The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-07-27
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-
ducing war materials, such as the
metal trade generally and the mining,
rubber, shipbulldlng, chemical, leather
and mOtor-vehice Industries, is Of deep
interest at this moment, because In
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
in unprecedented quantities; cOntlnu-
Gus maximum production must be
maintained. Under such pressing con-
dltions, say the health specialists, the
abiding program of health protection
may easily be neglected and the addl-
tional measures necessitated by the in
fux of large number of temporary
workers may not be taken.
England's Experience Cited.
The convincing illustration, it is
pointed out, of this danger is the situ-
alton arising in England after the out,
break of the war. The factory laws
of England contain many wise prOvl-
siOns for the safeguarding of indus
tries. There Is a comprehensive sys-
TEN of workmen's compensation and a
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 q maxi.
mum output. At many establishments
work was continuous seven days in
were required. Sanitary precautions
ordinarily enforced were dlsregarded.
These conditions, say the experts, ag.
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 lengthy study has been made of
this industrial problem by experts of
the public-health service, and they say
as a 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
ticulty in which England found herself,
by steps looking toward (1) 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 (5) the sanitation Of in.
dustrial communities.
To make the above-outIined 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 a 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 a blanket rule which, in
emergencies, will apply alike to all
industries. The British health of mu-
milton 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
moderately heavy labor, 60, and for
light labor, probably 64. 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, 1t is
said that inasmuch as the worker is
eApOSSu uOJ Ouly " lue cuflEOuLucut
Of the work place, but also to that of
the community in which he lives, it is
evident that it would be of little use to
maintain ideal factory conditions If at
the same time the worker were en-.
dangered during his leisure hours by
defective community sanitation and all
the elements for i'll health which this
implies-such as Overcrowding, unsafe
water supply and other insanitary con-
ditions. 1t is evident, therefore, say
the experts, that if we are to provide
for q maximum state of health and eff
cheney on the part of the workers to
meet the present emergency adequate
sanitary conditions in industrial COM
munlties must be properly maintained.
Definite standards must be estab-
lished, the experts insist, for the sani-
tating of work places, and not only
established but maintained in regard
to hygienic construction, ventilation,
illumination, water supply, washing
and eating facilities, and disposal of
sewage and waste.
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