THE QUESTION OF FATIGUE FROM THE ECONOMIC STANDPOINT. 261 



either great attention to the work in hand might just have foreseen 

 and a quick reaction might just have escaped; next, accidents due to 

 some positive inattention or lack of muscular control (usually a 

 muscular inaccuracy) either with extenuating circumstances (fifthly) or 

 not (sixthly); and, finally, accidents due either to a lack of muscular 

 control (often a lack of muscular co-ordination) or to inattention plus 

 a slow reaction that misses the chance of escape. 



After the enumeration of each class of causes, accidents caused 

 lately under such classes at a large munition factory will be given, being 

 typical or specially compHcated examples, as described by the foreman 

 in his report to the head office. It will be noted that the wording often 

 omits one stage in the ' modus operandi ' or else is somewhat ambiguous, 

 the tendency being to attribute accidents to an unusual behaviour in 

 the material rather than in the man. Thus a ladle ' coming away ' 

 when being handled by the operative is rather like the frequently 

 attested cup-breaking in the housemaid's hands, while to say that 

 ' working at a steam hammer, tongs flew off job,' does not tell us how 

 exactly the hammer affected the tongs. Where necessary, I have 

 appended the explanation of the accident supervisor. 



Examples of the Causation of Accidents. 



1st. Unusual action of material objects at the time. Outside scope 

 of injured man's work, no escape possible. 



A. ' By valve flying out and catching him on the head.' 



B. ' Carrying shell and passing machine a turning flew and burnt eye.' 



2nd. Unusual action or position of material objects at the time, 

 within scope of injured man's work, no escape possible. 



Includes all injuries from sparks or cuttings flying out of work in hand. 



3rd. Unusual action or position of material objects at the time, out- 

 side scope of injured man's work, escape possible. 



C. ' Shell rolled oS a bench and fell on his foot.' 

 Includes most injuries from fellow workers* carelessness. 



4th. Unusual action or position of material objects at the time, 

 within scope of injured man's work, escape possible. 



D. ' While slinging job with crane, the job slung round and caught him on 



leg." 



E. ' While setting the bar, the machine started, and his hand was caught 



between the bar and the shell-carrier.' 



F. ' While throwing water on scar from furnace, steam scalded his arm.' 



G. ' While walking across the shop, stepped on to a piece of wood with a 



nail in it. The nail penetrated his boot, and entered his foot.' 



5fch. Unusual action or position of injured man at the time attribut- 

 able to unusual circumstances beyond his control. 



H. ' While removing a 12-inch punching-die off press, he stepped back to 



keep clear and in doing so fell over a 12-inch shell-block which was 



lying behind him.' 

 I. ' Slipped on piece of sheet-iron and wrenched his back, when lifting 



4-5 forging.' 



6th. Unusual action or position of injured man at the time not 

 attributable to unusual circumstances beyond his control. Consists 



