Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-24
labor OFFICIALS
HOLD CONVENTION
Plant inspection and Employ
ment Service Discussed at
Harrisburg Meeting
MODERN METHODS OUTLINED
BY the Associated Press

Harrisburg. May 24.--Fnctory IN
spcction today rests upon the prin-
cipal that work places should be made
safe for employees" John p. Meade,
Of Boston. director of the Division of
Industrial Safety of the Massachusetts,
Department of Labor and Industries.
declared here today in an address be.
fore the convention of Governmental
Labor Officials Of the United States
and Canada. His subject was "a
Typical Plant Inspection.
''lts fundamental purpose, he
added. lis to protect the life and health
of workmcn from hazards arising in
connection with machinery and indus
trial processes. The factory inspector
today is the embodiment of the system
of legislation. rejecting the demand of
an enlightened public sentiment to pro-
tcct those whose work for society fire.
Qucntly means exposure to serious in
dustrial hazards"
Health Problem Vital
The problem of conserving the life.
health and energy Of employees. Mr..
Mead" said is one requiring social ac-
ton and one now recognized rs n legiti.
mate furCtion of government. The
economic loss sustained through occu-
pational disease cannot be adequately
demonstrated in figures he added.
after citing figures showing that in
1919 there wore about 5000 fatal ac-
cidentS and so 900 non fatal accidents
in industries of the country.
"Investigation has shown that i'm
pairmrnt Of the workman's health IS
usually followed by loss Of efficiency"
the speaker, said. 1T Is here that the
competent inspector becomes valu-
able asset to both workman and en-
ploypr. He must be able to point out
the type of exhaust system necessary to
dispose of fumes. dusts. and gases
properly. He must be familiar with
the best methods Of ventilation in work
rooms and we'll qualified to advise in
connection with general and local fight
ing.
Ordinary factory inspection expert
cncc is not sufficient to attain this re .
suit. Intensive training in the eXami :
nation of causes underlying industrial
accidents and occupational disease is
necessary to properly do inspection
work.
Canadian Methods Outlined
Methods followed by the Canadian
employment service in finding employees
for vacant jobs and in distributing
workers were outlined by II. c. Hud-
son. general superintendent of the On .
tario offices of the employment service
of Canada.
The Canadian service, he explained
consists Of seventy six employment Of.
fees. extending from the Atlantic 70 the
Pacific and, while each province retain.
complete autonomy in the administra
tiOn of the Offices within its boundaries
each Is linked with the other province
through uniform records and clearanc,
systems. The immigration Depart
ment. Mr.. Hudson said. does not permi
employers to bring workers into Can
ada until the Employment Service ha
ascertained, through the clearance sys
tenn. that qualified workers cannot p
secured in the country.
Reduced Rail Rate for Workers
"A reduced transportation rate |
available to workers proceeding to EN-
ployment over a distance Of III miles
in all cases where the positions hav
been secured through the Service,
Mr.. Hudson said. This concess!o
has been utilized by thousands G
workers and has represented a savin
Of hundreds of dollars which woul
otherwise have been spent In the pur
chase of transportation at the regula
rates. In addition it has enabled man
workers to accept positions at q dis
tance when they could not have don
so II obliged to pay full fare"
Members Of the employment staff.
he declared, are chosen solely on tn
basis of actual qualifications for ii
work and their aim is to satisfy til
employer by the selection of the ma
or woman best qualified to fill his re
Ouirements.