Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-27
NEEDLESS M|SHAPS
FOUGHT BY WOMAN
Miss Townsend, First Safety
Engineer" breaches Cos
pei Of Caution
OBTAINS GOOD RESULTS

Miss Mary A. Townsend is the only
woman safety engineer" in the United
States.
Safety first" is her slogan, and she
looks after some 5000 workers.
1.-THE insurance company" said Miss
Townsend, "takes care Of workman's q
compensation if he Is injured, but II
takes DO particular pains TO help the
men prevent accidents, and after It pays
the money the case passes from It's
hands
I'VE decided to look after the mans
welfare, because, after all, what is S12
q week TO a woman whose husband has
bsen killed through unadulterated care
lssyness?
Uses fifty. Fifty" Basis
I'VE try to meet the men on a fltty-
fifty basis. Take, for instance, the talks
give them. About every two weeks
10 out TO ono Of our constructions to
talk with the men, taking Ave minutes
az their time and five Of our own.
Naturally, they appreciate this, and
listen with interest and give their un-,
divided attention. I try TO point out
the little things which mean so much
where human life is concerned.
IA man who is on top Of scaifold
laying bricks, for example, will by
tboughtless movement Of his foot or
elbow. send a brick or two crashing to
the floor below, and when a man Is
hit on the head with the full force of
falling brick he is seriously injured.
Here is another thing they will do"
added Miss Townsend reaching to a cor
ner of her desk for book OF pictures.
Here you see, are some men riding
down on a hoist. Their faces are
wreathed with smiles, and yet at any
minute they may 20 crashing to death
and destruction, many floors below.
They take the sporting chance. nothing
happened to them last time, and guess
they figure that there is a special
Providence that watches over their
foolish actions.
Little Dangers Loom Big
"When we were building the Sears,
Roebuck plant, talked with those men
frequently. pointing out how serious
accidents are the result of slips that
appear insignificant. A board will be
left with a nail sticking in midair. The
unfortunate who steps on It may develop
blood poisoning, perhaps have to have
his foot taken off because Of the tear
from the nail.
"We put IL up to our foremen and
il they have no accidents in two months
they receive one of these pins" Miss
Townsend took a tiny white box from
the safe, and from the depths of soft
pink cotton drew out gold pin, the
top enameled in green and white.
This is the safety reward and the
foremen work hard for It, A foreman
at Sears ltoebuck saw one of his men
leave a machine guard from concrete
nixer--a foolhardy thing to do. as loose
clothing is apt to become entangled In
the whecls-and q man who was work.
ng by his side said. Better be careful
or you'll have that lady after you
"Everything is done to make the mcn
more careful, and the accident rate for
the building of some of our largest
plants has been decreased 90 per cent.
The best care Is given the men after
they are injured. visit them person
ally at their homes, getting expert mod
iCal attention ii the men have fallen
into the hands OF quack doctors.
ITS all interesting she continued,
and we look after the babies and
families Of the men, too. The best and
most efficient doctors Of the city will
give their services free il the case Is Il |
charity one, and the children are sick |
and In need"