The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-10-28
A STUDY In INDUSTRIAL
ACCIDENTS

Washlngton.-lnte findings and
recommendation for the prevention of
industrial accidents at the Washington
navy yard are published as the result of
study of all such cases by Passed AS
sistant Surgeon Bloedorn of the navy.
he investigation covered the period of
two years beginning January 1, 1914
he average number of men employed
was 3,202. The total number or men
reporting one or more injuries was airs.
OF the All injuries, 1868 were received
by 1873 men, or, as DR.. Bloedorn puts it,
SO per cent of the total number of men
injured received over 26 per cent of the
total number of injuries.
The three most frequent injuries re-
ceived, in the order of their frequency,
were lacerations contusions and foreign
bodies in the eye Five injuries resulted
fatally, three being caused by falling OBJ
jects. one being the result of fall and
one being caused by machinery. The six
shops showing the highest percentage of
injuries in their relative order were the
sight cartridge case, gunners' workshop,
miscellaneous, primer and erecting.
"Powerdriven machinery" says Sur
geon Bloedorn, SIS fruitful source of
injury, and one that may be countcract-
ed through various safety devices. The
highspced machines, such as grinders,
circular and band saws, and high-speed
lathes, are particularly dangerous and
require the use of safety devices. The
heavy, slow-speed machines, such as
planers, shapers, slotters and slow-speed
lathcs, are comparatively less hazardous
Work with hand tools and simple ap-
paratus exposes the workman to fre-
quent injury mostly of the nature of
wounds of the upper eXtremties, par
ticularly of the fingers and hands, the
ma jority of which are slight and cause
no loss Of time. Carrying, lifting and
transportation resulted in relatively
small percentage of injuries and includes
muscular strains and sprains due to lift
ing and carrying. Contact with danger
Gus substances, such as molten metal.
live wires and the various caustc solu-
tions, was responsible for a small num-
Der of injuries
Employees between the ages OF 16 and
20 received the greatest number of in
iurics. The percentage decreased stead
lily to those between the ages of 50 and
80. Although engaged in less hazardous
work as rule colored employees show
ed higher injury rate. Unmarried en-
p,oy ,,,oyr;od "'N ''''' w w
'''Tr Thn ,,G, ;r;,r, roto was n,orlod,y bohcr
lrr;n, ,Ta irst Civ mouths of emnlov-
uu'','s ord r'I Jorronsnd 'o Ias tbe len"th Of
,;,rm' ,;,a o'IornG ,mI u ;rcroaseJ St;Ilcd work.
e,'I hnn rnpJStn ,be oweSt ncrccmtnoc of in
w ;nr;ss '"vi w;,h 'e bnlncrs s' and annrentce,
I(;ho,. I(G;niuS WIZ, { st,teJ that % .;nd;y;dnals
I;eYa ',iEr'', .o,t,,' - thn;r s,,scont;hl;tv to
ipiurv olthouph pnpapcl in the same
'LJu,9 n,9un ",lps nrl' nrd tLai ths srsrent;ltv
.'"?s ~, VIZ ''in tI'a' ,n snrno ;nd;r;dnnI
10 l'u,g N'''us , ~ ''e ''''''> '''''> '>''''''
It' If is s','y rccommended N that special atten-
s m 'rH"'1bu" ;"m ,bn uow ''," nn,nlpyc nnt;, he
tos t'o.' mo s,horounb,' shCn @ aco,,;ntcd with his
nvo,,'os ,I,;s ,,o' t"ni ard ru;tb bis fellow
,ynrkmer and that he he instructed in
w. M"' N,'.u" ,hnrao,a ",.' of N; he worl<
Wv ..That H'',' snec,i effort he made to avoid
,;lt ""t ,,,r;m', Ji,", ,hn frst twnlhorr ner;od
az az ,I,o IL dor u,h;ch is cons;detcd the most