Document RaNdB84nz07wgVbKq4Bo6M11E

l^^uring the past quarter of a century meny reductions have been made in occupational rat ings for Ufa and Accident insurance. Such ratings have been based partly on the findings of mortality investigations among Insured lives and partly on special studies and reports made by agencies such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Safety Council, and vari ous governmental and private organizations. The most recent broadly based Life insurance inves tigation of occupational mortality was the 1967 Occupational Study, published by the Society of Actuaries, reviewed In the April 1968 issue of the Statistical Bulletin, Some of these changes In reting reflect the general decrease in death rates during the 1940's and early 1950's. Despite the resulting somewhat more stringent qualifications, numerous occupa tions formerly classified as Substandard were made eligible for Standard insurance or for one of the less highly rated Substandard classifica tions. The following Illustrations are typical of the reductions in ratings for Life Insurance. / IMPROVEMENTS IN RATINGS--TWENTY-FIVE YEARS Induttrr Chemical Industry.......... Electrical....................... Glass Industry................ Metal Industries............ Oil Refineriee.................. Railways ......................... Tanneries......................... SubatandaiS to StaadarS Centrifuge operator Other skilled worker KUO pecker Grinder or beveler of plate glaaa Hammerman Ladler Puddler Treater Compounder Locomotive engineer SubdanSafS lo Laaa HlfMr RaM SubatanearS Lead burner Laborer Lineman--climbing poles Chipper Clnderman Laborer Laborer Car cleaner Yard and freight brakaman Laborer 3 i Statistical Bulletin February 1971 A number of common occupations continue to involve exposure to harmrul agents, so that pro grams to minimize hsalth hazards In industry re quire unceasing attention, and are of particular importance when new processes and new ma terials are introduced. For example, mechanical procseise that substitute power tar manual labor may produce dusts and fiber particles in greater volume. New materials such as plastics, metals for which new uses are found, and new processes utilizing radiant energy may lead to physiologi cal disorders that do not become clinically evi dent until some years have elapsed. A recant series of reports of the California De partment of Health entitled "Occupational Dis ease in California," dealing with the manufac turing Industries in that state, shows that skin conditions, chemical bums, and eye irritation were foremost among the common work injuries. Solvents, adds, and other chemicals have been considered as the principal causative agents. Respiratory diseases resulting from exposure to dust and vapors, as well as injuries caused by excessive heat, wars less common but important among cases requiring hospitalization and pro longed medical attention. This series of reports brought out that Injury rates have generally bean lower for women than for man, and that injury rates in the manufacturing Industries were raised if a high proportion of employees were in produc tion work. Studies of the incidence and effects of silicosis, asbestosis, and other forms of pneumoconiosis emphasize the special probisms encountered in dealing with materials that contain silicates, as bestos, and similar substances. These diseases do not manifest themselves till many years fol lowing the exposure to the causative agent When a case is finally recognized, it may be difficult to document it historically. Current mortality morbidity experience relating to cases that h their inception in the past may be represents! of neither the efficacy of present day preven measures nor currant manufacturing mathThere is general agreement that continuing fcal surveillance of workers in many indu processes is advisable. Recent trends in occupational injuries are p sented in the accompanying table based on tlstics published by the National Safety Cou for a sizable number of the larger manufacturt concerns. The table shows the arithmetical eragee of the rate of frequency of injury, as w as averages of the related index of severity injuries, for the years 1955-57 and 1967-69. frequency of Injuries for all industries combin has risen by about 15 percent but the save rate has decreased in about the same deg Eleven Industries showed decreases in inju rates. Seven industries recorded increases both the Injury and the severity rate in excess 20 percent The surveys of the U.S. Bureau of Labor tistlcs cover a much wider range of manufac Ing concerns, including many of the smaller or The experience data cited by the U.S. 8ureau Labor Statistics indicate that recently occu tional injuries have increased significantly in number of industries. The 91st Congress passed an Occupa Safety and Health Act which will go Into e April 28, 1971. This Act provides lor the Fed Government to set compliance standards, !~ citations for violations, and impose penalties. National Institute for Occupational Safety Health is being created to carry on research conduct experimental programs to reduce h and accident hazards In industry. Correspondence relating to this publication may be addressed: THE EDITOR, STATISTICAL BULLETIN Metropolitan Life Insurance Company One Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 4 Plaaaa notify ua promptly of any change at mailing addraaa. I w