The Daily Missoulian., 1914-03-05
EFFICIENCY BUREAU.
OF RAIL ROAD
MAKES GOOD
NORTHERN PACIFIC Is PLEASED
WITH RESULTS OF SCHEME
INAUGURATEEDY YEAR AGO.

During the past few months con
siderable publicity has been given the
Northern Pacific's bureau of efficiency
and the way in which it has gone
after the co operation of its employees
in an effort to prevent accidents and
improve methods all along the line.
More recently The Careful Club" has
been organized in connection with the
efficiency bureau and every employe
of the company ais invited into its
membership. Interest has been
aroused along the lines of safety in
every section of the operating de-
partmcnt and suggestions as to bet
ter methods and ideas Of all kinds
that would assist in eliminating
danger of accident to employees or
passengers. Charles T. Banks is at
the head of the bureau, he working
under the direction of First Vice
President Slade. MIR. Banks has made
frequent trips over the road since the
bureau was organized a year ago and
has been very successful in arousins
an interest in the company's endeavor
to promote better conditions.
That the results of the years efforts
has been good is shown by the fol-
lowing examples of the things that
have been accomplished as given in a
bulletin issued in ST. Paul. This is
in part as follows:
Things Accomplished.
Attention has been given to keep
ing railway yards and shop premises
clear of all distractions; to the box
ing of guy wires, the removal of old
posts and other objects and matter
which served no purpose.
Repair track clearance cards have
been put into general use. This clear
ance card is in fact. train order
is issued by the car foreman and GER
titles that no men are working under
meath or between the cars on the re-
pair track. The engine foreman or
conductor must have one of these
clearance cards before entering a re-
pair track. There is no record, up to
date, of violation OF this order. and
no man has been killed or injured on
account of cars being moved on re-
pair tracks since this order became
defective.
Better Shop Tools.
A system of having all shop tools.
Jacks etc, inspected by the rank and
file of shop employees and a detailed
report made BY them Of TOOLS etc,
found to he defective or unsafe and
the taking out of service of all such
tools was made effective February
1913, since which time injuries due to
defective tools. machines, jacks, etc,
have been almost entirely eliminated.
A change in the type of locomotive
shaker bars has been made which has
resulted in eliminating injuries caused
by shaker bars slipping off from the
nipple
To eliminate injuries caused by tool
handles breaking and to save time, in
icidentally, in fitting new handles to
| tools, a superior grade of tool handles
has been made standard
| Walks and hand rails have been
iplaced on bridges inside or just out
side of the yard limits of station
grounds, etc, where trainmen are
obliged to work.
All coal docks on the system have
been inspected and such changes as
seemed desirable made to minimize
/ accidents.
/ The standard clearance, or distance
/ of switch stands from tracks has beer
! changed from six to seven feet.
| Station platforms where passengers
might step off and be injured have
| been protected by ratings and hanG
rails have been attached to steps, etc
/ The walls of turnta h1a nitc bayt
been WhiteWashed to light them ur