Evening star., 1949-03-24
Cost Of Injuries
In AT Put al
Three Billions
$500, 100000 Poid
To Workers, Safety
Conference Told

Work injuries in the United
States in 1947 cost employers more
than $3.131, 100000, of which
more than 100000 was
workman's compensation, hospital
and medical payments, the Presi-
dents Conference on Industrial
Safety was told at this mornings
session. Final figures for 1948
are not yet>available.
Today's sessions were devoted
to discussion of committee reports.
Floor discussions by the dele
gates on these reports developed:
That the steel industry and
other heavy industries have failed
to keep pace in having proper
safety codes.
If industry does not provide
safety factors for workers, labor
will do it but it prefers to sit
down around a table and achieve
this objective peacefully.
That there would be a few in
dustrial accidents if educators
and engineers would get together
and stop taking pot shots at
each other" That increased at
tention should be given personnel
problems, because family troubles
and finances often affect a work.
er's safety and efficiency.
Conference Gets Report.
Commissioner Evan Clague OF
the Bureau of Labor Statistics put
before the conference report OF
the Committee on Industrial Ac-
cident Records, urging more de-
tailed statistics to indicate the
magnitude of the problem.
James E. Trainer. vice president
and production manager OF the
Firestone Tire & Rubber Co..
Akron, Ohio, as chairman OF the
Committee on the Engineering
Approach to Industrial Safety, told
the conference that practically
all accidents are prima facie evi-
dence of hazards In working en-
vironment, ineficiency in supervi-
sion or lack of adequate training"
Study Is Urged.
His committee urged that the
Labor Department., with the State
labor departments. analyze exist
ing State laws and codes. This
study would cover safety problems
and whether existing regulations
are adequate. The committee also
urged that State regulatory bodies
be encouraged to adopt national
Standardization of safety codes.
through expanded education in
industry. The committee also rec
commended that engineering safety
standards be viewed and an ex-
tended program for making ma
chimes safer for workers be pushed.
Almon E. Roth. San Francisco
attorney. as chairman, presented
to the conference the report of his
Committee on Development OF
Safety Laws and Regulations.
Tobin Is Speaker.
At yesterdays session OF the
conference Secretary OF Labor
Tobin told the group the United
States has joined the free peo-
pies of the world "in race be- |
tween democracy and communism
Under the European Recovery
Program we have made great
commitments to the civilized ma
tions of the earth. commitments
which we cannot meet without
conserving all of our possible
manpower." he said.
Mr.. Tobin urged the organiza-
ton of State safety programs.
He said he hopes Congress will
restore to the Bureau Of Labor
Standards in his department "its
right to train State factory in
spectors, upon request Of the
States, In the fundamentals of
safety and in the control OF new
hazards as they occur"
He listed the total annual toll
at $4,000 killed and 10000 perma-
nent disabilities from industrial
accidents.