Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-01
SAFETY FIRST"
By Frederic J. Haskin.

| speaks higher appreciation Of human
life and a recognition on the part of
capital, as well as Of labor. that the body
OF the worker is the first and most inn
portant thing to be preserved. All risk
to life and limb never will be eliminated
from the mine or from the great manu-
featuring plant. But It is possible greatly
to reduce the number Of accidents and
to eliminate entirely those that are pre-
ventable or that are the result Of care
less methods or faulty machinery.
| The mining industry has caused the
| greatest number of fatal accidents, as
we'll as serious injuries. The mining
! operators realize this fact. Last year
| the American Mine Safety Association
| was organized, which will hold its second
| meeting in Pittsburgh September %. At
this meeting all of the great mining
companies Of the country will be repre-
| scented. The object of the organization
| Is to increase the safety Of mines. espe-
cially coal mines, by taking every possible
precaution to prevent accidents and to
cue Of miners from a mine in which an
accident occurs
One OF the most thoroughly organized
safety systems In the world is now in
operation by the
Steel CORPORATION United State s
Has Good System. The dtfferen Mt
branches Of this great trust had been at
tempting to lessen the number of acci-
dents for several years. The corporation
itself had liberal system of compensa-
ton for accidents, but the work was not
systematized. A committee of safety
has now been provided to organize a
harmonious safety scheme. The men,
bers are selected from the different de-
partments, and sufficient funds are pro-
vided to carry out the plans suggested.
The committee has spent more than
100000 since its organization, but 1t
has reduced the number Of accidents 43
per cent. This means 2,6OO fewer acct
dents and saving to the community of
at least 100000 a year.
Care upon the part Of the workmen is
essential to the success of every safety
movement A campaign of education
along this line is being conducted in al
most every great Industrial plant. Lee
lures are given the men, and demonstra-
tons of the dangers to be avoided in
various parts Of the works are frequent.
Notices are printed upon the pay en-
velopes and upon the walls and in every
available place. In some plants these are
changed frequently. Among the most
practical are: Remember; it is better
to cause a delay than an accident" 1.-THE
prevention Of accidents and injuries. by
all possible means, is a personal duty
which every one owes not to himself
alone, but to his fellow workmen." Let
every employe be a committee of one to,
prevent some one accident Look out
'Foremen, carelessness is dangerous: if
workmen insist upon being careless, dis
charge them"
In large shops much of the machinery
is operated by electric power. So far as
possible the cleo
Startling Warnings trio wires are
Against Electricity. wherever tn u =
slightest danger of shock is possible
large sign is displayed. One Of those
much used Is startling enough to be I'M
derstood by the most illiterate- foreign
workmen. It includes a skull and cross
bones, a clinched hand from which radi-
ate flames and. between them, the word
'elektrika." In some shops this sign is
kept Illuminated by electricity. The cleo
trio illumination over some Of the en-
trance gates to the works Of the Amer
lean Steel Corporation has taken the
form OF the following sentences:
Work Tor safety.
Think for safety.
Talk for safety.
Boost for safety.
Ideas for additional safety devices are
always In demand. Some plants award
prizes to workmen who suggest safety
ideas for their own protection or that Of
other workers That the safety move
ment extends to every department is evil
denced by the fact that one plant has
expended the sum of So, 800 to prevent
accidents to lamp trimmers and window
cleaners.
One of the devices which checks many
accidents permits a workman caught in
the machinery, instantly to stop the
wheel. A wire is stretched within easy
reach. which Is connected with the
switches. This enables the man whose
finger or clothing gets caught in
wheel or cog to stop the machinery by
a single jerk of the elbow. The inven-
ton has already saved the loss Of many
arms and legs.
The United States bureau Of mines is
entitled to much credit in originating
the safety cam
Bureau OF Mines paign which is
r4:u1 n.A now extending
~ OAouAs' into every in
dustry. This bureau. created by Con-
gress In 1910. has originated many OF