224 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1910. 



The demand for more thorough safety precautions is becoming 

 recognized by manufacturers generally, and, when requested, most of 

 them will furnish very good forms of protection. Plate 8 illustrates 

 the improvement which is being made in machine tools and crane 

 design; where open gears were the rule a few years ago, everything 

 is now smoothly covered, and the gearing is practically invisible. 



THE HUMAN ELEMENT. 



From statistics which have been prepared both in this country and 

 in Germany, it would appear that about one-third of the total number 

 of industrial accidents are attributable in whole or in part directly to 

 carelessness or negligence on the part of the workers themselves. In 

 other words, a considerable percentage of the accidents which occur 

 can be charged to the human element and can not be prevented by 

 mechanical safeguards. If they are to be materially reduced, they re- 

 quire other treatment. 



The problem here is largely a psychological one, and we are work- 

 ing on it in a number of different ways. Men are prone to take 

 chances, and it is not surprising if the same spirit which causes one 

 man to ignore a cold until pneumonia succeeds it, or to risk his home 

 in the stock market, causes another to take reckless liberties with a 

 red-hot rod. Anyone who has watched a gang of structural workers 

 20 stories in the air scaling the steel columns of a new building must 

 be impressed with the needless risks that these men take. 



We are endeavoring to bring about a change of sentiment among 

 the workmen — to make them realize that it is quite as worthy and 

 honorable to be careful and not to take such risks, as it is to assume 

 the reckless, dare-devil attitude that is often found. There are din- 

 ing rooms in practically all of our plants wliere the foremen assemble 

 for lunch, with a more or less informal business meeting after the 

 meal. Reports of accidents are discussed here, letters of instructions 

 and general safety recommendations are taken up; talks are given; 

 and a constant effort is made to impress upon the foremen their re- 

 sponsibility in warning the men in their charge, or cautioning them 

 when they see them in any dangerous practice. 



"VVlien the men receive their pay envelopes they find little " ser- 

 monettes " printed on the back of the envelopes, urging them to take 

 care for the safety of themselves and others. These are placed also on 

 certain printed forms which are used largely in the mills, such as the 

 sheets on which the time distribution of the men is recorded and those 

 on which requisitions for material are filled out. The following 

 wordings are a few of those which have been used for this purpose ; 



The exercise of care to prevent accidents is a duty wtiicti you owe to your- 

 self and your fellow employees. 



Always be careful and take no risks. 



