White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-21
WILL TOVERDO
THE SIGN POLICY
NEVADA CON. SAFETY DEPART
MENT TAKES VIEW THAT ME-
CHANICAL SAFEGUARDS DE-
vELOP THOUGHTLEssNEss.

1t is probably not a matter of gen.
eral knowledge that one of the most
important departments of the Ne
vada Consolidated and Steptoe Val
ley Smelling and Mining companies
plants is known as the Safety
First" department, the main object
of which is to prevent accidents that
may result in injury to employees and
incidentally damage to the plant. 1t
is not by any means a new idea, as
the management has been giving
thought and producing practical re-
suits for the past three years, in
this direction which is being similar
ly followed by other companies and
corporations throughout the country
in occupations more or less hazard
Gus.
The Safety First department of
the companies mentioned. has now
assumed such Importance that a
monthly report is issued, in pamphlet
form. for distribution to foremen and
heads of departments, and others as
well, with the idea of keeping the
employees fully informed as to the
correct works accidents data. Ae-
cidents are carefully recorded and
tabulated, and the more serious are
described in detail, with the cause,
and following suggestions as to pre-
ventiye means. The line of endeavor
taken by the local companies is to
educate the employe to think, or In
other words to act with reason
rather than heedlessness, to be care
full rather than careless, and not
to take chances that may end with
disastrous results. The employee is
urged to cooperate with the manage
ment In the prevention of accidents,
and to be guided by his own reason
and intelligence rather than by the
artificial protection of numerous
signs and signals that danger awaits,
in certain specified localities.
The November report, issued,
includes more than 20 pages
devoted to the subject. and the fol-
lowing quotations are interesting as
showing the logic presented for the
safeguarding of life and property.
"The Danger of Danger Signs"
ut is essential, Ii Is even necessary
in many cases and In many places
to post signs calling attention to
danger zones, and warning men OF
dangers with which they are not
familiar. The illustration following
is an instance. This danger sign is
used in and around our works. posted
at conspicuous points at or near high
voltage power lines. transformers,
and electrical switches and apparatus
as q warning to employees and others
TO beware of a very serious source OF
danger.
THE practice. however. of at
tempting to safeguard employees
from danger by the posting OF warn
ing signs will not be o%verdone. Too
many signs and too many mechanical
safeguards may tend to make men
mechanical and thoughtless. II en-
ployees expect to depend ON signs
here, there. and everywhere around
the plant to war; them OF danger. II
is possible that they come In time TO
expect signs to think for them.
Then in emergency. In the absence OF
. danger sign. they will forget to
think for themselves.
1T is an easy and inexpensive
matter, so far as the company Is con-
cerned to paint and post danger signs
But in the same sense that 1t Is an
injury and an injustice to the en-
ployee to try make machinery and
equipment fool proof 1t is an I'M
position and violation of the rights
Of a employee to attempt by IN