The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-11
INDUsFRIAL ACCrDENrs.

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.
The enactment of laws in various
states on workmen's compensation for
injuries has aroused increased interest
in the statistics and physical and
psychic conditions OF industrial acci-
dents The total number Of these acci-
dents IL almost appalling. The lowest
estimate places the fatal accidents to
adult workers in the United States at
$4,000 a year, with an additional
100000 nonfatal accidents. The
Massachusetts industrial accident
board, ON the other hand, placed the
number Of persons and mains one
yearly at $4,000, which apparently in
cludes not only adults. but also work.
ers Of all ages, while the number OF
injured Of the same classes was placed
by this Massachusetts, authority at
100000 or over. An earthquake In
a foreign country that kills half this
numebr of persons and mains one
fiftieth Of those injured in our United
States industries is spoken Of as
catastrophe.
A greater proportion Of accidents
occur on Monday than on any other
day Of the week. Accident are said to
be due often to fatigue. AS, after the
day Of rest on Sunday, workmen
should be less fatigued than on other
days, some other factor must be
sought to explain this feature of the
statistics. 1t has been suggested that
the "blue Monday" accidents are real
ly due to the fact that workmen take
more liquor on Sunday, and thus be-
come unnerved and more liable to
accidents during the following twenty
four hours. There is, perhaps, some
thing in this contention, says the
Journal Of the American Medical As
ISOLATION, though it has been disputed.
In the Massachusetts, industrial acct
dent board reports, in which the Of
scarcely more than one-twentieth
Tuesday. while Tuesday is not much
above the average in the number Of
accidents reported for other days.
Saturday. of course. shows a. note
worthy reduction, because of the half
holiday in some trades.
By far the larger number of acci-
dents occur at about 10 a. m. and 8
p. m. This fact is confirmed by the
reports Of two state boards. Washing
ton and Massachusetts,. The tendency
to speed UP employment has been in
eliminated, as the predisposing con-
dition for the occurrence Of accidents.
This desire comes over the workman
when he is not yet fatigued, but has
been employed for several hours. He
starts the mornings work Cold" and
as he warns to his work, the danger
Of mischance because of haste be-
comes greater. Just when the speed
ing up reaches q climax in the morn
ing hours, most accidents happen. The
same thing is true in the afternoon.
Workmen feel sluggish after their
lunch, but after an hour Of work
warm up again, and by about o'clock
they are doing their most rapid work,
ject to accident.
With regard to accidents among
children. however, there is no hour of
maximum. Accidents occur at all
times, and they are comparatively
much more frequent among children
than adults. The United States bu-
reau Of labor reported that there is
clear evidence Of great liability to ac-
cident on the part of children. Though
employed in the less hazardous work.
their rates steadily exceed those Of the
older co-workers, even when in that
group are included the occupations of
relatively high liability" This was
said with regard to the southern cot
ton mills, but the same thing is true
of practically all industries in which
children are employed.