The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-03-12

continued from rage OneD
who are always thinking of "tht
night before or the night after,
their tickle thoughts roaming
through the clouds, detractine
their minds from their regular du
ties, hence Outlines causing then
to meet with n serious accident that
could have been prevented.
The unfortunate individuals
who help make UP our great indus
trial army, are not altogether re
sponsible for their inherited traits
weaknesses, or the puzzling pecu
liarities they have acquired through
environmental agencies over which
they eXecised no control. In this
respect, the management of an es
tablishment should be brought tt
realize the grave responsibility
that rests with them especially il
the proper selection and cautious
distribution of workmen to posi-
lions for which they are mentally
and physically best fitted.
Another contributing factor ir
the occurrence of accidents is 6
large labor turnover in an estab-
lishment. Evidence shows that
there is entirely too much promis-
cuous recruiting and quitting OF
labor. A large turnover of labor
in any line of employment is sub
jecting the newcomers to a new
and needless accident hazard. This
problem, like many others, must be
handled intelligently If we are tc
obtain successful results in acct
dent prevention work.
In face of all these facts, / have
heard superintendent say that the
safety scheme is only a FAD, con.
ceived in the brain of an enthusiast
who is afflicted with a new brand
of delusion; that their platitude!
consisted only of fancicul phrases
and that so far as accidents were
concerned, they were the inherited
risk of the industry over which NJ
safety engineer had any control.
Of course, one seldom ever encoun
| ters a manager who holds to sucl
convictions, but when you do NEE
man of that calibre, it is safe Il
assume that his establishment il
one that is creaing an experience
record of avoidable accidents thai
is in excess of any other like estab
lishment in the same industry.
The workman. on the other hand
must be fully conscious of the par
he must play in avoiding danger
| He must strive to cultivate safer
habits and constantly adhere to the
safety rules and practices Of the es
Enlistment. He must refrain, SC
far as practicable, from engaging
in employment of extra hazardous
nature for which he Is not adapted
When he and the management are
keenly interested In accident pre-
vention work, the movement Will
be given dignified place In each
and every establishment IN the ex
| ira hazardous industries of oul
country.
While 1t Is generally conceded
that the education and systematic
training of workmen In the appre
citation and avoidance of danger Il
the profound mission of any safet!
movement, nevertheless we would
be committing monumental blum
der If we should fail to lndelibi,
impress the management of an es
tablishment with the legal obliga
tion and the moral responsibilit!
that rests with them In bringing
into actual reality the lofty aiml
and purposes of our safety move
ment,
Our Safety Law IL pFedieatsd OF
the principle Of holding the SIN
ployers responsible for providing
their workmen with as nearly {
safe place of work as the eeRditiea'
OF surroundings will reasonably
permit, This is taken to mean that
the management must show by Wis,
ibis signs, such as physical safe
guarding and other evidences OF
conscientious effort, that they are
doing all that lies within theil
power to conserve the life and lint
of their werkmen.
Next to an efficient safety or,
ganiEatien, comes the imperative
need of training weFkmeR in tht
knowledge of first aid and efficient
methods of performing rescue work
re nap mind, an established safe