The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1919-06-14
INDUSTRY FACES
Great PROBLEM
Must Study New Science of "In-
dustriaI Physiology"
HEALTH SERVICE TAKES IT UP
Ask Improved Conditions for United
States Factories-keen Competition,
Sure to Come, Makes 1t Necessary
for Employer to Pay Attention to
the Question of Maximum Efficiency
Conclusions Arrived at.

REIMBURSEMENT has brought Ameri-
can industry forcibly face to face with
a problem which it long has stunned
and avoided, according to officials Of
the United States public health serv.
ice. The certain keen competition,
both domestic and foreign, which is to
follow a settling down Of business
after the war, makes it necessary for
the American employer to pay more
attention to the question of maximum
efficiency, officials assert.
AS result Of the changes which of.
ficials say are bound to come, employ
ers of labor now must give some study
to the new science of industrial physi-
ology." Frederic S. Lee, consulting
psychologist to the health service, SAYS
in statement:
Has Two Objects.
industrial physiology has two OBJ
jects," Lee says. "First, the purely
scientific one Of learning how the in.
dustrial worker actually performs his
work, and, second, the practical object
OF establishing in the factories the
conditions which conduce at the same
time to the maximum Of output and
the maintenance Of maximum power
Of the WORKER
Pursuing it's Investigations on the
two bases, Lee reports that the health
service has arrived at some valuable
informative conclusions. Among the
conclusions the statement includes
these:
"Overtime following a days labor is
inadvisable, as is also Sunday work
following weeks labor. These tend
to destroy the workers strength and
working power.
"The Introduction Of rest periods in
the working spell is accompanied by
a total increase in the days produc.
ton, especially when the working day
is long.
Production Of excessively long work.
Ing days can be sure to result in a
maximum increase in the output, and
usually by a total increase for the
days production.
Night Work Less Efficient.
might work, in general, is less eff.
fcient than day work. It's total out.
put is less, and this, with long work.
ing night, falls off enormously in the
early morning hours. Thus, it is ad.
vised: Alternate day and night work
where such is possible and where
night work must be done results will
be more profitable both to employer
and employee.
"Women are capable Of performing a
much greater variety Of Industrial op'
erations than has heretofore been rec.
ognized. Statistics show they are alb
sent from their work more frequently
than men.
Accidents to workers are a grave
source Of ineficiency. They are trace
able to fatigue, inexperience, speed OF
working, improper lighting, high tenn
perature and similar causes. Diminu
. ton Of preventable accidents, then
should be one of the first steps.
"Food and efficiency are directly
connected with one another, and a
suitable and adequate food supply
probably can be best insured by indus
trial canteens.
"A high labor turnover is incom
patible with the highest degree Of eff.
f1ciency. It is expensive, in that II
imposes upon the employers the ne.
cessity Of training new workers."