Bisbee daily review., 1915-06-17
Thursday, June IT, 1915.
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.

lNOOS RIAL NCClbEN ' B.
 The Department of Labor has just issued report on Industrial Accident Statistics, by Frederick L. Hoffman. The adoption of the principle of workmens compensa- ton by than half of the States within last few years emphasizes the importance industrial problem foreshadows the time when such com pensaon industrial accidents will become universal throughout the United States.
 d. one method Of measuring this importance the Bull letn presents an estimate of the number of fatal and non fatal industrial accidents occurring among Amer ican wage earners in single year. The conclusion reached is that the number of fatal industrial accidents amcue American wage eamers including both sexes, may be conservatyey estimated 25O0O and the Der Of injuries involving disability Of than four weeks, using the ratio Of Austrian experience ap- proxmately 100000 These numbers impressive as they are t to indicate fully the industrial acci- dents such studies have already been made show that Of the accidents involving disabilities of one day over at least threefourths terminate during the first four weeks.
 The industries which contribute the greatest number Of fatal accidents railroad employmens and agrcul- uraL pursuits. each group being responsible for approx mae'y 42oO fatalities each year Coal mining contrib utes than 26OO and building and construction work nearly 1900. General manufacturing, while employing large numbers produces only fatal accidents. When the fatality rates are considered, metal mining ranks as most hazardous. with a of 40 per 1000. coal mining coming with rate of 35 and fisheries and navigation following with rate of 90 per 1000. Manufacturing industries a whole rank lowest, with a ratc of O25 per O0o but the fact should be looked that this low average covers manufacturing groups varying widely hazard including, the one hand boiler making and the various departments of the iron and steel industry in of which fatality rates as high as those in metal coal mining have prevailed and on the other hand the textile and clothing indus
 ea in some which the risk of fatal accident is prac- tcaly negligible
 These estimates derived from the best sources available At the present time there are no entirely complete and trustworthy industrial accident statistics for even single important industry in the United States. This lack of trustworthy industrial statistics is due to the absence of any uniform requirements in the various States as to reports of industrial accidents Prior tc the establishment Of wormen's compensation system no State received reports of all the accidents even of all the fatal accidents it's industries. With the com ing into force of workmen's compensation laws with strong motive for careful reporting, the methods of re- porting are being gradually improved, but this applies in only few Of those States where such systems have been introduced and even such States there is re- grettable of uniformity which stands in the way of comparison and combination Of the statistics Further more very few of compensation States yet secur ing information at an in regard to the number Of employees and the period during which they are at work information which is absolutely essential in the computation of accurate accident frequency rates.
 workmens compensation legislation will necessarily lead to an increase in the reported of accidents particularly those of a less serious character involving a comparatively short ncapacity for work, but com pensauon legislation may also be expected to bring about notable reductions in the actual numbers Of acc dents for wherever aggressive accident prevention work has been undertaken h has been found that great re- Che number Of accidents have been effected often exceeding a saving of onehalf