Document oDX8RJdQ6wOZQV10rZmjZJm0X

TR&NSMCTIONS 33rd NATIONAL SAFETY fONGRESS J? General Subject and Industrial Sessions - CHICAGO October 3-5, 1944 National Safety Council, Lie. 20 North Wacker Drive. Chicago 6 Copyright, 1944, National Safety Council, Inc. Mated is VAIL Foreword VOLUME I npHE Transactions of the 33rd National Safety Congress and Exposition of the National Safety Council are pub lished intwo volumes. Volume I contains the General Sub ject and Industrial Section sessions.. Volume n contains the Traffic, Commercial Vehicle, Transit, School and College, Home, and Farm Safety sessions. The Transactions are a record of the proceedings of the Congress, condensed and edited for reference purposes. They are therefore an abridged version of the papers and discussions. The original manuscripts, some of which have drawings and charts too expensive to reproduce here, are available in the files of the National Safety Council. The National Safety Council, at its Congresses, seeks to eliminate from discussion matters which are not pertinent to the aims of the Congress, or which may be contrary to the Council's policies. However, it cannot accept responsibility for all views expressed, either in the discussions of the Congress itself or in this record of them. Extra copies of Volume I may be obtained by Council members at $2.30 each. The price to non-members is $5.00 each. Extra copies of Volume H are $1.25 each. THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL. INC. 20 North Wacker Drive Chicago 6, Illinois ONTENTS olume 1 Council Officers.......................... ........... . iv Using the Transactions........... . . xi Annual Meeting of Members............... .1 Accident Facts.......................... . . IS Aircraft Manufacturing Section______ .25 Air Transport Section... I..................... . 43 ASSE--Engineering Section ......... . 65 Army Session ................................ ......... . 69 Automotive and Machine Shop Section . 85 Banquet............... .................................... .103 Cement and Quarry Section.............. .113 Chemical Section........................ ........... .129 Chemical Waste Disposal...................... .145 Coal Mining Section.......................... 159 Construction Section ............................ 197 Fire Control and Prevention............... .207 Food Section I........................................ 213 Industrial Health..................................... 241 Industrial Nursing Section................... 261 Labor and Safety................... ................. . 273 Maintaining Interest in Safety............. 285 Man to Man on the Job............................ 297 Marine Section..................................... 303 Meat Packing, Tanning and Leather Industries Section. .327 Metals Section........-.......................... ......... ................. 335 Mining Section................................................ 353 Off-the-Job Session ................................... 387 Paper and Pulp Section.............. 399 Petroleum Section......................................................... 431 Power Press Section............................................................. 465' Public Utilities Section.......................................................... 473 Rehabilitation ............. 501 Rubber Section........................................................... 503 Seeing for Safety................................................................... 529 Steam Railroad Section.......................................................... 535 Textile Section................................................... 563 Women in Industry............................................................. 579 Wood Products Section................................................ ....593 Safety Exposition Exhibitors.............................................. 607 Index ................................... 613 I National Safety Council, Inc. OFFICERS President: Ned H. Dearborn, Chicago, III Vice-President for Farms: Got L. Nobu; Managing Director, National Committee on Boys and Girls Chib Work, Chicago, I1L Vice-President for Finance,, and Treasurer: L W. Mtixabd, Ptcsi^ > dmt Industrial Gloves Co, Danville, BL Vice-President for Homes:. Dr. D. B. Armstrong, 2nd Vice-Presi dent, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co, New York, N. Y. Vice-President for Industry: Walter S. Paine; Manager, Engineer ing and Inspection Dept, Aetna Life & Affiliated Companies, Hartford, Conn. ;,, Vice-President for Local Safety Organisations: Judge Lee E. Stan, Appellate Court, Qevdand, Ohio- Vice-President for Membership: R. T. Solensten, Vice-President Elliott Service Co, New York, N.Y. Vice-President for Public Information: W. Earl Hall, Managing Editor, Mason Gty Globe-Gazette^ Mason Gty, Iowa Vice-President for Schools and Colleges: Dr.H. T. Healo, Presi dent Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago; III Vice-President for Traffic and Transportation: Leslie J. Sorenson, Gty Traffic Engineer, Chicago, III Vice-President for Womeris Activities: Miss Pauline E. Manxogo, Public Relations Counsel, New York, N. Y. Secretary: R. L. Forney, General Secretary, National Safely Council, Chicago, HI Assistant Treasurers: B. B. McCulloch, President Bureau of Safety, Chicago; III; H. H. Greenwald, Director, Accounting Div, National Safety Council, Chicago, HI TRUSTEES Chairman of the Trustees: William.A. Irvin, Member, Executive Committee; United States Steel Cbrp, New. Yorlt N. Y. Secretary of the Trustees: Ned H. Dearborn, President National Safety Council, Chicago, III Treasurer of the Trustees: Thomas W. Lamont, Vice-President of die Board, J. P. Morgan & Go, New York; N. Y. l Members WnuTHROP W. Aldhech, Chairman, Board of Directors, The National Bank; Ne^v York, N. Y. Not Soli IV National Safety Council, Inc. Melvin & Bakes, President, National Gypsum Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Lawkence D. Bell, President, Bell Aircraft Corp., Buffalo, N. Y. Jakes B. Black, President, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., San Fran- dsco; Calif. . S. Bruce Black, President, liberty Mutual Insurance Co., Boston, : Mass. Morgan B. Brajnabd, President, Aetna life insurance Co., Hait- ford. Conn. John W. Carpenter, President, Texas Power & Light Co., Dallas, Texas William G. Chandler, President, Scripps-Howard Supply Co, New York, N. Y. . Kenneth B. Oilman, President J. it Cblman Co, Seattle Wash.' Howard Coonley, Chairman "of the -Board, Walworth Co, New York; N. Y. Frederick G. Crawford, President, Thompson Products,. Bul, CleveIand, Ohio Walter J. Cummings, Chairman of the Board, Continental Illinois National Bank & Trust Co., Chicago; I1L Ned H. Dearborn, President, National Safety Council, Chicago, BL R- R. Deupree, President, Procter & Gamble- Co, Cincinnati, Ohio Benjamin F. Fairless, President, United States Steel Corp., Pitts burgh, Pa. Francis J. Gavin, President, Great Northern Railway Co., St Paul, Mina Walter S. Gifford, President, American Telephone & Telegraph 'Co., New York; N. Y.. - John Gunn, President, Employers Mutual Insurance Co, Des Moines; Iowa ` E. Roland Harriman, Brown Bros, Harriman and Co- New York, N. Y. William A. Irvin, Member Executive Committee, United States Steel Corp., New York; N. Y. * William M. Jeffers, President, Union Pacific RailroadCo, Omaha, Neb. H. P. Liversidge, President Philadelphia Electric Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Thomas I, Parkinson, President Equitable Life Assurance Society . of the U. S, New Yoik, N. Y. William A. Simpson, President William Simpson Construction Co.,Los Angeles, Calif. Robert C Stanley, President International Nickel Co. of Canada, Ltd, New York, N. Y. v National Safely Council, Inc. John Stilwell, Vice-Presideht, Consolidated Edison Co. of N. Y., New York, N. Y. Juan T. Trippe, President, Pan-American Airways, New York, N. Y. Harry C Wbess, President, Humble Oil & Refining Co., Houston, Texas C E. Wilson, President, General Motors Corp., Detroit, Mich. Charles E. Wilson, President, General Electric Co., New York, N. Y. BOARD OF DIRECTORS \y Chairman of the Board of Directors: John Stilweix., Vice-Presi- dent. Consolidated Edison Co. of N. Y., New York; N. Y. . Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors: Theodore F. Smith, President, Oliver Iron & Steel Corp, Pittsburgh, Pa. Members H. W. Anderson, Vice-President in Charge of Industrial Relations, General Motors Corp., Detroit, Mich. Dr. D. B. Armstrong, 2nd Vice-President, Metropolitan Life Insur ance Cd., New York, N. Y. Wallace N. Barker, Vice-President, Pullman-Standard Car Mfg. Co., Chicago, I1L Thomas E. Branut, President, Braniff Airways, Dallas, Tex. Clarence Carlton, Vice-President, Motor Wheel Corp, Lansing, Mich. Cleo F. Craig, Vice-President, American Telephone & Telegraph Co, New York, N. Y. Ned H. Dearborn, President, National Safety Council, Chicago, IIL Mrs. La Fell Dickinson, President, General Federation of Women's Clubs, Washington, D. C Wallace J. Falvey, Vice-President, Massachusetts Bonding & Insur ance Co, New York, N. Y. James L. Fieser, Vice-Chairman at Large, American Red Cross, Washington, D. C Alfred C. Fuller, Chairman of the Board, Fuller Brush Go, Hart ford, Conn. W. Earl .Hall, Managing Editor, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa Dr. H. T. Heald, President, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chi cago, 111. & |\ National l Safety Council, lac G. A. H^usEfe, President, Henry Vogt Machine Co., Louisville, Ky. Dr. W. M. Jardine, President, University of Wichita, Wichita, Kan. C A. Kirk, Vice-President in Charge of Mfg., International Business Machines Corp.,' New York, N. Y. George H. Lowe; President, Utah Safety Council, Salt Lake City, Utah. --------------------------------------------------------- Miss Pauline E. Mandigo, Public Relations Counsel, New York, N. Y. I. W. Millard, President, Industrial..Gloves Co., Danville, UL Guy L. Noble, Managing Director, National Committee on Boys and Girls Club Work, Chicago) III ( Henry E. North, Vice-President;. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., San Francisco, Calif. \t . Joseph L. Overlook, Vice-President, Continental Illinois National Bank & Trust Co., Chicago, 111. Walter S. Paine; Manager, Engineering and Inspection Department, Aetna Life & Affiliated Companies, Hartford, Conn. Judge Lee E. Skeel, Appellate Court, Cleveland, Ohio Theodore F. Suith, President, Oliver Iron & Steel Corp., Pitts burgh. Pa. R. T. Soleksten, Vice-President, Elliott Service Co., New York, N.Y. Leslie J. Sorenson, City Traffic Engineer, Chicago, III. Col. Albert A Sprague, Trustee, Chicago Rapid Transit Co., Chi cago, Ilk Gordon G. Steele, President; Portland Traction Co., Portland, Ore. John Stilwell, Wee-President, Consolidated Edison Co. of N. Y_ New York, N. Y. William B. Way, General Manager, Radio Station KVOO, Tulsa, Okla. EXECUTIVE BOARD Chatman of the Executive Board: R. J. Reigeluth, New Haven Trap Rock Co., New Haven, Conn. Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board: C. E. Woouever, Personnel Manager, Buick Motor Div., General Motors Corp., Melrose Park, UL , Members-at-Large Dr. D. B. Armstrong, 2nd Vice-President, Metropolitan Life Insur ance Co., New York, N. Y. r ? 5Sf.> > ' vu if National Safety Council Inc. J. I. Banash, Consulting Engineer, Chicago, I1L L. J. Benson, Asst to duel Operating Officer, Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul and Pacific Railroad, Chicago, HI C. W. Bergqotst, Hinsdale, III A.J. R Curtis, Asst to General Manager, Portland Cement Assoc, Chicago, BL Ned H. EteAE^, Presidmt, National Saeftr Cbuncil, CIucagoP HI R. H. FErguson, Manager of Safety, Republic Steel Corp., Cleve land, Ohio W. Earl Hall, Managing Editor, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa ... v D. T. Haktson, Vice-President Equitable Gas Co, Pittsburgh, Pa. Orro R. Haetwig, General Safety Supervisor, Crown Zellcrbach Corp, Portland, Ore. Jolxen H. Harvey, Managing Director, National Conservation Bu reau, New York, N. Y. W. A. Hazard, Engineer of Erection, Bethlehem Steel Co, Bethle hem, Pa. Dr. T. Lyle Hazlett, Medical Director, Westinghonse Electric & Mfg. Co, East Pittsburgh, Pa. Db. H. T. Heals, President Illinois Institute of Technology, Chi cago, m C P. Joynek, Jr, Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, Richmond, Va. W. Dean Keefer, 2nd Vice-President Lumbermans Mutual Casualty Cot Chicago, III .iohn E. Long; Superintendent of Safety, The Delaware & Hudson Railroad Corp, Albany, N. Y. J. Willard Lord, Safety Engineer, Atlantic Refining Co, Phila delphia, Pa. Thos. H. MacDonald, Commissioner, Public Roads Administration, Washington, D. C. Miss Paulxne E. Manbigo, Public Relations Counsel, New York, N. Y. L W. Millard, President Industrial Gloves Cot Danville; BL Harold L. Miner, Manager, Safety and Fire Prevention Div, E. I. da Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del : Eliot Ness, Director, Social Protection Div, Community War Services, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D. C. Guy If. Noble, Managing Director, National Committee'oh Boys and Glris Club Work, Chicago, BL Walter S. Paine, Manager, Engineering and Inspection Dept, jQLcta life & Affiliated Companies, Hartford, Goon. t\ f * viii National ^Safety Council, Inc. _; Russell E. Pebkey, Sales Division, Studebaker Corp., South Bend, Bid. C. E Pethbone, Vice-President and Manager, Engineering Dept., American Mutual liability Insurance Co., Boston, Mass. R. j. Reigeluth, New. Haven Trap Rock Co, New Haven, Conn! Col. Henky A. Renengeb, Office of 'Civilian Defense; New York, N.Y.------- ----------------------~-------------------- -- ; A. V. Rohwedeh, Supt of Safety and Welfare; Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway Co, Duluth, Minn. Judge Lee E Skeel, Appellate Court, Cleveland, Ohio R. T. Solenstek, Vice-President, Eliott Service Co., New York; N.Y. ' Lesue J. Soxenson, City Traffic Engineer, Chicago, ID. Dt C. H. Watsok, Supt, Vanderbilt Clinic, Colmnbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, N. Y. C. E WooutEVEK, Personnel Manager, Btrick Motor Dhr, General Motors Cbrp., Melrose Park, IB. V. A. Znmo; Director, Divirion of Labor Standards; U. S. Department of Labor, Washington, D. C Representatives a! the Conference of Local Safety Organizations George M. Busks, Director, Kansas City Safety Council, Kansas City, Mo: \ Revbukk Hoffmann, Secretary-Manager, The Safety Council of ) Greater St Louis, St Louis, Mo. FrankL. Joses, President, Greater New York Safety Council,. New York; N. Y. Hakold F. I..tu.te, Director-Secretary, Lansing Safety Council, Lan sing, Mich. Walter W. Matthews, Managing Director, Philadelphia Safety Council, Philadelphia, Pa. ' * Feed M. Rqsseland, Secretary-Manager, Newark Safety Council, Newark N. J. Cass. L. Smith, Managing Director and Secretary, Greater Qeveland Safety Council, Qeveland, Ohio Representatives of the Conference of Sections H. R. Bixlee, Personnel Director, Mutual life Insurance Co. of N.Y, New York, N.Y. National Safety Council, Inc. W. F. Brown, Safety Engineer, Consolidated Edison Co, of N. Y., New York, N, Y. W. Graham Cole, Asst. Secretary, Metropplitan Life Insurance Co., New York, N. Y. G. O. Griffin, Safety Director, Dravo Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa. E.S. MiNES, Safety Engmeer. American TeIephoner& Telegraph Co., New York, N. Y. J. L. Risinger, Safety Supervisor, Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., New York, N. Y. Lt. Col. R. C Stratton, Office of Chief of Ordnance, Safety and Security Branch, Chicago, III HONORARY MEMBERS Association of Iron and Steel Engineers . Robert W. Campbell Lew R. Palmer W. H. Cameron William A. Irvin John Stelwell PAST PRESIDENTS Robert W. Campbell Arthur T. Morey* Lew R. Palmer David Van Schaack* Ralph G Richards* G P. Tolman Arthur H. Young Marcus A. Dow Lewis A. De Blois C. B. Auel* ' Charles B. Scott* Walter G. King Homer E. Niesz* Col. Henry A. Reninger C. E. Petobone G W. Bergquist J.Banash John E. Long Dr. G H. Watson D. D. Fennell John Stilwell I Deceased Each library men am portatio agendes and bat -prevent! This : lating y progres! Safet; as persi safety, t the Tab the end The 1 Sessions problem Industri Subjet are arra the bool dustrial in the d program The d easy to 1 hundreds jects di safety si case of i printed i i.e., Chei etc.Undi the subjt x' Using the Transactions Cadi edition of these Transactions is a Use the Transactions > I < library of safety experience. Hundreds of men and women--leaders in industry, trans portation, insurance, and governmental agencies--give the best of their knowledge .and background to the cause of accident prevention at the Annual Safety Congress. ...To solve accident problems of foremanship, protective clothing, dermatitis, welding operations, ventilation, substitute materials, and many others. ... To aid in meeting such special war. problemsasoff=the^jobacddents,warcGnser------ This knowledge and experience, accumu vation of personal protective equipment, lating year after year, is of great value to wartime fire protection, and women in war progressive industrialists and businessmen. industry. These subjects receive special em- > phasis in these Transactions. The Early Plan, of Arrangement Morning Sessions (Man to Man on the Job) stress the proper approach to employee Safety ideas, topics, and problems, as well training problems faced by all expanded in as personalities important in the field , of dustries. safety, .can be found by reference either to ...To obtain speech-making materials for - the Table of Contents or to the. Index at the safety director or business executive the end of die volume. who plans to speak on accident prevention, The Table of Contents lists (a) General Sessions, (b) Subject Sessions dealing with problems common to many industries, (c) Industrial Section meetings. Subject Sessions and Industrial Sections are arranged alphabetically. In the body of hi addition to facts and authoritative opin ions, this book contains many splendid ex amples of safety talks which can be used as guides or models. - In addition, much of the material can be used in local publicity, plant publications and. bulletin board, an nouncements. the book the several meetings of each In dustrial Section are printed as they appeared p the daily time schedule of &e original program. ...To learn the points of view held by the leaders of the safety movement These leaders, as officers or members of the Cotta- . dl's Industrial Sections, or as public officials, The detailed alphabetical Index makes it contribute ideas which can be used in the easy to find specific safety material. It lists organizing of safety programs. hundreds,of items in three ways: (a) sub-, ...To gain a better understanding of the jects discussed, ie., absenteeism, dusts, National Safety Council's services and the safety shoes, welding; (b) speakers in the national safety program. A survey of the case of formal papers. Speakers' names are material contained in the Transactions will printed in italics; (c) Industrial Sections, supply the reader with increased knowledge i.e^ Chemical, Construction, Food, Marine, . of the growing power of the safety'move etc Under each Industrial Section are listed ment and of the means by which this power the subjects of its complete program. is expressed. * ad V" ft ; Annual Meeting of Members TUESDAY MORNING SESSION October 3, 1944' The 1944 Annual Meeting of members of the National Safety Council was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Sherman Hotel. Chicago, on October 3,( with John Stilwell. President, presiding,' Following the singing of the national anthem, President Stilwell announced a quorum present, in person or by proxy. It was voted to dispense with the calling of the roll; also to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the previous Annual Meeting. President Stilwell said that in April, 1944, he had appointed a Committee on Constitution and By-Laws Revision, con sisting of C W. Bergquist, Chairman, James L. Fieser, Walter S. Paine, 'and Leslie J. Sorenson. After .referring to the committee's careful 'studies and ex tensive discussions during the Intervening months. President Stilwell called upon Mr. Bergquist.for the committee report. \ Mr. Bergquist stated that at its meeting /on April 30, 1944, the Council's .Policy Committee voted favorably on the prop osition that there should be established, as part of. the Council's official structure, a group of business and civic leaders who would be concerned with general policies relating to financing and public relations. The. Revisions Committee was given the task of determining what changes would be necessary in the Constitution and By- Laws to effectuate this proposal, and was also asked to consider any other desirable changes. . ' The Committee presented its recom mendations: to the Executive Board on July 3L. .1944, and they were approved unanimously.- The proposed changes were then printed and distributed to members of the Council on August 3,1944, prepara tory to presentation at the Annual Meet ing. (Note. Those present at the Annual Meeting were supplied with the printed leaflet distributed on August 3.) After briefly stating the reasons for the proposed changes, Mr. Bergquist moved the adoption of the Constitutional revi sions. The motion was seconded and there was no discussion. The Secretary reported that 4,854 proxy votes had been cast in favor of the adoption of the Con stitutional amendments, and eight votes against President Stilwell called for an expression from those in attendance at the meeting, and there were no dissent ing votes. He thereupon declared the Constitutional changes adopted. Mr. Bergquist farther stated that cer tain changes in the By-Laws developed by his committee, to parallel the Consti tutional changes, would require passage by the Board of Directors. He suggested that a vote be taken which would be In the nature of a recommendation from the Annual Meeting to the Board of Di rectors, advocating approval of the ByLaws changes. This action was taken without dissenting vote. (Printed copies of the Constitution and By-Laws, as revised, are available to all members of the Council.) President Stilwell called for the report of the Nominating Committee, which consisted of the following: C, W. Berg quist, Chairman, Dr. D.' B." Armstrong, J. I. Banasb, R. H. Ferguson, G. A. Heuser, J. Willard Lord, Carl L Smith, Theodore F. Smith, C. E. Wooliever. Mr. Bergquist reported in behalf of the Nominating Committee, stating that his committee would make nominations un der the provisions of Section 19 of the Constitution, as revised. He then an nounced the committee's nominations for Trustees, Directors, Executive Board members, and Officers. There were no other nominations. The Secretary an- 2 33rd National Safety Congress, 1944 nonneed that 4,882 proxy votes were cast in favor of the slates presented by the Nominating Committee. Those at the meeting also voted without dissent in favor of the nominations as presented. President Stilwell thereupon declared the election of those proposed by the Nom inating Committee. A list of the Council's Trustees, Di rectors, Executive Board members and Officers is printed on pages iv to x of this volume. Of these, all but the Trustees were nominated and elected at this meet ing for a one-year term. Among the Trustees, the following were"eleted^ at this meeting for a 3-year term: Wifithrop W. Aldrich, James B. Black, S. 'Brace Black, Morgan B. Brainard^J&enneth B. Colman, Walter J. Cummings, Frauds J. Gavin, William M. Jeffers, William A. Simpson, Juan T. Trippe, C. E. Wilson. The following Trustees were elected at this meeting for a 2-year term: Law rence D. Bell, John W. Carpenter, H. P. Liversidge, Harry C. Weiss. The follow ing Trustees were elected at this meet ing for a 1-year term: Melvin H. Baker, Frederick G. Crawford, R. R. Deupree, John Gunn. The President of the Coun cil is a Trustee, ex-officio. The remaining Trustees continue in office from previous elections. In nominating Mr. Dearborn for the presidency, Mr. Bergquist referred in the highest terms to the services rendered to the Goundl by John Stilwell during his tenure as President He referred to the great amount of time Mr. Stilwell has given to the work of the Counal and to the fact that {the Nominating Committee felt it ex tremely difficult to find anyone to' succeed him who, on a voluntary basis,'could con tribute a similar amount of time and energy. Mr. Bergquist then referred to the out standing qualities of leadership exhibited by Mr. Dearborn since his election as Executive Vice-President, and concluded by stating that his committee, after care ful consideration, wished to recommend Mr. Dearborn for 4he Presidency. He , also stated that the Executive Vice-Presi dent, under -the new Constitution, is elected by the Board of Directors, and it was anticipated that Mr. Dearborn would be selected for that office at the first Directors' meeting. (Note: This action was taken at the Board of Directors' meeting Tuesday afternoon, October 3.) Mr. Stilwell expressed his high regard for Mr. Dearborn and his belief in the wisdom of his selection as President Mr. Dearborn thanked the members of the Counal for the confidence thus ex pressed in him and emphasized the need for a united effort on - the part of all Council members if further gains are to be achieved in the war on accidents. Mr. Stilwell reported that at the Ex ecutive Board meeting on October 2nd Mr. William A. Irvin had been elected to honorary life.membership in the Coun cil. He read a statement summarizing the services of Mr. Irvin to the National Safety Council and to the safety move ment, as'. Chairman of the War Produc tion Fund to Conserve Manpower, and as Chairman of the Trustees, and it was voted that this statement be transmitted to Mr. Irvin. Mr. Stilwell announced a meeting of the Board of Directors at 3:00 pm., October 3rd, and a meeting of the Execu tive Board at lOrOO ajn., October 4, both in the Sherman HoteL The remainder of the program con sisted of the following addresses: "Five Years of Far-Reaching Progress," the report of the President; "Humans Must Be Humanitarians," the report of the Executive Vice-President; "Safety and the Home Front," by Theodore F. Smith; "The Importance of Safety to Women and the Importance of Women to Safety," by Margaret Culkin Banning. All four addresses are included as a part of these Transactions. R. L. Forney Secretary Tfaii addret as you with i sense < staunc also, v izatior which other And, 1 tins of Man first < change change me. I change For been i mud) ; this pi Board thousa lent a propos I coot your I to dai has be taken think, we are of the so, too You of 193! Naas < World we hat Poland throng! battle < Russia, grad. 1 way. i D Daj borders Ever, your n Annual Meeting of Members 3 Five Years of Far-Reaching Progress By JOHN STILWELL Retiring President, National Safety Council This is the last occasion on which I will address this Annual Meeting of members as your President I come before you today with mixed emotions. First of all, a keen sense of'appredation and gratitude for the staunch support you have given me. I come also, with some sense of relief, in the real ization that I can relinquish my duties, which have sometimes seemed heavy, to other and probably more competent hands. And, finally, with some sadness in leaving this office. Many changes have occurred since yon first elected me President -- world-wide changes, changes in our national life, changes in the Council, changes in you and me. I should like to review some of those changes with you. For the Council, I _ believe, there have been many changes for the better--that much progress has been made. Credit for this progress most go to all our officers. Board and Committee members, and to the thousands of individual members who have lent a hand. Personally, I have made many proposals and have urged many new things. I conceive that that is what you expect )your President to do. I would be the last y to claim that everything I have proposed has been right and that every plan under taken has succeeded TOO per cent 1 do think, however, that in auditing the books, we are very far over on the right-hand side of the ledger. Naturally, I hope you think so, too. You first elected me President in the fall of 1939, little more than a month after the Nazis crossed the Polish border and started World War II. What world shaking events we have seen since then! The crushing of Poland, of Holland and Belgium. The Blitz through France. Dunkirk. The crucial air battle over England. Germany's break with Russia. Pearl Harbor. El Alamdn. Stalin grad. The battle across North Africa. Mid way. Guadalcanal. Burma. Sicily. Italy. D Day. Cherbourg. Paris. Verdun. The borders of the Reich. Every name calls up vivid memories to your minds and mine. Through it all, the National Safety Council has been growing, changing, moving forward; helping war in dustries to meet new problems; striving to conserve manpower; cooperating in mam moth safety programs in the armed forces. The Presidents Proclamation in 1941, calling upon,the National Safety Council to re-double its efforts for accident prevention as a vital part of the war effort was a turning point in the Coundl's history.. It led to the formation of. the War Produc tion Fund to Conserve Manpower through which powerful business and industrial In terests in all. parts of the country were enlisted behind the undertaking and finan cial support to the extent of &250.000 was obtained. And this led to an expansion of our organization and our program that has broadened the whole outlook of the Council and of the safety movement in America. There is one fundamental thing we have done to which everything else, in my opin ion, is secondary. We have succeeded in changing the National Safety Council from a membership organization to a truly na tional public service organization--the na tional coordinator and the national symbol of safety. This change has come about only because of the support, financial and other wise, which has been given to the Council through its Trustees'and through the busi ness and industrial interests that have joined in establishing the Coundl's Public Service Program.* And this support has been made possible only by the progressive strengthening of the Council's volunteer leadership. Today, through its Board of Trustees and their friends and connections, the Council has assoaated with it many of the most influ ential business men and industrialists in the country. And the process of widening and strengthening our relations with such lead ership is still going on--and must continue to go on, if we are to keep on growing; or even if we are to hold the gains we have made. An example of the progress being made in this direction is found in our new Trustees. Let me read you the names of the men who have accepted our imitation 33rd National Safety Congress, 1944 to augment our distinguished Board of eral Congress a National Charter, nuking Trustees by becoming new members of that the Council the officially recognized private group: Melvin H. Baker, President, National Gyptjn Company Lawrence D. Bell, President, Bell Aircraft Corporation James B. Black, President; Pacific Gas .& Electric Company agency for dealing with the country's acci dent problem. A'resolution, proposing such a charter, has recently been introduced into' both Houses of Congress and there is every reason to expect favorable addon in the near future. At this point I want to say that for the continuing' task of developing sound and S. Brace Black, President; Liberty Mutual cordial relations with the most important Insurance Company people in the country--and, in my opinion, John W. Carpenter, President, Texas Power & Light Company Kenneth B. Coltnan, President, J. M. Colman Company Frederick C. Crawford, President, Thomp son Products, Incorporated Walter J. Cummings, Chairman of Board, Continental Illinois National Bank & Trust Company the entire future of the Council as a major national organization depends upon that task--we could have no better, man than Ned H. Dearborn. I told you last year that Mr. Dearborn bad shown himself to bean administrator of exceptional ability, with a special talent for winning confidence mid friends for the Council among people hi all walks of life. I now tell you; after having seen hirq, at first hand, win the fonfidfnj<,& R. R. Deupree, President, Proctor & Gamble respect and.lilting of heads of the|(lew5t - Company business and industrial enterprises on . this Francis J. Gavin, Preadent, Great North ern Railway Company John Gunn, President, Employers Mutual Insurance Company. William M. Jeffers, President, Union Pacific Railroad - H. P. LiversidgCi President, 'Philadelphia . Electric Company William A. Simpson, President, William Simpson Construction Company Continent, that his ability to htnld sound relationships extends to . the top brackets of our social and economic leadership. The significance of the developments since 1939. will be obvious through a simple comparison, ha 1939 the National Safety Council had a total budget of $850,000. Our 1944 budget amounts to $30(1000. This difference represents in large part the support of safety-minded industries which have recognized the need- for a national safety Juaa T. Trippe, President Pan-American program over and above the purely mem Airways,- Inc. bership services whidh constituted most of Harry G. Wiess, President, Humble Oil & the GonaaFsprogram in the past Refining Company I hasted to add that this increased finan C E. Wilson, President, General' Motors Corporation Another example of the progress in the same direction is the recommendation of your Executive Board that a new Board of Directors made up of business and civic leaders, |pid to be given responsibility for finance and general public relations be es tablished. These men would be fa a posi tion to supplement tire work both of the Trustees and of the Executive Board and would, in my opinion, enhance the Coun cial. support' is only half the story.' The same men and the same companies which have helped* financially have* also helped enormously with their interest and their in fluence. As a result of-that type of support, safety holds a place today in the minds of business men, of government officials, and of the average man and.woman far beyond what existed five years ago. Where one person was conscious of the safety move ment: five years ago, I believe it is fair to say that 100 are conscious of the movement cil's prestige and effectiveness hi every dart of 4he nation. \ In giving credit for this accomplishment I must single out, as I did list year, one Still another example is the progress we man who has done more than anyone die are making toward obtaining from the Fed in throwing the strength of business ex- ecutive; Willian of Trt strengti the ent Thou done in grant portant regions SanFr there a scatter* tify to your on saf< attentic ters o! greatly comma 'added t the Na any pa Council an bffic Am has fie increasi state ss tins wc down l in the seaborn rations ones h: fail to greatest lath the pas entered entirely vetoped imports lb both been dr coopers develop to plm ments. now ha fluence Wei in the years s concept HL Annual Meeting oj.Members. 5 ectitives behind our program. That man is and should play in accident prevention.. William A. Irvin, Chairman of oor Board Now, safety is being incorporated into the of Trustees. He has been a tower of programs of women's organizations num strength to the, to all your officers, and to bering millions of members. The influence the entire program of the Council. which women can exert in home safety, Though many significant things have been . done In these recent years to make our pro* farm safety, and in other fields,, promises much for the future. gram .truly national, one of the more im During the past five years;'the Council's portant haS been the establishment of. four organizational structure has been greatly regional offices--In Near York; Chicago, Strengthened. Our Sections have been given San Frandsco, and Atlanta. I know that if an important and kiey position in governing there were time; many of you, from widely the accident prevention work. of the or scattered parts of the country, would tes ganization. Our affiliated load councils have tify to what these offices have meant in been grouped into a Conference of Local your regions. They have focused attention Safety Organizations, making possible a on safely in areas where there was little regular channel for getting the joint opin attention before. .They have served as cen ions of community and regional safety or ters of safety information. They have ganizations into the development of our greatly stimulated the development of new over-all policy and program. ' community safety organizations and have OUr Public Service Program, made pos 'aided existing organizations. No longer is sible through financial and other support the the National Safety Council remote, from Council has obtained, has entailed a con any part of the nation; no longer is the siderable enlargement of our Headquarters Council in danger of being considered "just Staff, as well as'the development of. the an office in Chicago.** . regional staffs. A major activity in theregional offices has Been the time and attention, devoted to iocreashig the number of community and state safety organizations: The effects of this work have long since been felt Up and I am confident that, anyone listening to a recital of these changes will agree that they are significant -AT70.per cent increase in budget, a 20 per cent increase in member ship, a 75 per cent increase in staff. down' the West Chast, in the Southwest Here are some outstanding facts about in the Middle West and on the Atlantic the National Safety-Council that wilt em Jseaboard, strong community, safety organi phasize its development:,. zations have been developed and existing Members, 5,879. ones have-been strengthened. This cannot fail to have a long-range influence of the greatest importance. Expenditures during 1944.' (Estimates for 12 months based-oa?8 months' expert dice.) Membership Service Program, $1,- In the past five years, particularly during 135,000. Supported by income from..mem the past two and one-half years, we have bership dues and sale of materials. Public entered fields of activity that were almost Service Program, $775,000. Supported by entirely new. For example, we have, de contributions. veloped policies, programs, and staffs in'the important fields of Home and Farm safety, hi both of these fields aggressive work has been done to secure, the interest and active cooperation .of influential organizations, to develop sound educational, materials, and to plan long-term engineering improve ments. The groundwork has been laid. We :now have a remarkable opportunity to in Reserve for Unfulfilled Membership and Service Contracts, $284,496. Reserve for Post-War Readjustment $245,000. Reserve for Continuance of Public Serv ice Program, $150,000. Staff, 249. Chicago Headquarters Office, 216. Regional Offices, -33. fluence accident 'experience in these fields. Monthly . circulation of eight Council We have done some more path-breaking in the field of women's activities. Until two years age, I believe few of us had any magazines, 735,000. Safety, posters distributed--12 months, 11,504000. conception of the part which women could Community and state safety councils and \ 6 33rd National Safety Congress, 1944 chapters, chartered by the National Safety war, we can also feel some satisfaction that Council, 63. we. have reserves of $836,000 for meeting Total budget for all chartered safety . councils and chapters--estimated for 1944, $1,134,000. And what about the results of all this expansion? Well, here are some examples as reported to us: A 68 per cent cut in accident frequency and estimated savings of 400,000 mandays of production among 300,000 em ployees of Army Air Service Command. A 16.9 per cent reduction in accident frequency among about 1,500,000 workers in 300 Navy and contract shipyards, and savings of 5 million man-hours and 6 mil lion dollars in production was effected in Gulf Coast shipyards alone. A 61 per cent cut in off-duty accidents among service men leaving Army Sixth Service Command posts on pass or fur lough in month following distribution of off-the-job safety pamphlet sendee contracts, carrying on research, con tinuing ,, non-income producing activities, making post-war readjustments and con ducting general operations. When you stop to realize that the present budget represents less than two cents annu ally for each person in the United States, you can see the task we have before us. The fact is, of course, that the National Safety Couikii, in itself, can do only the smallest fraction of the safety work that must be done, for effective results. It is up tef other organizations and interests--na tional and local--business and civic--large and small--to carry the message of safety down to the individual citizen. Experience shows that a city or a busi ness concern can hold accident rates down --far below national experience--for ex-. tended periods of time. But experience also shows that any lapse of interest or effort will permit the accident rate to sky rocket A 26 per cent drop in accident fre upward--usually much more rapidly than quency and 41 per cent in severity in vari it came down. The hope of the national ous explosives plants. safety movement, therefore, ties in. two 15 to 55 per cent reductions in railroad grade-crossing accidents in 8 of die 9 states where special program has been put in operation thus far. Reduction of training accidents to point where Army Air Forces are training 95 out of 100 pilots without injury of any kind. Injury rates held constant, despite in creasing employment and inexperienced workers, in several thousand plants mak ing materials for Army, under supervirion of Office of Provost Marshal General. A 21 per cent reduction in home acci dent deaths in city of over a million pop ulation. 15 to 31 per cent reduction in farm ac cident work deaths in important agricul tural states. In the light of these examples, I think it fair to say that a good many lives and a great many millions of dollars, that other wise would have been lost, have been saved. things: First, getting more organizations of all kinds to understand what needs to be done and to keep individuals In their sphere of influence from having accidents and, second, to do those things continuously, per manently, and without those lapses of inter est which are sure to spoil the record. In other words, to paraphrase a very fa mous saying, we know that some of the people have excellent safety ,records some of the time.. The job of the safety move ment is to get more and more groups of people--industries, cities, states--to estab lish good safety records more and more of the time. The safety movement and the National Safety Council have, in my judgment, achieved a firm place among the truly im portant elements in our national life. With all humility, I hope that as your President I may have contributed something to that achievement- Although I am leaving the Presidency, I am most emphatically not leaving the National Safety Council. I have We feel some satisfaction because the not the slightest doubt about the continued National Safety Council now has an annual growth and the continued success of our budget of $2,300,000, compared with $850,- organization. I pledge you that, in what 000 which it had five years ago. And while ever role seems appropriate for. me, I shall we hope that no depression will follow this be working toward that end. "Thi chang< I belie a chan will si forego! letter \ can an killed The turns t< during ahead > detenu pend p goodwi policies relatior will al extentand pe -the bel now tal For of this simple dented nitron .* men an ture of One written of sons cencxes much < must b necessit tomorn to do s tion, cil or man and ess of dvili One men an tiaan S .r ness, tl . ethical econom \ Annual Meeting of Members Humans Must Be Humanitarians ' By NED H. DEARBORN President, National Safety Council 7 "There are few periods of profound change in Rian's life in recorded history. I believe we are in an early stage of such a change. No one with courage and good will should fear for the future." The foregoing words are quoted from the last letter written by my Son, a young Ameri can army flier, to his wife before he was lolled in action over Germany. The course of civilization for genera tions to come probably will be determined during the months and years immediately ahead of us. Whether that course will be determined wisely or unwisely will de pend partly upon the understanding and goodwill of those who frame foreign policies, negotiate treaties, arrange trade relations, design economic plans. But it mil also depend--and to a far greater extent--upon the loyalty of yon and me and people like ns all over the world to the beliefs and hopes and ideals that are now taking shape in our hearts and minds. For out of the sacrifices and agonies of this global war certain profound and pimple truths have emerged with unprece dented clarity. And it is upon the recog nition and acceptance of these truths by men and women everywhere that the fu ture of the world ultimately depends. One of these truths, which has been written for ns in the blood of thonsands of sons, is that certain fundamental de cencies of civilized life are rooted in soil much deeper than mere- convention and must be regarded as intensely practical necessities in the scheme of . the world of tomorrow.- Whether these decencies have to do with the- relations of nation to na tion, citizen 'to state, individual to society, or man to fellow man, they are integral and essential parts of any rational pattern of civilized existence. One of the really distinguished states men and scholars of our time, Jah Chris tiaan Smuts, recently said: "NeighborHrness, the 'good neighbor,' are not only ethical concepts but are. rapidly becoming economic, political and international con cepts and standards of human behavior which we violate at our peril." That is still another way of saying that, the forces which have , made total w^r possible have made the lot of mankind indivisible, and humans must also be hu manitarians, if a civilized society is to endure in this modern world. This, I believe--the inescapable necessity, of humanitarianism in all onr affairs--is the greatest truth to be taught us by the war. And unless we--you and I and people everywhere--learn this lesson, all the efforts expended on foreign- policies, treaties, trade pacts and economic pro grams will, in the end, come to nothing. For this lesson affects . hot only men's liberties and ways of living, bnt the very foundations of human existence on this earth. It makes unmistakably dear the fact that unless a better adjustment is bronght about in man's relations to man and in bis relations to the complex environment he has built for himself, bis lot on this earth will become increasingly unenviable. In the light of this fact, the reduction of death, injury and suffering through the better adjustment of manto Ins mod ern environment, assumes -a new signifi cance, as an essential function in^ the scheme of tomorrow's world. And, cer tainly, no function could be more directly concerned with this objective than is that of aeddent prevention. For, essentially, the task in which the National Safety Coundl--and-that means all of ns here and thousands of others throughout the country--is engaged is that of integrating safety into the dailylives of 130 million people. In its broadest sense, this means snaking safety as much a part of individual life as brushing-the teeth, washing the hands, keeping well, eating three meals. It means making safety as much a part of community life as public health service, mnnidpal play grounds, police protection, sewage dis posal, deaning the streets. It means mak ing safety as much a part of state life as 8 33rd National Safety Congress, 1944 highway maintenance, welfare service, care of the mentally ilL It means making safety as much a part of national life as soil conservation, social ' security, flood control. All of this implies an acceptance of safety by the individual,- by the com munity, by the state and by the Nation as an integral part of the pattern of daily life. To gain such a degree of acceptance, we- have taken--and are . continuing to take--many steps of for-reaching impor tance. We are extending and improving our programs of industrial, small plant, ofF-the-job, traffic and transportation, home, farm and school safety. We, are, through our regional field organizations here and in New York, San Francisco and Atlanta, organizing new community councils and developing new relations with old ones to the end that a country wide network of safety organizations, functioning as a coordinated whole, should be a reality within the next few years. We are laying the foundations for a permanently sound financial structure, through memberships and distribution of materials, cooperative arrangements with community councils, self-supporting pro gram activities, subscribed support .from large business and industry--and, eventu ally, individual subscriptions such as dol lar memberships.' We are seeking, and obtaining, the cooperation of'public and private agencies and volunteer groups and organizations of practically all varieties in carrying out programs of accident pre vention. We are bringing the importance of safety to pnblic attention, on an un precedented scale, through the. newspa pers, magazines, motion pictures and radio. And we are gradually, enlisting more and more of the most influential men and women in the social, economic and public life of the country behind our efforts. . These are all steps toward meeting the baric requirements for accomplishing the immense task we have set for ourselves. For if safety is to be integrated into our Nation's daily life, the most important people, the most powerful interests, the most influential organizations and media for . shaping opinion, and every safety agency, governmental and private, in the country must be behind the effort. We know that we have proved methods of preventing accidents already available^ We know that we have, within the safety movement, the technical knowledge and professional skills for reducing industrial, home, form, school and public accident losses to a fraction of their present size. We know that we are unendingly enlarg ing this knowledge, perfecting, these skills, developing and improving program ac tivities. These phases of our job will never be finished, but they are well in hand, under foil control. The real problem now faring us is that of gaining nationwide acceptance of safety as a part of the design of daily living. I say that problem can be solved and I say tins because of the tremendous strides that have been, made in ' recent years toward its solution. And upon dor suc cess in solving this problem the. preven tion of thousands of deaths and millions' of injuries, and the saving of billions of dollars depend. Those who have lost ' sons or- other loved ones in the war have* at least the pride of knowing that they, gave tljeir lives for a causi as big as human freedom. But no death is so pointless, so brutal, so wholly devoid of compensations for survivors as is. death by accident. . We of the National Safety Council axe now engaged not only in an undertaking of enormous social and economic impor tance, but also a great new humanitarian movement'to prevent- untold suffering and sorrow. To Such a movement, at this time, I flunk we all can and must whole heartedly re-dedicate ourselves. It is a movement that will yield cumulative fe>? turns in benefits to others and satisfaction to us--next year, and the next, and next, and next.... One follow on leai as difl individ change crease* and sa tors in Cert fades import and w better to foil) Tor tingac people tins ct of bac the ga into th of was past S mental the pt failure so tha in as i Botha rriatio lines. It is of the safety shall t on th< .faring scope Firs only l .don't t anybot or are curren enougl cut ac tomon entire to do jdrity < Armwu Meettng of Members Development of Safe Attitudes ^ By THEODORE F. SMITH 9 One of the changes we are Gkdy to see tee promptly to reduce accidents nearly to follow this war will be increased emphasis zero in any given situation, if yon could on learning how to live together not only get 100 per cent cooperation in your recom as different nations, but also as different mendations and 100 per cent observance individuals and different groups. If that of your rules and regulations. Generally change occurs, it inevitably will mean in speaking, yon know what to do to prevent creased'emphasis on such factors as health accidents. How to get it done--how . to and safety hi. our social setup and an in get fee necessary cooperation and observ sisted demand for incorporating such fee- ance--is the Mg. problem. And that brings tors in daily life. v ns right bade to the human dement--the Certainly the development of safe atti factor of human relations--fee big problem tudes and safe habits is a part--and an of fee* entire safety movement And that important part--of this learning process, in taro, Mings us to fee necessity of think and wholly in line with fee demand for ing of fee accident problem as a. whole, as better ways of living feat we may expect a situation concerning all of us, and in to follow this war. connection wife which all of ns have re To my mind fee'fact that we are permit sponsibilities. ting accidents each year to kill about 100,000 like a high disease rate, this problem people and injure about 10,000,000 more in is a symptom of social backwardness. Like this country is just as much a symptom ' a high disease rate also, it can be dealt of backwardness in human relations as is with effectively only through collective ac fee gap between fee quality of thought put tion. You cant get at and correct fee baric into the development of modem implements human causes of accidents by limiting the of war and the quality of thought pot into responsibility of every company, every com past plans for preventing war. Funda mentally, our failure to reduce accidents to fee point of virtual elimination and our failure to adjust our international affairs munity, every separate field of interest to its own accident situation, any more .than you. can get at and eradicate fee cause of typhoid by leaving to every individual and ) so that two world wars would not occur every family .fee responsibility of looking in as many decades are of fee same nature. Both are failures to keep pace in our human relations wife our progress along other liny, It is in. the light of this basic conception of fee situation that I wish to discuss fee out for themselves.. That is why I believe it. is necessary for ns to learn to think of safety as a matter of public concern. In fee past we hare not done this. ' safety movement as such: In this light, I Concerned with All Accidents shall try to summarize for you my views on fee nature of some of fee problems feeing fee National Safety Council mu! fee scope of fee task that lies ahead. . Instead of thinking of the accident prob lem in terms of the public interest, most of ns have been accustomed to thinking of it in terms of our own special fields First, I believe that accidents today occur of interest Those of us in industry have only because we permit them to occur.' I thought* of fee problems in our own plants, .don't mean, of course, feat you and I, or as they affected our own workers, our own anybody else, voluntarily permit accidents - efficiency, our own * profits; Those con or are consciously indifferent to fear oc cerned wife traffic have confined their think currence. What I mean is that we have ing to thdr respective sphere. We have enough.tedmlcal "know how*' available to divided fee accident problem into various cut accidents almost to fee vanishing point separate fields of responsibility and interest, tomorrow, if we, as a whole people--an and have divided our thinking accordingly. entire population--would seriously decide Accidents occurring outride our territory to do sa I am sure that the great ma have, been others' responsibilities. . In our jority of you here could definitely guaran planning, we have by-passed fee fact that hi; n - 4i i . i i I Ijt \\ l 1 (; 10 33rd National Safety Congress, 1944 in a society in which , all of ns are con tion. I am sure that tire country is today stantly exposed to the potential carelessness much 'more' safety conscious than it has of others, the over-all accident problem di ever been before in its history. A very rectly concerns each of ns. And we have marked' growth, of interest in safety and given little weight in our thinking to the understanding of its importance has been fact that in oar modem industrial system noticeable daring the past two years. But our own production schedules are affected a start, however significant, is only a start by those of plants hundreds of miles distant And we still have a long way to go. Consequently, die over-all accident problem To bring the accident disease under con has bom a matter, not so much of direct trol, as many other infectious diseases have concern and responsibility, as of mere sta been brought under control, I believe that tistical interest the most powerful influences in the country. The' gradual realization that accidents could be prevented and that their conse quences seriously affected others besides the immediate victims, resulted in the adoption of safety measures in industry. Companies, finding that such measures paid dividends both from a humanitarian and an economic standpoint, made safety an increasingly im portant phase of their operations. Conse quently, as a matter both of self-interest and of responsibility for the well-being of their employees, many companies--although by no means . enough of' them--have de veloped safety programs through which their accident problems have been brought to a very considerable extent under control. What has been said of the growth of industrial safety can also/ be said about the growth of traffic safety.. Just as many important industries have done excellent jobs in dealing with their respective acci dent problems, various states and communi ties have made good progress in handling their traffic accident situations. But by the same token that no solution of the accident problem was possible on a basis,. of every man for himself, no effec tive solution of our common, accident prob lem is- possible on a basis of every' com pany for itself, or every community for itself, or every state for itself. We .must recognize the fact that, in our modern com plex society, the neglect of safety within any group or any section affects the interest of all the other elements of which our society is composed. must be mobilized behind the effort These influences must include not only the press, the radio, the motion pictures, and maga zines, but also tire most responsible safety agencies, the strongest volunteer organiza tions, and individuals of the highest stand ing in the. business, industrial, and sodal life of . the country. For I firmly believe that the germs of our accident disease lie in the. prevailing attitudes of our society. The average individual--in fact, practically all of ns--usually adopt those habits and practices which we feel to be generally favored by society. If we feel, that society regards any given practice with indifference or with slight condescension, or the sug gestion of a sneer, we are not apt'to adopt that practice, and no amount-of preaching and exhortation is likely to change our stand. On the other hand, if we find a certain idea or practice--whether it has to do with the care of our health, the cut of our clothes, the choice of our foods, or the pursuit of a sport--if we find such an idea or practice sponsored by many important people and widely advocated in newspapers and magazines, we are more than likely to espouse it enthusiastically. -1 can't help feeling that this will be true of the practice of safety--that as the movement gains more and more friends, more and more strength, more and more prestige, the practice of safety will become more and more popular. . When that happens--when the idea that, safety is a socially favored and worth-while habit to practice in daily life gains general acceptance--then, I say, watch accidents I believe, .therefore, that to bring about drop:-as never before. And it can happen, a general understanding of the broad social I am convinced, suad can happen much more . and economic consequences of accidents, quickly than most of us probably realize. a widespread, appreciation of tire social For the job is essentially one of building and economic responsibilities involved must prestige and gaining .social favor for . an be one of the first .objectives of the safety idea, and once the ball really gets rolling in movement. The National Safety Council that direction^ it can gather momentum , has made an important .start in this direc very fast The speakii respan and ca more subjec cautioi The p involvi edocat claims, to bei The homed and pi and hi ments be and tistics few a of my mcrea: Don't some ' cause able a< as tw< regret; Non OOfc in some ' caused bums, clothes know They ' ill-gua on.tin tiguei them bad te athon a miss But sxbillty keeper the ca Annual Meeting of Members 11 * . Importance of Safety to Women and Importance of Women to Safety By MARGARET CULKXN BANNING Author, Duluth, Minnesota The more I considered the privilege of the home. They are hit by cars because speaking to this Informed audience on the they don't seem to know right from left or responsibility that American women should green from red. They drive the cars that and can take for making life more saf the hit other people; because they use their rear more important and really profound the driving mirrors as vanity cases. They work subject became. The task for women grew in factories and won't-cover up their hair. as I regarded it It seems to me Oat it is They contribute to . the total of industrial not merely a matter of taking proper pre accidents. There are more women exposed cautions and avoiding unnecessary risks. to the hazards of life outride the home to The philosophy.of the post-wan world is day than ever before. Their responsibility involved, as well as the direction of women's for accidents has stepped up, along with education m it These are high-sounding their independence and increasing inclusion claims, but I believe that I can prove them in all fields of work. to he true. I know that most women would, not deny The connection between women and safely immediately brings to mind those obvious this. Only a very few dinging vines still expect to have a completely man-made and practical ways in which housekeepers and homemakers can make their environ ments less risky. These are by no means to be under-estimated. I am leaving most sta tistics to my betters in arithmetic, but a safety provided for them, and those poor girls are probably going to be. fooled. Woman in the industrial world must learn how .to. protect herself In more than the dassic ways. Women in organizations all few can not be ignored in any consideration through America are taking cognizance, of of my subject In 1943 fatal home accidents this' fact The great and powerful clubs increased 7% over 1942 and totaled 3200. have safety programs and safety commit Don!t think of that as 7%. Think of it as some two thousand dead people, dead be cause of their homes, because of prevent-, able accidents in their homes. Think of it tees which teach and call attention to dan gers and risks that might be overlooked in the course of ordinary life. Parents and teadicrs in thdr important national asso as two thousand griefs and tea thousand ciation consider safety as part of their regrets. work. Newspapers have columns for women, listing home dangers. Magazines Non-fatal accidents approximated 4,850,- published for homemakers dwdi on the 00% including about 130,000 which involved some permanent disability. Now what caused all these accidents? Fires, falls, burns, poisonous gas, blankets and bed clothes smothering babies (most , of us same facts. And they get results. For the average home is mot quity as risky as. it used to be. We had a dark' flight of bade stairs in the house where I grew up that was a permanent peril You were always know of at least one.such terrible tragedy). They were caused by the slippery floor, the ill-guarded flight of steps, the leaky valve on.the gas stove; by harry,-worry or.fa tigue, in the housekeeper. Maybe some of warned not "to fall down the bade stairs," but I recall two occasions on which adults did. The children never seemed to; I wouldn't tolerate a staircase like that in a house today. them were caused by the aftermath of a In Geveland acut of 21% in home acd- bad temper. In' any case; the phrase "safe dents has been effected; and in my own at home" is'altogether too often a boast or a misstatement state community, results of inter-commu nity safety contests have shown home acd- . But we can not leave women's respon dent death, rates-80% lower than the aver sibility for safety at the door of the house age for comparable communities in Minne keeper alone. Women are the victims--and sota. the causes--of many accidents outside of Bat since time is limited this morning; I 12 33rd~tfational_ Safety Congress,1944 would prefer, Instead of dwelling on these improvements, to say simply that we shall keep on with diem and increase them. I want to look ahead into the-next ten years and even farther, though the perspective is' somewhat dim if we strain too far into the future. The immediate one is fairly dear and it shows ns how very frig and impor tant the safety job of the modern woman is going'to be. Wars always tend to make life cheap. They make risks abnormally common. The first task of the American woman is to keep any feeling that life is cheap from taking even slight root in this, country. Soon we shall have returning to us millions o^yonng men and young women who have known great risks. They will bring with diem, in addition to their precious selves, a fa miliarity with danger which can, unless we look' out, easily develop into a taste for recklessness and a habit of taking risks. 1 remember that, after the First World War, my brother, who-had been an aviator, came bade in something of that mood. That summer he used to drive a little open car and he would push up the hand throttle and put his feet over the ride of the car to cool diem off. He drove that car as if he thought it was a plane, and when yon told him it was dangerous, he would say cheerfully that if you thought that driving a car along a country road was dangerous, yon ought to see some of the chances he*d already taken! There were plenty of boys like that after World War I and, if yous remember, it was a high-tension period. There will be millions after World War H and often they will be nervoos, still geared to danger and in a way lonesome for danger. The other day a woman said tomethat she thought the most important thing this country could do would be to set a national speed limit for driving. That is the im pulsive and rather thoughtless way of at tacking die problem. Say that they "can't go faster." Make a law. The ten major considerations proposed in the program of this Cornual and released in August take die problem to pieces and show what can be done to make post-war driving safer. Highway construction, vehicle in spection, driver training; are only four of these.practical ways and they are all sound. But I am not sore that we can rely on legislation, state or national, no matter how well considered, nor on the ten'covering points of any program, and leave it there. Back of. any. restrictive legislation there' must be public conviction. It is' file convic tion that life is valuable, that accidents are wickedly wasteful, that women most re establish. This can not be done in sermons nor from platforms, nor will prhxted admo nitions suffice. It is word-of-mouth persua sion and personal influence that turns the trick, that gets results. It is the influence that a girl fa^s on a boy and how she uses it, and fhe influence a mother has on her son, that counts. We are going to have a great many sadly maimed people in fins country when this war is over. Too maty. We can not afford another unnecessary accident The wife of a doctor who is a surgeon in a veteran's hospital told me not long ago that her hus band hoped that when, the war is over he would never have to see anotheramputation. If a surgeon feds that way, one can judge what his experience has been recently. And to avoid more amputations, we must build up the regard for human; life. . This doesn't mean nagging: That gets nowhere. It doesn't mean trying to make life. unadventoroous. Few want to live a .life without adventure. But future adventure need not be so synonymous with peril as was true in the past When I took my first airplane flight; I. was in far greater peril, though H was only a little fifteen-minute juniat in a plane over the Duluth Harbor in 1912, than when I flew the Atlantic ,in 1912. There was far more adventure in the latter light and less danger. It will, always be . an adventure to fly over fire mountains arid deserts of South America or China. But in peacetime it is not a very' perilous proposition. One of the great featoresof onr times-- (me of the distinctions and prides of-.the period just ahead--can be to work out ad venture and safety so' that more, people have adventures aid yet more stay safe,. It is tty to the individual woman not to toy to. make life too limited and yet to^msist that life be kept as safe as possible. Shedoes not have to do this by worrying nor by creating an atmosphere of .fear. She should say and she shonld think as well-- the average life is expanding its boundaries. The average person travels more, covers more* to time,th he may life; he and to old age it is va replacec Our ;< human tellwhi In Eng southen constant and bar with bo live in 1 said, "I TEngfah proved: a doctor of them Every c given to and .to dred on war, no ated. B treated oar av. beaten, rect 11 deal Inj the Get JapVfi fate of for otiu believe i Worm and riti: mendots tore. T than fo their oi pendents of everj posed tc out to i cause si she Is s The pit fear. It with tfaa action tl to take tempora Annual Meeting of Members 13 more-territory, does more things in a life- . Bat here we mast admit--none quicker dine, than used to be possible. But sothat than I--that women in the main still lack vhe may enjoy all the advantages of modem the. proper- knowledge of how to achieve l 'Ufe, he most learn to takecare of himself.. safety, even in their homes. And there is and to avoid stupid risks. From youth to one place to make a start The modem old age, life should be protected because home isn't going to be as much a push- it is valuable, and each lifeJsnevcr quite button affair as some .of the cartoons have replaced. recently indicated. (New Yorker cartoon.) Onrcivilization is built on respect for Bat gradually and inevitably the ordinary faman life; There is one story lie to borne is going to be electrified, at least to tell which is not too far off the point here. the extent of a washer and an ironer run Li England in 1942 I was visiting toe hy electricity. If women are going to make southern coast. Airplanes were mg,in use ot these invmtom^ they should under- constantformadcm from France to England - stand something about them. They shouldn't and bade gam Every village waidofced .Jfek they are dealing with witchcraft--or with lmb todters.ltwasarisky timeto" wito^something that only men can manage lire m Kmn or Sussex and one might have and repair. said, "Life is pretty cheap here.'* Bat the The. Advisor to the Ministry of Labour Englishdidn't fed that way and they in England, Caroline Haslett, thought this proved It One day Imade toe rounds with out a good many years ago. She founded a'doctor friend-of mine and; in toe course what shenamed toe Electrical Association of toern, we visited an old people's home, for Women. The original idea was to train Every careful attention possible was bring women who could go into homes and sell given to old people of seventy and eighty electrical appliances as well as teach women and .to one oldsonl who would be a hun- something about them. Well, toe Assoda- dred on her next birthday. later on in the tom grew and became very powerful. Its war, no doubt these people were allevacnated. Bat it is because , old people are so treated in time of war that, we are sore . oar civilization is right and can not be most recent publication deals with Post-war Reconstruction in toe most practical way. It plans small, safe hones, farmhouses, bungalows. It plans kitchens for every in- beaten. It is not soft Its values are cor- come. It teaches toe design1 and perform- rect We respect human life. We do not ance of all'; kinds of electrical appliances deal in gas'chambers and mercy deaths, like and its foreword is: | me Germans, nor do we believe, like toe <rt.r Japs, that to die fighting is the noblest "We are unperturbed by the magnitude fate of man. To toe for a great canto and of toe task. . ' for others is toe noblest sacrifice. But we . We are interested only m progress.*' believe that it is sacrifice. In this country we-are doing toe same Women who are mothers and teachers thing, even if our work is.Jess completely and citizens axe capable of wielding a tre- unified- And as toe homes of toe country motions mHuenceoatoe safety of the ftp- women are going to understand tore. They can do it wito greater effect *e improvements and be able to care for than foraerly fccara toey ba^prored mechanized heme even better than they their own bravery as well as their independence. They ate no longer "frightened of everything, as most mm woe sup- posed to be. When the modern woman sets out to make the world safer, it is not because she is weak or scared. It is because she is sensible andstroog and courageous, The proper theory baric' of safety is not fear. It is respect for human life. Coupled with that theory and in order to put it into action, there most be a knowledge of how to take care of human beings In toe contemporary world. foithe home of the past It wffl be a ***** home ever before, as far as P*Pment and toe care and maintenance of cqu,pmcnt goes, I. am aware of all toe omissions and neglected phases of this subject But one kind of safety which also largely depends on the homemakers most be mentioned, ho matter what rise is- left out I mean increating safety from disease. In .this-field, women are already increasing their effeo- tiveness. The home of toe past killed a lot of people wito germs and lack of knowl- 14 33rd National Safety Congress, 1944 edge: But the hundreds of thousands of cellar and that axe will fall on his head women who have taken first-aid courses, and kill him!" So they all wept together who have been trained as nurses' aides, are in fear of the future. - No one.got rid of making the country's homes much safer. the axe or made it secure so it couldn't There is a Red Cross Handbook which fall. I should be in every home in this country. I think often of that story when pesti- It is a thick little paper-covered volume mists talk about the growing destructive and it belongs on the shelf where the old ness of the world and die increasing lade Presidi and often inaccurate "Doctor Book" used of safety. The thing to do is to obviously Divii li to be. to get rid of that axe. The. safety which In books of folk tales, we often come we all seek and dream'of for ourselves and R upon the legend of a wedding. During the even more for others, is not to be gained 1. i !i course of it, the wine ran short and the by worrying or calamity-howling. If we host went to the cellar to draw more. He want a safe span of life we must do some did not come back. His wife went to find thing to remove the menaces, and the same him. She didn't come back. Then went a philosophy carries through from taking brother, a sister, then the Bridegroom, and the ice off your sidewalk in winter to es Sine* finally the Bride, in panic to see what had tablishing international' pathways on which become of all the rest They were all sit nations won't slip and fall- With good care, Gompil proved ting on the cellar floor--weeping. For there watchfulness, increased scientific and social was an axe hanging over the cask of wine, knowledge, we can make our environments of this quesdo and the host said: "We weep because when safe. And if our respect for human life you marry you will doubtless have a child. goes deep enough, we shall continue to keep The child will grow and be sent to the diem safe. fronted involve mental suggest widely to som I Let change There which - reportr severitj time oi nent in were c where vised, days b were fi for the imprac when t The Statist] of this "R . unifon lime cl rates 1 compai standai piled : rules: -* >1L