The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-05
GUARD LIFE AND LIMB
PROGRESS OF LEGISLATION SAFE.
GUARDING EMPLOYEES IN
FACTORIES
MUCH IMPROVEMENT SHOWN
j. MOersch, State Inspector, Writes
of Steps That Have Been TAX
en- in Right Direc-
ton

]. Moersch, state factory inspector, has
devoted considerable time TO studying
legislation calculated to safeguard en-
ployes lives in factories, and the follow
ing papers, prepared by him, has been
contributed to the G | o b c:
All civilized nations have enacted laws
for the safety of working people which
are employed around machinery, and
every state in the Union has some speci-
fic laws which refer to guarding of ma
chinery.
The beneficial effects of such legislation
can best be observed in the efforts Of
mechanical Ell gineers TO devise means by
which all points of danger to an operator
Of machine may, as far as possible,
be guarded, and the modern manufac-
tuIer, in this country at least, has shown
great skill ard ingenuity in solving this
problem. He has been so successful that
it is safe to say, safety guards aside
from being useful today are also an
ornament to machinery
In modern laundry machinery, all
gears and cogwheels are effectively
shielded. The big steam mangle with It's
three pair of large rollers has roller
guard in front of the feed roller which
makes it absolutely impossible for the
operators fingers to be caught between
the heated rollers and the top of the
This screen is there for the sole purpose
Of preventing the operator from reaching
over the rollers if she should want 10
rescue a sheet, which has been going the
wrong way or to straighten out a piece
of fabric which got doubled up.
The extractor has been provided with
a foot brake, and the outside bowl is
covered by wire hood, and it is I'M
possible to reach down into the revolving
inner bowl as long as the same is IN
motion.
The pressman in a modern printing
establishment may work with a feeling
Of perfect safety around his press, for all
gearings have been guarded by orna-
mental shields Woodworking machinery,
which is operated at, high speed, has
also received due attention. The old
fashioned wooden tables of jointers,
shapcrs and saws have been replaced by
solid and smooth iron tables, and their
oIjtrient mechanical devices for the pur-
pos cf guarding the operator in his work
are safe and easy. to handle
SAWS A SOURCE OF DANGER.
a great source Of danger by the opera
ton Of circular saws has been eliminated
or reduced by the adjustment of steel
splitter to the saw table behind the
saw. This splitter prevents the wood
which is to be worked upon to bind IN
the saw, for if piece of wood closes
in on the saw, it VIII be hurled back
with great force and numerous are the
fatal accidents which in this way have
occurred. .'t'+ --..-
Passenger and freight elevators have
been provided with self-acting safety de-
vices which held the cab securely to the
sliding guide in case of a break Of the
cable; and the former chains and hand
bars on freight elevator landings have
been giving way to automatical raising
and lowering gates.
Statistical researches ascribe fully so
per cent of all accidents to workmen on
machinery, to exposed collar set screws
and unsafe shaft couplings But the old
fashioned collar with it's protruding
square-headed set screws and the shaft
coupling with exposed bolt heads and
ends, an eyesore to a mechanic, has been
replaced by safety collars and couplings;
and an up to date manufacturer Of ma
chinery would just as little think of turn
ing out shaft collars and couplings of the
old type as a Sunday school teacher
would adopt the Police Gazette as a text
book for religion
1T may be sad that modern constructors
OF machinery have not spared energy and
thought to make machinery as safe as
possible without interfering with their
utility, and they have done much towards
reducing the chances for accidents 10
persons that have to- work on such ma
chinery.
Today there is hardly any excuse for
an accident caused by exposed collar set
screws or shaft couplings with projecting
bolts and operators of, establishments
where such accidents occur should be held
TO strict account. for the same Safety
collars and couplings do not cost auv
more money than the old fashioned ones
ana 1t IS hard to conceive why their use
has not become universal
Some machine shops, which have no con-
cepuon of the progress of the times. cling
Stubhornly to old customs, old practices
ana Styles. They absolutely disregard the
safety factor in the construction of ma
chlnery, and today, as we'll, as in former
days, they turn out old type collars and
couplings
Inc writer, some years ago. visited
new wood working establishment in ;,
country town. The machinery, which had
peen bought from a large manufactures
was, as far as safety appliances are CON
cerned, in excellent condition. but the
shafting overheard was equipped with
collars and couplings of the old stv1e.
having ugly set screws and bolt ends
sticklhg out sGpon investigation it was
aScertalned that the owners of the neyy
establishment had the collars and conn
hngs made in their own foundry and
machine shop.
Another instance of careless mechanical
construction was found in small ma.
chlne shop which builds gasoline engines
Tor use in country grain elevators and on
farms. The end of the crankshaft was
sticking out beyond the hub of the flv
wheel for over eight inches, its edge was
sharp, and had a keyway on its SIR
face. The surplus end of shaft however
was OF no earthly USE and was a sourcs
of danger
The different labor bureaus and mo-
chanlcaI Journals in the United States
nave Tor many years maintained an edu-
catlonal campaign with regard to SAFE
guarding machinery, and the claim or
ignorance can no longer be an excuse.
manufacturers of unsafe machinery.
ana machine shops which have no con-
ception of modern safety devices. sbouId
&c pronounced unfit to take care of our
machinery.