Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-07-24
FACTORY CASUALTIES.

in glittering generalities and surmises,
as is very frequently the case in such
presentments, the statement Of facts
trouble and the deductions therefrom
have been questioned. This justifies
a repetition and amplif1cation OF the
main facts and principles cited in the
former paper.
Because 1t is officially recorded and
accepted as evidence Of weakness in
organizations on which the great ma
tions expect to rest the defense OF
their national life, we take 1t for
granted that the statement that the
shoe Is the source of q general disa-
shoe wearing armies OF the world
amounting to at least 80 per cent will
be accepted as approximately correct
Soldiers wear shoes chosen more for
the purpose OF protection and comfort
than for any consideration of appear.
ance The civilian, on the other hand,
especially II young and inexperienced.
considers style and what others may
think of his foot-geaF above every
thing else. Now. II selected physical
specimens of hardy. trained men using
their best efforts to secure comfort
and efficiency experience 80 per cent
disability from shoes SO chosen. 1t is
not unreasonable to assume that even
a higher rate prevails among civil
ians; and this is undoubtedly the
chief reason why SO few persons have
the walking habit these days-they
cannot walk because their shoes will
not permit them to do SO in comfort.
That too is why SO many fiabby mus
cled pasty faced men and women are
seen on our streets. Such stock ts
timid and cowardly. and is easily
thrown into panic or disease, and is
therefore logical source of origin for
many social and industrial ills.
The margin of safety in many indus
tries is the matter Of a fraction of an
inch, and anything, whether 1t be an
ear.ache, tooth-ache or foot-ache
that diverts the mind from the work
in hand tends to reduce the alertness
and general muscular control, and the
loss of so much as that fraction Of an
inch means inevitable mutilation.
Statistics covering accidents in fac
tories in Illinois for period of one
year show that between the hours of
and 9 O'Clock in the morning there
were 100 accidents, and this number
steadily and progressively increased
until in the hour between IL and IL,
noon, 257 accidents were recorded.
Then between 1 and 2 O'Clock, after
nd hp
number again increased progressively
hour after hour until, between 4 and
O'Clock, the maximum of 260 accidents
was reached. This shows a total of
SIT accidents in the fatigued state as
against 231 accidents when approx.
mately fresh. And carefully note the
difference between the first morning
hours and the first afternoon hours.
The difference between the early
morning hour and the early afternoon
hour is comparatively slight, but it is
highly significant in that 1t points to
personal negligence on the part of the
operator between the hours of p. m.
and a. m. 1t brings the subject of
social conditions in the home to the
front, opens up the matter of personal
hygiene, of sleeping quarters, of hab-
its of food, drink, smoking, and every
thing that takes place outside the fac
tory.
The writer frankly confesses that.
as the result of observations made in
some twelve or more states. If he were
manufacturer, banker or a mer.
chant he would not employ any person
with pinched and sore feet to operate
any power machine capable of injur.
ing the operator or a fellow employe,
or to handle or account for any mate.
rial sums of money, or to transact any
business requiring exactness and ex.
ecutive ability. For 1t is demonstrated
beyond the shade of a doubt that no
mind can consciously entertain two
impressions at the same time. and
therefore keen and sustained alertness
is impossible to any individual under
physical irritation.
In the unity of materials, machinery
| and men that constitutes the modern
| factory organization, the most impor
tant factor is the men. Every concern
of any size has its purchasing agents
its inspectors and laboratories to ex
anime and test incoming and outgoing
| materials; lis machinists and invent
| ors to keep the mechanical part to a
standard of efficiency; but little at
| tention has been given the most fun
damental of all the factors-the men
Efficiency depends on close attention
imagination and the ability for quick
adjustment. Unexpected and suddenly
occurring complications demand in
stant decision without time for refiec
tion, and herein the man under irrita
tion becomes a source of danger tc
himself and to his fellow employees
| for he is in a state uhere the nlarnan.