The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-11-24

not too early to make preparations
to meet this situation.
"As a general policy we should
make every effort to place these
handicapped veterans on jobs which
are operating and which they can
perform without harm to them
selves or others. To be successful
the placement Of handicapped vet
Grams must be on a sound basis both
from the standpoint of productivity
and economic return to the worker.
This means fitting the individual to
a necessary job that is operating in
the plant. A successfully placed
handicapped worker ceases to be
handicapped from the standpoint
Of earning or productivity.
I'VE should be liberal in our poll
icy in rehabilitating our employees
returning from service and we
should make every reasonable effort
to assist them in readjusting them
selves to normal plant activity"
The General Motors plan calls for
CO. ordination of the activities of
the plant medical departments, en-
ployment departments, training
facilities, supervision and others
concerned with the rehabilitation Of
disabled veterans. It calls also for
a survey Of jobs in the plants from
the standpoint Of physical require
mentS to determine suitability for
placement of veterans with various
types of physical handicaps.
Type OF Work
Plant doctors will give returned
veterans complete physical examin-
atoms and on the basis of these ex-
aminations will recommend the type
of work to which they can be as
signed. Each man will be followed
up to see that he becomes accli-
mated to his work and is able to
carry the job. In the event 1t is
found that man is not suited to
the work to which he is first as
signed transfers will be arranged.
Training facilities will be made
available for veterans who must
learn types Of work in which they
are inexperienced. When necessary,
every help will be given disabled
veterans in taking advantage of the
facilities of the Veterans Admins
tration.
Returning service men will be
placed in various groups dependent
upon their physical condition. It is
anticipated that the great majority
will be physically able to resume
their usual occupations.
Depending upon their physical
condition, handicapped veterans
will be classified so that those hav-
Ing serious visual defects, diabetes,
heart disease or hand or arm dis
abilities will not work with hazard
Gus machinery. Men who are suffer-
ing from back injuries or other dis
abling conditions will be placed in
Jobs where there is not heavy lift
ing.
Other groups. depending upon
their condition, will be given Jobs
where their handicaps will not be
hazardous. For instance, those SUI
fering from lung ailments will not
be asked to work where there Is
dust or fumes, those with leg in
jur1es will not be given Jobs requir-
ing extensive walking or standing,
and those with ear ailments or par
tial deafness will not be asked to
work in departments that are noisy.
Men with severe handicaps will
be given special treatment and
careful supervision and training to
fit them for jobs they can do. Vet
Grams temporarily unable to work or
those requiring extensive vocational
rehabilitation will be referred to
the Veterans Administration and
General Motors will assist in every
way possible in helping them to use
the facilities the government offers.
Worry Big Factor
1T should be recognized" the
outline of the General Motors plan
states, that an individual with q
severe handicap is not likely to have
the same confident mental attitude
Of the normal healthy person. He
may doubt his ability to overcome
his handicap. He may worry unduly
about his future security. This fac
tor should be understood by super
vision and should be borne in mind
by those who train and direcs the
work Of the handicapped.
AFTER the handicapped individu-
ais have been placed. it is important
that they not be moved to other
essentially different jobs the char
acteristics Of which would be harr6a
full to the individuals condition.
When they are transferred to an ess
sentially different type of occupa-
ton they should receive a supple.
ment examination by the plant doc.
tor"
It was stressed that the handi.
capped worker should be paid thS
full rate for the job to which he Y
assigned.