Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-08

To reduce the rising mortality among
workers in the building trades, the
American Institute of Arcmtects has
compiled a Safety Code for the Con-
struction Industry" and will make it
available for Nationwide Endorsement
and adoption by contractors, 1t is an
nounced by Samuel R. Bishop of New
York, chairman of the institutes COM
mittee on health and safety.
1.-The code is the first comprehensive
effort to formulate safety regulations
for the building industry in this coun-
try" Mr.. Bishop declares. Its prepa-
ration has required more than a year,
and was begun at the request of the
workers themselves, in the belief that
the architects represented a wholly un-
biased group, specially fitted to under
take the task.
The institutes committee has worked
in cooperation with representative of
the National Trade Union safety stand
ards committee for the building trades.
Several previous attempts to establish
such code have met with failure ow-
ing to the difficulty of harmonizing the
conflicting interests represented by the
many different trades involved in
building The architects, being in a
disinterested and unbiased position in
the building industry, are well informed
on the conditions which prevail, and at
the same time are in position, through
the contracts which they control, to
urge acceptance of a necessary program
for protection of human life.
Ten Killed Each Day.
''More than 1000 construction work
ers are killed each year, 10 each day,
according to careful estimates. This
death rate is higher than any other eX-
cept that of the mining industry. In
the four States of New York, Penn
Sylvania, Ohio and California almost
$4,000 accidents occur annually.
THE New York State Department
of Labor recently reported that deaths
in the manufacturing industry de-
building industry increased 81 per cent
during a period of two years.
These States have all reported
alarming increases in accidents among
workers on buildings during the past
few years. New machinery and me-
chanical equipment and speed-up meth
DDS have added their toll while in the
absence of a definite set of safety
measures, both contractors and work.
men themselves have at times taken
undue risks.
1.-THE construction industry is the
second largest in the country, con-
fronted with greater hazards than any
other, and paying the heaviest insur-
ance charges against accidents. It is
capitalized at about $4,000, 100000 and
employs more than 100000 men.
Staggering Losses.
""There was a time, and not very
long ago, when safety regulations were
unknown, mainly because buildings
were not built as high as they are
today, and methods of construction were
simpler. At present the industry is
annually absorbing the staggering sum
of nearly $250,000, 900 in both personal
and property losses.
Seven States now have safety codes
on their statute books for the protec-
ton of construction workmen. Four
teen States have q few legislative regu-
1ations and 81 have no regulations at
all.
'On May / the building trades de-
partment of the American Federation
of Labor asked Secretary of Labor
Davis to initiate an investigation of the
subject of security for workers in build
ing erection and to call a conference
of all those interested. The Depart
ment of Labor is momentarily with
holding its decision pending action by
national conference of the Associated
General Contractors of America, which
will meet in the near future to consider
adoption OF the architects code.
I'm New York State Miss Frances
Perkins, commissioner of labor, has
started movement for safety section
in the New York City building code.
In general, safety supervision would be
more practicable in the hands Of the
city than of the State, because large
cities already have a staff of inspectors
to enforce their municipal building
regulations.
But legislative action does not insure
safety. Not only would an army of
inspectors be required, but the rigidity
of laws and the VARYING conditions of