The Washington times., 1923-02-11
VIRGINIA WINS
! c. & P PHONE
SAFETY PRIZE
Ties With. West Virginia In
Reducing Workers Accidents
5 To Minimum During Year
TAKES CUP SECOND TIME
Maryland and D. C. Divisions
In Close Contests With Only
Fourteen .Mishaps In Each

AS a result of three years Of eff
fort to prevent. accidents among
telephone workmen, the four divi-
sions of the Chesapeake and Poto-
mac Telephone Company in West
Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and
the District of Columbia in their
1922 safety campaign achieved a
record which is looked upon by all
Industry as being remarkable.
In the number of accidents Vir-
ginia and West Virginia were tied
Tor leadership in the contest. In
each division there were but two
mishaps> among employees during
the entire year, but in Virginia the
accidents resulted in only four days
lost from work, while m the sister
State the lost time was slightly
greater. Employees in the former
territory, therefore, were awarded
possession Of the silver cup which
the divisions are contesting for. =
NEW RECORDS MADE.
Competition for third place also
was close, the Baltimore and Wash
ington divisions each having but
fourteen accidents throughout the
year. Baltimore had the edge on
the Capital workmen, however, hav-
ing fewer days lost from work.
In the entire company there were
only thirty-two accidents, which IL
O big contrast to the 1913 figures.
In that year, 269 lost-time accidents
occurred; In 1920 there were 2O2
and in 1891, los. Last years
achievement. therefore. Is by far
the best yet registered.
This is the. second consecutive
year that the Richmond division,
which comprises all OF Virginia, has
won possession of the safety cup.
Since 1921, however, much progress
has been made in the prevention
of accidents In that year there
were seventy-four days lost from
work due to injuries, against the
four days lost last year. Back in
1919. before the campaign to elm.
mate accidents got fully under
way. there were S19 days lost with
IN the twelve months. i.
GOOD WORK IN WEST VA.
Similar results have been achieved
In West Virginia as result Of the
Telephone mems endeavor to think
safely and act safely. During the
year there was one accident at
Wheeling and one at Fairmont. the
Charleston, Charleston elsewhere,
Clarksburg, Huntington, Morgan
town and Parkersburg offices came
Through without an accident during
the whole year.
West Virgfnia's achievement is
considered remarkable, in view Of the
fact that telephone plant must be
maintained throughout a rough,
mountainous country. The work
performed by the men includes the
construction OF lines; installation ana
maintenance OF switchbUards. watch
ing and repairing of many miles Of
pole lines, construction OF under
ground conduits and manholes. ana
similar work.
In each of the four divisions. dis
triet contests also are held. In West
Virginia. the Charleston district has
been declared victor, with a per-
feet record. In Virginia, the Rich
mond district came through in first
place. also with a perfect record of
completing the year without a mis-
hap.
3 TIE IN WASHINGTON.
In Washington. two departments
were tied for leadership, each with
100 per cent average. while three
of the Maryland departments went
through the year without an acct
dent.
= In each Of the divisions, the dis.
tricts and departments contested for
possession of a silver cup, held from
year to year by the winners. In
washington, each of the two win
ming teams will hold the cup for six
months, while in Baltimore the three
49, nv-f~ ole d
session of it.
So great has become the inter-
est in the contest that the men are
constantly on the alert to take part
in the various phases Of the cam
paign. They frequently assemble to
discuss means of preventing acct
dents. and so great have been their
achievements that they firmly be-
lieve the time is at hand when their
work will be entirely free Of hazard.
The company itself for several
years has been training the men
in the observance of safe prac-
tees and methods of performing
telephone work. Each man is in
structed in the avoidance of danger
Gus and careless ways of working.
Tools and equipment made with
the special view to preventing mis-
haps are furnished the men and
standard specifications are issued
as to their proper use. No man
is allowed to go on a job without
a full outfit of the euuipment
necessary for the safe performance
of the work.
FIRST AID WORK.
Last year, under the direction of
the Red Cross, the men were given
a course in first aid work, and
nearly every one was certified as
being capable of rendering practi-
cal first aid. This, of course, is a
precaution taken primarily in order
that, If a telephone man should be
injured on the job, his comrades
can give him instant treatment and
render valuable help until expert
medical assistance arrives.
The company also has taken
special measures to see that tele-
phone property and equipment are
kept in such condition that injury
cannot befall men working on them,
when the proper precautions are
observed. The thought is always
foremost, too, that the property is
IN such shape that the public is
protected from any possible injury
through coming in contact with 1t.