Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-03-12

bUREAUOfEff|CIENCY
And careful CLUB
80 i 5As ;=t@
st. Paul, MINI, Feb. lin Its de-
sire to promote safety and efficiency
in all branches of railway operation
and travel the Northern Pacific Rail
way company has recently establish
ed 1.-THE. Careful club All employees
of the Northern Pacific railway are
eligible. to membership, which is vol.
untary, and there are no dues Dr. fees
Employees joining the club sign an
application, which reads:
81 wish to become a member of the
Careful club because l believe it is
better to be careful than crippled.
1 will avoid all risks, take the time
to do all work carefully, and in every
way possible endeavor to prevent ac-
cident or injury to others"
The members of the club will wear
gold-plated and enameled lapel but
tons bearing the Northern Pacific
trademark with the words, Careful
Club, Eureau of Efficiency" around
the edge Of the buttons. "'
Tho establishment Of the Careful
club arose out of the work, OF the
Northern Pacific's Bureau of Eficien-
cy, Mr.. Charles T.. Banks, Special
Representative, First Vice President
George T. Slade, in charge. This
Bureau of Efficiency in the short year
in which it has been in operation, has
accomplished a great deal in the way
Of instructing Northern Pacific en-
ployes in methods of carefulness, in
'checking waste and dangerous prac
tees, and in promoting safety. I'm
der the methods adopted by the bu'
reau the men may be said to prac'
tically become their own inspectors
BY means OF bulletins and circular
letters the attention of the employees
in the railway shops, yards, on and
ABOUT trains, at railway stations. etc,
is, called to conditions. habits or prac'
tees which endanger life or limb and
may result in more Or less serious &C.
cidents. The pride of the men is
enlisted in this regard and they them.
selves become keenly alive to all i'm
prOvemeMt in these respects. A few
examples will Indicate the methods
of the bureau:
/. 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
heen put into general use. This clear.
ance card is, in fact, a train order
is issued by the car foreman and Ger
titles that no men are working un-
derneath or between the cars On the
repair track. The engine foreman or
cOnduce0r must have n Of these
clearance cards before entering a re-
pair track. There is no record, up
to date, of a violation of this order,
and no man has been killed or injnr-
ed on account Of. cars being moved
on repair tracks since this order be-
came effective.
The 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 be defective or unsafe and
the taking out Of service of all such
tools was made effective in February,
1918, since which time injuries due
to defective tools, machines, jacks,
ETC., have been almost entirely elm
mated.
"A change in the type Of locomo-
tive shaker bars has been made,
which has resulted in eliminating in
tjuries caused by shaker bars slipping
of from the nipple. as
To eliminate injuries caused by tool
handles breaking and to save time.
incidentally, in fitting new handles
to tools, q superior grade of tool han
dies has been made standard.
Walks and hand rails have been
placed on bridges inside or just out
side of the yard limits Of station
grounds, etc, where trainment 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 dis
of-switch stands from tracks
has been changed from six to seven
feet. -. y
Station platforms where passengers
might step off and be injured have
been protected by ratings. and hand
rails have been attached to steps,
etc.
:. The walls of %turntable pits have
been whitewashed to light them up
and prevent men from accidentally
walking into them and being injured.
AS the result Of precautionary
adopted by this company
through it's Efficiency Bureau, the
percentage Of fatal accidents to en-
has been reduced from .O4 per