Document x1vKOkaNaKgazrXOdNj6qg3zQ

11* Ttwentieth Congress--Xaliunal Safety Council |iany. 1< ii pusfil>lc tliat the average citizen still h<ilds the ancient idea that an accident "i* a visitatiun of die Lord?" While this awful record lus been climbing up on the highways of the Nation, it i> inijrcs?ivc and cnoiuragtng to note that in the industries represented by the dele gate:- here present, tlhrrc has been. through an adoption of safety appliances and the di-'emination f propaganda, a gratifying decrease in the number of deaths and injur ies. Tltis achievement is the result oi intelligence, persistence and sacrifice. This is familiar to all of viu and it is In your everlasting credit that you are nut satisfied v.-:th tlc rv>ult> *if y*mr pi-meering. lut through crmventwms of this character, and in every other way. arc constantly seeking appliances and methods to conserve the iivo *i vour fellow humans. It occur? to me tlui you have sensed the real spirit f resjionsibilitj*. You appraise ropon^iliility tt<t as a >implc knowledge of a condition hut as an obligation tor the t ondusi. ,n of a task. I do not believe that ynur determination in this regard was ma terially advanced In* tlie enactment oi the so-called Employers* Liability Statutes by many the states. In iact. unless I am incorrectly advised regarding the histoir oi v*ur organizatiim. your pioneer work fur the safety oi your employees antedated the vtiaamnit oi these laws In* practically any of the stales. Your executives have dem onstrated a vision and courage as well as a cooperation which, jianicularly in these days *if irilniltion. should le appreciated In* yotir workmen. It may lie. however, tliat most oi them take it for granted tliat vour thoughtfulness ior their safety is coming to tltem anyhow, and appreciation may consequently lie lacking. There isn't a doubt, under this financial depression through which we arc attempt ing to struggle, that conditions have litcome the more perplexing. Economic con dition; arc very much out of joint. 1; takes the right spirit of humanity to continue vour endeavors and keep trying to find some additional means wherein* you can more iully conserve the lives of those who are m your employ. This spirit of look ing aiter the other fellow--this really human impulse which all of you express-- should lie an inspiration to those who otherwise, because of lack of work, might be disheartened and discouraged. 1 presume it is a practice with the various units of your organization to, at least <casutnallv. have "Safety Fust" talks with your men. in which thry are reminded of your interest in them and urged to extend similar consideration to their fellows. I: -h>uld mean much to these men. in these days of unemployment, to know tliat they are not only in a fiosition of employment hut that every safeguard possible is placed about their work so tliat their employment may continue and that the meraliers of tlieir household tieed lave no tear while they are at work, and may confidently look forward to llieir return to their domiciles at the conclusion of tlieir day's work. I was much edified recently in reading the speech of the head of a great industry in ur country. advcating measures tor the permanent employment and protection oi men. not only in bis industry*, but m the great industries of the Nation. His suggestions were courageous and patriotic. and I am hopeful will come into full fniitkin. If so. we n;*ed lave no frar of the future. Gcirniumsm and its principles will not have its present mure-or-less fertile fields of o|icrait<in. and will In.* exiled as a force of influence in the community for all time to omte. . This splendid program will necessitate that same dtgTce of mutual consideration and conj*eratim which ltas distinguished the National Saiely Council from its inccption. This is one of your great npjionunrties. It if inconceivable that Legislative enactments will build up the consideration of the average man for his neighbor. \V are often reminded that you cannot legislate morality into the people. It would lie a tar letter and more useful program if this priticijilc could be brought more strongly to tltc attention of our school children in tlieir early wrath. Something ak*ng this line is imdoulnedly living accomplished m many communities. Irat if the Metals Section 119 youth of the land is sternly taught to accept responsibility it injured, or at least until he can prove himscli innocent, it may do much to instill a sentiment of caution and a willingness to give the other chap a break. It is, perhaps, all right to offer this suggestion in a general wav, hut it we are to get anywhere h must be through intelligent unselfish leadership. Tltc leadership must come primarily from yotir organization. You have pioneered tlie field: you have done much. Your example should prove a stimulating encouragement to those really con cerned for tltc safety of otlicrs. In the hustle and strife of our day and age. we are prone to forget everything bnt self. Nothing Irat tltc everlasting keeping at it will count. Through tltc ramifications of this organization it is possible fur vuu to reach members of the legislature, executives of municipalities, school boards and every other agency through, and by which, safety propaganda can lie disseminated. Tltc Golden Rule should enjnv a renaissance and be made the great stimulating force to bring back to all men the "Spirit of brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God." Chairman Hensel: We owe Mr. Swcitzcr a vote of llianks lor bringing this wonderful inspirational talk to us and tlie Metals Section can assure him that \vc realize our responsibility and tliat we are going to take renewed interest and go ahead with greater effort than ever to prevent accidents. Wc continue with the subject. '`Metals Section Statistics for 1930'* and a friend oi mine and of this Section lias agreed to give \ts a hrici report. T. A. Schcndel, safety director for the Caterpillar Tractor Gu. Peoria. III., will address us. Metals Section Statistics for 1930 By T. A. SCHENDEL Safety Director, Caterpillar Tractor Company, Peoria, IIL 1 know* you will all be glad to hear that the Metals Section had, during 1930, one of the safest years in its history. Excellent records were made by many members, with the steel industry low with 11.99 lost-time injuries per 1,000,000 hours of work. They thus rank fifth in frequency among 28 major industries, included in tltc Council's annual report. The foundry industry slwtvs the other side of the picture--high frequency of 32.11. Smelting, refining, fabricating and non-ferrous metals Itad a more favorable cxjierience. Their average frequency was 17.14. Combining tltc experience of the.-c three groups shows 15.86 lost-time injuries per one million hours oi work, or 14 jkt cent lower than the rate for all industries. As to severity--not so good. Lost-time injuries per 1,000 hours, 2.38 for the Metals Section compared to 1.97 for atl industries. Steel had the highest severity rate. 2.47, with foundry crowding tliem at 223. and the non-ierrous metals coining in with 2.03. Of course, our high severity m contrast to low frequency, shows a high ratio of serious injuries to temporary disabilities. Fatalities alone are responsible for 137 days jier 1000 hours work, or 58 per ccm of our total severity rate, and that should give us all reason to pause and consider tliat figure. It is serious, gentlemen. The elimination of serious injuries is one of the major problems which confront industry. The records of over 1500 establishments that have rcjwted in each of the last tlirec years show* that, wliile frequency decreased 28 per cent in comparison with 1928. severity was down only 6 per cent. Tltc reason for the comparatively small decrease in severity is iound in tlie decline of only 10 per cent in the frequency of fatalities, and a slight increase in the frequency of permanent partial disabilities. The records of plants reporting for five years also indicate a pronounced decrease in tltc frequency and severity of temporary disabilities Inn much less success m