The Washington herald., 1921-10-02
EYE ACCIDENTS AND POOR
LIGHT CAUSE WASTE.

that he has made.
EYE ACCIDENTS AND POOR
LIGHT CAUSE WASTE.
Eye accidents are revealed as
chief source OF avoidable national
waste in a special report OF the
committee on elimination Of waste
in industry of the American Engi-
neering Council just made public
The report embodies the results OF
an investigation conducted in many
States in connection with the ASSAY
OF waste in basic industries started
by Herbert Hoover.
The total number OF industriai
blind in the United States is gwen
as $4,000, or 1875 per cent OF the
total blind population. this type OF
injury being the leading causative
factor Of blindness" according 10
the report which was prepared by
Earle b. Fowler. The eye. il is de-
clared, is involved in lO.6 per cent
OF all permanently disabling acci-
/ dents.
The continuing sacrifice is shown
to be very large, asserts the COM
mittee. which blames irregularity
in reporting the facts as TO number,
severity and time loss among work
I ers for incomplete knowledge OF
the situation. This irreCularity
persists. il is said. in spite OF unf-
form forms recommended and urged.
Present protective methods as ap-
piled in large plants have effected
a great reduction in injuries, Il is
stated. The use of goggles is one OF
the chief protective devices. In the
nj nf
Z Foundry Company there has been a
reduction of more than rs per cent
through the use Of goggles and the
percentage Of reduction would be
much higher IL the men would wear
goggles more conscientiously. ac-
cording TO the management Expe-
rience has proved. IL lie declared. the
! falsity of the theory that the wear
ing of goggles by industrial work
ers in the event of accident only
Jeopardizes sight the more, on ac-
count of the liability OF injury to
the eyes from the broken glass OF
the goggles.
Not a single case OF injury to the
eyes from broken glass has been re-
corded since goggles were introduced
into the shops of the New York Cen
trail Railroad.
In spite of very definite and Sc
we're tests laid down by the national
code. the report says. the knowledge
regarding the characteristics OF sde-
quate eye protection appears 10 be
definitely limited to a few. mainly
those responsible in the larger organ-
izations. The report declares that
false statements or the sale OF Eog-
oil haf
they meet all OF the specified require
ments Of the codes, introduces a
grave menace" A certain num-
Der OF accidents involving damage
&c the eye are still unavoidable. IL
is said.
The report also charges industrial
waste to subnormal vision and faulty
lighting. That correction ot sub
standard vision produces an increase
in return that will pay for its cost
Is the conclusion of the mana cement
In plants where several years of
trial has provided a basis for judc-
ment-" continued the report which
cites experiences of plants In Chi
cago, Wstertown. Mass, and South
Manchester, Conn.
The report stresses the importance
OF correcting subnormal vision among
employees saying that excess eye ia
ugue results In quantity and quality
production. Substandard vision was
found to be Of great frequency. One
Investigation showed that out Of 2 soS
garment workers only 743 or a little
over IS per cent had bilateral normal
vision, IL per cent having normal Wis
ion in one eye. with the other defec-
tive. The highest percentage Of de-
fective vision was in the class OF
workers who made the greatest use OF
their eyes.
An examination Of more than TO-
600 employees in factories and com
mercisl houses found So per cent with
uncorrected faulty vision. OF the re
jections in the national army. 2i9
per cent were because Of eve trouble.
An examination of the vision OF g.
900 employees in a paper box factory
in Brooklyn, n. Y. showed that the
percentage OF normal was only 2s.
Many subnormal eyes will work
well even for fairly trying work
II conditions are good" the report
says Therefore, Il is first OF an
urgent TO bring the working condi-
oitiOns UP 10 the DeSl. On Nht S
now understood.
Even the most superficial survey
OF lighting conditions reveals that ~
the majority Of plants there is mueh
Improvement possible, in spite Of the
actual increase in production guam
tity and quality when poor illumi-
nation is corrected 10 standards no"
considered satisfactory. There seems
to be no question Of loss due TO faulty
conditions"
, One estimate. the report stateu'
placed the loss due TO faulty CON
citions in this country as above the
entire cost Of illumination. In so
plants Investigated only 81 per cent
were found to be in excellent condi-
ton.