The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
100000 ANNUALLY

statistics of the department of labor
has just issued as Bulletin 1877 re-
port on industrial accident statistics,
by Frederick L. Hoffman. The adop-
ton of the principle of workmen's
compensation by more than half of
the states within the last few years
emphasizes the Importance of the in
dustrial accident problem and fore
shadows the time when such compen-
sation for industrial accidents will be-
come universal throughout the United
States.
AS one method of measuring this
Importance, the bulletin presents an
estimate of the number of fatal and
non-fatal industrial accidents occur
ring among American wage earners
in a single year. The conclusion
reached is that the number of fatal
industrial accidents among American
wage earners, including both sexes,
may be conservatively estimated at
$4,000, and the number of injuries in.
volving disability of more than four
weeks, using the ratio of Austrian ex-
perience, at approximately 100000.
These numbers, impressive as they
are, fail to indicate fully the number
of industrial accidents, for such studies
as have already been made show that
of the accidents involving disabilities
of one day and over at least three
fourths terminate during the first four
weeks.
Hazardous Occupations.
The industries which contribute the
greatest number of fatal accidents are
railroad employments and agricul-
tural pursuits, each group being re-
sponsible for approximately 1920 IA
talities each year. Coal mining con-
tributes more than $500, and building
and construction work nearly 1900.
General manufacturing, while employ
lu5 idl &c uuulucio, pl OuuCco olly
about 1900 fatal accidents. When the
fatality rates are considered, metal
mining ranks as most hazardous, with
rate of 40 per 1000, coal mining
coming next with a rate of 3,5, and
fisheries and navigation following
with rate of 80 per 1000. Manufac-
turing industries as whole rank low
est, with rate of OBS per 1000, but
the fact should not be overlooked that
this low average rate covers manufac-
turing groups varying widely in haz-
ard, including, on the one hand, boiler
making and the various departments
of the iron and steel industry, in some
of which fatality rates as high as those
in metal and coal mining have pre-
vailed, and, on the other hand, the
textile and clothing industries, in
some of which the risk of fatal acct
dent is practically negligible.
Statistics Incomplete.
These estimates are derived from
the best sources available. At the
present time there are no entirely
complete and trustworthy industrial
accident statistics for even a single
important industry in the United
States. This lack of trustworthy in
dustrial accident statistics is due to
the absence of any uniform require
reports of industrial accidents. Prior
to the establishment of workmens
compensation systems, no state re-
ceived reports of all the accidents, or
even of all the fatal accidents in it's
industries With the coming into force
of workmen's compensation laws, with
a strong motive for careful reporting,
the methods of reporting are being
gradually improved, but this applies
in only few of those states
where such systems have been
introduced and even in such
states there is a regrettable lack
of uniformity which stands in the
way of comparison and combination
of the statistics. Furthermore, very
few of the compensation states are
yet securing information at all accur-
ate in regard to the number of en-
ployes and the period during which
they are at work, information which is
absolutely essential in the computa-
ton of accurate accident frequency
rates.
Accidents Decreasing.
Workmen's compensation legislation
will necessarily lead to an increase in
the reported number of accidents, par
ticularly those of less serious char
acter involving a comparatively short