The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-15

Some one has said, in speaking of Ma
poleon, that his 'every upward step. was
on tomb" which was undoubtedly true.
Until recent years the same thing might
have we'll been said about the progress
and Industrial development of this coun-
try. With the advent of machinery came
it's awful toll OF life and limb; the price
paid for industrial grandeur has been
frightful indeed. Could the record of all
the accidents, fatal and otherwise, that
occurred at the steel mill at Ensley dur
ing the first years of its existence be Sc
cured and published it would be simply
appalling, not any more so, however, than
the record of any other steel mill, and
would shock these unfamiliar with indus
trial conditions.
That this condition prevails in other
lines of Industrial endeavor is evidenced
by the frightful record by the authenti-
Gated statement issued by the officials of
the Order of Trainmen, as follows "A
member of the Brotherhood of Trainmen
is killed every seven hours and 10 min
utes and every nine minutes a man is
maimed'' Just think of 1t, member OF
one organization killed In this country
every seven hours throughout the year
and a man MANNED every nine minutes
Multiply this by the fatal and other ac-
cidents that happen in all the other
lines of industrial endeavor and the result
would astound and horrify, for 1T would
easily surpass the record of the bloodiest
war the world has ever known. The de-
plorable part of it is that many of these
accidents were preventable and largely
due to greed and the desire for gain.
OF recent years, however, there has
come a change. and today in every large
Industrial plant practical efforts are be-
ing made to safeguard the employees from
death and injury. The most notable in
stance of this movement is the safety de-
partment of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and
Railroad company, which was established
a few years ago. Realizing that life and
limb were being needlessly sacrificed. and
that many of the accidents that occurred
might have been prevented, the officials
OF the company took the matter in hand
and decided to take steps TO remedy the
existing evil.
Experts were employed whose sole duty
it was to visit the various plants and note
the places of danger and to suggest
remedy AS a result of their investiga.
tions, exposed gear wheels that had been
a great source of death and disaster,
were covered over with metal shields,
guards were placed around the moving
parts of machinery, dangerous places In
and around the mill were surrounded by
ratings and every other device that in
genuity could suggest was installed IL
it tended 40 make for safety. The re-
suits have been most gratifying, and
while accidents still occur the prevents
able ones have been reduced to q mini
mum. The safety department did not stop
with the installation of safety devices;
they sought to enlist every employe in the
movement. They instructed the men In
avoiding danger, they sought their aid
and cooperation and safety first be-
came their slogan. The result was that
every employe OF that great corporation is
a member of the safety department. and
any practical suggestions he may make
are fully considered by the department.
and il practical are adopted. The result
has exceeded the fondest hopes of the
originators.