Los Banos Rotary Club History
Careless Workers Cause Accidents Speaker Declares

The individual himself was responsible for 85 to 87 per cent of the 11,012 disabling work injuries reported last May to the Division of Labor Statistics and Research. At Beecroft, safety engineer for the Golden State Co., reported this week.
Speaking before the Lions Club Tuesday evening, he declared that accidents do not just happen—they are caused in most cases by carelessness of workers. Only 13 to 15 per cent of reported accidents can be attributed to unsafe working conditions, he stated.
Injuries in which workers lost time on the job totaled 56,473 during the first five months of this year. In 1951, Beecroft said, falls and slips accounted for more disabilities than any other type of accident. Littered or slippery floors, and broken pavements are a big factor in accidents.
Beecroft pointed out that the manufacturing industry led all other industry groups in the absolute number of falls and slips from elevations, but in relation to total injuries reported by these concerns, falls were proportionately less frequent than in accidents reported by other industries. The ratio of falls and slips to total injuries, it was explained, ranged from 17 per cent in finance, insurance and real estate concerns.
Handling of objects remains the principal source of compensable industrial injuries. The speaker pointed out that nine state labor departments covering compensated injuries revealed that one of every five occurred in the course of this activity. Falls resulted in the next largest number of injuries, with machinery a close third. Each of these sources was responsible for approximately one injury in six.
Beecroft said back injuries was one of the biggest compensable industrial injury. Half of the injuries to the lower back, he said, occur while persons are lifting or making some movement while lifting. The next largest number of injuries, about one in six, happened during such movements as pushing, pulling, shoveling, stooping or twisting.
However, auto accidents have the infamous distinction of being the most deadly of all accidents to workers. There are 35 deaths for every 1,000 injuries resulting from auto accidents, as compared to four deaths per 1,000 nonfatal injuries sustained in other types of work accidents.
The speaker declared most fatal accidents were caused by excessive speed coupled with poor traffic conditions, weather and poor roads.
The death toll on the highways of California now totals 3600 with one fatality occurring every two to two and a half hours. And the loss in dollars is 335 million, Beecroft said.
Injuries in agriculture have shown a rapid increase which can be attributed to greater exposure to machinery as occupations vary and the work hours are much longer, he said.
He listed some rules for accident reduction: people must be safety conscious, and should talk safety to friends and neighbors. Employers, too, should stress safety to their employees.
The local Golden State Co. was praised by Beecroft for its excellent safety record—831 working days without an injury.
Collect Implements
John Castellucci has been named chairman of a Lions committee to collect used farm implements which will be sent to the Phillippine Islands for tilling of farms.
It was pointed out that the Huks (Communists) of the islands were many thousand strong –so strong that the Philippine survive the Huk attacks.
Then the Lions and government officials of the Islands conceived a plan to offer the Huks approximately 22 acres of land on Mindanao Island absolutely free if they would turn in their arms and abide by the law.
The plan was successful; many thousand former enemies turned in their arms for free land, seed and materials and the government has found it impossible to furnish enough tools for tilling of the land.
Castellucci, who will name his committee soon, said California and Nevada Lions will be asked to get their farm friends to give them used implements which will be sent to the islands. If this revolutionary program of stopping Communism is completed, Castellucci said, the Phillippines will be the only land in the world where Communism has been defeated.
Halloween Party
Frank Pernetti sand Dicie Paradiso have been chosen chairmen for the Lions Halloween party which will be held Tuesday evening, October 28. The Christmas and New Years party has been set for Saturday night, December 27 with John Amabile named as chairman.
John Newman, manager of the local Gilbert roach Plano Co., and a former member of the Newman Lions Club, has been accepted for transfer to the local organization.
Program chairman for Tuesday's meeting was Walter E. Thomas, who introduced the guest speaker.
October 17, 1952

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