INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

INDUSTRIAL SAFETYSource: Monthly Labor Review, Vol. 7, No. 5 (NOVEMBER, 1918), pp. 198-204Published by: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of LaborStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41827347 .

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INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.

REPORT OF SEVENTH ANNUAL SAFETY CONGRESS, NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL.

The Seventh Annual Congress of the National Safety Council was held September 16-20 at the Hotel Statler, St. Louis, Mo.

In his opening address, President Van Schaack said: We know that to-day, with all its shortcomings, accident prevention is a real factor

in the conservation of our country's greatest asset - the lives and health of its people. We know that in whatever it contributes to this conservation it is distinctly helping to win the war, the one object in comparison with which all others of the time fade into insignificance. We know that its propaganda, through the discipline of safety education, rules, and ordinances, is furthering that wholesome respect for law which is the one permanent basis of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. We know that by bringing employer and employee together, to deal with a matter in which neither can have any but a common interest, it is opening the way to keener appreciation by both of the principles of industrial and social justice and is helping to lay the foundations for an enduring industrial peace and for a better world in which to live.

H. W. Forster, general manager, Independence Bureau, Philadel- phia, reassured those who had feared the retarding of the safety movement during the war. He said in his address on "Safety and warfare It has been cheering for us to observe that, with few exceptions, our industrial

plants and transportation organizations have not let their safety work suffer appre- ciably since the outbreak of the war. They were furthering safety before the war because they knew it paid in every sense of the word, and, although they found it harder to maintain records and to create new ones than in the years prior to the war, they have kept up the good work. * * * Even more cheering is the prominence which safety has achieved in the new war industries, where the need of Bpeed has been such a factor that nothing could be allowed to delay the building program. These industries all have safety departments as a part of their operating forces, and most of them have had good accident-prevention judgment applied to the plans of their plants. I know of a gigantic plant, now nearing completion in record time, on which over 20,000 men were engaged in construction where safety engineering principles were applied to the first pencil sketch of the first building and in which every structural feature, every piece of equipment, and every operating practice came in for minute consideration from the point of view of safety. This plant, which will have over one million square feet under roof, bids fair to achieve that triple accident-prevention ideal: Ample head room, ample clearances, and ready accessi- bility of all portions. This unusual attention to accident prevention will not delay the completion of this great plant.

Mr. John Ring, jr., president, Advertising Men's Club of St. Louis, Mo., in his address on "Nationalizing the safety idea" distinguished

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW. 199

between "publicity " and "

advertising" and showed how. both mediums could be employed in a national campaign for safety.

Dr. Thomas Darlington followed with a convincing paper on "The economic value of health of industrial employees."

The general session, September 17, was arranged primarily for the benefit of safety engineers desiring to familiarize themselves with the fundamental principles and methods of securing success with their safety work. The reputation of the speakers attracted large ptumbers. Charles R. Hook, vice-president, operating division, American Rolling Mill Company, Middletown, Ohio, spoke on " The real problem of the safety engineer;" Frank E. Morris, safety engineer, American Rolling Mill Company, on "How to organize for safety;" J. J. Heelan, superintendent, Bureau of Inspection and Accident Prevention, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Hartford, un "Modern methods of safeguarding;" and W. E. Worth, general superintendent, Chicago Tunnel Company, Chicago, on "Does the attitude of the foreman determine the success of the safety engineer?"

The general round-table discussion, September 17, was devoted to the subjects: I. "How to sell safety to the big boss;" II. "The promotion of community interest in safety as an industrial asset." During the first discussion there was an interesting practical demon- stration by a safety engineer "selling the idea" to a plant manager.

The local council meeting of officers and committee men was held September 17, with C. W. Price, field secretary, National Safety Council, in the chair. W. R. Rasmussen, permanent secretary, Western Pennsylvania Division, explained "The Western Pennsylvania Divi- sion plan." There was a "discussion" by Carl L. Smith, permanent secretary, Central Mississippi Valley Local Council, St. Louis. F. M. Rosseiand, president, Chicago Local Council', gave "The ideal local council program" for large-sized communities;* Marcus A. Dow, general safety agent, New York Central Lines, "Successful methods of securing attendance at safety meetings;" John W. Costley, chairman, Tri-City Local Council, Granite City, 111., "How to successfully con- duct foremen's meetings;" and E. B. Saunders, assistant field secretary, National Safety Council, "Moving picture mass meetings for workmen."

For* the first time in the history of the congress there was a session devoted to women, and the present necessity for placing women in industry to do the work of men called to war made this session of exceptional interest. Mrs. Neill A. McMillan, chairman, Women's Committee, National Council for Defense, St. Louis, presided.

Mrs. Pauline Saunders, service department, National Lamp Com- pany, Cleveland, Ohio, was not present and her paper on "Medical supervision and adaptation of work to the woman in industry" was read by Mias Edwards.

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200 MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Miss Tracy Copp, director, woman's department, Industrial Com- mission of Wisconsin, contributed a valuable'paper on "The physical, condition of workshops where .women are employed," emphasizing the value of sanitation, first-aid rooms - properly equipped, and a capable person in charge -to give advice and council in matters -of personal hygiene and health - recreation, good food, and proper clothing.

Mrs. Anna Burdick, special agent, Industrial Education of Girls and Women, Federal Board for Vocational Education, Washington, D. C.,

. in her paper, " The effect of war upon women in industry," spoke of the

readjustment necessary to fit women into industry, of the special courses of training given in colleges for women, the number of national agencies dealing with the problems of women in industry, the work of the Federal Board for Vocational Education, and thè problem which industry itself faces. In conclusion she stated:

If the war continues for three years, we shall have three and a half million green workers or new women workers in industry. What is our duty to these women from the standpoint of . training, and from the standpoint of education? Are they not en titled, to a knowledge of shop organization? Wherever increased production and the cost of it falls upon the physical strength, the intelligence or the skill of women wage workers, society must offer them the same safeguards of health and wage, and the same opportunities for training as for men.

H. W. Forster, general manager, Independence Bureau, Philadel- phia, spoke on "Safety in the home (including equipment and teach- ing),

" enumerating the serious accidents that frequently take place in the home and how they may be avoided through safety education. Mrs. J. R. Wilson, chairman, Committee on Safety Education in Public Schools, Philadelphia, emphasized the importance of "Safety instruction in the schools."

The Health Service Section held three sessions. Maj. Thomas Dar- lington of the American Iron and Steel Institute, New York City, was the first speaker, his topic being

" Practical heaith work for the industries, large and small." He believes the so-called "occupational diseases" more frequently come from wrong living conditions than from the worker's occupation. The substance of this address was concisely expressed by Dr. Shoudy, the chairman- " Teach the men how to live, more than how to make a living."

Some good points advanced in the address on "The medical administration of workmen's compensation laws," by Dr. George E. Tucker, of the Aetna Life Insurance Company, San Francisco, were the importance of physical examination before placing men in hazardous occupations; early treatment for injuries and the employment of all known medical and surgical aid, special apparatus, and the ortho- pedic appliance expert; the period of reconstruction should begin immediately with the period of convalescence; compensation for per-

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW. 201

manen t injury should be based not alone on wages but should con- sider two other essential factors - age and occupation.

H. L. Goodwin, efficiency and safet}7 engineer, Merry Optical Com- pany, Kansas City, urged "The conservation of the human eye."

Dr. Ralph W. Elliott, the National Lamp Company, Cleveland, speaking on "The value of the dental clinic from the standpoint of the industrial surgeon/' stated that 60 large industrial organizations have well organized dental clinics.

Mrs. Samuel Semple, member of the Industrial Board, Pennsyl- vania Department of Labor, was unable to be present, but sent her paper, "Women in industry, their work and their health," in which she records that while war has never been kind to women, it is never- theless possible to gather from the present situation certain by- products of advantage to women: First, the reestablishment of the dignity of the old occupation of housekeeping; and, second, the recog- nition of women's services in the business affairs of the world outside til e home. Regarding the kind of work women ought to do, Mrs. Semple says, "No women should be admitted to1 what is for them a ne'v industry until it has been made decently safe for human beings." In a later session of this section, Dr. C. D. Se^by, industrial hygien- ist, United States Public Health Service, Toledo, Ohio, gave his impression of "The physician in industry," gained from a study of 170 industrial medical departments.

Dr. E. L. Pettibone, Cleveland, Ohio, in his paper, "Dentistry as an efficiency factor in increasing production," gave a list of large industrial organizations that have found dental clinics paving investments, and offered the assistance of the members of the National Association of Industrial Dental Surgeons in the establishment of dental clinics in industrial plants.

Dr. L. A. Shoudy, chief surgeon, Bethlehem Steel Co., spoke on 4 'Practical first aid," and Dr. A. P. Hourigan, plant physician, Larkin Co., Buffalo, on ''Health work in the small plant."

In a "Symposium on the responsibility for the industrial cripple" at a health service and governmental joint sectional meeting, Harry A. Mackey, chairman, Workmen's Compensation Bureau, State of Pennsylvania, discussed "The responsibility of the State," and Dr. Francis D. Patterson, chief, Division of Industrial Hygiene and Engi- neering, Department of Labor and Industry, Harrisburg, Pa., discussed "The industry's responsibility." Mr. Mackey believes the reeducation of the cripple to be a State duty - the cost to be met by legislative appropriation - and that every dollar of his compensation should go to his family, or, in the case of a single man, that the money should accumulate, during his reeducation, into a small working capital. Dr. Patterson advocates State laws providing that "vocational training should become a part and parcel of the compensation

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202 MONTHLY LABOE BEVIEW.

award," and the enforcement by law of the "vocational training of those who are injured."

In a general round-table discussion on ť 'Eliminating lost time for the man and for the industry, from the industrial surgeon's view- point, " Dr. J. A. Cousins, Union Bag & Paper Corporation, Chicago, treated 1 'Eliminating other unnecessary time lost" - other than by injury or sickness - under three heads: (a) Care of employees* families, (6) adequate housing, and ( c ) recreational facilities. He states: There are two ways in which employees may be regarded, and only two: One as

machines, the other as men. They are no longer content to be regarded as machines; they are going to insist, with ever-increasing firmness and decision, on being regarded not only as men, as fellowmen, but as fellow creators of the industries in which they toil. They are going to insist that a man who invests his life in a business, who puts his toil into it, is to be considered before the man who merely puts his money into it. From a physician's standpoint "the 'human element' must not merely be recognized, it must be predominant," and this is the only way to avoid unnecessary loss of time and unnecessary waste of energy and product.

The two papers of most general interest given in the public safety division were "City planning as related to public safety," by Thomas Adams, of the Conservation Commission, Ottawa, Canada, and Harland Bartholomew, engineer, City Plan Commission, St. Louis, and an address by Julien H. Harvey, director of the six months' experimental public safety campaign at Rochester, N. Y. Both papers were extremely valuable, but their length makes it impossible to give any idea of their contents in so brief a review of the congress.

The Employees' Benefit Association held a meeting on September 17, with Dr. Shoudy, of the Bethlehem Steel Co., in the chair.

After opening the meeting Dr. Shoudy, with the statement that Mr. Chandler had fathered the employees' section during its course under the health section and that it was his idea that they should have a separate section, asked W. L. Chandler, vice chairman of the section, and assistant treasurer, Dodge Sales & Engineering Co., Mishawaka, Ind., to take the chair. Mr. Chandler is a well-known authority and writer on the subject çf "employees' benefit associa- tions," and many valuable suggestions were gleaned during the dis- cussions which followed the papers.

F. S. Bigler, vice president, Michigan Nut & Bolt Works, Detroit, was the first speaker, and outlined the plan that has proved successful in their own plant in his paper on "How to solve its problems and operate it successfully."

Rüssel M. Jamieson, of the Monument Pottery Co., Trenton, N. J., discussed ' ' Its relation to the employer and employee and the best form of management;" D. H. M. Bascom, chief surgeon, Illinois Traction Co., Peoria, 111., "The need for medical service arid other benefits." J. Oswald, manager, Fels & Co., Philadelphia, thought that "super-

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MONTHLY LABOR EE VIEW. 203

vision of beneficiaries" was necessary. "F^es, dues, and assessments " was discussed by W. L. Chandler; "Side issues which may be in- cluded to advantage," by J. H. Goldie, manager, welfare department, Cadillac Motor Car Co., Detroit; and J. M. Eaton, assistant to president, Lincoln Motor Co., Detroit, spoke on. "Getting and measuring results."

The paper and pulp section held two meetings, the first largely teclinical and the second devoted to housing and community welfare.

G. E. Williamson, chief engineer, Strathmore Paper Co., Mitti- neague, Mass., gave a very practical account of how they had solved their housing problem, giving descriptions of the several classes of houses, with photographs and blue prints. While he considers their solution a success in their own community, he expresses his personal opinion that every community must solve its housing problem iu conformity to local conditions.

A. Rousseau, safety engineer, the Norton Co., Worcester, Mass., spoke on the "Indian Hill development of the Norton Co." While not advocating their plan for "industrial plants which have sprung up over night and must find some means of housing temporarily, at least, a large proportion of the rank and file of their employees," he thought there were many features, particularly the plan of selling the houses, which could be applied to other conditions. He then gave an outline of the Indian Hill development and method of financ- ing. "In most instances," he said, "the purchasers of these houses are occupying them and virtually securing ownership of them by monthly payments which do not exceed the amount which they previously paid for rent in tenement houses in which they had no lasting interest. It is needless to say that these families take a

. pride in their new houses and that the houses and lawns are main- tained in excellent condition."

Evelyn B. Binz, associate director, employment and service, Miller Lock Co., Philadelphia, in a paper entitled "Community welfare" told how, in the absence of model towns with community clubhouses and other ideal conditions, the factory itself may be made a community center.

The steam railroad section held five meetings. The paper that naturally attracted the greatest attention was "What the United States Railroad Administration expects of the different safety organizations in the promotion of safety work," by H. W. Belnap, manager, safety section, Division of Operation, United States Rail- road Administration, Washington, D. C.

In his conclusion he summarized briefly under the four following heads what was expected: 1. That all officers in executive positions shall give safety work their active coop-

eration; that they shall regard it as of the same importance as other branches of rail- 3 3* [1353]



204 MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

road work, and that they shall take an intensive interest in it and do everything they consistently can to make it successful.

2. That the fundamental principles of safety shall be wisely and energetically instilled in the minds of the men who do the actual work of operating the railroads, and they all shall become imbued with the importance of safety, knowing that since it is they who are killed or injured, all employees must take an active interest in the work and understand from instruction and practice that proper observance of the requirements of safety is a work of the men, by the men, and for the men.

3. That the proper officers of railroads shall give attention to all reasonable and practical suggestions and recommendations made, in order that unsafe conditions and unsafe practices may be promptly eradicated. In each instance proper acknowledg- ment of suggestions and recommendations shall be made to the end that those making them may be apprised as to their disposition and of the fact that due consideration was given to such suggestions or recommendations.

4. That officers and employees shall cooperate to the maximum and that proper efforts shall be made to get all to realize that in safety committee meetings, officers and employees meet on a common level, all being members of the committee, and each having an important duty to perform in the prevention of avoidable accidents.

The Iron and Steel Section held three meetings, and the Mining Section, three.

There was an informal dinner, with patriotic music, September 18. W. E. Bilheimer, sales manager, Franklin Life Insurance Co., St. Louis, was toastmaster, and the speakers and their subjects were: R. M. Little, director, American Museum of Safety, New York, "Forethought vs. afterthought in safety;" and James Schcrmerhorn, of Detroit, "The first set of fours."

An interesting feature of the Congress was the safety first campaign week, September 15-21, inclusive, carried out by the Central Mississippi Valley Division of the council, with the result that one death only from accident (an intoxicated man falling frema a wagon) was reported during the week. Ten accidental deaths were reported during the week before the campaign, and 24 deaths from accidents during the corresponding week last year. The total record of accidental deaths for 1917 was 510.

About 2,000 persons attended the congress, which was a remarkably good showing considering the stress of war activities and other abnormal conditions.

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