Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1898-06-03
rRAINMEN'S RISKS.
Figure. show That They Are over
sstimated-olj Hands
the Victims of Accidents.

ahA Victims OF ACclocnA
II has been estimated, and In TACT
railroad men frequently make the re-
mark, that the average life OF q man
actively engaged IN train service Is
about seven years. In other worus.
I; mt they are either crippled up so rs
"a render them unfit for service again
I'm a like capacity or are killed on nn
average in that time. 1t has been found
by looking ever the records OF II oi
the leading railroads entering Louis
Vile that this Is untrue. During three
wears, on one Of the busiest roads en-
tr-ing the city. there were only two
killed and l5S injured, All of whom were
brakcmcn except two, and they were
freight conductors who had assumed
thc duties of brakemcn. one by maxim"
n coupling and the other by assisting in
unloading freight .
Ii would seem that inexperienced
men would be most apt to get injured.
but the figures show differently. ms in
d;cated by the following: Eleven. or
9.56 per cent. o: the total plumber OF
trainmen were injured during their
first year OF service; Is, or 1915 per
cent, were injured who had been in the
service two years; Is, or I'LL per cent.
had been in the service three years:
%. or 1925 per cent, o years: 90. or
90 per cent, five years; 81, or 2l.7I per
cent, SIX ycrrs; IL, o. 9.G3 per cent.
seven years; five, or 800 per cent. eight
years.; three. or 2.I7 per cent, nine
years; five. or ,t6 per cent. zen years,
and IL or $50 per cent, over ten years,
some of whom have been in the service
IS. IS and 90 years.
1t will be noted that the largest nv
crngc of injuries occurred after the en-
ploye had been in the service six years.
rid the figures given would indicate
that employees rs n general ru-r are
careful up to the time when they have
brcn in the service three or iour years,
md then become more cnrclrSS u-ItiI
about the eighth year Of service. Wen
the indications show that they again
become careful, rs those who md
worked over ten years had II very sriaIi
comparative per cent. OF injuries CTm
pared with those who had worked SIX
years. With the completion Of the
equipment OF all box cars with the
Janncy or automatic c%nuplrrS. ~
brakes. etc. the liability OF II trrin "1H'
being injured will have been reduced
n minimum. rs the record goes to :''0.'
that at least t%wo-thirds Of the l. 80
were caused by attempting TO Ca;'r'.
automatic drawbars. with n link "r
pin. to the old-fashioned solid or Sh '.
ton drawbnr. which is very dance"
even to the most experienced ruilirr
man. Other causes were on acCuuut "
new drawbars. some being as NV"
MS three inches higher than others. :
this will be rcctifcd with the new Law
which requires all drawbara to he {.
standard height. \ great manY tran
men were injured by stcpriu" u"u.
stones or links in jumping OF To 'N"n"
switches, ETC.; quite 4 number on O."
count of being thrown of un acC0GHt
the icy condition OF the tops Of tn" care
There is one case where n hraLrGrn'
was standing neal the end Of = car wh: ?
another cut Of cars struck IL. and l.
was thrown from the top of the ear I
the ground, nlighting squarcIy uppr
his feet and "stoving him up severely.
rs will he readily understood. i few
were compelled to jump from the top,
of cars in cases OF dcrnilincnt. Other
had their feet mashed by attempting ..
shove an automatic drawbar over "A few
inches tn enable it to come tuor
squarcly in contact with the automatic
coupler. This is one Of the serious oh
j%cctionS to the automatic drnwba--
that it will not couple rendily on acurvr
and IL is necessary either II pull one of
the arnwbars ovcr or shove il over with
the feet.
One OF the most general causes of
pinchcd fingers was on aCcnunt OF the
pin failing TO drop all the wny down
into the hole when coupling with =
link mud pin. The hrnkctnrn Invariably
reach over to give the pin n start; go il
VIII drop into the hole. when ia" car.
frequently roll one way or the o,h.,
just n few inches and catch the pin lust
before II gets all the way down, caus-
ing it To tilt bnck and catch the fingers
between pin and end sill o: the car.
n few were injured by holding the
Srab-iron on the end of the cnr-re.
Gently added to ali freight EARS by act Of
congr"ss-nnd attempting to make the
coupling when long lumber or brid,,
iron would bc extending over the rurl
W.
OF the car to bc coupled To. and catch
their hands between the timber and
N OF the car. However. this danpcr.
u method OF coupling ears together
that have lading projecting over the
ends of them will soon be- n thing of
inc past, rs II is becoming n genera
RUE Tor all companies not To pcrmi,
IN" loading Of cars In This manner
Nhcn"Tcr there Is long timber TO load
= c~o'npanics require the use OF two
cirs instead OF one. as heretofore.
with the taking effect of the now
law compelling railroads To have MI
cars equipped with automatic drawburs
n have the drnwbarS OF equal height
from rails. the position OF railroad
brnkcIncn will not Inc such II hazardous
one.-Louisville Couricr-JournuI,