Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 10 (February 1, 1928)

Safety First

page 41

Safety First

Forming the Safety Habit.

Habit formation commences very early in life and goes on more or less continuously throughout its duration. It is this fact upon which the safety idea rests—in its educational aspect. If one stops to think before one acts—say in crossing a street or in jumping from a moving vehicle —a cautious habit is formed and it becomes stronger (to the point of giving the individual a hundred per cent, protection against accident) in proportion to the use made of it in circumstances of possible danger. Accidents are painful to the victim, and disturbing generally. The formation and constant cultivation of the safety habit will diminish their number considerably.

* * *

Some Causes of Accident.

Among the more frequent causes of accident to workers in the transportation industry—causes the dangerous effects of which should, in no circumstances, be forgotten, are:—

Failure to use available safety appliances.

Failure to wear special clothing (and boots) when performing dangerous work.

Using faulty tools—especially ill-fitting wrenches and burred-edged hammers and chisels.

Using insecure scaffolding and ladders.

Faulty packing of materials and handling of same in a careless manner.

Using faulty chains, ropes and wire.

Walking underneath loads suspended from cranes, slings, etc.

Walking through escaping steam.

Climbing through moving vehicles.

Neglecting to “Stop, Look, and Listen,” before crossing railway yards.

* * *

Eye Injuries.

Particular care should be taken to protect the eyes at this time of the year owing to dust particles being stirred up and driven through the air by the wind.

This applies especially to employees in shunting yards, etc. It is a good safety precaution, therefore, to protect the eyes (in all cases where injury is apt to be caused by driven dust particles) by wearing suitable goggles.

A Careful Man's Creed.

I believe that the greatest satisfaction in life is to do good work.

I believe that work is not well done unless it is safely done.

I believe that I owe it to myself, to my family, and to my employer to be always on guard against accidents and thereby save the suffering and loss they cause.

I believe it is my duty to protect my fellow workers as far as possible, by word and deed, so that they will not get hurt.

I believe that the constant practice of Safety First is the best possible protection against accidents.

I believe in using all the mechanical safety guards that are available and in placing no faith in chance.

I believe in putting into daily practice the safety principles in which I believe so that my example may influence the habitually careless to adopt the safe and careful way in carrying out their daily work.

I believe that as almost all accidents are, in the last analysis, preventable, that it is my imperative duty as a man and citizen to practice and advocate Safety First so that m'y country may reap the full economic value of my life and work.

* * *

An “Alarming Fact.”

That the motor vehicle fatality rate per 100,000 of population in the United States is increasing at almost the same rate, alike in the smaller and larger cities, was one of the alarming' facts revealed by statistics last year. Commenting on this fact an exchange says that it is not the density of cities, but of those who live in them, that causes most fatal accidents of this nature.