The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-02-25
Safety Is
Stressed At
Lumber Plant
New Program Under Way
To Study Causes And
Eliminate Accidents.
INJURING WORKMEN
BUNGLING BUSINESS

3An efficient plant means a safe
plant. 1t is bad. bungling business to
MAIN or kill workmen."
That expression by Walter Neils,
general manager of the ]. Neils Lum-
Der company, is the keynote of new
safety program that has been in op-
Grafton at the local plant since about
the first of the year. This organizing
for safety and to protect the workmen
from injury follows similar plan that
is being inaugurated by most of the
big industrial plants throughout the
nation
In getting the new program under
way, Mr.. Neils called a meeting of ex-
ecutives and foremen and explained
the plan to them. He called attention
to the large amount of money that has
been paid out by the company since
1919 for compensation but added that
while this was monetary loss to the
company the loss and suffering to in
jured workmen were beyond meas
urement
At this first meeting with foremen
and executives Mr.. Neils further said:
"The officers of this company have de-
cided to do everything in their power
to prevent accidents in this plant. Hun
dreds of companies all over the coun-
try are taking up this proposition Of
safety and are organizing and promot-
ing it as part of the operating or
ganization- In every company where
the work is being done efficiently, large
reductions are being realized. not only
for the owners but also for the work
men.
To Install Effective Safeguards
I'VE should look upon safety not IA
an outside matter but as an inside
proposition-an Indispensable part of
an efficient organization. An efficient
plant means a safe plant II is bad,
bungling business to MAIN or kill
wurkmen.
THE officers of this company are
willing to spend the money necessary
to equip the plant with effective safe
guards"
The safety program that has been put
in operation follows a we'll thought out
plan. Heading the organization is
general committee consisting of the
superintendent, engineer and
foreman or other employee in a position
Of authority. This committee consists
of Walter Neils, George Neils, w. r.
Dexter and Alfons Agather. The set
up includes safety director who has
knowledge of industrial safety stand
ards and who shall devote at least a
part of his time to safety inspection
work. Alfons Agather was named safe
ty director.
The safety director appoints num-
Der of employee inspectors, one each
for the various departments of the
plant. These employee inspectors serve
only two weeks when new ones are
named. They are paid cents per hour
above their regular wage rate while SO
serving Their duty is to keep their
eyes open, study conditions in the part
of the plant under their observation
and make suggestions for safety ap-
pliances and how bad practices can be
eliminated.
Important Work by Foremen
The foremen of the various depart
ments are also part Of this organiza-
ton. They are to watch their depart
ments constantly and also report con-
ditions that may lead to accidents and
how such dangerous conditions or prac-
tees can be eliminated.
At stated intervals, not less frequent
ly than every four weeks, safety
meeting is held that is attended by the
general committee of executives and
the foremen and employee inspectors.
At that time recommendations for safe
ty appliances are made and suggestions
brought forward for the elimination
of bad practices, dangerous habits that
workmen are apt to get into. These
are discussed in the open committee
and if they are considered wise, orders
are given for installation of safety de-
vices and steps taken for the stopping
of bad practices.
These safety meetings are very in
teresting. The foremen and others who
have been given the responsibility I'M
der the new safety program have sub
mitted many recommendations for
safety measures and many corrective
steps have already been taken Regular
minutes of these meetings are kept by
r. r. Veldman, secretary, and study
of the minutes discloses that large
number of safety suggestions have beer
made and put into effect. The minutes
prove most interesting to anyone con
cerned with the welfare of his fellow
men,
Safety Includes Education
4 The plan outlined here is only par
of the safety program. 1t includes
program of education as we'll. Hight
effective placards are posted through