MASSACHUSETTS. The following table shows the number of requests for arbitration and their disposition: Total number of requests for arbitration from July 1, 1912, to Nov. 30, 1913, inclusive.... 584 Total number of cases heard by committees of arbitration. 349 Total number of cases in which arbitration was requested which were settled without a formal hearing... 182 Total number of cases pending. 53 56 Total number of cases heard by the board on review under section 7, Part III.. 6 26 About 3,000 claims, regarding which there was some dispute, were adjusted by the mediation of members of the board by conference with employees and insurers. During the first 12 months of the act there were reported to the industrial accident board 89,694 nonfatal accidents. Four hundred and seventy-four persons engaged in occupations in Massachusetts were killed as a result of injuries arising out of and in the course of their employment. Seventy-one more fatalities were reported to the industrial accident board, which were found on investigation not to arise out of or in the course of employment, or subject to the workings of the compensation act. Of the 474 fatally, injured persons to whom the act was applicable, 290 were under compensation and 184 were not. In 112 of the cases no dependents were left. In the remaining 362 cases there were 873 dependents, of whom 770 were wholly dependent and 103 were partially dependent upon the supporting member of the family. One hundred and sixty-four of the persons fatally injured were single, 30 were widowers, 2 were divorced, and 278 were married. These figures show that in 60 per cent of the fatal cases there were left widows in a state of dependency. Of the total number of nonfatal accidents reported (89,694) 68,586, or 76 per cent, were for injuries which incapacitated the employee for two weeks or less; and of these, 36,779, or 41 per cent of the total accidents reported, were for injuries which incapacitated the employee but for one day. Ten thousand five hundred and sixty-eight, or 12 per cent, were for injuries which incapacitated the employee for from two to four weeks. Six thousand six hundred and thirty-eight, or 7 per cent, were for injuries which incapacitated the employee from four to eight weeks. Two thousand three hundred and fifty-five, or 3 per cent, were for injuries which incapacitated the employee from 8 to 13 weeks. One thousand two hundred and seventy-five, or 1 per cent, were for injuries which incapacitated the employee from 13 weeks to 6 months. Two hundred and seventy-two, or three-tenths of 1 per cent, were for injuries which incapacitated the employee for over six months. The greatest number of accidents, as represented, occurred among those between the ages of 21 to 29 years; the next highest number fell in the group between 30 and 39 years. The ages of persons fatally injured are shown in the following table: As in nonfatal cases, the number of fatalities was heaviest among those between 21 and 39 years. The number of persons in these two groups comprised over 50 per cent of the total. In 112 of the cases no dependents were left; the balance of 362 fatalities resulted in 873 cases of dependency either in whole or in part. The amount of compensation paid and due under the act, from July 1, 1912, to June 30, 1913, amounted to $1,677,380.82. Fifty-one per cent was compensation for nonfatal injuries; 24 per cent went to the payment of medical and hospital expenses; and 23 per cent was paid for fatal injuries. The following table shows the wages received by those who were fatally injured: In connection with these figures, as well as with those covering nonfatal injuries, it is of interest to note that accidents occur more frequently among persons who receive a wage approaching $15 per week, and also among those who receive between $15 and $20 per week. Of the 474 fatal cases, four of the injured persons were paid on a piece-rate basis. Causes of accide ts-Nonfatal accidents. Twenty-eight thousand nine hundred and sixty-three nonfatal accidents, or 32 per cent of the total number, were caused by hand labor; 11,000, or 12 per cent, were caused by machinery peculiar to special industries; 8,139, or 9 per cent, were the result of falls of various kinds; 4,305, or 4 per cent, were eye injuries; 99, or one-tenth of 1 per cent, were occupational diseases. The following table shows the causes of fatal accidents arranged in the order of their magnitude: As shown above, the heaviest causes of fatal accidents were due to railroad equipment, falls, vehicles, hand labor, elevators, electricity, and street railways. By grouping these figures into the three classifications made for nonfatal accidents-hand labor, machinery, and miscellaneous causes— the following results are found: Seventy-three per cent of the fatalities were due to miscellaneous causes. Of these causes about 25 per cent were contributed by railroad equipment, and 13 per cent by falls. Nineteen per cent of the fatalities were caused by machinery. Number of accidents per 1,000 employees for 25 selected branches of industry. Incidence of fatal accidents, by industries, for year ending July 1, 1913. Total number of additional injuries for which specific payments are to be made, and the estimated amount due in cases covered by insurance. Ratio of accidents to total number of employees under act. 0.0258 |