WORKERS’ PROTECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1929, Page 7

WORKERS’ PROTECTIONS

WORK, REST AND EFFICIENCY,

(By PERITUS in Auckland “Star.”) On the whole the New Zealand working man is well cared for. His hours of work are limited' by law, bis holidays are definite, lie has his union authorities to back him up } an Arbitration Court to consider his complaints. Most of the heaviest work is done by machines; lie is not subject to “driving,” and 'for the most part he fixes his own pace; his home can be formed on the. credit system and yet he is adjudged the owner of it; efforts are made to guard him from injury, and moderate ' attempts are made to protect him from illness—such as may lie caused by his employment. All this added together gives the impression that the worker is so carefully mothered that there is an inducement for him to become mentally weakened by the lack of calls on his individual initiative, and as a matter of fact he is easily swayed hv agitators of stronger will and sometimes led into untenable positions. Although a bundle of reeds is stronger than a-single reed, the cry of “ stick together, hoys,” may be very destructive to independence. Many occupational risks are due to avoidable causes. The manner of packing and transferring loads or cargoes of such things as coal, lime, manures, cement, and hides, exposes the worker to inhalable dust which produces much more unpleasant consequences than temporary discomfort when entering eves. noNe, mouth, and lungs. Much of the machinery, such ns mechnnical drills and riveters, inflicts both muscular and nervous injury by concussion and vibration) A hundred chemical substances used in comnveirj'aL pirocesses have their dangerous qualities when absorbed by the skin or inhaled with air. There is much scope yet for the work of those who wish to see our manual workers in towns and by the ,waterside no' worse in (health than, say, a happy, fanner in an “ easy job.” Not that the farmer escapes occupational dangers. There have been deaths caused by the inhalation df.handspread manures 'and disease by the breathing of dust-laden, air, and much more frequently disease (and death) from the infection, of diseases earned by domestic animals. Farm machinery takes its annual toll in accidents, too. But the farmer mostly looks a good physical speeiriien and circulates a purer blood and has a sturdier bearing than his town brother.

The most difficult factor to deal with in industry is to adjust the task to the temperament and physique of the workman. “The Journal of Industrial Hygiene ” early in this present year quotes the conclusions of two trained investigators concerning industrial illnesses, and these men advise employers to endeavour to find men who are suitable for the work offered and to retain men who, are “happy in their job ” and show no evidence df nervous strain, It was legally decided (1905Wicks v. Do well) that an employer takes his workman “with nil his disabilities.” It is of great importance medically, especially in insurance cases, to know how much an accident and its results are duo to previous disabilities and how much to the work at the time of the accident. Where a man is tuberculous, or has trouble from venereal disease, an accident otherwise of sUght consequence may have fatal results. The practice of tilling for a medical certificate of health at the time of engagement would save much loss to insurance companies and much loss of time and money to thy employer, The American and English averages of loss olf time from illness and accident ill large factories range from three to 1 seven days each year per employee. Neurasthenia, that word dear to lawyers for the claimant in post-necldent cases, may he the result, of over-work, or inherited temperament, and neurasthenia bulks largely in insurance reports. ft is obvious that defective eyesight or general failure to respond to any outside stimuli, or deafness, or any form of cramping rheumatism, invite accident from lack of ability to escape from danger in what may be perhaps hut an instant of time; a bare fraction of a second ill response to warning may he, to quote the common words, a matter of life or death. There is no suggestion here that only the physically fit should he employed, hilt that the job should lie an appropriate job for the man to whom it is given. A man who “turns giddy” on a two-by-four forty foot from the ground mny bo a perfectly good man on a job lower down. There is clearly much moro that employers can do to improve the safety and happiness of their staffs than is already done. A surgery or first aid outfit (made impressive by an external showing of an enoihnous red cross), or a first aid hand on the premises, are.all of less value than an assurance tlYat each man employed is in a position for which lie is physically fit, and feels because of that easy and happy in his work. To expect every man to be interested in and proud of his particular task is too much to ask for. but from the medical side there is evidence, almost overwhelming in amount, that the square man in the round hole is more comfortable than the physically unfit in a position nnsuitod to his qualifications. In all positions, professional, clerical, and lay. the same tiling applies, and half the struggle for life is made so by the unfit nature of man to hi's employment. There is money in making people happy and comfortable and in allowing the best that is in a man to come to the