The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-01

accidents. the sum of 1896, 5,64s.1s was spent.
This includes the experts employed, lec-
lures, demonstrations and other means of
accident prevention. The welfare work of
every kind $1oss,2 ,25s.0e was expended by
the Steel corporation. Pensions are not
included In the above expenditures. and
when added to the above figures the total
is over 5000, 600 for one year.
Prevention of Accidents
1t is the ambition OF the Steel corpora
tion officials to reduce accidents to the
least possible number, and also to ad-
minister compensation OF employees when
hurt or Killed without the employe suing
the company. It Is a well known fact
that no employe of the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad company need secure
the service of lawyers to settle any liabil-
ity of the company. The company MAIN
tains legal bureau. which not only acts
for the company, but for the men as
well. BY fair treatment and friendly
mediation the number of local suits
against the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail
road company has been cut down to the
very lowest figure. The company has
again and again demonstrated its fair
ness in caring for injured men and the
familjeseor those killed and this treat
ment to unfortunates has spread until it
is fast becoming q general opinion of
the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad
company employees that their best friend
is the head of the concern, George Cor
don Crawford, and that his policy is
first of ell TO treat the employees hon.
estly and honorably. He would not, under
any circumstances, countenance any diff
ferent policy towards the men,
The question of safety has been studied
to the end that men may work without
hazard in the mines and mills Of the
Steel corporation. 1t is estimated that in
six years the company by its safety CAM
paign has saved from serious injury 1901
men at various operations. Safety COM
mittees have been organized by all of the
subsidiary companies and at this time
there are 1878 members OF those commit
tees. The committeeman are changed
in order to extend the in
dividual interest in the safety movement.
Extensive Safety Work
Since 1906 when the Steel corporation
took up the work approximately $5,0OO,o00
has been spent in safety work, and it is
thought that to a large extent the acci-
dents for which the employer is liable
have been eliminated. An analysis of
the remaining accidents demonstrated
that they were due to carelessness of the |
men. In order to eliminate those acci- |
dents, safety work has been started by |
all of the companies. Motion picture |
shows, interspersed with music have been
provided. There was something like 80
Of such entertainments given during 1913. |
The figures for 1918 are not available. |
over 5000 school children were shown
the danger of playing in the streets and
have become reconciled to a safer place
Of exercise and play.
Locally the Tennessee Coal, Iron and
company has inaugurated plan
of awarding safety buttons called Safety
Awards for their men who progress best
in the safety work. For instance the
safety award of the Bessemer rolling mill
is a button similar to the others labeled:
Safety Award Tennessee Coal, Iron and
Railroad company" in the center with
'Bessemer r. NJ" at the bottom. For the
steel plant the same wording is used with
the change to Ensley. The by-product
plant has a different button as we'll as
the ore mine and coal mine division.
These buttons are a source of much
qualification to the employees and every
one is anxious to secure one.
The policy of the Steel corporation
is to spend any sum necessary to keep
it's employees from being injured or
killed. There is widespread and
earnest movement to this end but there
will always be some accidents. That
has brought about the creation of the
voluntary accident relief plan, similar
to the workmen's compensation act,
which went into operation in May, 1870
before any legislation had been enacted
ir any state for workmen's compen-
sation.
The entire amount of money paid
out is provided by the. company and
no part of it comes from the EN-
ployes.
The principal features of the plan
follow:
Features of Plan
"Relief is paid, regardless of legal
liability and without any legal pro-
ccedings. Even application for relief is
not required.
The companies provide treatment by
surgeons and hospitals.
mo relief is paid for the first 10
days of disability, such restriction hav-
ing been found necessary in all legis-
lation on the subject
Temporary disability: Single men, So
Fer cent of wages up to SO weeks; 2
FER cent added for each additional year
of service over five years. maximum
S1.50 per day. Married men, so per
cent of wages UP to 52 weeks; per
cent added for each additional year
Of service over five years; per cent
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