Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-01

have recently been active In planning
and conducting in
Health in vestigations in fac
tories that ara manu-
War Plants. featuring war sup-
plies. for the purpose Of determine
ing whether unnecessary fatigue is
present. and discovering the condi-
tions under which a maximum con-
tinuous output may be obtained.
In the present emergency caused by
the war it is desirable to understand
all practicable ways by which in
dustrial work may be made moro
efficient and output may be increased
to maximum without resorting to
unwise or burdensome demands on
labor. It Is pointed out by those who
have been making this study that 1t
IL often possible to increase output
temporarily by increasing the work
of the employe. but II he Is overwork-
ed his output soon falls of; hence.
such method. it carried far. quickly
defeats itself and in the long run is
not profitable. Given adequate equip
plant and a proper spirit among the
employees, fatigue is the greatest
single obstacle to a maximum output.
Fatigue diminishes output not only
directly, but Indirectly. by increasing
accidents and the proportion OF spoiled
work and by causing sickness ana
absences of employees. 1t. will. there
fore. be profitable to employers, to
employees and to the nation itself, the
authorities believe, to inquire into
the ways by which fatigue may be
reduced.
It was found as the result Of the
investigation which has just been
completed that one of the common
methods OF reducing fatigue is by
introducing recess or resting periods
during a working SPELL During such
periods, which, In order to be enec-
tive, must be obligatory. and not dis
cretionary ON the part of the workers.
they should have an opportunity to
rest. relax. move about and engage
in other simple recreation. It 10 said
that q little food or a cup OF tea or
cocoa taken at such a time Is often
remarkably restorative.
It often happens, it was found. that
may be advantageously introduced
into a working spell. Where this Is
not practicable the officials have
come to the conclusion that a single
recess, of suitable duration, will
suffice. The recuperation thus gained
by tired worker often increases his
working capacity for the remainder
Of the spell.
Much Of the modern industrial work
consists of a constant and rapid repe-
tition of the same movement. A wom-
an worker in one munition factory
was recently observed to handle dur
ing her days work $4,000 pieces OF
shell fuse and put them through a
special process From o'clock in the
she sat at her machine and fed 1t
with the succession of brass pieces.
The occasional introduction of little
variety into her work by training her
to some alternative process might
easily have diminished her fatigue
without diminishing the number of
finished pieces. the experts think.
Arguments that favor the short
working day apply directly to the
question of overtime. II the usual
days work is such as just to stop
short of undue fatigue. overtime
means overwork. 1t Is, of course,
sometimes necessary, in order to COM
time, to call on the workers to expend
the greater effort required. The ex-
perts who have made this study. how
ever. say that it is a dangerous ex-
pedient and a particularly insidious
way Of diminishing a workers eff
cheney. Overtime work is apt to re-
suit in an increased amount of spoiled
work and in lessened output and in
creased absences on subsequent days,
and because Of this, and also In view
of the increased rate Of wages that
must usually be paid. overtime is not
as profitable as Is often supposed. 1t
should be resorted to only in times of
exceptional emergency, and even then
not for many days in succession. the
experts say.
4
Officials Of the War Department In
urging a school for educating general
staff officers say
Educafino Officers that as time goes
cn on a great num-
u ueAo1aA S'aA' Der of such Of
ficers will be needed at home and
with our armies in the field. In this
connection II is pointed out that In