The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-07-23
WOULD SAFEGUARD + /
WORKERS HEALTH
Uncle Sam Seeks Cooperation Of
Employers and Public in
-',@, Meeting Crisis.
EXPERTS OUTLINE PROGRAM
Suggest Measures to Protect Employ.
ees in Industries Affected by
Great Demand for War
Materials,

How to safeguard the health of the
four million workers in Industries pro-
duclng war materials, such as the
metal trade generally and the mining,
rubber, shipbuilding, chemical, leather
ana motor-vehlce industries, is OF deep
interest at this moment, because in a
crisis OF this nature the tendency Is
to speed up industry at the sacrifice Of
the workers health. Uncle Sam,
through his public-health service, is
taking this condition under advise
ment. Everyone knows, of course,
that war materials must be produced
III unprecedented quantities; continu-
Gus maximum production must be
maintained. Under such pressing con-
ditiOns, say the health specialists, the
abiding program of health protection
may easily be neglected, and the addi-
tional measures necessitated by the in
tlux Of a large number Of temporary
workers may not be taken.
Engiand's Experience Cited.
The convincing Illustration, 1t is
pointed out, of this danger is the stu
alton arising in England after the out
break OF the war. The factory laws
OF England contain many wise provi-
si0ns for the safeguarding of indus
tries. There is Il comprehensive sys-
TEN Of wOrkmen'S compensation and q
sickness insurance law. Women and
children are an especially protected
class Of industrial workers. Neverthe-
less, when war began, industry in gen.
eral was speeded up to the breaking
point In the desire to produce maxi
mum output. AT many establishments
work was continuous seven days in
the week. Long periods of overtime
were required. Sanitary precautions
ordinarily enforced were dsregarded.
These conditions, say the experts, az
gravated by the enlistment of skilled
Industrial workers, very quickly re-
suited In decline in output instead of
an Increase. 1t became evident in
England, as it must be here, that the
health OF workers should be guarded,
not only for the conservation of every
resource in this war Of resources, but
also for the purpose Of maintaining In
the factories the highest level Of pro-
ductiOn over a protracted period of
time. ..-.,,~,a
A lengthy study has been made of
this industrial problem by experts of
the public-health service, and they say
as result of this study it seems to
them that it is entirely practicable to
keep the health of the workers at an
efficient point, and thus avoid the diff
ficulty in which England found herself,
by steps looking toward ID the pre-
vention of occupational diseases and
pOisonings, (2) the sanitation Of work
places, (3) the prevention of undue
fatigue, (4) the medical supervision of
workers, and 90 the sanitation of in
dustrial communities.
TO make the above-outlined program
efficient, it is stated that cooperation
Is imperative on the part Of the public,
the owners of factories, the workers
and the various governmental authori-
ties, and all Of these have their part
to play in thus increasing the output
OF war materials.
Hours Must Be Regulated.
In connection with the prevention of
undue fatigue, it is pointed out by
these experts that d prerequisite OF
maximum continuous production Is
that the worker return to his work
completely recuperated from the previ-
GUS days fatigue. From memoranda
made by the British authorities, it is
evident, say our experts, that we can
not make blanket rule which, in
will apply alike to all
Industries. The British health Of mu-
lition> workers committee is Of the
opinion that, in the case of men, for
heavy labor, the maximum weekly
hours Of labor cannot exceed 56 with
out causing fatigue accumulation; for
heavy labor, 60, and for
light labor, probably GA. 1t is also
found that women have not the capac-
ity to stand long hours Of work that
men have.
Taking up the problem of the sani-
tatiOn of industrial communities, it Is
said that inasmuch as the worker is
not only to the environment
Of the work place, but also to that of
the community in which he lives, it Is
eyldent. that it would b, Of >!!ttle. use to