More Vigilance Needed.

The recent sad accident by which one of our employees lost his life through being run down by a train on the Woburn line, should bring home to all railwaymen the great risk involved in walking heedlessly along the track. Statistics published some time ago showed that about 40 per cent. of all accidents and fatalities to railway employees are due to their being struck by moving vehicles. To lessen the number of such accidents, it is vital to remember that, wherever there are railway tracks, there is a possibility of a train coming along—a train that might hit one with fatal consequences if the space between the rails is being used as a thoroughfare. If it be necessary in the carrying out of duties to walk along the track, walk always a safe distance from the rails.

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Goggles Compulsory in the Pullman Shops.

According to a statement made in a recent address by Mr. H. Guilbert, Director of Safety of the Pullman Company, the wearing of goggles by all employees is now compulsory in the repair shops and yards of the Company. As illustrating the safety value of the new rule, Mr. Guilbert mentioned that since the wearing of goggles was made compulsory “the eyes of approximately a thousand men have been saved from serious injury or destruction.”

The compulsory wearing of goggles was introduced after twelve years of effort (under “optional” conditions) during which was tried “every conceivable method known to human ingenuity to get the men to wear goggles—such methods as spectacular bulleins, vivid (and unpleasant) examples, pleading, persuasion, and threatening—but with very small results.” Dismissal is the penalty for disregard of the new rule—a rule which applies also to officers of the company. Moreover, visitors to the works are likewise required to wear goggles.

A further point of interest made in the above address was, that since 1916, in Pennsylvania alone, no less than 6,842 eyes have been completely destroyed in industrial accidents.

On our own system (especially in the workshops) eye injuries constitute a big percentage of the yearly total of accidents. Employces owe it to themselves, to their families, and to the Department, never to engage in an occupation in which injury to the eyes might result, without providing themselves with suitable goggles.

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The Manner of our Jobs.

The attitude adopted towards our jobs and the manner of carrying them out, has an all-important bearing on safety. Impatience, over-confidence and awkward methods of procedure, are among the frequent causes of accident. We should always approach every detail of our work with the thought that the safety of others and of ourselves, depends largely upon individual vigilance.

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Hints in the Use of Grinding Wheels.

A wheel used for wet grinding should not be allowed to stand partly immersed in water. The water-soaked portion may throw the wheel dangerously out of balance.

New wheels should be run at a working speed for at least one minute before applying work, during which time the operator should stand at one side.

The work rest should be kept adjusted close to the wheel to prevent the work from being caught. Work rests should be rigid and always securely clamped after each adjustment. The rests should not be adjusted while the wheel is in motion.

(From “The Use and Care of Abrasive Wheels,” published by the National Safety First Association.)