Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1908 — CARELESS METHODS PENALTY. [ARTICLE]

CARELESS METHODS PENALTY.

Thousands of Workingmen Killed and Injured Yearly, Says Bureau of Labor Bulletin. Washington, Dec. 14.—Between 30,000 and 35,000 deaths and 2,000,000 injured is the accident record in the United States during the past year among workingmen, according to. a bulletin Issued today by the Bureau of Labor. Of those employed In factories and workshops it is stated that probably the most exposed class are the workers in iron and steel. Fatal accidents among electricians and electric linemen * and coal miners are declared to be excessive, while railway trainmen were killed in the proportion of 7.46 deaths per 1,000 employes. The bulletin declares that much that could be done for the protection of the workingmen Is neglected, though many and far-reaching improvements have been introduced in factory practice daring the last decade. It 1b pointed out that the possibilities for accident prevention have been clearly demonstrated in the experience of foreign countries. “Granting,” the bulletin states, “that the underlying conditions in European countries are often quite different and that many of our industrial accidents may be the result of ignorance, reckless indifference or carelessness, the fact remains that an immense amount of human life Is wasted and a vast amount of Injury is done to health and strength, with resulting physical impairment, which has a very considerable economic value to the nation as a whole." It is insisted that it should not be impossible to save at least one third, -and, perhaps, one half, by intelligent and rational methods of factory inspection, legislation and control.