Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-07-29
GUARDS FOR SINGLE
SAWS ARE DECLARED
To Be PRACTICAL.
Supervisor Hughes Of Safety
Division Makes Successful
Trials.
THREE COMPANIES
RECEIVE APPROVAL
Department of Labor and Industries
Hope to Eliminate Many
Accidents.

Accidents.
Single saw guards have been
demonstrated to be a complete sue
cess in this state and the division of
safety, of which H. L. Hughes is the
supervisor, is now in a position to
enforce the safeguarding of this pro-
life source of industrial accidens.
From October l, 1911 to July /,
1921, there were 1909 non-fatal in
juries and 9 fatal accidents in the
single industry of the state, accord
ing to the state safety reports. These
injuries cost the industrial insurance
fund $209,567.3S, while double that
amount would not compensate the
injured men for Their wage loss,
surgical and hospital expense, Mr..
Hughes states. The report shows
that the loss in disabilities resulting
from amputated fingers and hands
would be beyond compensation from
a monetary standpoint.
Sawyers Lose Fingers.
The division Of safety figures at
least one-third of all this cost was
due to the injuries sustained on the
shingle saw itself and the loss of one
or more fingers has become a badge
Of the industry among single saw
yers of the state.
During all the years that the
industrial insurance act has been on
the statute books of the state there
has been persistent agitation on the
part. of those who had to do with it's
administration for some practical
means of safeguarding single saws.
Strange as it may seem, the men who
follow this hazardous employment
were the most strenuous opponents
of a single saw guard, and stout in
their insistence that such guard
could not be made practical; but the
propaganda for the use of guards
finally had it's effect and during the
past two or three years quite con-
siderable number of men who follow
the industry have taken an interest
in solving the problem.
Three Concerns Make Guards.
There have been three concerns in
the state who have interested them
selves in the manufacture of over
head guards for shingle saws. The
guards have been improved from
time to time, objections met and
overcome, until today they are an
unqualified success. Recently,
the request of the state safety divi-
sion. one guard from each of the
three manufacturing firms was in
stalled in one of the large single
mills of Seattle for the purpose Of
demonstrating their relative value
and general practibility. The saws
were in use in this mill for practical
~ one week previous to the day of
official demonstration. Each of the
three guards was so successful that,
on the day of the demonstration. 1t
was found that the sawyer in charge
of each OF the respective guards had
become the champion of that particu-
lar guard and ready to defend its
merits
A few days ago, in order to test out
a suggested change in one of the
guards, the safety division recon-
mended the local manufacturer of
the guard to install one in an Olym-
pia single mill which heretofore has
not used guards. 1t was found to
be a complete success in all respects
and in the two hours time the shingle
sawyer had used this guard he be-
came so thoroughly impressed with
it's merits that he said he would pay
for the guard himself rather than
have it taken off the machine which
he was operating.
Objections Overcome.
All objections urged heretofore
against the practibility of the guard
have been overcome by practical
| demonstration. Enough guards are
already in use to prove their merits
beyond any question Of doubt, Super
visor Hughes states. The safety divi-
sion, which heretofore has proceeded
cautiously in the matter Of ordering
these guards, now feels that it is
on safe ground and is in position
to proceed in manner that will
shortly bring about the complete
guarding of all saws in the state.
The guard is not expensive, yet at
the present time, Mr.: Hughes says,
there is something of a depression in
the single business and the division
will therefore proceed in conserva-
tive manner and cooperate with the
operators in bringing about this i'm