The Wilmington morning star., 1943-04-03
SHIPYARD SHOWS
WAY TO SAFETY
fContinued From Page One)

led to believe, as the OFFICIALS
nress it. that the local firms rec
ord on safety compares very well
with that of other yards"
In five ways the North Carolina
Shipbuilding company is present.
ing safety to its large corps OF
men and WON n employees:
through physical examination be-
fore acceptance for work; through
assignment to jobs suitable to the
employees physique; through safety
education by means of counseling
and literature; through protection
on the job; and through quick and
care after injury.
The physical examinations es-
tablish whether an individual can
physically stand the pace of rivet-
ing, wedding, carpentering, paint
ing, or other strenuous work. AS
a precautionary measure during
the preliminary check-over, each
person is given typhoid innocula-
tions before he is dispatched to
his worlz-post.
The education program is SIM
pie. Workers are handed specific
on how to conduct them
selves to promote personal safety.
They are provided with a little
pamphlet on safety suggestions.
All over the yard they are greeted
by posters with reader appeal. Car
TONED men chattering under de-
scending sheet of steel say "Boy
this one Will kill you.'' Or boards
full of glaring pairs of eyes want
to know where the goggles are.
"Be careful is everywhere in evil
dnce.
Workers are encouraged to wear
safety shoes - steel toed objects
that can stand weight of 1000
pounds. For the jobs requiring
them: the yard provides goggles.
The shipyard store sells to its
patrons, at cost. all the protective
clothing, helmets, etc. they need.
In all the technical ways posi-
BILE, the shipyards promote protec-
ton on the job. There are five full
time inspectors and numbers of
part-time assistants who rake the
yards with finetooth combs to dis
cover the minute flaws in equip
ment and work surroundings that
might become hazards. Three hun
dred men in the yards are trained
in the techniques of artificial re-
But the emphasis is not on pro-
lection through the vigilance of
safety squad. T h
10000 and more workers are led
to believe that the eagle eyes of
salty men cannot take the place
of their own watchfulness and skill
to avoid falls, skin burns, a n d
flashed eyes.
When accidents do occur, as
inevitable in yard full of men
who came from farm jobs and
are not experienced in shipbuilding
tasks, the ample first aid and elm
ical facilities guarantee quick and
thorough remedy. Metal baskets
on the spot await the first indi-
cation of an injury. An ambulance
is on call. If the wounds are more
or less superficial, first aid sta
tions do the patching up. More
often than not, the injured man
is taken directly to the clinic,
young hospital stated by five ex-
pert doctors and equipped with the
latest and best paraphernalia for
treatment of all types. (There is
even an X-ray machine). If the
injuries warrant, the patient is
rushed to James Walker Memorial
with which institution the
shipyard has a working arrange
ment.
First aid kits are not posted
at every turn where the men are
working There is a reason for
this. Shipyard doctors want t h
Slightest scratch to receive instant
and effective care. One of the
safety rules is that
all injuris, no matter how slight,
be reported promptly to the med
ical department. Because of this
fact, the number of infections re.
sulting from late-reporting is kept
to the very minimum.
According to the management
a separate clinic for women work.
ers is planned for the near future.
however, an isolated section of
the present dispensary is now set
up to care for women only, and
is adequate for the present mum.
Der Of female employees.
Not all the physical problems
brought to the shipyard clinic con-
stitute deficiencies acquired on the
job. Bad colds, headaches and all
such lesser ailments are doctored
there. When a man develops in
ternal ailments, he is advised by
the shipyard physicians and then
sent to specialists for attention.
Physical fitness is sought. Vita
min capsules may be obtained at
the company store for cost price.
In hot weather, salt tablets are
dispensed. Everything possible is
done to promote physical well.be-
ing, so that machines may not be
idle for a minute because a man
is ill. More important than the
production OF machine, however,
is the welfare Of the worker him
self; management does not los e
sight of the individual in the race
against time and enemy,