Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-31
Labor Statistics Commits
sioner Takes District In
spector to Task.
ARTICLE POINTS OUT
NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS
Charges Lack of Safety Methods in
Demolishing Structures
and Excavations.

The office of the District building in
spector is sharply taken to task for fall
ing to anticipate the possibility of and
prevent a series of accidents which oc-
CURED In Washington recently in the
demolition of old buildings and con-
struction of new structures, resulting
In death and injury to workmen. by
Ethelbert Steward, United States COM
missioner of labor statistics, Department
of<Labor.
In an article on industrial accidents
In the current issue of the Monthly
Labor Review. Mr.. Stewart cites ex-
periences in Washington as one ex-
ample of the need for revision of build
ing codes and the taking of greater pre-
cautions for protection of workmen.
Referring to accidents on one con-
struction job, Mr.. Stewart declares:
THE contractor did not know low to
build safe supporting structure against
the wall of his excavation, and the city
inspector did not know when such
bracing structure was safe. In this
cave-in two men were killed, one man
suffered practically permanent total dis
ability, another was very seriously in.
Jured and two others were less seriously
hurt" H.
Premium Rates Cited.
Decrying the prevalence of construc-
ton accidents and pointing to the re-
sulting staggering" premium rates on
Workmens compensation insurance, Mr..
Stewart declares: -
% "One Of the greatest needs for care
and for a code in the building industry
has to do with the subject Of demoli-
ton. Certainly If we can take the Dis
trict of Columbia'S experience as typical,
the hazard in demolition is much great
er than that in construction. This be-
lief Is further borne out by the premium
rate Of the Ohio Industrial Commission,
which is $18 per hundred dollars of pay
roll for building wreckers, and for build
ing movers other than wooden, So,
while the rate for building movers,
wooden, is $3.50 per hundred dollars of
pay roll.
Our recent experience in washing-
ton emphasizes the fact that the in-
spectors have no standards by which
used either In demolition OF old build
ings or in the excavations of new ones.
A few months ago several workmen were
killed and others injured by the col
lapse Of a wall while building was
being torn down. In the latter part of
October cave-in, the third which had
happened on the same job, occurred in
the digging of foundation for new
building.
Blame Laid on Trucks.
This happened right across the street
from where wall had fallen a few
months before, and was, as I said, the
third time there had been a cave-in
on the same job. The contractor laid
the blame on the passage of heavy
trucks along the street, utterly ignoring
the fact that the thing had occurred
twice before and that any bracing of q
wall ought to take into consideration
the strain which would come from such
a perfectly obvious source as street traf-
fic.
Besides, 1t is alleged that the Dis
trlct inspector had passed on the safety
OF the bracing about an hour before the
cave-in took place. The contractor did
not know how to build a safe support
ing structure against the wall of his
excavation, and the city inspector did
not know when such bracing structure
was safe. In this cave-in two men were
killed, one man suffered practically
permanent total disability, another was
very seriously injured and two others
were less seriously hurt"
Mr.. Stewart took the occasion to urge
that the time is 'overripe" for
council of all States to review their
building laws in consonance with the
new methods and types of building. He
voiced the opinion also that bankers
might we'll consider the accident record
of contractors III allowing or disallow-
ing construction loans.
Il expect within year to see accident
costs and bank credits so inseparably
connected that the more reckless con-
tractors cannot borrow money.
This movement will sweep away most
of our ignorant and irresponsible con-
tractors and subcontractors."