speed frames, (3) creel platforms (fencing and maintenance of driving straps), and (4) cleaning of machinery in motion, submitted their reports and recommendations to the Trade Conference. The Federation of Master Cotton Spinners' Associations, after the work of the Committees had been completed, printed a statement comparing the agenda with the agreements thus far arrived at incorporating the recommendations of the Committees. These recommendations now await ratification by the General Committees of both employers and operatives. The agenda for the conference of the weaving section of the Cotton Trade was drafted and forwarded to the representatives of employers and operatives in July, and the conference held its first meeting in October. Since then very satisfactory progress has been made, and Committees have been set up to deal with (1) Shuttle guards (maximum height and fixing of temple), (2) Duck bill guards, and (3) Loom spacing. The question of First Aid was dealt with by a small Committee which recommended, with one slight amendment, the adoption of the suggested rules agreed to at the Spinning Conference. The only items on the agenda still outstanding are:-cleaning in motion, lifting of heavy weights (including the provision of runways), lighting of dark passages and stairways, and shuttle kissing, but although certain of these subjects may give rise to a good deal of discussion, it is hoped the conference will complete its deliberations at an early date. Mr. Buchan, Superintending Inspector, North Western Division, has been in touch with the Chemical Industry, and has collaborated in securing a form of safety organisation within this industry, which is a very important one in his Division. In the Newspaper Printing Trade, as the result of a conference between representatives of the Newspaper Society and the National Society of Operatives Printers and Assistants, certain definite rules, having for their object the safety of the workers, have been agreed to. Transmission Machinery has been responsible for a total of 1,400 accidents, 47 being fatal as compared with 1,344 and 50 fatal for the previous year. Unceasing efforts have been made to emphasise the fact that it is illegal to approach unfenced shafting when running at anything more than a dead slow speed, and publicity has been given to the legal position by instituting proceedings in a very considerable number of cases. Inspectors are agreed that the publicity afforded by prosecution, following shafting accidents, has arrested the attention of occupiers and the public generally, especially in the localities in which the cases were heard. Exceptional pressure has been necessary to ensure that persons are absolutely prohibited from approaching unfenced mill gearing in motion, partly owing to the fact that the great mass of the industrial public are totally unaware of the danger of a smooth shaft, and even experienced practical men express incredulity when the danger is pointed out to them. The following case, which happened last year, is typical of the usual attitude of the person who has not witnessed the results of being caught by shafting, or has not heard directly of a shaft accident. The occupier of a small saw mill had been for 15 years in the habit of changing the speed mechanism of a saw by shifting a belt only 1 in. broad on a cone pulley by hand, approaching the shafting for that purpose. Eventually the inevitable happened, and his coat wrapped round the shaft. He was whirled round and the starting lever which he struck decapitated him, a ghastly object lesson of the dangers of smooth revolving shafting. To bring home the danger, education is necessary and every succeeding generation of workers who enter industry must be impressed with the extreme risk of approaching any rotating shaft however smooth and polished. The same effort is not necessary to convince persons of the danger say of toothed gearing; this is a hazard usually patent to quite inexperienced workers. As a result of the action taken by the Inspectors, progress is reported in the fencing of lengths of overhead shafting and in the adoption of belt shifting and lubricating devices which enable belts to be mounted and shafting oiled in safety by workers at floor level. It is by measures such as these that safety can be secured. Crane failures.-Seventy-five cases of crane failure were reported, an increase of 25.5 per cent. on last year's figures. These caused 16 fatal and 54 non-fatal accidents to persons employed, while in 14 cases no personal injuries resulted. The causes of these failures are set out below. The most essential precaution against crane failure is periodical examination by a competent person, but this is not fully appreciated. Of the 75 cases of crane failure referred to, only 26 were subjected to such an examination. In 16 instances examinations (sic.), mostly superficial, were made by crane drivers, fitters, etc., while in 33 cases no examinations of any kind appear to have been made. Wire ropes.-Eighty-nine cases of wire rope failure were reported, which caused 10 fatal and 38 non-fatal accidents. In 45 cases no person was injured. A review of these failures shews the main causes to be as follows: Calculations have been possible in 77 cases for Table (a) and These results show a great divergence of practice amongst manufacturers of lifting appliances, and in some cases the ratios are so low as to make the life of the ropes very short as they are subjected to severe bending stresses. A ratio below 15 is totally inadequate for any class of rope while for any but special flexible ropes a ratio of under 20 is undesirable. In only 10 cases did the value exceed 30. The ratio of pulley to wire diameter gives somewhat similar results. Owing to the severe conditions under which wire ropes often work it is of utmost importance that they be subjected to periodical examinations at frequent intervals by a competent person. (32706) B Results of investigation show that in only 16 cases were such examinations made, and it is not at all certain that these were thorough in the full sense of the word. In 63 cases the ropes were left in the care of crane-men, greasers, etc., and apparently received only a superficial examination, while in 10 cases, no examinations whatever appear to have been made. Wire ropes are rapidly superseding chains for many purposes and (as emphasised in previous years), the above results show the necessity for greater attention being given to these matters by wire rope makers, the makers of cranes, hoists, etc., and the actual users of wire ropes. Cotton Machinery Accidents.-The total number of machinery accidents in the cotton industry in the East Lancashire Division remains fairly constant from year to year as the following figures indicate: Year. 1924 1925 1926 1927 Number of accidents 2,641 2,696 Two accidents occurred on cylinders of carding engines through defective locking motions for the cylinder doors. In one which was, fortunately, slight, the motion allowed the door to open about one inch and a woman removing strippings got her finger caught. In the other case, which was serious, the belt rod, removed by the grinder, had not been replaced. Three accidents occurred between double tin rollers of ring frames, and one between these rollers on a ring doubling frame. In the latter instance an attempt was made to conceal the absence of a guard from the Inspector who investigated, and successful proceedings were taken, both against the firm in respect of breach of Section 10 of the Act, and against the persons who signed false declarations in regard to the circumstances of the accident. A type of accident which seems worthy of comment occurs at tin roller and carrier wheels on ring frames. There were eight of these in 1927 and no fewer than six of them were serious. These wheels are placed well inside the machine framework at the driving end and at first sight would appear to be safe by position. In four cases the accident occurred when cleaning in motion, and one other when picking in motion. These accidents appear to indicate the necessity for more complete fencing at this point. The matter will be considered by the Committee on Cotton Accidents now sitting. Milling Cutters.-The view has always been taken that the cutters on these machines are "dangerous parts of machinery which must be protected under the general requirements in Section 10 of the Act, and it has always been the practice of the inspectors to require guards to be provided. An adverse decision, however, in the Court of Session in Scotland, in an appeal in respect of a prosecution which had been dismissed by the Sheriff indicated that the general requirements are not sufficient to ensure that the cutters are provided with proper guards. It became necessary therefore to deal with the danger by means of Regulations. An additional reason for making Regulations for this type of machinery arises from the fact that, as part of the cutting surface must be left exposed for milling operations, other precautions, including efficient starting and stopping devices, good lighting and non-slippery floors, are desirable. There is the further point, too, that the section does not impose any obligation on the part of the workers to use and maintain the guards in proper adjustment. A draft Code was accordingly issued. Various objections were received, but, in the hope of reaching agreement, it was arranged to discuss the points at issue with the Engineering and Allied Employers' National Federation, and with the railway companies. The negotiations were somewhat long and protracted, but finally agreement was reached and an amended draft, giving effect to the agreement, has since been issued. Power Press Accidents.-Power press accidents in the metal trades have been classified as in former years. The total number of casualties, including 36 tool setter accidents, is 492. There has been a steady decline in the total of tool and die accidents since 1924. Adequate supervision of press workers on the part of the foremen is essential, as each year sees an influx of new operatives to the trade who are not conversant with the extreme danger of careless working. It can now be definitely asserted that the fencing of power presses has reached a very high standard of efficiency in many factories and that the latest forms of guards, a number of which are shown at the Home Office Industrial Museum, are thoroughly reliable, and in proof of this it may be mentioned that not a single reportable accident occurred in three works in one district in which 269, 101 and 100 power presses respectively were continuously at work. As evidence of the reliance that can be placed on these guards, the following report by Miss Sanderson is of special interest : Two accidents which occurred in a factory where metal toys are made led to an interesting attempt by the occupier to make his presses fool-proof. The machines on which the accidents occurred were small German presses (on a bench) used for forming small toy parts. They were operated by double hand levers and were unfenced. Owing to the failure on the part of the occupier to report the accidents, I did not investigate them or see the presses until the safeguarding device referred to above had been devised. The accidents were due, in each case, to the operator" racing "the press— although the length of strength was only 1 in. In order to prevent this attempt to race the press, a double clutch has been fitted, with two points of engagement on the flywheel. This obliges the operator to keep her hand on the levers sufficiently long to allow the clutch to pass the first point of engagement; after which it is quite impossible for them to reach the die before the tool has descended. The two levers operate independently on the clutch (32706) B2 |