a stop to the
massacre that we find on the 4th -of July. At that time Baltimore
was as bad as the rest. I finally enlisted some of the heads of the
police department in the movement, and I found that the whole
thing drifted on the question of" neglect. And that spring about ten
. Railroad Sectional Meeting
537
years ago Baltimore led all the citr
ies in this country in the fewer number of accidents in connection
Protect Your Eyes
with the 4th of July. I am sure
you will all find that is going to
A. bird in the hand
be the case in dealing ultimately with shop accidents. We have about five thousand men employed by the B. & O. in the shops in River side and Mount Clare. I have some four hundred accidents a year there.
is worth two in the bush. If you have two good eyes, see that some other fel low does not cause
Most - of those cases,, however,
you to lose them.
are trivial, but I have a great many
which are from congested points along the road and those are serious. It is surprising I should have
so many.. It is not particularly because it is I, but because while we have a number of men along the route to look after eyes and of
course ears, only one man who is supposed to look after the very
difficult cases, and they are referred to me, as a rule.
Now as I say, I suppose I take out somewhere in the neighborhood
of eight or ten eyes a year for the railroad, eight or ten eyes, leaving
men with one eye, of course. There is a whole army of men, one-
eyed men, who have their life to go through with, all, as I say, for the lack of discipline, the question of the most rigid demanding
or strict accounting for The foremen, who are supposed to be re
sponsible. , (Applause.)
Mr. J. S. Rockwell (Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh) : I am very glad indeed to hear what Dr. Randolph has said, because for years it has been my belief, and I have been preaching it to our operating officials, that discipline for injuries will be one of the greatest methods of reducing the number of injuries. I cannot see why a man who would be disciplined if by his carelessness the prop erty of the company was destroyed should not be disciplined if by his negligence another man was injured or he was injured himself.
I have accomplished this much: today in our transportation depart
ment o`n the record of every man that is injured, no matter how seriously or how slightly, is entered the fact of the injury, the cause of the injury, whether it was due to his carelessness or the care-
538
Fourth Safety Congress
lessness of somebody else or was purely accidental; and he is called . before his superior officers and is reminded of the fact, and in most cases he is disciplined, actually disciplined for his carelessness, even if he is laid off for some time by reason of the injury.
In our maintenance of way department we have the same principle as applied to section foremen. If by the neglect of a section foreman or his failure to observe the rules that are hammered into his head by his superior officers somebody is hurt or some injury occurs, he is disciplined. In severe cases he is actually suspended and in griev ous cases he is fired from the employ.
Another thing I would like to say while I am here is that we have found on our little road, the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh, very good results through employing Italian section foremen.- I heartily agree with the Italian instructor of the Pennsylvania that the men tality of the Italians in many cases is very good, and especially among our section foremen. We have section foremen on our road who have been in that capacity for ten or fifteen years, and they have produced excellent results with their fellow Italians.
Ms. W. Greenwood (Youngstown & Northern) : Mr. Chair man, I represent the Youngstown & Northern Railroad. If you have any trouble in discovering where it is you had better perhaps write to the United States Steel Corporation or the Carnegie Divi sion of it. I have come here to discuss these matters, including the one that is under discussion just now, rather broadly, and I have prepared some remarks to dispose of it.
Long ago the railroad companies recognized the importance of specifying how the operations that involved considerable hazard should be conducted to avoid accidents; but their rules, like the statute laws, were too much given to covering the subjects in a gen eral way. The principal object in mind was to place all responsi bility for such personal injuries as might occur on the shoulders, of
the victims. The basic principles of our statute laws make safeguarding against
accidents to employees obligatory. It was only when this principle was found to be enforceable and, too, when enactments specifically
defined the purpose^ of safeguards, that we woke up and gave the matter deserved attention. The law had to be reinforced to enable us to distinguish between so-called acts of Providence and our own
-ra. wsiaaii: asit
Railroad Sectional Meeting
539
negligence. The' method for properly dividing responsibility for avoidance of accident, was shown by legislative enactment, but per haps the necessity for thus doing has been brushed aside by recog nition of the fact, the loss that accrues must be borne by some one and higher efficiency in prevention comes from charging the loss to the industry that should be responsible for suppression of the cause.
The. industries and utilities have done much to make accidents-- and we might add . suicide too^--impossible in industrial employment,
but much remains to be done. All cannot be done at once, but the wcrrk is going forward as fast as conditions will permit.
Perfect system for the prevention of accident will come through the process of evolution that is now going on. A question that we might differ on is, will the agitation.it is getting hasten or delay the day? Enthusiasm may induce the beginning of action, but not all the enthusiasm that would burn and destroy half the world would keep the work in continuance if there was no hell for our sins. It seems to me that too many of the methods offered for accident pre vention are prompted by mistaken ideas, and this is quickly recog nized by those we accuse of lethargy, and instead of promoting the evoluting process it is retarded. Erroneous efforts discredit the cause and bring , all engaged in it into contempt. As an illustrating instance a brakeman is told he must not kick the drawnhead, or rather, he must not hold it in position with his foot while the car is moving so that the knuckles will lock; yet the conditions are such there is no way to do it with greater safety. Also a trainman is required to ride on the front end of a train of gondolas or boxcars when the engine is pushing it, and yet in designing and constructing cars the end beam of the car body that once afforded the only standing place or walk or crossing from one side to the other, is not allowed to extend beyond the enclosure on the platform. The econ omy effected by such construction amounts to but little and I can see no other reason for adopting it. Innumerable instances can be cited that prove some other consideration than "Safety First" pre vails. There is reason for saying the oft-quoted inscription found on the side of the car was exhaustively expressive, even though exception might be taken to the diction:
Your cars are rotten, your track is worse. And yet you holler "Safety First."
'.t HirijfMM
i ' fwiaii....-1*---zJ-A.'___ . i.Siv- BtMW iiiiStisi . iiiiBUt
540
Fourth Safety, Congress
There is much talk about educa
Safety First
"A miss is as good as a mile," but re member you are not always missed.
When every man is cautious, watch the percentages go up.
tion. by example and verbal in struction being a substitute for me chanical safe-guarding and printed instructions in book form. Let us consider a case where this method and no other is pursued. A gang is employed to do work of a cer tain class or within a certain de fined district. By constant and wearying effort each man has been taught that .he must do each
part of his work in a certain pre
scribed way for the sake of safety. In large gangs changes in the makeup are so frequent that if this kind of education or method alone is pursued the foreman must .
devote more time than can be afforded to instructing and watching.
We claim that unless the safety instructions are placed before em ployees so that there will be no possibility of denying that it has
been done, indifference will continue to exist, litigation will increase and the proper division of responsibility between employer and em ployee cannot be accurately determined.
Courage, pride, vanity, indifference, caution, negligence, percep tion and obtuseness, all are conditions of birth or training. But I
am inclined to think they are more a condition of training than birth.
These conditions mast be dealt with all the time and such as operate
injuriously must be counteracted if they cannot be removed.
Instead of laboring so hard to implant vocational education in
every one, our efforts should be directed towards implanting an
academic one. Guards, enclosures, etc., are effective and. if rules are efficient for getting our product why can they not, by the same method of application, be made effective for accident prevention?
(Applause.)
Chairman- Dow: I suggest that the matter be discussed as to whether or not the wearing of goggles be made compulsory. We are beginning to make it compulsory in the shops of the New York Central System, in fact that rule has been absolutely put in force in a large number of our shops and men are sent home from work
t-WSBMt -i* is-tiafUi
tlSnia.-~-..5 ~.i T
-sT; ii OTmTil'i ,te
s:,g:-IWWiW
Railroad Sectional Meeting
541
and made to stay there until they
have agreed to come back and wear the goggles.
Do Your Part
And another question which I
would like to ask, inasmuch as
It is a pretty safe
Mr. Rockwell and Dr. Randolph brought up the subject of disci pline, is what is the opinion of the gentlemen here, as to whether disci pline should be administered where
proposition that "We can't all be presidents of these United States,** but
infraction of safety rules or indul-. we can "Boost for
gences in unsafe practices is brought
Safety.**
up by a rank-and-file member of
the safety, committee. It seems to
me that if we are going to get into that habit we are going to
destroy the effect of this co-operative safety work among the em
ployees, and that perhaps it might be better if discipline in such
cases as that were left to the operating officials to handle just as
they would the ordinary book of rules. I would like to hear some
expression on that subject.
Mr. W. C. Wilson (Delaware, Lackawanna & Western) : Mr. Chairman, I personally think that we ought to have these papers, a _ paper by Mr. Blakemore and one by Mr. Richards, for the reason that the two topics we are discussing could take our time and atten
tion for the rest of the afternoon very easily, and the matters which we are discussing are peculiarly such matters as would come up to morrow morning under the general rule as the Chairman has given. And I fear that some of the gentlemen may have to leave. It is getting along somewhat in the afternoon and they would like to hear these papers, and as the discussion is of a general character I would
make the suggestion at least that we have the papers, and then the formal papers will be disposed, of and all the rest of the time for general discussion.
Chairman Dow: I think that is a good suggestion. The next is topic No. 2, "The Value of the National Safety Council to Railroad Safely Organizations." We have with us here today a man whom we consider is the father of the safety- movement in its present form on the railroads of this country, a man whom we all love and think
T:c :13k \
gj^ MfMr
542
Fourth Safety Congress
a great deal of; and we are more than glad -to know that he is back with us today after a serious illness, in better health and better looking than he has been in years; and I am going to ask Mr- R. C. Richards to talk to us on this subject. (Applause.)
THE VALUE OF THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL TO RAILROAD SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS.
TVTw. R. C. Richards (Chicago & Northwestern) : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen: I want to thank the Chairman for the very fine things that he has sard about me. I only wish that I could feel that they were all properly said and that I was entitled to those kind
words. The subject that has been assigned to me this afternoon is the
question, as I understand it, of what benefit can the National Safety Council be to the railroad Safely First movement. Now it is only
a century and a quarter or so ago since that wonderful Congress was held in this same town, hardly a stone's throw from where we are rittw sitting, that resulted in the birth of what we think is the greatest nation in the world. And who can doubt, gentlemen, that the inspiration and the courage and the faith in the future of that nation which they were to bring forth must have resulted from the inspiration and the courage and the faith that an association, constant and continued for many weeks, brought to those men, which so in spired them that they pledged their lives, their property, and their sacred honor in furtherance of the ideals of freedom?
Now cannot we take that lesson home to ourselves ? Can anybody who has been here today and yesterday, who will be here tomorrow and perhaps Friday, fail to have drawn some inspiration, some cour age and faith in the future of this movement that we are all so vitally interested in ? Because we men know that are on the railroads, know perhaps as well or better than any other class of men, that
after all the greatest asset that we have in this nation of ours is not our towns or our streets or our buildings, but it is the men and women that populate our country. And we also must realize that when we lose one of those men or women we have lost something that never can be brought back, that never can be replaced. It is not only a financial loss but it is an absolute loss that cannot be replaced. We can rebuild buildings, we can replant trees, we can make new
iiKiiOUMHE.
JKl
Railroad Sectional Meeting
543
gardens, new homes and new streets; but never in the world will
that man or that woman or that child come back to help us in our
civilization when once passed away. And so it seems to me. that that inspiration that we ought to gather
at these meetings is the greatest and the chiefest benefit that we are going to derive; because we learn that men are not only interested in the safety movement on railroads, but we find in every industry, among public officials everywhere, that constantly increasing growth of interest in conservation of human life. Now to me that is the .chief benefit that we as railroad Safely First men are deriving from these meetings. There are many other benefits and details that must come to us all as we think about it and as we hear these talks.
Now as we all know, one of the greatest difficulties that we meefc with on railroads today, one of the things that causes fifty or sixty per cent of the fatalities, is the trespasser evil. The discussion that we had here this morning must demonstrate to us all that through the National Safety Council we are going to get another start to try and remedy a part of that evil. The idea of distributing to all automobile manufacturers, to people who drive machines, to all vehicle drivers, a warning about crossing the tracks and walking on tracks is one thing that is going to be a wonderful benefit to us in this propaganda that has been going on here for the last two or three years to stop this trespass evil. And I think that we all ought to feci encouraged about that; because as I remember the last report of the Interstate Commerce Commission for the last six months that they have published shows a remarkable decrease in the number of tres passers killed or injured over any other period of the same length of time for the last four or five years. It was twenty or twenty-five per cent, and I think it was a remarkable reduction, and I believe has been largely brought about by this propaganda that the railroads have been spreading all over this country to try to put a stop to that class of accidents. ? The same thing we can do in connection with this Safety Council on the automobile highway accident question. There are so many ways that the National Safety Council can be of assistance to us at practically a nominal expense that it seems to me that any railroad that fails to be a member of the association must be blind to the benefits which might accrue to it.
I think the mere' fact that we should have a paper read .at a
WtSMtl
XoSiai.Il.ijS..U^U--' :
t
..
544
Fourth Safety Congress '
general session of the National
BOTH KINDS
Safety Council such as. was read by our friend Wilson yesterday, and
the publicity that it was given in
Some fellows com plain when they pay for accident insur ance and do not get hurt. Others get
the Philadelphia papers, is an ac tual benefit to every railroad in this country.
Now if we had a railroad meet ing just as large as that meeting of the National Safety Council was
hurt and have no
yesterday morning and such a paper
insurance.
^
as that was read, do you think it would get any publicity? It would
be about two inches instead of two
columns. Now if through the National Safety Council the safety
propaganda of railroads can be given this publicity in the news
papers, surely that is a wonderful benefit to us and that is one
of the very many benefits that we are going to derive, in my opinion,
by belonging to the Safety Council.
The paper of Chancellor McCormick yesterday--it seems to me
that no man or woman who was in that room could possibly have
heard that paper and not go home with the inspiration to do better
and greater things. ~ (Applause.) And. surely the publication of a
paper like that in the proceedings of this Safety Council and their
general distribution among the Safety First committees of the various
railroads, where they will be. read and studied and thought over, is
going to inspire the men who are not here to greater efforts.
Now five years ago if somebody had talked about having a Safety
Council in Philadelphia to consider the methods of conserving human
life in industries, on the railroads, on the streets and other places,
do you suppose that we would have had nine or ten hundred people
registered at that convention ? Why, we would all have been lucky,
we would have thought ourselves extremely fortunate if we had had
a hundred. And it only shows, gentlemen, the inspiration that comes
from these large gatherings, the gatherings of people who are inter
ested in industries different from our own.. We inspire them and
they inspire us.
The only thing, it seems to me, that we ought to do now is to put
our mark up higher. A few years ago if anybody had said that
Railroad Sectional Meeting
545
accidents could be reduced fifty per
cent or forty per cent or thirty per cent by the education and co
CO-OPERATION
operation of our men, he would
have been laughed to scorn. No body dared to make that proph ecy, although many of us hoped and believed it might be so. And now a railroad or an industry that cannot show that much reduction
Remember that each person is re sponsible for his suc cess and that his success is dependent
in its accidents is thought to be
upon the success of
a back number. ' And so I say, gentlemen, that
his employer.
the benefits which we derive are so
plain and so clear and so great that we ail of us ought to appreciate
it and do all that we can to further the ends of the National Safety
Council. I thank you. (Applause.) t
Chairman Dow: If there are any roads who desire further in formation as to the membership In the National Safety Council, with the. cost of membership or any other information, if they will drop me a line at my office in New York or else write to Mr. Cam eron, Secretary of the Association, the information will gladly and promptly be furnished.
The next topic is "The Value of Moving Pictures in Safety Work --What Plan Could be Devised for Procuring Effective Films?"
We have with us today a gentleman who has done a great deal of constructive work on the Norfolk & Western Railroad, and I take a great deal of pleasure in introducing to you Mr. C. H. Blakemore, Chairman of the Safety Commission of that road, who will talk to you on this topic. (Applause.)
V,531
THE VALUE OF MOVING PICTURES IN SAFETY WORK.
Si
Mr. C. H. Blakemore (Norfolk & Western) : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen: It is good to have an opportunity to say something for safety at any time, but it is a particular pleasure to have an opportunity to say something on this particular subject in which I am so interested and to this particular audience, made up as it is
546
--Fourth Safety Congress
of men whom I know to be so intelligent and vigorous and earnest
in their efforts to save human life.
An accident prevention campaign is designed to prevent accidents,
not merely to permit us to print "Safety First" on our letterheads;
and to prevent it is first necessary to know what causes are responsi
ble for those accidents we wish to control. Preventable injuries to
railway employees, as you all know, may be divided into two large
classes: the one caused by the master, on account of his failure to
inspect and properly repair and guard; and the other caused by the
servant himself, due to those careless, thoughtless things to which
railroad employees are so peculiarly addicted.
An analysis of causes has made clear to all of you who know any
thing about accident statistics that only a small minority of such
accidents may be placed in that first class; and then that small
minority is rapidly growing smaller, because the employer is so fully
covering and fully guarding, inspecting and so forth, leaving the
majority to be placed in that second class to which I have referred.
In short, I think we all know that more than eighty per cent of pre
ventable injuries to railway employees are due to their own careless
acts.
Now if you expect to make future substantial progress in accident
prevention you must confine your activity almost exclusively to that
eighty per cent; and to make your efforts effective it is absolutely
necessary that you influence the individual employee to correct his
careless habits. Of course the first thing you think of when you
speak of influencing an employee is that question which we have all
had so frequently, "How shall I influence him?"
Now for fifty years he has had the rules to guide him and he has
had discipline to punish him, and yet accidents have continued--I
could say have inconsistently increased. So it is clear that what you
want is something more, something which will inject into his mind
the desire to be a safe, man and the knowledge of hew best to ac
complish it. And to inject anything into his mind it is first necessary
that you really interest him. And I submit that you can come nearer
interesting him really by motion pictures than by any other one
method.
.
--
It, of course, is not necessary for you to confine your intellectual
activity to motion pictures. By all means send him literature; by all
means talk to him. I have talked to our men and I have sent them.
Railroad Sectional Meeting
547
literature, ancl,,I have shown them motion pictures, and I have care
fully observed the effect of each effort, and I do not hesitate to say
that of all, motion pictures constitute the best method of making
a strong and lasting impression upon the mind of the average
workman.
__
During the last five months we have had in operation a motion
picture electric car equipped with a high-class moving picture ma
chine, a Bausch & Lomb stereopticon and an aluminum screen, with
which wc produce as attractive motion pictures as can be seen in any
professional house. The program is short,- made purposely short
so that it may not tire them. It consists of a lecture of fifteen min utes, the lantern slides Occupying about twenty minutes, commenting
on each slide, and finally of the real motion picture, occupying some
twenty or twenty-five minutes--a total of approximately one hour.
The motion picture that we have been using is that admirable one called "Steve Hill's Awakening," the story of which was written by
Mr. Dow of the New York Central Lines and produced, I believe,
under his personal direction. And I want to say that for this pur
pose I can conceive of no film more interesting, forceful and com
prehensive. During that five months more than eight thousand
employees have visited this car; and the effect on them has been
remarkable. I entered that comparatively new field with some mis givings both as to the attendance of the men and as to the probable effect upon them. I was particularly concerned as to whether or
not transportation men would come in. They could not attend on
the company's time, because their duties would not permit it, and they could not be controlled when off duty, except through a per
sonal desire to see the pictures; and I wondered if that personal desire would be sufficiently strong to influence them to leave their
homes and their personal matters. In practice we have found that instead of being obliged to persuade them to come into the car,
you can hardly keep them out. The car is often so crowded that
men must be turned away. And one of the most pleasant features
of this work has been the effect upon the old employees. I venture to say that the most of you present have, through bitter experience,
found that the man upon whom your safety efforts have, in many
cases, been wasted has been the old employee. He knows ; he doesn't
want any advice. Upon this class of men the effect of the picture
has been wonderful. They come in, I think, in many instances.
: WWtf*IWP .
548
Fourth Safety Congress
because they hear the other men
Report at Once
talk about it. I think they expect to be bored or, at the least, mildly
interested, and they go out enthu
Why not save yourself pain, your family distress and suffering, when you can do this by report
siastic, and come to me frequently
asking if they will be permitted to come again and bring their fami lies. What was said to me by one old-timer will serve to typify their general attitude. This old
ing each accident at
conductor, after telling me how he
once.
had enjoyed the entertainment, said, "Nothing that was said in there
about accidents was hew to me, and
I saw nothing in the pictures that I hadn't seen done in life
a hundred times. In fact, I have done most of them myself; but,"
he said, "I never thought about them so earnestly as this exhibition
has made me think." He says, "I want to tell you that if this outfit
don't get the men with families to thinking, if you don't educate
them with this, you might just as well give up trying."
Now I am very anxious to continue this branch of education and
I want to see a number of the other railroads try it; but I am con
cerned as to how we are going to get films to make the necessary
change every now and then when it is necessary to start over the
system with a new film. The films must be of the very highest char
acter, both as to workmanship and acting; because employees have
an opportunity nowadays to see the best professional pictures every
day, and unconsciously, then, they will compare what they see in the
picture houses with what we have to offer. The unemotional film,
the one without a story, will not serve the purpose, because, you
can send a child to school and make her study but you can't make
the employee retain the impression, even if he gets it, which you
are trying to make, unless you interest him; and the films without
a story will not get his interest. Of course, they are all right; I
have seen many without a story that are very good, but they don't
get and keep his interest and his mind does not retain the educa
tional impression which you are trying to give unless his mind is
stimulated by a vivid interest, an active interest.
A number of the leading film companies, among them the Pathe
Railroad Sectional Meeting
549
and the Universal, have, said to me
that they were perfectly willing to take up this proposition of
Watch Your Step
furnishing films upon a reasonable
basis of their furnishing one film and giving copies, provided a suf ficient number of railroads get interested in taking copies. The Pathe people told me that if we would give them a list of what we
It is just as easy to do things right as
wrong, and a whole lot safer. Look out for falling material
wanted shown in a picture and
when passing under
take their scenario writer on the
crossings.
yard and show him how these
things were to be done, it would be
easy; that he would write a story connecting this whole fabric,
and then they would put their actors on it and produce a film of
approximately the length we suggest, which is about two thousand
feet. That occupies just about the right time.
Now I would like to see some committee formed or some system
atic way arranged for the production of such films. I think it is
unnecessary to tell the safety men who are here that the future
progress which is to bejmade and must be made through education--
that is an important branch of education; it is one of the most
effective, if I know anything about it; and I would like to see this
Council, or, if it is not consistent for the Council to do it, I would
like to see a number of these individuals who are interested in that
project get together somehow and form some channel for the mak
ing of appropriate films. I thank you. (Applause.)
Mr. Charles T. Banks (Erie) : May I ask what the charge is for films?
Mr. Blakemore: The Pathe people said they would furnish us approximately two thousand feet of film, provided as many as ten or fifteen railroads went in, giving each railroad a copy, the copies to cost approximately three hundred dollars. Now that was just offhand, you understand; but that gives you for the present an idea of what they might cost.
Mr. Banks: We have just bought a moving picture machine. We started out by buying "Steve Hill's Awakening" for the first
aw>>
awwiiwi *
lEnwaMlT |S;f ^;,e~:.
iiiia ----I im Riiariatsafii-; -
550
Fourth Safety Congress
-
film, and, of course, we are going to be in the market for some more; so we would like to get in with anybody else that wants to join in on this film business. You can always count on the Erie. We have also bought a machine to take pictures. We went in all over. (Laughter.) And we are going to project them and
take them.
It just occurred to me when my friend Blakemore was talking
here and asking about how we were going to get our films, one of the optical companies, one of the principal optical companies that is interested in the furnishing of goggles for our men, has a scenario in process of making. They have their films all taken. The scenario was written, but because it did not have a villain in it--of course, you have either got to have a villain or a love story in all these films in order to get them across the footlights and make it interesting-- and they haven't any villain in this story and it is going to be re written. I suppose they are going to have this villain come in and
steal a pair of these good goggles and substitute some other fellow's goggles, and for that the villain is going to lose an eye. (Laughter.) I don't know, but anyhow there is going to be a villain in it. Now that film is going to be valuable to Mr. Blakemore and the rest of us who have gone into the movie stuff, and I should suppose that it would be a nice, neighborly thing for us to exchange our films once in a while here. I didn't have any exchange with the New York Central Railroad and I had to buy one. But after a while we will have one that we will be willing to exchange, maybe. But
the Erie will always be glad to join in any movement for the pro curing of films. ^
:Chairman Dow I might supplement Mr. Blakemore's talk on moving pictures, because the New York Central Railroad has also had a moving picture car on the road for some time since this film which has been spoken of was produced; and we also feel that it is one of the best things which we have done. The employees are taken into this car injjroups of from fifty to seventy-five and given a short talk by one of our safely agents preceding the picture and then the moving picture reels are shown. We have even gone so far as to get our shopmen in to see those pictures and hear the lec ture during working hours and pay them for their time, which has taken from half an hour to thirty-five minutes.
Railroad Sectional Meeting
551
The interest in the safety work I feel has been very greatly in creased among our employees through this picture. They have had a better understandings of what the safety work really amounts to, and we have had a great many requests in yards to show the picture over two or three times in order that the men might go home and get their wives or sisters or brothers or somebody else to come down in the evening and see the picture. We have given shows in the cars' anywhere from six to ten and twelve times a day, and up to date I think there is something like 75,000 or 80,000 of our employees who have been in this car to see the pictures. We feel so very well satisfied with the results that have been obtained through these moving pictures that we expect to produce other pictures of the same character if we cannot get them any other way. As a matter of fact, I am already working on another scenario which we hope to have authority to produce, inasmuch as "Steve Hill's Awakening" has also pretty nearly worn itself out on the New York Central.
Now I want to say this: the film, "Steve Hill's Awakening," was written by me and produced jointly, under my direction, .by the New York Central Railroad and several other roads. I think the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, the C., B. & Q., the Norfolk & Western, the Santa Fe, Lehigh Valley, and the Erie Railroad now have copies of that filnT; and other railroads who may desire a copy of it can procure the same through me, as we still have the original negative and can still make prints from this negative. The cost of
the film to the next road who may desire one would be approxi mately $275. Every new road which comes in and takes a copy of that film, of course, will reduce the expense to all concerned $25 or $30 or somewhere in that neighborhood.
:Mr. Ayers I am not a railroad man ; I am identified with man ufacturing, and we have an intramural system of roads. I should probably have been at another sectional meeting this afternoon but in view of the fact that I received at noon a telegram from the New York Central Line asking me to speak in the neighborhood of Pitts burgh next Monday night, I thought I had better attend the Section to get some points from the live wires; and I am not at all disap pointed; I am very much pleased and gratified, and I wish to felici tate this sectional branch upon the manner in which they have han dled the subjects which you have before you.
.3U - iM7: Sii'-i
..:--7 _f f^.sawigWMj
552
Fourth Safety Congress
I wish, also, to say to you that
SWITCHING
in this work of promotion of safety and conservation and so forth, you
may sajr what you please about
Do not put your
the great volume of printed mat ter, but give me a picture every
hand between the
time. Vision is one-eighth of a sec
lock-pin and the end sill or hold cutting lever while making a
ond and sound is eleven hundred feet a second, so that, you see, the eye will grasp and take in more readily and more quickly a thing
coupling.
7
that is projected before you than the ear can possibly take or a man
can retain; so we want not only the
picture but the picture and the story, both of the agencies which you
are now advocating here; and the movies--we use them here, for
they are an entertainment. We turn around and use the movies
to display the arts and modes and industries and otherwise, with
that vision, that thing that is so valuable and means to us so much.
And as my worthy friend Mr. Richards says, it is a thing that can
not be replaced--human life. Every other thing that we have of
material form is replaceable but human life; and anything that can
portray through the agency of a moving picture,. that will take in
and will educate men for the prevention of injuries and accidents--
accidents happen, injuries occur; and ninety-seven per cent of the
injuries are preventable; three per cent are happenings. But this is
a serious matter--education, enlightening through the various forms
and agencies.
They say--the gentleman spoke here this afternoon of the Ital
ians--I am not talking of him particularly, but the one who is unfa
miliar with the English language--he does not understand. But
if he is shown, and if a thing is pictured to him he will grasp that
just as well. He has a mentality equal to the Anglo-Saxon or any
other, but we do not know the language. I could not speak Italian,
only I know Latin; and it is a Latin language, but I could form an
idea of what it would be. And so it goes. All of these things are of
the greatest interest and you live wires have given me a whole lot
of inspiration, and I want to thank you for the privilege of speak
ing. (Applause.)
Railroad Sectional Meeting
553
Mr. Brown : I am on the in
dustrial safety side, but I would like to raise one point that was men
ENGINES
tioned by Dr. Randolph: the ques
tion of disciplining the men--for
When necessary
instance, in the case of the use of goggles. A few months ago, in a certain large plant of this state, the goggle business had sort of gone by for the time being. We had then about two hundred men. It
to go under an en gine, it must first be hooked up on center, cylinder cocks must be opened, brakes
was my privilege to go there and
set arid blocked.
I made some comments on the sit
uation. The next week there was
an address given before a gathering of the foremen of that plant,
and the gentleman who was to address the meeting d been re
quested to bring out that point. He gave his addr and when
he came to the subject of goggles he did not talk abor .scipline at
all. He drew a picture in words, an emotional pic e of what it
meant- to lose your eyes, what it meant to your wife /hat it meant
to your children, what it meant to your family * , our decreased
earning power, what it meant to lose the sigh ji all the beautiful
things which we love and which mean someth * to us in our lives
outside of our daily work. Personally I w very much touched
with the eloquence with which this gentlem? addressed that meet
ing. As a result, the foreman, who is an vmerican in charge of
that group of men, went back and told this story--I believe I am
telling this accurately--to one of the Italian men, and he had that
Italian man tell the story over again to the assembled group. I
went through the crowd two days later and I did not find a man
without his goggles on, and there was no question of discipline.
They had about two hundred men working at that time. They have
over six hundred working today. Within four days I have been
through the bunch of men and I did not find a man without his
goggles on. No discipline was required. (Applause.)
The meeting then adjourned.
SECOND DAY
MORNING SESSION
HE meeting was called to order at 10:10 A. M. by Chair
T man Dow. Chairman Dow : When we adjourned yesterday afternoon I think we left unfinished the discussion of topic No. 5, which was so ably presented in the paper of Mr. W. B. Spaulding, "What Is the Best Way to Create and Maintain Interest in Safety Work Among the Members of Safety Committees and Employees in General." I think that the meeting this morning may be a sort of free for all, and everybody here who has something on his chest that he wants to get off and bring up his own subject can get up and do so. That is what we want you to do. Please don't forget topic No. 5, which is very important, and let us continue for a little while, at least, the discussion of this topic. Now who among you has got something important to say on the subject of "How to create and maintain interest in safety among the members of safety committees and em ployees," some one that we have not heard from yet?
Mr. T. H. Casjroll (Pennsylvania Lines East) : Mr. Dow, sup pose as a starter you give us a little excerpt from your wisdom on the subject.
Mr. R. P. Kyle (El Paso & Southwestern) : I would like to ask that you give us in that talk how that plan of yours- about having some special topic in the meetings is working out, as you did for awhile, I remember.
Chairman Dow : I will say just a few words, particularly on safety committee work, because a short while ago we began to have the same perplexities that I presume a great many of you have, and that is as to what we could do to awaken more interest amnng the members of our safety committees. As a matter of fact, the ques-
-- 554 .
1
W\;;;S^a-v .:,.
liMlUtmm,: . - n*m
Railroad Sectional Meeting
555
tion came up on our road as to whether we should continue holding the meetings of our safety division committees every thirty days* Some of our operating officials said that they were of the opinion that the work of the committees was about completed; that they had corrected all the unsafe conditions on the road that were to be corrected, and that there was nothing more for the committees to do. I took issue with them on that point and concluded that it was time for us to begin and try to educate our committees to take up another very important phase ofsafety work. In other words, they had been, since their organization, devoting most of their time to the cor rection of physical conditions. But most of the members of our committees seemed to feel that that was the only thing that they were appointed on the committees for, and they had no conception of any other duty which they were to perform. I also came to the conclusion that the members of the committees must have some defi nite responsibility placed upon their shoulders aside from the report ing of those unsafe conditions. And so I drew up a set of rules which I submitted to the general-safety committee of the system and which they approved and immediately put into effect. I will be glad to read this set of rules. It may be of interest to you.
"i. The meetings will be held at least every sixty days, at which meetings the Superintendent will personally preside."
That rule was made for the reason that in some instances the Superintendent, with his various duties, would find it impossible for him to attend the meeting on a certain date, and rather than postpone the meeting till a time when he could be there, some other person would take charge of the meeting who, perhaps, was not as capable of conducting the meeting as he was.
"2. That when any other member of a committee is absent from a meeting, he be required to advise the Chairman as to the reason for his absence, which will be shown in the form of a memorandum attached to the minutes of the meeting."
Mr. Carroll : Will you state how many you have on the com mittee, please?
Chairman Dow : Our committees vary in size. While we have a sort of a rule which states who shall be on these committees, we
do not confine the size of the committees to those instructions. We
WWIM,'
MW I ft-f : i'
LfitS.
556
Fourth Safety Congress
leave it to the Superintendent to
Two Don'ts
use his judgment. Usually our committees have from fifteen to
twenty members, and that, of
Do not stand on foot-board between engine and car.
Do not foul a main
course, includes the men from the rank and file, representing every branch of the service. We have a conductor, an engineman, a fore man and a brakeman, a shopman
line or converging
and a trackman; and those mem
track until the switch
bers are all rotating members.
is lined for you.
They serve for a period of six months. On the same committee
we have the division officials, in
cluding the superintendent, the master mechanic, the trainmaster
and such officials as that, who serve permanently.
Mr. Carroll: Does the term of service expire at the same time for all of them?
Chairman Dow : No; we are trying to arrange that so that two or three or four will expire at one time only.
"3. A statement is to be furnished by the General Safety Agent showing the number of persons injured, divided as to operating divisions and shops, ^classified into `Cause' and `Employment,' which will give a comparison of one division with another for discussion in the meetings of the Division Safety Committee."
This statement is prepared in my office and lists the accidents under eighty-eight specified causes and divides them up as to oper ating divisions. This gives the members of the Division Committees an idea of just how their division stands each month in respect to accidents.
Mr. Carroll: Mr. Dow,,let me be clear on that. Do you fur nish the statistics by months?
Chairman Dow: Yes.
Mr. Carroll: Have you found so few accidents in one division that it would hardly be enough to call attention to?
Chairman Dow: ~ No, I cannot say that we have. We have a printed form which calls for this information. Of course, if there
:Sa,;.lfa
Railroad Sectional Meeting
557
were no accidents on a; certain division there would be nothing in that column.
Moving Cars
Mr. Carroll: Well, the point I want to develop is whether you think it is worth while to exhibit
If your duties do not require it, never
a month's record.
attempt to board or
Chairman Dow : I will be glad to pass this blank form around to you and show just what it is.
Mr. :Carroll I want to get
alight from moving cars' or engines. Do not take unneces sary chances.
clear on that, because it will prob
ably come up for discussion. Even on the largest division you would
have so few accidents in one month that there would be not suffi
cient to make any appreciable classification. In other words, it
would take practically three months to get a variety of accidents.
Chairman Dow: Well, in any month, in fact every month, there would be many causes on that list opposite which there would be no accident recorded. The point is here: there is a cause there which shows accidents due to coupling and uncoupling cars. Now if the superintendent and chairman of the committee on a certain divi sion and the members of that committee see that every month they are getting accidents under that cause, that such accidents are pre
dominating, there is a weak spot--there is a thing that they must get after and try to find the means of getting it corrected.
Mr. Carroll: You show, then, all the divisions together?
Chairman Dow: All the divisions. The divisions are shown separately and the list of causes is shown as to each division. I will
say here that this form which we are sending out has met with a great deal of approval by all of the members of these committees. The employees sit down and take this form and talk about it and it seems to arouse a great deal of discussion and interest among the members of the committee.
"4. The selection of specific illustrative causes by the General Safety Agent to be sent to the Division Safety Committees for dis-
558 Fourth Safety Congress
cussion at their meetings with a view of educating employees against a recurrence of such accidents."
Now I mean by that that we go over our accident reports as they come in to my desk each day and we pick out certain cases that are illustrative, and without giving the name of the person injured or the locality, we write up a brief description of that accident, showing just how it happened, and send out to the committees a dozen or fifteen or twenty of those illustrated cases for them to take up and discuss at their division safety committee meetings, and in the minutes of the meeting which are prepared after the meeting is over, and a copy sent to the general superintendent and one to myself, they show on those minutes just what action they took in respect to each of: those illustrative cases. That is, the superin tendent will read those illustrative cases and he will say, "Here is a man injured in such and such a manner," and discussion will follow. And the result of that probably will be that the superintendent will issue a bulletin or a letter of instructions on his division, or in some manner take it up with a view of calling to the attention of every one the accident which occurred somewhere else and which they should take steps to prevent, even though it did not occur on their own division.
Mr. :Carroll ~ I appear to ask a lot of questions because I am vastly interested. Do you also make a recapitulation of the monthly statements by quarterly, semi-annually and yearly?
Chairman Dow": We do that semi-annually and yearly, yes.
:Mr. Carroll For discussion at the safety meetings what is the objection to giving the name of the person injured?
:Chairman Dow There is no objection to it except on a large system like the New York Central, if this accident happened in the New York territory, for instance, on the New York Division, the fact that the name was mentioned would be of no particular interest to an employee on a division out in Chicago, a long distance away. If these illustrative cases were confined to the division in which the accident occurred and everybody on that division personally knew about the case there might be some advantage in giving the name, but I cannot see any advantage in doing so.
Railroad Sectional Meeting
559
Mr. Balliett (New York Central) : A railroad president told me this week of a case where they had bulletined a certain accident, giving the name of the employee and the circumstances. He said that the employee who was injured sued the company. The lawyer had a copy of that bulletin and had the piece of Iron that he stumbled over, and the result was that he got three thousand dollars from the company. He said that hereafter they would omit the names in
the bulletin.
Mr. Carroll : I want to join with the rest of the party in thank ing you for that information.
Chairman Dow: I think that is one of the objections to giving the names, although I won't say that that is what prompted us to omit the names, but we have considered that feature of it. I do not know that that was what caused us to omit the names; simply the fact that we did not see any advantage in giving names over a large system of this kind, where only on one division would em ployees know anything about the case.
Mr. S. G. Watkins (Boston & Maine): Don't you.think the man himself might object to having the name given and talked about?
Mr. J. M. Guild (Union Pacific) : On most of the railroad sys
tems in the United States I believe that they have adopted this sys
tem of holding a company board of inquiry in case of serious acci
dent. I remember when that was first started on the Union Pacific
there was considerable talk about what effect it was going to have
as far as settling claims was concerned, and it afterwards developed,
after we held three or four of them, that it was really a help rather
than a hindrance.
J
:Chairman Dow Come up to the front. By way of introduction, gentlemen, I might say this is the new Vice-Chairman of the Rail road Section, who was not here yesterday.
Mr. Guild: We have had considerable trouble on the Union Pacific in connection with mentioning the names and dates of acci dent that we publish in bulletin form. As I said before, when we started out to hold these public boards of inquiry, upon which two or three outsiders are asked to serve in connection with the super
intendent and his staff in investigating the accident, the Claim De-
S60
Fourth Safety Congress
partment took the stand that it was
Rule Books Say:
going to hinder them materially in the settlement of claims. How
ever, after we had investigated two
Before shoving cars that should be coupled together, slack must be taken.
or three it was found that instead of being a hindrance it was a help. And I believe that the same thing applies in connection with issuing bulletins along the line of
Test hand brakes
personal injuries. We are trying
before depending
to show our men that we are abso
upon them.
lutely on the square with them and as far as the settlement of claims
is concerned it has absolutely
nothing to do with it. And I think, the best thing that any railroad
can do to advance^the ideal of their own safety department is to
give the names. When we have an accident we mention the date,
names and all the information we can give them. If there is a
personal injury lawyer in the country we know he is going to get
all the dope. He is not going to depend on the railroad information ;
he will get it himself. So I do not think we are getting anywhere by
leaving out the names. I think it does a whole lot of good by indi
cating to the men that we are absolutely above-board with them,
that we are not trying to hide. anything, that we are not trying to
take the safety stand from a legal point of view; and for that reason
I think the best thing to do is to give them all the information or
don't give them any at all. I thank you. (Applause.)
:Chairman Dow Rule No. 5 under which we operate our com mittees reads as follows:
"5. The assignment at certain meetings of a live topic to be discussed by the committee at its next meeting," such as "How we can best interest the employee in the safety movement," might be assigned at one meeting and the members be requested to talk on the subject at the following meeting. The subject of this kind may be assigned by the general safety agent. A brief report containing a summary of the discussion brought out to be sent to the General
Safety Agent.
I want to tell you that is one of the best things we have done as
- mmrm
Railroad Sectional Meeting
561
far as our committee meetings are concerned. Those topics have been selected now the past year in my office and assigned to these com mittees and- we find that where a committee originally may have been in . session two or three hours, now some of them go in session at nine o'clock in the morning and they do not ad journ until seven or eight or nine o'clock in the evening. They have got something to talk about.
Shovmg Cars
When using: a stake or push pole to shove cars, stand on -the side of the stake opposite the direc tion in which the car is to be moved.
We do not make all of these topics of a general character; some times we make them specific. For instance last month I think we assigned the topic, "How'can we reduce injuries to persons on account of being struck by trains, particularly trackmen or laborers of the foreign element?" And we got some of the most valuable suggestions you can imagine from the members of our committees who were assigned this topic to prepare papers on and also the other members of the committee who discuss the paper after it is read in the meeting. Some of these papers have been so excellent that we have had them printed or mimeographed and sent out all over the system for other committees to read at their sessions or to be read at other meetings of employees. I tell you it has been a splen did thing in stimulating or arousing interest in the meetings.
:Mr. Carroll What means do you allow for disseminating this information at these meetings?
:= Chaibman Dow Well, we have various ways. We send printed or mimeographed copies Jo each committee and we also publish a safety bulletin or magazine devoted entirely to the safety subject, and in each issue we take the best papers that are prepared, take
extracts from them and. devote several pages to publishing these
extracts. Rule No. 6 is as follows: "6. The members of the Division Safety Committee to be re
quested to caution at least two employees, not members of the com-
562.
Fourth Safety Congress
mittee, during the interval between meetings in regard to the taking of unnecessary risks or indulging in unsafe practices. A report to be made by each member at the succeeding meeting, giving name of employees they have cautioned and practices they cautioned them against. Such reports to be included in the minutes of the meeting."
There is another point which I think has had excellent results. We were a little bit skeptical about inaugurating that. We thought perhaps it might be resented on the part of the employees, and there may be some even now who dislike to make such reports, feeling that perhaps they are going to get some one into trouble. But that has not been the idea at all. The only reason we required the name to be given to us was that the members of the committee will have a definite responsibility fixed upon them; and if they have got to report somebody that they have talked to about an unsafe practice during the month you may be pretty sure that they have talked to that man.
Now in the magazine we also make a report with regard to what has been done with regard to that part of the committee work, just merely outlining some of the occasional advice that has been given. I will just read you an extract from the last issue of our magazine on "Unsafe Practices":
Under the existing rules, members of the Division Safety Com mittees are continuing to report two instances where they have cau tioned other employees against unsafe practices between meetings. The following are a few illustrations of practices which employees have been cautioned against by Committee members:
A fireman cautioned another fireman against permitting engine rake to protrude from side of engine.
A brakeman cautioned another brakeman against kicking drawhead over with foot while cars were moving toward each other. (Dozens of reports deceived of men cautioned against this practice, which is an extremely dangerous one.)
Conductor reprimanded a brakeman for running ahead of cars, which were in motion, for the purpose of opening knuckle.
Conductor cautioned brakeman against standing between the rails and getting on foot-board of moving engine coming toward him. (After all that has been preached on this particular subject, it seems that some men stilL indulge in this dangerous practice.)
Railroad Sectional Meeting
563
A signalman was cautioned by a fellow-employee against placing
his hand between stock rails at interlocker plant, as be was running
the risk of losing his hand or fingers if the switch was operated.
A brakeman warned a conductor of the risk he was taking in
getting on the head end instead of the rear end of a moving caboose.
Brakeman warned another brakeman not to attempt to shut off
angle cock between cars in train after having given signal to engine-
man to move.
A freight conductor severely reprimanded one of his brakemen
for attempting to part the air hose while the cars were in motion.
A fireman upon observing another fireman opening the knuckle
on an engine, which was about to couple onto another engine, warned
him against the unsafe practice.
A yard conductor prevented a brakeman from going between mov
ing cars to make a cut.
A yard conductor warned a brakeman not to run along side of fast
moving cars to uncouple same while they were passing over cross
over.
A signalman cautioned clerk against getting on and off trains while
in motion.
An engineman cautioned a brakeman against the dangerous
practice of riding with his foot on the truss-rods of a moving train
to bleed the air.
`
Every committee member reports at least two cases of where
he has done some such constructive work as that in the interval be
tween two meetings of the committee. The idea is to fix a definite
responsibility upon the members of the committees, so that when
they come to this meeting they know that they have got to take
part in the meeting and show they have done something during the
interval since the last meeting.
"7. That a member of a committee who has no report of an
unsafe practice or condition to make at a meeting should be required
to give an explanation as to why he has nothing to report and what
he has done to further the safety movement since the last meeting,
such report to be included in the minutes of the meeting.
"8. An inspection trip to be held on each division once a year,
taking the entire Division Safety Committee over the Division on
safety inspection trip. On such inspection the committee to be
divided into sub-committees, each sub-committee to be assigned to
mmtm:
liBafll-wa? iiHH36M
!!
564
Fourth Safety Congress
look out for specific conditions that
CLEARANCE
ought to be corrected; also for the purpose of talking to employees at
stations, etc., en route on the safety
Do not leave cars on sidings, in yards or on the road so that they will just clear. Leave them so that a
movement." For instance, we will appoint a
committee to observe the conditions at grade crossings and report where
a view might be improved. An other committee will be assigned to
man on the side of a
the duly of looking out for draw-
car will be safe.
heads lying around the yards be tween tracks which might be stum
bled over and so on.
"g. That the members of the Committee be instructed to send a
written report to the Superintendent without delay advising him of
any unsafe conditions or practices which they have noticed or
which have been brought to their attention and which require prompt
action, without waiting until the next meeting of the committee to
report them. Items thus reported to the Superintendent, even though
disposed of prior to the meeting, should be reviewed at the next
regular meeting of the committee and included in the minutes of
the meeting."
Mr. S. G. Watkins (Boston & Maine) : Mr. Chairman, may I ask how often you hold this division meeting?
Chairman- Dow:: Well, never less than every sixty days, and on some divisions they are held every sixty days and on some every
thirty days.
--
Now we have a blank form used by the Chairman of each division
for reporting all proceedings at their meeting, and all these items
which I have explained to you are required in this report as well
as physical conditions which the blank was originally prepared for.
Each item as it is brought up shows the serial number of that di
vision. The name of the man making the report is given, the recom
mendation he has made is written out and the action taken in the
committee meeting is explained in the next column, and then there
are columns on the side which bear the headings "Corrected," in one
column, and "Held for Further Consideration," in another, "No
Railroad Sectional Meeting
565
Action Taken" in another, and "Re
ferred to the Central Safety Com mittee" in the fourth- Every item
WAIT
which is brought up 'by a num
ber in the Division Safety Com
The usual reason
mittee is included in this report and is carried over into the suc ceeding reports until it is finally shown "Disposed of," in the dis posal column on the outside of this
for going between moving cars is to turn the angle cock, or lift pin when the
sheet; so that no item can be lost
lever does not work.
sight of. It has got to be either
Wait until cars stop-
corrected or disposed of in some
manner before it is dropped. A
copy of these reports is sent by the General Superintendent to my
office, and if at the end of four months or some other reasonable
time I see an item dragging along here in the column "Held for
Further Consideration," I will take it up with the Superintendent
to see just what the matter is.
Mr. Carroll: Does the Division Superintendent as a general proposition manifest a spirit of general co-operation with the committees ?
Dow:Cbcairmaist Absolutely- Our Superintendents are almost without exception, heartily in favor of this movement and giving it their whole support.
Another practice on our road which you might be interested about is what we call a safety work card. In my department we have a number of safety agents--on some roads you would call them in spectors--and in addition to other duties assigned by myself they make inspection trips over designated territories which they have charge of; and when they make a report to me of the condition in a shop or yard which requires attention this card is made out. It originally goes to the superintendent of the shop or superintendent of the division, and on this card it states that he has today made inspec tion of such and such a division and recommends that the followingwork be done. When the superintendent or those having charge of this particular work have completed the correction of that condition
the original card is filled out by the superintendent and mailed to
566 Fourth Safety Congress
my office. He fills ill at the bottom of the card showing the work to be completed on such and such a date. Now when the safety agent mails this original card, calling it to the attention of the super intendent, a duplicate is sent to my office with the same information on it, and every thirty days a clerk in my office goes over these cards and checks them off. And if the condition has not been corrected in thirty days it is followed up by my office until the original card is finally turned in showing the work completed.
Another thing I just wanted to touch on briefly while I am on my feet--I do not want to monopolize this whole meeting--and that is the very great necessity of co-operation of the foremen or the men who are charged with supervision. In every great movement men will follow the leadership of some man who is over them; and if that man is a good leader or a leader for a good cause he is going to accomplish good results; and if he is a bad leader or lukewarm or indifferent to that cause, how are yrou going to expect the men under him to be in favor of that cause?
I want to say that it is my opinion -that if the foreman in- a shop or a yardmaster of a yard is a good live safety man and makes up his mind that he is not going to have serious accidents in his yard, that he won't have them. Notv when we get to a point in this safety work where we are going to have every one of our foremen instilled with this spirit of safety, and that they are going to have a clear accident record, have the best record in their yard of any yard on the system, then we are going to begin to cut down our accidents a great deal more than they are being cut down even now.
A short time ago, with this thought in mind, I issued a circular which was signed by the general managers and sent out to every man who was charged with supervision, which reads as follows:
"The full co-operation and continual vigilance of men charged with supervision is necessary to insure safety. Accidents resulting in injury or death can only be prevented by the enforcement of rules and the absence of unsafe practices. The employee charged with supervision who has a knowledge that employees under his jurisdiction are indulging in practices that involve risk of injury to themselves or others,- and who fails to take proper corrective- meas ures, is morally responsible for any- accidents that may result.
"If a yardmaster makes up his mind that he is going to put a stop
to unsafe practices in his yard and goes at it with determination and
Railroad Sectiottal Meeting
567
persistence, there will be very few accidents in that yard. The same is true in the shop if a foreman will take such a stand. There is a no more enviable thing for a yardmaster or foreman to strive for than a record of no serious injuries or deaths among the men under his jurisdiction; and such a record can be attained if the man in charge insists at all times that work shall be done only in a safe way. The prevention of accident means a great deal to you and the men under you and to the railroad company. All who are charged with supervision are earnestly requested to give this matter serious consideration and make a determined effort to eliminate practices that may result in injury."
Mr. Carroll: Who" did you say put that out?
Chairman Dow: That was sent out by the general manager on each road. Now I think that is a very important matter, something that every one here ought to remember when they go back to their respective roads. Because you cannot expect the men in the ranks to co-operate with you in this safety work if the men who have direct supervision of their work are not interested and are not good live safety men.
Mr. R. P. Kyle (El Paso & Southwestern) : Mr. Chairman, that last bulletin that you brought up, I want to say that I took that up with our management, and after referring it to the attorneys they said that if we issued such a bulletin as that we would in every case of accident lay ourselves liable for such an accident; that we put it up to the foremen and supervisors that they should prevent every accident, and when an accident does occur they can take that 'report and say, "You were morally responsible for this accident, because you say that you shall see that accidents do not happen."
Chairman Dow: Morally responsible, it says.
Mr. Kyle: Well, legally, so it worked out, they claimed it would
work out.
Chairman Dow: This matter was considered by our legal de partment before we put it out and they decided that there was no objection to the bulletin.
Mr. E. M. Sweitzer (Chicago, Burlington & Quincy): Mr. Chairman, I heard about that circular that you just read some time
568 Fourth Safety Congress
ago. In fact you sent me a copy
Get the Habit
of it and it was a good idea, and I wrote a similar circular, which
our vice-president sent out, and it
Recklessness is no indication of cour age; brave men are always cautious, therefore, cultivate
was sent to every man charged with responsibility, and I would like to say that it did a great deal of good. Now as to the legal aspect of the matter, I do not think that it ever got us into any trouble at
the habit of being
all. I never heard of a case where
careful.
a man got hurt and this letter from
the vice-president was brought up
in any way that would hurt us in
effecting a settlement. On the other hand, it has done a great deal
of good and before a great while I am going to have another one
gotten out.
Chairman Dow! I will tell you one of the results of that bulletin on our system. Within two weeks after it was sent out the yard-
master in the yard at Rochester organized a sub-committee right along the same lines as the division safety committee, in his yard. He picked out six or eight brakemen and conductors and he put them on this committee. He wrote in and got a copy of some of these rules which I have just read to you; he got some of our blanks.
He said, "I am going to have a committee of my own out in the yard. I am going to prevent these accidents." He took it up with the superintendent who decided that this yardmaster, who was a member of the permanent committee, should make a report to the division committee of the work of his sub-committee in the same manner that the division committee reports to the general superinten dent and myself. And the reports of this sub-committee are just as
full of information and interest as the division committee reports. They are even assigning these topics which come to the division com mittees for discussion out in their yards, and they were so enthusias tic about it in the Rochester yard that we sent the information out to all the officials, and those sub-committees have been organized in practical!}' every large yard in the system and we are getting right down to the meat of the thing. I think that circular had a great deal
Railroad Sectional Meeting
569
to do with it. Now is there any further discussion on this topic? I think I have taken about enough
Once Is Enough
of your time.
--
Mr. McKenzie (Pennsylvania Lines East) : I was forcibly im
Investigate every accident that hap
pressed last evening in the address
pens in your gang,
of Chancellor S. B. McCormick when he referred to the second com mandment, to love your neighbor
and try to prevent an accident occurring in
as yourself. I believe if we would
a like manner.
adopt the Billy Sunday plan of
personal work we could do about as
much for safety as we can with rules; go to each man and interest
him with the fact that if he gets killed you are going to lose a good
friend; while you won't get his job but get the same wages and get
promotion, you would rather have him than wages. I know * I have
worked successfully with a number of men on the booze question. It
means discharge on our road if they find out you take too much booze.
These were young railroad men and I personally interested myself
enough to ask them to cut it out for the sake of their families and for
my sake, because I didn't want to lose them. I believe that we could
handle this question, show them the loss to their families by deprecia
tion in value as an employee if they are crippled. In our department
we are very fortunate to have a set of officials who try to find them
employment at regular wages when they are disabled, so that in the
line of engines they put them on the same work that I do as an
engineer. And there are quite a few systems where if a man falls
down physically he must fall down financially. I think if we put it
up from the laborer or the trackman, right up to the higher officials,
that we are losing a friend and his family is losing a supporter, that
we would instill into him a conviction that we are directly interested
in him and we are thereby fulfilling the commands of the Almighty.
It seems to me we would be our brother's keeper. That is, we are
now trying to pass booze laws to take care of the inebriate after
he is a total wreck in this state. We have to pay taxes to keep
up the asylums and there is no reason why we should not just
save those taxes by a little personal work and save the man
?. 'WWW
: ! ujat^rtwest
570
Fourth Safety Congress
before he becomes a wreck either as a drunk or as a cripple. (Applause.)
:Mr. Carrolt. It seems that I always follow a Pennsylvania Rail road man in trying" to get one over. I have often wondered at a
safety meeting how the division superintendents of the various divisions which we all represent would feel if they were present. It seems to me that there is something more fundamental in this safety problem than we have reached as yet. It is not to be expected
that we have covered the whole road in the four or five years that we have been progressing--and I am using the word "we" now collectively as the railroad, and 3rou are very much alike. I spoke of something fundamental in the safety question; and that I believe to be the relation of the superintendent to safety. For after all it does not matter what you do, unless it is done from the superin tendent down the line, it is not of a permanent character. Several years ago we received in our office a pamphlet of the safety com mittee's report of xme of the big western roads. It contained a great number of recommendations. There were bridges that needed grading, there was material piled along the track too close for clearance ; there were telegraph poles that would not admit of a man to pass: there were men engaged in practices that were specifically forbidden by the rules. Some of our officials wrote a letter to the officer under whose jurisdiction I worked and asked him what he thought of the bulletin; and my officer gave it to me to make an analysis of it. The bulletin corresponded in all particulars to the
reports that we make and reports that you make. It was simply a combination of the recommendations made by the various companies of that particular railroad.
Well, the first thing that struck my attention was a number of conditions that were obviously wrong in the maintenance of way department. Then ! asked myself the question why should a safety committee have to call attention to the conditions that were out of whack in the maintenance of way department? Then I went a little further and I found out the other departments were out of order. I asked myself the question again, why should these departments be held to account by a safety committee? I do not want to be mis understood in what I am endeavoring to say. It is a very, very keen question: and unless one is very proficient in the use of English,
: fmmrnm
-t |
Railroad Sectional Meeting
571
unless his thoughts are very clear, he is liable to be confused; and I do not want to detract one iota from the good that is accomplished by safety organizations nor by the safety committees. But I do want to call your attention to this fact: that we should not get the duties of the superintendent' confused with the duties of the safety committees.
Now personally I made an inspection at a big freight station where several hundred men are employed. That was two' years ago. And I discovered that all the men at that station were re quired to walk over the yard tracks, twenty-five in number, and two high-speed passenger tracks. Upon that inquiry I found that a bridge was contemplated/_I returned to that station a year or so afterwards and the bridge had been erected. The columns sup porting the bridge were placed between two tracks at right angles with the bridge, but diagonal to the tracks, and they had a scant clearance of four feet seven inches, which is the minimum on rail roads. By slightly slewing the column we could have gotten a
clearance of say five feet or five feet and a half. The point which I wish to illustrate by that is that the maintenance
of way department failed to recognize their full duty in the con struction of that bridge. So getting back to my original proposi tion, that we must not get the functions of the superintendent con fused with the functions of the safety committees, I think that the management in the future on all railroads will hold the division su perintendent and his subordinate officials accountable for these con
ditions that are being constantly discovered by safety committees. In fact, unless we arrive at some means whereby the division or ganization itself, through the instrumentalities of the general offices where the information is collected, in this way arrive at some means whereby a division superintendent will have it in his power--he does have it in his power--fwhereby he will see to it that everything is done that can be done to make the railroad safe, I think that any results we accomplish will not be permanent.
We have often heard the question of whether it is considered proper to impose discipline for infractions of rules and regulations discovered by safety committees. It is obviously not proper, but a proper organization covers^ that by having men detailed for that purpose who are part of J:he organization. On our railroad we call them efficiency checkers. Men go around the division all the
572 Fourth Safety Congress
time looking for conditions that are
WHY?
wrong and for practices that' are dangerous.
If I have made myself clear I
"Most men who sure crippled in busi ness have a lame ex cuse." But what is the use of being crip pled if we can be
am happy. I want to conclude by saying we should be very careful and jealous of the authority of the superintendent and instead of work ing from without within we should work from within without, and sup port the superintendent and try to
safe?
increase his authority to the last degree, so that when he says go it
means go, and when he says do this,
it means do that. So when the manager takes an inventory of his
safety he will find that the division superintendent is the Johnnie on
the spot. On most divisions I believe that most superintendents are interested in this subject, deeply interested in it, and there is no ques
tion about devising ways and means to see that they are interested.
And if we can get a permanent method instituted whereby the gen
eral manager and all other executive officials are assured that the
superintendent is vitally interested, and not only vitally interested but
taking every step that is within his power to make operation safe, I think the result in safety will be of a very much more permanent
character than can be obtained in any other way. I thank you.
(Applause.) __
Mr. II. J. Bell (Chicago & Northwestern) : Mr. Chairman, I think, in view of what Mr. Kyle said, that I ought to state that on
the Northwestern Railway we try in every way that we can to add to the importance of the work of the safety committee. We try to get them to understand that the safety committee does not consist of the superintendent and the other officials of the division, but that every member of the safety committee is as much a part of the committee as the superintendent. In other words, we try to let those men go into a safety committee meeting, not as agents, conductors, brakemen or superintendents, but as a safety committee.
I think we all realize that this whole matter gets down to the propo sition of supervision, and I do not believe on any railroad in this
JjjK: WBlMiWI -
BMM-L tifiii
Tlan. ..as-isi.
Railroad Sectional Meeting
573
country we have too much super
vision.' So that therefore the more supervision and inspection we can
WORK
get on the part of the members of
committees, so much more success
It takes longer to
fully are we going to conduct our
figure out how to get
safety campaign.
"T
One thing, for instance, that will
illustrate that matter is that re
cently one of our safety commit
money without work ing than to get the money working. We
tees made the suggestion that when
work best with good
any man on the division was found
eyes, hands and feet.
to do careless or thoughtless things
that he should be written a letter by
the superintendent or by the safety committee. We put that matter
up to the various committees on the road and there was a very great
deal of discussion as to how that matter should be handled. In other
words, the members of the committee objected to reporting careless
practices to the superintendent for fear that the man who was re
ported would be disciplined. So that they devised the plan of having
this notice or letter sent by the Wisconsin Division Safety Commit
tee, for instance; not by the superintendent, not by any member
of the committee, but by the committee as a whole. We think that
is going to do very good work.
Now in connection with the matter of discipline, I agree with
Mr. Carroll decidedly, that except in unusual cases discipline should
not be administered when a report of a careless practice is made
by a member of the safety committee. In fact, we have said to our
men. very candidly and repeatedly and right now we have on the
press a printed bulletin calling attention to that fact, that the man
agement has expressly agreed that no one will be disciplined the
first time that he is reported by a member of the safety committee,
it does not make any difference what he does. Now we think with
that assurance that we are going to get more reports of careless
practices; and certainly we all agree that carelessness is the one
thing which today we have got to work hardest to overcome. I
want to say, if I may, Mr. 'Chairman, just one thing about the tres
passer matter that I did not have the opportunity to bring out yes
terday. I don't know whether you gentlemen all appreciate it or
;;k qg:.gstaj
574
Fourth Safety Congress
not, but the National Association of Railway Commissioners re cently took cognizance of the very great importance of the tres passer matter. They appointed a committee which drafted a law,
a trespass law, and sent it to the Governor of every state in the country. I do not believe that the law was passed in any. state, unfortunately. Notwithstanding that it seems to me that that is a very good stepping-stone for us to use to get legislation of that kind. That law empowers section foremen and station agents to make arrests, not as employees of the railroad company but as deputy sheriffs. In other words, they automatically, the moment they arrested any ohe, became an employee of the state; so that, as I understand it, that would preclude any possibility of the railway company being charged with false imprisonment or anything of
that kind. You also know that the Interstate Commerce Commission isf? es
figures showing the number of people killed and injured in any way
on all the railroads in the country. The New York Central Lines and the Northwestern Railway made an analysis of the personal status of these people and determined that a certain percentage of them were the so-called transients, hoboes, drunks and so forth, a certain percentage children below fourteen years of age and another certain percentage, I think sixty-six per cent, were citizens of the locality in which the accident happened, for the most part wage earners. We got out that information in a circular diagram form, assigning these different percentages to different parts of the dia gram. Now we are consolidating that circular with the proposed bill of the National Railway Commissioners in a little card form and we give that as wide distribution as we can; because we know the only way we can stop the trespassing proposition, and thereby the only way we are going to get a law on the subject, is by creating public sentiment, getting the people to appreciate the real impor tance of that subject. Now as I say, we get those cards out, get as
wide distribution as we can. We are now getting out a govern ment postal card covering that same information, which is going to be sent by every employee of the company who sees a child, for instance, walking on the railroad track, playing on the cars, we are going to send that card by United States mail to the parents of that child and ask their co-operation in stopping that kind of business.
We recently had electrotype newspaper plates made of that card
aJiiaJL
-*WH
Railroad Sectional Meeting
575
and gave it to a' great many newspapers; in fact, the newspapers of . all representative really large cities along our line o railroad, with out any particular comment, thinking that it we could get the papers to publish that as pure reading matter it would attract more atten tion than if it was put through in any other way. It is also the plan to have that card of information' in an enlarged form placed in every station or building on the line of railroad.
I tell you these things, gentlemen, because I think if we will all do our own fair share of promoting and disseminating information in regard to the trespass matter that we will get farther than we. will in any other way, and we will get there very quickly. I thank you. (Applause.)
Mr. Howard Elliott (San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake) : What our brother locomotive engineer said about Billy Sunday leads
me to say that while I am thoroughly in accord with the idea of
p rsonal work, we have come to the conclusion that that is not based,
the conduct of a safety campaign, on the same lines as a religious
revival, but the after effects ot it are sometimes worse than though
we had no campaign. We have been very careful, extremely care
ful, on the Salt Lake Road, not to overload our employees with
advice and reading matter. We have so far this year issued but
five pieces of literature, each one of which was only one page long.
If we have any method it is to he brief. One of these was on tres
passing, which was copied, I think, about five hundred times in
practically every paper from Salt Lake City to San Pedro, Califor
nia, and many other papers; and I may say that we are indebted
to Mr. Dow for two or three sentences in that bulletin re
garding the proportion of trespassers who were citizens of
the community.
We issued another in regard to auto drivers and grade crossings,
and the manager told me he was having ten thousand copies of that
printed for issue.
_
I want to say for the benefit of the meeting that I think it has
been our experience and it is my opinion that it is a good deal better
to give employees too little, to give the employees less literature,
than to overload them. We find the best results come from giving
such an amount of literature that they are hungry for more. I
want to say on our railroad, where they started out with three in-
***.
.... tm n iiiiBiMmmiifiiiifitiii..
576
Fourth Safety Congress
Every Tub--
juries per day, that now they have reduced it to one per day, regard less to the time lost.
Every man is the
Chairman- Dow: A few min
sole proprietor of his
utes ago I told you about the
own shoes. But he wants to keep on the good side of Safety
method of assigning topics to the members of our committees to read papers on and discuss. Mr. Bell brought up the question a few min
to be able to wear a
utes ago of the members of the
pair.
committees doing their work as
committee members and not as a
brakeman 6r conductor or some
other particular employee. Here is the recommendation which we
printed in our bulletin from the agent of one of our divisions on
the Michigan Central. This is a fireman:
"Safety Committees should not confine their work to their own
department but should observe practices and conditions in other
departments, because men seeing the same things every day can easily overlook an unsafe condition or practice."
I think the thought there is a very good one. Some of these rec ommendations are made from the men in the ranks. I will read two or three, because they may give some information that would be of value to you.
An agent on the Michigan Central says: "Member of a safety committee reporting an incorrect condition should state from whom he received the report and person who made the report should be given worthy mention by letter from the Chairman of the Commit tee, as this would encourage others to make reports."
An engineer on the Michigan Central says:
"To further promote `Safety First,' I talk to all `Knockers' and
change their ideas, if possible, to those of a `Booster.' I have found that a knocker is the safety movement's worst enemy and when he is changed to a booster he is one of its best workers."
A conductor on the Big Four says:
"I suggest that in addition to the regular meeting of the Division Safety Committee that frequent meetings be held at terminals, at
.JgEgsiaM., --I
LJbhhwmii: Uml-LjU. msah
Railroad Sectional Meeting
577
which meetings not only members
of Committees but other employees and their families be invited to at
Don't Be Too Sure
tend. The Chairman of the Local
Committee or his . assistant should
You may be able
preside at such meetings. This would give every one a chance to speak on the safety subject. ' The report of such meeting should be
read at the next meeting of the
to see through the hole in a grindstone, but you can not tell how soon some care
Division Safety Committee."
less act may result in
His idea there, is to have a sort
an accident.
of Round Table meeting, such as
we are having here, and let all the
employees get into it and discuss any topic, any subject which may
come to their minds.
A conductor on the Big Four says practically the same thing:
"A short Safety Meeting should be held in all departments every
three or- four weeks to keep before them the safe way of doing their
work. A new employee should be carefully watched and in a reas
onable length of time, if found to be of unsafe habits, he should be
cautioned before causing injury to himself or others."
The next One is a very good suggestion, it seems to me, and one
that I think we will adopt. One of our road foremen of engines
says:
.
"I think it would be a good plan to have the ex-members of our
Committees required to make reports of having cautioned other em
ployees against unsafe practices, the same as the present Committee
members are doing."
What do we do with our committee members after their term of
service has expired ? Do we just let them go and take it for granted
that they are going to keep on in safety work, keep up their interest,
and in other words carry out the work that we put them on that
committee and trained them to do, or do we follow it out by having
reports from those ex-committee members, keep in touch with them'
and find out whether they are really following out the work which
we trained them to do in the safety line?
One of our master mechanics says:
"We have. decided to hold frequent meetings for all men era-
578
Fourth Safety Congress
ployed in this department to discuss the safety movement. We have recently held such meetings at practically all points on this division. These meetings have been very informal and have been presided over either by myself or my assistant and are held either in the round house foreman's office or right in the shop. At these meetings the foreman has called the men's attention to the manner of doing their work in a safe way and using proper tools and appliances at all
times."
Mr. L. F. Shedd (Rock Island Line) : In reference to the report compiled and distributed by the Interstate Commerce Commission-- I speak of their monthly bulletin--it conveys to me two very instruc tive subjects handled in the bulletin and with considerable emphasis by that body. I refer to their criticism of the railroads for a lack of supervision--understand, not a lack of supervisors but a lack of supervision--as well as to the indifference of their very high person
nel to questions of personal injury and death caused by their roads. In other words, they call it a dereliction on the part of employees. I believe in connection with all the literature that we are getting out,
that we should not as the representatives of railroads overlook these two very important features. The Interstate Commerce Commis sion's reports are about the only ones that I use in any particular talks. I do not do much talking. We have to believe all they say, whether we want to or not. The first paragraph states where it occurred and when it occurred; the second' paragraph, if you will
note, of the report goes directly as to who is to blame, and they tell us to just refer tor the report of 1913, which says that sixty-three per cent of the accidents investigated by them were caused, and of course injuries and death resulting therefrom, from dereliction on the part of employees. In 1914 it had increased to seventy-five per
cent.
Gentlemen, they are sounding a warning, as I believe. I do not want to be considered a pessimist but I believe they are telling us something is going to be done pretty soon or there will be a change of heart. And I believe it behooves us as railroad men to seriously consider those two propositions. I believe that the best results in
our safety work can be attained if we as safety men will inaugurate, as far as we can, a. campaign and try to advance it, through which better supervision will be obtained; not more supervisors, gentlemen.
'U..rpj pftr :jn"IWBV "tfT'tBBliJjJIJlljI
Railroad Sectional Meeting
579
but better supervision and a closer adherence to the rules. I am not criticising managers or employees, I am talking of the facts pre sented by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
I have in mind a criticism of the Interstate Commerce Commission of how the methods of several men were considered on a slow piece of track. On that piece of track an accident occurred. The Inter state Commerce Commission, after taking up the report, told the railroad that in sixty days there was but one train on that railroad that could possibly have obeyed the. special instructions and gotten over that piece of track. That all goes to the matter of supervision. In conclusion the train-dispatcher was in a position to know whether that was going on. I don't know whether he did or not. Assuming that he did know, he is guilty. If he did not know he is guilty. Gentlemen, I merely mention these as they occur to me. I have not much time to work up literature because the railroad that I have the privilege of representing is not very strong on literature. But those things are the things that go right to the seat of our work. We ought to watch those things as far as we can. and not just stop by sending out literature and catching hold of the safety committee, but let us go a little further. Let us drop in the dispatcher's office, you fellows who have an opportunity. Let us look over the train sheets. They will think you are butting in, but let us check out the train sheets.
Mr. Carroll: Are you suggesting now that the safety inspector check out the train sheets ?
Mr. Shedd: No, I am only offering a suggestion. I say you fellows who have the opportunity, let us talk to the train dispatcher. In other words, let us get up among those fellows--I doubt if one of them ever attended a safety meeting; I don't think I ever saw one at any meeting. I am not criticising the train dispatchers. Let us go a little further, the employees who handle those train orders, if you want to do it. I am not doing this in a critical way, but just to get it before you. But let us get down and think about those things. There have been some very eminent articles written in connection with violations of the rules of the railroad. I want to tell you that I am a stickler for compliance with the rules. These rules are put in a book---the transportation rules, I speak of now. They are simply the result of a life spent in energy and effort on
580 Fourth Safety Congress
the part of the brightest railroad
The Benefit of
men the world has ever known; and I feel as though our fellows
the Doubt
and you fellows ought not to take those rules in their hands as they
Just because a
have been doing. Mind you, I
man doesn't drink is no sign he isn't thirsty, and because a man is injured is no
am taking the report of the Inter state Commerce Commission that they have been doing it. You can
get those reports for twenty cents each month. And that august body
sign he was careless.
hammers on those two points,
lack of supervision and violation
of rules. That is why the report
that Mr. Carroll spoke of awhile ago was possible, the lack of super
vision on somebody's part, permitting the material to lie around, or
there may be a bridge in a condition which the safety movement or
the safety committee said it was in. And just briefly all those things
come to the point of the improper supervision, lack of supervision.
I thank you. (Applause.)
Mr. F. T. Bowler (Pennsylvania Lines East) : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen: I do not have access to the literature that the ma jority of you do have, but 1 have had considerable experience in a personal way. I am chairman of a safety committee on the Maryland Division; and listening to the gentleman who just took his seat about the violation of rules, he certainly cannot mean the Pennsyl vania Railroad. We do not violate rules on the Pennsylvania Rail road. We do not keep men who do violate them. As to the train, dispatcher, he has no more authority to violate a rule of the Pennsyl vania Railroad than the man who tamps ties. The superintendent himself does not violate them.
Speaking of taking a chance over a slow road and under adverse conditions for making time, I was in the general manager's office one time discussing certain matters and the engineer of one of the divisions said that the train dispatcher had taken him to task for not making time on a certain train in fog, when he didn't consider it safe. He said he had the letter and he asked the man what he could do for him. He said: "Well, I will attend to the train dis-
Jib
Railroad Sectional Meeting
581
patcher. Furthermore," he said,
"gentlemen, we want it distinctly understood that we don't want train dispatchers to jeopardize our road and our employees and the
Switchmen, Take Notice!
public for the sake of building a reputation of getting a train over
Never attempt to
the road on time. We want it understood distinctly that we want
to save men;" and, making use of his words, he said: "To hell
make a coupling or work between cars on the short side of
with the time." That is the kind
a curve.
of men we have to run the Penn
sylvania Railroad.
My experience has been that the men of the safety committees, a
great many men find fault with safety committees, and the conse
quence is I make enemies by taking men to task about violating little
safety rules; that is, getting off on the wrong side of a train ad
joining a track where there are trains going by almost every minute;
other cases of getting on engines moving forward towards them;
other cases of getting off just before the train stops. All of those
things are done daily, ami when they are not in sight of s' ^ officer
or some member of the safety committee they will cont ; to be
done until somebody suffers. And there have been a
c many
of them that did suffer. We have got men today that h; ; only one
hand and no feet from the effect of just such accidents
Now we want to profit by the experience of of'- and to get
closer to the man himself, to picture to the man v at he will do to
himself and his family after he has done a little olhardy trick to
get home sooner or get off quicker, or get the t n started sooner,
or not having the engineer come to a dead stop tc 3et on, and making
an invalid of himself and a burden .to himseli and his family his
entire life.
The object of the safety committee was to better the conditions
of the company, better the conditions of the men, better the condi
tions of the facilities, and to keep up at the same time the gratifica
tion of the public and the safety of the public. Now I see every
day of my life--and I work every day that I am allowed to, and I
see in every day of the days that I work; when I have got no work
igsMMMmmMmtmm:-
>wm i m:
582
Fourth Safety Congress
I am not around the railroad; I stay home--I see some little thing
that is done wrong. The average railroad man of any experience
knows, I think, when he is doing wrong. Now what we want to
inculcate in the minds of our employees is that the safety committee
is not intended as a vigilance committee, but to get after the little
things that cause the Joss of a finger, eyesight or arm or leg.
Not long ago I went through the shops--I am going to tell you
a little incident that won't take but a very few minutes--where they
cut up old boilers and make washers of them; cut them up in strips
in a punching machine that works about like that. (Illustrating.)
Each one of them is cutting two of the pieces. There is a pair of
tongs provided for the men to put that in the shears and cut it off.
The man operating^it had been instructed time and time again not
to do that with his bare fingers, because if he put them in too far
he would cut his Jingers off. I looked at him for a few minutes
and he said, "I make better time." I said, "Which is the best time,
to save a few minutes or go all the rest of your life without two or
three fingers?" Another man had his thumb cut off after I had
been talking to him, because he removed the guard off a saw. I
went and talked with him and I said, "How did you lose your
thumb?" "Cut it off on that thing." I said, "With the guard on
it?" "No, I took it off."
. That is the conduct of a great many men in our shops, but we are getting away from that; and I could stand here and talk to you a
whole hour on what I have seen, but it would take too much time,
and it has all been covered by the gentlemen who talked
before me.
.==
Now, speaking of grade crossings, we have only one way of get
ting rid of grade crossing accidents, and that is you people who are
privileged to vote for our national legislators get them to make a
law accompanied by a penalty to everybody trespassing and who
does not stop, look and listen. The Ford automobile man said
yesterday, if I understood him, that he wanted the railroad to slow
down at each crossing so that the automobiles could get by. Now
when you weigh that and put it into actual service, on a run of
two hundred and twenty-four miles on a fast passenger train I be
lieve there are about two hundred grade crossings.
:Mr. Carroll Seven hundred and eighty.
Railroad Sectional Meeting
583
-M. Bowler: Well, I sa'y two hundred important ones, where there are a whole lot of people go by every day. That run is made
in two hours and forty-seven minutes, with long stops. If you would slow down sufficiently to justify the automobile men to pass over each one of these crossings it would take nineteen hours to make that trip, and they would not be satisfied, the railroad would not be satisfied and there would not be any money in conducting a railroad of that caliber. And the automobile man in that day's travel, or in that four hours' travel, he might cross one single rail road, and I doubt if he would cross more than two. I was only last Saturday going over on train 70, running about forty-five miles an hour, had slowed down a little. Just there was a track tank and a very short distance from the track tank there was a grade cross ing, infrequently used. It was not an important crossing. A man came up in a buggy, an old man seventy years of age. The batik is cut away and the bushes, so that the road will be plainly seen from a long distance each side. There were two painters painting at the station. This man came up and stopped. I blew the whistle for the crossing. As X say, he came up and stopped. About the time I blew the whistle he started to move. The painters tried to stop him and he paid no attention to them. He said: "Attend to your own business;" and he drove right up on the track ahead of me, and the horse went across and the buggy and he went to eternal destruction. Now that is one case. A few days prior to that--we
have a place where four "tracks merge, and in starting I am just as likely to run on No. 1 as I am No. 2 with this train. I went down No. 2 track. Sitting in the middle of the track, between Cwo grade crossings, in between the rails, no further than from here across the street, was a little baby girl, under four years of age, playing in the middle of the track, arid could hardly get over the rail. When I saw her sitting there it put me in a quandary. I didn't know what to do. But it was out of my way. She got up and turned around and smiled back to us and did little things like that. (Illustrating.) The next telegraph office was only a hundred yards from there and I stopped and notified the superintendent that such was the case. Now I would just as likely have been running in No. 1 track ad No. 2. All the power under heaven would never have saved me from going over that little innocent baby, playing where she thought she had a perfect right to.
584
Fourth Safety Congress
Now, my friends, brothers, rail
*`Trust to Luck"
road people and gentlemen, what we want is law. That baby could
not be punished by law, but the
Employees must not trust to the care exercised by another when their own safe ty is involved. Be
parents or the people who had that baby under control should be
imprisoned for negligence. If we do anything wrong the first thing we' hear about is contributory negligence on the part of the
sure of your own
man who was handling the train.
safety.
--
Now we will put the contribu tory negligence on the part of
the parents or mother who was ~
handling the baby or who drove the buggy.
Now I want to say just a little more and that is this: we speak
of disciplining the men who are making a safety committee report.
I want it understood as my views that it would be the worst thing
that ever was imposed on the safety committee. We do not want
employees to think that safety committees are to get them into
trouble, but to keep them out; and the hearty co-operation of all
the employees with the safety committee and the hearty co-opera-
tion between the safety committee and the employees. We are
trying to have a more and more hearty co-operation of the members
of the safety committee itself and the men in general and govern
ing officials. I thank you. (Applause.)
Mr. F. H. Hansen (New York Central) : I want to say that I work for the New York Central Railroad Company and I believe
it is on a par with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. (Laugh ter.) And I am satisfied--in fact, I know--that there are rules that are violated on the New York Central Railroad, not because the officials do not do everything they can to have these rules lived up to, and I am satisfied that the same conditions, taking the speaker's own argument, are in effect on the Pennsylvania. For example,
he called attention to the case of where a man had lost his thumb bv operating a saw. He stated how this man was asked how he
came to do this. He had removed the guard from the saw. I be lieve every railroad company has instructions out, absolute instruc-
Railroad Sectional Meeting
585
tions, not to use any saws with
out the guard is in proper condi tion, and consequently he was vio
Moving Cars
lating the rules.
He also made the remark about men jumping off and on the engine while in motion and some o them, most of us all, push draw bars over and so forth. Wasn't this violating the rules of the com
Be sure to warn teamsters and others working in or about cars before coupling to moving cars. - Do
pany? Now, with all due respect
not allow men in
to the gentleman who spoke and
moving cars.
the railroad he represents, I believe
that every railroad in the coun
try has employees who are constantly violating the rules, or we
would not begin to have the accidents we are having.
In regard to subject No. 5, I am a strong believer in sub-commit
tees. As the chairman spoke sometime ago about the yardmaster
inaugurating sub-committees and holding meetings, this same sub
ject was sent out by our chairman and brought up a few months
ago by one of our superintendents. We were asked what we would
suggest .to advance the safety movement. I made a suggestion at
that meeting that we did not go down into the rank and file suffi
ciently, or, in other words, did not have sufficient representation
from the shop and tracks and so forth on these committees. He
suggested at that time, at the close of the meeting, that before our
next meeting was called, which would be in sixty days, that we
try that matter out. As a result I visited some of our shop points
in the car department with which I am connected, called the various
foremen and shop inspectors, piece work inspectors and others into
the meeting, gave them a talk on the same line as our superintend
ent had given us a talk, tried to have them understand the impor
tance of calling all the men's attention to the safety movement,
and when they found some one who was violating the safety in
structions or following unsafe practices that they should not go up
to him and commence damning the man and tell him if he didn't
quit this, that or the other he would he dismissed, but to go up and
talk to them and show them what the result might be, who would
be the one who would have to suffer if they lost a limb or died.
586 __ Fourth Safety Congress
These foremen in our large shops at Cleveland, I had some seven teen or eighteen of them at that meeting--these foremen went back and selected sub-foremen out of their respective departments and employees in accordance with the number of men employed under them. They had the same kind of meetings, gave their men the same kind of instructions, and within the next thirty or sixty days, before our next division meeting was held, these employees all re ported in to their foremen. Their foremen in turn reported to the general foreman and it finally came to our office; and when our report went to the superintendent's office at the next meeting, in turn they were forwarded, the majority of them, to the General Safety Agent. After trying this out for sixty days, I asked at a meeting a few days before the division meeting was held, what each one of them thought of that movement; and to a man they thought, from the results and change in the spirit of the men they had talked to, it was a very good thing. One of the committee men said a few days after having attended a meeting, he noticed a man going across the tracks to get a pail of water. The cars were about four feet apart in one case_and when he went across with his pail and when he came back he went through again. He could have gone two car lengths further and got a clear track. This committee man went over and called the man's attention to the danger he was in, passing between two cars instead of going around the end of the train. He said at first the man went on as though he didn't understand him. But he motioned in passing through there the cars might have come
together by cars being thrown on the track and he said he had better go around the other way. Inside of a couple hours after that the man picked up his pail and started after another bucket of water, and he noticed that he went around the end of the train. When he came back he did the same thing.
Another instance at the Cleveland passenger station, I was stand ing there waiting to take the train one morning and a man that had been in our employ twenty-five or twenty-six years, possibly longer, was instructed to make a cut between the smoker and a coach, as they wanted to put another car in the train. The cut was made and this man didn't see me standing there among the other passen gers and employees. As soon as that cut was made the engine with the baggage car and smoker started to pull away, to pick up this other coach. As soon as these cars had parted possibly two
--mnwiiMtuiii
mrnmmmmmmmmmmmm
Railroad Sectional Meeting
587
feet this man stepped through from one side to the other, went to step through. As he did so the switch engine from behind, which was also switching on the rear end of the train, threw a car across on the track and struck these cars. Every one let a yell out, includ ing myself, and the man just barely jumped out in time. He turned around and smiled. And this was the next day after we had the meeting in the superintendent's office that I have spoken of. A few days after that we had our shop meeting and I instructed our men to have this particular man attend this meeting. I mentioned what I had seen a morning or two before that. I noticed this man sitting there; I didn't mention any names because the man was getting fidgety; he knew I was referring to him, although he didn't see-me. I asked him in the presence of the rest of the employees whether he realized the danger he was in, what might be the results. He candidly said he had done that hundreds of times before, possibly, but never had been caught and never thought really what the danger was. But he said to me, "From this time on I will guarantee that you or no one else will see me taking that kind of a chance. It never was explained to me what the result might have been." Now I turned around and put him on as a member of this committee. He is serving on that committee today as near as I know. The foremen of these sub-committees have the privilege and power of changing them every two or three months, so that some new mem bers are coming on all the time, and we believe that that is a move in the right direction.
:Chairman Dow There is a gentleman here who has been pass ing in and out of this meeting and every time I have had a glance of him I have been busy and every time I would turn around I would see his coat tails going out the door. I have caught him here now and I want to ask the President of the Philadelphia Local Council to say a few words to the Railroad Section, Dr. F. B.
Patterson.
Dr. .-F. D. :Patterson Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the Railroad Section: It is a privilege to me to have the opportunity of being here this morning to make a few remarks to the Railroad Section upon several subjects which are very, very close to my heart at this time. I have listened with keen interest to what you men have said upon the subject of getting laws upon our statute books
588 Fourth Safety Congress
to make trespassing, I hope, a fel
INDIFFERENCE
ony. But I want to say to you men that no law that goes upon
the statute books, be it one of the
Indifference to the safely of others may
states of this Union or passed by act of Congress, is going to be of the slightest value at all unless you
place your own life,
take and put behind that law an
or that of a member of your family in
educated public sentiment that is going to have that law enforced. What we want in America, to my
danger.
mind, is not more laws to clutter
up the already overfilled statute
books of the various states and the
Federal Government; but what we need and what you men can and
will give us is the education of the general public so that every man,
woman and child living in this great industrial commonwealth, or
any other commonwealth that makes up this Union, will know in
his heart and know in his mind and never forget that the shortcut
of trespassing upon the tracks of any railroad, be it steam or electric,
may be a shortcut, not to their place of business, to their school or
wherever they are going, but it is a shortcut either to the morgue or
the hospital. Education, which has been so ably carried on by your efficient
and genial Chairman, Mr. Dow, along his lines, is to my mind the
keystone in the arch that is going to carry us across the railroad
tracks at the crossings in safety.
I have the honor to serve--and it is always an honor to be asso
ciated in any way at all with that dean of the safety movement,
whom I respect, admire and love, Ralph C. Richards, as a member
of a committee of_ this National Council. We have a committee,
and some of you gentlemen may not have been here at the time that
I had the honor o getting up and making a report of that commit
tee. which is known as the Universal Danger Sign Committee; and
it is going to be our aim, our object, to try step by step to reach the
goal when we may have a universal danger sign, which by its color
or colors and by its shape, is going to say to every man, woman and '
child, no matter what language they speak, that "Here is Danger."
On behalf of that committee I want to get the help, and I need it,
iMiaiMSeSiMMSa&SBBg*
jariaraaagmi
Railroad Sectional Meeting
589
gentlemen, of every one of you men
in the railroad game to try to show us what is the light. We will send
Safety Habit
you from time to time for you to
try out and experiment with, sam ples of our signs, and we want you
It is better to lose
to frankly criticize them as you
a minute in avoiding
may find that they work out in
an accident than a
actual practice. In closing, if the Railroad Sec
tion of this' National Safety Coun
month in nursing an injury. GET THE
cil will, for the sake of the men
SAFETY HABIT.
who drive automobiles upon the
highways of our land, adopt stand
ards and put out upon every railroad crossing two things: in the
first place, a sign five hundred feet distant from that crossing, so
that the man at the wheel of that automobile may know he is coming
on a railroad; and a second sign right at the railroad itself, visible
day and night; I want To say that you will do a work which will
get the thanks and which will have as its reward the thousands and
thousands of lives that are needlessly sacrificed upon our highways
today. ( Applause.)
Mr. E. R. Scoville ^Baltimore & Ohio) : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen: I will not take up much of your time, but there are a
few things here I thought might interest you. On the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad we conduct a safety campaign very similar to that as it is conducted on the New York Central Lines, except that our rotating committeemen are appointed for a period of three months instead of six; that being so with an idea of getting more men on the committees to understand the work, consequently we thought more men would be interested. in the safety work.
Our divisional safety committee meetings are scheduled in a man ner which permits a member of the General Safety Committee to visit each meeting. There are twenty divisions and we print a schedule which carries the dates of the meetings over a period of six months. And I have had the pleasure of visiting every Division Safety Committee held on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the last twenty months. --
i-a.i!- irwxmm a^iasa.
jaasfc MWiM ^Vi'.'garuii,-.;
590
Fourth Safety Congress
Our blanks for recording the minutes of the meetings of the
safety committees on the various divisions are the same as those on the New York Central, except that they are of letterhead size,
which admits of a more permanent or better method of binding. So that the members of committees retiring from the Division Com
mittee may understand what has been done with the items which they reported, at the close of each meeting we issue a bulletin which
is posted on each bulletin-board, giving the number of the item
which was reported, the name of the committeeman reporting It and what was done to correct the item. That is posted for the benefit of all employees. The man who reports the item gets credit for it
on that bulletin. --
During the last fiscal year on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad _
15,352 items were recorded on the minutes of the meeting. 14,217, or 92.7 per cent of those items were corrected. 581, or 3.7 per cent were dropped after investigation as unwarranted or unneces sary. 554, or 3.6 per cent were still under consideration, that is,
open items.
Now regarding the trespass, we have a blank which we use in Ohio, which I think might be extended to other divisions. It is a
written trespass notice and reads:
"Mr. Blank,
Dear Sir: You are hereby notified to discontinue walking or
loitering upon the premises of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and
your attention is hereby called to Section 6882 of the Laws of the State of Ohio, passed May 10, 1884. A copy of said law is quoted
below."
That has done us some considerable good. People whom we
warn to refrain from trespassing upon the track, when they were served with a written notice, a great many of them would discon tinue the practice. We were unable to get them to do it in any other
way.
We have also been taking the numbers of automobiles where the driver disregarded the instructions of the crossing watchman and.
we have been reporting those and writing to the owners of the automobiles. On a second report we gave the name of the'driver or the name of the owner to the man who issued the license, and that has done some good. We have just issued and distributed to
Railroad Sectional Meeting
591
all of our employees a little pamphlet entitled "First Aid to the In jured," which might be of. interest to some of you. In some of our shops we have a number of injuries. We have appointed a com mittee to pass on those injuries and each day a bulletin is issued in that shop. This is simply: "M. Cotrell, Machinist, injured October 2nd while using reamer, ran his hand inside of same while it, was in motion. Same caught finger of his left hand, mashing it badly; this injury probably due to carelessness. Mad party been more care ful the injury would not have happened, and he should not have put his hand upon the reamer while in motion. This makes the third injury under the supervision of Mr. Wycherly since October 1st." Now that gets Mr. Wycherly busy.
We are getting now to the point where we require the super visors to pay more attention to the men under them. We are re quiring the use of the goggles when the character of the work per formed makes it necessary. We have just appointed four inspectors, one inspector on each grand division, that is, under each general superintendent's jurisdiction; and it is the duty of these men to observe unsafe practices as well as unsafe conditions. They will attend each division safety committee meeting and make reports of the unsafe practices that they have noticed in the past month. I think I will not take any more time. (Applause.)
Chairman Dow: It is now time to adjourn, the Railroad Sec
tion Meeting, and immediately a meeting of the Public Safety Sec tion is to take place in this room. There is just one point I want to mention before you leave, and that is in regard to the safety bulletins or other interesting literature which you men get out on your various roads. The National Safety Council has a weekly
service distribution of safety literature, and in order that the rail road members may get the full benefit- of the serviec it is earnestly hoped that those of you who have gotten out bulletins which are instructive and interesting will send a sample of the same either to
myself or to the Secretary of the National Safety Council in Chi cago. They will then be passed upon by the Bulletin Committee and if that committee decades to use the same it will be sent out to all the railroad members. In order to make this service profitable we should all remember to send in samples of literature that we get out that may be interesting to others.
iiaftaW.iffniglamniMWs m jib i---
iii
~aBilBIBM
592
Fourth Safety Congress
In closing the Railroad Sectional Meeting I want to personally thank every one of you for the great interest you have taken in this meeting, because it is the cooperation of every one of you that has made this meeting so interesting and instructive to all of us. I thank you all for coming here. Some representatives have come from great distances. We have Mr. Elliott, for instance, from Los Angeles, California; and Mr. Kyle from away down on the Mexican border. And it indicates the great interest that you men are per sonally taking in this work of the conservation of human life, that has brought you on your long trip to this meeting. I thank you all heartily for the cooperation you have given us in making this Rail road Section a success. (Applause.)
(On motion the meeting adjourned.)
h twwwjai ^
vF1?1?
Hfbf I&risBgMga- :,~mmi.'
.Kindness Brings Happiness
Nothing You Invest in Will Bring Greater Dividends
National Safety Council
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
Philadelphia, Pa. October 20, 1915
ROBERT J. YOUNG, Chairman
Manager. Department of Safety and Relief, Illinois Steel Company
HAIRMAN ROBERT J. YOUNG, Manager Department of
C Safety and Relief, Illinois Steel Company, Chairman of the Safeguarding of Machinery Section, called the meeting to order at 2 o'clock Wednesday, October 20. A splendid program had been outlined and assigned to technical experts of nation-wide reputation and the interest manifested in the subject, as the work of the Section is developed, bids fair to make this department of the National Safety Council one of first importance and value. --
Informal debate was had on the objects' and scope of the Section, after which Chairman Young introduced Mr. J. M. Woltz of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company as the first speaker. Mr. Woltz used many illustrations to emphasize the important points in his paper. He was given an enthusiastic reception.
593
ms itfatw
.ti
. t.l:i w
554
Fourth Safety Congress
SAFEGUARDING MACHINES AND TOOLS.
M.James
Woltz, Safety Director, the Youngstown Sheet
____and Tube Company.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council:
The wide range of the subject assigned to this paper will permit of only a hasty review of some points that appear to the speaker to have application to machinery and tools in general that are in common use in many of our plants and shops.
The safeguarding of machines and tools, like many other of the
problems in mechanics, resolves itself into the use to which they are to be placed and die purpose for which designed. Fundamentally a guard is placed to prevent accidents, practically it may also be used to prevent wear and tear on gears, bearings, wheels and other material.
Many lines of machines have now been standardized by various manufacturers, so that there is very little difference in their general design, and guards have been made to conform to the requirements of national and state laws. In the latest models there is very little complaint of lack of proper safeguards, so that I take it we are more deeply interested just now in the particular kind of guard that has been found to give the best service when used on the older in stallations, that were made before the necessity of thorough safe guarding was realized, or if it was recognized before it had been demonstrated that the proper place to safeguard a machine or tool was in the plant where it was designed and made.
GUARDS MUST BE SUBSTANTIAL.
A visit in any modern plant of today will show conclusively that there was a crying-need for the safety engineer. His work can be seen on all sides and the variety of guards and material from which they are made is still further proof of a condition that has been recognized by all--the need of a definite set of standards as a guide for this class of work.
Some engineers prefer guards made of cast iron, some punched plate, some sheet metal, others wood, mesh or expanded metal. All of these materials have their advocates, and likewise it is found that each has been condemned when used for certain specific purposes.
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
595
Guard railings of all heights, weights and material may be seen side by side in the same plant.
We have illustrations of a wide variety of guards used on ma chinery in a great diversity of manufacturing effort. As can be seen, all of the material mentioned has been used in the various guards shown and it is also ngticable that in many instances guards on machines, to accomplish the same results, are of many different materials.
We have seen machinery that was considered as being sufficiently guarded by the operating department, where only a band of metal extended around the exposed wheels, where the gears meshed there
was still ample space for a person to get caught and injured or for material to be drawn into the gears.
It is hardly necessary to' state that this inefficient method of guard
ing is not approved by thse who have had practical experience in the work, but perhaps the most surprising part is that very recently a new machine was seen that had just been received from the makers with two such guards on it.
Some safety engineers oppose the use of solid cast or sheet metal guards on the theory that all the working parts of machines should be so guarded as to permit an inspection of the parts without re moving the guard, or at least to render inspection easy and rapid.
Others oppose the use of punched, mesh, or expanded metal guards, because in their opinion such guards permit dirt, dust, scale, and fine particles of abrasive material and other matter reaching working parts. The claim is made that this results in a more rapid wearing of parts and frequently the breaking of gears, that might be prevented by the use of a guard of another material.
It has been found in practical experience that heavy cast guards used on roll tables and other heavy machinery have in many in
stances the disadvantage of requiring a crane to handle them. The crane may be required at another point at the same time also, and this of course results in more or less delay in repair work, when the factor of haste in getting the plant in operation is highly im portant. A sheet metal guard would in most instances do quite as well as the cast guard, and the weight of the sheet guard would permit its being removed without the use of a crane. Whether a gear runs in oil, and the amount of lubricant used, is also a con trolling factor in guarding. In other words, in designing- guards
-f 5
sy;.i
596
Fourth Safety Congress
To Know
The efficiency of a
and selecting the material from which they are made, it is well to weigh carefully the place they are to be used and the work they are to perform.
GUARDS ON MACHINE TOOLS.
department find out
The safeguarding of machine
how the employes
tools has recently received a great deal of attention and oftentimes the
like the boss.
proper designing of guards that are practicable in operation have pre
sented more difficult problems than
would at first thought be conceded.
There are various chip guards on the market that do the work for
which they are designed very acceptably. Punch presses, presses,
shears, shapers, and this class of machinery and the methods of ~
handling material used in them are now so guarded that there is
really very little cause for injury to workmen on this class of
machinery.
Some of the guards are so arranged that the machine can be
tripped only when both hands are removed from danger, others
have a rod that brushes the fingers or hands aside or prevents them
being close enough to be caught. Other machines are so arranged
that the power is cut off if there is any obstruction in front or on
top of material to be worked, that is, sufficiently near to be caught
by descending machinery.
Various methods have been worked out of handling material that
is placed under presses, to avoid the mutilation of-hands of operators.
Sticks, brushes, vacuum cups, bent wire, sliding bed, and other meth
ods have all proven their value according to the work to be done.
ACCIDENT TO THE HANDS.
The unguarded hand tool is a fruitful cause of accident and an examination of our accident statistics will disclose that the largest single item of injuries happens to the hands. It is true that many of these accidents will be found charged to the handling of ma terial by hand, but we are satisfied from our own experiences that foremen are not always as careful as they should be in their reports
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
597
and many of these accidents should
be charged to unguarded hand tools. It would appear to be well worth while to devote more thought
Thoughtlessness
to this feature of safeguarding.
Barrow handles can be easily and cheaply supplied with hand guards,
Has come home to
either of wood or metal. Burs on bars and drills are easily seen and
some of us and. very
the blacksmith can soon provide against accident from this cause if the foremen will only watch these
nearly home to most of us.
matters a little. Battered hammers
and sledges with rounded striking
surfaces are common sources of accidents that can be easily elimi
nated by close inspection.
Wrenches that have spread or broken jaws are a fruitful source
of injury. Air hammers and drills are tools that need at least daily
inspection for defects.
The proper placing and distribution of light is a matter that has
only recently been given the attention it deserves as a means of
accident elimination.
FAULTY MACHINES IN SCHOOLS.
The need of teaching safeguarding and safe work practices by practical demonstration in our technical and high school is one phase of this slibject that has recently been brought home to us. An in spection of a high school foundry and machine shop showed that young students were given instructions on unsafe and inadequately guarded machines. That unsafe practices were permitted, and thus by inference, taught in foundry work.
Surely if we hope to make the progress in the future we should, the boy students of today, who are to go into our factories and shops tomorrow as officials or workmen, should be taught the danger of their work, the best and safest practices, the need of tool and machine protection, and the great importance of immediate and competent medical attention being given even the slightest injuries. All of which, in our opinion, are quite as necessary to make a good workman as' the technical mechanical instruction. .
rnm-ii&iimmis&'ii*-* &fei-iareggjP8ar
598
Fourth Safety Congress
I am indebted to the following companies for material used to illustrate this talk: The B. B. Goodrich Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio; the Macey Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.; the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company of East Pittsburgh, Pa.; the Norton Company, Worcester, Mass.; the United Shoe Ma chinery Company, Boston, Mass.; the Republic Iron and Steel Com pany, Youngstown, Ohio; the Milwaukee Gas and Coke Company, Milwaukee, Wis.; Crown Willamette Paper Company, West Lynn, Ore.; the Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, N. Y.; the Brown & Sharpe CompanyjJProvidence, R. I.; the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, Youngstown, Ohio; the Pullman Company, Pull man, III.; Pickands, Mather & Co., Cleveland, Ohio; American Locomotive Company, New York; Crocker-Wheeler Company, Ampers, N. J., and the Willamette Pulp and Paper Company, West Lynn, Ore. (Applause.)
:Chairman The next speaker will be Mr. Harry Guilbcrt, Chief Safety Inspector, American Car and Foundry Company, Chi
cago, III.
CONSTRUCTION OF AND COST OF MAKING SAFE` GUARDS IN SHOPS.
Mr. Harry Guilbert, Chief Safety Inspector, American Car
and--Foundry Company, Chicago.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: We have installed approximately 20,000 metal guards (solid and screen) upon the machines in our various shops at a cost of $300,000. This does not include steel platforms and ladders.
After trying a number of different methods, experience has taught us that the following one is not only the most practicable but the most economical also: First, purchase the following machines for manufacturing the guards:
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT.
High speed drill that will drill up to one-half inch hole, $90.00. Hand or power driven punch that will punch holes through threesixteen inch and three-eighth inch plate; belt drive, $200.00. Hand or power driven shear--alligator or regular type--that will cut ends of plate JS-inches wide. Alligator, if selected, to have 10-inch throat; belt drive, $250.00.
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
599
Rolling machine for sheet iron; for three-eighth inch plate, 24 inches wide, belt drive, $400.00.
Heavy iron block for forming on, 2 cents per pound. Machine with motive power of some kind to drive rivets, or small pneumatic riveter, $175.00. Total, $1,115.00. Second, pick out a corner in one of the departments (centrally located, if possible) for your "shop." If you cannot find a space, build a shed (corrugated building will do) and install a motor and shafting.to drive the machines enumerated above. This is a wonder ful improvement over the old and. inefficient method of making guards in different departments in some out-of-the-way corners, where it is impossible fa have the men under your personal super vision all the time. By placing the safety inspector in charge of the safety gang he can see that the appropriation is spent on safety only.
PERFECTING THE SYSTEM.
Reason for the system outlined above: Hand-made guards cost twice as much as machine-made ones.
Saving of time and labor. Without the machines^ referred to above, guards will have to be cut out, punched, etc., on machines located in different departments that are used for output. As these machines are in use almost con stantly, it is obvious that output will not be delayed to accommodate safety. This means that the safety gang will either have to work overtime (time and a half) or sit-down and wait for a chance to get the machine (here's where your cost multiplies) ; and in the meantime somebody may be injured on an unguarded machine. By the way, if the shop is so busy that the machines cannot be shut down to have guards installed, do this work during the noon hour, night, or Sunday. Don't make guards and lay them to one side; they will deteriorate and will possibly get damaged also.
Now, let us suppose that the machines for making the guards have been installed. The number of men required to manufacture the guards depends, of course, upon the size of the shop.
Split the men into gangs, pay day rate and so much extra per man to the gang that turns out the greatest number of guards during the week. This will foster a spirit of competition among the differ-
jsess.
600
Fourth Safety Congress
USELESS
Rules and regula tions, Safety devices, guards and signs are
ent gangs and the work of manu facturing and installing guards will proceed with the greatest rapidity.
Our Berwick shop had ten gangs, composed of four men each, en gaged in safety work for a year.
The amount of work accomplished was amazing, $40,000 being ex pended in a very short time.
useless unless every
ECOKOMY IX CONSTRUCTION.
man is careful.
Making blue prints for guards is
both costly and unnecessary. Pen
cil sketches will answer the purpose
admirably. By following the method outlined above we have
effected a saving of 50 per cent and more.
A lot of money can be saved by conducting the work of safe
guarding along systematic lines. For instance, suppose we want
to safeguard a large shop where steel cars are manufactured. In a shop of this kind there are hundreds of machines such as shears, punches (horizontal and vertical) deep gap riveters, bull riveters,
etc. First guartl the punches, then the shears and. so on ; jumping
from one machine to another means that the dies, etc., on the ma chines for making safeguards have to be changed more frequently; this means a loss of time, and time means money.
Guard gears, first,
Guard fly wheels, second. Guard belts, last. Overhead safeguarding, such as crane gears, platforms, etc., should
be taken care of after the floor work is completed, for the reason
that where a dangerous condition overhead is a menace to one or two men, an unguarded gear on the ground floor is a menace to hundreds of workmen.
HINTS ON SAFEGUARDIXn.
Where angle iron is used to attach the side of guard to the face, cut angle into pieces two inches long and place at intervals inside the guard; this will cause a large saving in material and will do away with blacksmith's work.
t- -J
~r -- iIIPl
|j Vjf.-r-j; Jy.fric
1L -y4r-a
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
,, 601
Small guards can be .welded;
this makes a neat job and reduces cost. In shops where heavy ma terial is constantly being moved
It Costs
around and piled on floor and where
there is a great deal of vibration, material one-eighth inch thick
The railroads of the
should be used in making guards, ' United States $57,one-quarter inch thick on the'floor
line, and they should be securely
000,000 a year as a
fastened to the frame of the ma chines with heavy, substantial
result of accidents.
brackets one-quarter by one inch.
By doing this, the guards will last
as long as the machines and your repair bill will be reduced to the
minimum. Our Detroit shop has some splendid examples of sub
stantial safeguards. In a number of instances fly wheels have ex
ploded, but the broken pieces never got out of the guard. A plate
on the fly wheel spokes does not constitute a safeguard.
In manufacturing guards do not neglect to leave sufficient clear
ance between guard and gears. Frequently a gear tooth will break,
fall into bottom of guard and if there is no clearance the gears will
pick up the .broken piece, with the result that the gears will be
stripped. This not only means a new gear and delay; it means a
black eye for safety.
GEARS, BELTS AND FLY WHEELS.
Material used in the manufacture of safeguards: For Gears--Solid plate with screen insert where gear engages pinion. By doing this, condition of gears can be seen at a glance. Some people prefer an all-screen guard ; this is a mistake, particularly in a foundry where dirt and grit shorten the life of the gears. By using a solid guard, the life of the gears can be prolonged inde finitely. An all-screen guard might be O. K. in a box factory but not in a shop where heavy material is being handled and where there is constant vibration. Use angle iron lugs to fasten sections of guards together. Belts (high speed)--Heavy screen with angle iron frame. Door in guard to be hinged at top, not at side or bottom.
602
Fourth Safety Congress
Fly Wheels on Punches, Shears, etc.--Solid, substantial guards that will hold pieces^ of wheel in the event of same breaking. Small door for making inspection. A big saving can be effected by using pieces of scrap angle iron, plate, etc., in making guards.
WOOD WORKING MACHINERY.
Planers--Substantial screen with angle iron frame. Guards on side belts should consist of a number of doors making access to belts easy. Should a broken side belt strike a man on head, it will fracture his skull. Solid guards on. gears.
Boring Machine---Screen for belts and on bit; solid guard on bit will choke up with shavings. Automatic guard over end of bit.
Gainer--Screen for belts. Substantial plate over heads. Tenoning Machine--Screen for belts. Heavy plate on top and bottom heads. Automatic guard (made of plate) on third or copj ing head. Swing Saws--Screen for belts. Automatic (plate) over saw. Automatic--Double, screen for belts. End Cross-Cut Saw--Heavy plate on saw. Overhead Horizontal Belts--Ladder construction with substantial supports. Band Saws--Screen guards for top and lower heads. Angle iron over return portion of blade. Light iron guard over working ortion of blade. (Applause.)
:Chairman r The next paper will be by Mr. E. B. Tolsted, Deputy Engineer, Independence Inspection Bureau of Philadelphia. I am sure his address will be very interesting. Mr. Tolsted.
SAFEGUARDS FOR ABRASIVE MACHINERY.
E. B. Tolsted, Independence Inspection BureAt;,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Air. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: There are certain machines which the safety engineer regrets to recommend safeguards for. His reason is not that the machines do not need protection, but rather that, no matter what protection is put on, it is likely to prove unsatisfactory for certain kinds of work. Among the machines included are the punch press, the circular saw.
wairwBMgi
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
-603
and the grinding wheel. Fortunately, grinding-wheel protection is
not so difficult as the protection of other machines.
A practical safety engineer hesitates to recommend a device which
needs constant adjustment or attention. Most grinding-wheel guards
need constant watching to see that they are properly adjusted.
Where wheels may be worn down to a point where they are ready
to be discarded, frequent adjustment of the guards becomes neces
sary. With this in mind, our engineer may well have misgivings as
to the outcome of his recommendations when such equipment is to
be provided. However, a suffic'ent number of practical installations
are in use to justify the recommendation of these devices for most
wheels.
,
Safety in grinding work includes much more than the pro
vision of guards. The purchasing agent obtaining the grinding
wheel frame can be of great assistance. He has a number of things
to consider. He should learn what kind of work is to be done upon
the wheel, the sizes of wheels which are to be used, and the proba
ble location of the equipment. The frame should be sufficiently
heavy and constructed so that vibration and loosening of parts will
be reduced to a minimum^ Provision should be made in the frame
so that rests may be used with the wheels and so that they may
be adjusted close to the: wheels at all times. Where possible an
enclosure for the belt should be purchased with the frame. Some
times, however, it is more convenient to provide the belt enclosure after the frame is purchased than to purchase one which can be
adjusted to any position. However, where the belt enclosure is not
purchased with the machine, the design of frame and bearings
should be such that an enclosure can conveniently be put in place.
It is common practice with some organizations to enclose the belts
down to the pulleys, and because it is difficult to enclose the pulleys
they are left unprotected^ This does not comply with the require
ments of most of the states, and a complete enclosure of belts and
pulleys should be arranged for.
SIZE OF THE SPINDLE.
Another item of importance for the purchasing agent to bear in mind is the size of the spindle. Large wheels require large spindles, but frequently the safety inspector finds a large wheel on a small spindle. The committee which' was appointed by the grinding wheel
60+
Fourth Safety Congress
manufacturers of the country to
Cal! Attention
study safety with respect to grind ing- wheels has made recommenda tions in regard to spindle sizes and
these should, in all cases, be fol
To tools, machines, or appliances you
lowed unless state or insurance re quirements make larger sizes nec essary. The use of too large
know to be unsuit able, improper or
spindles is better than the use of ones which are too small. The pur chasing agent should, where leeway
defective.
is provided, specify one of a few standard sizes as much as possible
rather than have a great variety of
spindle diameters in the shop. This makes it possible to change
wheels from spindle to spindle as they wear down, and in this
manner to retain much higher average rim speed than would other
wise be possible^
The sizes of bearings should be ample so that they will not have
to be replaced frequently, so that vibration may be avpided due to
worn bearings,'and so that spindles will not heat and cause the
wheels to crack.
--
FLANGES.
Flanges should be of as large diameter as the work at hand will
permit. The recommendations of some of the states are that flange
diameters be within 4" of the wheel diameters where possible, and
the requirements of some departments are that the flanges be at
least one-third the wheel diameters. Large diameter flanges are
desirable so that side pressure, blows, etc., will be taken up by them
rather than by the wheels. The flanges should be identical in size
and in design for each wheel to insure equal and opposite pressures
on the sides of the wheel. Flanges should be dished or relieved,
bearing on wheels only near the circumferences of the flange. A
10" flange, according to some of the state regulations, should have
a relief approximately seven-tenths of its diameter, smaller flanges
a relief of about the same proportion, but larger flanges may have
relief slightly greater in proportion to the flange diameter. The
depth of relief should never be less than -jV', and fr wheels over
jo" a depth of relief of
is recommended.
aa&irti
IWIIBW
LiJ'.ri.waWW '
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
605
Flanges should be of steel or other strong material so that they ma}r not be bent or broken easily. The inner flange should be pressed or keyed on to the spindle so that the flange of the wheel will not slip
on the spindle. With these points taken care of,
the operating department can usu ally, without great difficulty, pro vide such additional equipment as is necessary to make a grind ing wheel and frame moderately safe.
Seven Years
Of dogged fighting by one corporation has reduced fatal ac cidents per year from 572 to 301.
CARE AND USE OF WHEELS.
When obtaining wheels for the machine the purchasing agent has a number of other points to bear in mind. For instance, he should make sure that the wheels are bushed for the spindles upon which they are to be placed, and the manufacturer should be called upon to specify the speed at which he considers each wheel capable of
running safely. When wheels are received from the manufacturer thej'- should
then be stored in dry places and should be supported so they cannot fall or be struck by men who may be passing. They should be
tested carefully by balancing on the hand and tapping with a ham mer. Perfect wheels will ring, whereas broken ones will give a dull sound.
When wheels are given out from the store room they should again be tested by the stock man and they should also be tested by the men receiving them. The stock man should call the attention of the others to the recommended speed and should caution them not to place the wheels upon spindles which revolve too rapidly.
Where cone pulleys are used, the belt will probably have been shifted to the pulley which will give the highest spindle speed previous to wearing down and removing the old wheel. When a new wheel is put on this spindle there is a danger that men will forget to change the belt back to the slower speed pulleys. For this reason an interlocking device is desirable to prevent putting
606 Fourth Safety Congress
wheels on when the belt is on the high speed pulley and to prevent changing the belt from the low speed to the high speed pulleys when the wheel is not ground down to the size which will give a saEe rim speed. This device consists of a yoke around the belt with the necessary attachment so that a rod will project against the wheel to prevent the undesirable conditions just mentioned.
OVER-SPEED IN WHEELS.
Other possibilities of over-speed in wheels come from variable speed motors, from substituting larger wheels than those intended for use, and from thoughtlessly increasing line shaft speed. The variable speed motor control can be interlocked and the substitu tion of too large wheels can be prevented by placing some permanent obstruction on the wheel frame. Frequently the guard can be de signed so that it will limit the size of the wheel. "When a guard is not used a pin can be fastened to the frame. On bench machines the frame may be designed so that the wheel will not go onto the spindle on account of interference with the frame. Hardly any practical protection can be devised to prevent increasing the speed of the line shaft, and consequently it should be the duty of the_ safety engineer to check up rim speed of wheels from time to time.
An easy method for determining the rim speed of a grinding wheel is as follows:
a--Multiply diameter of wheel in inches by 1.6.
b--Measure number of revolutions which the wheel makes, in the number of seconds equal to the product obtained above,
c--Multipty the product by io. The answer is the rim speed in feet per minute. This answer is about 2% too high. For speeds in the neighborhood of about 5,000 feet per minute, this error is about 100 feet per minute.
As an example of the method of using the above take the fol
lowing:
_'
Grinding wheel 20" in diameter. Multiply by 1.6. Product 32.
Measure number of revolutions which wheel makes in 32 seconds.
Multiply this by ro. For instance, if the number of revolutions in
32 seconds were 538, the rim speed of the wheel would be about
5,380. To correct for the error, subtract 100 revolutions and the
rim speed will be found to be about 5,280 feet per minute. If the
rK~ <w:-IW
~ .^^..i-.lBwiigiM j ;fi,;
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
607
number of 1.57 is used instead of 1.6, the result will be correct with
out subtraction, but for most of us this makes the problem impossi ble for mental calculation^
GUARDS.
Guards for wheels should, as nearly as possible, be complete en closures. It is frequently the practice to make guards which leave the shaft ends exposed. In many guards not sufficient portions of the wheels are enclosed, and frequently light construction is used and guards would not hold wheels in case of breakage.
Because of the poor guards which have been provided on wheels
from time to time, the insurance company requirements and the state laws have, of -necessity, to be made very stringent. Several state regulations now require the construction which is. recommended
above. Guards will not be liked if they interfere with the work and con
sequently they should, wherever possible, be adjustable. Frequently home-made guards are adjustable in a horizontal direction. As the wheel wears down the guard is adjusted back. This, however, makes an unsatisfactory guard, because as the wheel wears down the guard interferes more and more with the work. If the guard is adjusted downward and backward at an angle of 450 from the horizontal, or if any one of several other arrangements is used, the guard fits closely to the wheel throughout most of the life of the wheel. The guard which does not fit closely to the wheel at all times is likely to allow portions of the wheel to fly in case of break age of the wheel. Frequently the matter of improper adjustment has been of sufficient importance to have caused guards to be dis carded.
The. next matter of importance is that of exhausters. Where particles of metal and emery get in men's lungs the health of these men is in danger. Wherever possible, this dust should be removed as soon as it is made and the only satisfactory means of doing this is to provide exhaust attachments of sufficient size. This sub ject is one which is too large to discuss in the time allotted to me. Perhaps it is well to say, however, that no one who has not had
experience in this work'should undertake to design and install such a system unless he has his drawings passed upon by state authorities, insurance companies, or others who are experienced in this line of work.
JfeigHMfrsgsfr*
h?*M- IPlWa^aBI rAiia'i>tfj4safc-it7
608
_ Fourth Safety Congress
GOGGLES.
A Photograph
With a completely safeguarded
equipment there will undoubtedly
be accidents from time to time.
Of a blind man and
The matter of plate glass spark
several pairs of
guards and goggles has been dis cussed following the reading of
broken goggles on
the last paper. Accident from
the bulletin board--
sparks can be reduced by the use of either of these devices, but gen
no more trouble.
erally speaking, goggles will be found to be the more satisfactory.
When we teach the men that they
must use bubble fountains in preference to the common drink
ing cups we are encouraging them to consider the possibility of
having disease transferred from one man to another. We cannot
blame the workmen if they object to wearing glasses which have
been worn by other men and which have not been disinfected.
Wheels should be kept as nearly true as possible. This reduces
the danger of work being knocked out of the men's hands and it
avoids some of the accidents which are the result of getting work
caught between the rest and the wheel. Wheel dressers should
be provided and these should have guards so that particles from
the dresser or portions of the dresser will not fly and strike the
men. Such guards may now be purchased.
Perhaps one of the most important things to consider is the
question as to how wheels are used. Side grinding wears grooves
in ordinary disc wheels and weakens them and makes the outer
portion of the wheel more liable to break off. Even where this
is not the case heavy side pressures on wheels may cause them to
break. Side grinding should be allowed only on wheels which are
specially designedTor it.
Finally, the grinding wheel problem, like most others, is one of
providing good equipment and then training men to use it. The
problem is one for the purchasing agent, the executives and the
safety man to pull together on if accidents are to be prevented and
money is not to he. wasted. (Applause.)
The Chairman introduced Mr. William P.-Eales, Safety Engineer,
WWllWtBI
ILff!*-,'
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
609
Travelers' Insurance Company, Philadelphia. Mr. Eales made an excellent address upon "Safeguards for Air Compressors." His address was interesting and instructive and was well received.
SAFEGUARDS FOR AIR COMPRESSORS.
I W. P. Eales, Supervising
n
I spector, The Travelers' n
surance Company.
SIGHT
A dark factory is a dangerous factory. Let there be light and Safety.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: When your committee assigned me the subject of "Safeguards for Air Compressors" for discussion at this meeting, I examined our records to learn the number, character,
frequency, and causes of accidents attributed to this particular kind of equipment. It was apparent at once that serious accidents involv ing permanent disability exceed in number the trivial and minor accidents, and in this respect our experience is directly opposite to that encountered with steam engines and other generating apparatus. While these serious accidents are rather infrequent they occur with sufficient regularity to merit earnest attention.
The unsatisfactory performance of air compressors, and the-haz
ard to those who operate them, are influenced by several factors and conditions. The main contributing causes are insufficient capac ity, improper installation, unfavorable operating conditions, and negligent operation and maintenance.
equipment and speed.
The equipment must be adequate in size and of prope- "sign to deliver at normal speed the desired air volume and pres. ;. Any speed in excess of 500 feet of piston travel per minute .uld not be considered in accepting new installations. If the des: J. pressure at the point of delivery cannot be maintained withor exceeding this speed it is an indication of leaky valves or o-- .cions, or it shows that the compressor is too small for the r' uirements. An other feature that must be considered in connects with crank-and-
BlIBlW
JSEI
610
__ Fourth Safety Congress
flywheel air compressors is the rim speed of the flywheels. Under
the most favorable operating conditions the peripheral speed of solid
castiron flywheels should not exceed 5,000 feet per minute, and
when a wheel is "built up/' or composed of parts that are joined
together by bolts or in other ways, the maximum allowable speed
should be determined with due reference to the construction of the
wheel. A light wheel, with flanged joints in the rim, for example,
should not be run at a peripheral speed exceeding 3,000 feet per
minute. Where the duty of a compressor is subject to frequent
and sudden changes the flywheel strain is unusually severe and spe
cial allowance should be made in such a case in designing the wheel.
Air compressors should be erected and installed where the air is
clean, cool, and free from dust and grit, and the power-room or
portion of the plant containing the compressor should be paved or
floored so that it may be kept clean and free from dust. This pre
caution should he taken before the compressor is put in commission.
It is not essential that it be located in a detached building, but when
it is adjacent to a crusher building, or to a boiler-room or any other
department where dust is formed, the compressor-room should be
made dust proof.
CAKE OF COMPRESSORS.
When the compressors run continuously, or when the duty required of them is severe, it is vitally important to provide an adequate and unfailing supply of cooling water for the jacketed cylinders, cylinder heads, and inter-coolers. If the supply of cooling water is limited, or if it is of doubtful quality (containing lime or mud, for example) it will pay at the time of installation to make special arrangements to secure a better supply or to purify the supply that is already at hand. Impure water, and consequent deposits upon the interior cool ing surfaces of the water jackets, often leads to overheating and causes difficulty and trouble. All overflow water from the cooling system should be piped in such a manner that it will be plainly visible
to the attendant. Direct-acting or straight-line types of compressors, with Corliss
or other positive-motion suction and discharge valves, are best where the operating conditions are unfavorable, and where the skill and
proficiency of the operatives are uncertain. Air compressors have extremely variable loads, as a rule, and it
is important that the foundations and fastenings be designed to take
= asw gE^-iawwBi
Cite:.--. T......iiWiMI :.~ !5 ;mgm
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
611
care of the fluctuation and prevent shock and vibration due to sudden
stopping' and starting when the pressure attains or falls below the
normal at which the regulating device is adjusted. Pipe lines should
be free from sharp turns and angles and should he arranged and
secured so as to avoid excessive pulsation and vibration. Discharge
pipes near the compressor should be covered or insulated where
exposed or easily accessible to the attendants. Provision should be
made for the free expansion and contraction of the piping, because
in some air lines the range in temperature is fully as great as in a
steam lines. The theoretical temperature of air that has been com
pressed suddenly and without loss of heat, from atmospheric pressure
at 60 degrees Fahrenheit to a gauge pressure of IOQ pounds per
square inch, is about 480 degrees Fahrenheit, or approximately 150
degrees higher than the temperature of saturated steam at a cor
responding pressure. Therefore great vigilance, care, and atten
tion are necessary.
TANKS AND VALVES.
Air tanks or receivers should be built of boiler plate of known physical qualities and in accordance with boiler specifications. All openings for threaded pipes and connections should be reinforced, if necessary, to provide full threads. A spring pop safety valve with full-size connection should be attached direct to the tank and set to release at a pressure not exceeding the safe working pressure of the tank, using a safety factor of at least five. Air tanks should be placed so that all their external surfaces can easily be exposed for examination. They should never be put underground nor in other inaccessible places. Manholes should be provided in all tanks that are more than thirty-six inches in diameter, and handholes as a means of access to the interior should be provided in smaller tanks, so that the inspector can examine the interior , in all cases. Every tank should also be fitted at its lowest point with a drain pipe, not less than an inch in diameter, to carry off water and oil.
St 3p valves in delivery lines should be omitted so far as possible. If stop valves cannot be avoided (which is sometimes the case where there is more than one compressor) they should be of gate or straight-way types. Globe valves should never be used in discharge lines. A spring pop safety valve, of sufficient area to release under an overload of 50 per cent, should be provided between the com pressor and the stop valve.
~ witwai
li. ..: ,.^.J
^ " : ^1 rift|
612 Fourth Safety Congress
EXPLOSIVE HAZARD.
We Know
Compressed air is properly re
garded as a fairly safe power in
comparison with steam or electric
How hard it is for the wife, the mother,
ity, and"yet there is an explosive hazard involved that is not very generally appreciated, and to guard
to make a living for her fatherless chil
against this particular attention must be given to the internal lubri cation of the cylinders and to the
dren.
circulation and temperature of the cooling water. Steam cylinder oil
should never be used in air cylin
ders. There is an intense dry heat in air cylinders, while in
steam cylinders moisture is usually present to some extent. Oil
will adhere to a dry surface when it would wash off of a similar
surface that is moist or damp, and for this reason a smaller quantity
of oil is sufficient in an air-compressor cylinder. A pint of air-
cylinder oil should be ample for a twelve-inch cylinder for twenty-
four hours' running. It is sometimes difficult to adjust a gravity
lubricator to this fineness of feed, and hence for this purpose forced-
feed mechanical lubricators are recommended. There is danger in using too much oil in air cylinders. At a pressure of IOO pounds
the temperature in an air cylinder often reaches 400 degrees, on
account of interruption in the circulation of the cooling water, and
owing to the likelihood of exposure to this intense heat the cylinder
oil must be of such a nature that it will not volatilize nor form a
coating of carbon or burnt oil around the discharge valves and render
them inoperative. This condition is encountered in small compres
sors, the discharge valves of which are actuated by springs only.
The carbonized matter in the cylinder oil, liberated by the application
of heat and deposited in the air passages and in and around the
valves, may be removed quite well by the application of soapsuds
or soapy water. Kerosene oil should never be used for this purpose.
It becomes necessary in some cases to remove the valve bonnets
once a week, to clean out the ports and passages.
In some installations fusible plugs are provided in the bonnets
or parts adjacent to the discharge valves to relieve the pressure in
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
613
case the temperature reaches 500
degrees--the danger point. This is a wise precaution* and plugs of
After AO
this kind should be adopted more
generally. Self-oilers areadvisable
for the various external working parts of air compressors. They are efficient and ecoifomical.
"The science of busi ness is the science of
All flywheels, rods, cranks, yokes, belts, and other moving parts should be effectively guarded. For
service -- he profits most who serves
this purpose an iron or wooden railing, three and one-half feet high,
best."
is sufficient, if it is of a permanent
and substantial character and placed so that there is a clearance
of at least fifteen inches between the railing and the moving part
that is to be protected. If a clearance of this width cannot be
bad, the inclosures should extend to a height of at least six feet,
and be filled in with a substantial wire-mesh screen. (Applause.)
:Chairman The subject of our next paper, "Safety in Crane Chain Practice," will be ably presented by Mr. Earl B. Morgan, Safety Engineer of the Commonwealth Steel Company. Mr. Morgan is a recognized authority on his subject. Mr. Morgan.
SAFETY IN CRANE CHAIN PRACTICE.
Earl 33. Morgan, Safety Enginf.f.r, Commonwealth Steel Company, St. Louis, Mo.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: It is indeed amazing to find the scant attention that the subject of the strength of chains has received from investigators in the field of strength of materials. One can readily obtain from most any hand book a table of so-called safe loads, but the peculiar thing about these recommended safe loads is that when put to actual practice the chains are not safe, but fail--and fail frequently--hazarding the lives of the many workmen over whose heads the supported loads are carried back and forth.
The peculiar thing about these chain failures is that the chain.
-il:-
~~ i-lftl--
""}. ; ^Urgfigi wMWBMt~u.Cc 73 wsm:
614
Fourth Safety Congress
after being subjected to a so-called safe load, as specified in hand books, and safely resisting this loading repeatedly, suddenly fails un der a loading seldom equal to and more often far less than the recommended loading. Furthermore, an examination of these sudden "pop" failures reveals that they are seldom due to a bad or burnt
weld, or to a section of the link that has been weakened by wear or abrasion, but generally shows that they are due to a so-called crystallized link.
After quite an extended study of failures due to a crystallized link, the writer has concluded that they are due to imposed stresses equal to and in excels of the elastic limit, and in this brief discus sion will attempt to show that the crystallized link is undoubtedly due to overloading and cannot be prevented by annealing.
-- THE ELASTIC LIMIT.
The term crystallization is undoubtedly a misnomer, as all steel and iron are originally crystalline in structure. What really takes place is that the working of the metal beyond the elastic limit simply breaks down the long fibres or granulates them, as it were. It is simply a condition of fatigue. The characteristic hardening or brittleness of the metal in this condition is undoubtedly due to the heat which is set up internally by the slippage of the fibres.
This is certainly most convincing evidence that something is radically wrong with our tables of so-called safe loads, as it is a well established principle in strength of materials that the extreme fibres of a material should infinitely resist imposed stresses within the elastic limit, of course making reasonable allowance for deteriora tion due to rust and abrasive wear.
What does this mean? It means that if we purchase well-made chains, inspect them regularly for detecting any deterioration due to wear and rough handling, and subject them to proper loading, they should last infinitely. It is also apparent that our problem is not one of remedying the so-called crystallized condition of the metal by annealing, but rather is it a matter of preventing it by subjecting the chain to a proper, safe load.
WHAT IS THIS PROPER, SAFE LOAD ?
It seems that most of the recommended tables of safe loads have been based upon the ultimate strength of the chain as developed by
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
615
test and it is interesting to note that these ultimate strengths are
practically the same as can be .derived by the empirical formula:
"L" equals 1.66 times the area of the section, times the ultimate
strength of the material. In this formula it is assumed that there
is twice the section available in tension and simply allows the differ
ence for defective welding. Such a basis for safe loads has been
erroneously supported by arguing that if a new one-inch chain tests
at an ultimate strength of 40,000 it can be used at 10,000 pounds,
and therefore have a safely factor of 4. This is an erroneous con
clusion as an ultimate strength.test of a chain will give a much higher
result than the' figures derived by designing the- link as a structure
based upon the permissible extreme'"fibre stress. This is readily
understood when it is shown that the fibre in an open link; is sub
jected to a stress in straight tension, plus one due to the bending
moment, this being maximum at the four points of compound cur
vature.
When a chain is pulled in a tensile test to a rupture point, the
failure is usually one in direct tension on the sides of the link, as
the sides of the link become straight and the bending stresses are
no longer present, as this distortion takes place before the critical
maximum point in the bending stresses occur. So it can be seen
there are absolutely no grounds, for basing the safe working load
upon such a test.
"Z
PERMISSIBLE WORKING STRESS.
The writer is firmly convinced that the proper safe load should be based upon a permissible working stress for the extreme fibre and not on the ultimate breaking strength test of the chain. This necessitates the solution of the maximum extreme fibre stress that is developed in an elliptical shape, which is the usual shape of a chain link. This involves a theory which has received very meager attention in technical works. There seems to have been only one attempt to develop a formula for the fibre stress developed in an elliptical ring based on experiment and good, sound theory. I refer to a thesis on the "Strength of Chain Links'' made at the University
of Illinois Experimental Station in 1907, in which the following formula has been developed for open links. This formula can be readily derived by applying the theory of flexure in curved shapes.
rWWW'
616
r_i- Fourth Safety Congress
All the Time
Pa f=-----------
0-4d
It is well to ob serve Safety First
Where r.= 1}f-efcixb. trreems.teress m t.ension d=diameter of the stock used in link p=load on the chain
even when picking
Let us now investigate a specific
mushrooms. .
table of safe loads for only a few of the most commonly used sizes
of chains, fay applying this formula,
substituting the values of the loads
for "P" and solving for "f," the extreme fibre stress developed
thereby.
'
In Safety Engineering for August, 1915, and also in a recent
"Bulletin on Safe Loads" issued by the National Safety Council, the
following safe loads for straight suspension* for W. I. handmade
short-link chain are recommended.' The writer has found by actual
experimental tests that these values are on an average of about
one-seventh of the ultimate breaking strength, and are, in fact, a
trifle lower than the loads imposed in general practice in most plants.
Safe Load
--Size
Pounds
One-half inch ......................................2,400
Five-eighths inch ....'..................... 4,000
Three-quarters inch........................ 5,500
Seven-eighths inch.............................7>5o One inch..............................................9,500
Now it is interesting to note that with these recommended safe loads the following stresses in the extreme fibre are developed by using the formula as cited above:
One-half inch...............24,000 pounds per square inch Five-eighths inch___25,600 pounds per square inch Three-quarters inch.. .24,500 pounds per square inch
Seven-eighths inch.. .25,000 pounds per square inch One inch....................23,700 pounds per square inch
mis
.mm
mM.
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
617
AVERAGE ULTIMATE TENSILE
STRENGTH.
--
Anyone familiar with the theory
Italian Proverb
of the strength of materials can
readily see what this means. It means that the extreme fibre will
"A. wise man and
be stressed up* to and in excess of the elastic limit in the case of an
a fool together know
iron chain, as . the writer has made
more than a wise
repeated tensile tests on Norway or Swede iron, which is about as pure
man alone."
as any commercial iron obtainable,
and has never developed more than average ultimate tensile strength of 44,000 pounds per square inch, and an average elastic4imit' (or drop of the beam) of 23,500 pounds
per square^ inch. This shows how such loading as exhibited pro
duces stresses in excess "of the elastic limit, notwithstanding the fact that the impact stresses due to mechanical breaking in lowering
the hoisted load, which are no doubt very severe under certain con
ditions, have been neglected. It is evident this magnifies the danger in applying stresses whictT will destroy the resiliency of the metalThis is, without a doubt, the reason why chain links become brittle and fail. It is also the reason why the average user encountering ,,
sUch difficulties resorts to annealing as a remedy.
There has been much said of late both pro and con concerning the annealing of chains for restoring the metal from the so-called
crystallized condition to the original physical properties. No doubt
this annealing is a good thing in that it often forestalls failure, not;
because the metal has been completely restored to its original quali ties, but because it has simply been made more tough. The writer has'made several experiments on sections of metal taken from
crystallized links, trying to find out whether annealing really does
completely restore the metal. A series of four tests were made in each of the following cases: A test bar was prepared from a piece
of original stock of Norway iron, which was used in making up
several chains. Those chains were put in service and subjected to
loading in accordance with the tables recommended in handbooks,
and after a short time became fatigued and failed. Two test bars
:,4-;- FW%%3l.,l.l:li:I^;^i*.;.
'K wmmm - ;!
liL
618
Fourth Safety Congress
were prepared from each side of the failed link, one bar being left in the fatigued condition and the other annealed to sL temperature of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. These specimens were tested in a ten sile machine with the following results. The figures exhibited are an average of four tests in each case:
Specimen--
Elastic
Per
Limit Ultimate Cent
__ (Drop of Tensile Elon-
(beam.) Strength, gation.
Original stock .............25,600 41,500 48.5
Fatigued (not annealed)... .38,700
46,900 29.0-
Fatigued (annealed)
30,000 44^300 47.0
Reduc-
tion of
Area. Fracture.
78.4 74.6 78.3'
Cup Irregular 34 Cup
The chemical analysis of the original stock showed: Carbon, trace; phosphorous, .029; sulphur, .006; manganese, trace; silicon,
trace. -
ANNEALING NOT CURE FOR FATIGUE.
A careful examination of the above test data will show that the. annealing did not completely restore the original physical qualities of the iron. . .The writer does, not feel that annealing is inadvisable, but is firmly convinced that annealing is not the cure for fatigue. Annealing chains is certainly a good additional safety factor in that it softens the metal and does away with the dangers of a brittle link. But the fact still remains that an annealed chain will undoubtedly fatigue if overloaded, so we are not going to have maximum safety in chain practice by all' the proper annealing. What must be done
is to revise the present code of so-called safe loads and base them on the rational basis of the permissible extreme fibre stress of the material used, using the same principles of design as are . used in alt structures, as after all chain links, rings and hooks are only structures designed to resist imposed loading conditions.
It is going to be hard to remedy this overloading of chains, as a big misunderstanding has taken deep hold of the average mechanic and user of chains, and why not? Have hot the best handbooks and authorities recommended these loads? To convince an old shop hand that a five-eighths inch iron chain should be only worked to 1,600 pounds in straight tension when he has been using it to about 5,000 pounds is .indeed a hard proposition; as he feels it-is perfectly
safe because the chain has carried the load numerous times with out failure.
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
6X9
' SUMMARY.
In summarizing the writer feels that the following points should
be closely observed to procure maximum safe conditions:
1. Decide upon material desired, low carbon O. H. steel or an
iron as nearly free from impurities as possible. A pure iron, I be
lieve, is preferable to steel, as it makes a better weld than steel,
and also an iron link will stretch out to a lock more easily if over
loaded, which serves as a telitale for inspection. -
2. Prepare a rigid set of specifications covering the material,
workmanship, and bests desired.
-r-
3. Insist bn a hand-made link, as the machine-made link is bent
cold around less than twice its own diameter at a high speed on an
elliptical mandrel. This sets up severe Initial internal stresses in
tension and compression in the outer and inner fibre of the link re
spectively, which is sure to cause a weakened condition, while in
the hand-made link this bending is made under a cher.^ red heat
and obviates such stresses; also a far better lap weld is secured in a
hand-made link.
4. Number each chain and keep a record of when it goes into
service and length of service and class of work it is used for. In
spection should be made daily by a competent and experienced per
son to detect any reduction of section due to wear, deformation
of links and any visible flaws developed in the welds. This is
somewhat tedious and expensive, but must be done and done care
fully to insure safe operation. In case a chain has been fatigued,
due to having been overloaded, it requires an experienced man to
detect it and then it is only possible to catch a small percentage
of such cases. A fatigued link has a .characteristic metallic ring
when struck a sharp blow with a hammer, while a good piece of
Norway iron has a decided dull sound when so struck. The writer
has found that lings so detected by a metallic ring can be further
tested by placing the link edgewise on an anvil and striking it
several sharp blows with a sledge. If it is fatigued it will break
with a decided crystalline fracture.
-
5. Special attention should be given to the design of the ring
that connects the chain to the block hook. This ring should be
designed to withstand the same load as the chain, using the regular
formula for a circular ring under tension in a diametrical line. The
mat? aaHWIBiHWaNj
i ; gqfpai&fjyj
tears
620
Fourth Safety Congress
ANNEALING
maximum stress in a ring is found by solving for the maximum mo ment, which is at the points ofapplication of the load.
"Will not prevent fatigue of the metal in case the chains are overloaded.**
M (max.) =0.318 PD
Where P=the load, and D=mean
radius of the ring.
If we equate this value of M to
the resisting moment of the section
we get:
.0982 f d3
0.318 P D =
D
Where f -- extreme fibre stress, and d = diameter of the section of
the ring.
The writer has found many chain rings which upon investigation
by the above formula have proven to have a far lower safe load than
the links.
6. It is advisable to check up the size
of the hook, as the writer has found the
usual practice of designing a hook is to
use the following empirical formula:
P Px
f=------1-----AS
Where S, = area of critical section SS
This formula is in error in that the second term represents the bending stress calculated from the formula used for straight beams, which however, does not apply to curved pieces. 7. The last but most important recommendation is to subject the chains to a proper load, and, as an additional safety precau tion, anneal them before they are put i`n service._This annealing though will not prevent fatigue of the metal in case the chains are overloaded, but will merely soften the chains so they will pull to
a lock and serve as a telltale for overloading.
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
621
it is obvious from the foregoing
discussion on the causes of fatigue that annealing at regular intervals
ANNEALING
is felt entirely unnecessary, as, if
there is any benefit from annealing
at all, it will be merely to toughen
"The old method
the metal, and therefore is only necessary once. (Applause.)
of throwing a chain
into an open furnace
discussion.
:Mr. Morgan We have had re peated failures due to fatigue. I
is not real anneal- ** mg.
noted the line of failure. It looked
as if the portion in tension had
failed long before the portion, in compression. The best way to
find out if a chain is crystallized is to place the link on an anvil
edgewise and strike it. It will fait under hammer stroke, with a
sharp fracture almost perpendicular in section.
Mr. Ayres: I don't believe in crystallization. I wish to correct the speakers to this point. There is no such thing as crystallization --it is granulation.
Mr. Morgan and Mr. Arxiixs (simultaneously) : This is un derstood.
:Mr. Ayres Mr. Morgan referred to heat treatment. Years ago, in my experiments with iron, I found that the treatment offered by heat would improve it up to the sixth treatment, and that when the eleventh treatment arrived it was back to its original condition. All in all, however, I. do not believe in chains--I prefer cables.
Mr. Morgan commenced by a blackboard demonstration, and gave a formula for safe loading of open links.
:Mr. Morgan While mechanics have habitually been overload ing chains, here are the outstanding points that must be observed
for chain safety: 1. In purchasing your chains decide upon the material de
sired. Pure iron is preferable to steel because it gives better evi dence of yielding under an overload and lends to a better weld.
2. Prepare a rigid set of specifications; covering workmanship,
physical tests of material and proof test of chain.
622
=-- Fourth Safety Congress
3. Insist upon a hand-made link; and insist on a three-heat
process in making the link. 4. Number each chain and keep a record of when it is placed in
service; the flaws, etc., must be noted; by careful inspection. 5. Place chains and proper loading conditions.
M .r Byron Cummings: What about a chain which has been
in use for several years without annealing? Suppose you have a test made of a part which has not been annealed, and of a part which has been annealed--what has been your experience?
Mr. Morgan: I cannot say that the time-element enters into the case. The deciding factors are quantity of the load and the permissible fibre stress of the material used in the chain.
Mr. Cummings: Should chains be annealed every six months?
Mr. :Morgan I do not believe in annealing chains regularly
as a cure for fatigue or so-called crystallization, as experiment shows annealing does not restore fatigued metal without a doubt. You should not overload to a point where you need to anneal chains.
Mr. :Robinson Don't you believe in annealing of chains ?
:Mr. Morgan Steel deteriorates due to rust more quickly than
iron. In regard to annealing, I have already stated my views on
this.
--
Mr. Robinson: How about chains exposed to atmospheric con ditions at all times?
Mr. :Morgan This must be watched. But I can't say that any difference is noticeable beyond oxidation.
Mr. Robinson: Is it the case that iron chains do not have the same tendency to crystallization that steel chains have?
Mr. Morgan:-- I feel that this is true, as iron has a greater de gree of malleability.
Mr. :Woltz How would you keep a record of chains?
Mr. Morgan :_The metal-tag system is bad. The records should be stamped on the chains themselves. Recommend stamping the con necting link of each length of chain, use a stock number, for example, XYZ, which refers to a card index record for complete data.
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
623
A Member: When chains are heated up to cherry-red, doesn't this relieve them?
Mr. Morgan : That is another way of asking whether annealing is a remedy. I have already given my views thereon.
A Member: We have found that annealing chains is as nothing compared to not lifting beyond the safe load.
Mr. Hansen : The real question is if annealing, as such, will tend to restore the structural unity of material?
Mr. Morgan: My tests have led me to believe that annealing does not completely restore the metal to its original physical prop erties. Although the elastic limit which was appreciably raised by overloading can be slightly reduced.
Mr. Hanson: Our accident ratio is extremely high from the breaking of hooks.
Mr. Morgan: Most hooks are under-designed. Most loads are
placed on the points of hooks--therefore standard formulas won't
do at all. Oiling chains offa sand floor wears them out quickly. On
a wooden block dry floor, oiling would be all right to reduce bearing
wear.
--
A Member: Cannot a crane's motive power be so constructed that you cannot overload it?
Mr. Morgan : You can have a rule that nobody can use a chain except the foremen or your chainmen and educate them as to proper loads. I know of an accident where a man went to a shop, picked up the first chain he came to, put it over some material, and was then injured through the chain flying back and hitting him on the head. He did not know the safe load of the chain. You must con fine the use of chains to those well versed in them. Try to give your cranemen a clear idea of the weight of things.
A Member: I have found lots of accidents due to a side-pull, or through a- chain being burned by a trolley wire. This is why a chain failed. Foremen didn't know of this. Chain did not fail through lack of strength, but because of wear and tear, pulling across girders, etc. This practice should be discontinued.
~WH>
624
" Fourth Safety Congress
:Mr. Morgan In our foundry
CRANEMEN
we lift hot castings, and three feet from the hook our chains became
fatigued, no doubt due to stress
under high temperatures. I find a
"Try to give your
piece of iron will fail under much lower tensile stress than you get at
cranemen a clear idea
the ordinary temperature. We in creased the section of link for three
of the weight of
feet from hook on a three-quarter
inch chain, making that portion
things."
seven-eighths inch. This allowed a
greater safety factor for overload
ing under severe heat conditions.
This increase of section is also good where chain is subjected to
wear in wrapping around rough edges.
:Mr. Arkills I believe in the annealing of crane chains spoken about during last year's Congress. I still believe in this and have followed up these tests. My tests have been on new chains, crystal lized chains, and on chains annealed after they had become crystal lized. Take factor of safety off ten. If you can't use a large chain, you must use a Smaller. We buy iron chains right through. We have made repeated tests and found that a seven-eighths inch chain would stand up to about 20,000 pounds, at which point there would begin a permanent set in the chain, showing that the elastic limit had been reached.
Ms. Morgan: What would the ultimate failing point on that seven-eighths inch chain be?
Ms. :Arkills We judge from 43,000 to 47,000 pounds. I do not claim that annealing will restore a chain to its original strength, but it does give us safety. It will make a chain yield. The point I want to make clear is that you must utilize a usable size of chain-- this being so, chains^ will be overworked under ordinary conditions. We have had chains through five annealings and these gave good service. But when they became crystallined or fatigued we gave them up. Each time a chain is annealed it is deteriorated. The old method of throwing a chain into an open furnace, covering it up, and leaving it over night; is not real annealing. Some parts will
Mawant-: 'iwt rwiMBaa
-
jM&xtii&m
memmum.
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
625
get a great deal of heat and others I
a mere trifle. If you are going to heat the chain, it must be all
CHAINSrilATWC
LlfAlWij
brought to the same temperature,
so as to attain complete saturation.
We have a special furnace .con-
__________
1. Pure iron,.
structed at our plant where the flame does not strike the chain.
2^. rRRui.ggKi-djl it.eesst.iss.`
We also had a cast iron basket.
3. Hand-made links.
made of five-eighths inch metal with holes one inch in diameter. The
*4*.. 1NNNuluimmmbbbeeerrr cccnhhaaamiinnsss..
chain is placed in this basket and
55.. PPrrooppeerr loloaaddiningg,.
is heated up to about 1500 degrees,
according to the kind of metal of
which the chain is composed. It is left in the basket until satura
tion is complete. Such chains will stretch out like molasses before
they will break. The annealed link- is preferable because it will
run up gradually. One of the hardest things that a safety inspector
has to determine is when a chain-is crystallized. A solariscope might
not give results. I have, therefore, relied on several tests. When
a new chain will run a test of 20.6 and the average of the test in .
annealing may-be 19. For crystallized .chains you may get 24.8.
This gives 5 per cent leeway on which to base judgment of crys tallization. While I do not say that you can control crystallization, let us continue to experiment, and be ready to report at next yearis
Congress. We test our chains in a testing machine steadily.
:Mr. Green Have any of these tests shown a uniform crystalli zation in the section, or was is stratified?
:Mr. Arkills We have made 250 tests. Over 100 were crystallined. -
INSPECTION OF CRANE CHAINS.
Dr. A. D. Risteen. The Traveler's Insurance Company.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: I should like to sound a note of warning about the formula that Mr. Morgan has given. It may work very well in practice, for all I can say without further examination, but it looks to me altogether too simple to be accurate.
626 Fourth Safety Congress
A chain link resembles a hook, in a somewhat remote way, and the theory of the two must therefore be related to a certain extent. If a simple elliptical link with no stud is severed at the middle of one of its sides, but a cut made at right angles to the length of the chain, it becomes converted into a sort of hook, and in theory the chain link must, therefore be regarded as a special case of the hook, or else the hook must be regarded as a special case of the chain link. At this moment it is not wholly clear to me which would be the case, but I think the two are related so closely that they should be studied together.
The old, classical theory of the hook, which has descended to us from Grashof, is of little or of no use. It is simple enough, and it seemed to be so obviously true that we were tempted to say, with the Frenchman: "If the facts do not agree with it, so much the worse for the facts." But, as I have said, it isn't any good, because the loads that it allows for hooks are far smaller than those that experience has proved to be safe.
Karl Pearson, the English authority on mathematics and elasticity, was the first one, so far as I know, to show what is the matter with Grashof's theory, and to point out the way to develop a sound theory. Two young Englishmen (whose names I regret to say I cannot re call offhand), inspired and guided by Pearson, worked out this theory a few years ago, obtained an entirely new formula for hooks, tested this formula by a comparison with experimental data, and
showed that it is capable of giving excellent results. Walter Rautenstrauch, of this country, then took the subject up.
He simplified the formula somewhat, tested it by a more elaborate comparison with experimental data, and gave us a formula that is accurate enough for nearly all purposes.
The formula, as I have said, appears to be a good one, capable of giving excellent results, but it has two faults:
1. It involves a particular elastic constant, known as "Poisson's ratio," in a very important manner; and this constant has not yet been determined with any great accuracy for the materials of which hooks are made. I hope, some day, to be able to work this thing backwards, treating as an unknown quantity the coefficient, which is really Poisson's ratio, and using hook experiments to determine the value of this coefficient to be used in future hook calculations.
2. The second objection is, that the formula is still too compli-
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
627
cated for general use by men without more or less mathematical training. It is quite possible that it can be simplified somewhat, with out any important loss in accuracy. That is another thing that I propose to take up in the near future.
I have said all this with regard to the hook, because I am inclined to believe, although I have not yet specially studied the theory of the chain link, that the full theory of the link will prove to be more complicated than that of the hook.
LIFE OF CHAINS.
I have no doubt whatever but that chains will last far longer if we lessen the loads that they have to bear. This remedy is very simple, if we can carry it out, but it seems to me that this recommendation merely avoids the question in which we are so much interested. For every structure subject to stress there is a limiting value of the stress, such, that if this limit is not exceeded, fatigue will never occur, and this is of course true, for chains also. Keeping chains within this limit is not always practicable, however. It is most nearly practicable where a chain is used on a crane or in some other place where we can know pretty definitely what the stress upon the chain is. In construction work, quarrying, and various other lines of activity, however, chains are used under such circumstances that the specified limiting load, that Mr. Morgan would recommend, is very likely to be greatly exceeded at times. Chains that are used as slings, for example, are often severely overstrained, because the men who use them know but little about the parallelogram of forces, and do not realize that the stress on the chain may depend fully as much upon the obliquity of the upper parts of the sling as upon the dead weight of the load that is being raised. Then again, chains may he sub jected to severe local stresses, of which we have no record, by being twisted or crossed; or loads may have been started or stopped so suddenly that heavy and wholly needless stresses may have been thrown upon the links from this cause.
PROBLEM FOR INSURANCE COMPANY.
The problem for the insurance company (and that is the interest that I represent) is different from that of the shop. The shop can (and should) tag its chains or stamp them with numbers, and keep records of them, and give them out with due reference to the uses to which they are to be put, and the foreman can be on the watch
628
Fourth Safety Congress
to see that no chain is abused. But
how is one of our inspectors to
Chain Safely
know what a chain has been through ? And in the fulfillment of
our responsibilities to those who
"If chains are to
give us their business, should we not require annealing, for the rea
be annealed they
son that it is not possible for us to give definite assurance in any
should be annealed in the right way."
other way, that the chain is safe? If I understood Mr. Morgan cor rectly, he admitted that annealing
will at least postpone the evil day
when the trouble comes.
The ordinary conception of annealing is to throw the chain into
a fire, heat it red hot, and let it cool slowly. This is pretty crude
work and even this much is hard to do if the chain is a big one or
a long one and there is no special furnace at hand- I am sure that
there are very few plants indeed--comparatively speaking--that
have any even fairly accurate means of telling the difference between
say 1,400 degrees and 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit, and yet a couple
of hundred degrees in the annealing temperature may make quite a
serious difference in the results obtained.
I am convinced we will all agree at least upon this: That if chains
are to be annealed, they should be annealed intelligently and in the
right way. I should be very glad indeed if Mr. Morgan, or some
body else, would give us some definite recommendations with regard
to annealing temperatures, and how to handle the chains to the best
advantage, in annealing them, particularly where special furnaces
for this purpose are not available. (Applause.)
DISCUSSION*.
Mr. Morgan: That four-tenths covers a multitude of factors too complex and also too exact to be considered. To be mathematically exact on figuring a link when a weld is the controlling point and at same time so uncertain would be folly. Therefore, 0.4 is close enough. There is too much rule of thumb in present day handbooks.
A Member: "What is the best method of securing a nut on the shank of a hook?
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
629
Mr. Morgan : Use a grip-nut or a cotter pin.
A Member : What method would do for proper annealing and testing . of chains in a small plant ?
Mr. Arkills : I cannot say. You should improvise according to ways and means at hand. You must avoid overheating of chains and underheating, too. You must get complete saturation of chains at the proper temperature.
Overhead Cranes
Giant monsters of strength, must be safely moved in daily operations.
The Chairman : Do you think that it is imperative to have an annealing furnace?
Mr. Arkills : Yes.
:Chairman The last of our most interesting papers for this Sec tional meeting is that by Mr. J. C. Smith on "Crane Safeguards." Mr. Smith is the Chief Safety Inspector of the Inland Steel Com pany. I take great pleasure in introducing Mr. J. Claude Smith.
SAFETY AS APPLIED TO OVERHEAD CRANES.
J. C. Smith, Inland Steel Company, Indiana Harbor, Ind.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: To the iron and steel industry is due the credit for the development of the overhead traveling crane. These giant monsters of strength, capable of carrying hundreds of thousands of pounds, are an essential factor where such loads must be moved as part of the daily operations. As the magnitude of the work to be accomplished increased the overhead cranes became a more complicated machine--consequently, more dangerous--and, therefore, a big subject for the safety engineer.
Just as steel companies developed the crane so they developed the safety movement, and their safety engineers, working hand-inhand with progressive crane manufacturers, have constructed cranes which are remarkable exhibits of the application of the ideals of safety.
Jfcfis Br.iaM.:; MlilM,.:
630
Fourth Safety Congress
Of course, cranes equipped with all the devices recommended by
safety engineers are more expensive than those not so well guarded
| and some purchasers will not, or cannot, pay the price, but such
| persons should remember that states are passing laws relating to
j . safety; that factory inspectors are being recruited from the ranks of
! safety engineers instead of politicians, and soon--very soon--they
will be compelled to provide guards. This is expensive, interferes
with operations, and such guards are never quite as satisfactory as
those made an integral part of the machine when designed and con-
\
structed.
--
The Standardization Committee of the National Safety Council
have prepared tentative standards for overhead traveling cranes,
which, based upon "the specifications of the United States Steel Cor
porations, are generally considered as the most comprehensive em
bodying all the latest and best ideas.
-
SAFETY STANDARDS.
I will not take the time to read over these specifications to you as those who are interested can obtain copies of same through Mr. W. H. Cameron, Secretary of the National Safety Council.
At this time I will, however, through the courtesy of Mr. R. J. Young, Manager of the Department of Safety and Relief of the Illinois Steel Company, and Secretary Cameron of the National Safety Council, show you some slides which show the application of safeguards to cranes and will, no doubt, be very interesting.
(Safety slides used may be secured from the Secretary of the Na tional Safety Council.)
In addition to the specifications contained in the tentative standards proposed by the Standardization Committee, I have the following suggestions to offer:
The purchaser of cranes should specify that the standards for safeguards of the National Safety Council should be applied on cranes. This should cover hooks, cables, etc., as well as the crane itself. He should also obtain a duplicate set of drawings and cal culation sheets and check same for safety.
I cannot approver of the recommendations made in a safety pub lication recently that to gain overhead clearance under-slung bridge girders be used, as this type always gives considerable trouble. It is better to lower the bridge walk than to lower the girders.
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
631
The specifications provide for a walk on both sides of the bridge,
and while I agree with the standard, still many companies only pro vide one walk and where such is true the walk should be on the drive side of bridge.
Numerous accidents are due to misunderstanding of signals be tween operator and hooker and it is advocated that cages be as low as consistent with operations. Steel sash and wire glass should be used in cabs.
Controllers should be arranged so that operator can see hook at any position. Handles of controllers should be of the locking type and clear indicating marks placed on controller as to how to move handle for certain movements.
The rotary type bell is much more efficient than any other type. Drums should never be of me overhung type. Where it is necessary to use tackle to change motors, etc., rigging should be provided on root trusses for that purpose. Where this work is heavy, and to facilitate operations, electric hoists are now being installed above runways. Escape platforms should be provided at pouring stands for cranes handling molten metal. Screen guards should be provided between parallel crane runways and along platforms built where workmen can reach crane rail. Some companies are guarding the drive shaft, while others are not. However, I believe it should be to entirely conform with ac cepted safety standards.
RECOMMENDATIONS BY MANUFACTURERS.
Certain crane manufacturers are recommending the use of short shafts for crane trolleys cn account of the greater ease with which they can be handled. It is also a feature of some cranes to have the trolley sides connected with solid cast steel separators, instead of structural, in order to gain permanent alignment of trolleys.
Dynamic braking was very well described by Mr. R. B. Daven port before the Association of Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers at Milwaukee in 191a and he offers eight "apparent advantages" of the use of dynamic braking with electric hoists. Those interested should secure copy of his paper, which is exceedingly interesting.
To give crane operators control of hook in case of breakages is still an unsolved problem on most cranes. However, the latest de-
.m-HHHBfflS.
-":- -- 'MB-; :'* ..-:
1..."~i'-a.<i BaPf>W
632
Fourth Safety Congress
velopment of the ladle crane, as
It Is Not Enough
manufactured by a leading concern, has solved the problem for that - type of crane.
They eliminated overhanging
To provide crane
drums by carrying the auxiliary trolley on a pair of auxiliary
safety -- operators
girders, placed between the main girders in such manner to allow
and hookers must be
the main hoisting rope to pass be
safe men.
tween the main and auxiliary gir ders. Safety ropes were added to
make all hoists doubly safe. The
trolley was redesigned to have in
terlocking gears and two motors placed over the track wheels, and
each drum with its own gearing motor and brakes. Six dynamic
brakes were used, one on each armature, and two on each jack shaft,
any three of which were designed to hold the full load. Thus, by
providing double cables, increased gearing, and brakes, and by inter
locking the drums together, compelling the same speed, a broken
gear, pinion or shaft would not cause an accident.
The only other features in connection with the providing of safety
equipment is that necessary for handling special material -- as
spreader beams for long bars, hook rack for sheets, safety hooks,
etc.--and all of these devices should be carefully designed to prevent
accidents. Even after we have a perfectly safe crane and other
equipment, we may have accidents connected with the operations to
be performed by the crane and in fact most overhead traveling crane
accidents occur in connection with operations and are not due to
lack of safety devices.
CRANE SAFETY.
There are five groups of workers whose safety is directly con cerned with the operations of cranes and these are:
Crane operators,! Crane hookers, ^ Crane repairmen,
,, Crane inspectors. Crane floormen.
and we might include all persons who have any occasion to work around crane runways.
iB
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
633
The hazards to which crane op
erators are subjected may be classi fied as "General Operating'," "Elec
Crane Operators
trical," and ``Special," the handling
molten metal, etc.
Just as we specify that the crane
Should be young,
shall be a first-class and safe ma chine, so in-order to obtain safety,
agile, quick in
we must specify that the crane op
thought and move
erator and the hookers are. safe men. They should be carefully
ment, yet cautious
selected for the position, they are to fill. A crane operator should
and careful.
have mechanical inclinations; he
should be young, active, quick with his thoughts and movements, yet
cautious and careful; agile, yet surefooted; keen-vision; even tem
pered and conscientious.
Hot-metal cranemen require at least years of experience before
undertaking such dangerous work. To promote safety and avoid
accidents, crane operators should comply with the rules promulgated
to direct their work and should use every possible effort to exercise
due care and caution at all times.
When coming on duty a craneman should carefully inspect his
crane, see that all working parts are oiled, including the sheave -
blocks; hoist chains and cables should be lubricated daily, empty
grease cups should be . filled and oil passages kept clean.
Loose or dangerous gears, keys, ladders, runways, bells, brakes,
etc., should be reported to crane foreman oh a daily report blank-
Each craneman is responsible for the condition of his crane and he
should never fail to include all defective conditions in his report.
Crane must be kept clean, free from dirt and grease. Cranemen
should assist repairman and see . that all guards are replaced and all
loose material removed before crane is put in operation. Footbrake
and limit switch should be tested at beginning of each turn.
Look over all switches! If main switch is found open, be sure
all controllers are in "off" position before closing switch. If safety
switch is found open, do not close it until you are absolutely sure
no one is in a position to be injured. Look on trolley, all parts of
crane and crane runway.
634
Fourth Safety Congress
Fire extinguishers must be kept in cabs at all times. Report when same have been used so they can be refilled.
When hoist cabs are being repaired or replaced craneman should always see that there are at least two full wraps of hoist cables on
the drum. If crane is located outdoors, when leaving crane, operator should
block or lock crane in position so it will not be blown by wind. This applies especially to gantry cranes.
Where it is necessary to sand tracks it should be done by means of sand boxes. Cranemen should never sit on truck in direction crane is moving find attempt to sand track from bucket, as he is very liable to get caught between truck and columns of building.
When any work is being done on hoist, such as removing arma tures, shafts, etc.operator should always have burden block as
low as possible. No one, except authorized persons, should be permitted to ride
in crane cab, and then only when, absolutely necessary, as in case of repair work, etc. When such persons are in the cab the crane operators should be held responsible to see that they are in a safe position before crane is moved. No one should be permitted to
ride on trolley. When notified that men are working on or near runway, crane
men must keep a careful lookout to avoid accidents. Never go, or permit any one else to go on top of crane without
opening safety switch on top of crane and locking it open or pro- ' tecting it by means of "Danger--Do Not Move" sign.
Cranemen .should remain on duty until relief appears, unless ex cused by proper foreman. They should not leave crane except in case of necessity and when leaving should open main switch and lock it open. Under no circumstances should cranemen permit any one except authorized persons to operate crane.
don'ts for cranemen.
Where crane runways parallel, crane operators are forbidden to cross from one crane to another over the runways. It should be a rigid rule that jdl persons get to and from cranes by means of regular stairs or ladders. No one should be hoisted up on crane block to get on crane.
Cranemen should not smoke, eat, read or sleep in crane cabs.
asar.
i.aaa&fiK
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
635
and should not be permitted to operate crane unless in good health.
Their work concerns the safety of many men and they must be on
the alert, giving their individual attention to their duties at all times.
Under no circumstances should cranemen be permitted to throw
articles at men on floor to attract their attention nor for any other
purpose.
Operators should avoid running into blocks at end of crane
tracks, as they might give way. Cranes should never bump into
other cranes, unless other operator has been warned and no one is
in a position to be injured, and then only in case of urgent necessity,
as operations of this kind are liable to damage equipment.
Cranes should not be used to move cars. Side pulls should not
be made with crane unless absolutely necessary and then only with
the approval of the superintendent. Where side pulls must be made
provision should be arranged to prevent hoist cables coming in con
tact with trolley power wires.
Where two or more cranes are used in combination to lift one
load the several operators must be extremely careful to lift and carry
load evenly.
'
Peculiar problems arise where there are high and low crane run
ways in buildings, but as this is not a universal arrangement I will
not attempt to discuss it today.
ELECTRICAL DANGER.
We have now come to the electrical dangers connected with crane
operations and while very few accidents occur from this source all should be avoided.
Cranemen should not use controllers to supply heat for ...cage. In case of electrical short circuit, or if a controller should stick, it is advised that operator immediately throw all controllers (except one that sticks) into "off" position, then open the main switch with a rapid motion. Power must always be off when repairing controllers, or any other electrical apparatus, or when screwing light bulbs in . sockets.
Operators should never reverse controllers by throwing them all the way around, as it will burn controller.
Handles of controllers should be moved from point to point to gradually increase the speed of motors. Speed should be restricted until slack in chain or cable has been taken up.
636
Fourth Safety Congress
If power goes off, all switches
should be pulled out and controller
A Small Fire
moved to ."off" position promptly. As soon as pilot lamps light up
(when power is on again) motors
Was once regarded
may be started.
as a proper return
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS.
Operating instructions for crane
for insurance prem iums.
men are included under the fol lowing :
Cranemen are to do all work
required by foremen or floor hands
directing operations in the depart
ment, except such things as will, in his judgment, be liable to injure
men or damage crane or other apparatus. Under no conditions should an operator permit his crane to bump
into another crane until he is positive that no one on the other crane
is in a position to be injured. Orders, from anyone to the contrary
are to be disregarded. Loads improperly hooked, or in such condition as to be dangerous,
should not be handled unless absolutely necessary.
No one should be permitted to ride on load or crane hooks, nor on top of trolley. Refuse to move.
Chains, slings, and loads should be carried high enough to avoid
striking men on floor or catching in machinery, etc., on the floor.
Hookers should hook up hooks. It is not good practice for operators to run more than two motors
at one time. Loads should not be hoisted, lowered or dropped, from magnets,
until operator is positive every one below is out from under the
load. Signals should be received from one man only and no move
should be made without a signal from the proper man. Before starting to hoist trolley should be placed directly over the
load to avoid swinging load against workmen. Never jerk or swing
loads; hoist gently, handle carefully and lower slowly.
Operator should see that hookers walk ahead of loads carried by
cranes and warn men on floor to get in the clear.
--- .-.Tggii-fc-si-, TlilWM:
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
637
Bell should be rung before.start
ing to hoist, before moving, and rung frequently while moving.
REMEMBER
When hoisting especial attention
should be paid to the block to avoid
tripping limit switch or running block to drum. In case hoist block
He who reads and
gets near limit switch don't shut off power, as current is necessary to
does not heed may
operation of limit switch.
live to rue the care
When pulling chains out from under loads see that no one is in
less deed.
a position to be struck by chain.
When loading material in car,
great-care must be exercised to avoid injuring hooks. Load should
never be swung against car to straighten same.
Especial caution should be exercised when handling molten metal.
Ladles of molten metal should never be carried over men working
below.
When handling heavy loads., particularly hot metal, test the hoist
brake by throwing the controller in "off" position after load has
been lifted a few inches, if brake does not hold, do not move load
until it has been adjusted.
!;
When handling molten rnetal it is advised that operator run only-
one motor at a time.
Crane hookers should exercise great care tp avoid acci
dents. Hooker should never ride on any burden being carried
by crane. He should never take hold of crane cable above sheave
block, as his fingers might get crushed between cable and
sheave.
--
Hooker should ever be watchful of loads carried, by cranes, or
suspended in the air, and keep out from under them at all 'Ties.
He should walk ahead of loads being carried by cranes an arn
men on floor tp get out of the way.
When loads are being hoisted or carried no one should r id be
tween the load and other objects, as load may swing an strike
them.
Hookers should learn how to make safe hitches and .uuld study
table of stresses on slings at various angles.
638
Fourth Safety Congress
When working in cars care must be exercised so as not to get
caught between load and side of car. Great care should be exercised when getting in or out of cars
over which magnets are being carried as they may strike you. Hookers should never attempt to operate cranes, or go on crane
for any purpose. Neither should they meddle with electric wires-
attached to magnets. Cables, chains, slings and hooks should be carefully inspected.
Never work with defective appliances. In case hooker thinks load is too heavy for crane he should notify
foreman. Hooker should never lie down in dangerous position in cars
while waiting for crane as a load may be brought and lowered oh
him. When hooking handles on chain, hooks should always be used as
they are provided to enable you to keep your fingers out of danger. Chains or cables should not be held in hands while craneman is taking Up strain. A hook, preferably a long-handled one, should
be used to guide chain. Hooker should never stand near piles of bars or other material
when same is being hoisted from ground as the pile may tip over
on him. A block or pad should be placed between sharp edges of loads
and cables so cable will not be cut. Load should be carried high enough to clear all material on floor. Hookers should exercise great care when placing blocks under
loads and never get under the load. Use a block to shove blocks under load or toss them under.
Stand at a safe distance, in a safe position, when chains are being pulled out from under load so same will not fly and strike you.
Chains or cables should be hooked up when about to be carried loose by crane so they will not catch on anything.
Guide hooks when being hoisted, after being unhooked, so they will riot catch on load and tip it over on you.
Repairmen working on overhead cranes have peculiar dangers to contend with i~id must exercise great care at all times.
They should make provision so that other cranes on runway will not run into crane being repaired. This can be best accomplished by
repairing crane at point which is most accessible and will interfere
Safeguarding of Machinery Section
639
least with other eranes and operations below. In order to fully pro tect crane, blocks should be placed on crane rail.
Before starting repairs it should be ascertained that all controllers are thrown off, that main switch and safety switch are opened, fuses removed, and locks or signs placed on switches.
"Danger--Workmen Above" signs should be placed under crane and where the job is a big one space under crane should be railed off.
A repairman should never, under any circumstances, go on crane without notifying operator.
Where a number of men are working on crane, each member of the gang should place his padlock on the safety switch.
When men are compelled to work on or near crane tracks, cranes must be blocked and operations cease at that point while such work is in progress.
Care should be exercised so that no loose parts fall to the ground. Before removing any part which may release hoist block, block should be lowered to floor, or, when this is not possible, gears should be blocked or wedged so they cannot move. When hoisting materials on crane have man above give signals and never permit anyone to stand in a position to be injured should some thing give way. Upon completion of repairs, remove all blocks, loose parts, tools, etc., and replace all safeguards before crane is put in operation. 'Men tightening down rail clamps should exercise great care not
to strike their tools on power bars and wires. Tape handles of tools used in doing such work. (Applause.)
:Chairman As this completes the work of the Section, we will now adjourn.
"Aad the end is that the workman shall
live to enjoy the fruits of his labor; that
his mother shall have the comfort of his
arm in her age; that his wife shall not be
untimely a widow; that his children shall
have a father, and that cripples and help*
less wrecks who were once strong men
shall not longer be a by-product of
industry."
P. B. Juhnke.
Tom orro m Is Unborn --
Yesterday Is Dead--Today Is Yours--for Safety
National Safety Council
Banquet (Informal)
Philadelphia, . Pa.
October 20, 1915
R. W. CAMPBELL, Toastmaster,
President, National Safety Council
TOASTMASTER R. W. CAMPBELL.
ADIES and Gentlemen, Members of the National Safety-
L Council, and Friends: It is again my privilege to address you at the banquet session. I have had three such privileges, for which I have regarded myself as being very fortunate. I have spoken to you at each of the three preceding Safety Congresses from the banquet table. At each of these, in some way or other--I don't know just how--I have found it convenient to go to Holy Writ for a topic or a text, as our pastor would say. I believe in consistency,, and hence tonight, in the few remarks that I will make to you in opening our banquet session, I wish to direct your atten tion to the text which will be found in the forty-ninth verse of the second chapter of the Gospel according to Luke. It is the language of a boy--a boy who had accompanied his parents on a journey to the largest city in the province, where he went to attend a feast at
the temple. On leaving the party did not observe that the 641
642
Fourth Safety Congress
left behind and it was some time before it was discovered that he
was not with them. When, on their return and out of their dismay, they had inquired of_him "Why?" he gave them answer:' "Wist ye
not that I must be about my Father's business ?" X wonder, ladies and gentlemen, if we may not be privileged to
say: "Wist ye not that we must be about our Father's business?" I believe the answer will come "Yea." What did he regard as his
Father's business? He considered it a doctrine of service--a kind, loving and sympathetic service--a service of man to man. It has been said that they who serve God well, serve his creatures. He epitomized to the highest extent the highest meaning that can be given to the word service; He healed the lame, the sick, the halt and the blind; He relieved suffering and sorrow; He relieved the troubled mind, the torn and bleeding heart; He suffered and made the great sacrifice. He left to us, though, teachings and doctrines that have been the foundation of all good and all right from that time to this--teachings and doctrines that have gone hand-in-hand with
the march of progress; teachings and doctrines that have permeated through every phase of social life.
Are we about our Master's business? Is not our work a work of service ? Are we not performing a service of man to man ? Are we not trying to put loving kindness and thoughtful consideration of our fellowinan into our activity and are we not attempting to allevi ate suffering and sorrow ? Are we not attempting to prevent broken
hearts? Are we not trying to establish doctrines and rules and principles that may serve mankind for its better interest? Are we not establishing a doctrine and a principle that is permeating into every phase of our social life ? _ The safety work of today affects every relationship that we have. It enters into the home, into our social life, into our business life and into every economic situation that we have. This doctrine of service--this service that we are attempting to do as man to man-- is surely entering into every one of those conditions.
And so I believe that we may honestly say that we are about our Father's business. Are we about it well? Let us hope that we may be. Let us hope that our future efforts and activity may be even greater and better than they have been in the past.
I am reminded of a little churchyard over in sunny England, a churchyard old and overrun with weeds. The church at its side
sattarn uhl --MiialM-
3 JMis-liniiiMW
ilmiliiiti
Banquet
643
is a tumbling ruin. There is in that churchyard a stone erected to the memory of--whom? Time and the elements have obliterated practically all that the stone ever had upon it. You may read, "Sir John -----------" a blank, evidently meaning "Bom," and a blank, "5" at the end; "Di" indicating "Died," but nothing else. But time has not been able to obliterate that which follows: "The world was better in that he lived." Gentlemen, may it be said of the National Safety Council, and may it be said of each of us as in dividual members, through the manner in which we shall conduct our future activities, when we are gone, that the world was better in that we lived.
SERVICE.
"The sequence--what? Not endless sleep, not idle, stagnant hours. But cycles of accomplishment that thrust their glories on And ever on, to gild new eras of eternity. We know not how the consummation ends. We know not what The magic circles bound. We only know that noble thoughts And deeds are chains of gold that bind their authors to a universe In which no wrongful act can crush the seed of everlasting right."
"And the end is that the workman shall live to enjoy the fruits of his labors; that his mother shall have the comfort of his arm in her age; that his wife shall not be untimely a widow; that his children shall have a father, and that cripples and helpless wrecks
who were once strong men shall not longer be a by-product of industry." (Applause.)
New institutions are prone to establish customs. It has been, in our very short past, the custom that at this time the announcement should be made of the officers for the ensuing year. The Execu
tive Committee, at its meeting this afternoon, has performed its duly and I have the rare privilege of announcing to you the officers who have been selected to guide the affairs of this organization during the coming year. After the announcement I shall take pleasure in presenting to you the man who has been selected to act as your guide add as President of this organization.
For President, Mr. Arthur T. Morey. (Applause.) For First Vice-President, Mr. Lew R. Palmer. (Applause.) For Second Vice-President, Mr. C. W. Price. (Applause.) For Third Vice-President, Mr. Edwin R. Wright. (Applause.)
644
Fourth Safety Congress
Secretary and Treasurer--and
SERVICE
here I am going to depart for a minute, and, if I may, again repeat
to you that which I would like
"I helped a blind man across the street, and lo! I was safely across as well; his
to have you know about the man who is here, who has been selected for that office. We have had the, very' finest service and the very finest executive ability in the office
cane had found a
of our Secretary and Treasurer,
mudhole that' 1 did
and I cannot help giving tribute
not see."
again to the man who has been re elected to the office--Mr. W. H.
Cameron. (Great applause.)
Assistant Secretary, Mr. J. J. Lamont.
Director of Exhibits, Mr. M. A. Dow.
HONORARY MEMBER.
At the same time that these announcements are made it lias also been our custom to make the announcement of the election of hon
orary members,'if any have taken place during the year. It will be remembered that four years ago the first Co-operative Safety Con gress was held in the City of Milwaukee under the auspices of the Association of Iron ahd Steel Electrical Engineers, at which time the idea with respect to the National Safety' Council had its inception.
The year following, under the auspices of the same organization,
a second Safety Coiigress was held; and, in fact, through the ac tivity of that organization the National Safety Council was made possible. Your Executive Committee, in its wisdom, has felt that it was eminently' proper that that organization should be accorded the honor of being elected an honorary' member of the National Safety Council. I have the pleasure of making that announcement
here.
-
Commissioner Jackson, lias also been called away from the city
and he desired it known that it was not through any lack of interest
on his part, but through press of public business, that he was com
pelled to be away' from this banquet this evening.
And now I think I have one of the pleasantest duties to perform
that it has ever been my lot to undertake. I have served on-your
Executive Committee and acted as your President two years. Dur-
Banquet
645
ing that time I have been in inti mate touch and intimate relation ship with all of the members of its Executive Committee. To know those gentlemen has been to love, them. To be with them has been to respect them, but among them all there has been no one who has so endeared himself to all of us, no one who has seemed to be so capable of filling the office of President as has the ^gentleman who has been selected to take my place, Mr. Arthur T. Morey. (Ap plause.)
Safety Creed
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto, me.''
PRESIDENT-ELECT ARTHUR T. MOREY.
Mr. President and Other Friends: I thank you for those gracious words, Mr. President. We all know Bob Campbell--and that if
he had to hang a man he could do it only in a most pleasant and gracious way. And while I do not exactly feel like a man that is to be hung--at least I think 1 don't, never having had that experi ence---yet. I am in the position of one who finds himself under a responsibility, his high concept of which has made him feel an un
fitness for it--especially when he realizes that it is expected of him that he follow in the footsteps of one who has shown such ability and wisdom in that office. And this feeling is intensified if one
measures one's responsibility by the possibilities of the situation in which one finds oneself---a situation in this case which involves those most precious things--human life and limb.
Mr. Campbell is representative of the high character of the per sonnel of my other associates on the Executive Committee. It has been one of the choicest experiences of my life to have been associ ated with these men. I do not believe that since the world was founded a group of men of finer character or of nobler purpose and greater unselfishness has been gathered together for a holy purpose. I greatly regret that six of them are not to be on the Committee next year, although we are gratified that their places have been taken by six others of such great worth and strength. Knowing
646
Fourth Safety Congress
that the President has their counsel and support, and understanding
the character of men they are, gives him much hope as to the dis
charge of his own duties. Well! It is a great movement, and it seems most fitting for a
movement like this, which has humanity as its foundation and which is so filled with the spirit of love for our fellow men, that we should hold this Congress in the City of Brotherly Love. I believe that God himself is in this movement because it is written that, "Inas much as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me"--and for this cause that we are in is for the prevention of accidents and care of the widows and the fatherless.
This safety cause i3 one of the most constructive movements that has ever appeared among the affairs of men. I say this advisedly, because good safety work is the study of the right and orderly way to do things. It does not work through fear or in a negative way, but it operates to make men more thoughtful, considerate of
others and mindful of the conditions about them. It is surely the
handmaid of efficiency. I think the best phrase, the best slogan that has been coined for
the cause, is--"Safety First is Thinking First." For this reason it lends itself so admirably to the teaching of children. It builds up their mental processes; it makes them observant, and too, to be thoughtful of others. In our work with children, in getting the school children interested in the public safety work and so forth,
let us always be careful not to put any negative fear in the child's mind. To put such fear into a child's mind is a crime.
This movement also, so far as my humble knowledge goes, is one of the greatest secular movements for the forwarding of the idea
of the brotherhood of man that has ever come among men. It has caused employer and employe to meet together on a common, humane ground. It has brought the spirit of co-operation and fel lowship into business, as it could not have been brought in any other way. It seems to me that this safety work is representative of America's best ideals. As it has been so beautifully referred to this evening, it stands for "Peace on earth, good will towards men," and we do not know, nor will we limit, the good this movement may yet do in an international way, as has been referred to.
The pioneer work has been largely done. The route has been determined, the survey made, the grades built, the bridges con-
Banquet
647
structed and rails laid--and it is for us, who now come to take up
and carry on the work, that we double-track the road and put in the
branch lines and carry forward to fullest service this great cause
for our fellowmen. But, regardless of what the Council may ever
achieve, it can never do a greater or better piece of work than has
already been done in the pioneering by Mr. Campbell and Mr.
Cameron.
There is no limit to what can be accomplished, excepting insofar
as we put a limit to it ourselves. And we must, in the spirit of
broadest receptivity, keep the channels open to co-operate with all
other activities that have the good of our common cause at heart.
The spirit of our work should be co-operation--always co-operation
and good will and efficient service.
And I think' it is most significant that at this Congress the per
sonnel of those participating has been so high. The larger attend
ance of the engineers, the technical men, the men of affairs, means
much. We are growing, we are progressing, we are improving in
quality; and there isn't any right object to which we can attain
that we cannot accomplish if we know that Omnipotence is behind
every good work.
You have chosen a President who at least has high ideals of what
the cause should be and as to how it should be conducted, and with
your co-operation he will do the best he can. I thank you. (Ap
p1 lause.
1
'
GREETING TO PRESIDENT .MOREY.
*
Toastmaster Campbell : I would bespeak for your new Presi dent all that measure of co-operation and sympathy and support that you, as members of the National Safety Council, have given to your former officers, and on behalf of them, Mr. President, I am going to pledge you that support, and in confirmation of it I am go ing to ask you all to rise and greet your President. (The members rise, with applause.)
The management asks me to make another statement. A message
is received from some source to the effect that if any of you con template meeting him on his way home around the comer of the alley and taking it out on him, he is not going home tonight.
If any confusion arose with respect-to the seating it was very largely due to the fact that a very large number of reservations were made at such a late hour that it was impossible for us to do
648
Fourth Safety Congress
as we had planned, namely, to have
a printed list of the seating ar
Be Consistent
rangements for your information. The committee asks your forgive
ness with that explanation.
"The only way to
We have been exceedingly priv
ileged this evening in the attend
have a friend is to be
ance at our banquet of two of the
one." If you preach
most prominent of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl
Safety, practice it.
vania. We should feel, I believe, a great deal of pride that our cause
should have been felt so important
as to warrant the presence of these
two gentlemen with us. The next speaker is one who to a Pennsyl
vania audience needs no introduction. I take pleasure in presenting
to you the Honorable Martin G. Brumbaugh, Governor of the State
of Pennsylvania. (The members rise, with applause.)
HON. M. G. BRUMBAUGH,
GOVERNOR, STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Mr. President and Members of the National Safety Council: Being a citizen of Philadelphia, it is a peculiar personal pleasure to me to welcome you here for your Fourth Annual Banquet, and being for a time an exile from Philadelphia, it is a peculiar pleasure in an official capacity to welcome you to the great and splendid State of Pennsylvania. We are glad indeed to know that you count us among your friends. Here in this old Commonwealth of Pennsyl vania you can always be assured of a warm, cordial welcome when you come interested in. any cause that makes for the betterment of men, women and children.
After I came into the room tonight and began to quiz your worthy President and to ask myself what I might say that would be, at least for a few minutes, a source of entertainment to you, if not of profit, I ran over in my mind what, after all, is Pennsylvania doing as an organic government to promote such a movement as this? And when once you begin to study the problem I think you will
Banquet
649
come to the conclusion which I
have reached--that the particular business of government is to pro
Team Work
mote the welfare of its people;
that without that purpose, no mat ter what other ideals enter into
"Every man inter
governmental activity, government
ested and helping
is a failure. In this common wealth of ours, which some of us
will do much to pre
love and which I trust all of you
vent accidents in our
regard with good will, we have been endeavoring to accomplish
factory."
some distinctly helpful things in
the matter- of general conservation
of our people, and particularly in the matter for which your Council
stands, namely, the safety of our people in their toil and in their
homes. We have 1,200,000 acres of land which this commonwealth
has bought and paid for, and which is a part of what will be a
larger state forest, in which we hope to breathe and make good air
for our people, and from which we hope not disease but health
will flow from its mountain streams. That is something worth
while. (Applause.) I challenge any other commonwealth in the
East to show as commendable and as advanced a position as Penn
sylvania in that mattei.
I need not remind those of you who are familiar with the matter
that Pennsylvania in the last eight or ten years has done as much
if not more for the conservation of the health of her people as any
other state in the Union. In fact, it is a matter of pride in Penn
sylvania that the work of our health department has challenged the
respect and even the imitation of almost every other state in the
Union. A few years ago an expert committed to that problem
worked out this remarkable conclusion: that by reason of prevent
able disease in Pennsylvania our people lose annually--think of it,
annually--one hundred and twenty-five millions of dollars. That
is the price this one commonwealth is paying because it has not yet
completed its whole service to its people. We are beginning through
our sanatoria, through our dispensaries, through our medical inspec
tion and through our instruction in our schools to remedy that
condition. And it is the business of government to snake it **sv
650
Fourth Safety Congress
for people who toil to keep strong enough to toil in your communities throughout the commonwealths of this country.
We are trying to do something in that direction. No state, no commonwealth, performs its full duty to these people that does not seriously turn to the solution of that important problem. I presume there are all kinds of doctors here. Some of us are really useless doctors, men that don't practice too much; just talk about it, you know--now why cannot the medical profession in Pennsylvania, which is without a peer in any commonwealth in this Union, help you and the people in Pennsylvania generally to remove preventable disease from our communities and save us one hundred and twentyfive millions of dollars a year? We need that money. (Laughter.) I would go down to' see Colonel Bryant oftener that I do if I had it. (Laughter.)
The further fact, I think, will come to you if you stop to reflect that in this commonwealth we are endeavoring, through the ad ministration of our laws, to protect our people and to guarantee to them when they adventure upon any proper occupation or industry in this state the strong, sustaining and consistent support of reason able law. People who work--all people in society, for that matter --have a right to the safeguards of proper law, and it is a part of the conservation of the human element in society that makes for the safety and welfare of all of us that law is properly admin istered. That in the large may be said to be true here in this great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I have to say that, having a mem
ber of the Superior Court the second door to my right. (Laughter.) Here is, specifically, this great problem of the regulation and the
conservation of life on the part of those who toil in our great and varied industries in Pennsylvania. We have labor legislation inPennsylvania and it is to the credit of the great manufacturers of this commonwealth that they have welcomed from the beginning every influence that makes for the safety of the toilers in their great
industries. We have not had at any time the opposition, in a com manding way, of those people, to any measure which looks to the safety and the conservation and the welfare of people who toil in this Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And don't you allow any body, wherever you hear it, say that in Pennsylvania there is-any considerable element of our people in any way committed to any hostile relation to the splendid purposes which underlie your gather-
Banquet
651
xng here today and this week in Philadelphia. We are with you, all
of us are with you, save the few that have not enough sense to know
where they stand on any question. (Applause.)
Quite recently one or two things have happened in Pennsylvania
that are rather interesting as hearing upon the function you repre
sent here tonight. We passed in the last session of the Legislature
a workmen's compensation law in Pennsylvania. We talked about
that for a long, time and hesitated as to whether or not we would
adventure into the matter, but when the Assembly met in this year
that matter was settled and settled right in Pennsylvania; and it is
now a fixed part of the policy and logic of Pennsylvania's economic
situation that a part of the cost of production must go to the care
of the unfortunate in toil in the matter of production in Pennsyl
vania. (Applause.)
__
In that law two things, at least, were uppermost in the minds of
us who were anxious to see it enacted. First of all, that when
accidents do occur and compensation is due: that it shall be abso
lutely certain; and in the second place, that it shall be quickly
applied to the person injured. Those are the two remedial things
that underlie the whole theory and purpose of the compensation laws
in this Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There is another purpose
vastly more far-reaching and vastly more important than the cer
tainty and the speed of relief in time of injury. Underlying your
compensation laws is this vastly more important thought that we
should make it hard, difficult, if not impossible, for any working
people -to be injured when they are engaged in their daily occupations
in Pennsylvania. (Applause.) We have taken away in our com
pensation law every element which would interfere with the free
and full protection and prevention of injury in our industries. It is
a source of considerable satisfaction tonight that in the tentative
working out of the law, which becomes operative in January of next
year, everywhere in Pennsylvania we are meeting with a cordial
. co-operation and a cheerful compliance on the part of our people
with the provisions of that law, and Pennsylvania, loiterer though
she was, wakens up to the fact and is now going to give as an
example to the other states in this Union--if if knows how to do
it--an adequate and a fair and a proper treatment of the whole ques
tion of compensation and prevention of injury in industry.
There is another law that was passed this last session of the
652
-- Fourth Safety Congress
legislature that some o you may
try rr
have heard of and which has a very definite bearing upon the
problem to which you are com
The way to suc
mitted. Every fair compensation law has its just warrant to be in
ceed in Safety work
the fact that it is to prevent or at
is not to criticize
least to make difficult injuries to the people who toil. How vastly
your fellows but to
more important it is, my friends,
excel them.
tonight everywhere in this country, that we should conserve the viril
ity, the strength, the power and
blessedness of the childhood of the
commonwealth. (Applause.) Now we have enacted a humane child
labor law in Pennsylvania (applause) and we have probably done
what no other Commonwealth has yet undertaken to do: We have
provided that every week that a child under 16 and over 14 works
in the industries of Pennsylvania, eight hours of that week of toil
shall be spent in a continuation school conducted and operated and
made a part of the school system in the district in which that child
resides or works. (Applause.) We shall administer that law just
as we administer any other law in Pennsylvania, in such a fair and
open and equitable manner as to make it easy for our great, com
plex industries to adapt themselves to its provisions and to enter
heartily into the carrying out of its several enactments. We look
forward, therefore, in this great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to
the time when every child that walks out of our schools and into
our industries walks with a mind trained and a mind that will think
first and therefore, in the largest way known to men, produce
Safety First in occupational relations. (Applause.)
The Chairman was good enough to say I could go the limit in this
speech. It looks as if I were going to do it!--I am interested in
another phase of this Safety First problem. You may not know it,
all of you, but }rott ought to know it, that you cannot carry out your
Safety First idea'itr industry unless yon put into the lives of your
working people and into the lives of the children that are to be the
working people in this country a moral responsibility for toil. Now
here in Philadelphia, and no doubt in other cities in this country.
jBcinquet
653
we are beginning' to sense a situ
ation palpable to any thinking citizen. We have reduced the
THE N. S. C.
hours of work for our people. We
have done well in that. But we have made no provision at all
Is putting the axe
adequate to the needs of those people for the right use of their leisure hours. And the wrongs
into accidents. Bet ter an ounce of "did"
of society--and if our good Mayor were here tonight he would testify to the same thing--the wrongs of
than a pound'of "go ing to."
society are committed by our peo
ple and the violations of--the laws
of society occur not by people in their hours of toil, but by people in
their hours of leisure. Until you establish playgrounds for your
children and recreational centers for j'our people, so that every man,
woman and child may have clean and sweet and wholesome and
helpful recreation, you will not breed the class of citizens that will
go into your industries with a spirit of Safety First in their hearts
and in their lives. (Applause.) If you want to do your best work
tomorrow, if you want to do what I hope to do tonight, go to bed
early enough and sleep long enough to waken up at your best for
tomorrow's work. You can't do that if you loaf in a saloon till
the late hours. (Applause.) We have to make it easy for our
people to find right places to enjoy themselves in their hours of
leisure. In Philadelphia, through the auspices of our Home and
School Association, ably represented here by Mrs. Wilson, who sits
before me, we have endeavored to do something in that direction
for the children and the people of this splendid City of Philadelphia.
It is bound to come. (Applause.)
In the presence of the court I am going to make a prophecy that
in the next twenty years we will be legislating more for the conser
vation of our people in their times of leisure than in their times of
toil. See whether that is a good prophecy or not. I hope you will
live long enough to test it out,- twenty years.
Finally, then, this thought; we want, as far as we can accomplish
it, to bring to the attention of our children in the schools and our
people in their hours of toil, the importance of bringing themselves
654
Fourth Safety Congress
daily to their tasks at their best; physically at their best, .morally at their best, intellectually at their best; so that their toil is a joy and
not a drudge from day to day- (Applause.) I don't know -whether all of you ever played in any games or
not; I suppose you did, one sort or another. But I venture this prediction: that the game you played most skillfully was the one you played most frequently; and perhaps the converse of that is true. But you played it frequently because you were skillful in the game, and because you were skillful in the game you had joy in your soul in that game. The only thing that gives us joy in life is life is the thing that we have learned to do well. If a man once learns to do his work well, finds it a source of pleasure and satis faction to solve its difficulties and triumph over its intricacies, that man comes to his work with a joy in his soul that money cannot buy; and that makes him one of the finest citizens of this great, splendid country of ours. I want you to sense that.
Some of you are factory inspectors and all that sort of thing; you are people that go around and meet people and look after them and safeguard them in their hours of toil. Let me ask you to do some
thing. Why don't you, once in a while, instead of asking about how many rounds there are in a fire-escape or how much scaling of paint there is on this or:that one--which is all good in its way (I am not quarreling with that question; I am afraid of this New Jersey lightning back here)--why don't you call a number of these men and women who are toiling and working under your supervision and inspection and sit down with them and talk with them like real
friends and point out to them what in your wider experience you.
have found to be good for them, and out of the richness of the training and the study that you have given the welfare of others, help them to see it in the big way you sense it ? You will be doing something worth while when you do that. (Applause.) Why can't we turn all this talk into our public schools and our private schools as a gospel of life, that every child in school shall be trained to the meaning of keeping his mind, his body, his moral spirit at their best for every day's service in life ? When once we have done that and brought this mighty army that is to be into touch with the great industrial outlook of our people we shall have done something splendidly worth while.
I was reminded in your President's sermon--(laughter and ap-
Li.
-- Banquet
655
plause). He takes his text from the best book I ever read, and. preached a sermon as fine as any man need to hear to walk aright--a fine, moral, sensible sermon. I was reminded in that of a little line from one of America's sweetest singers:
"He that loveth best his fellow man Is loving God the holiest way he can."
I thank you. (Great applause.)
Toastmaster Campbell : Ladies and Gentlemen: I am power less of expression after such a talk as that we have just heard. All I can say to you of Pennsylvania is, you have some Governor. (Ap plause.) The next speaker will be the Hon. Rudolph Blankenburg, Mayor of Philadelphia.
HON. RUDOLPH BLANKENBURG,
MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA.
Mr. Chairman, Members of the National Safety Council, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am glad to be with you tonight. It seemed at first as though it would be impossible. One of the chief duties of
the Mayor of a large municipality seems to be to attend banquets. I have already attended one banquet this evening; this is the second one. But the banquets themselves are not as bad as the fact that a man in my position, the Mayor of a large city, is always expected to bark for his dinner. When I was a boy, away on the other side of the water, we children had a small dog. The dog was called 'Bellow, and we taught him all kinds of tricks. If he wanted some thing to eat he was taught to say "Bow, wow, wow," and then he had to get a rubber cup or dipper. He would jump on a chair to reach the sideboard, bring down his dish when it was filled with either meat or water--he got nothing but water, the same as we to night. I am glad we are-getting nothing but water--Safety First. And safely is contained in this tumbler as well as in every tumbler on every table here.
But I must continue my story. There is only this difference be tween Bellow and myself. Bellow had to bark for his dinner before he got it, I have to bark for my dinner after I have eaten it.
This meeting of yours, to my mind, means an epoch in the history of the United States. Your organization is but four years old, yet
656
Fourth Safety Congress
it extends all over the country,
Hand-in-Hand
from ocean to ocean, from Cali fornia to the borders of Canada.
I believe there are members present
tonight from Canada. The good
1 . Industrial Justice.
you can accomplish is something
2. Industrial Effi ciency.
that as a general thing we do not as yet appreciate. In fact, many do not fully understand the scope
Both must recognize the human factor.
of your work. I have always been
taught to be careful and was care ful, because if I did not attend to
my mittens punishment followed.
So T learned in .early childhood
to be careCul and not to do anything that might injure me or might
hurt my brothers and sisters ; and there were nine of us. My father
was a minister--ministers generally have large families and small
incomes. His was not an exceptional case. He was a firm believer
in Safety First. He told us children; "I can't leave you any
money, but I will give you a good education." So we had a tutor,
a private tutor, who labored with us for seven years. Father often
said: "Money can be taken from you--with an education you are
safe--so if you are properly educated you may go to any part of the
world and will be able to make an honest living and become a good
citizen."
^
Now that kind of safety I always believed in and have tried to
make the guide of my life. I have followed it wherever I have
lived. For many years I was engaged in business in the City of
Philadelphia. After fifty years of business life I retired in 1909.
I did not permanently retire from business, however, because the
people elected me Mayor in 1911. I have worked harder for the
last four years than ever before in my whole career, and I am not
through working yet. It was always my endeavor to have every
body--and I have employed thousands and thousands of people--
understand that they must look out and not get into trouble through
their own ignorance or carelessness. Safety First was always made
prominent and so I never had an accident but once in these many
years, and that occurred through disobedience of orders.
You are endeavoring, all over the United States, to establish
-- Banquet
657
this principle of Safety First,
which we are trying to preach in all
branches of industry. Good luck to you! If there is anything we
Great Men
ought to consider above die dollar
it is the welfare and the health of our employees. If we teach
"That mein is great
and preach that doctrine, and it
who can use the
is made effective, there will be a wonderful change all over the
brains of others to
land. Give, as I have always preached, not only of our sub-.
carry on his work.'*
stance, but give of ourselves. Per
sonal contact with the people in our
employ will do much more for them than just monetary compensa
tion. They should know that there is humanity in the employer,
that he is humane, and that he does not want to enrich himself from
their labors, but that he desires to help them to become good citi
zens and supporters of their families and to leave to their children
a heritage of which they may be proud.
As stated before, ladies and gentlemen, I have already attended one banquet and have to go to two more meetings. We should look to establish safely in. other things besides manufacturing and business life. We need Safety First in government. That safety can be brought about only by united action; and that united action it has been my endeavor, during four years of my holding office,
to establish, with the result that the 12,000 employees of the City of Philadelphia today are Tree as they have never been before. We have made their interest our interest, we have tried to establish safety for them in every way in all conditions and among all classes of our employees. We have endeavored to get close to them in everyday life and they have appreciated it. Why should I consider myself better, more favored, arid of more account than the humblest man in the City of Philadelphia? I shall live but a few years longer. I have lived 73 years nowT I hardly look it, do I ? Soon my time
will come when I shall joint the vast majority, and beyond there is
no distinction of persons, at least we hope so.
Ladies and gentlemen, you compose the National Safety Council.I firmly believe that if you succeed in your endeavor in the great
658
Fourth Safety Congress
work to which you have dedicated yourselves--if you make it a
success in our own country--it will not be long until we shall have
an International Council of Safety. If we have such an Interna
tional Council of Safety there never again will be war; never again
the appalling slaughter which is now depopulating all parts of
Europe. An International Council' of Safety will prevent war in
the future, and stop the shedding of the blood of the flower of
young manhood. And what is war? Even if we experience its
horrors at a distance of three or four thousand miles, our eyes fill
with tears and we may well exclaim: "Is it possible that in these
days of the twentieth century, at this period in the Christian era,
such a war can be waged among civilized people?" Then we are
told that war should be carried on in a civilized way. No war can
be carried on in a civilized way. All war is hell, as Sherman aptly
said.
-
Ladies and gentlemen, this card attracted my attention the mo
ment I entered the room. On it is pinned the American flag, the
most beautiful emblem of liberty ever designed by man or woman,
and this flag was designed by a woman. Let us dedicate ourselves
one and all to the services of our glorious country that has given
us birth or has been a refuge to many, as it has been to me. I
do not believe in hyphenated citizens of any kind or character.
If they ask me: "What and who are you ?" I stand up proudly and
exclaim: "I am an American of German birth." This is not trea
son to the country of my birth. I love the old homestead; I have
visited it many, many a time, and though nearly all my old friends
have passed away I still go there. The fondest raemoric. linger
around the old playgrounds, the old parish. But with all these fond
memories, this is the land of my adoption and for this land I
would, if need be, fight, in spite of my years, to the last drop of
blood. (Applause.)__
:Toastmaster Campbell I have the pleasure of introducing to you Mr. Edson S. Loft of New York. (Applause.)
MR. EDSON S. LOTT,
PRESIDENT UNITED STATES CASUALTY COMPANY.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I suppose this ought to be the proudest moment of my young life, appearing on the same
Banquet
659
platform with a real live Governor and a real live Mayor. Anyway, I know that my good wife here appreciates it. Why, she hasn't spoken to a neighbor since I announced that I was to perform here tonight. (Laughter.) More than that, she intends liquidating several social grudges through the prominence my association with these celebrities will give her family. (Laughter.)
Even my grandson has caught the fever. He is celebrating the
event by wearing my evening clothes day and night, and that's why I am in this plain attire. ^(Laughter.)
And my grandmother Is eating her breakfast the night before these days, thank you. (Laughter.)
I know that I am going to have a good time tonight, no matter what may happen to you and to President Campbell. (Laughter).
And X know one of those who must listen to this experiment-- you know that President Campbell regards it as an experiment-- who will praise the result of the hard work I am putting into the thing, and that is our gracious and gifted Secretary, Mr. Cameron (applause), for 'twas really he who invited me to do this turn. Mr. Cameron and I are like Phon Hyer and Lem Cornwell up at Penn Yan, in York State, where I lived as a boy.
Phon played first base on the Rough and Ready Baseball club in that well-known place. (Laughter). And Phon was some ball player, believe me. (Laughter.) He knocked nine home runs in one game with the Blue Jays of Kinney's Corners once. Over the fence gave a home run. (Laughter.) About a year after I left Penn Yan--many leave Penn Yan, 'tis such a good place to go back to, to get away from again (laughter)--some half dozen of us decided to go back and spend a week fishing in lake Keuka--Penn Yan is on the shore of Lake Keuka. We hired (perhaps took is a better word) a shack on the lake shore. The first thing we did was to elect a cook, who was to cook for all of us until some one complained of the cooking, and the complainant was. to do all of the cooking all the rest of the time. Phon Hyer was unanimously elected. On the first morning Phon was up bright and early and prepared breakfast on a bench in front of the shack. Just as he was about to break the news that breakfast was served, a particularly bright thought struck Phon. He said to himself "Here's where I leave this job." He gently poured a generous teaspoonful of salt in each man's coffee cup, poured the coffee, and then yelled "Break-
660
Fourth Safety Congress
fast !" Lem Cornwell--Lem played
SMILE
leftfield on the Rough and Readys --was the first man at the bench.
He was a full minute ahead of
A. man with a
anyone else, because he did not stop to dress. Lem got down
cheerful disposition doubles his power---
about half a cupful of that coffee before he discovered anything out of the ordinary with it. Then he
and also doubles yours.
spit and spewed, and said: "What blithering idiot put sa--but I like the stuff." (Laughter.)
My knowledge of workmen's
compensation laws leads me to make
some remarks, now that we are in Pennsylvania, concerning the
Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Law. which goes into effect,
as you know, on January i. As the executive head of a casualty
insurance company, insuring employers against their liability under
workmen's compensation laws, I have made careful study of such
laws the world over, and some people are kind enough to believe
that I know quite a bit about such laws.
I am very glad in this place to pay tribute to the zeal and solid
sense of Governor Brumbaugh (applause) in insisting that Penn
sylvania get into line with the thirty other States and enact a work
men's compensation law. Without your sturdy aid, sir, Pennsyl
vania would have had excuses to make to this gathering of safety
experts, for a compensation law in these days is one of the tests
bj- which men judge the social status of a State. I am glad, too,
to testify to the merit of Pennsylvania's new law. (Applause.) It.
is not a perfect law, of course, but for a middle-of-the-road meas
ure that recognizes fadts and not what dreamers say are facts, it
stands out before all the other laws. For this result. Governor, we,
employers and employees and wicked casualty insurance companies,
owe much to the Pennsylvania Industrial Accident Commission,, on
whose report the law was based. In particular to its hardworking
Secretary, one of the leading compensation experts of the world.
I mean, of course, that broad student, that clear thinker, that hard
hitter. Professor Francis FI. Bohlen of the University Law School.
(Applause.) It argues^well for the right working of your new law
Banquet
661
that Professor Bohlen has been
permanently retained on your State Commission, whose duty it is to
DON'T
see that the law is properly en
forced. By the way, before i forget it,
Run around, in the
I would like to say something about the Governor's remarks that we can all play best that game
rain too long trying to find where you
which we like best. I would like to say, then, that if the Governor likes the game of talk as well as
can buy an umbrella the cheapest.
he played that game ' tonight, he
must talk in his sleep. (Applause.)
To be obliged to follow the patriotic, blood-warming speech of
Mayor Blankenburg (applause) and the soul-stirring oration of
Governor Brumbaugh (applause) is sufficient punishment for having
the temerity to appear before you tonight, but my good wife, by
way of encouragement, I suppose, whispered to me just before
President Campbell's unctuous introduction (laughter) : "Why,
just see those great, big, fine-looking men. You will make a sorry
spectacle when you get up." (Laughter.) But my reply to her
was: "My clear, I do not notice that one of them has any bigger
mouth than mine." (Laughter.) That was before Colonel Bryant
had come to the speaker's platform. (Laughter.) Before he had
joined the After-Dinner Speakers' Union. (Laughter.) And I
secretty hoped that you might mistake a big noise for real rhetoric,
for the President had asked me earlier in the evening, "What do
you think of them ?" meaning you, and I had replied, "I am not
worried so much about that as I am about what they will think of
me." (Laughter.)
Accidents--how to prevent them, how even to reduce them--this
is the humanitarian work of the National Safety Council; this the
broad lesson of this great Congress. Yet, what a different meaning '
has the word accident to that given it long ago. The day was when
accidents were thought to be the work of a higher power, omens of
good will or ill, and sought out as the messages of the gods to men.
There were no Safety Councils then. Safety First would have been
a profane, not a potential slogan. Nor were our fathers much wiser
662
Fourth Safety Congress
than the ancients. Until recently, an accident was rather a visitation of bad luck, an experience, like rain or drought, 'quite beyond the control of men. In these modem days, what a change. The popu lar view now is that accidents are but neglects; neglects largely pre ventable--for a non-preventable accident is not really an accident
at all, but just a circumstance in the scheme of things. Largely pre ventable, I say, and to be reduced just in proportion as by educa tion and precept and command the ordinary man can be taught to take care of himself.
Right here, before I forget it, I would like to rise to a question of personal privilege, that I may call your attention to the fact that
I am entitled to "ask your indulgence while I attempt to explain, as best I can, the reason why our ten-talented and signally successful retiring President should have caused to be printed, in conspicuous type, directly underneath the name of Edson S. Lott, on. page 21 of our beautiful program of the evening's entertainment, the cau tion: "No alcoholic liquors will be served." (Laughter.) Now, of course, I suppose that it's all right, but I just don't enjoy having it made quite so jpublic. But, nevertheless, I love our President. He is a handsome man and a splendid man. (Applause.) I heard him referred to, the other day, as big of body, big of brain, and big of boodle. He surely is big of body and certainly is bigger of brain. His reputation, before he became the President of this far-famed organization, had enthusiastically o'erleaped the confines of his own commonwealth and had spread itself all over that part of the country where I make my living. Long ago the thought came to me that L ought to become acquainted with him. I was on speaking terms with Colonel Bryan and I thought that it wouldn't do me any harm to know other big men. (Applause and laughter.) Besides, my good wife had repeatedly told me that I should have at least a bowing acquaintance with some preacher--you heard the Governor call President Campbell a preacher. Therefore I went to his town to touch--get in touch with--President Campbell. (Ap plause.) At his office, I was told that he had gone out with some
one to some club. I have forgotten the name of the club. At, the club I was informed that he had gone home. It still being an hour and a half before-dinner time, I thought that I might as well trail him to his home---probably he would admire my enterprise. So I
hired a cab and set sail for the residence of our beloved President.
Banquet
663
In response to my ring, a- maid came to the door. "Is this the residence of Mr. R. W. Campbell?" I inquired. "It is," she said, sort of sadly, I thought, and then she pushed her head beyond the door until her eye caught that cab standing at the curb. She slowly swung the door wide open and slowly added: "Bring him right in." (Laughter and applause.)
Of course I do not pretend to claim that there is any connection between the incident which I have related and the doubt which pos sesses the President's soul-as to the wisdom of permitting me to talk here tonight. .(Laughter.)
Let's see. Where am I at? I had this--I thought I had it-- memorized, and I certainly got it off all right and in fine style--so he said--to the editor ol our local paper in the little town outside of New York where I live, before I started for Philadelphia. (Laughter.)
Yes, I was talking of workmen's compensation. We casualty in surance men welcome the new system. It is so much better than the old employers' liability laws. Compensation now goes to seven injured workmen where'damages went to but one. Still, by just as much as the relief is broader, by just that much is the natural tendency to carelessness increased. The man whose family is secure from want through the existence of a compensation law is not apt to be as careful as he was in the employers' liability days. In this our safety campaign supplements the compensation law crusade. It puts pressure on the workman to make him more careful. It re quires the employer to protect the men at work.
To hark back a minute, and to get the thing straightened out somewhat before we go any farther, I must say that--of course--I am not sure that by the juxtaposition of my name and "No alcoholic liquors will be served" anything was intended more than a sort of diplomatic reminder that I could not get mine here. (Laughter.) Thinking of Safety First I acted on the suggestion and went out side and brought mine inside. (Laughter.) Then, too, you know, none of us need be too certain that the President guessed right. It is possible that the printer may have slipped a cog and got that notice under the wrong name. You know perfectly well that when I went outside I found so many of you ahead of me that I came near never getting back. (Laughter.) , But I got here ahead of the Governor, at that. (Laughter.)
664
i Fourth Safety Congress
Moreover, the President might
Blue Monday
well have made the mistake my good mother made up at Penn Yan--in the old house where I
Do things right
lived as a boy--a couple of years ago.
and you won't have to put on gloves
Twas this way: While I was home on a visit, I decided to have my old bedroom repainted and re
when you open a let ter from the boss.
papered. I hired Skid Johnson--Skid and
I went to school together--to
do the work. I told mother that
I had engaged Skid. She was
furious. You see, mother wanted me to employ a man of the Camp
bell type, the real dyed-in-the-wool sort, for she (God bless her) is
a teetotaler of the violent variety. Why, if she had known that I
would go outside with you all before coming inside here, it would
hurt her. Mother said to me: ``Skid Johnson is a rummy, and I
won't have a rummy on the place.'" By personally guaranteeing
that Skid would not drink a drop while he was on the job I induced
mother to let him do the work. But mother warned me that I
must not as much as let him see the Eagle Hotel while he was on
the job, else all bets would be off. Then I explained the situation
to Skid and agreed to pay him extra if he would not take a drink
while the work lasted. Along about noon of the first day of the work Skid came down
stairs and announced that he would have to go down to the street
--the "street" being where the captains of commerce of Penn Yan
transact their business--and get some plaster of paris at Pinker's drug store with which to fill up the cracks in the walls. My heart
sank. Pinker's drug store was just beyond the Eagle Hotel. I
told Skid that I would get the plaster of paris. He argued long and earnestly, claiming that I could not select the right kind and
all that sort of stuff. But I stood firm and finally won.
When I reached the old "Eagle," I dropped in, just to see whether
it had changed any since I had last been inside. Do you know that
about ever}- man who had gone to school with me in the old academy
when I was a boy dropped in at the same time, and we had what
^ MisamdMtr.
Banquet
665
might be called a Penn Yan Acad
emy reunion. No one thought to serve the notice which distin
Collecting It
guishes the printed program of this
most enjoyable evening (laughter)
and--well--finally I got the plaster of paris and started for home. I
"The world owes
found that--through being away
every man a livin'
from Penn Yan so long--I was not as familiar with its thorough
but he's got to hustle
fares as formerly, and it was just noon when I reached home. I
to prove the claim.'*
entered the side door, where I met
mother just coming to look out
to see if I were comingTand Skid, who was just going out on his
way home to his noonday meal. I handed Skid the plaster of paris
and he took it upstairs. Mother turned to me and exclaimed. "You
promised me that Skid Johnson would not drink a drop while he
worked here." "'Well," I replied, "he hasn't as far as I know."
"Hasn't," almost screamed my dear old mother. "Why, can't you
smell his- awful breath, and it's growing worse all the time. Get
him out of the house. J can't breathe in such an atmosphere."
Do you know, Mr. President, that I am a bit puzzled by your array
of speakers here. You have given us, first that accomplished
scholar, the Governor of this great State, then the successful Mayor
of this teeming city of workmen's homes, and then you have given
us Lott--like his Biblical namesake, representing something wicked
--the casualty insurance^ companies--and also from the modern
Sodom--from the same sort of a place near where old Lott spent
his time while he was on earth before he went to his reward. I
wish that I were about to take mine now. (Laughter.)
I beg you to believe, ladies and gentlemen, that I hav#= mployed
the style of talk I have been handing you only. becarn
cannot
hope to hold your attention by the use of any other branr .'ter you
have listened to the intensely interesting and altogethe wholesome
address of our President, the patriotic appeal of the Me >r, and the
really fine oration of the Governor, but the mention y the Gov
ernor that the conservation of the lives and limb ~.z the working
people of this State makes for better citizensh comes back to
666
Fourth Safety Congress
me as I stand here, and causes me to discard the nonsense and to try to say to you, in conclusion, another word about workmen's compensation laws and safety first campaigns.
We must not expect too much at once from either movement. Com
pensation should never be more than two-thirds of wages; perhaps, in the beginning, even less. More, accidents during the first decade of the safety campaign will not be much reduced. All that we can hope to do at first is to prevent maintenance of the previous annual increase. Education works slowly when habit and instinct must be overcome. And one thing more. Keep your eyes wide open for the ambulance-chasing doctor. New blessings ever have new evils in their train. The shyster lawyer's substitute, the shyster doctor, is not yet the curse that the shyster lawyer was. He cannot be that curse as the Pennsylvania law now stands. For, under it, the em ployer furnishes--the employee cannot select--the attending physi cian. This is not so in some states and nations. Witness their evermounting cost for medical relief. In the first five years after ``free selection" of physicians became the law in France, the cost of medi cal service in compensation cases went up 94 per cent, while the
number of accidents went up but 28 per cent. So beware, beware of the insiduous agitator who asks a little amendment that, for sooth, the injured man may have his own doctor. That agitator is the forerunner of the shyster doctor; the shyster doctor, with his false medical certificates, his unnecessary treatments, his laborers' free clinics, and his divvies of the statutory medical fees with
poor patients thus won. And, don't forget this, either. The employer, not the employee, nor yet the insurance company, foots the bills.
Safety First! Everywhere, that warning halts, that lesson guides, that inspiration stirs. And now, in this second year of the world war, the President :of the United States halts and guides and stirs us all with a paraphrase, finer in sentiment, nobler in inspiration. Said he, the other day: America first! America first! And, if perchance America must, too, some time fight, we shall want men --strong men, sound men, contented men. Shall we not help to conserve these future fighters now? What if, through our safety campaign, we can now reduce the workers killed or maimed each 3^ear by 10, nay 15 per cent! For the nation's welfare, let us make it five, yes, ten points more. This is our part in preparedness. For
JlEfcSiB;
#g:ifatl!g
mMmmmm.
Banquet
667
against the future need. Safety First and America first go hand in hand. (Applause.)
Toastmaster Campbell: I think that we are all very glad that
Edson S. Lott came out of Penn Yan. (Applause.) We are also
glad that neither he nor his wife looked back as they came out of
that city of iniquity recently. (Applause.) And I think that he
may have no further doubt as to what we think of him. (Ap
plause.)
7
The opening session of our Congress was very beautifully char
acterized by an address upon the ideals of our movement. We have
the same gentlemen with us this evening and I do not feel that 1
would be just to you if I did not give him an opportunity of saying
a further word to you, ahd I am going to ask Chancellor McCor
mick to say a few words.
CHANCELLOR M'CORMICK,
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURG.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the National Safety Council: The first and the chief word I should like to say is a word of real appreciation of the opportunity I had of being with you yesterday and of being one of your number at this very delightful dinner this evening. Not only have we heard this most eloquent and patri otic address .from the Mayor of Philadelphia, and this most remark ably able address from our Governor, who could not have set forth the essential idea of this organization more perfectly if he had been a member of it from its inception till this present hour, and this very witty address which has just been concluded; not only in listening to these and in feeling the thrill of their eloquence, but in being permitted to be the guest of men who are engaged in great affairs in the business and industrial world and who are heart and soul committed to a movement, having as its purpose the bettering and conserving of human life, I count myself happy; and in the inspiration of the moment I want my first word to be a word of appreciation.
I really said yesterday all that I had thought to say, but as I have been sitting here this evening my mind went back to an experience I had last year in visiting not only all the countries of Europe, but
668
Fourth Safety Congress
also Egypt and Syria and Pales
And the Doctor
tine- When in Jerusalem a friend of mine told me a story of ah old
Csdls
sheik in Jericho, with whom he gained an intimate acquaintance.
According to the old mans' own
When Indifference
Story, he was one time riding to
comes in the door.
wards Jericho when he saw in the distance a man riding what seemed
Safety flies out the
to be a most beautiful horse. As he
window.
got nearer and saw how very beau tiful that Arabian horse was, he
said to himself: "I wish I had that
horse." The nearer he got, the more
beautiful the horse seemed, and he repeated: "I must have that
horse." And as he got tip still closer to the man he said: "That
horse must be mine." At this moment desire overmastered him and
drawing from his belt the weapon of his country he threw the knife
straight as an arrow into the back of the rider, wounding him to
death. Without compunction, thus this sheik possessed the horse,
at the cost of the life of the man lying upon the ground, his eyes
still open, looking up at him. "But," asked my friend, "do you
think that was just the right way to possess the horse?" "Well,"
said the sheik, "I was not very comfortable because of those eyes
staring at nSK" This was his only answer. One such act seems
horribly cruel, and were it not that in Europe today ten million men
are trying to slaughter ten million other men we should say that
such manifestations of cruelty and disregard of the rights of an
other were impossible. Certain it is that what is going on in the
world today is not only stupid in the utter uselessness of it--for
war is as stupid as it is ineffective--but it is bound to produce in
the nations which wage war an absence of sympathy, a coarseness
and cruelty in the people which will disastrously affect the manhood
of Europe and fashion for them an ideal of character far removed
from that which is represented in this gathering tonight.
Your President has read, on the reverse side of your program,
the basic thought of this organization. I want to read it to you
again: "And the end is that the workman shall live to enjoy the
fruits of his labor; that his mother shall have the comfort of his arm
Banquet .
669
in her age; that his wife shall not
he untimely a widow;' that his children shall have a fathers and
Be Nothing
that cripples and helpless wrecks
who were once strong men shall not longer be a by-product of in
"The way to be
dustry." These words are a state-
nothing is to do noth
ment of what you deem the - real business of men and women |n this
ing." Mental lassi
present time. I want simply to ask you this question: By which of these methods--the method of
tude usually calls for a hospital ticket.
war, the method of force, the
method of destruction, the method
whereby human life is held jlghtly; or the method of thinking for
others, caring for others, entering into sympathy with others and
endeavoring to make life as beautiful and perfect Tor others as
possible--by which of these methods are we to attain unto the
highest type of character? And I take it that that is exactly what
we are in this world for: to learn what is the right kind of char
acter and how we in the World are to attain unto it.
There are men who say this: that it is only as we from time to
time engage in such a struggle as war that it is possible for us to
develop the rugged, heroic virtues without which the human race
must become degenerate. I am not one of those who believe that
it is always wrong to fight. We in America have' the right to ask
our government how many men we need and how many guns we
need and how many fortifications we need and how many defenses
we need in order that we shall be able to resist an attack upon us;
and it is the people's business to provide the money for what is
needed. It is right to make preparation for a possible war, as long
as there are men who believe in war. But I want to ask you
whether it is true that in order to have the right kind of char
acter we shall indulge from Time to time in an orgy of destruction
as the only means of securing it? Surely not. I believe, men and
women, that on the contrary the way to character lies in the practice
of those principles which underlie this organization to .which you
are giving your time and your service. I believe that it is by this
method we shall attain unto that character which will he just as
670
Fourth Safety Congress
heroic and infinitely more gentle and kind than that produced by the practice of killing men in war. Only as we come to understand how fundamental to character is the teaching of the Master when he said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and
strength and mind and soul and thj' neighbor as thyself," shall we ever realize in its fulness the kind of character that ultimately
must prevail over this world of ours. I remember the story of Carroll and Lazear, doubtless familiar to
most of you. An alumnus of our University in Pittsburgh in an address one day exclaimed: "What is the difference between the old Christian martyr and the present day scientific martyr?" And then he went on to tell how Carroll and Lazear went South to study the problem of yellow fever, to find out if they could what it was, how it originated and how it could be prevented. They took a yellow fever patient, almost in the last stages of the disease, out of the bed in which he was lying, and one of them got into the bed just as it was, warmjwith the warmth of the sick body. No result" came from the experiment. Then they turned to the mosquito, al ready under suspicion, applying it first to the sick body of the yellow fever patient and then to one of them. We know the result--the disease and death; but the problem was solved. Men were taught how yellow fever came and how it could forever be prevented.
Then the orator went on to answer his own question. The dif ference is that the old Christian martyr died to save his soul, and the modem scientific martyr dies to save the lives of the people.
Perhaps he was not altogether just to the old Christian martyr. He also died in order that he might be true to what he believed to be right. But true it is that the modem martyr dies to save the lives of his fellow men. It is the glory of this present time, here in America, that men, the men of this organization, are giving them selves in an effort to make life happier and better, and in the very process are developing in themselves the kind of manhood, the kind of character, which alone is worthy as fashioned after the ideal of Him who came not to be ministered unto but to minister and give his life a ransom for many.
Now it seems to me that we are living in a time, men and women, the most beautiful and the most helpful the world has ever known.
At Easton this afternoon we listened to an address by one of the foremost business men of our nation, at the head of one of the
Banquet
671
largest corporations, in which he made a plea for college men in business, urging that business deserves the very best kind of men in this day; for, said he, business is now a science, a profession, requiring talent and training. Then he enumerated the various things the business man is doing; not simply carrying on his busi ness for himself, but carrying it on also for others; interested in everything which concerns the well-being of the employee. In illus trating his thought, the speaker referred to this safety idea for which you stand tonight. As I listened, I thought that after all the glory of America is that of the great men of the nation, those man
aging the great industries, those engaged in great enterprises, are today taking thought not for themselves only, but for others, and are at least helping to bring about the conditions which will result in an universal peace of which Mayor Blankenburg spoke.
For myself, I wish to say once more that so- far as I have oppor tunity and time I shall help along this idea, one of the greatest that has ever been bom, and one which is destined to spread until it shall touch every industry, every organization, and I trust every individual person; and when that shall have come then we shall realize that which our Saviour taught us, that we have come into the world to make it the very Kingdom of our God. (Applause.)
Toastmaster Campbell: There remains but one last function for me to perform. It is one that I perform with very great pleas ure; as X said before, however,- with some considerable measure of regret. I have enjoyed my work with you and as the head of this
organization, but I take very great pleasure in turning the reins of
its government over to my successor, which I now do. (Applause.) (President Morey assumes the chair.)
President Morey: This banquet session stands adjourned.
'WIST YE NOT THAT I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS
.3vgCg
FOR SAFETY "The people need brave hearts, iteuJj heads and strong; arms. Let us seelc to inspire self-reliance, manly courage and sublime faith in the goodness of God.''
-----Editor "Leslie's."
Warn a Man When Danger Is Near-- Even if He Knows It, No Harm Is Done--You May Save Him the Injury
National Safety Council
Foundry Sectional Meeting
Philadelphia, Pa. "October 21, 1915
DR. RICHARD MOLDENKE, Chairman
R. RICHARD MOLDENKE was introduced by Mr. Arthur
D T. Morey, President, National Safety Council, and in his opening address compared the safety work of this with that of European countries and drew the conclusion that we were far behind the standards attained in the older countries. He also laid stress on the necessity of co-operation and advised placing of the responsibility for accidents directly on the foremen.
Mr. Arthur T. Morey of the Commonwealth Steel Company then gave a most interesting talk on the subject of "Foundry Floors.''
A very interesting discussion of this paper was had, the follow ing members taking active part: Mr. H. B. Smith of the Illinois Steel Company, Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Flagg.
A paper on "Handling of Materials" was then read by Mr. A. L. Clark of the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company, which brought forth considerable discussion by Messrs. F. W. Jones of the International Harvester Company, F. W. Shepard- of the Ameri can Cast Iron Pipe Company, F. H. Elam of the American Steel Foundries, S. W. Ashe of the General Electric Company, A. T. Morey of the Commonwealth Steel Company, H. B. Smith of the
673
674
Fourth Safety Congress
Illinois Steel Company, Wm. J.
EFFICIENCY
Johnson of the Baldwin Locomotive Company, Geo. Schulz of the Mary land Steel Company, S. G. Flagg'
of S. G. Flagg & Company, and A.
Full efficiency
Simpson of the American Bridge
comes from the man
Company. Mr. F. G. Bennett of the Buckeye
whose heart is in his
Steel Castings Company of Colum
work, be it mental
bus, Ohio, then gave a very inter esting paper on ``Eye Protection,"
or manual.
discussion of which followed at
considerable length, the following
members leading in the discussion: Messrs. 3HL 33. Smith of the Illinois Steel Company, F. W. Shepard
of the American Cast Iron Pipe Company, G. E. Middleton of the
Cramp & Sons Ship Building Company, A. T. Morey of the Com
monwealth Steel Company, W. G. Brayer of the National Malleable
Company, S. W. Ashe of the General Electric Company, F. W.
Jones of the International Harvester Company, A. H. Lintz, of the American Steel and Wire Company, and A. L. Clark of the Amer
ican Brake Shoe and Foundry Company.
; The next order of business was that of permanent organization
of the Foundry Section of the National Safety Council and a motion
was made and seconded that the chair appoint a committee of three
to formulate plans for the permanent organization and report back
to the meeting not only their recommendations along these lines,
but also their recommendations for officers of the permanent organ
ization for the ensuing year.
The Chairman appointed Messrs. Arthur T. Morey, H. B. Smith
and S. G. Flagg as the committee. It retired and returned, apd
made the following report and recommended the following:
On motion, which was duly seconded, the by-laws were adopted
by the unanimous vote of the Section. The committee then placed
in nomination the following gentlemen as officers of the organization
for one year:
For Chairman, Mr. O. J. Fehling.
For Vice-Chairman, Mr. F. G. Bennett.
For Secretary, Mr. Earl B. Morgan.
Foundry Sectional Meeting
675
There being no further nomina tions, a motion was made and sec
onded that the Secretary cast one ballot for the above-named officers.
ACCIDENTS
This being done the gentlemen were
elected. (Applause.)
Don't think be
Motion was then made and duly seconded that Dr. Richard Mol-
cause an accident has
denke (Chairman of the nominat
not happened it
ing committee) and Messrs. Morey, Flagg and Smith continue to serve as a committee and be empowered
won't happen. alert.
Be
to fill any vacancies caused by the
inability of any of the gentlemen
named to serve as officers for the ensuing year. Carried, and the
committee was continued and empowered as above.
The nod: paper on the program, "Hand and Foot Protection,"
by Mr. 33. W. Conlin of the National Malleable Castings Company,
Chicago, was then presented by Mr. Conlin.
Discussion on this paper was by Messrs F. W. Jones of the International Harvester Company, F. W. Shepard of the American
Cast Iron Pipe Company, S. G. Flagg of S. G. Flagg & Co., H. B.
Smith of the Illinois Steel Company, A. L. Clark of the American
Brake Shoe and Foundry Company, and Dr. H. P. Honrigan of
Larkin & Co.
=
Points particularly brought out were the great reduction in
toe accidents, brought about by the use of the "Protectoe" shoes,
the prevalence in foundries of varicose veins, and the necessity
of leggings for use by pourers and those handling molten
metal.
Mr. R. F. Flintermann was not present and the paper on "Foundry
Yards" was not presented, nor was the paper on "Lighting, Heating
and Ventilation" presented. General discussion, however, on these
subjects was opened by Mr. Arthur T. Morey and the Chairman,
Dr. Moldenke. The meeting adjourned at 12 noon.
The sentiment expressed by the majority of those present was
that the first round table of the Foundry Section had been highly
interesting and instructive, and a beginning toward material organ
ized advancement in foundry safety had been made.
676
Fourth Safety Congress
ATTENDANTS AT FOUNDRY SECTION.
Jos. B. Freund, Midvale Steel Company. F. G. Bennett, The Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Columbus, Ohio.
H. M. Elder, American Locomotive Company, Richmond, Va. R. S. Brunner, Lehigh Coke Company, South Bethlehem, Pa. C. H. Lane, Producers Oil Company, Houston, Texas. Fred W. Jones, assistant superintendent. International Harvester Company, Auburn, N. Y.
Arthur T. Morey, Commonwealth Steel Company, Granite City,
III.
Miss Lillian Erskine, Department of Labor, Trenton, N. J. Jas. C. Crown, Department Labor and Industry, Harrisburg, Pa. Miss Helen B. Noyes, General Electric Company, Erie, Pa. G. E. Sanford, General Electric Company, Lynn, Mass. W. A. Blum, National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio. S. W. Ashe, General Electric Company, Pittsburg, Mass. F. W. Shepard, American Cast Iron Pipe Company, Birming
ham, Ala.
George Schultz, Maryland Steel Company, Sparrows Point, Md. Dr. H. P. Honrigan, Larkin Company, Buffalo, N. Y. Gordon McDonald, American Steel Foundries, Chester, Pa. F. H. Elam, American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111.
G. E. Middleton, American Car and Foundry Company, Wil
mington, Del.
___
Frank Brewer, Pennsylvania S. C. and M. F., Chester, Pa. M. C. Dittmann, American Bronze Company, Berwyn, Pa. John McMahon, American Bronze Company, Berwyn, Pa. F A. Hassett, London G. and A. Company, Philadelphia, Pa. J. C. Sturtevant, American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass.. L. A. Beagle, Zurich General Accident and Liability Insurance Company, New York City.
R. M. Kelley, General Electric Works, Erie, Pa. H. E. Thompson, Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, Manches
ter, N. H. W. C. Swallow, Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, Manchester,
N. H.
Foundry Sectional Meeting
677
George Brooke, Birdsboro-Steel Foundry and Machine Company,
Birdsboro, Pa.
W. E. Harrison, Pencoyd Iron Works, Pencoyd, Pa. W. W. Macon, The Iron Age, New York City.
Stanley G. Flagg, S. G.' Flagg & Co., Philadelphia.
A. H. Lints, American Steel and Wire Company, 1501 Penn Ave
nue, Pittsburgh, Pa.
-
John Wright, Inspection Bureau, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Hartford, Conn.
H. B. Smith, Illinois Steel Company, Joliet, 111.
George T. Fonda, Safety Engineer, Bethlehem Steel Company, South Bethlehem, Pa.
Eckford C. De Kay, State of New York Insurance Department, New York City.
Eugene McPeek, Safety Engineer, National Malleable Castings Company, Toledo, Ohio.
A. R. Palmer, The Thomas Iron Company, Easton, Pa. H. N. Smith, Safety Engineer, American Brake Shoe and Foun dry Company, Mahwah, N. J.
R. Y. Pullinger, American Bridge Company, Pencoyd, Pa.
W. P. Schofield, American Bridge Company, Pencoyd, Pa.
A. L. Clark, S. W. F., American Brake Shoe and Foundry Com pany, Chicago, 111.
Dr. Moldenke, Chairman.
William J. Johnson, Baldwin Locomotive Works, Ridley Park, Pa.
Dr. Orlando F. Scott, Surgeon, Greenlee Foundry Company, Chi
cago.
_
Walter E. Chick, Pennsylvania Steel Company, Steelton, Pa.
Fred M. Chambers, Cramp's Brass Foundry, Philadelphia, Pa. W. B. McLean, United States Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry Com pany, Burlington Plant, NT J.
Anthony Simpson, American Bridge Company, Pencoyd, Pa.
J. R. Anderson, Michigan Mutual Insurance Company.
J. D. Lyle, National Malleable Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio.
N. G. Brayer, Sharon Works, National Malleable Castings Com pany, Sharon, Pa.
678
Fourth Safety Congress
No Employe
"shall remove, dis place, damage, de stroy or carry off any safety device or safeguard."-- Indus trial Commission of Wisconsin.
A. T. Dexter, Melrose Park Works, National Malleable Cast ings Company.
B. W. Conlin, Chicago Works,
National Malleable Castings Com pany.
W. Wallace Wright, William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
A. W. Vennema, Manhattan Rub ber Manufacturing Company, Pas saic, N. J.
H. D. Scully, Canadian Manufac turers' Association, Toronto, Can.
OPENING ADDRESS.
Dr. Richard Moldenke (Watchung, N. J.) : It gives me much pleasure to call to order the first Foundry Sectional meeting of the National Safely Council, and to congratulate you on the great interest shown in this important development of the safety move ment.
On looking over what has been a part of governmental activity in European countries for generations, so far as safety of the workers is concerned, one cannot but be struck with the backward ness existing in America. I have given this matter much thought and investigation, mid have come to the conclusion that the situ ation is a psychological one. I once heard Andrew Carnegie remark upon the character of our people. He held that in the family life of Europeans the active and restless spirits broke their bonds of environment and came to this country. Hence our make-up--as energetic individualists--pioneers in the development of the coun ty, in spite of all the obstacles encountered.
I would add to the above, which is unquestionably true and patent to us all, that the creation of the "self-made" man in the develop ment of the country--Mr. Carnegie himself being a shining example --has introduced one serious phase from which we have been and are still suffering very badly. To become a so-called "self-made" man, the individual in question has had to step upon very many of
Foundry Sectional Meeting
679
his brethren who were less aggres
sively constituted. The result has been much of the "one-man" type
Every Employer
of working condition government. Such a man oftentimes thought himself a little god, and was con temptuous of the lives and welfare
"to furnish a place of employment which shall be safe for em
of- those whom he employed. The survival of the fittest was his code. Safety First was an unknown slo
ployes and frequent ers thereof."--Indus
gan to him. I remember acting
trial Commission of
as interpreter in a settlement with the widow of a "Hunky" who had
Wisconsin.
been accidentally killed. Three hun
dred dollars and a ticket to Europe was the price of that life--
then considered a generous payment.
The worm has turned and today the statute books of the several
"progressive" states and territories are burdened with unjust legis
lation which might have been avoided had the "little gods" been
killed off early in the game of manufacturing.
Today the owner of a plant is very much alive to the political
and financial aspect of accidents in his establishment. He holds
his supervisors accountable for safety conditions. These superin
tendents and managers are beginning to see the "efficiency" side of
healthy men working under safe conditions, but are still slow to
make the necessary expenditures.
EDUCATING THE 'FOREMEN.
The keynote, however, of the operative end of safety provision lies in getting the co-operation of the foundry foreman. He, him self, has advanced from the ranks through individual effort. He has probably stepped upon men under him in consolidating his shop power. He is oftentimes a czar in his domain. He resents outside interference with his men, as a rule, either tacitly or openly, and unless his co-operation is enlisted the best of plans will lack the snap required for complete success.
I would emphasize, therefore, the desirability of educating the foreman, as the immediate superior of the men at work, to the safety standard. As it is hot possible to teach old dogs new tricks.
680
Fourth Safety Congress
it would be well to begin an educational campaign with the younger element, destined to be leaders of the shopmen in the near future,
so that these young men may begin to live in an atmosphere of safety. Their very being will then be permeated with Safety First, and whatever they do or recommend will unconsciously be based upon the assurance that the possibility of accidents to the workers has been taken into account. Not only will the dictates of humanity be thus cared for, but actual dollars put into the pockets of the discriminating employer. (Applause.)
FOUNDRY FLOOR PRACTICES.
Arthur T. Morey (Assistant to President, Commonwealth Steel Company, Granite City, 111.) : As a preface to these remarks, I will assume that the pre-requisite to all good safety work--good organization--has been accomplished and has produced good feeling and the right co-operation in the shop, and I take it that my paper is not to deal with that phase of the work, but primarily with the mechanical safeguards or conditions on the foundry floor.
I am glad to say that it has been our experience that our safety work has been a very great aid to shop efficiency in our foundry; that it has improved many shop conditions and helped toward a better output and reduction in costs.
GOOD ORDER.
Many accidents and inefficiencies occur in foundries through a long inherited idea that there has to be disorder. This makes it difficult to put the hand promptly on things, when needed, causes waste of certain supplies, and makes for much stumbling, confusion and accidents. So one of the best safety things we did was to have a good brick walk laid the entire length of the foundry, and now the shop gauges itself to that.. We worked out a place for every thing and proceeded to see that everything was kept in its place. In this we were more or less helped by our having in our shop many fixed molding forms or drags for our large castings. Narrow gauge industrial tracks were laid to deliver complete sets of cores directly alongside the respective molds. Boxes were provided for facing sand, wedges, etc. Classes of work and material were segre gated insofar as possible. Flask piling was carefully watched, not only within the foundry building, but also in the yard storage.
Foundry Sectional Meeting
681
CRANE OPERATIONS.
All our cranes have structural steel safety walks on the outside of each bridge girder. We have found the best flooring is checkered steel plate. Toe plates!6 inches high and railings 42 inches high, with intermediate railings, are also provided in these walks. Safety cut-out switches, housed in wooden boxes with hinged lids that can be locked with a padlock, were provided on all cranes, and no one is allowed to go on a crane to do any work without first locking the switch, the man retaining the only key thereto except the master key in the office. We have a simple well-guarded trolley, though the installation of trolley guards is suspended, as the practicability of such guards is stilljunder discussion.
ACCESS PLATFORMS TO CRANES.
No one is allowed any longer to go on a crane runway without special permission from his foreman, in case of repair necessities, etc., in which cases lookouts are placed to completely guard the men. The need of going on the runways is very infrequent. Structural steel access platforms are provided for each crane, the platform being head-height below the same, so that the crane cannot strike anyone standing on the platform. From this platform a short steel ladder leads upward, so that when the crane cage is brought in position over the platform the ladder on the crane cage is in con tinuation of the access platform ladder.
BELLS ON CRANES.
We only use a bell-on our heat handling crane, because if bells were put on all our eighteen cranes the multiple signals would be so incessant and confusing that they would defeat their purpose.
EMERGENCY BRAKES IN CRANE BRIDGE DRIVE MOTORS.
We have equipped one of our cranes with an emergency magnetic brake which will automatically stop the crane within ten feet in case the power fails. An emergency knife switch, placed in front of the controller, also controls this brake for cranemen to use in case a finger of the controller sticks.
INSPECTION OF CRANES.
Before any heat is poured, whistle signal is given and a machinist and electrician thoroughly inspect the heat-handling crane. All
682 Fourth Safety Congress
Not the Boss' Life
Safety means
cranes are thoroughly inspected once a week. Cranemen also promptly report any condition need ing attention that they discover while operating or oiling their re spective cranes.
more them property
CHAIN PRACTICES.
--it means life, per
Riding Chains and Crane Loads.
haps your life or one
--This practice is entirely pro hibited, being considered dangerous
dear to you.
and unnecessary. The complaint
was made that not to ride loads
would slow up the work, but I have
never heard any ^complaint hereon since such riding was forbid
den.
Loads Over Heads.--Passing over men's heads of loads being car
ried up the shop is minimized as much as possible, the above referred
to walkway furnishing a good opportunity to do this, anyone using
the walk at the time stepping to one side until the load passes.
Chainmen must precede loads up the shop to give warning.
Sminging Chains.--Chains without loads passing up the shop are
not allowed to swing free where they might catch onto things, but
must be guided by the chainmen walking beneath.
Signals Betsveen Chainmen and Cranemen.--It has always seemed
to the writer that a uniform code of signals should be worked out
between the cranemen and the chainmen so that.new cranemen and
chainmen can quickly learn a clear, intelligible code, and old men
being transferred to other cranes would still use the same code.
This will be accomplished some time, though our own progress
toward this better practice seems, for some reason, to be very
difficult.
Materials in Chains.--This subject is a large one and I -would
refer any inquirer on this subject to the paper of our safety engineer,
Mr. Earl B. Morgan, printed under the proceedings of the Safe
guarding Section.
Overloading of Chains.---Our floor work requires different sizes
of chains, which creates a condition that needs watching. The
craneman is forbidden to move any load on which he thinks too
WHIM,
swan--f } 4.iWj##W ..:, '.a-;
M3i
Foundry Sectional Meeting
683
light chains are being used. The
foremen also watch this matter and the chainmen are trained. This
Play to Win
seems to avoid much trouble with
wrong chains being used, such as light chains for too heavy work. Where the loads to be lifted are
Boost for Safety First, not second,
standard, a good plan is to have
third or last, but al
a posted table of weights so men may know the proper chain for such a load.
ways. and every where SAFETY
Inspection of Chains.-*-We have
FIRST.
every chain in the shop inspected
carefully by special chain inspectors
every day. We make our own repairs and also thoroughly test all
new chain upon delivery by manufacturer.
Lamp Trimmer's Walk.--The old custom was for the lamp trim
mer to stand on the top of a crane trolley to trim the lamps, which
was hazardous if the crane was bumped. Also if the crane should
not be secured at the proper times and the lights were not attended
to, this would cause darkness on the floor at night, which is another
hazard. Therefore we built a lamp trimmer's walk of structural
steel, with wooden floor for insulation purposes, 875 feet long--the
entire length of the foundry floor. This permits regular and proper
attention to the lamps and is entirely safe. This has proven quite
an efficiency item, as the lamps last longer, due to regular attention,
and the building is furnished better light. The old method required
tying up the service of one crane and required two electricians, while
one electrician does the work now and does not have to wait on a
crane.
Sand Buckets.--We and neighboring foundries had very serious
accidents from the accidental unlatching and falling of sand bucket
bails. We finally solved this problem perfectly by riveting lugs on the
rim of the bucket, to provide a notch, riveting a projection on the bail-
and increasing the play at the bails supporting trunnion, so that when
the crane lifted the bucket the projection on the bail would be lifted
and clear the notch on the rim of the bucket so that bucket could be
turned over for dumping. When the bucket was set down, the pro
jection on the bail would settle into the notch on the rim and be auto-
684
Fourth Safety Congress
matically locked against the bail's falling. For our dumping purpose, when the bucket is handled by the crane, we left the latch on one
side, but when in this position there is no danger of the latter not ful filling its purpose safely. The good order on the foundry floor also permits the buckets to be set down on level enough places to insure against improper tipping.
LADLE PRACTICES.
Men Around Ladles.--We prohibit any more men being around the ladle while heat is being poured than are absolutely necessary.
Goggles.--All those whose duties require them to work around the ladle are required to wear goggles, so that the popping of the metal out of the risers or from possible breakouts cannot injure them. We have found a bi-color goggle lens especially adapted to this use. The lower half is white, while the upper is "jew" blue.
Ladle-Stopper Handles.--We have had several accidents from the handle being struck while the ladle was proceeding over the floor, opening up the stopper and spilling metal, which has splashed on the men. We have improved this condition as much as possible, but have not as yet worked out a safe lock on this handle. Sug gestions from others would be gratefully appreciated hereon.
Foundry Shoes.--We have sold over 4,000 pairs of foundry, or congress, shoes to our men. We only pour big castings, and the danger of getting metal on shoes has not been very great, but runouts are possible, and we have gotten a splendid shoe which we sell to the men at cost, the wearing qualities of which have caused it to meet with large sales. The manufacturer has recently improved this shoe, both for quality and protection, providing a strong toe to break the fall of objects falling on the foot.
Skin Drying for Eye Protection.--We experienced some eye troubles when the men used torches for skin drying of molds, the trouble seeming to come from the combination of the light and heat. We provided simple amber spectacles free to the men having this operation, purchasing these spectacles at the 5 and 10-cent store. Their wearing is optional, as men with weak eyes, who need pro tection, seem to appreciate their own need and ask for the spectacles.
JIB CRANE PRACTICE.
Steel Beams.--We replaced the old wooden "equalizer" beam with structural steel I-beams.
Foundry Sectional Meeting
685
Notches for Links.--We provided cast steel notches secured to the I-beam, of such a design that the links can never jump off the
beam. Air Hoist Hooks.--Where possible, we closed these hooks so that
the beam could never jump off them. Where convenient moving of the beam is required we provided a very deep hook.
Handles on Links.--We had many fingers injured by being caught between the links and the cope or drag when turning over. We
provided handles on all links, the use of which entirely prevents
such injuries. This has been a small cost with a very heavy saving. Strains on Threads.--In the jib crane practice we have avoided
all strains on screw threads, heavily cottering wherever necessary.
Air Hose.--We found that sometimes the air hose which trans mitted the air to the air hoist cylinder would be disconnected by catching on projections and thereby drop the load. We, therefore, shielded all such projections to avoid fouling the air hose in any
way. Core Truck Bumpers.--We placed bumpers on all core trucks to
avoid catching fingers of the men moving them between the trucks.
Sand Mill Practice.--We guard but do not house the crown gears. All belts and other conditions are completely guarded, especially
the hopper. We built an expensive hopper guard, but found simple
bars were quite adequate and much less in cost. We are now replac ing, for efficiency reasons, all belt-driven sand mills with direct drive transmission, which improvement also has its safety value.
The direct drive is transmitted through herring-bone gears, which are completely housed by a guard which holds oil, so that gears run
in oil all the time.
OPEN HEARTH PRACTICE.
Tap Hole Guard.--In cleaning out the furnace with air blast, sparks were thrown across the foundry floor, so we provided a
spark shield to be placed in position at the tap hole for this purpose
after the runner spout had been removed when such work'was being
done.
Platform Guards.--Rails, toe guards, etc., according to practice,
are along the edge of the whole platform. We still have an opening in the platforms. under the runner spout and tap hole, but we are
now improving this condition by making a complete flooring in this
place.
686 Fourth Safety Congress
Charger Spark Guards.--We
Obey This Rule
found it necessary to put a sliding glass wire window in front of tbe
charger operator to protect him
Do not turn on the electricity, gas, steam or water, or set in motion any machinery without
from sparks from the furnace when charging from boxes in which
snow or water had accumulated. This has been very effective, and the glass is heavily pitted, showing where sparks have been arrested.
seeing if arfy one is
Bell.--We have an automatic
in danger.
hell on the charger, so that same cannot be moved without warn
ing.
Wheel Fenders.--The wheels and all other conditions that, can
be guarded mechanically are covered on the charger.
Furnace Roof ^Hazards.--Occasionally, if a furnace roof gets
weak and a few bricks fall, mending of the whole has been neces
sary. To meet the danger of the roof caving in while the men were
making repairs on same, we constructed a sufficient number of
2 by 2-inch v. p. boards covered by No. 18 gauge steel over asbestos,
so that same could be laid across the buckstay tie rods, and a
protective platform thus be quickly erected, with a hole through
which to work. In case of collapse of roof, it was considered this
would give enough protection for the men to make a hasty retreat.
IN GENERAL.
As stated above, all the foregoing improvements have been very closely related to efficiency, and now, irrespective of the safety considerations, almost every one of the foregoing would be desired for purely operating reasons. (Applause.)
HANDLING OF MATERIALS.
A. L. Clark (Superintendent, Western Foundries, American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company) : Given a foundry and equip ment and an organization to handle the work, we are at once con fronted with the need of materials. As they begin to come in and the various other activities of the plant proceed, the prolific troubles of the foundryman begin. There, of course, is the pig iron, scrap.
Foundry Sectional Meeting
687
coke, sand, clay, brick, stone, lum-
ber, patterns, and all the miscellaneous supplies to be handled and
F
xAi*jlllii 1t-1h11e6 T11i1m11e6 !y
stored. It is obvious that the man-
ual labor employed to do this laborious work will be selected at the gate more particularly with
------------
EEvveerrllaassttiinnggwwaattcchh-
rffuul,lnneessss
i.s
. the
. c price of
reference to their muscular devel-
SSaaffeettyy.. Think of the I
opment and with little, if any,
thought as to their mental capacity or brain power or their capabilities
lloovveedd oonneess aatt hhoommee ubbeecfoorree t. aa,kii.nngS aa
for more skilled work. , We have,
chance,.
pig iron to unload; we are short
of men, and any cheap man
will do. He is hired and becomes a unit in our organization, some
times susceptible to development and efficient training, but generally
unresponsive to these influences, for usually "nobody" around a
foundry has time or inclination to direct his movements and show
him the "safe" way to do his work. He crawls under and between
the. cars, in ignorance of the time switches are made; he drops a
pig on his co-worker's foot, and with the seemingly utmost care
and abandon slams down a pig on the side of the car with his fingers
in between--two cases for the first aid man. Fortunately for us,
the switch engine did not come in while he was crawling under the
car or we would have had a hospital case or worse. But, you say,
you don't run a shop like that. We don't do things quite that way
now. We have adopted more efficient methods of handling mate
rials, and are preaching Safety First and always every day, and yet
some of these same fellows get hurt.
Frogress, of course, has been made. We are employing cranes
with magnets for the handling of all metallic materials, grab buckets
for sand, clay, coke, stone, etc. These and other mechanical con
trivances facilitate the unloading and handling of materials, and
eliminate to a great extent the hazards in this work. But follow
the trend of operations, taking the stock to the cupolas: Have you
your elevators equipped with safety devices; do you inspect your
elevator cables regularly; have you safety gates at all openings;
do you permit the promiscuous riding of employes on these ele
vators ; are your charging floors safe as to load factor, and the
688
~ Fourth Safety Congress
floors, platforms and stairways so protected as to prevent pieces of iron being kicked down on someone's head below ? Do you have someone inspect your scrap, so that no shells, shrapnel, or other explosive war materials are charged or no old piston heads go in without being broken to cause an explosion that might blow your charges out of your stack and blow your bottom doors down and scatter molten iron about among your workmen? Is your cupola man protected with goggles and leggings ? Are your pourers SafetyFirst men, or are they continually getting burned ? Are they spilling iron and burning others? How are your chains, cables and slings? Are they regularly inspected, annealed and properly taken care of ? How about your yokes and bails, and don't forget your ladles, the gears, your cranes, your hoists, etc.? These are all means of handling materials and must be guarded and watched as well as the men.
ORDER SPEEDS SAFETY.
Remember, too, we may have forgotten to clean up our foundry,
and piles of old sand are here and there; gaggers, rods, old and
broken flasks lying around. Your men, in handling flasks or molten iron or finished product, stumble or trip or fall, are maimed, bruised, burnt, or perhaps have stepped on a flask side or bar with a pro truding nail; infection sets in; they are laid up and new men must take their places; tomorrow, and your risks of further accidents increased on account of the inexperience of the new men.
HANDLING OF PRODUCT.
Then there is the handling of your product in the cleaning-room; chips are flying here and there; belts exposed, as well as gears on your tumbling barrels. Where are the goggles on your chippers and grinders--up on their foreheads or used for protection of their eyes? Are all your emery wheels properly guarded, all rests in shape, safety collars used?
Once iri a while one of the chipping gang gets hurt, so that your safety provisions must extend to this department, too.
Now that all materials have been handled, let us see what has been the reasons for our men getting hurt. If you are interested in and have practiced Safetv First, you have provided the necessary guards and precautions; you have taken care of the external and
E 3agj-.aa:. risSim: ri>: J Jift
Foundry Sectional Meeting
689
physical influences that tend toward accidents; you have effected clean and sanitary conditions, provided adequate lighting conditions, substituted good and safe tools and equipment for old and obsolete methods; equipped the men with goggles, congress shoes, leggings and suitable clothing. All these are factors for and are decreasing the number'pf your accidents, but you still have the ignorance, the carelessness," and the mental attitude of the indifferent men in the organization to contend with. This is a matter of education, perhaps of some discipline. It's all in the game and worth while. Taking five foundry plants with which I am familiar, ranging in capacities from 20 to 150 tons each per day, and employing from 50 to 250 men each, I have compiled data for the year which shows 159 accidents reported. Eighty were slight bruises, bums or abrasions, occasioning no loss of time or medical attention other than first aid; 16 shows loss of one or two days; 30 from three to seven days; 15 from seven to fourteen days; 12 from two to three weeks; 3 for one month, and 4 of longer duration. The lost time figured $2,917.24; doctor's fees, $687.65; compensation, $1,050.95. So it will be seen that the loss to the men in lost time exceeded the expense to the company by $1,178.64 for the 159 accidents reported. Forty-two per cent occurred in the morning hours, of which 70 per cent were between the hours of 9 and 11 o'clock; 58 per cent occurred in the afternoon, 77 per cent of which occurred between 2 and 5 o'clock. Of the 159 accidents reported, 77 per cent resulted from the handling of materials, with the lost time 611 days; 23 per cent were caused by other accidents, with lost time of 640 days.
THE RECORD.
Computed on a man-day basis, the accidents per 1,000 were as follows:
Plant 1......................r.............................................................64
Plant 2...................
1.80
Plant 3.....................
92
Plant 4............................................................................... 1.32
Plant 5..........
72
Men per 1,000. .. .^r..................................................... 1.15
In handling materials, .89 man per r,ooo, and .26 man otherwise.
690 Fourth Safety Congress
DEPARTMENTAL ACCIDENTS.
Resulting in
Accidents Lost Time. No Time Reported. Ac'd'ts. Days. Lost.
Handling materials in yard......... 11 8 63
Putting up stock, charging, and
about cupola.......................... IO 9 83
Pouring iron ... --.......................... 31 26 275
Foundry equipment and supplies. 22
22
67
In cleaning room.......................... 20 Loading and shipping................. 12
13
12
28
32
In machine shop............................ 7 4 32
Cranemen.........r.......................... 2
Attaching crane loads................. 3 3 23
Coreroom ....VtT........................ 4
2
8
Night crew .................................... I
-*
3
1
5
m 7
3
2 .. 2
I
Totals.........^.................................. 123 99 611 24
COMPARISON.
In closing, I would say that as to comparison of total accidents for the plants reviewed that in
1913 we had 38ijiccidents...............................................................Reduction 1914 we had 227 accidents..........................................................*40.4% 1915 we had i59*accidents..........................................................*58.3%
(Applause.)
_______________
EYE PROTECTION IN FOUNDRIES.
F. G. Bennett (Director of Safet3r, The Buckeye Steel Castings Co., Columbus, Ohio) : The conservation of vision in foundries by preventative measures has reached a more defined and regulated status today than has any other branch of safety work. That there is an eye hazard in foundries cannot be questioned, and remark able and commendable progress has been made to minimize the results of this hazard. Elimination of the causes, of course, should
*As compared with 1913.
Foundry Sectional Meeting
691
be the initial step in preventing in
juries to the eye, but this cannot always be accomplished on account
Your Eyes
of the nature of the work being
performed. Flying chips of steel, particles of sand, and other foreign bodies are among the most com mon causes of mechanical injuries to the eyes and can be, in practically all instances combated by means of protective lenses properly fitted and
"You are warned against working without eye protec tors or with battered tools. Get proper tools and goggles
always worn by the worker. In the modern foundry today
from foreman.'*
we must consider its various
branches, which include chipping of castings by pneumatic tools
grinding on emery wheels, sandblasting, electric arc welding, oxy-
acetylene welding, and other modern devices and practices used
to produce finished castings. This broadens the scope of this sub
ject and we must take into account the injuries that are sustained
to the terminals of the optic nerve, as well as the common abrasions
and lacerations to the cornea or outer coating of the eyeball.
There are different types of foundries, and the practices vary in
different plants, but we can apply the general procedure in foundry practice to this discussion. First, we all know that molds are made,
into which hot metal is poured; the rough castings produced, which
must now be finished and the uneven parts smoothed to turn out a
salable article.
EYE HAZARDS.
In making the molds thereTs need of preventative measures. The large steel-casting foundries use the molding machine, on which the
flasks are placed and the sand rammed by means of pneumatic tools
The specific cause of injury in this operation is the flying particles
of sand and other foreign particles, which is caused by the action
ot the head of the rammer. We have never observed a serious
injury arising from this cause, but there is some chance of it occur
ring. Numerous cases! of sand in the eyes, however, have arisen
from this one item. There can hardly be any danger from hand
ramming. Protective lenses and more careful use of air rammers
will lessen the amount of injuries in this respect
692 Fourth Safety Congress
Pouring of metaljn the molds is accomplished by varied processes. There is the small hand ladle, bull ladle, tilting ladle, and the large ladle which is mechanically operated by pouring metal in different quantities through a bottom opening. There is always an eye-hazard present in pouring hot metal, no matter what method is employed, and while it is possible to somewhat lessen this hazard by more careful handling, protective lenses should be worn by all employes engaged in this work. Not only to prevent injuries resulting from splashes should protection be worn, but also the eyes should be protected from the glare of the hot metal. This phase of eye pro tection deserves specific consideration and will furnish enough thought to be discussed separately and by specialists who are making a study of properly tinted lenses to eliminate the introduction of the dangerous infra-red and ultra-violet rays to the delicate nerve ter minals of the eye. 4
After a casting has been made and is turned out of its mold, the next process is to remove the superfluous metal to make it a finished article. This requires chipping by hand chisels, pneumatic chippers, cold sawing, sand blasting, grinding on emery wheels, and some times electric arc welding. It is a recognized fact that these opera tions are hazardous in respect to eyes and properly fitted protective lenses must be worn by the worker to prevent injuries. "Where cast ings are chipped in molding rooms ar.d when other workers are likely to be struck by flying particles, a shield of burlap on an iron frame should be used. However, there is only one safe rule to fol low in chipping-rooms, and that is to have each and every employe, and all other persons, wear eye protectors. This is not an imprac ticable rule as it is in use in several large plants throughout the country. The hazard of arc welding is apparent and recognized and the welder's hood is worn by all operators. It is always best to con fine electric arc welding to separate rooms where the nature of the work will permit. Sand blasting should also be done in separate rooms and the worker should wear the sand blaster's helmet, which provides protection to the eyes.
There are other conditions and circumstances which at times pre sent an eye hazard, such as swinging material on crane chains, air hose breaking, and other unlocked for instances which will have to be given consideration as the local conditions will demand.
Foundry Sectional Meeting
693
LENSES AND FRAMES.
The statement that "properly fitted protective lenses be provided1' covers a broad subject. This is the most important part of the preventative phase. A properly fitted eye protector should consist of lenses made from optical glass and of such thickness that they will withstand a hard blow, and of such quality that if struck the glass will not fly in small pieces, but will remain in the frame. The frame of an eye protector should be of substantial construction and made to fit the wearer in a comfortable manner. The lens should be secured in its frame in such a manner that even though the glass is shattered the pieces will remain. It is very important that the bridge be of such type that its application will be universal, as there have been numerous objections raised on the part of employes to the wearing of eye protectors on account of the discomfort arising from the misfit of the nose bridge.
There are some cases where employes wear corrective lenses and it is an easy matter to have the same used in eye protectors. How ever, the use of optical glass, ground neutral, will not cause eye strain and the statement from an employe that the wearing of goggles make his eyes tired only reveals the fact that he has some defect in his vision and needs to consult an oculist, as no doubt he
always has had this trouble and is merely using this as an excuse not to wear goggles. Eye protectors should be issued from one central point and by a person who will take the time to see that they prop erly fit the employe. -
ENFORCEMENT OF RULES.
The question of getting men to wear eye protectors has been raised
in the past. This is jqot as difficult as it was thought it might be.
Publicity, education and discipline are the best agents to be employed
By use of the bulletin boards excellent results can be obtained.
There is no better medium than the posting of broken goggles, with
a statement giving the name of the wearer and other data. In addi
tion to this, photographs of the man who has had an eye saved b>
wearing eye protectors^ offers another excellent way to get the men
to wear eye protectors. Where it is mandatory that eye protectors
are to be worn, it should be seen that the foremen strictly enforce
any and all rules relating thereto.
~
There will be some eye injuries in spite of all preventive measure?
<594
_Fourth Safety Congress
that can be employed and no mat
Let There Be Light
ter how trivial the injury mav be it should receive first-class attention
byr a competent person. Removal
of foreign bodies from the eye by
We have just two
fellow workmen with match sticks,
eyes and how impor
toothpicks or other unclean articles should not be permitted, as there
tant it is that they
is always present the danger of in
both be kept in first-
fection with its resultant scar on the cornea of the eye, to later cause
class working order.
a defect in the vision.
Generally speaking, this subject
of eye protection is one that has
been given a great amount of thought and study, and the manu
facturers and jobbers of eye protectors, in endeavoring to furnish
a proper article, deserve considerable commendation and praise.
One firm in particular has, and is, making a special study of prop
erly colored lenses for use around intense heat and other occupa
tions where a glare is to be contended with, and certainly is spending
a considerable amount of money in endeavoring to turn out a satis
factory eye protectory
The use of all mediums to conserve vision should be studied and
applied. We have just two eyes and how important it is that they
both be kept in first-class working order. When one is gone there
is only one left between seeing this beautiful world and an awful
life of darkness- (Applause.)
HAND AND FOOT PROTECTION.
B. W. Costlin (.Safety Inspector, National Malleable Castings Company^, Chicago) : What swift and wonderful changes, what a world of activity, and what marvelous labor-saving appliances have we witnessed in the operation of the foundry' since thirty years ago! "Magic" is the only word that can be used for the making of the phrase. Safety First! when applied to the foundry'. What a mar velous movie film is in the mind of the man who happened to be born in the foundry when it was an incubator of accidents and mishaps and has lived to see it reared through its various evolutions
mtiM
:J] ^ - "fgfMBfe -
^^1|1|||
..IE5a:miaiTaJ2-..3iMi-
dUB
Foundry Sectional Meeting
<595
down to the present-day methods of operation in the up-to-date foundry, where accident prevention takes
Are You Blind?
precedence over profit making. Many an old foundryman of mal
"To burn your
leable extraction has personally
bills is no way to
spanned the gap of time, when it was the recognized practice to start
make light of your
the heats in the foundry with a
troubles." Don't
roar and din that is hardly equaled on the European battlefields of to
shut your eyes to
day, to the quiet, ordinary, mat
danger.
ter-of-fact method of the present
time. Need we wonder that under
such conditions the foundry contributed more than its quota of the
maimed and injured? In the earlier days the burned or injured em
ploye was generally sent home, without medical attention, to be
taken care of by the wife or mother, who very often not only acted
as nurse for those of her_own flesh and blood, but also looked after
those to whom she was not intimately related, such as boarders.
Contrasting this with the present-day method of giving first aid
at the plant and medical attention by the doctor--are we not justified
in claiming progress along humanitarian lines, and may we not feel
that because of the safeguards installed and immediate care given
injury cases we have tended to lift the foundry out of the so-called
hazardous risks and placed it in a position where it compares favor
ably with other lines of industry ?
HAND PROTECTION.
The subject assigned to me for discussion is that of "Hand and Foot Protection." First, we will consider the hand, meaning prop erly, the upper and lower arm, together with the palm and fingers, injuries to which constitute 70 to 75 per cent of the total number of injuries in our plants. Those of you who are members of the Amer ican Museum of Safety, or receive their monthly bulletin, will recol lect the picture of an infected hand which appeared in their bulletin of January, 1914, showing the result of blood poisoning starting from a little scratch on one of the fingers, with this description: "The: e are pictures of ji man's blood-poisoned hand; the blood
696
Fourth Safety Congress
poisoning started from a little scratch and it poisoned the whole
hand. He suffered much pain and could not work for a long time.
If he had told his foreman he would have been sent to the company
doctor and would not have had blood poisoning. Always tell your
foreman, as soon as you are hurt, even if it is only a little .scratch,
and he will send you to the company doctor." This case cost the
Chicago plant of our company over $400.00 in medical treatment
and compensation. The direct loss to the man can hardly be esti
mated. Infection is the crying evil, according to the plant doctor. What
are the means of prevention of cuts and abrasions, infection of
which is usually the result of neglect? Our practice is to furnish
hand leathers to all foundry laborers, yard men, chippers, annealing
men, and others whose work consists of handling casting? and raw
material, especially castings taken directly from the foundry, which
have, before being annealed, sharp fins and other projections which
lacerate the hands. _ You will truthfully say that hand leathers are
not always practicable to use, and that they will not in every case
prevent small cuts and abrasions. We find that by designing a hand
leather for each class or condition of our work we can protect fully
90 per cent of our employes with hand leathers.
As a result of the accident before mentioned, we have developed
a system of inspection that has nipped in the bud a number of in cipient infection cases. I received, a few days ago. a report from
one of our foremen, which I will read to you. using hi? own lan
guage: "Our inspection recently unearthed two infections that
would undoubtedly have turned out serious if we had not inspected
the men's hands. We have a way of taking hold of their hands and
squeezing their fingers, and if they make a face something is
wrong."
--
Our experience and records show that infections occur in greater
numbers toward the end of the winter and through early spring,
undoubtedly due to the fact that the men's calloused hands crack
open during the cold weather, and with the coming of early spring or warmer days these callouses that are cracked become infected,
probably due to perspiration washing the dirt and germs into them--
no attention being given to this condition by the men until infection
develops. To prevent the development of such cases, inspection of
the men's bands is made by us regularly. This method of xnspec-
Foundry Sectional Meeting
697
tion or procedure has enabled us to head off a number of what might have proved to be serious infections. As a further protection, we furnish our men, during the cold weather, with a small bottle con
taining a lotion to heal chapped or cracked hands. It might be of interest to state that in addition to washing facilities throughout our plant the men are furnished with a bountiful supply of soap. It has been noticed that, since the men have been given the washing facilities, small cuts and bruises are brought to our attention that previously were covered up, which will account for the large per centage of hand injuries, being, as stated, 70 to 75 per cent of the total number of injuries in our plant. Of this number fully 60 per cent or more are only small cuts and abrasions.
FOOT PROTECTION.
Injuries to the feet constitute about 15 per cent of our total num ber of accidents. Our practice is to furnish a legging to each molder and laborer when he is working about or pouring molten metal. This legging is made out of eight-ounce heavy duck canvas, and is kept in repair from day to day--a daily inspection being made. When leggings are found to be worn or burnt they are taken from the men and replaced with others in good repair, and necessary re pairs made to those requiring same. In addition to leggings, we compel each molder or foundry laborer to wear shoes of the congress type, and we have also in some cases obliged men with varicose veins to wear shin guards to protect their veins from being cut and
bruised. The necessity for doing this will come home to you forc ibly by the following illustration:
One of our molders afflicted with varicose veins, while carrying a mold stepped over a mold box, striking the inside of his leg at a point five inches above the inside ankle, producing a very slight abrasion, about one and one-half to one and three-quarter inches in length. This he failed to report to the foreman, considering it of such a trivial nature as not to require any attention; in fact, the man, according to his story, stated that he did not realize at the abrasion became infected; the entire leg swelled, and he developed time that he had injured himself. During the next two days this an inflammation of the leg and of the vein extending up the thigh. When our doctor saw him, the vein was involved clear up in the thigh, almost to the stomach. This was forty-eight hours after the
698 Fourth Safety Congress
injury. The man was removed to the hospital, where warm dress ings were applied. At the point of the injury there was considerable sloughing, which was of a gangrenous nature, and involved the tissues where the slough occurred. Healing was very slow; in fact, the tissues were never: built in and restored until recently. The leg is now practically healed and there are one or two spots on it that are a little red and look as though a slight irritation might break the skin. Over a long period of this man's disability the left leg was probably one-third larger than the right. At the present time, measuring at the most: prominent portion of the calf, the leg is just one-half inch greater in circumference than the right. He has large varicose veins covering the inner and posterior aspect of the right calf. A great many veins of the left leg have become obliterated through the intense and terrific inflammation that existed over this man's leg for a considerable period of time. This man was under our doctor's observation for a period of 483 days and the case cost the company $955-13Tor compensation and medical attention. (Ap plause.)
The Section, after informal discussion, adjourned.
Every Accident Is a Notice Something Is Wrong. Correct the Cause---Prevent the Accident
National Safety Council
Woodworking Sectional Meeting
Philadelphia, Pa.
October 21, 1915
H. N. TALIAFERRO, Chairman
Production Superintendent, American Seating Company
S. H. KERSHAW, Recording- Secretary-
Safety Engineer, Independence Inspection Bureau
WEDNESDAY MORNING SESSION
Participants in Discussion
Mr. William Newell, Safety Engineer, State Insurance Fund,
New York City. Mr. J. R. Patterson, Department of Labor and Industry of Penn
sylvania, Beacon Falls, Pa.
Mr. C. E. Connelly, Factory Inspector, State Department of
Labor, Oklahoma City, XDkla.
Mr. A. H. Campbell, National Cash Register Company, Dayton,
Ohio.
_
Mr. W. E. Williams, Packard Motor Company, Detroit, Mich.
Mr. Chapin Roberts, Sears, Roebuck & Co., Chicago,-111.
699
700
Fourth Safety Congress
Mr. Henry A. Hale, Jr., American Mutual Liability Insurance Company, Boston, Mass.
Mr. Truitt, Electric Storage Batterjr Company, Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. W. J. Higley, Willys-Overland Company, Toledo, O. Mr. Frank B. Gilbreth, Consulting Management Engineer, Provi
dence, R. I. Mr. J. P. Quinn, Department of Labor and Industry, State of
Pennsylvania, York, Pa. Mr. F. G. Lovett, Ontario Compensation Board, Woodstock, On
tario, Canada. Mr. Adrian W. McCoy, Department of Labor and Industry, State
of Pennsylvania, Meadville, Pa. Mr. J. W. Duffy, American Bridge Company, Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. Annie E. Leisenring, Allentown, Pa. Mr. R. D. Young, Department of Labor and Industry of Pennsyl
vania. Harrisburg, Pa.
FACTS CONCERNING THE MEETING-
R. FRANCIS D. CAMPAU, Secretary, Furniture Manu
M facturers' Association, Grand Rapids, Mich., and Mr. F. A. Barker, Manager, Safety Department, Lumbermen's Mutual Casualty Company, Chicago, 111., failed to appear at the meeting with the result that papers on the following subjects, "Planers and Joiners" and "Interesting the Manufacturer in Acci dent Prevention Work," were not presented. The subjects: "Match ing and Molding Machinery" and "Lumber Yards" were not as signed to specific individuals and no one volunteered to talk on these subjects at the meeting. The papers prepared by Messrs. Newell, Roberts and Dietz were presented in their proper order and a gen eral discussion followed. Mr. Dietz concluded his paper with a series of lantern slide illustrations, which proved to be very edu cational.
GENERAL DISCUSSION.
SUBJECT-----THE PAPER PRESENTED BY MR. J. A. ROBERTSON, MANAGER,
CAMERA WORKS, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, ROCHESTER, N. Y.
Mr. Robertson's paper related largely to experiences of the East man Kodak Company in their woodworking department. He spoke
Woodworking Sectional Meeting
701
of the fact that in spite of the large number of guards that are on the market, no universal safeguard for the circular saw or shaper has as yet been devised and that it is greatly a matter of individual design. This is particularly true in the Eastman Kodak Company's shops, where very small work is done on practically all of the machines, the finished dimensions often being within one thou sandth of an inch.
As stated by Mr. Robertson's paper, there are four general prin cipals to be considered in the matter of safeguarding a circular saw:
1. Saw blade should be covered when revolving but not in use. 2. There should be a riving knife to spread the material as the saw cuts its way through it. 3. The saw should be, as nearly as possible, completely covered while in operation. 4. A device should be provided to prevent wood being kicked back at operator in case it becomes caught in saw blade.
In the Eastman Kodak Company's shops they have provided adjustable jigs which seem to work in connection with certain per manent fixtures, which, in turn, are in most cases designed specially for each kind of work. This has been enabled by the large quan tity of very small work done on their machines. Mr. Robertson seems to think that this could not be so conveniently done on larger work.
The Eastman Kodak Company has found it very desirable to
secure suggestions from the workmen in the shops and, in fact, de pends almost entirely upon this source of information for, the knowl edge of the engineering department in designing safety devices. One of the reasons for doing this is that the suggester, as soon as he sees his guard in place, immediately becomes a booster for it among his fellow workmen.
'When an accident occurs in a shop, it is immediately investigated by consultation with the foreman and steps are taken to avoid further injury from the same source.'
It sometimes happens that the various safety appliances for one particular kind of work become separated. Mr. Robertson explained the method by which the Eastman Kodak Company absolutely pro hibits progress with the work until all of the necessary safety ap pliances are together and installed.
702 Fourth Safety Congress
Mr. Robertson spoke of a sys
UP-TO-DATE
tem of compensating employees for good suggestions which is in vogue
in the Eastman Kodak Com
pany's shops at the present time,
We welcome sug gestions from em
in which connection he mentioned the fact that probably 60 per cent of their most effective accident pre
ployes on anything to make conditions
vention work has been accomplished
through this medium. In conclusion, Mr. Robertson ex
safer.
pressed his willingness to corre spond with any person present
at the meeting in regard to any
accident prevention problems with which he might be familiar and
also to furnish photographs of some of the effective work done by
the Eastman Kodak Company.
CIRCULAR SAWS.
The discussion xegarding subject of circular saws and shapers
developed very interesting facts which are as follows:
Approximately go per cent of saw guards are found to be out
of place by Pennsylvania State Department of Labor and Industry.
Rosewood and other soft woods seem to be harmful to lungs when
sawdust is inhaled. Mahogany not so harmful, indicating the need
of exhaust systems from a safety-to-health standpoint.
It is extremely difficult to guard any saw when work varies in
character. It is probably the best plan to provide machines for
work of a specific character.
The question was asked whether any one had devised a means
on effectively guarding a miter saw. This question remained un
answered.
L'
Mr. Williams spoke of testing thirty-two shaper guards with little
or no success.
There seemed to be conflicting opinions as to the desirability of
guards suspended from the ceiling.
Mr. Higley described an aluminum shaper guard which is con
structed somewhat along the lines of an inverted cylindrical can
Mm
Woodworking Sectional Meeting
703
and secured to the top of the ver
tical spindle, revolving with it. This can protects the knives to a point
The Individual
very near the working edge and
the top of the can is perforated so
that the perforations form a ven
The Safety Com
tilating fan which exhausts the shavings from the work into a con
mittee may overlook
veniently located Exhauster.
something. See for
Mr. Guilbreth spoke of a very interesting photographic study of
yourself that all is
the movement of the hands at
safe.
woodworking machines, as used in
connection with the design of safe
guards. The photographs taken in this sstudy indicate by lines the
various movements of the hands. TJsing'this as a base, wire models
are made, and the guards are made to suit these models.
Mr. Campbell spoke of an interesting sheet metal guard on miter
saw to prevent the wrist from striking ihe saw blade. However,
he did not claim complete protection for this guard, stating that
it is only fairly good.
Guards secured to riving knife seem to be fairly good "or straight
ripsaw work.
^
Mr. Williams seems to think that work done on a premium basis
interferes with the changing of guard as each employee's entire
time is occupied trying to increase his output. In answer, Mr.
Taliaferro spoke of this as not being the fault of guard construc
tion but rather the lack of sufficient premium to cover the amount
of time spent in changing the guards for the various kinds of work.
Mr. Duffy, of the American Bridge Company, told of several guards
on circular saws and jointers which they have locked in place with
padlocks so that they cannot be thrown to one side.
The meeting adjourned at it :55 A. M.
afternoon session.
ROUND TABLE MEETING.
M. TALIAFERRO, Production Superintendent, Amer
H :ican Seating Company, Chairman It is indeed grati* lying to those engaged in the woodworking industry to observe the interest manifested by the National Safety Council in this branch of endeavor. This is one of the largest and most im portant lines of endeavor in this country, and it is necessary and proper that a round-table meeting be devoted exclusively to the Woodworking Section. This industry has been considered hazard ous from its inception, and as machinery has gradually replaced hand operation this hazard has grown. Every step in the process of man ufacture, from the standing timber to the finished product, is sur rounded with danger to the operator. Woodworking machinery is of necessity operated at a high rate of speed. This condition, com bined with the edge tools that are required, makes the operations ex ceedingly dangerous. In the early stages of the industry no attempt was made to guard dangerous machines. As accidents increased some of the more thoughtful built guards, but they were crude and often interfered with rather than helped the operator.
Both employer and employee took accidents as a matter of course, assumed that they were unavoidable. You see nobody stopped to analyze the situation. Employer and employee were too busy to bother with a small thing like accident prevention. The conserva tion of life and limb was an undeveloped field. If here and there some one in advance of his time analyzed the condition relative, to his own plant and applied a remedy he kept his light under a bushel and the country at large did not profit by it, and this was not alto gether his fault for he may have made a feeble effort to place his findings before those who should have been interested but were not. Those engaged in the industry, as a whole, were not receptive to the
704
..........................m-m fgf h
ms
Woodworking Sectional Meeting
705
importance of this work; their attitude wTas wrong. The big idea-- the National Safety Council idea--had not taken hold.
As time passed and accidents piled up, more and more guard? were purchased or manufactured. The employer felt that he had
done his duty by purchasing and installing the guards; in fact that was all he thought of doing. He had exhausted his resources; the bright light had not as yet dawned upon him. On the other hand, the employee felt that he had done his duty when the employer, having returned to the office he (the employee) carefully hung the guards on a nail. The employee felt that he was being treated as less than a man capable of taking care of himself--that his natural
and manly rights were being questioned or abridged. Thus you observe the lack of understanding of the natural laws
governing the elimination of accidents on the part of the two equally interested parties. With this condition existing no progress could be made. Thousands of dollars had been expended for guards and well-lighted factories, laws had been enacted in various states en forcing installation of guards and demanding close inspection of hazardous machines and conditions, but still the accidents increased until the National Safety Council came to our rescue and taught us the science of accident prevention. It is no less than a science and is fast becoming a highly specialized branch of the industrial world.
The installation of guards is very important for the prevention of accidents, but the education of the employer as to the proper safety organization within his plant is vital. There is no trouble about educating the employee to a proper attitude for the preven tion of accidents if the employer is equipped with the proper safetyorganization, but the man on the job must be reached or your
accidents will continue. That the attitude is mightier than the guard is fast being realized in accident prevention work. The National Safety Council is wonderfully well equipped through its weekly bulletin service and information bureaus to keep one posted on the best method to organize and maintain this safetyorganization.
The National Safety Council has been organized a comparatively short time, but it has done a wonderful work in constructive edu
cation. From a small beginning it has risen in a few years to an organization of national importance. From embracing <mr (the
706 -Fourth Safety Congress
steel) industry at the beginning, it
The Weak link
has expanded its scope until now there is not an active industry that
it does not reach. It has accom
plished far more than even the most
The strongest
optimistic of its organizers ever
chain as no stronger
dreamed possible. It has reached a point where its activities must be
than the weakest link
sectionalized and co-ordinated. The
--the average man
Woodworking Section is but one of the important divisions that it has
in the shop.
deemed advisable to create. Our discussions must necessar
ily be confined to the important
hazards of the industry. It will also be necessary to keep closely
to the subject under discussion, and owing to the great amount of
ground to be covered in the time allotted to us each speaker must
be limited to ten minutes. I will ask that on being recognized by
the chair, each will clearly announce his name, title, name of his
company and city in which it is located.
An excellent program has been arranged by the committee and
men best informed on their respective topics have been asked and
have consented to present them to us. (Applause.)
GENERAL HAZARDS OF WOODWORKING INDUSTRY.
culiarly subject on account of their operation of such machines, as
William Newell^ Safety Engineer, State Insurance Fund, New York City.
General hazards of woodworking industry may be divided into two classes: I. Hazards common to all industries in which powerdriven machinery is used, and, 2. Hazards particularly prominent in, or peculiar to, the woodworking industry. It is to this latter class that this discussion will largely be limited. I shall further interpret the title of these remarks to refer to hazards other than those to which the operators of the various machines used are pe culiarly subject oiLaccount of their operation of such machines, as
Woodworking Sectional Meeting
707
you will note from the program
that the hazards attaching to the
operation of particular machines are to be discussed by other speak
SAFEGUARDS
ers. It is-; therefore, to the class
of those general accidents to which woodworking employees are solely
Safety devices are
or primarily subject that I shall de vote myself.
The location of saws and jointers
of little value unless maintained as they
with respect to aisles and to other machines should be given careful
are intended.
consideration, owing to the liability
of stock being "kicked" back, in
case of encountering a knot or for other cause, and striking any
one who may happen to be in its path. For this reason operators
of these machines should never stand directly in line with the piece
being worked, but to one side of it. To assist in preventing this
class of accidents blades should always be kept sharp.
Slippery or defective flooring is particularly hazardous around
woodworking machinery, owing to the danger of falling against the
rapidly revolving blades of some machine. Such accidents should
be guarded against, as far as possible, by the provision of anti-slip
flooring around such machines and also by keeping the blades or
knives covered to as great an extent as the work will permit. Floors
should be kept as free from sawdust and waste material as pos
sible, and, in this connection, an efficient exhaust system will be
found to be of great value. Good light is also indispensable, in
that it lessens the chances of a person tripping over any misplaced
object and possibly falling on to a machine in motion.
Unsuitable clothing, hazardous as it is in other industries, is
particularly so in woodworking. Ragged sleeve ends or loose
fitting or unbuttoned coats or jumpers, often catch on moving
parts of machinery and cause serious and sometimes fatal acci
dents. It is a wise precaution in many classes of work to roll
the sleeves of all garments up above the elbows. Employees work
ing on machines should not be permitted to wear gloves, as they
sometimes do.
Saws should invariably be housed-in under the table. This seems
708 Fourth Safety Congress
to be a frequently neglected precaution which has resulted in many serious accidents to sweepers in woodworking plants.
Loose pulleys and belt shifters, or clutches, should be used for throwing machines out of motion when not in use. Care should be taken to make the belt-shifter action used for removing a belt to the loose pulley of a positive character, either by employing one o E the many forms of locking-gear or a balance weight. Many acci dents have arisen through the lack of this precaution, the belt creep ing back on to the tight pulley and the machine thus starting un expectedly. This applies particularly to woodworking and high
speed machinery. Swing saws possess, in a marked degree, the potentiality of in
juries to others besides the operator. Particular attention should be paid to the method of attaching the counterweight. The arrange ment should be such that the counterweight, which is commonly made adjustable, cannot slip off the swing bar. There should be a posi tive stop at the end of the bar. The slipping off of a counterweight, due to a set screw working loose, recently cost a workman his right hand. In the absence of a stop at the end of the bar, the counter weight slipped off when the set screw worked loose, and the saw swung forward^against an employee. If the counterweight mechan ism is not so arranged that it limits the swing of the saw, a safety chain of properly limited length should connect the lower part of the swinging frame with some fixed object. When a swing saw is so located that a person may pass behind it it should be properly fenced in at the rear.
Shapers present a special hazard to employees in general, due to the liability of the knives flying out, and for this reason the knives should be carefully and securely set on the spindles. Both knives and collars are sometimes grooved, which greatly lessens the danger of the knives flying out.
In the casexif a type of drill which runs continuously, and which slides up and down on a keyway, it is well to have it recede into a piece of pipe when not in use. This will prevent it catching in the clothing of any one passing.
In concluding, I wish to emphasize the fact that the guarding of belts, gears, etc., should receive more than ordinary attention, owing to the exceptionally high speed at which this class of machinery is operated. (Applause.)
&ii
Woodworking Sectional Meeting
709
SAFEGUARDING OF JOINERS AND PLANERS.
F. A. Barker, Manager, Safety Department, Lumbermen's
Mutual Casualty Company.
In treating the subjectjpf Safety for Joiners and Planers I have endeavored to relate from experience and statistical data, condi
tions and hazards, variety of accidents occurring from such hazards, and the practical safeguards that can be applied.
In considering the many varieties of these machines which are manufactured we find that they do not, other than in size, ma terially differ as regards points of hazard, although, thanks to pro gressive accident prevention, some manufacturers have made con siderable improvements over their competitors in guarding such points. In fact, a number of the more modern machines present, other than the driving transmission, almost ioo per cent practical guarding. This doesinot necessarily mean ioo per cent safety for we have to, in order to do machine work, have moving parts, and with1 such must have a certain degree of danger, especially when we connect such operation with the employee, who is chargeable with 75 per cent of the cause.
In digesting the cause, effect, and remedy of accidents, we find the planer has -for the cause the following general hazards :
Transmission,
Feed,
Knives,
Splinters,
-----
Slivers, Take away end. Piling of stock.
These general hazards can be subdivided as per the following:
TRANSMISSION.
The Motor--Not properly protected.
The Pulley--Getting caught between belt and pulley; also, con
tact with spokes, and unguarded set screws in hub and the burst
ing of wheel.
_
The Belt--Getting caught in same, breaking of belt, shifting of
belt, improper lacing for jbelt and applying belt dressing.
The Gears---"Without protection and those only partially protected.
The Shafting--Where exposed and presenting the hazard of
710 Fourth Safety Congress
DANGER!
clothing coming in contact with same, also exposed set screws, couplings and frictions.
Every sign in the plant means that the danger pointed out is there. Be on your guard.
FEED.
Under feed we have the always dangerous roll-
KNIVES.
The danger of contact with same, danger of laceration while adjust ing and sharpening or changing of heads.
SPLINTERS.
Defective boards are often run through planer and the splinters are thrown when knife strikes such defective parts.
SLIVERS.
Handling of lumber always presents this hazard and the applica tion of first aid treatment is often neglected.
TAKE AWAY END.
Lack of proper space between material coming from machine and a stationary object directly in line with same.
PILING OF STOCK.
Piles are made too high and not substantially piled, with results of topling over on operator or moving parts of machine.
Our company, in the tabulation of accidents, endeavors to deter mine the cause in every instance and we digest the hazard on each machine similar to the outline above, but still we are almost daily presented with some new variety of hazard or cause, which shows us that even though we are making rapid strides in the elimination of preventable accidents there still remains the necessary careful supervision of this important work.
That which has been accomplished in making the planer safer is of small consequence compared .to the wonderful improvement for
Woodworking Sectional Meeting
711
safety in the use of what was con
sidered the most dangerous of
our wood working machines--the joiner. This machine requires the
FOREMEN!
best skilled mechanics to operate,
but even with such--which is con
Carelessness
sidered an immense factor in acci dent prevention--the square head
is dangerous. If a
has left its mark on, I dare say,
workman persists in
seven-tenths of its operators and the mark is a trade mark which
being careless, dis
will always identify them as joiner
place him.
operators. In fact, I believe the
joiner operator that had lost a
finger or fingers had a better chance of securing a job than the
applicant who has not met with such misfortune, for it indicated
to those who knew the traits of the machine, that he had seen actual
service on the ``finger eliminator."
I do not know of anyone safety invention or improvement in the
entire woodworking field that has filled its purpose as well as the
safety cylinder head for joiners. Out of all the joiner accidents
which we have had, where the safety head was used, none have
resulted in more serious consequence than cutting the flesh on the
tip of the finger to the bone. The majority by far were merely
flesh wounds. I believe that I can safely say that nine-tenths of
these accidents, if they had occurred on the square head, would
have resulted in the loss of a finger or of fingers.
The head, as far as the joiner is concerned, represents the big
cause of accidents. Transmission does not differ from the outline
given under planers and practically the only other physical hazard
results from neglect in allowing the edge of the throat piece to
become jagged and broken in places.
As to effect of accidents, it hardly seems necessary to dwell upon
the effects of accidents occurring from these two machines. They
leave the usual consequence--the widow, the orphan, the cripple,
the monetary loss to employe, the employer and the community.
But as to remedy, much can and is being done. Transmission is
no longer a problem to protect. All we have to consider is some bar
rier that will prevent accidental contact with such. Strength, de-
712 - Fourth Safety Congress
sign and convenience are the important essentials. If the design is practical wood will make as good a guard as metal.
Feed rolls of planers, especially on the smaller machine, present considerable of a hazard. If short material is being fed such rolls should be guarded. The usual type of a guard used is a bar in front, about four inches from roll, and set so lower edge is approxi mately on a level with center roll. On the large planer the rolls
are set in somewhat of a protected place and this, combined with long material which is fed into same, makes them a comparatively safe proposition in regular operation, although a person might, for reasons of adjustment, come in close contact with same. For this reason we should try to eliminate another cause by providing an
other safeguard. Planer knives are usually well protected, especially if a blower
system is used throughout the plant. Such necessitating a close fitting hood, thus giving complete protection, but even with the head protected from every source except where material must pass through, we still occasionally make a record of an accident occurring on the small machine, because of the attempt to brush shavings off while the machine is running and thus getting too close to roller.
As to the joiner knives, we recommend only the safety type of head, and I may say that its prominence has become so widely distributed that fee woodworker who has fee square head knows it is wrong and is planning on replacing same with a safety head
at an early date. It not only fills the bill for safety, but can be used for all classes of joining work.
We do not rest our joiner activities in the elimination of the severe accidents through the use of the safety head, but try to pre vent such minor ones as may occur. This is accomplished by the use of a guard covering the unused portion of the head. There are a great many'types of joiner guards, a number of which we be lieve are equallygood. The principal thing is to have one that will automatically cover unused portion of the head, even though differ ent dimensions of material are being used. In joining work consid erable depends on the operator. He must be careful and never attempt to work a piece of material less than fifteen inches in length. The edges of the bed or throat piece should always be kept smooth, even and properly set.
The automatic joiner has no special hazard outside of fee possi-
Woodworking Sectional Meeting '
713
bility of getting caught between the material and. feed chain. This can be effectively guarded against by providing a stationary guard
around the end of the conveyor chain. Splinters and knots occasionally cause accidents by being kicked
back with considerable force. Usually these knots or splinters never get out of the machine. They can be guarded against, especially on planers, by providing a screen as a protector between operator and the point from where the kick-back occurs. The operator should use care when defective material is being passed through machine.
Handling of lumber means slivers in the hands of those handling same. As a remedy a leather hand protector helps to some extent. Gloves should never be worn when feeding machines. Slivers are not looked upon by employees as much of a hazard, and ordinarily they are not, but cases of infection are not infrequent and for this reason the teaching of "first aid" should be constantly kept up.
Serious accidents have occurred by a person being caught between material coming out of planer and a stationary object directly in line with such material. This has resulted in death. It should be guarded against by providing plenty of room for a person's body between the longest piece of material fed in machine and any sta tionary object.
The piling of stock before or after being planed or joined should receive careful attention. Piles should not be too high or improp erly piled. Material has frequently fallen on those about, as well as on moving parts of machines, and falling material when operating
a joiner is exceptionally dangerous. In this article I have endeavored to mention only the physical
hazards and it is unnecessary to say that the selection of the right man, the education and instruction as to his work are, without ques tion, the biggest factors in the elimination of accidents on the planer and joiner as well as other machines. (Applause.)
DISPOSAL OF WASTE MATERIAL IN THE WOOD SHOP
C. J. Dietz, Safety Inspector, Deering Works, International
Harvester Company of New Jersey, Chicago, III.
The disposal of waste material in the wood shop is important; or, in other words, the removal of shavings, sawdust, blocks, and espe cially the fine dust which arises from the top of the lumber which
714
Fourth Safety Congress
has been blackened by exposure
io the weather for any length of
REMEMBER!
time. While lumber in this con dition is being cut by the saw there
Guards are for the
arises a thick cloud of dust which permeates the surrounding atmos
protection of men-- not machines. Bet
phere, making it unfit for an em ployee to breathe, and as we have been advised by those who have
ter be careful than crippled.
made pulmonary disease a life study that while poor housing, alcohol ism, the common drinking cup and
overwork all tend to lessen the
power of the employee to resist dis
ease, that dust in any form is the prime factor in causing pulmonary
trouble. With this fact before us, we should endeavor to provide
an exhaust system which will not only carry away the heavy waste
but also the fine dust which is injurious to our employees, and thus
eliminate this source of danger. The question arises, how can we install and maintain an exhaust
system on an effective and economical basis. Perhaps the practice at the Deering works. International Harvester Company, would be
of interest to you and so your attention is called to the following: "We are replacing the old type spider in our exhausters with one of
the multivane type, which enables us to maintain the same vacuum
with a reduction in the speed of the fan from 1,500 R. P. M. for the old type spider to 1,170 R. P. M. for the multivane type, and from tests made, shows a reduction of 10 per cent in power con
sumed, as well as a reduction in the cost of maintenance, due to
the slower speed. With our 60-inch Multivane Exhauster running at 1,170 R. P.
M., we produce a suction equal to 12 inches in the U-tube, which
equals 6.93 ounces per square inch at the inlet and approximately
3 ounces at the machines, at the extreme end of the system. The
60-inch belt-driven exhauster is our standard, the advantage being
that we always have one or more available in case of a breakdown, which enables us do resume in the shortest possible time. Be sure
your cyclone, or outlet, is large enough so as to avoid back
pressure.
lirki&g Sgctioftal Meeting
715
The main pipes leading t*3 the
exhauster should he tu s straight line as near as pos=*Me and rtnt less than io per cent '-srger m area
ALERTNESS
than the combined area of aJt tlse "branch pipes. All joints should
Nothing is a com
be soldered, not riveted, and avoid all sharp bends. All elbows should
plete substitute for
"be made with easy, smooth sur
alertness. When
faces, having a radius in the throat of not less than two times the di
you are reckless, you
ameter of pipe to which they are
are wrong.
connected. All connections should
be made at the side of pipe and
not on the bottom and should be spaced so as to avoid having any
two connections directly opposite.
Blast gates should be closed on idle machines, which will help
maintain the highest efficiency at all times. All connections at the
machines should be made, as tight as possible, especially on the rip
saws. Here the inlet should fasten to the under side of table, which
will tend to maintain greater suction at the point where most needed.
"We have found it difficult at times to make suitable connections with
some of our woodworking machinery, due to faulty design, which
no doubt could be overcome by asking the makers of woodworking
machinery to design their machines--especially saws--so exhaust
pipes can be connected in an efficient manner.
We have experimented at the Deering works with an exhaust pipe which is placed over the top of the self-feed rip saw, the pur pose of which is to carry away all of the dust as it arises from the board as it passes the saw and we hope to develop a combination exhaust pipe and guard for the saw and feed wheel which can be fastened to the feed frame and will raise and lower with it This will enable us to keep the suction as near as practicable to the lum ber as it passes through the machine.
Auxiliary pipes should be placed at convenient points running down along the building columns to within three inches of the floor, to carry away any surplus waste which might accumulate on the
floor. All blocks or stub ends of lumber are carried away to the
716 Fourth Safety Congress
wood pile in the yard by an endless belt and button conveyor, which serves all of the saws in a very economical manner.
The purposes of presenting these facts to you is that they may be the means of helping some to overcome conditions at the home plant along these lines, especially the installation of the overhead exhaust on the rip saws, which may call for an additional exhaust unit or two. It will be found to be well worth the expense, as we all realize that when we make working conditions congenial for our employees, they are more contented and as a result more loyal and efficient. (Applause.)
The Greatest Risk of Injury a Careful Man Runs Is Through the Carelessness of Some Fellow Employe
National Safety Council
General Round Table Meeting
Philadelphia, Pa. October 21, 1915
C. W. PRICE, Chairman
Assistant to the Industrial Commission of Wisconsin
The subject was "How to Educate the Workman" and the fol lowing named gentlemen took part in the discussion: S. W. Ash, General Electric Company, Pittsfield, Mass. H. J. Bell, Safety Inspector, Chicago & North Western Railway Co.,
Chicago. C. M. Brading, Safety Inspector, Wisconsin Steel Company, South
Chicago. H. A. Bullock, Chairman, Central Safety Committee, Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Company, Brooklyn. K. M. Burr, Safety Inspector, Illinois Steel Company, Gary* Ind. Mrs. Lillian Burt, American Issue Publishing Company, Columbus,
Ohio. St. Clair B. Byrne, Chairman, Central Safety Committee, The Texas
Company, Houston, Texas. W. H. Cameron, Secretary, National Safety Council, Chicago.
717
718 Fourth Safety Congress
B. W. Conlin, National Malleable Castings Company, Chicago.
L. A. DeBlois, E. I. du Pont de Nemours Powder Company, Wil-
mington, Del. E. C. DeKay, Recorder, State of New York Insurance Department,
New York City. J. M. Eaton, Manager, Welfare Department, Cadillac Motor Car
Company, Detroit. G. T. Fonda, Safety Engineer, Bethlehem Steel Company, South
Bethlehem, Pa. H. W. Forster, Chief Engineer, Independence Inspection Bureau,
Philadelphia. H. L. Gannett, Inspector of Safety and Fire Prevention, Common
wealth Edison Company, Chicago. Walter Greenwood, Safety Inspector, Carnegie Steel Company,
Youngstown, Ohio. W. T. Hannigan, Secretary, Employes Benefit Fund Committee,
New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, Boston. F. H. Hanson, New York Central Lines, Cleveland.
IT. B. Harmer, Claim Agent, Philadelphia Electric Company, Phila
delphia. J. D. James, Safety Inspector, New Jersey Zinc Company, Palmer-
ton, Pa.
^
A. T. Morey, Assistant to the President, Commonwealth Steel Com
pany, Granite City, 111.
E. B. Morgan, Safety Engineer, Commonwealth Steel Company,
Granite City, 111.
L. R. Palmer, Chief Inspector, Department of Labor and Industry,
Harrisburg, Pa.
Dr. F. D. Patterson, Director Department of Sanitation and Acci
dent Prevention, Harrison Bros. & Co., Inc., Philadelphia.
J. A. Robertson, Chairman Committee of Safety, Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y.
J. S. Rockwell, General Agent, Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Rail
way Company, Rochester, N. Y.
Dr. Ben. L. Reitman, Propagandist of the Jewish Labor Group, Chicago. --
John Schilling, Jr., Safety Inspector, Wm. Cramp & Sons Ship and. Engine Building Company, Philadelphia.
o General Round Table Meeting
719"
F. W. Shepard, Safety Inspector, American Cast Iron Pipe Com pany, Birmingham.
Mrs. Nellie Slayback, New Jersey State Department of Labor, Mont
clair, N. J. H. B. Smith, Supervisor of Safety and Labor, Illinois Steel Com
pany, Joliet, 111. J. C. Smith, Safety Inspector, Inland Steel Company, Indiana Har
bor, Ind. E. M. Switzer, Superintendent of Safety, Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy Railroad, Chicago. S. W. Tener, Manager, Accident and Pension Department, Ameri
can Steel & Wire Company, Cleveland. B. F. Tillson, New Jersey Zinc Company, Franklin Furnace, N. J. E. B. Tolsted, Department Engineer, Independence Inspection
Bureau, Philadelphia. H, B. Vincent, Day & Zimmerman, Philadelphia.
HAIRMAN: Experience in Safety work has demonstrated
C absolutely that 75 per cent of deaths through industrial ac cidents may be prevented. Such experience has also proved
that one-third of the accident prevention problem is involved in mechanical safeguarding, and two-thirds in so interesting and edu cating the workman that one not only secures his hearty co-opera tion, but leads him to realize that safety work touches him more closely than it does the employer. I do not believe that any safety man here today will gainsay the truth of these statements. So I am probably safe in saying that the subject for the Round Table discussions this afternoon is the most important topic of the Con gress. When allocating the chairmanship of the discussion to me, our Executive Committee indicated that probably one-half of those present at the meeting would either not be familiar with the details of what we safety men call a "Safety Or
ganization," or would not have had sufficient experience in educa tional work to be really convinced of its practical character and value. For these reasons the discussion which is to follow is in tended primarily for that group. We hope, of course, that the talks will interest the remainder, and that they will help matters along. We shall commence at the beginning; just as if you had never heard of a safety organization; and the whole ground will be
at
-jBBaaif.
jaaii
si
720 Fourth Safety Congress
covered. Anyone may speak. The
SIGNS
meeting is quite informal, and we wish plenty of questions. Secre
tary Cameron will now read the
. Every sign in the
National Safety Council bulletin,
mill means that the danger pointed out is there. Yon must obey these warnings.
Ask the foreman; he knows.
"How to Start a Safety Campaign"; and afterwards H. A. Bullock, of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com pany, will criticize that outline.
Secretary Cameron: The bul letin reads thus:
How to Start a Safety Cam
paign.--The following suggestions
are addressed to the factory manager who has become convinced that
safety is an indispensable part of an efficient factory organization,
and wants to organize his plant so as to secure the co-operation of
his foremen and workmen in preventing accidents.
1. Call your superintendents and foremen together, and tell them plainly what you have in mind. Lay before them the experience of other companies in reducing accidents and outline the methods adopted. (Ask N. S. C. for details.) Agree on a definite program, and make a written outline of the items in the order in which they are to be taken up; the more serious points of danger, of course,
should be covered first.
2. Remember the company must show by visible and tangible signs that it means business and will do its part, before it can go to the workmen and ask them co-operate; therefore the first thing to do is to build safeguards and cover the more serious points of danger.
3. Some one person should be selected to give a part or all of his time, depending on the size of the plant, to the work of looking after the details of safety. He should be known as the safety inspector.
4. During the first six months have regular and frequent meet ings of the superintendents and foremen for the purpose of report ing progress, exchanging suggestions and fostering interest and en thusiasm.
General Round Table Meeting
721
5. After considerable guard
building has been done, and you have succeeded in getting your su
EFFICIENCY
perintendents and foremen lined
up and interested, then call a meet
Rules and regula-
ing of all of your employes. The manager should preside at this meeting, and should lay before the men the facts as to the causes of accidents, the large percentage of
t i o n s, mechanical devices, guards, warning posts and signs all lose their
which cannot be prevented by
efficiency unless
guards, and the part which the
carefully maintained.
workmen must do. He should
frankly state that in the past the
company has been negligent, and accidents have happened which
might have been prevented had proper guards been provided. He
should also state with equal frankness that many men have been in
jured because they were careless and thoughtless. He should say
that now a new leaf is to be turned over, and the company will go
to the limit and will build any guard which is practical, and urge the
men to co-operate and all pull together for a safe shop. The super
intendent and some of the foremen should also speak at this meet
ing. If it is possible, have your doctor speak on first aid and the
importance of reporting slight injuries.
6. At this meeting appoint a workmen's inspection committee
and outline its duties. Make it plain that the members of this com
mittee are to have absolute liberty to make any inspection they wish,
and to offer as many suggestions as possible--the more the better.
Urge every employee to report suggestions to the committee.
7. Select a safety motto for the shop, such as:
"Be Careful." "No Accidents." "Stop Accidents."
"A Safe Shop." "Boost for Safety."
"Safety First."
8. Place bulletin boards in each department and post on them
such materials as the following: a. The motto of the shop in large letters. b. Pictures of injured men with stories of the accidents. c. Newspaper clippings of accidents.
722 Fourth Safety Congress
d. Copy of suggestions made by workmen's committee. e. Analysis of accidents showing causes. f. Monthly report of accident records in the various departments. g. National Safety Council bulletins. 9. Remember that the secret of a successful campaign is to grip the proposition just as you would a new piece of work in the manu facturing end of your business. Convince every foreman that the company is determined to eliminate accidents, and give them to un derstand that they are expected to do their part. Be absolutely frank with your workmen, and make .them feel that you are going to recognize themi give them a large part in the work,-and let them know that you will welcome any suggestions. A safety campaign should start off with vim; the men should be made to feel that a new leaf has been turned over and everybody is to take a new start; a sort of "all pull together" spirit should be fostered. An enthusiastic start will do more to jar the men loose and awaken interest than months of humdrum plodding effort. One manager who reduced accidents 50 per cent the first year was asked how he did it. He replied: "I made a noise, and X kept right on making a noise until every man in the shop got to thinking about safety."
Note: Other activities which will be helpful:
a. Start a safety campaign in the schools. The children will
carry the message home and help to increase the interest of
the parents. b. Ask the ministers to conduct a Safety Sunday.
c. Secure publicity in the local papers.
d. Have moving picture films run in the local theaters showirg such films as "The Workman's Lesson," etc. Write Na tional-Safety Council headquarters for list of available films.
H. A. Bulijock : I cannot criticize the wholly admirable outline of a standard safety organization just given by Mr. Cameron. The methods of procedure which he has described and the principles upon which those methods rest are directly in accord with the prin ciples which our observation of safety work throughout the country and our experience in our own corporation have led us to believe were the correct principles to follow.
General Round Table Meeting
723
We must understand that any such organization must be adapted
to local conditions and that'details which, as just outlined by Mr.
Cameron, may seem to some of us to concern primarily a manu
facturing plant, should be modified or adjusted to meet other needs
if we are dealing with a railroad or other public utility corporation.
There are, hoivever, common elements underlying all work of this
kind, and I shall endeavor to point out some of the elements that
we all have to meet in systematic safety work in whatever industry
we may be engaged.
i
The first thing to do is to create the proper environment in which
to conduct your safety education. We are dealing primarily with a
question of psychology. We are trying to make an effect on some
body else's mind. And although we might laugh at ourselves if we
looked in a glass and said, "You are a psychologist," nevertheless as
a matter of fact we are--everyone of us--and that means that we
have got to consider every condition which affects the minds of the
men in whom we want to implant this idea of "Safety First."
We must go a long way back of the individual employee and get
at the heads of the business. As Mr. Cameron well said, the man
agement must emphasize the necessity of "Safety First" by some
demonstration of the fact that it backs the safety program to the
limit. We must do away with what (to borrow the parlance of
liability law), we might call the three "constitutional" excuses of the
nan who is against safety organization. These are, first, that the
adoption of safeguards will tend to make courts and juries more
exacting in damage cases; second, that if safeguarding of a plant
is begun there will be no limit to the expense involved and that the
concern cannot afford to stand such expense; and third, that it is
cheaper to take chances than it is to be safe. These three "con
stitutional" excuses are much like the three old common law de
fences in liability litigation, and they have got to be eliminated just
as much as the fellow servant rule, the doctrine of assumption of
risk and the doctrine of contributory negligence had to be eliminated
in working out our proper compensation act. And such elimination
will do more to start the management right and to create the right
atmosphere than any other initial step I can think of.
In the second place, we have got to get to the foremen and superin
tendents and show them that what we are suggesting is not in any
sense a personal criticism, but is a helpful activity of which those \u
a ife. jfei it! iWgaani
Jisisig^iS&a
um
724
Fourth Safety Congress
directive position will be the first
Special Hazards
beneficiaries. We must explain to them that when a new method of
interesting men in the subject of
New employees
their safety (and consequently their
and old men engaged on new work are more frequently in
efficiency) is introduced, supple menting previous endeavors which have been restricted primarily to the making and partial enforcement
jured than others.
by discipline of certain rules, these
Find out special dan
new methods are no more a reflec
gers to be avoided.
tion upon the efforts that have pre
ceded than was the substitution of
steel axles for cast iron axles on
railroad cars a reflection upon the efforts of railroad engineers be
fore the process of making steel had reached the present-day de
velopment.
--
Next we must attend to the matter of physical protection of the
plant. While we may say that 65 per cent to 85 per cent of accidents
are due to individual carelessness, it is not true that the element of
physical protection of equipment amounts to only 15 per cent or 35
per cent of our safety program. Proper physical protection of plant
is at least 50 perzcent of the battle and at the start it approaches
close to 100 per cent because you cannot convince employees that
the management means what it says in the matter of safety if the
management leaves employes to work among conditions that it knows
to be unsafe without making every reasonable effort at protecting
them. The absence of proper lighting, which may produce very
serious accidents in certain plants, is an example of the direct re
sult of failure to! protect physical conditions. The indirect effect
of such failure upon the minds of employes with whom we have to
deal is still more important.
Now when we have educated the management and safeguarded
the plant, we are ready for educational methods directed at the in
dividual employe.
I have very little comment to make upon the admirable outline of
such methods of education just presented by Mr. Cameron. A
proper explanation of the plan at the outset is absolutely essential.
T know of no better material for such explanation and for subse-
General Round Table Meeting
725
quent educational work than that
which has been supplied by the. Na tional Safety Council and is being used more and more generally
Think of the Kids at Home
throughout the country.
I am convinced (and I have veri fied this conviction by correspond
To be careless,
ence with several hundred men en
thoughtless or reck
gaged in safety work) that the par ticipation of the rank and file of the men on safety committees and,
less means injury sooner or later to
so far as possible, the selection of
yourself or others.
these representatives by the general
force of employes in their respective
departments is a valuable arid most vital element in successful safety
organization.
The participation of the men in actual safety inspection and all
other details of the work carried on by the safety organization, is, in
my judgment, also essential. We do not want employes to feel that
the safety inspector or the safety committee is a committee which
exists only for the purpose of going around criticizing. We must,
if we are to succeed, establish the feeling that the safety committee
is a co-operative institution through which the man who operates the
machine or the street car, and the foreman, and the superintendent,
and the manager, and the president, and the directors, and the stock
holders, are all striving to make the industry safer.
Intimate relations between the men and the management are, of
course, most helpful. Meetings at which representatives of the
management appear go far, in my judgment, to promote such in
timacy. Employers' publications are excellent media for safety
education, and safety may be impressed even in the routine cor
respondence of a company by the use of safety devices or slogans on
stationery, stock forms, etc.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, I suggest the co-ordination, so far as possi
ble, of instruction and disciplinary machinery with our safely work.
I do not mean that the safety man is going to supplant the operating
superintendent or foreman. But where, as with a railroad, it is
necessary to maintain an instruction school, or where, as in a large
manufacturing plant, an apprenticeship system obtains, it is possible
726
=Fourth Safety Congress
to strongly emphasize the relation of man's safety duties to his ultimate success in filling his job. Similarly, discipline may be so shaped as to correct through education, as well as to warn through penalty, and as soon as the educational idea is introduced into discipline the opportunity for safety training is immediately pre sented. It will, in my judgment, surprise most people who have not tried it, when they find how quickly safety teaching may, without any undue disturbance of operating conditions, be implanted in the instruction and disciplinary machinery of their organization.
You will see from what I have said that we are dealing with the entire chain of Sircumstances which surrounds the employe in his relation to his job. What is commonly known as welfare work-- questions of sanitation and other physical conditions surrounding employment--involves almost every factor in industry, but the elements which ilhave discussed are, I think, those most closely re lated to the program which the National Safety Council has laid down, and because I believe that these are essential elements I am strongly in favoriiof the general method of organization that Mr. Cameron has outlined.
:Chairman Would anyone like to ask questions now ? Be frank and free. Tell your own troubles and experiences.
F. W. :Shepard The first statement in the bulletin says that you must interest the management. At our plant of i.ooo men, we have been carrying on safety work for three years; and I find that the greatest task is to interest the management, simply because executives must be shown that accident prevention work will benefit them. What is the besfrway to do this? Should it be from the economic, the humanitarian, or the safety first side?
C. M. Brading: A good way to interest the management in safety work is to show that you have effected a reduction in accidents, as this necessarily implies a lessened cost. Let the executives have a set of figures showing the exact reduction in the annual cost. This method will hit a man's heart more than anything else. You might talk generalities to the management for a week and make no im pression. So iris far more effective to submit the figures and say "Our accidents in 1914 cost so much; but we are saving in 1915.'' Of course, before bringing the matter before the management in this way, you must actually have effected a reduction.
General Round Table Meeting
727
Chairman: How about bringing in such figures from outside
companies ?
C. M. :Brading That is a good idea, but the management would be more interested in its own figures. If you reduce your own acci
dents, you do not necessarily need to show the management the ex
pense entailed in installing safeguards. The first cost of a good
guard is all the outlay necessary to maintain that guard and after
these guards have been installed you will save money on the accident-
cost.
--
E. M. Switzer: It occurs to me that if we begin a safety cam
paign, we shall start at a point where we cannot show the manage
ment any figures at all, although we should like to do so. Mr. Shepard
asks "How are we going to interest the management?" Naturally,
somebody in that management must be initially interested, or we
should never have a campaign at all. A good way would be to have
that executive--he is probably the head of the concern--attend some
of the safety meetings, and tell the foremen, superintendents and
others that they must get thoroughly into the work, and do every
thing possible to stimulate it. I make this suggestion as applicable
to conditions of starting campaigns when there are no figures what
ever to show.
J. M. Eaton : You can certainly bring a statement to the manage ment of what your accidents cost. Of course, at the commencement of a safety campaign you cannot present any estimate of what you are going to save, for that is an unknown quantity. But you can have the executive come to the first aid room when a man with a shattered hand, for example, is waiting treatment by the doctor. What your executive then sees and feels will accomplish more than you could attain through two years of talking figures. I know this, because I have tried it.
Secretary Cameron: I had the same experience that Mr. Shep ard speaks of when I started ^safety work at the American Steel Foundries in 1910. I began by educating every official in the Com pany. When an accident happened in any plant, I sent a report to the Purchasing Agent, the Vice-President and the President; and so I got all of them educated as to what was happening. It took me about six months to get through. I worked on comprehensive lines; persisted in the campaign of education; and submitted figures
728 --- Fourth Safety Congress
In Case You Are In Doubt
Do things the way you are told, then if trouble comes, it is up to the Boss--you are paid to comply with the rules.
epitomizing the history of acci dents, how-they occurred, and how they could have been avoided.
F. H. Hanson : I think any em ployer of labor in the United States will take up the subject of acci dent prevention if the subject is presented to him in a competent manner. Once he realizes that ac cident prevention is good business policy and means dollars and cents to him, you can Certainly secure his interest.
A Member: I contend that it is not the man at the very top you have to deal with, but the superintendent of production. It has been suggerted that if you explain to that man that the accident-cost-- particularly under our new Compensation Acts--will come out of the net profits secured through production, it may be possible to estimate just how much reduction in casualties will offset this acci
dent-cost.
:W. Greenwo That has been actually proved in the discussion of basic principles. I invariably find there is a dearth of good statistical information. Suppose one man says that the accident-
cost has been reduced 88 per cent, and another 68 per cent, on what basis do they start ? Do they begin with a bad or a good record ?
:Chairman Most of them start with a bad record.
W. :Greenwood It is to be deplored that we are handicapped by lack of authentic statistical information when discussing accident prevention. Such statistics as are here displayed are not satisfying and they have but little value when making comparison of one with another. As an instance, in the cases where the reduction shows 6o to 8o per cent, the methods for keeping down accidents before any reduction was shown may have been very bad, while in some other cases where the reductions are shown to be much less, the conditions before beginning to note the reductions, may have been much bet ter than in the cases showing greater reductions. We might er-
General Round Table Meeting
729
roneously assume from the state
ments here bulletined that the one showing the highest percentage of reduction has the best record.
Smile While You Do It
Confining myself to the subject under discussion, in starting an accident campaign, a method that
Extend, a helping hand and a few
I would suggest starting at the
words of advice to
beginning of the game7 and one that would be helpful as you go along, is to devise a good system
the new-comer and the man who doesn't
for carrying statistical facts on
understand.
forms that you can ldofc at every
day or any minute of the day and
see where you stand. From this form a summary can be made cov
ering any interval between the time of last summation and the pres
ent, which can be added to previous summaries if desired. Such a
form need not be any larger than such as are used in many in
stances for keeping record of production or other operating detail
on, and every accident that occurred would be transcribed from the
hospital, foreman or other reports, to this form. Under the head
ings provided would appear name of injured, his foreman, depart
ment and all other information that might be inquired for by any
one interested. Xo summarize from this form it might be necessary to separate the facts, like foreman, nationality, department, etc., by
counting them off, but in a majority of columns the footings need
not be so divided.
I doubt if anyone has kept a record in just such a way, and I
have failed to see such a method in practice in any of the many
industries I have visited for the purpose of getting information on
how to prevent accidents. The method of summarizing periodically
from file records is too cumbersome, and the labor discourages effort
to investigate records as frequently as is necessary. :
If the management can be shown who gets hurt, their nationality,
age, habits, and the various other things that have a bearing, direct
or indirect, on the cause of accidents and their prevention, as could
appear under 40 or 50 different headings, it can make an analysis of
records at any time and can quickly apply remedies at the places
where most needed. _
730 ~ Trourtn Safety Congress
E. B. :Morgan I do not think that the question of winning the management is entirely one of dollars and cents. I have not met a man yet who will hot respond to the humane appeal.
H. L. :Gannett We began with the slogan that we did not want ambulances backing up to any of our stations and sub-stations. I think it would be a good plan to send a plotted curve to the head of the department showing the reduction in accidents for his sec tion. This should have a material effect.
H. W. Forsters In talking with many managers about the ad vantages of safety work, I first brought forward the humanitarian appeal, because I second Mr. Morgan's contention that men are en tirely open to such a plea. Then, secondly, I have told him (using such information as was available) that people could make more money through safety effort than could be secured through any other phase of their activities as a rule. Lastly, I have said: "You have got to do this in any case, because the State compensation laws are forcing you to do it."
A :Member Answering Mr. Shepard: The easiest way to edu cate your management, your foremen and superintendents, is to get a good safety man to address a meeting. Then the rest is easy. That proved the case in the education of our management.
E. C. :DeKay Z. Mr. Shepard raised a question as to starting the entering wedge with the management. I suggest that the time con sumed by other employes in taking care of the injured be carefully noted in each accident which occurs; and that the result, expressed in dollars and cents, be shown to the executives as a starter.
Dr. B. L. :Reitman It is necessary that the management should show tangible evidence of interest in the workmen, and not in the sole question of saving money in damage suits.
:Chairman If you bear in mind what Mr. Bullock said, you will have surmised it is useless to hope for the workmen's interest un til the management has gone ahead with the necessary guards. That possibly implied the proving to the workmen and the officers the necessity for each doing his part. I think every safety man here will concede that it would be ridiculous to establish a safety organ ization, with workmen's committees, until a considerable amount of good guarding has been done.
j ...Wi
General Round Table Meeting
731
L. R. :Palmer It is decidedly necessary to secure the workmen's -co-operation. If the management amply demonstrates that it is in terested in the way the men are taken care of when injured, the men will readily see that the executives are sincere in their attitude. One plant with which I was connected had an accident record of two and one-half men injured out of one hundred each month. Now their record is down to 0.18. They put the humanitarian side into the work, and I believe this shows that the management inclines more to the humane ideal than to the dollars and cents aspect. From talks I have had with officials of the United States Steel Corpora tion I am convinced that they care far more for their record of men saved from injury and death than for the monetary saving which accompanies that record.
St. Clair B. Byrnes Have any here had experience of safety
work in the oil industry, where workmen are exposed to serious
conditions through possible ignition of oil? Carelessness with
matches is a big problem. The clothing of the men is saturated
with oil.
^
L. A. :DeBlois Before hiring workmen, my company makes it plain to them that they cannot have matches. But one cannot stop there. You must liberally post signs prohibiting matches, and regu larly search the clothing of the men. In all of our works the pol icy is to discharge any man found in possession of matches. There are exceptions--as when a man is laid off--but as a rule the men
know that discharge is the penalty resultant on finding even a single match. So if Mr. Lane wishes to combat the "match hazard," he cannot pause at the hiring-end. The work must be persisted in right along; but, even with all this effort, men will still be discharged from time to time for carrying matches. It is a long, hard, uphill
fight.
St. Clair B. Byrne : Our men work in isolated locations. Some of them are recruited from the remote parts of Mexico. We pro vide them with safety matches only, each box having a label warn
ing the man before he strikes a light. Some of our men have struck matches in the gas-engine house; and after they have been taken to the hospital, could not explain why or where they struck the matches; but we have assumed it was in order to smoke. Then, saturated as they were with oil, there was little hope for them.
732 Fourth Safety Congress
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
WANTED
OF SAFETY COMMITTEES.
Chairman: Now for the next
topic: "Organization and Manage
All employees are invited to offer sug gestions for die im provement of safe
ment of Safety Committees." Some one here has made a surprising statement to me. He maintains there are many concerns here in
the East who do first-class safety
ty methods and de
work, but who do not have safety
vices. Co-operation
committees. I do not know whether
spells success.
he meant it; but in any case he said
he did not believe in it. Out West,
we do not think a man is doing
safety work at all unless he has workmen's committees. Mr. Burr
of the Illinois Steel Company will now speak. K. M. Burr: 'On the assumption that the management is inter
ested in the elimination of accidents, I proceed immediately to the organization and management of safety committees. Enthusiasm
must be the key-note of the organization and operation of safetycommittees. The movement must be a "men's movement." Be
cause of this, I do not think that the management should lay down a standard form of organization for the men, and tell them what they shall do and what they ought to talk about. 'The main point is to make the men on the committees feel that the management is
absolutely sincere in everything; and the form of the organization and its working should be left to the men. Enthusiasm will be killed if the ideas of the management are too strongly impressed on the men. I do not think it proper that the superintendent of a shop or
a department should be chairman of a safety committee, because the tendency and the danger is that he will inflict his ideas too forcibly on the men. He should be the mainspring. He must be enthu
siastic, and he must demand results. Different shops and depart ments have varying problems. The temperament of the men in these several sections is also a problem. Because of this, I feel that the organization in these sections could not be standardized.
The first essential in any safety campaign is to engender an enthu siastic spirit in the men. But no one man can accomplish this. You must render your foremen enthusiastic, and let them transmit that
^aan--.teasti.
General Round Table Meeting
733
feeling to the rank and file. .Prob
ably the best way to accomplish this is to have the foremen or safety
THINK!
committee members talk safety in
a personal way to groups of work
Put your soul in
men. I think you should insist
your work, not your
upon securing written reports of such meetings. We ourselves at first had difficulty in procuring such reports, owing to the differ ences in the natures of the fore
hand or foot. Appliances used
in your work should be frequently and
men and the men. Many men ob
carefully 'inspected.
ject to making a report of some
thing which they look upon as only
their duty. I hold, however, that the effect of these reports is psy
chological. When a man is required to prepare a report, he will
embody something of interest in it. He desires to show that he is
talking to the men in an effective way; and when this must be put
in writing, his mind lies closer to the work. As a result he develops
ideas; he develops himself; and increases his ability to hold meet
ings and impress the men with his enthusiasm. Discipline should
go hand-in-hand with education. Some men must be disciplined:
they will not do as they are told. Men must accordingly be im
pressed by the idea that safety work is for their own benefit and
that of their fellows; but if some of them will not see matters in
this light, then discipline is a necessity. If still obdurate, they should
be discharged. I think/the "discipline-cases" should be posted in
some instances; not as a punishment to the man who has trans
gressed, but as an example to the other men and as an indication
that the foreman is in earnest.
:Chairman Mr. Burr, how many workmen have you on a de partmental safety committee ? How often do you change these com mittees? Do you put on the more humble class or the more in telligent class of men?
K. M. Burr : In harmony with my contention that the workmen or committee-men will develop their own ideas of organization, the number of men on a committee is not prescribed. Some of our com mittees consist of three men, while others have as high as thirty. I
734
- Fourth Safety Congress
believe large committees are preferable: they spread the gospel of safety more effectively.
:Chairman How often do they make inspections? How long do the men serve on the committees ?
K. M. Burr: In developing the educational idea, I believe that the "soft pedal" should be applied to inspection. The natural ten dency to education of men has been along the lines of least resist ance. I hold that in directing matters, you should lay aside all con sideration of personal contact and education. Our committees, which are selected by the superintendent and empowered to add to their number, have executive privileges. They recommend the infliction of discipline should they see fit; and they criticize workmen who are careless. I am not in favor of rotating committees. I think that the members of a committee should be permanent.
:Chairman Do you not think there is an advantage in chang ing committees so that a larger number of men will glean experi ence in finding things out for themselves?
K. M. Burr: No. The maintenance of a permanent commit tee seems to hold better efficiency results, for the longer men work on a committee thermore capable they become. My personal in clination runs toward increasing the size of a committee by adding another man to it.
Chairman: Do you encourage a workman to make a practice
of reporting careless practices and conditions to the workmen's
committee?
I
K. M. Burnt: Yes. We have, moreover, several non-Englishspeaking men on our committees; and as these men are connected
with gangs who likewise do not speak English, our experience has been that such men are among our best safety propagandists, and able to expound accident prevention more efficiently than the av erage English-speaking man.
:Chairman That is a pointer to the "Doubting Thomases" who think that only the higher-grade men should serve on workmen's committees, and that results will not be attained if lower-class men take part.
i| MU
f UMBaaafeaaaiai
i.i
General Round Table Meeting
735
:Secretary Cameron In. the case of a plant which is commenc ing safety work, how would you start the committees ? Is it not essential to have a safety inspector take the initial steps?
K. M. Burr: I believe in safety inspectors, but these officials should be "easy bosses." They must not too obtrusively indict their personality and ideas on the committee. Suggestion and not coercion should be the order of the day.
:Chairman In your capacity as a safety inspector, Mr. Burr, are you authorized to indict penalties for disobedience?
K. M. Burr: Yes. But I disapprove of such penalizing: I do
not consider it proper. It is seldom that safety inspectors indict
penalties.
_ r:
A. T. Morey: Mr. Chairman, what is your thought in locating the men on committees, and in changing them ?
:Chairman The experience of the companies in Wisconsin who are doing the best safety work is that it is well to change the com mittees about once every three months.
A. T. Morey: The whole committee?
:Chairman It must be borne in mind that they are not all new men, although it practically amounts to that. They will take off two members and leave one, or take off one and allow two to re main; but in any case, one man serves three months. These com panies consider it proper that workmen should be given the ex perience of actually going through the plant and ascertaining mat ters for themselves. Possibly the type of committee of which Mr. Burr has spoken is balanced or overweighed by that advantage.
B. W. :Conlin We have about 500 men at our plant. The plant committees, of three or four men each, meet in the foreman's office once a week, and then submit written suggestions or recom mendations relative to dangerous places and the like to the central
plant committee which foregathers in the superintendent's office. The central committee discusses these points, and reports are sent back to the workmen's committees, as to the action taken upon the
suggestions. We rotate the men on these committees, but each man
736 Fourth Safety Congress
serves generally about a month.
To the Foreman:
We let one man drop out, and put a new man in his place. Then, by
coming in contact with the other
A. foreman who fails to boost for Safety should not be-
a foreman. A place for every
two men, he becomes cognizant of the work being done. The nation ality of the men does not make any difference. Any very good sugges tions are rewarded by the giving of a safety button. The men them
thing and everything
selves do not formally inspect a de
in its place.
partment, but as they are there dur ing the entire working day, they
may be said to be "inspecting" all
the time. The amount of good in the suggestions we receive is sur
prising.
B. F. TltXSON r In our mine operations, the workmen's commit tees have proved invaluable. Where you have over 90 per cent for eigners, all separated in their work, the factors of co-operation and education of the workmen are far more important than the opera
tion of mechanical devices for safety. We have workmen's com mittees of four members who make a tour of underground inspec tion once a week, accompanied by the mine foreman. The company pays them the full day's time. These men rotate on the commit tees ; new men come in each week, so that there are always men on a committee who have mastered the rudiments of what the com mittee is working for. The committees serve four periods of a day each in four weeks; and the entire method is bringing results. Our chief gain lies not in the suggestions--which have proved infrequent --in calling dangers to tlie attention of workmen at the actual point at which they are busy. This plan has been followed for eight een months; so that now about eighty men on these workmen's committees have been recruited from the rank and file as well as from the "bosses" in more than half the mines. When they come to an unsafe condition at a working-point, they have authority to call the attention of the workman there to the danger, and it is remedied immediately. The mine foreman, who accompanies the committee, has power to see that their recommendations are enforced, and work
General Round Table Meeting
737
is suspended while the committee waits the proper change in condi tions, whether these be involved in topping or trimming ground or in keeping the explosives, detonators and caps together.
What They Mean
Necessity is the mother of Invention;
:Chairman Have you mixed committees--foremen and work men together?
let's invent some things to prevent ac cidents. They mean
B. F. :Tillson Originally we
cripples, widows, or
began with the general foreman
phans and poverty.
on the committee. "These men
served in rotation. The shift bosses
came in turn; and then, when these shift bosses had all passed
through the workmen's committee stage, the most intelligent or the
highest-grade labor came next. We are accordingly "working down
the line" in that way; and hope that eventually--if the source of
labor does not change too rapidly--we shall have had practically
every man on the safety committee at some time or another in his
career. Men serving on the committees receive a badge with a red
border, which denotes the authority of safety committeemen; and
when, after graduating, they are exempt from service, they receive
a permanent badge with a blue border in return for the red-bordered
one. This permanent badge designates the prestige they enjoy in
having filled such a position, and as the men appreciate such prestige,
we profit accordingly.
:Chairman Mr. Tillson, when you get down to the humble men in time, will a committee be composed entirely of them?
B. F. :Tillson It is actually composed of the humbler men, for 90 per cent of the units are of Hungarian, Slavish, Polish, Lithu anian, or other alien labor.
:Chairman Have foremen and workmen served on any com mittee at any one time in the mines ?
B. F. :Tillson No. They are all humble men.
:Chairman Ho you believe in the "mixed committee"--com posed of foremen and workmen ? Would it give better results than the committee composed of workmen alone?
738 Fourth, safety Congress
B. F. :Tillson We prefer a committee of workmen only. At present, one factor afs as a stimulus to the shift bosses. When the workmen on the committees find something wrong, it is virtually a reflection on the shift boss himself* Hence, there is a stimulus to the boss to make sure that his conditions are above criticism by the subordinates. Before concluding, I shall touch upon one other in teresting feature. John, let us say, has served upon a workmen's safety committee and graduated from it. Some of us may come along at a future time and find John transgressing rules which he has learned while serving on the committee. He has no opportunity for apologues---no pretext for pleading ignorance of conditions which he himself has already called to the attention of workmen. Hence, it is gratifying to feel assured of the interest which the workmen on the committee take in "calling down" men of the "John" type who are caught in infringement of rules. The foreman seldom has to prod the committee, but he will do so If it has overlooked any point. We have encountered no serious abuses whatever in such criticisms of the men by their fellows.
H. B. :Vincent Which is the best organization in the case of a high-tension electric transmission company supplying current for light and power over a territory of from eighty to one hundred miles; where there are probably ten to twenty men in one place; ten men twenty miles further down the line; and where--maybe-- there is a central organization at the power plant in the center of the transmission area? Is it best to have one representative or else a small safety committee at each place?
H. A. Bullock: I am not engaged in the power-transmission business; but speaking from the point of view of detached units, I think there is a minimum number of men among whom you should attempt to formally organize a safety committee and so distinguish the members of that committee from the other men at that point. Take, for example, the situation of a company like ours, having a number of sub-stations with two or three men in each. The de partmental committee of their department can keep in touch with these men, and make them--in effect--safety inspectors at that point. I do not think it a vital question whether we have a specially desig nated safety inspector to inspect sections, or whether, through prop erly organized committees the men perform their duties according
''tf-S i'rr
feiaiiML
r--****-'
~
............inist!
General Round Table Meeting
739
to their own judgment of conditions. Once we secure the right spirit, I think we can more or less trust the men to determine the best method of procedure. In a plant such as Mr. Vincent has al luded to, I would suggest that the men be regularly brought to head quarters in smaller or larger groups, as the case may be, so that they may become aware of the centralized safety activities, and have their minds opened. The principle, gentlemen, is the "open mind." It is not to tell the man something that he doesn't know, because as soon as his mind becomes receptive he knows it better than you do. A motorman or a conductor knows what is safe or unsafe in operat
ing a car better than a depot superintendent who has a lot of things
to look after; better than a division superintendent; ahd far better than the general manager and, perhaps, the president, who do not know anything about it. If only we can manage to keep the men's minds open through proper organization and co-operation, I think the matter of inspection will take care of itself.
:Chairman Can anyone else elaborate upon Mr. Vincent's query?
H. B. Haemer: We have a safety organization composed of a general safety committee. This committee is composed of the heads of various departments and superintendents and managers. Under them are sub-committees appointed at the various sub-stations and plants of the several departments. If an accident happens, a copy of the accident report is sent to the sub-committee by the general committee for examination and study which will lead to the elim ination of that particular type of accident. We do not have a safety inspector; but the claim department has charge of that branch of the work; of having safeguards installed; and of calling the attention of workmen to typical accidents, with the end in view of eliminat ing that class of casualties. We have cut down a certain class of accidents ioo per cent; in other words, we have abolished them en tirely by different practices recommended by that committee. The committee members are called the "Safety Council" or "Council of Safety," and have a distinguishing badge given to them. We value this committee highly, and it has worked out satisfactorily. At the end of six months, twot)r three men drop off the committees and new men take their places. In this way every man serving on the committees has six months' instruction in safety work, and then the
1WSM .
mmm
WL
740 Fourth Safety Congress
Loose Ends
newcomers secure six months' con tact with the existing members of the committee.
Don't fool with electricity.
7. W. Ash:: Have these com mittees largely an educational aim? What I desire to bring out is this:
Employees are
If you feel that you have a fairly
cautioned to look
good educational scheme, but do not
out for torn clothing, as same is liable to be caught in machinery.
have workmen's committees, what advantage do you think can be se cured from such committees?
Elmer B. Tolsted: The two
main advantages accruing from a
safety committee are that you get in touch with the workmen on
the committee who know things that the president, vice-president
and inspectors cannot possibly be aware of nor find out, because the
workmen will not tell their superiors. They will tell their equals,
however, and this is what counts. In fact, this very getting at the
workmen not on the committee through being able to talk to their
equals is one of the biggest advantages which the safety commit
tee plan possesses.
A Member: Mr. Chairman, take that case of sending men out on transmission work. Suppose that the men do not all make up the same gang. Two or three men in that gang may be employed on one kind of work and ten men on another, thus dividing them
up. Here is a suggestion: If five men go out in a gang, one of them should be appointed as a safety man. He should wear a button. I believe you will all agree that it is necessary to have one man re sponsible for any duty, so that the appointment of one safety man in a gang gives him the business of looking after the rest for six months, and his word must be obeyed.
W. T. :Hanotgan We have about 13,000 employes scattered over a wide territory in four states, and at no place is a large num ber of employes concentrated except in the large cities. Our com
pany appointed^, safety man and a physician to regularly visit the various cities and towns in our territory to talk safety and give first aid instruction. This plan is meeting with great success. Once a
General Rognd Table Meeting
741
week, or at least once a fortnight,
we send out bulletins to`each in dividual workman, which are made
Short Cuts
up from the facts of actual acci
dents, and ^w^ich^j'.Jl^^ate why such accidents happenecT*and how
they occurred. During 1914 we had' about 525 accidents causing lost time. Last year we had only about 325 such casualties;/arre--' duction of 200. Every man is
4 Look out for loads earned by overhead
croditCSrti* ; -/.-; , f.'V Employees are for-
s bidden to take short cuts over dangerous
told he is expected to go through places.
his plant and request the men to
make inspections for unsafe con-
ditions. In three months we received i,|j|)^*reports, which saved
ourspending many thousands of dollars. And under widely-spread
OpefiSlhg conditions----sgch as obtain m eleqtricil transmission--we
believe methods such as the foregoing form the only effective means
of getting at the men, instead of endeavoring to work through safety
committees.
J. S. Rockwell : I represent one of the smaller railroads of the up-to-date and prosperous type, operating along some 600 miles. So far, I have been unable^ to get my management to consent to the formation of any system of workmen's inspection committees. We have, therefore, done the best we could without them, and have suc ceeded in reducing the number of accidents by 50 per cent and the cost of accidents by 75 per cent. Our activities have been along various channels. One method, which has worked out well in prac tice, is the transmission of a periodical request to all our employes that each man--for a period of from one to four weeks--should make an inspection and report to his immediate superior every un safe practice or condition that he can find. The immediate superior at once corrects all conditions that are rectifiable within the limits of his authority, and then passes on a report to his own superior. Finally, after all these suggestions have passed before the several officials, they come to me. Then they are tabulated, and discussed in a conference of the general officers of the company. Most of the conditions are corrected. Afterwards, every man on the railroad
742 ==Fourth Safety Congress
who has made a suggestion receives a personal letter from me tell ing him whether his suggestion has been acted upon; and, if not, why no action has been taken. If the suggestion has not been looked upon as a proper one, the man is told the reason. We have an in spection and safety committee in connection with our fire depart ment, composed of four or five fire department men, headed by the chief. They make inspections of all our shop points, not only for fire-hazards, but for dangerous conditions. These activities, coupled with constant instructions to our foremen, who are required to ex ercise great supervision, have yielded excellent results. As a large percentage of our section hand laborers understand little---if any-- Hnglish, we require each section foreman to give talks to these men, and detailed instruction in their work; how to handle tools, to be careful of passing trains, and so forth. Once a week the roadmaster calls the section gang together and addresses them along the same lines. Every three months the heads of departments and their subor dinates travel over the system in an inspection train, and these men scrutinize everything on the road with regard to cleanliness, good housekeeping and safety. Before resuming my seat, I should like Mr. Fonda to bring out the points that they have experienced in their committee work.
G. T. Fonda: Our average works-force today is 16,000 men: a large number to reach. We have had safety committees for every six months of work, but I differ with Mr. Burr in some of his con clusions. For example, we have found it very necessary to have a man versed in safety work take the others round and point out the way. We have had many men on the com mittees who would not be classified as "intelligent" nor "in tellectual," for the simple reason that such a type of individual is not commonly met with in a steel plant, and it is the fellow of low mental caliber whom we have to reach. We accordingly appointed a man who devoted his entire time to circulating these men through their departments, and pointing out to them the different things that we desire them to think about and recognize. As Mr. ~`urr has mentioned, we put the "soft pedal" on guarding, for we were doing that with a fixed force of operatives as fast as we could. So we put all the stress orrthe mere question of preventing the "near accidents" in the conditions we could find, and indicating to the men being
General Round Table Meeting
743
taken through the department where they could tap a man on the shoulder and say: "Here, Jack, if you keep on doing that, you'll get hurt." We harp constantly upon this to the men. Our safety com mittees comprise altogether about 200 workmen from the rank and file, and these committees are divided into about 40 groups of five men each. One man, who is chairman of the fixed committee,
who is more or less familiar with clerical work and first aid, acts as guide to these men, and assists them in preparing an intelligible report. He holds the meetings, and molds the men's ideas into a readable report which is transmitted to our safety department. The recommendations are brought before the general plant committee. The members of that committee are the general superintendent (who acts as chairman), the yard superintendent, the electrical superin tendent, the master mechanic, and the secretary and treasurer of the company. It is essential to have officials of this caliber on the com mittee as the recommendations frequently involve matters of policy which demand executive attention, and in some instances authorita tive explanations must be forthcoming as to why any particular sug gestion cannot be acted upon immediately. In addition to pointing out careless practices to the men through their department, and ask ing them to recommend remedies for mechanical defects, we edu cate them in first aid work. The committees meet one hour during each week, and with the assistance of a competent man whose work is confined entirely to first aid activities, we teach them what to do in case of emergency. With a view to fostering the "team spirit,"
our first inter-department first aid meet will be held on November 6 at the Lehigh University Athletic field. All our officers will at tend that meet, and their presence there will show the men that the executives are sincerely interested in what is being done. Our con viction is that the men can profit by a certain amount of first aid knowledge, on the principle that by knowing what to do in serious accidents it will make them think more about such accidents and their results.
J. C. :Smith Having had ten years' experience with various forms of safety committees, I do not believe that any one standard type of organization for such committees will ever be adopted in any given plant and followed out unvaryingly for any great num ber of years. No one set form of organization will adequately meet
744
Fourth Safety Congress
conditions in all plants. It is in
Everyone in Line
changing things around and in stim ulating interest that the greatest
good may be accomplished. When
"It is reported that we have men. from twenty-one different nations employed in one plant. We hope
safety committee work was begun ten to fifteen years ago, depart ment safety committees were the rule. Then "rotation" became the rule; other departments were or ganized; and now some companies
to see them all in
are veering back to the permanent
Safety work."
plant committee plan. When the
Illinois Steel Company began safety
work ten years ago,, it first or
ganized departmental safety committees. These committees were
large; and it was difficult to get the men to devote sufficient time
to the work. We,therefore, changed this: divided the plant into
five sections, appointed one man in each department, and had three
men in each division. One man left each committee every two
months, so that the whole committee rotated each half year. That
gave us results from the safety point of view, but our superintend
ents were not satisfied with the plan from the operating end. These
superintendents did not desire any committee of inspection--they
wished a department of their own. No regular number of men was
assigned to any departmental committee. As far as possible we
endeavored to have the assistant departmental superintendent act as
the committee chairman, with power to appoint as many committee
men as he desired. I think that by placing responsibility upon the
committee chairman, and by having the committeemen report to him,
better results are attained; and we then have a number of men who
have thus an organization of their own and practically under their
control. We hold--as Mr. Burr has already expressed himself--
that the committee should not spend much time in inspecting all the
departments. But we believe it is a good plan for the committee
chairman, accompanied by the safety inspector or his assistant, to
inspect each department once a week. As a rule we do this; and
the inspection is a thorough one. Apart from this feature, the com
mittee must work out its own salvation. In order to eliminate "dead
timber" on the committee, we recently adopted a plan which I think
General Round Table Meeting
745
is new- Every week each member
of the committee has to* report to his chairman what he has done
ORDERLINESS
for safety during the preceding
seven days. This, mark you, is not
A disorderly work
a case of making suggestions or recommendations. It must be a showing of something actually done to promote safety: either that some man has been told to perform a task the right way, or that a
shop contributes to the number of acci dents. Do not leave waste material or ref use lying around;
dangerous condition has been cor
keep premises clean.
rected. In this way We can ascer
tain if a man is carrying out his
duties properly. If he is not doing as well as he might, we encour
age him; but if he manifests continued apathy, we replace him.
Such a method shouldT lead each committeeman to work steadily
for results. This year we have received 100 per cent more sugges
tions, and have had more committee work done than last year; and
this proves that the committees are alive to their duties and respon
sibilities. So far this year we have had about 2,400 suggestions of
repairs from the committees. In the actual formation of a depart
ment safety committee, we appoint a member from each section of
the plant. All in all, our experience has been very favorable; and
I heartily believe in safety committee work.
Chairman: Mr. Smith, do you believe that the plan of work men's safety committees can be adopted in the case of plants of 100, 200, or 300 men, and with just as good results proportionately as in the case of your own company's establishment? I make al lowances, naturally, for essential modifications in the form of the workmen's committees.
J. C. :Smith Absolutely--there is no question about it.
S. W. :Tener Here is a thought which has come to me. The National Safety Council is growing large; and this implies a diver sity of interest. Mr. Hannigan, who recently spoke, is connected with a telephone company; so what possible interest can he have in rolling mills, wire mills, and other such plants? The situation is
746 Fourth Safety Congress
entirely different. Naturally, we would not do away with our safety committees under any consideration; but at this juncture I think that either Secretary Cameron or I should indicate to those here assembled that it is the purpose of the National Safety Council to develop the "sectional idea" from now onward under the jurisdic tion of its new board of directors and executive committee. I feel convinced that Mr. Hannigan and his other telephone company col leagues would like to take part in a round table meeting where work men's committees were not under discussion, because I do not think that such committees are appropriate in the work of telephone com panies; and I also doubt if a railroad could profitably utilize such committees to any extent. But the point' I emphasize is that the sectional work of the National Safety Council will he an important
matter during the coming year, and that opportunities will be given in the future for men interested in particular industries to get to
gether and have round table discussions of their own.
Chairman: Mr. Tener has just been elected an executive com mitteeman of the National Safety Council, and all of you have evi dence that he is to get busy immediately. Mr. Morey, will you please respond to Mr. Tener?
A. T. :Morey When we realize the diversities of plants, it stands to reason that such dissimiliar conditions call for variations in safety committee matters. Even in the case of the same class of plants, we have had the proposition advanced that, on the one hand, a sta tionary committee is the better while, on the other, some maintain that the "rotating" type of committee is preferable. I have even heard the opinion expressed that in certain instances there is no be lief in any class of committees whatever. My own impression is that these three points of view are possibly all correct, and refer to different phases of work in the same plant. When, for instance, safety work is initially embarked upon, it may be that the "rotating" variety of committee should be in vogue, so that all may have an opportunity of comprehending what the accident prevention cam paign stands for. Then, later on, perhaps the stationary committee may prove the better; and, last of all, when the superintendents and foremen realize that safety is basically a matter of efficiency in operation, the committee may finally be eliminated. I have thought it politic to outline all this in order to prevent confusion of thought.
General Round Table Meeting
747
and to offset the possibility of any of us leaving the meeting with the conviction that some do hot believe in safety committees at all, while others again are supporters of one type of committee and some of another variety. Do you not think, accordingly, Mr. Chair man, that these beliefs refer essentially to the different phases of work which I have outlined, and are not, therefore, in conflict?
:Chairman I am glad you brought up this point. President Morey. What really concerns us here is the fundamental prin ciple of recognizing the workman and giving him some active par ticipation in safety activity, so as to win his confidence and interest, and to educate him. Speaking of the State of Wisconsin--with which I am familiar--there are all classes of industries there. Work men's committees have been tried out in these plants, and as good results obtained in the case of a street railway company as in the case of a paper mill. I do not think, accordingly, that the specific class of industrial or other activity makes any difference in the suc cess of a workmen's committee--but, of course, I may be in error as to this.
INSTRUCTION OF WORKMEN.
:Chairman Our next subject is one of vital importance. It is the "Instruction of Workmen"--especially the new men, and the non-English-speaking operative. Will Mr. James,- of the New Jer sey Zinc Company, be good enough to start the discussion ?
J. D. James : Four, or five years ago the officers of the New Jer sey Zinc Company became aware that accidents were happening in the plant which ought to have been prevented. This led to the formation of a safety committee composed of the working heads or superintendents of each department, which was deputed to look for
dangerous conditions or machinery. You can readily imagine that it took but a short time to convince these superintendents that they were confronted by a large task. Lacking the time essential for proper grappling with Jhese duties', they looked around for a man competent to inspect the whole plant and recommend essential safe guards. It then became also apparent that the Inspector would him self require assistance in this work; so a man from each department was deputed to aid him, and the group of these assistants was called the Workmen's Safety Committee: based on the fundamental prin-
748 Fourth Safety Congress
ciple that the men from the dif
CAREFULNESS
ferent departments should be edu cated in tiie safely habit. We de
cided that the department men
Teach men to be careful and you may prevent injury to yourself and others.
on this committee should rotate continuously, and that as each man's term expired every week, a new man should be brought in. This would maintain the force of the
Make repairs be
committee at steady level of eight
fore, not after, ac
members, and give it eight days to
cidents.
make tours of inspection. Soon we found that orders for guards
began to pour in, and a force of
men was deputed to fill these requisitions. Suggestions still flowed
in quickly:--too quickly, almost--so we resolved to divide the com
mittee, relegating half the members to tours of inspection of the
plant or certain parts of it, and the other half to consideration of
first aid work. We wanted to have the right man to attend to any
accident which happened. As a result of this first aid instruction,
we now have over 104 competent men able to act in emergencies.
When a man gets Jthrough his eight days' course in first aid, and
is able to undertake bandaging and resuscitation, he is looked upon
as a competent graduate. He acts with authority in such work, and
in the knowledge that he is expected to keep his department as free
from accidents as possible.
:Chairman How do you instruct your new men ? Take, for example, a non-English-speaking foreigner, who may have come right into your plant this morning.
J. D. James: I have served on a committee where we had a number of foreigners who could not speak good English. We took them round the plant with us, and when we came to a belt, a bevelgear wheel, a sprocket chain, or a shaft, or, in fact, anything that
looked dangerous, we indicated to them the particular hazard in volved in that appliance.
Chairman: Does your foreman instruct a man when he comes
into the plant for the first time?
General Round Table Meeting
749
J. D. James: Not all-the time.
The safety committee, however, takes particular pains to instruct
CHIPPING
the new men as they come on the
committee. The foremen's depart
You need two eyes
ment is supposed to do this with out being told.
H. J. Bell: The one basic prin ciple in safety is to convince the workman that he is the man who gets injured, and bears the brunt of
--look out. Don't do any chip
ping or calking un less you wear gog gles provided for
an accident. It is the man on the
that purpose.
job who suffers. So, of course, we
must teach him safety methods.
The way in which the teaching is carried out is not the all-impor-
taiit element--it is the result accruing from such instruction which
matters. It seems to me that we must accordingly get a real safety
committee with wide powers. We must impress upon the mem
bers of this committee that the more they speak and do for safety
the more they will be appreciated. . I do not think it is proper to
put the "soft pedal" -on the guard proposition or on anything else.
We invariably criticize our men when they do not make sug
gestions, whether the point involved is one of safeguarding or not.
This does not mean that we invariably do anything they suggest,
but the point is to insure a constant influx of recommendations. We
certainly get them in good measure, and the majority are logical.
Given a good safety-committee, my belief is that the best way to
instruct the workman is by encouraging activity. Get the men to
attend to every item, and send them into departments other than
their own. Again, I reiterate the fundamental idea that the man
who works is the man who gets hurt. He, therefore, has the most
interest in safety work, and you ought to make him a controlling
factor in it.
-
:Chairman Mr. Bell, do you consider the Chicago & North
western safety committee work the best form of your accident pre
vention activity?
H. J. Bell: Yes. If the safety committee be properly con
ducted, it is the best thing for a railroad, and for any other form
of activity.
=
750 Fourth Safety Congress
:Chairman Will Mr. H. B. Smith now speak to ns on the In
struction of workmen: particularly the man who doesn't speak
English ?
T,
SMiTiEy^^A little over fout years ago we secured the serv-
ices^Si a linguist, who, as each new man was employed; talked safety
to him in his mother-tongue, and told hiin
he should report to
the doctor whenever he received a slight injury. This linguist then
asked the foreigner if he had understood what the foreman had told
him; and if it turned out that the man did not grasp the foreman's
talk, then the latter had to reiterate what had been said. Wc have
secured good results from the work of this linguist. If any work
man whatsoeverv'rhas- -b- een off for mor'e thanT', t" hirt^y davs. he must --irrespective of length of previous service--be re-hired; and the
linguist must again give him the same"line of talk: hammering home
the;conviction that safety must be one of the man's .first duties; and
while the linguist does not devote as much time to the re-hired man
as to the out-and-out newcomer, every man is systematically reached
in this way. The linguist relies upon data from the employment
office to keep himself in constant touch with the men. Here is a
little story to show you how the safety idea takes root: Two years
ago a street fair, was held at Joliet, and one of the traps laid for
the unwary nickel was a flimsy-looking Ferris wheel. Two for
eigners saw the wheel. One of them said to the other, "Come on,
John. Let's take a ride." The other glanced at the wheel--then,
quick as a flash, came the rejoinder, "Oh, no--Safety First." The
man wouldn't trust himself on that wheel--he instinctively felt it
was not sufficiently safe. There are, of course, many ways of reach
ing the men. For instance, one of the duties of the linguist is to
examine men in their own language on the safety rule book; and
they get a safety button for answering 90 per cent of the questions
correctly. Our coke man, who has 300 under him, recently reported
that everyone of them had a button. This speaks for itself. The
mere fact of a man not being able to read his own language does
not excuse him. There must be some one at his home who is able
to read the rules to him; and we have many instances of success
ful examinations of men who can neither read nor write their own
language. Frankly, I do not know of anything that is of more bene
fit to them than this examination on the rules. We began the plan
--1SMM
_il
asi.
General Round Table Meeting
751
in 19x0, and I believe in it as implicitly as ever. Our linguist makes a monthly report o the number of new hands and of old hands to whom he has talked.
:Chairman What would you do in the case of a small plant of 200 or 300 men, and which could not bear the expense of an in terpreter ?
H. B. Smith: I would get men from other departments who were competent to instruct, and see that such instruction was im parted immediately. Out of 300 or 400 men you should certainly have at least three or four who could talk the languages of all the men at the plant.
:Chairman Take the case of a Pole, for instance. Would you rather have an American Polish-speaking foreman instruct him, or a Pole who could speak English?
H. B. Smith: I would prefer that the man of his own nation ality should do the instruction work. Some years ago we adopted the plan of sending a printed card to every foreman within a week after the employment of each new man. The foreman must sign I that card to the effect that he has instructed the man, and the man ! himself must also sign the card signifying that he has received in struction from his foreman.
W. Greenwood: Mr. Smith, are all the instructions of the Il linois Steel Company incorporated in rule book form?
i H. B. Smith: We have rule books which embody many of the rules and different conditions peculiar to each department, and this : is the basis on which we work.
W. :Greenwood Do you depend upon the men remembering the J verbal instructions they have received?
| H. B. Smith: Yes. The linguist goes to several departments
f and talks to the men in rotation after they are employed. If three
; or four men are assembled in one department, he can give them in
struction together. I cannot exactly say how many men he could
talk to in a day.
_
:L. A. DeBlois How long does it take the linguist to give in structions? That would afford an indication.
752 Fourth Safety Congress
See the Doctor
All injuries, no matter how trivial, should be immediate ly reported and re ceive the attention of the company physi cian.
H. B. Smith: " The linguist goes to a man and asks him if he comprehends what the foreman told him about the hazards of the work. He tells the man that the services of the plant doctor are
free; and that no matter how slight an injury he may sustain, he must see the foreman and then proceed immediately to the doctor's office, because the slight injury, if neglected, may lead to blood-poi soning.
A :Member Mr; Smith mentioned that he sends the slightest injury to the doctor. Some others have stated that they instruct the men in first aid. There is a big difference between these methods. How do Mr. Smith and his company feel on this matter?
H. B. Smith : In our plant of 3,000 men we have our first aid course, but the men do not apply such emergency treatment except in the case of electric shocks and gas cases. We use the prone pres sure method.
Mr. :Greenwood What would you do in the case of a man with
a broken back?
H. B. Smith: Place the injured man on a stretcher and send him right to the hospital.
' Mr. :Greenwood Would the men trained in first aid do that ?
H. B. Smith : No. There is a stretcher in every department, and it does not take any skill to place a man on a stretcher and take him to the hospital.
A Member: I understood that your foremen did not speak the foreigner's language. You say, nevertheless, that the new man is asked whether or not he understood the instructions which a fore man had given to him in his own language.
H. E. Smith : The case is that the linguist asks the man whether he understood what the foreman told him; and if it turns out that
the man did not understand, then the linguist will summon the fore-
General Round Table Meeting
753
wprt and see that the man gets his instructions so that he can grasp them.
Up to the Man
F. W. :Shepard I scarcely think we can accept Mr. Smith's state ment that it does not require any skill, to place a man on a stretcher as literally correct. A man with a simple fracture has often sus
Do not allow tools or material to litter the ground.
Most accidents happen when some
tained a compound one through
one does not care
handling by rough-and-ready men.
enough.
I certainly think that in cases of
this kind it is well to have a first
aid team, or at least somebody who knows how to properly handle
a man in taking him to the hospital.
Chairman: Mr. Morgan, I understand that you have recently carried out an ingenious plan of co-operation in safety work with the local newspapers in your district.
E. 33. :Morgan Well, I do not quite agree that there is anything ingenious in what we have done. We have simply made good use of the two foreign newspapers that are published in Granite City and read by most of our foreigners. We furnish these papers with the translated article, amounting to about half a column, once a week. In consideration for publishing these articles we purchase ioo copies of the paper, and our interpreter marks each copy and distributes them to our men who reacTthat particular paper, whether it be Hun garian or Bulgarian. In this way we feel we successfully reach these men through a new medium, as the paper not only reaches them personally, but also their homes, which brings an exceptionally good influence to bear. I think that almost any plant employing foreign labor could very readily make similar arrangements with its local newspapers.
Mrs. Lillian Burt: iDuring this discussion we have not so far touched on the fact that the sober man is the more careful man. IVEy organization, the American Issue Publishing Company, has pre pared a set of leaflets and posters showing the scientific side of the alcohol problem.. The copy for these leaflets was approved by Dr.
754 Fourth Safety Congress
Darlington, of the American Iron and Steel Institute, and by Mr. C. L. Close, manager of the Bureau of Safety of the United States Steel Corporation, before they were Issued. They have been in use by large plants--especially in Ohio. Let me tell you of the reduc tion of accidents effected by the "Water Wagon Club" of the Bes semer and Lake Erie Railroad Company after using this material for eighteen months. This club is recruited from all diasses of'work men. During the last six months they employed 3,380 men, of whom 1,500 were members of the club. Within that period the Bessemer and Lake Erie had 224 casualties which took the men from work for three or more .days. Of that number, only 43 occurred to "Water Wagon" men. If the same ratio of comparison had held goad with the "Water Wagon" membership of 1,500, as in the case of the 1,880 men who were not members of the club, there would have been 101 more accidents than actually occurred.
:Chairman I notice we have a number of ladies present, and I hope some of them are in charge of women's work in the indus tries. Will any one of these ladies speak on the subject of in structing feminine operatives?
Mrs. N. Slayback: There is a psychological effect in the in struction of workmen which has so far been disregarded in this aft ernoon's discussion. I have found in my own experience that I must place the working man or woman on my own level. In no way can I speak down to the worker from my position in society. You must make the worker see that you are not so much his or her friend, as that he or she is your friend. Yon will secure the worker's entire co-operation only when you. have taken the operative from his or her plane, and placed that man or woman on your level.
J. Schilling; Jr7: My company has rules prohibiting the hold ing of workmen's meetings of any kind within the plant boundaries. The first point I had to contend with was how to effectively bring the safety movement to the notice of the men. Well, the first thing I did was to don overalls, go on the staging of ships and into the machine shops, and watch the men handling tools. But that was not the entire solution of the problem in our plant, since we have 32 departments: each department having a superintendent, his as sistant, and distinct conditions peculiar to itself. A number of for eigners, moreover,: are employed in several sections. I accordingly
I\ / I
IIBIMMlEl
f " 2.:IM tlMgfESgT
-lar;iMWSW iilBIBf-r -all
E X H IB IT OF VARIOUS TTPES OF SAFETY BULLETIN BOARDS Educational Safety Exhibit, National Safety Council Annual Congress, litis
\ I
ISfi.1 jrajgfr
General Round Table Meeting
755
organized a "Good Fellowship Association/7 which, composed of committees of intelligent-workmen, takes up instruction in English, safety, first aid, social service and music. These committees meet in the evening and during the noon hour. The special function of the social service committee is to attend to the wdfare of the in jured. We found that alcoholism was one of the problems in the safety factor, because we had fifteen saloons within a radius of eight squares of the plant. The men were in the habit of visiting these places at noontime, not so much for the drinks as for the lunches. So a special committee was organized in our Good Fel lowship Association; and, after borrowing a little money from the company, we started a lunchroom of our own, managed entirely by the company. We commenced by serving sandwiches and coffee.
Chairman: How long has the committee been instructing the men in safety?
, J. Schilling, Jr. : Only about three months.
Chairman : Is the work proving satisfactory?
J. Schilling, Jr. : Yes--fairly satisfactory. Of course, there is still improvement to be made; but during the last six months we have reduced accidents 14.25 per cent.
THE SAFETY BULLETIN BOARD.
Chairman : We must now pass to the next subject: that of "The Bulletin Board." Mr. Eaton will now give ns his views on bulletin boards.
J. M. Eaton: In my opinion, there is no safety factor so sus ceptible of abuse as this very one of the bulletin board. I claim to know something of the matter because our plant has no so-called safety organization. Our only organization approaching one of that nature is a committee composed of executives which applies pres sure to the foremen on certain occasions, so practically all our work has been done through the medium of bulletin boards. It is not the form or design of the bulletin board which counts--it is alto gether a question of the matter posted on it; its location; and its being in a good light. We have a large number of these bulletin boards, which are erected in places where they can be easily seen. We have always adhered to the fixed rule of placing nothing on
jmMstmu 1^ri lti<fc
756
Fourth Safety Congress
I
I Too Late
these boards which does not either deal with safety or is strictly germane to it. A good location is
essential for the board, so that
"You can lead a
it may be seen by the largest num ber of men; the board simply must
horse to water," etc.
be well lighted if results are to ac
You can not per suade some people to
crue; and it must exhibit matter which will interest the average man.
I know it has been stated that
be careful--until too
good work might be done by post
late.
ing statistical statements of reduc tions or increase of accidents in
certain departments, but my own
experience has proved that nobody reads such statements. The av
erage factory hand loathes statistics. He doesn't really know what
they are. Many of the men cannot add figures. The man must
have something that appeals first to his eye and gets his attention.
This causes him to pause at the bulletin hoard--his progress is ar
rested until he has found out exactly what the notice is. It may be
a picture. Indeed, because we have a number of foreign-horn em
ployes at the plant we use pictures almost exclusively in some de
partments. The printed statements in bulletins which contain pic
tures, and in bulletins which contain statements only, must neces
sarily be short. You cannot get results with long drawn out word
ings. My observation proves that when the men read the bulletins
they do so during working hours and not in the noon hour. They
go through the plant; pass the bulletin board, and pause a little to
read the bulletins. They certainly won't waste time reading a long
one, because some one in authority may come along. The bulletins
must, therefore, have something short, snappy and to the point.
They must be drawn up in words of one syllable; something that
the men will grasp immediately. I do not put much faith in slogans,
nor do I approve Tif a shop motto on the bulletin board. I am
averse to anything which will be repeated constantly until familiarity
breeds contempt. If you place a shop motto on a bulletin board
and leave it there, it means absolutely nothing to the average work
man. He doesn't pay any attention to it. Then you must have va
riety in the bulletins, and ought to avoid a repetition of "Don'ts."
[ iWteilf .
131
:*riNfi ftgMSfcS i;
mm
//
General Round Table Meeting
757
Generally men dislike a succession
of "Don'ts." Our bulletin boards show from time to time a good
Foremen
many posters on health. We tell
the men how to do this, or how to do that. For instance--along with National Safety Council bul
Workmen's com mittees will fail if
letins--I have used one on tubercu losis, printed on yellow paper with
a red border. This had really nothing to do with safety in the
the foreman does not believe in the idea and give encourage
strict sense: it did not give the men
ment.
any idea of the care they had to
exercise in the shop operations.
But it was something a little different, and it was widely read. Let
me now outline our system of posting bulletins. The bulletins are
changed every week, and sometimes more frequently. If there are
two bulletin boards in a large room, or if there are two or more on
the same floor or in the same building, identical bulletins do not ap
pear on all the boards. Board No. i may have one class of bul
letin and Board No. 2 another. Boards Nos. 1 and 2 never have
the same bulletin on each if it can be avoided. The instructions are
to have Boards Nos. 1, 2 and 3 all different. Of course, when it
comes to Boards Nos. 5 and 6, you may find the poster on Board
No. 1 repeated there. The idea is to have the man find something
new on each bulletin board, so that his attention may be drawn
to it. Naturally we have our general bulletin board on which "lost
and found" notices and the like are displayed, and a small board
on which notices pertinent to the benefit association are shown, but
constant change is the rule as regards the safety bulletin boards
proper. We do not post any bulletin simply because it is a bulletin.
We exercise discrimination. We must have bulletins which tell the
men something they can believe in. I feel that a good deal more
can be accomplished through the use of bulletin boards than is gen
erally conceded. If you will be as sincere in your bulletins as you
are to the men in your personal relationships with them; if you will
post nothing on the boards that you do not yourself believe in and
are prepared to back up; and if you will change the bulletins fre
quently, you will arouse a remarkable degree of interest--to say noth-
758 Fourth Safety Congress
ing of results. We have reduced our accidents some 60 per cent in three years, using practically nothing outside of the bulletin board work.
HOW TO KEEP UP INTEREST IN SAFETY WORK.
:Chairman I am sorry that we must pass from this subject of bulletin boards, but I find comfort in the fact that the bulletin board question has been thoroughly presented to you in the graphic exhibit of such boards in our exhibit room. The next subject will be, "How to Keep XJp Interest in Safety Work." I ask Mr. Robertson, of the Eastman Kodak Company, to start the ball rolling.
J. A. Robertson: In keeping up interest we must devise new methods of rousing attention and enthusiasm. We must constantly think out fresh schemes to interest the men. We must not sink into a circumscribed rut. You cannot interest men in accident preven tion without interesting them in other things along the same line. Such new plans as are evolved, however, must spring from the sincerity of the heart, because if you do not have the heart for a good foundation, you might as well have a religion without a Bible and without a creed. So far as concerns the economic side of the question, I think the late Elbert Hubbard laid it down that "A thing which is not economic is immoral." Let me qualify that somewhat --let us put it this way: "A thing which is fundamentally right must, if efficiently demonstrated, be economic." So the economic side of this matter is simply the result of the fundamental principle that it was right to begin with. You must constantly evolve safety plans and ideas from the crucible of the mind. We may do all that is humanly possible for the well-being of a tree; but it needs the changing seasons to round out its growth. So I think that the an nual congresses of the National Safety Council take us out of our grooves and afford us a fund of fresh ideas for the stimulation of interest among our men, and for the general promotion of the cause to which we all swear fealty.
Chairman: A number of speakers have referred to enthusiasm in safety work. I know that nobody here doubts the importance of this precious attribute. The enthusiasm of my friend. Dr. Patterson, has done much to make this Congress a success, and I call upon him now.
General Round Table Meeting
759
Dr. F. D. :Patterson In my capacity as president of the Phila delphia Safety Council, it has been my privilege to welcome you to this city. Now the time has come to bid you good-bye--to wish you Godspeed and good luck on your several ways. Last nigKc our ex president gave us a sermon which I feel sure everyone has taken to heart. I know that our cause is right, and I know that it is just, for, like the crusaders of old we march forth to conquer under the Cross as they did. I hope that every member of the National Safety Coun cil will disseminate the message of these words on the back of our program: "And the end is that the workman shall live to enjoy the fruits of his labor; that his mother shall have the comfort of his arm in her age; that his wife shall not be untimely a widow; that his children shall have a father; and that cripples and helpless wrecks, who were once strong men, shall not longer be a by-product of in dustry"
I feel sure that the Philadelphia Safety Council and the whole city of Philadelphia have had an inspiration and have seen a vision in the work which you have done here. And, as we close, let us all take home these lines of the poet:
I know that theL problems that face us now Are sore to our erring view;
But we've gained a sight of men and minds That our grandsires never knew.
We have passed from the time when Might was Right To the time when Right reveals
Some part of her face, divinely fair. To the veriest clod who feels.
Through the long, slow eons we've upward crept As ever our God hath willed;
And here has the right been crowned our king. Or there has the wrong been stilled.
There is much to do, there is much to win. But the ages have taught their lore;
And we clearer see what the right must be Than ever man saw before.
The meeting was then adjourned.
A SIMPLE CREED
"My creed is to love justice, to long for the right, to love mercy, to pity the suffering, to assist the weak, to forget 'wrongs and remember benefits; to live the truth, to be sincere, to utter honest words, to love liberty, to wage relentless war against slavery in all its forms, to love wife and child and friend, to make a happy home, to love the beautiful in art, in Nature, to cultivate the mind, to be fa* miliar with the mighty thoughts that genius has expressed, the noble deeds of all the world, to cultivate courage and cheerfulness, to make others happy, to fill life with the splendor of generous acts, the warmth of loving words, to discard error, to destroy prejudice, to receive new truths with gladness, to cultivate hope, to see the calm beyond the storm, the dawn before the night, to do the best that can be done and then--to be
resigned."
INDEX
PAGES
"Abrasive machinery. Safeguards for" (Tolsted) -- -.............--.........602-609
"Accessibility--Dealing with the importance of standard walks, plat-
forms, stairs, ladders, etc." _ (Medina)........................................................... 148-152
"Accident prevention in coal mines" (Hall). -..................................................244-252
Accident statistics, see Statistics.
Accident statistic's committee. Report of (Meeker)........................................... 45-55
"Air compressors. Safeguards for" (Eales) .........................................................009-013
Alcohol problem............f.-..............................................-.................................................... 753-754
Annealing chains........................................................ - - -
............*.....................018-021
Argument of the workman against Health Supervision...............................
426
"Automobile grade crossing accidents" (Rose)..................................................482-487
Ranks, C. T., "What is the best method for reaching Non-English
speaking employees in the conduct of Safety work?".......................... 5x5-519
Banquet.................................-.................................................................................................. 641-671
Barker, F. A., "Safeguarding of joiners and planers"............................... 709-713
Bells, Crane.........................i.....................................................................................................
68 r
Belts, Safeguarding: ~~ --
Cement industries.......................................................................................................... I57-X6S
General machinery^.....................................................................................................
601
Bennett, F. G., "Eye protection in foundries".................................................... 696-694
Bennett, F. G., Report of Nominating committee................................................ 67-69
Beyer, D. S., "Need of safety standards for new textile machinery".. 380-382
Bins, Safeguarding............................................................................................................. 171-176
Blakemore, C. H., "Value of moving pictures in safety work"................. 545-549
Blankenburg, Rudolph, Address at Banquet......................................'................ 655-658
Blasting ...................................................................................................................................... 194-196
"Bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing, Hiazards of" (Hale).......... 376-380
Blood poisoning, see Infections.
...
Brumbaugh, M. G., Address at Banquet................................................................... 648-655
Buckets, Sand, see Sand buckets.
Bulletin boards...................:.................................................................................................. 755-758
"Bureau of Mines as a jfactory in mine safety" (Manning)................... 225-229
Business Session..............t;.................................................................'............................... I-102
By-laws:
Industrial Hygiene Section of the N. S. C.................................................. 384-386 Mining Section of the N. S. C......................................................................... 223-225 Railroad Section of.the 3ST. S. C.......................................................................... 506-50S
Calder, John (Chairman, Textile Sectional Meeting)................................355-383
Calder, John, Safety provisions in the textile industry abroad"............ 355-368
Cameron, W. Hi, Report of Secretary of N. S. C............................................... 19-22
Campbell, R. W., Address at Banquet.-.....................................................................641-645
Campbell, R. W. (Presiding Officer, Business Session)............................... roi-102
Campbell, R. W. (Toastmaster, Banquet).............................................................641-671
Campbell, R. W., Reply to Address of Welcome.............................................'.
c-o
Campbell, R. W., Report of President of N. S. C.........................................
9-18
"Cards, openers, pickers, etc.. Hazards of" (Swallow).................
368-373
761
762 Index
PAGES
Cement Sectional Meeting--;..................................................................................... 147-202 Chains, Crane.................................................................................. 613-621, 625-628, 682-683
Chicago Local Council Report.-................................................................................ 81-82 Clark, A. L.. "Handling; of materials".....................................................................686-690
Clark, H. H., "Safely m electrical installation in mines"................................253-255 Clarke, Dr. W. H., "Practical experience with methods of Health
supervision"......................................................:***..............................................391-397 "Cleaning- machinery while in motion" (Leisenring)..................................... 374*375 Coal-dust ....................................... ....................................................................................... 181-182
Coal mills:
--
Safeguarding .,......................................................................
Proper building design........................................................
................ 181-182
.................
183
Coal mines:
Accident prevention in,... ......................................... Diseases in coal mining districts.................................. Fatalities In.......................-n............................................... Health of miners............v.................................................... Reports of.................................................................................. Sanitation............................*................................................... Ventilation ..............................................................................
Committees, Safety: Personnel .................................................................................. Organization and management....................................... Work of....................-- .......................................................
Conlin, B. W., "Hand and foot protection*'..................... Convention City in 1916, Nominations for........................ Conveyors, Safeguarding-- ................................-................ "Cost of making safeguards in shops" (Guilbert)..
Cost of Safety work-- .............................................................. Cotton mill accident statistics................................................... Crane bells, see Bells. Crane. "Crane chain practice. Safety in" (Morgan)................ "Crane chains. Inspection of" (Risteen)..........................
................ 244-252
...................230-244 236-244, 246-251 ................ 239-240 ...................245-247 ............... 239-244 ................ 239-240
.................
725
................. 732-747
................ 554-59
................... 694-698
................. 71-76 ....................189-192 ................... 598-602
................. 106-112
.................361-365
...................613-621 ................. 625-628
Crane chains, see also Chains..
Cranes...............................................................-............................... Cranes, Jib....................................................................................... "Cranes, Safety as applied to overhead" (Smith)... "Credit granting. Safety idea as related to" (Meek)
Croll, A. G., "Safeguarding quarries"..............................
................. 681-683 ...................684-6S5 ....--------629-639 ................. 127-131
................. 193-196
"Danger features in laundries, including extractors and flat work iron-
ers" (Wiikinson)............ .........................
212-216
"Danger of low-tensionshocks*' (Warren).............................................................330-334
"Danger of low-tension shocks" (Miller)............................................................ 334*340
Danger Sign committee. Report of (Patterson).............................................. 36-43
Detroit Local Council Report..................................................................................... 87-90 "Development of the Safety idea" (McCormick)..................................... 112-118
Dietz, C. J-, "Disposal of waste material in the wood shop".....................713-716
Directors, Election of.................................
69-71
Discipline in promotion of Safety work..............................................535*540, 725-726
"Diseases in coal mining districts. Fatalities and" (Lynott).....................236-244
"Disposal of waste material in the wood shop" (Dietz)............................ 713-716
Douglas, J. B., "Hazards of gas works".......................................;.................. 347*354
Dow. M- A:, Opening address. Railroad Sectional Meeting....................... 453*457
Dow, M. A. (Chairman, Railroad Sectional Meeting)...................................449-592
Index
763
Dust ..................................................................................................................................
Dust, Coal, see Coal-dust.
.
"Dyeing, bleaching, printing and finishing. Hazard of (Hale)
Dynamite: Handling and storage of......................................................................
Kinds used....................................................................................................
PAGES
186-188
376-380
193-196 199-201
Kales, W. P., "Safeguards for air compressors ..............................................609-613
Kducation of foremen, see Foremen, Education of.
Kducation of superintendents, see Superintendents, Kducation of.
Kducation of the Management, see Management, Kducation of.
W* .
a
< _ . .
___
KT H
Educational committee, Report of (Palmer)........................................... SS-60
Election of Directors............................................................................................................................. 09-71
Electric Shock, Standard directions for resuscitation from.......................... 29-30
``Electrical installation in mines. Safety in" (Clark).............................................253-255
Elevators, Safeguarding..v............................................. ....................... 189-192
"Employment department and its relation to general Safety problem
in Papesr mills" (Stokes).......................
318-320
Examination, Physical, see Health supervision.
Examinations, Red Cross...................;............................................. -.. - - 440-447
"Experience with methods of Health supervision. Practical (Clarke) 391-397
Explosions 1
Coal-dust................................r............................................................................................................... 181-182
Dust................................
186-188
"Extent of instruction to workers in First-aid, Means and desirable"
(Shields) ............................................................................................................................. 443-447 Extractors.........................................................................................................................206, 213-214
Eye protection:
*
Grinding..............................................................................................................................
608
"Eye protection in Foundries" (Bennett)..............................................................690-694
"Fatalities and diseases in coal mining districts" (Lynott)..........................236-244
Field contests and prizes awarded (Mining Section).......................................265-285 Finance committee. Report of (Scott)...................................................................... 32-35 "Finishing, bleaching, dyeing and printing. Hazards of" (Hale).............376-380 Fire prevention committee. Report of (Forster).............................................. 43-44 "Fire protection and fire fighting at the mines" (Lloyd).............................255-259
First aid:
___
Definition .........................
383
Extent of instruction in.................................
443-447
Organization of systems..............................................................................................439-442
Skilled.........................................................................
440-441
First aid contests and prizes awarded (Mining Section)........................ 265-285
First aid kit, Standard minimum specification for.........................................
27
Flat work ironers................j^.....................................................................................205-206, 214
Floors, Foundry......................^..............................................................................................680-686
Fly wheels. Safeguarding.............................................................................
602
Foot protection in foundries.............................................
697-698
Foreign workmen. Education of................................................5I5-S2I, 523-525, 747-753
Foremen, Education of.......................................................................................679-680, 723-724
"Forms for recording medical data. Standard" (Hayhurst).........................406-422
Forster, H. W., Report of Fire prevention committee.................................... 43-44
764 Index
PAGES
Foundries:
Eve hazards in.................................... "Eye protection in" (Bennett)
691-692: 690-694
Hand and foot protection in..
Handling: of materails.................
__
"Foundry floor practices" (Morey).............................................. --....................680-086
Foundry ladles, see Ladles. _
Foundry leggings, see Leggings, Foundry.
Foundry Sectional Meeting.................................
673-098
Foundry shoes, see Shoes.
Furnaces, Open Hearth.................................................................................................................685-686
"Gas works. Hazards of" (Douglas)............................................................................. 347-354
Gears, Safeguarding.......................................................................................................*-
">1
Geier, Dr. O. C- (Chairman, Industrial Hygiene Sectional Meeting). 383-448
"General hazards of -woodworking industry" (Newell).................................. 706-708
General Round Table Meeting................................................................................................717-759
General Session of N. S. C................................................................................................ 103-146
Gleason, E. P., "Safety instructions and warnings for specific dangers
in Paper plants"......................................................................................................................35-39
Goggles, see Eye protection.
Gongs, see Bells, Crane.
"Grade crossing accidents. Automobile" (Rose)...............
482-561
Grand Rapids Safety Council. Report...................................................................... 91-94 Grinding wheels, see_Abrasive machinery.
Guards, see Safeguarding, Safeguards.
Guilbert, Harry "Construction of and cost of making safeguards in
shops"..................--................................................................................................................. 598-602
Gunagan, R. H., "Safeguarding belts and shafts".............................................. 157-165
Hale, H1. A., Jr., "Hazards of bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing* 376-380
Hale, Isaiah, "How to educate Non-English speaking employes"..............519-521
Hall, R_ D., "Accident prevention in coal mines"...........................................244-252 '
Hamilton, Dr. Alice, "Some of the objections to Health supervision". 424-427
"Hand and foot protection" (Conlin)......................................................................094-698
Hand leathers............................;................................................................................................
696
Hand protection in foundries...............................................................................
694-697
"Handling of materails" (Clark)...............................................................................686-690
Hansen, C. M., "Standardization of safeguards".............................................. 139-146
Hayhurst, Dr. E. R., "Standard forms for recording medical data".... 406-422
"Hazards in woodyards" (Shattuck)............................................................... -- . 301-305
"Hazards of bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing" (Hale)..................376-380
"Hazards of gas works" (Douglas)......................................................................... 347-354
"Hazards of high-tension lines" (Morrow)................................................
344-347
"Hazards of openers, pickers, cards, etc." (Swallow)..................................... 36S-373
"Hazards of the street" (Spring)..............................................................................340-343
Health bulletins --................................................................................................................
28
Health insurance........................................................................................... .'...................388-389
Health supervisions
Argument of the workman against......................................................................
426
Cause of workmen being rejected.......................................................................436-439
Cost and actual benefits of.......................................................................................
28
Expense of .................................................................................................423-424, 434-435
Five aspects to be considered in a complete system................................
387
For employes' benefit..................................................................................431-432, 435-436
Forms--Personal health data...............................................................................414-419
Index
765
PAGES
Forms--Employment health data....................................................................419-422
General hygienic supervision....................................................................................
3g8
Individual health supervision..............................
39
Industrial health supervision................._-**_.............................................. Minimum standards of physical examinations................
39~39 28
Norton Company's department...............................................................................39I-397
Objections to.....................................
424-427
Physical examination of employes........................................... 393_395> 429-430
Results accomplished.................................................................................................. 397~43
Small plants................^r.............
427-430
Standard forms for recording medical data...................................................400-422 Standardization of systems..................................................................403-406, 432-434
State health supervision................................................................389> 423-4245 432-433
Systems ................................................................... ....................................................386-390
Health supervision, see also Sanitary supervision.
"High-tension lines. Hazards of" (Morrow)....................................................... 344-347
Hill, R. B., "Safeguarding of bins, hoppers and tanks"............................... 171-176
Holmes, Dr. J. A. (Resolution in memory of) ..1......................................
25-26
Hboks, Air hoist............................................................................................... 68|
Hoppers, Safeguarding...,....................................................................
171-176
Hose, Air.....................................................................................-............................................
685
"How to educate the workman" (General Round Table Meeting)------717-759
"How to educate Non-English speaking employes" (Hale).........................5*9-521
How to start a Safety Campaign........................................................ -................_.. 720-722
Hughes, Florence, "Vital importance of the trained nurse in industrial
welfare work"................................................................................................................ I3I_*39
Human element in Safely work................................................................................. 456-457
Hygienic supervision, see Health supervision.
"Ideal Laundry plant--emphasizing welfare work" (Klink)................... 207-212 Illumination, Minimum standards in regard to.................................................. 27-28
"Importance of the trained nurse in industrial welfare work"
(Hughes) ............-..................'..................................................................................... 131-139
Incorporation of National Safety Council.............................................................. 23-24
Industrial hygiene, see Health supervision. Sanitary supervision.
Industrial Hygiene committee. New members of................................................ 26-27
Industrial Hygiene committee. Report of (Schereschewsky)................. 26-30
Industrial Hygiene Sectional Meeting.................................................................... 383-447 Infections .................................................................................................................................. 696-698
"Inspection methods for Paper mills. Safety" (Risteen)............................. 312-318
"Inspection of crane chains" (Risteen)................................................................... 625-628
Inspection of hands to prevent infection................................................................ 696-697
Inspection, Safety.... r._.................................................................................................... Instruction of workmen, see Education of workmen.
725
Instruction, Safety:
Lewis Institute plan for Safety instruction................................................ 58-59
Need of teaching safeguarding in technical schools............................. "Instruction to workers in First aid. Means and desirable extent of"
597
(Shields) .......................................................................................................................... 443-447
Insurance, Health, see Health insurance.
Interest in Safety work. How to maintain...........................................511-515, 758-759 Interesting the management in Safety work, see Management, Educa
tion of.
-
Ironers, Flat work, see Flat work ironers.
Italian-English instructor for the Pennsylvania Railroad.......................... 523-525
766 Index
PAGES
Jackson, J. P. (Chairman, General Session)................................................... 103-146 Jib cranes, see Cranes, Jib. "Joiners and planers. Safeguarding of" (Barker)......................................709-713 Joint Board of Sanitary Control.......................................................................... 389-390 Joint supervision, see Health supervision. Industrial. Juhnke, P. B., "And the end is that the workman, etc."............................ 640
Klink, J. S., "Ideal Laundry plant--emphasizing welfare work"...........207-213
Ladders, Standard...................................................................................................... 148-152
Ladles, Foundry.........................................................................................................
684
Lamp trimmers.........................................................................................................
683
"Laundries, Danger features in" (Wilkinson)...............................................212-2x0
"Laundry plant--emphasizing welfare work. An ideal" (Klink) ...... 207-212
Laundry safeguarding................................................................................................205-207
Laundry Sectional Meeting.......................................... '........................................203-216
Leathers, Hand, see Hand leathers.
Leggings, Foundry......................................................................................................
697
Lehigh Valley Local Council Report..........................................
84-85
Leisenring, Mrs. Annie, "Cleaning machinery while in motion"............. 374-375
Lewis Institute plant for Safety instruction............................................... 58-59
"Linemen and their hazard" (Scott)..................................................................327-330
Links, Handles on__-v............................................................................................
685
Links, Notches for......................................................
685
Lloyd, John, "Fire protection and fire fighting at the mines"...................255-259
Local Council ReportsT.......................................................................................... 79-102
Lott, E. S., Address at Banquet.............................................................................658-667
"Low-tension shocks. Danger of" (Warren).................................................- 330-334
"Low-tension shocks, Danger of" (Miller)..................................................... 334-340
Lynott, Dr. W. A., "Fatalities and diseases in coal mining districts". 236-244
McCormick, S. B., Address at Banquet.....................................................................667-671
McCormick, S. B., "Development of the Safety idea"..................................... 112-118
McCurdy, Dr. S. A., "Results accomplished"........................................................... 397-403
Machine tools. Guards on............................._..................................................................
59
Machinery Sectional Meeting, Safeguarding of.................................................... 593-639
"Machines and tools. Safeguarding" (Woltz)...................................................... 594-598
Mahoning and Shenango Valley Local Council Report.................................. 79-81
Management, Education of................................................................................................. 723-731
Manning, V. H., "Bureau of Mines as a factor in Mine Safety"...............225-229
"Manufacturing organization. Safety as an indispensable part of"
(Tener) ................--.......................................... ..................................------------------.- 106-112
"Means and desirable extent of instruction to workers in First aid"
(Shields) .....................
443-447
Medical supervision, see Health supervision.
Medical supervision. Purely.............................................:......................................
388
"Medical supervision. Standardization of systems of" (Schereschew-
sky) ..............................................................................................................................................403-406
"Medical supervision in small plants" (Patterson)...............................................427-430
Medina, R. A., "Accessibility--Dealing with the importance of standard
walks, platforms, stairs, ladders, etc."................................................................ 148-152
Meek, C. E, "Safety idea as related to credit granting".............................. 127-131
Meeker, Dr. Royal. Report of the Accident statistics committee............. 45-55
"Methods of Health supervision. Practical experience with" (Clarke) . 391-397
Miller, Elam, "Danger of low-tension shocks".................................................... 334-340
Mills, Coal, see Coal mills.
Index
767
PAGES
Mills, Sand, see Sand mills.
..
"Mine accident prevention and workmen's compensation (Wilson) .. 259-204
Mine accidents, see Statistics.
'
Mine rescue contests and prizes awarded.........................................................265-285
Mines and mining:
^
Electrical hazards in mines............................................................................
229
Electrical installation in mines......................................................................253-255
Fire, protection..................
255-261
First aid contests..................................
265-285
First aid. Standard practices in Mine_ rescue and................................286-293
Plan for conducting Accident prevention campaign.............................
227
Sanitation ..............................................................................................................229-236
Surgeons ........................................................................
242
Use of explosives.........................................................................................227-228
Mines and mining, see also Coal mines.
"Mine safety. Bureau of Mines as a factor in" (Manning).......................225-229
Mining Sectional Meeting.;...............................................................,, .........21:7-294
Moldenke, Dr. Richard (Chairman, Foundry Sectional Meeting) ..... 673-698
Moldenke, Dr. Richard, Opening address. Foundry Sectional Meeting. 678-680
Morey, A. T., Address at Banquet.....................................................................
Morey, A. T., "Foundry floor practices"............................................................680-686 Morey, A. T., Report of Resolutions committee............................................ 22-26
Morgan, E. B., "Safety in crane chain practice".......................................... 613-621
Morrow, B. E., "Hazards of high-tension lines".......................................... 344-347
Moving pictures in Safety work......................................................................... 545-552
"National Safety Council, Value of, to Railroad Safety organizations"
(Richards) ....................................................................................................................... 542-545 "Need of Safety standards for new textile machinery" (Beyer)............380-382
Newell, William, "General hazards of woodworking industry".................706-70S
New York Local Council Report.................................................................................. 100-102
Noland, Dr. Lloyd, "Organization of systems of First aid in plants".. 439-442
Nominating committee. Report of (Bennett)...................................................... 07-69
Non-English speaking foreigner, see Foreign workmen.
Norton Company's Department of Health and Sanitation..............
391-397
"Nurse in industrial welfare work. Vital importance of the trained"
(Hughes) ......................r............................................................................................... 131-139
"Objections to Health supervision. Some of the" (Hamilton).................424-427
Open Hearth Furnaces, see Furnaces, Open Hearth.
"Openers, pickers, cards, etc.. Hazards of" (Swallow)................................. 368-373
Orderliness in foundries. ....................................................................................................
680
"Organization of systems of First aid in plants" (Noland)..........................439-442
Palmer, L. R., Report of Conference at Panama Pacific International
Exposition.......................
76-77
Palmer, L. R., Report of Educational committee................................................ 55-60
Panama Pacific Exposition, Conference at.............................................................. 76-77
Paper industries:
Employment departments.............................................................................................318-320
Inspection methods......................................................................................................... 3x2-318
Safeguarding machinery...............................................................................................297-301
Safety instructions arid warnings for dangers.................................................305-312
Woodyard hazards.....................................................................................
301-305
Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting....................................................................295-320
Patterson, Dr. F. D., Address of Welcome............................................................
3-5
768 Index
PAGES
Patterson, Dr. E. D., "Medical supervision in small plants"...................427-430
Patterson, Dr. F, D., Report of Danger Sign committee......................... 36-43
Peoria Local Council Report................................................................................
83
Perry, Rev. J. D., Opening Prayer.....................................................................
1-2
Physical examination of employes, see Hfealth supervision.
"Pickers, cards, openers, etc.. Hazards of" (Swallow)..........................368-373
Pittsburgh Local Council Report..................................................................... 85-87
"Planers, Safeguarding of joiners and" (Barker)..................................... 700-713
Platforms, Standard................................................................................................. 148-152
"Practical experiencejvith methods of Health supervision" (Clarke). 391-397
Prayer opening the Fourth Annual Meeting of the N. S. C.......................
1-2
Prayer, "Safety First".............................................................................................
354
President's report (Campbell)..............................................................
9-18
Price, C. W. ( Chairrhan, General Round Table Meeting)......................... 717-759
Price, Dr. G. M., "Systems of Health supervision"....................................386-390
"Printing, bleaching, dyeing and finishing, Hazards of" (Hale)...........376-380
"Prizes to employes or committeemen for Safety work" (Wilson)___501-503
Program committee, Report of (Cameron).....................................................
22
"Public safety and the railroads" (Wilson).................................x 18-127, 458-466
Public Utilities Sectional Meeting.....................................................
321-448
Quarries.....................
193-196
Railroad Sectional Meeting............................................................................................ 449-592
Railroad trespassing,--see Trespassing, Railroad.
Railroads: Accident statistics............................................................................................ 121-123, 461-462
Grade crossing accidents..............................................................................................: 482-501
Prizes for Safety work............................................................................................... 501-505
Safety work conducted on...................................................
453-457
``Railroads, Public safety and the" (Wilson).....................................118-127, 458-466
Red Cross examinations.........................................................................................................446-447
"Relation of Employment department to general Safety problem in
Paper mills" C Stokes).................................................................................................... 318-320
Reninger, H. A., "Safeguarding conveyors and elevators"........................... 189-192
Resolutions committee. Report of(Morey)............................................................ 22-26
Resolutions of Appreciation........................
-- 24-26
"Results accomplished" (McCurdy)............................................................................ 397-403
Resuscitation from Electric shock. Standard directions for.............. 29-30
Richards, R. C., "Value of the National Safety Council to Railroad
Safety organization"......................................................................................................... 542-545
Risteen, Dr. A. D., "Inspection of crane chains"..............................................625-628
Risteen, Dr. A. D., "Safety inspection methods for large and small
Paper mills"., - ^.............................
312-318
Rochester Chamber Safety Council Report........................".................................. 94-100
Rosa, Dr. E. B. (Chairman, Public Utilities Sectional Meeting)............. 321-354 Rose, J. C., "Automobile grade crossing accidents".......................................482-487
Round Table Meeting, General............................
717-759
Safe Load for chains............................................................................... Safeguarding a laundry.......................................................................... "Safeguarding belts and shafts" (Gunagan).......................... "Safeguarding Coal mills" (Young)......................................... "Safeguarding conveyors and elevators" (Reninger). "Safeguarding machinery for making paper" (Walsh) "Safeguarding machines and tools" (Woltz).....................
"Safeguarding of bins, hoppers and tanks" (Hill)
614-621 205-207
157-165
180-184 189-192
297-301
594-598 171-176
Index
769
PAGES
"Safeguarding: of. joiners and planers" (Barker)...................................7*3
Safeguarding of Machinery Sectional Meeting...................................-- : 593-39
^Safeguarding quarries" (Croll).................................................
193-196
Safeguarding standards, see Standards, Safeguarding.
Safeguarding the plant..........................................................................................
7^4
"Safeguarding for abrasive machinery (Tolsted)....................................... 602-009
"Safeguards for air compressors" (Eales)......................................................609-013
"Safeguards in shops, Construction of and cost of" (Guilbert)...........598-602
"Safeguards, Standardization of" (Hansen)................................................. 139-146
"Safety as an indispensable part of an efficient manufacturing organi
zation" (Tener) .....................................................
106-112
^Safety as applied to overhead cranes" (Smith)............................................029-039
Safety campaign. How to start a (N. S. C. bulletin).................................720-722
Safety committees, see Committees, Safety.
Safety First Federation of America, Greetings to...............................
32-23
"Safety idea as related to credit granting" (Meek)................................... 127-131
"Safety idea. Development df" (McCormick)......................................... 112-118
"Safety in crane chain practice" (Morgan)..................................................613-621
"Safety in electrical installation in mines" (Clark) .................................... 253-255
"Safety inspection methods for large and small Paper mills" (Risteen) 312-318
Safety instruction, see Instruction, Safety.
_
"Safety instructions and warnings for specific dangers m Paper mills'
(Williamson) ...................................-................................;............................. 309-312
"Safety instructions and warnings for specific dangers in Paper plants
(Gleason) ............................................................................................................... 305-309 "Safety provisions in the textile industry abroad" (Calder).................. 355-368
Sand buckets ............................
683-684
'.Sand mills ......................................
685
Sanitary supervision . ^.......................................................................................387-388, 396
"Sanitation as a Safety factor in mining" (-White).....................................229-236
Sanitation, Mine, see Coal mining. Mines and mining.
Scherescfaewsky, Dr. J. W., Report of Industrial Hygiene committee.. 26-30
Schereschewsky, Dr. J. W., "St '.ndardization of Systems of Medical
supervision" .........................
403-406
Scott, C. B., "Linemen and their hazards"....................................................... 327-330
Scott, C. B., Report of the Finance committee........................................... 32-35
Secretary's report (Cameron)r............................................................................... 19-22
Sectional organizations ......................................................................................../jL 61-64
Sectional work of the National Safety Council............................................''746-747
Shafts, Safeguarding......................................................................................,-- 157-165
Shattuck, S. F. (Chairman, Paper Manufacturers' Sectional Meeting) 295-320
Shattuck, S.F., "Hazards in woodyards".................................................
301-305
Shields, Dr. M. J., "Means and desirable extent of instruction to
workers in First aid"..........................................................................i..........443-447
Shoes, Foundry ......................................................................................... ...... 684,697
Signs, Danger ..............................
36-43
Sinclair, R. S. (Chairman, Cement Sectional Meeting)............................... 147-202
"Small plants. Medical supervision in" (Patterson)...................................427-430
Smith, J. C., "Safety as applied to overhead cranes"..................................629-639
Social insurance, _see> Health insurance.
"Some oi the objections to Health supervision" (Hamilton)..................424-427
Spaulding, W. B.. "What is the best way to create and maintain in
terest in Safety work among the members of Safety committees
and employes in general?".......................................................................-___511-5x5
Spectacles, see Eye protection.
Spring, E. C., "Hazards o* the street"....................................................................340-343
770 Index
PAGES
Stairs, Standard ........................................................................
148-152
Standard directions for Resuscitation from electric shock........................... 29-30
"Standard forms for recording medical data" (Hayhurst).........................406-422
Standard practices in mine rescue and First aid.......................................-------286-293
Standardization committee. Report of (Young)................................................. 3i~32
"Standardization of Safeguards" (Hansen)..................................
139-146
Standardization of systems of Medical supervision" (Schereschewsky) 403-406
Standards, Safeguarding .......................................................
168-169
"Standards for textile machinery. Need of Safety (Beyer).......................380-382
Starting a Safety campaign..................................................................................................720-731
State health supervision, see Health supervision, State.
Statistics":
Cotton mill accidents--............................................................................................ 361-363
Fofifldry accidents ...........................................................................................................689-690
Mine accidents ..........................................................................236-244, 248-252, 262-264
Report of Accident statistics committee.................................................:.. 45-55
Textile industry accidents.................................
361-365
Stokes, H. W., "Relation of Employment department to general Safety
problem in Paper mills"............................................................................................ 318-320
"Street, Hazards of the" (Spring).................................................................................34~343
Superintendents, Education of...............................
723-724
Supervision, Health, see Health supervision.
Surgeons^ Mine .........................................................................................................................
245
Swallow, W. C-, "Hazards of openers, pickers, cards, etc."........................ 368-373
"Systems of First aid in plants. Organization of" (Noland)....................439-442
"Systems of Health supervision"(Price) ._...............................................................386-39C
"Systems-of Medical supervision, Standardization of" (Schereschew
sky) ................................................................................................................
403-40<
Taliaferro, H. N. (Chairman, Woodworking Sectional Meeting) ..... 6gg-7i<
Taliaferro, H. N., Remarks at opening of Woodworking Sectional
Meeting ................................................'........................--.............................................. 704-701
Tankst Safeguarding............................................................................................................. 171-171
Teaching Safety, see Instruction. Safety.
Tener7 S. W.t "Safety as an indispensable part of an efficient manu
facturing organization" ............................................................................................ 106-XI. Textile industry accident statistics, see Statistics.
"Textile industry. Safety provisions abroad in the" (Calder).................... 355-3
"Textilelmachinery, Need of Safety standards for new" (Beyer).......... 380-38
Textile Sectional Meeting.................................................................................................. 355-38
Thaw house ................................................................................................................................ 194,19
Threads, Strains on...............................................................................................................
68
Tolsted, E. B., "Safeguards for abrasive machinery".................................... 602-60
"Tools, Safeguarding machines and" (Woltz)...................................................... 594-5S
"Trained nurse in industrial welfare work, Vital importance of"
(Hughes) --................................................................................................................... 131-1;
Trespassing, Railroad ......................................................................................................... 458-4?
Trimble, E. G. (Chairman, Laundry Sectional Meeting)............................ 203-21
"Value of moving pictures in Safety work" (Blakemore)........................... 545-5' "Value of the National Safety Council to Railroad Safety organiza
tions" (Richards) .......................................-............1................................................ 542-5' Ventilation,-Minimum standards for...........................................................................
"Vital importance of the trained nurse in industrial welfare work"
(Hughes) ........................................................................................................................... 131-1.
iilg.
SBI
Index
771
PAGES
Walks, Lamp trimmers'................................................................................................... ,, 683
Walks, Standard.....................................................................................-........................ 148-152
Walsh, E. T., "Safeguarding machinery for making paper .......................297-301
Warren, H. S., "Danger of low-tension shocks"................................. 330-334
"Waste material in the wood shop. Disposal of" (Dietz).........................713-710
Welcome, Address of (Patterson).........................................................................
3-5
Welfare of laundry employes.........................................................................^5
"Welfare work. An ideal Laundry plant--emphasizing" (Klmfe). 207-212
"Welfare work. Vital importance of the trained nurse in industrial
welfare work" (Hughes) .................................................................................. 131-*39
"What is the best method for reaching Non-English speaking employes
in the conduct of Safety work?" (Banks)................................................ 315-519
"What is the best way to create and maintain interest in Safety work
among members of Safety committees and Employes in general?"
(Spaulding) ................................................................................................................ 5Jr-5i5
White, J. H., "Sanitation as a Safety factor in mining".............................. 229-236
Wilkinson, M. E., "Danger features in laundries, including extractors
and flat work ironers"...............................
212-216
Williamson, G. E., "Safety instructions and warnings for specific
dangers in Paper mills".................................................................
309-312
Wilson, H. M. (Chairman, Mining Sectional Meeting).............................. 217-294
Wilson H. M., "Mine accident prevention and workmen's compen
sation" ............................................................................ ._......................................... 239-264
Wilson, W. C., "Prizes to employe?;, or Committeemen for Safety
work"............................................................................................................................. 501-503
Wilson, W. C., "Public Safety and the Railroads".......................118-127, 458-466
Woltz, J. M., "Safeguarding machines and tools"......................................... 594-598
"Wood shop. Disposal of waste in the" (Dietz)..............................................713-716
I
"Woodworking industry. General hazards of" (Newell)............................ 706-708 Woodworking machinery. Safeguarding.......................................................602, 709-713
I Woodworking SectionalMeeting.................................................................................699-716
Workman's argumentagainstHealth supervision..............................................
426
Workmen, Education of, see Education of the workmen.
Workmen, Foreign, see Foreign workmen.
"Workmen's compensation and mine accident prevention" (Wilson) .. 259-264
Young, R. J. (Chairman, Safeguarding of Machinery Sectional Meet
ing) ...............................
593-639
Young, R. J., Report of Standardization committee....................................... 31-32
Young, W. J., "Safeguarding coal mills".............................................................. 180-184
5
8
9