The great change that has come over the industrial world during the last decade, through a closer study of the potent factors in efficiency, has manifested itself not only in improved methods of operations and in systematic conservation of time and material, but also, most seriously, in matters pertaining to the welfare of the workman and to the elimination of the danger from his occupation.
That a marked improvement in general efficiency should follow proper provision for the cleanliness, safety and hygienic comfort of those who work in shops, is far less surprising than that recognition of this natural and close relationship between welfare and output should have been so tardy, or that the dangerous, unhealthful and depressing surroundings commonly existent in the shops of not so many years ago, should have been so persistently ignored.
As popularly understood, the terms safety and welfare are quite fully covered by such alterations in and additions to the old-style surroundings of the workman as will insure him adequate protection against injury while in the pursuits of his vocation, and will provide for him during such work, ample heat, light, ventilation, pure drinking water and sanitary toilet facilities. Indeed it was to these features alone that the Navy Department directed special attention some two years ago, and it was then found that the needed correction of defects and supplying of deficiencies along these lines were surprisingly many.
In the opinion of many advanced thinkers on this subject, the term welfare has a deeper meaning and covers a wider field than is indicated above, extending even into the æsthetic atmosphere generally scorned by the practical foreman; but while this field should not be cultivated until after graduating from the primary school of safety and welfare, therein will be found benefits as absolute and as mutual as any that have resulted from work done in the more familiar territory.
In order to get a clear idea of the whole subject and especially as to what has already been accomplished through systematic effort, we must first make the acquaintance of an affiliated group of associations which had its origin about 26 years ago in little Holland and has been spreading, since then, throughout the civilized world. The members of this group have titles variously phrased to signify safety and welfare, and have for their common object the most comprehensive and inclusive one of any association in the world, this being the conservation of human life and health. That 14 foreign nations should have been pushing such a humanitarian enterprise, under the inspiration and direction of men and minds devoted to the uplift of the industrial workers in matters pertaining to their health, safety and happiness, and that one thriving branch had existed in New York City since 1911, would seem to be a reason for a more general knowledge of the information and data thus made available; yet it is quite safe to say that prior to the following incident occurring in 1912, few naval officers had even heard of the museums of safety or of the American branch.
In carrying out the duties of director of navy yards, 1912, the writer found great need of a more systematic attention to the matter of safeguarding the danger points of shops and machinery at the various navy yards and stations and early secured the department's directions to each commandant to properly advance this through such recommendations as would follow a monthly inspection of all shops, by a board composed of the captain of the yard and all the principal foremen. This kind of inspection was carrying out an idea obtained from the Midvale company for securing criticism of each shop by foreman of other shops with eyes fresh to the scene and not overfamiliar with its particular arrangements; there having long been recognized to exist a sort of shop hypnotism which, at times, blinds those in daily contact with set conditions, to some defect quite obvious to some other experts.
The head of the board at the Philadelphia Yard (Captain E. A. Anderson, U. S. Navy) took an unusually keen interest in the matter and cast about for some outside source of information on the latest forms of safety devices. Learning something of the Museum of Safety in New York he visited that institution and made his needs known to its director, Dr. Wm. H. Tolman, and from this visit there resulted an almost immediate distribution to the navy yards of our country such data and illustrated information on the subject at issue as would have taken years of individual investigation to have accummulated. Dr. Tolman not only visited the Philadelphia Yard and made close inspection with Captain Anderson, but furnished him with numerous photographs of the most modern safety appliances, and also delivered a free illustrated lecture at that yard, to those officers and men interested enough to attend, on the subject of safety and sanitation. Through efforts of the department, Dr. Tolman was induced to repeat this lecture at other yards within reasonable reach, and this he did without remuneration except for actual expenses. Following this there naturally sprang up a close correspondence between the director of navy yards and the museum, leading to a visit to the museum in January of last year (fortunately at the time of the annual meeting of the institution) through which the full scope of the work being done was brought to an appreciation which has prompted the writing of this article.
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF SAFETY
At the present time this museum is one of but 24 similar institutions in the world. England is about to come into line, at London; but the list, as it now stands, is as follows; Holland having been the first and New York the twelfth in actual formation:
Austria: One in Gratz, Steiermark.
Belgium: One in Brussels.
Canada: One in Montreal.
Denmark: One in Copenhagen.
Finland: One in Helsingfors.
France: Two in Paris.
Germany: One in Berlin, one in Würzburg, one in Dresden, one in Munich, one in Frankfort-on-the-Main.
Holland: One in Amsterdam.
Hungary: One in Budapest.
Italy: One in Milan.
Russia: One in Moscow, one in Odessa, one in St. Petersburg.
Spain: One in Barcelona.
Sweden: One in Stockholm.
Switzerland: One in Zürich, one in Lausanne.
United States: One in New York, one in Boston, Mass., one in San Francisco.
The museum in New York City occupies limited space in the building of the United Engineering Societies, No. 29 West 39th Street. It was organized in 1908, just 20 years after the movement was started in Holland, and was incorporated in 1911 under a special charter from New York State. It is supported entirely by voluntary subscriptions and membership fees, although, in view of the great value of its work to the community at large, it would seem that it should have hearty aid from the state. During the brief period of its existence it has made the most wonderful strides in the enlightenment of employers and employees in the subjects of safety and hygiene, and also in investigating the causes of accident and disease involved in the various vocations of workmen and supplying the needed corrective and preventive data and information.
As noted above, these museums are all affiliated, exchanging all information of value secured and meeting each year, by representatives, for the discussion of papers and exchange of views. It is thus obvious that the fund of information available at our own museum is the combined results of the investigations of hundreds of active, specialized minds throughout the world, and cannot fail of being the utmost value to the shop, the home and the individual.
In attempting to properly carry out such an inclusive object as these institutions have in view it becomes necessary, of course, to systematically subdivide the work into sections, and the four principal sections of the American Museum, last year, were
Iron and steel,
Chemical industries,
Education,
Hygiene,
the latter being again subdivided into
Lighting and ventilation,
Factory and construction,
Housing,
Food and water,
Sanitation and occupational diseases, including dust prevention,
Care of sick and injured,
Sewage; refuse and garbage disposal.
Under all these headings work constantly progresses in securing data and information on the latest and best methods for improving industrial conditions; and statistics, models and full explanations are always freely available at the museum, covering all that has been done on these lines throughout the world.
It was stated that 3,000,000 of our workers suffer periods of illness each year from industrial causes of a preventable nature; through effects of poisons, dust, fumes, smoke, poor light, bad ventilation, impure water and faulty sanitation, and the president of the institution estimated that at least one-half of the 25,000 fatal accidents which annually occur in the United States, can be averted by proper instructions and easily installed devices.
One can readily see that such an enterprise as this has an unlimited scope and boundless room for expansion and that it will find an ever-increasing multitude eager to utilize the definite results of its investigations. Its practical utility has already been demonstrated, not only by the little incident of its aid to the Navy Department, but by the manner in which it has been recognized by state departments and commercial institutions. Probably this is best shown by quoting some extracts from the address of President Williams last January:
The museum has co-operated with the various State Departments of Labor. For example, a week's campaign was conducted in Minnesota, with the Commissioner of Labor, for the purpose of arousing interest in accident prevention in that state: The present activity in Minnesota may be directly traced to the Americaon Museum of Safety.
Commissioners of labor from other states have made frequent visits to the museum for study and inspiration. The commissioner frm New Jersey, with his inspectors, have spent much time at the museum taking copious notes and securing working drawings of various devices, photographs and lantern slides. The resources and the personal services of the museum's staff were freely placed at the service of these gentlemen.
The Department of Labor of the State of New York is using the museum as a training school for its inspectors, where the latest and best methods for safeguarding machines and dangerous processes may be studied. Candidates for positions as state factory inspectors closely studied the collections in preparing themselves for the civil service examinations. The museum is, in fact, the only training school in the United States where factory inspectors may prepare themselves for their responsible positions.
Inspectors employed by the great casualty insurance companies have similarly used the museum. In one instance, the Travelers Insurance Company, at considerable expense, ordered their inspectors from all over the country, to assemble at the museum for the special study of its collections.
Many leading industrialists have sent members of their staff, managers and superintendents, to the museum for similar investigations. One large iron and steel company made four special visits, through representative bodies made up of its foremen and selected workmen. So rich were these study visits that the company has incorporated them in its policy for prevention of accidents in its works.
The American Museum of Safety possesses the finest specialized Library on Accident Prevention and Industrial Hygiene in America. Last year its resources were greatly enriched by specialized exhibits, in the form of models, collected by the director, concretely illustrating occupational diseases and industrial poisons. This collection is unique and forms the basis of the section of industrial hygiene, and of which our country may well be proud.
Sir Arthur Whitelegge, His Majesty's chief inspector of factories, made a special visit to the museum last year. He was so impressed with the practical character of the work that he will use it as a model for the London Museum of Safety, for which a site has already been selected.
By formal authority of the New York Board of Education, class room instruction in safety and caution, illustrated by simple models, is now being given to the 770,000 children in the public schools of the city, showing the children how they themselves are largely responsible for the increasing number of street accidents and how they may avoid these perils. In conference with the school authorities this instruction will be extended by evening courses, to the 40,000 pupils who annually leave the public schools to go to work. Every young worker will be given a certificate based on examinations, showing that he has been trained in safety and self control. In this way the museum will refute the contention of so many employers that workmen will not make use of the safeguards provided them, and will be instrumental in equipping prepared workmen.
Five gold medals are placed at the disposal of the museum for annual award: The Scientific American Medal for the most efficient safety device invented during the preceding three years and exhibited at the museum; the Travelers Insurance Medal, to the American employer who, in the judgment of the museum, has done most for the protection of the lives and limbs of workmen; the Louis Livingston Medal for the best progress and achievement in hygiene and sanitation and the mitigation of occupational diseases; the E. H. Harriman Memorial Medal (founded by Mrs. Harriman) to the American Steam Railway having the best record in accident prevention and hygiene effecting the public and its own personnel, during the current year; and, finally, a gold medal known as the Rathenau Gold Medal of the Allgemeine .Electrictaets of Berlin, for the best device or process in the electrical industries for safeguarding industrial life and health. This latter is one of the few instances where the bestowal of a high European honor is made through an American institution.
OUR OWN NAVY YARDS
Having reviewed the work done in the outside world in improving industrial conditions let us look at our own navy yards. The principal fault with these establishments lies in the manner in which they have been built up. During the long period of separate bureau control of all their shops and work there was no attempt to secure a homogeneous arrangement of buildings looking to economy in total work done at a yard. Each bureau was merely responsible for its own output and expenditure of its own appropriations without thought of economic possibilities which would result from consolidation, and the result appears in a heterogeneous assembly of buildings quite incongruous with modern ideas and few of which are excellently adapted to present needs, in all respects. To pull these down and rebuild, in proper sequential locations and up-to-date proportions, would require appropriations far beyond the power of the department to secure or to conscientiously ask for, and therefore the continued effort is in line of consolidation of work, so that there will be, generally, but one shop in each yard devoted to one class of work; and in segregating the classes of work so as to make routing short and appropriate. Necessary alterations are many and have to be accomplished as funds are obtained, and it is not at all an easy matter to make the necessities appear reasonable to the Congress: especially as we are doing good work and apparently meeting all demands with the shops as they are. How much time and thought has been given by those in charge of yard departments, in order to make the little improvements, which are at times possible, count towards a finally consistent arrangement, will never be known, but this is all that has been practicable except in very few cases or when some providential fire has wiped out an obsolete building and permitted suitable replacement. Even then it has sometimes been a slow and tedious process to obtain the money needed for proper rebuilding. To the lay observer, the buildings of our yards look good enough, and their number more than ample.
We are, however, making progress all the time in spite of the drawbacks and in the matters of safety and welfare have followed the inspiration of the museum with satisfaction and to a most reasonable extent. Many of our shops, nevertheless, are poorly lighted and far from ideal in every way, through inherent faults of their construction; but we know what we need and will persist in endeavor to bring about a closer approach to model conditions. To the supervisors of work it is plain that every step that has been taken in improving the sanitary conditions and safety of a plant has paid in better work and a more contented spirit in the working forces. The men are elevated in proportion as they are impressed with the efforts made for bettering their conditions, and there is nothing more impressive than the safeguarding of the danger points in shop and operations, and in increasing the healthful atmosphere of the plant by sanitary improvements; so that, independent of the gratification of the humanitarian spirit which incites the welfare activities, we have the satisfactory knowledge that we are gaining in efficiency by the movement.
ADVANCED WELFARE
As men became more enlightened and as education lifts them above the mentally sluggish stream of the ignorant, they naturally raise their thoughts to the attainment of a better social condition than their trades or callings have usually limited them to. The foreman of a shop, or the superintendent of an industrial plant, is no longer looked upon as a superior being, but merely as a fortunate individual holding a position to which each intelligent journeyman conceives himself to be eligible, and to which, secretly at least, he aspires. The degree of illiteracy of men is the great assorter of them into classes and the eagerness displayed by the industrial workers for better education indicates that but few generations will pass before a very general equality in this respect will obtain. To anyone old enough to have studied these conditions during even the past 25 years, it is obvious that the growth of the industrial world in all matters tending to fit it for social advancement and an appreciation of the higher responsibilities, has been most marked, and those who seriously consider the subject must realize that it is all merely one evidence of the great world uplift that, some day, is to make all human beings sanely equal and comparatively happy.
Now advanced welfare follows up the museum's primary and essential work by aiding in this general uplift of the working forces through their sense of sight and by a gradual educating influence towards bringing about a full appreciation of the benefits and pleasures of cleanliness, both personal and contiguous; so that there shall finally be an entirely different atmosphere in shop, as well as home, through the eradication of the "habit of dirt," and bringing to the employee and the employer manifold benefits through that greater content which will follow inviting surroundings and clean congenial employment.
Two essentials are considered in advanced welfare for accomplishing this purpose or end; the first being
The Embellishment of Shop Environments,
and the second, a more difficult task, yet quite within rational undertaking,
The Elimination of Dirt From Industrial Work.
The embellishment of shop environments is not now a doubtful quantity in efficiency and is rapidly coming to be recognized as an element of mutual advantage. In a very interesting article appearing in the UNITED STATES NAVAL INSTITUTE PROCEEDINGS some short time ago, written by Assistant Naval Constructor C. A. Harrington, U. S. Navy, the following allusion to this appears:
Navy yards afford the best field of any industrial institutions for the promotion of welfare work, due to the absence of the foreign labor element. These days the up-to-date manager prefers to have a flower garden outside his blacksmith shop than a pile of scrap iron, because he know it pays. A machine shop is a better paying proposition if surrounded by grass than if surrounded by cinders and gravel.
An increasing number of commercial institutions, yearly, are improving shops and grounds to give this cheerful aspect to the toilers, knowing that the eye carries more pleasure to the brain than any of the other senses, if given proper food for its enjoyment, and this direct metaphysical effect is inspiring to every individual not sodden beyond redemption.
There are still many practical men, too busy to study the finer lines in welfare, and too sure that what is already being generally done is all sufficient, who simply smile at the idea of putting money into such adornments and believe that the "bouquet business" is very like throwing pearls before swine, in that the great mass will never appreciate it at all. This view, however, has been proved to be unsound by those who have already had paying results from every reasonable step they have taken to make the shop surroundings more inviting; and full appreciation has been evidenced, in degrees varying with intelligence. Where environment pleases, labor is more, and not less, productive, and some managers have already gone far in this kind of embellishment, with both pleasure and profit, and one of the most satisfactory results of its educating influence is the increased neatness of the worker and their realization of the benefits of a greater cleanliness, and of the depressing influence of dirt, ugliness and delapidation. This leads directly to the second object in advanced welfare; the elimination of dirt from industrial work.
If by some magic process we could accomplish this object in one fell stroke a great number of workers would not quickly be recognized by their families. That it would, however, be a blessing to everyone directly or indirectly affected goes without saying, and that the influence of this would soon extend to the home life and surroundings of labor is as undoubtedly true. We can scarcely realize the magnitude of the good such an achievement would bring to the industrial world, for we can scarcely understand that it can be effected. No doubt there would be some who would resent such a change in accustomed conditions in which they would sense a forced alteration in social presentment, not altogether pleasing because of the long practice of the habit of dirt; but the time would be brief indeed before the rejoicing would be general and the habit of cleanliness wide-spread and established, at least, as most desirable. We would have little sympathy, too, from the obtuse employers who believe in stolid toil and a grim future. It would be "to laugh," with them, when needed effective changes are suggested, and slow would be their falling into line; but this is the type that must be educated up to the point of proper appreciation and that is why reforms, to be lasting, have to be made slowly and gradually. Publicity as to the reason for each step must be wide, and the good expected must be brought clearly to the minds of those least liable to understand it through natural intuition. Then the simple means of accomplishing the improvement must be made easy by every assisting factor possible to afford.
We can all remember when it was most ordinary for men who chewed tobacco to expectorate the nauseous juices upon pavement or floor of car or coach, without let or hindrance. It was looked upon as one of the unquestioned accompaniments of the chewing habit, not to be stopped without prohibition of chewing itself. The sidewalks were kept well "blazed" by the trail of a multitude, and the disgusted held their peace. Not many years ago, through the agitation of the boards of health, laws were passed in most cities making it a misdemeanor to expectorate in public places, and a clear notice of the reason for these laws was posted most generously. This publicity of the "why and wherefore" brought forcibly to the attention of the thoughtless offenders the evil effects they were promoting and this, far more than the fear of the penalty attached to the ordinance, brought quick and general refrainment from a continuance of the nuisance. People generally realized the benefits of observance of the law and the traveling public delighted in the consequent clean car floors and street pavements. The actual enforcement of the act was seldom necessary because of the voluntary obedience through a quick education of the masses in the benefits of cleanliness in one single particular. It was an easy lesson, endorsed by popular opinion, and accomplished its end without putting a stop to chewing tobacco either.
Habits of indulgence in any sensuous relation are hard to break, but habits born of simple ignorance or thoughtlessness, and in no way conducive to personal pleasure or gratification, need not be difficult to uproot, but only require patience and a proper publicity; with simple definition of the reasons and benefits involved, and with a clear explanation of the means proposed for the remedy. Now the "habit of dirt" is one which, above all others, should be combated by every practical means possible to apply: It exists so widely and is condoned so liberally that people have come to believe that it is a necessary attribute of mechanical operations, and were one to inspect a machine shop or smithery and find all the workers with clean faces and hands, and with finger nails lacking the subsoil so nearly universal therein, he would think that he had gone color blind or that little real work was being done in that establishment.
In spite of the pessimist's views that all labor is really obnoxious to the human being, we know that physical work is necessary to our well-being and happiness. In proportion to its cleanliness it is attractive, and in proportion to its "niceties," and competition in the excellence of its accomplishments, is it interesting. Remove dirt from manual occupations and we will find an immense increase in applicants for trade apprenticeship or manual training, and a resultant increase by skilled and unskilled labor, in interest, in competitive superiority, in output. Outdoor sports are clean and competitive and we see the multitude of their devotees. Indoor and outdoor labor can be given some kindred qualtities by a careful study on the part of employers, that will slowly revolutionize its character and brighten its entire aspect.
This is a matter of years, and not of a day, but no delay should occur in its planning or in promoting its progress, for we contend that the existing intimacy between the practical pursuit of most of the mechanical trades and dirt, is not absolutely necessary and has no good reason for its present proportions beyond the force of long habit. Besides being an increasingly depressing influence on the journeyman of average intelligence and aspirations, dirt operates as a barrier to a multitude of young men whose natural proclivities singularly fit them for such callings. The old engineer corps of the navy suffered for many years through this inference and it was not the importance of their vocation but the dirt attached to its following, happily mitigated through intelligent study of the "why," that prevented it from a fuller recognition in social matters long before amalgamation took place and the vital importance of its work gave it its due prominence.
We believe that a simple but serious study of the immediate causes for the existence of dirt in this connection will bring simple remedial means to ready use and appreciation, and will eventually prove of inestimable value to mankind. The sympathetic interest of the worker must be gained through the proper publicity of the why and wherefore to give the movement that momentum that will carry it along to an end meeting the hopes of the most sanguine welfare expounder, after the proper time.
Incidentally, but without the motive prompting it, we have already brought about vastly cleaner conditions in some of the mechanical trades, through improved methods and material. The use of high-speed steel has made metal cutting much less dirty, and the use of downdraft and oil furnaces has cleansed the air of the smithery of much of its grimy soot. Navy yard shops are, as a rule, much cleaner than the run of outside shops and we may properly consider ourselves in the van of advanced welfare; but there are millions of workers who still suffer from the habit of dirt in more or less realization of its unhappy influence, and sorely need the thoughtful consideration of their employers in a final relief from its burden. The United States will undoubtedly be in advance of the world in the changes for labor benefit indicated here. Our "mental atmosphere" is better suited to this improvement in working conditions.
An Irishman who had spent some years in this country met an old friend at the wharf as he was landing for the first time. Said the newcomer: "Pat, I hear that one man is as good as another in America!" "Yes," said Pat, "and better too."