The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-12
LtHIGH'S NEW SAFETY
 PLAN PROVES A SUCCESS

The safety committees" composed of both officials and employees, have turned out thorough success on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Enough time has now passed since they were es- abolished to show the value of this plan of cooperation in the preven- ton of accidents. The men in the IraukS-engineers, fremen, conductors, trafnmen, shopmen and track labor ersIhave entered into the scheme with even more enthusiasm than was expected, and they make sugges tions that are of great value to the man agement.
 and a comm1tteee for each division. Every branch of the service is repre- sented on the division committee by one employe, the makeup being as follows: An engineer, Q fireman a conductor, a trainn1an. g. switchman. an agent, and a foreman. On the general committee are the general manager, the superintendent of mo- tive power, the maintenance of way engineer, and whatever other officers or employees the general manager may appoint.
 All employees of the system are in vited to make suggestions, and they have taken free advantage of the in vitatfon. On each division the man who makes the. best suggestion to- wards increased safety of operation, is rewarded by one months vacation with pay, in addition to an "honor button" Besides these prizes and ~is- functions, annual passes are granted employees with clear records for an entire year.
 incentive for the men, apart from the decreased risk of injury to them selves.
 This committee work is supple mentary to, not substitute for, the existing provisions for the protection of passengers and employees. It is par tieularly effective ao,7 in reducing the These, though they do not attract great attention when they occur. are chiefly responsible for the total of any of care1essness of one kind an other. Familiarity breeds contempt is proven true by the way in which employees begin to take chances when One of the most important features of the present movement, therefore, IS the attempt to impress upon railroad men the extent of suffering inflicted upon wives and children every year as the result of such accidents.
 Abstract arguments against care leseness are quickly forgotten, but definite statistics of dead and injured are impressive; and from the figures of the Interstate Commerce Conmis sion the safety committees can show that taking chances is mathemat- ica1ly certain to have a fatal result. Not to this particular individual per- haps, or to that one, but surely to one out of every so many.
 Nothing will be too small for the Le- high Valleys division safety commit tees to take account of, if it has any bearing at all upon their purpose The right of way, stations, and rolling stock of the company, no less than the methods of operation, etc, will come within their province As each member goes about his regular duties he will keep a sharp watch for imper- factions in either physical property or operation, and will report upon what he finds.
 The division committee has reg Illar meeting twice a month. The members not only report upon their own observations, but transmit sug- gestions from employees Sometimes, however, these suggestions come through the mail. They are always acknowledged, and the matters they refer to are carefully investigated. The emp1oye who makes the sugges- tion then receives a, report to just what has been done about it. Or, if it is not adopted he is told the req sons why.
 It is only after a great deal of study that the safety committee plan was finally put into effect. It was passed upon by the highest officers of the company-the president and vice-pres- idents and the general manager gave their personal attention to the details of organizat zation-and now the interest taken by the men is justifying their efforts.