The Connecticut labor news., 1925-01-03
HEAVY WORK TAKES
 EIGHT YEARS OF
 WORKERS'S LIFE
By International Labor News Service.

Washington, D. C., Jan. 3-The
 industrial worker at the present time
 is handicapped to the extent of eight
 years of life when compared with other
 workers. Statistics bearing out this
 assertion were laid before the Eighth Annual Industrial Conference held in
 New York City recently, in a discus
 sion by Louis l. Dublin of ''The Health
 of the Worker" l Mr. Dublin is the statictian of the
 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
 and is in a position to observe the ex- tent of deaths toll among the factory,
 mill, shop, quarry and subway workers from report of the 5,oOO0,OO0 men who are insured by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, four ffths of whom are industrial workers. His re- marks were particularly pertinent to the State of New York, with it's dense population, employing the largest numbe rof workers in industry and turning out the greatest wealth. Out side of mining every important occu patton is represented. The facts also apply to the nation.
 Millions Pay Price. I|
 "The industrial workers taken by and large, may be distinguished by marked dininution in their longevity from those engaged in other forms of agriculture, commercial and professional pursuits, etc." he said
 "At the present time, the expecta- ton of life of men engaged in indus trial pursuits at the age of 20 IS AZ | years. This means that they may on the average attain the age of 62.
 Those who are not engaged in in iustry may expect an additional 50 years at the age of 20. There would. therefore, seem to be a difference of lobut eight years between the two ,roups.
 "The handicap of eight years in the of life is in the nature of
 tax which millions of men who are ngaged in industry must pay under | resent conditions. It is measurable nd a very real burden which might eadily be expected from the very na- ure of industrial employment and the node of life of the workers.
 That however is not the only tax which they pay. Possibly more i'm ,ortant, but less easily measured, is he tax of Hines sand of liability which IS laid upon men in industrial pursuits"
 Sick Men Continue to Foil.
 MT. Dublin estimates that more han eight days year are lost by manual workers through sickness. den whose daily wages are vital to heir families, he said, often continue 0 work under conditions of health, which would impe1 clerical and pro- essiona1 workers to seek medical ad- ice and treatment. Economic pres ure keeps sick toilers at work, he ontends.
 Occupational accidents take a heavy oll that decreases the life span of 5orkers by one year. Occupational isease does the greater damage and 5orkers are not compensated for 1t in 1ost states, while for accidents, legis- ation provides payment to the fam ies of the victims.
 Tuberculosis is still the most impor- ant single death factor among work rs, Dr. Dublin said, the death rate rom this disease being two and three ines as great among workers as armers, professional and clerical workers.
 Congestion to Blame.
 Too crowded work rooms, dust and atigue are couses of the havoc wrought by this sickness of the city, Dr. Dublin asserted.
 Deaths from pneumonia are twice as ligh among industrial workers as all ,thers, he said Dust, dampness, ex- reme changes of temperatur, ccoal nd gas fumes the the most likely auses.
 Industrial exposure has much to do lso with causing cerebral hemorr- lage, Bright's disease and organic ,eart ailments, he indicated. Part1c- llarly hazardous are occupations III which lead, brass, mercury, arsenic, ,enzene, ani1ine and wood alcohol are 1sed. Caisson workers are victims of heir work, so are handlers of hides md skins. The direct deaths are not arge. but the indirect loss through