Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-03-22
HEALTH OF EMPLOYEES
Many Firms Look After Better
ment of Workmen.
Investigation BY Uncle sam's Depart.
ment OF Labor Reveals Plans for
Medical Treatment

A study Of work for Industrial bet
termeut carried on BY employers. COW
ering q large section Of the country
and including many firms which are
large employers of labor. was made by
agents Of Uncle Sans department Of
labor. Schedules were taken for 431
establishments, 375 Of which, with a
total Of 1,204 .010 employees. reported
some provisions for giving medical
treatment. These establishments COW
cred great variety Of industries. such
as mining, foundries and machine
shops. manufacturing Of iron and
steel electrical supplies. automobiles,
furniture. boots and shoes, textiles
and explosives; also steam and cleo
tric railroads. telegraph and telephone
companies. electric light and power
companies, and stoeesL
It was found a. Q result Of the study
that the method Of caring for the
health Of employees along strictly
medical lipes varies greatly with the
needs Of the industry and the individ-
ual ideas Of employer It ranges
from the most simple equipment. con-
sisting OF frstAid cabinets, located In
the ONCE or about the plant, to the
most elaborate and up-to-date emer-
gency hospitalA
This work has grown to large pro-
portions In many Industries because Of
the impetus which has been given the
safety movement In the past few
years. As q result Of this work In the
mining and iron and steel industry
especially crews Of men are instructed
In the principles and practice Of first
aid, and interest L. stimulated and
maintained among the employees by
means Of safety-flrst magazines and
bulletins and BY contests among vari-
Gus frst-aid teams. for which prizes
are given.
In some cases the day ON which
these frst-aid contests take place be-
comes the gala day Of the year for the
employees and their families. The
participation In rescue and frst-aid
work 10 entirely voluntary on the part
Of the employeea but each one before
being allowed to enter the work must
have q doctors certificate showing
that he Is physically at to undertake
1t. Four to six men are assigned to
each frst-aid crew and the course. con-
sisting of lectures, demonstrations and
drills, is usually completed in twelve
lessons. This training by the COM
pany doctor goes on continually, and
many new crews are added each year.
Rescue crews consist Of from 1--WE to
eight men who are trained by special
instructors to work with rescue he'll
NETS In a room filled with smoke or
noxious gases. One company has a
fully equipped rescue car containing
stretchers and stretcher racks with q
capacity Of from 10 to 20 men. There
Is also a small operating room with
sterilizing equipment and a supply Of
drugs and dressings. In addition the
car carries oxygen helmets, safety
lamps, reels of life line and two pull
motors, and Is always ready with the
necessary crew Of men in case Of
emergency.
There is a systematic endeavor. the
Investigation brought out, In most es-
Establishments which possess good emer-
gency equipment to have the employees
report to the doctor or nurse for even
the slightest injuries, and as a result
there has been a great reduction In
the number Of cases Of infection. In
many cases. 1t was found. severe pen
alties are imposed If workers endeavor
to remove particles from the eyes of
fellow-workmen or bind up cuts or
scratches, and sometimes this is con-
sidered sufficient cause for discharge.