Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-25
SW|TzER TOLD
STIRRING THINGS
RAILRoADERS AND THEIR WON.
ENFoLks HEARD GOOD LEG
TURE LAST NIGHT.
MUST BE CAREFUL
Told How to Avoid Injuries That Are
Increasing in Volume During
Past Ten Years-Publtc
Is Concerned.

In lecture that teemed with inter
est unflagging, and accompanied by
stereoptican slides that added to the
words Of the lecturer E. M Switzer
told of the injuries that might be
avoided among railroaders to crowd
of employees, their wives and families
in the auditorium at the Y. M. c. A.
last night. Mr.. Switzer is superin-
tendent of safety for the Burlington
system and in charge of the safety de.
partment of the Burlington.
The force with which he drove home
the statistics arrived at by the inter
state commerce commission was suf-
ficient to impress on all his hearers
the need for every employe thinking
of safety for his own and neighbours
benefit. Several stereopticon slides
helped to illustrate instances where
by doing common things about the
railroads someone is hurt, while with
a little thought for safety the injury
could be avoided, The illustrations
covered all departments of railroad
work. Many women were present.
Every railroad man knows that
there are risks connected with rail-
road work." began Mr. Switzer. When
we think of the risks of railroading
we are apt to have in mind train &C.
cidents, but would impress upon you
that train accidents in the United
States Jas whole are responsible for
considerably less than half of all
casualties to passengers and for only
five per cent of casualties to employees,
the other ninety-fiye per cent being
injured in other ways.
Indifference Cause.
Let us get in our minds the true
picture of how the majority of person
al injury accidents happen on the
railroad. I have had some experience
in this subject. l see the reports OF
all the personal injury accidents
which happen on this railroad from
day to day, and when hear OF man
being hurt, do not see in my mind a
train accident. No, | see man
on nail which some one has
left sticking point up, or a mans eye
knocked out because he did not wear |
goggles when chipping, or a man I'M
der the wheels because he tripped
over break beam or draw bar which !
some one did not take the trouble to |
pick up, or man falling from hand
car because he was too careless even |
% hold on, or a passenger hurt at
tempting to catch moving train.
These and many other acts Of indiffer-
snce, thoughtlessness, carelessness,
having nothing to do with train acct
Tents are the causes OF the great ma.
GRITTY of our personal injury accidents.
Depends on Person.
"The most obvious way to prevent
casualties Is by safeguarding, which
s the adopting Of physical means to
make the accidents impossible by re-
moving the cause.
There is no one who can check
he present great volume of personal
injury accidents except just you, all
'ou railroad men, and you can do this
IS soon as you begin to keep the idea
# safety constantly III mind, the per-
onal safety of yourself and OF those
Who work with you.
Safety can be made habit, and
he men who have this habit
cry rarely get hurt. To acquire
he safety habit, think OF
afety in connection with your every
Lct; soon you will not have to make
IN effort to do this, but 1t will become
instinct, second nature, in other
words, habit. Get the safety habit and
ut down your risk Of injury.