Stop—Look—Listen!

It is estimated that fifty-nine persons were killed each day, in the United States, in automobile accidents during December, or a total of 1,830 for the month (says Detroit-Toledo and Ironton Railroad News). With the exception of one week in July, the accident graph of 1926 prepared by the Department of Commerce stands considerably higher than the similar one for the preceding year. And for January, 1927, the curve of the graph rises steadily, showing an increase in automobile fatalies over 1926.

Concerning accidents of all kinds in the United States during 1925, even more disquieting figures were revealed by Mr. Charles Hill, General Safety Agent for the New York Central Railways, as reported in a cable message on 27th April. He announced that in the United States during 1925, 90,000 persons were killed and 2,500,000 injured in accidents of all kinds. A fourth of these were children under fifteen years of age—246 of whom were killed each day, and 7,000 injured.

If any evidence were needed of the necessity for Safety First work and the urgent desirability of carrying its principles into effect, these figures of appalling loss of life—a loss so largely preventable and which in a varying ratio is occurring in all countries to-day—supply that evidence with particular emphasis.

A Good Tip For The Motorist.

A weekly journal draws attention to the great trade being done in motor mascots—as much as £20 being paid for one of these supposed “luck—bringers.” Commenting on the fact an expert motorist remarked: “The best mascot of all for the motor driver is a little schedule of rules fixed, not on the bonnet of his car, but firmly in his own head.” That is the voice of common sense speaking, and, if listened to, the number of accidents on the road would be considerably lessened.

Safety Hints.

Don't leave tools or material where they will fall down.

Don't place tools or material inside the enclosures formed by machine guards.

Don't stand close up to watch forging operations.

Don't bump doors open with trucks or wagons.

Don't watch electric welding operations with unguarded eyes.

Don't neglect any injury, however slight.

A Fruitful Safety Campaign.

An interesting safety campaign is at the present time being conducted at the Homestead Plant of the Carnegie Steel Company, Pittsburg. There are 13,000 employees—some 5,000 less than the number employed by our own Department. For the purpose of the safety campaign all of the employees are grouped under safety leaders, each safety leader (of whom over 2,000 have been appointed) having charge of six men. In a period of four months 222,257 written reports on printed blanks were sent in by these leaders. These reports pertained to additional safeguards, dangerous practices and safety generally. Of 4,072 safety recommendations made in these reports 3,342 were approved. The fact that in nine months of this campaign a 40 per cent. reduction in lost time accidents (as compared with the preceding nine months) was secured, says much for the vigilance and enthusiasm of all concerned in the cause of safety first.

“Chance” travels on crutches.

“Safety First” is more than mere sentiment. It is common sense applied to the realities of life.

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