The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-09-02
Efficiency of Labor
Mining Operations
CONTINUED from Page 81

tabHshed The schools should provide
courses in personal and public hy-
giene. Oftentimes through interest
stimulated in children at school, the
adults at home are reached.
First-aid classes should be organic
ed not only among the workers, but
also among the women and older chill
dren of the camp. Cleanup cam
paigns, anti-fly campaigns etc. are
useful in promoting health education
and spirit of civic betterment
Outdoor exercise and employment
during leisure hours should be en-
couraged through gardens and athletic
grounds
The medical and surgical care for
workers should be as good as can be
provided. The time loss from dis
abling sickness and injury can be ma
terially lessened by prompt and eff
cient medical attention. Slight all
ments or injuries, if promptly attended
to may be corrected with little or no
loss of time, but if neglected they may
become serious and their correction or
cure entail long period of absence
from work Men below par physically
can not be expected to measure up
to par in effort. BY periodic examina-
tons a working force can be kept as
near physical par as possible.
Where proctical a hospital, fully
equipped, should be maintained at the
mine. If no hospital is provided there
should be at least an emergency room
MI IN rrftr ~
surgical care and made as comfortable
as possible until they can with safety
be removed to a hospital.
Should Be Safe, Wholesome.
The surroundings under which a
man is forced to work react on his
mental attitude and his labor output
is in proportion to whether they are
healthful or harmful, safe or unsafe.
AS men become more enlightened their
desire for better working conditions is
Il natural result. Hence employers
who desire intelligent and efficient en-
plOyes should make their working con-
ditions as safe and wholesome as pos
sible.
Safety, sanitation, lighting and ven
proper attention and supervision.
Safety devices and properly directed
safety supervision more than pays
their cost in decreased loss of labor
through lessened accidents and saving
in compensation. At large mines a
safety engineer is as much a neces- !
sity as a mining engineer.
Men at work breathe more air than
otherwise, and the wholesomeness of
the air they breathe largely determines
the amount of labor they can perform.
Therefore, both as regards health and
labor economy proper ventilation of
working places benefits not only the
employees. but also the employer
Drinking fountains and sanitary la
trines underground are recognized nee !
essities of large mining operations and |
add much to the comfort and health of
the men. The general care of under !
ground workings in respect to keeping !
them clean and free from debris has
marked effect on the men. The |
sight of debris in passageways. drifts |
and tunnels encourages shiftlessness |
and carelessness.
Well constructed change houses |
where miners can battle and change /
from their soiled and sweaty mine |
clothing to dry clean clothes before /
going home promotes both health and |
Above ground the general sanitary |
conditions about the mine should be
good. Debris should not be permitted 4
to accumulate in and about the mine
entrance or about the buildings.
Drainage should be such that water
will not collect and stagnate. AIDE
Quate toilet facilities should be pro-
vided.
Living Conditions Fix Type of Labor.
AS a man lives so he is liable TO
work. The living conditions at any
mine algrely determines the type Of
labor that seeks employment and re-
mains at that mine. A camp where
housing conditions are poor. where /
sanitary conditions are below standard,
where the general morale has been
permitted to become lax, does not at
ract the best element. Men who are ]
willing to put up with such conditions
10
ess. lacking in responsibility, and cas- Ii
ly influenced to find fault. At such I
amps agitators find fertile soil for |
treating dissatisfaction.
The conservation of health and the /
prevention of illness is one of the big |
rest problems faced by industry. The I
mercy a man may expend depends !
lireotly upon his physical condition. II
which, in turn. depends upon the way /
nd conditions under which he lives 4
Housing conditions for workers, to /
promote their best efforts and pro- l.
uction. should be as wholesome as n
hey can be made. There should be T.
10 overcrowding. Living rooms should h
e light well ventilated and provided Is
With adequate heating facilities. -
Iouses for married workers should be q
ttractive and of a type to encourage C
omemalSing and the development Of G
elf esteem. ~
Boarding houses should be kept c
Loo, r--,-- -I,,,T1 10 hold