The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-19
NECESSITY OF SAFEGUARDS

Dufihg the last rev years great
progress has been noted in the safe
guarding of machinery and of danger
Gus places. If any one will take the
trouble to glance at the magazines car
rying advertisements of machinery at
the present time, he will find that prac-
tically without exception all illustra-
tions of new machinery show all dan
gerous parts to be substantially guard
ed. Protruding set-screws have been
removed and replaced with safety set
screws, and in fact any portion of the
machinery which might be liable to
cause injury to a workman has been
eliminated or safety enclosed. An ex-
animation of publications issued five
or more years ago, showing illustrations
of machinery, will show an entirely
different attitude on the part of manu-
facturers. These, illustrations showed
dangerous revolving parts and many
unguarded gears. The change Of atti-
tude on the part of manufacturers,
namely, desire to safeguard their ma
chinery in every way, has been due al
most entirely to the attitude of the
purchasing public. To-day the persons
who purchase machinery take into con-
sideration safety considerations, and,
all other factors being equal, the ma
chine will be purchased which shows
the greatest care on the part of the
manufacturer to render it safe for the
workmen.
In some remote cases, as the inspec-
tors of the Department of Labor and
Industry visit various establishments
throughout the State, they find persons
who ridicule the idea of making every
thing as safe as present knowledge per
mits. Fortunately this class of persons
is limited. The majority of people are
not satisfied with methods which pre-
vailed years ago, but appreciate the
fact that the world has advanced, and
along with other things.
In some cases, after an inspection of
a manufacturing establishment, the in
spector will call the attention of the
management to the fact that various
dangerous places should be guarded, or
that this or that protruding set-screw
should be removed. In practically every
case these suggestions are received in
good grace, and the inspector is assured
that the management has every desire
to do anything which would safeguard
their employees. In some, exceptions,
however, the owner may make remark
to this effect:
"Why, this machinery has been in
operation here for many years. All
our employees frequent this vicinity,
and we have never had an accident
from that particular point in all that
time. If that was dangerous condi-
ton, we should have had many acci-
dents by this time; and it is utterly
out of reason to make me place safez
guard at that point
Such an attitude lis difficult to
change, ana it is only by persistent
reasoning and the citing of examples of
similar conditions which have caused
accidents that generally bring the own
er to see the wisdom of the inspector s
suggestion.
One of the best examples of an il
lustration along this line happened
some time ago in the experience of one
of the inspectors of this Department.
This inspector had occasion to 90 into
an old -four mill, which was run by
water power. Owing to the fact that
the owner was the only person employed
in this building, the Department had
no official jurisdiction. The inspector,
however, knew the owner personally, |
and in the couse of an unofficial in
spection noticed shaft to which was
attached a projecting set-screw. He
called the owners attention to the fact
that, owing to the prominent position
of this set-serew, it was dangerous
hazard to his own safety, and suggest
ed that it would be the best policy for
him to remove it. The owner looked |
at the inspector for few minutes, and
in careless and laughing manner said |
"Ho, that set-screw has been in that
place for the last sixty or seventy |
years, ever since the mill was built. |
| have worked here for many years,
and have never had it catch in my
or, in fact, felt that there was
any danger connected with it.
The inspector tried to reason with |
the man for his own welfare, but he
paid no attention to him. AS the place
did not come under the jurisdiction of |
the Department, the inspector was un-
able to issue any instructions requir- |
ing the removal of the set-screw. About |
two months afterwards, while the in
spector was visiting town some dis
tance. away, he picked up newspaper |
and noticed that the owner had been |
killed in his mill the day before by be- |