Evening star., 1943-02-14
New D. {. Safety Code
Protests Reasonable,
Randolph Declares
Bunker Says Committee
Had No Intention to
Impose Hardship

Protests by property owners
against the proposed new District
safety code are reasonable" Chair
man Randolph of the House District
Committee has informed E. j. Bunk
er, director of industrial safety OF
the District Minimum Wage and In
dustrial Safety Board.
In his reply, Mr.. Bunker said the
committee drawing up the new code
had mo intention or desire to recon-
mend regulations imposing unneces-
sary or unreasonable hardship on
employers"
Enforcement of the proposed code
would require installation of $500
lavatories and rest rooms for women
employees, the Washington Building
Owners and Managers Association
said in formal protest. Even if
the code were adopted, they con-
tended, it would be impossible to
obtain critical materials, such as
plumbing, due to war priorities. The
Washington Real Estate Board and
the Washington Taxpayers Associa-
tion also protested. These groups
said the code was not intended to
be applied to service establishments,
but to industrial plants.
Randolph Writes Bunker.
After receiving protests, Chair
man Randolph wrote the following
letter to Mr.. Bunker:
81 should like to direct your at
tention to Section PA and D of
Title 2. You will note that an en-
ployer and place of employment
have been clearly defined. In other
words, industrial employment and
place of employment means every
place where industrial employment
Is carried on.
your attention is also directed
TO Page 9. I have received num-
ber of protests based on the fact
that the regulations on this page
are beyond the scope of the law. In
reading the definition and regula-
ton, 1t seems to me the protests
are reasonable. I should like to have
statement from you as to whether
or not you feel real estate activities,
retailers, grocers, etc, are industrial
places of employment"
Mr. Bunker, in reply, said he could
see mo difference in a defective
stairway that may result in a
stenographer's falling and breaking
a leg in an Office building, and
defective ladder that may result in
similar injury to a worker on
construction job"
Lists Injuries and Fatalities.
Mr. Bunker explained that retail
trade and real estate together had
1924 non-fatal and seven fatal in
juries, or "a per cent and IL per
cent respectively. of the total indus
trial accidents during 1912" adding
that the need and reasonableness
of considering all these activities
and industries is apparent"
He informed Chairman Randolph
that he was glad to clarity the issue
and remove grounds of protest.
THE committee that worked with
me in preparation of the manual"
Mr.. Bunker wrote, "is of the opinion
that the definition of industry or
occupation-any business, trade,
service or other activity in which
one or more persons render service
as employees consistent with cur
rent usage as well as the purpose
and intent of law.
AT least some, and apparently all
Of the objections as to the scope of
the definition of industry and occu-
patton are based on detailed re-
quirements specifying the number
of certain sanitary facilities. The
revision of these Objectionable re-
quirements in manner to provide
for reasonable safety of employees
without imposing any unreasonable
burden on employers or owners
should be a very simple matter.
Such revision is even now under
consideration, and will soon be
worked out to the satisfaction of all
concerned"
Tie proposed code has not been
put into effect, and hearings will be
held before final decision is
reached, Mr.. Bunker said.