THE TIME TO BE CAREFUL
The question has often been asked, ivhen
do most of the accidents occur here at Ecusta?”
In an effort to answer this question for all in
terested parties, as well as to enlighten our per
sonnel as to the hour of accidents around the
clock, an analysis has been made of all cases re
ported to our Insurance Carrier from September
1, 1939 through October 15, 1950. When we re
fer to the cases reported to our Insurance Car
rier, we mean those cases involving loss of time,
payment of compensation, permanent partial dis
ability, or any outside medical expense.
In breaking down the total number of cases
that occurred during the above period, we have
shown the percentage of these according to the
hours in which they occurred, as designated on
the two clocks on the opposite page.
Study these clocks as you read this article, and
you will get a much clearer picture as to just when
accidents have happened during the past eleven
years. Based on these percentages as shown, you
can see just when you should be even more care
ful, in an effort to eliminate the possibility of
personal injury.
It is surprising to note that 28.4 percent of the
total cases occurred between 8 A. M. and 12
Noon, when we would think that our personnel
would be less prone to having accidents. We
realize that fatigue does contribute to personal
injuries, but the latter four hours of the day shift
or from 12 Noon to 4 P. M., only accounted for
29.3 percent of the total injuries.
Could it be possible that some of us are some
what fatigued, and not quite as alert as we should
be when we report for work? Sounds reasonable
to us, since only one percent more accidents have
occurred after our having been at work for four
hours. It is true that we have more employees
working from 8 A. M. to 4 P. M. each day than
on each of the other two shifts, but the difference
is not great enough to warrant their having 57.7
percent of the total number of accidents. 30.5
percent of our accidents have occurred between
A P. M. and 12 Midnight, while only 11.8 per
cent have been between 12 Midnight and
8 A. M.
Since only 11.8 percent of our accidents dur
ing the past eleven years have occurred on the
^'Graveyard” Shift, we are inclined to believe that
our employees are maybe a bit more safety con
scious when working the 3rd shift, or else they
have reported for work with much more rest
and alertness.
According to the analysis, the safest 6 hour
period has been between 12 Midnight and 6 A,
M., when only 8.5 percent of the accidents hap
pened. The 6 hou-r period from 6 A. M. to 12
Noon shows a percentage of 31.7; from 12 Noon
to 6 P. M., shows a high of 42.9 percent; while
the 6 P. M. to 12 Midnight period shows a per
centage of 16.9.
There is no doubt but that outside activities
often contribute to personal injuries on the job,
for we do know that loss of sleep and over-in
dulgence of any kind, will sap the strength and
alertness we might otherwise have.
The age-old axiom about the 24 hour day be
ing divided into 8 hours for work, 8 hours for
fun and relaxation, and 8 hours for sleep, is not
being adhered to by many of us. When we fail
to get the required amount of rest, sleep and
relaxation, and as a result are not mentally alert,
there is a great possibility that an accident will
’’catch up with us”. Fatigue will naturally slow
down our ability to THINK and ACT quickly,
and far too many personal injuries have resulted
from this one in-ability.
It is a known fact that many employees do
practically a day’s work before coming to work,
and at times, are physically unfit to be working
around moving machinery. The old saying about
’’early to bed and early to rise, will make a person
healthy, wealthy and wise”, may not be absolutely
true in every sense, but it will surely add to one’s
health, happiness and welfare in more ways than
one. We just cannot defy the Laws of nature and
expect to make progress in what we undertake.
The time to practice safety will always be
ALWAYS . . . AROUND THE CLOCK . . . 24
HOURS A DAY .. . SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
At one time there was a saying about "THE
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST”, but that has
now been changed to ’’THE SURVIVAL OF THE
SAFEST”.
Honestly friends, is there any logical reason
why each of us shouldn’t practice SELF-PRESER
VATION.^