FACTORY 
SAFETY MANUAL 
Published by 
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION 
of 
COLORADO FACTORY 
SAFETY MANUAL 
Published by 
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION 
of 
COLORADO ORDER OF PUBLICATION 
Pursuant to th3 authority vested in the under- 
signed members of the Industrial Commission of 
Colorado by virtue of Section 11 of the Industrial 
Commission Law of 1915, as amended, we do 
hereby order and direct that the Safety Rules and 
Regulations as set forth in this Factory Safety 
Manual be published in booklet form and we do 
further order and direct that 10 days after such 
publication the rules and regulations contained 
in this Factory Safety Manual shall have the full 
force and effect of law. 
Denver, Colorado, this .... day of , 
1942. 
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF 
COLORADO: 
RAY H. BRANNAMAN, Chairman 
WILLIAM I. REILLY 
ARTHUR H. KING, 
Commissioners. INTRODUCTION 
The primary purpose of this Manual is that it 
may serve as a guide to Inspectors in observing 
uniform methods of inspection and to employers 
and other institutional heads in determining their 
several responsibilities under the Colorado State 
Laws governing safe and healthful working con- 
ditions for employees. The great majority, at 
least 90%, of all injuries connected with employ- 
ment can be prevented by means that are avail- 
able to every employer and his employees. The 
actual accomplishment of numerous establish- 
ments in this State and in every other State 
proves this beyond any possible doubt. This 
Manual is a guide showing the pathway to such 
achievement. 
In the preparation of the Manual generous use 
has been made of Bulletin No. 20 (Inspection 
Manual), 1938, U. S. Department of Labor, as 
well as frequent reference to similar manuals 
prepared by other states. In the selection of 
material, and adoption of rules and regulations, 
careful consideration has been given to industrial 
conditions in Colorado. Every effort has been 
made to the end that nothing herein prescribed 
is in conflict with Colorado State laws govern- 
ing the inspection of factories. Rules for the 
guidance of Inspectors, regulations governing 
standards for the protection of employees and 
interpretations of factory inspection laws, as they 
3 appear in this Manual, have been adopted by the 
Industrial Commission of Colorado in accordance 
with the provisions of Section 11, Chapter 97, 
Colorado Statutes Annotated, 1935. 
A study of the laws of this State governing 
factory inspection, plainly indicates the inade- 
quacy of the Inspectorate to attempt a state-wide 
coverage of all industries and institutions in- 
cluded in the scope of their duties. It is the 
intent of the Commission therefore, that a care- 
ful application of the procedure set forth in this 
Manual will operate to conserve the time of the 
inspectors and secure the cooperation of employ- 
ers and institutional heads. 
The need for clean and safe working places 
and for the protection of standards of employ- 
ment is basically the same for all workers re- 
gardless of the type of work at which they are 
employed. Yet there is a wide variation in the 
scope of regulations which will provide protec- 
tion for the workers in different industries or in 
different places of public assemblage. Such fac- 
tors have been given careful consideration. The 
thought of denying Inspectors the right to use 
experience and initiative in the problems they 
must inevitably confront, forms no part of this 
Manual. Nevertheless Inspectors, employers and 
employees should recognize the need for uniform 
and well defined regulations and procedure if we 
are to realize the maximum benefits under our 
system of safety and health inspections. Upon 
its adoption and publication by the State Indus- 
trial Commission, this Manual becomes binding 
upon Inspectors, employers and employees alike. 
4 The State's Part in Safety: 
Since the full cost of and damage done by acci- 
dents and the resulting injuries to employees 
must be borne by all the people of the State, it 
is only proper that the State of Colorado acting 
through the Industrial Commission and its In- 
spectors, should take an active part in the pre- 
vention of such accidents. This is the funda- 
mental reason for the passage of the Act. Ac- 
tually therefore the Industrial Commission is re- 
quired to do everything in its power to keep the 
working people of Colorado from suffering injury 
while they are at work earning a living. As an 
agent of the State the Industrial Commission 
must go beyond mere law enforcement. Not only 
must employers and their employees be shown 
how to eliminate work injuries but they must be 
encouraged by every possible means, including 
the making of specific suggestions as to practical 
methods of correcting unsafe conditions and prac- 
tices. To that end the Industrial Commission 
solicits the full and earnest support of every em- 
ployer, every employee and in fact every citizen 
of Colorado. 
Management's Part in Safety: 
Safety work in industry must begin at the top. 
Since every kind of work that men do involves 
some degree of hazard each produces its share 
of injuries. But by proper attention to safety 
almost all injuries can be prevented in any kind 
of work and in any occupation. Since all author- 
ity, executive direction, and determination of poli- 
cies must come from the management so must 
the primary drive for safety. The management 
5 must want to eliminate injuries badly enough to 
make their prevention a vital part of all activi- 
ties. Prevention must receive continuous at- 
tention along with such matters as cost, quality 
and production. 
Very briefly, the more important definite things 
that the management must do to prevent acci- 
dents may be set down as follows: 
a. Provide safe plant and equipment. 
b. Safeguard all machinery. v 
c. Place no new machinery or equipment in 
operation unless full attention has been paid 
to its safety. 
d. Plan and arrange all processes and opera- 
tions with careful attention to safety. 
e. Maintain a system of inspection to discover 
correctible hazards. 
f. Maintain safety minded supervision. 
g. Train, educate and stimulate its employees 
to follow safe methods of work and take a 
sincere interest in the safety of themselves 
and their fellow workers. 
h. Investigate all accidents to determine how 
best to prevent a recurrence. 
i. Make full report to the proper authorities 
of all cases of injury. 
The Worker's Part in Safety: 
Every employee must do his part to keep from 
getting hurt. The management can do but half 
the job alone. Each worker must faithfully co- 
operate with his management to the best of his 
6 ability. Some of the ways in which his help is 
most necessary are: 
a. Faithfully using all safeguards provided. 
b. Understanding and carefully following 
safety rules and safety instructions. 
c. Working earnestly on safety committees or 
other safety activities to which he may be 
assigned. 
d. Seeking always for the safe way of work- 
ing on each job or activity. 
e. Watching out always for the safety of his 
fellowmen. 
f. Reporting all hazardous conditions of which 
he learns. 
The Inspector's Part in Safety: 
1. Employers and employees are invited to 
accept the services of the State Factory Inspector 
with full confidence in his desire and ability to 
assist them in the maintenance of conditions and 
practices which will insure the safety and com- 
fort of the worker and a profitable production 
program for the employer. In his relationship 
to the employer and the employee the following 
factors should guide the Inspector and form the 
basis upon which he is accepted: 
a. To exercise his authority within the limits 
of the law and with common sense and good 
will. 
b. Through his observance of unsafe condi- 
tions or practices, to suggest improved 
methods and the process of putting them 
into effect. 
7 c. To keep himself familiar with laws, rules 
and regulations applying to his work and 
be ready at all times to explain them to 
employers and employees. 
d. To enlist the cooperation of employers and 
employees and give careful consideration 
to suggestions made by them. 
e. To inform employers and employees on the 
advantages of a safety program, the high 
cost and the effect of unsafe working condi- 
tions on production efficiency. 
f. To treat confidentially all information which 
he may have access to during the course of 
his inspection. 
g. To be courteous and considerate at all times, 
fair and impartial in his findings. 
BASIC SAFETY MANUAL 
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF 
COLORADO 
2. The Law—The Colorado Industrial Com- 
mission Law of 1915 sets forth the duty of the 
employer as regards the safety of his employees 
as follows: 
Section 13. EMPLOYER TO FURNISH 
SAFE PLACE TO WORK—Every employer 
shall exercise reasonable care and comply fully 
with all the requirements of law respecting 
health and safety and to furnish places of em- 
ployment which shall be safe for employees 
therein and to furnish and use safety devices 
and safeguards, and to adopt and use methods 
and processes reasonably adequate to render 
8 such employment and places of employment 
safe, and to do every other thing reasonably 
necessary to protect the life, health and safety 
of such employees. Every employer and every 
owner of a place of employment now or here- 
after constructed shall exercise reasonable care 
to so construct, repair or maintain such place of 
employment as to render the same safe, in ac- 
cordance with the statutes of this State in such 
cases made and provided. 
3. Industrial Commission to Administer Laws 
Regarding Safety—The Industrial Commission is 
given the duty of inspecting all places of employ- 
ment, places of public assemblage and buildings 
where people may be employed at common labor 
to insure that they are reasonably safe and health- 
ful, and of enforcement of the Act in general and 
of the rules promulgated under this Act. These 
duties are set forth as follows: 
Section 10. Commission to Adopt Rules— 
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Com- 
mission may adopt its own rules of procedure 
and may change the same from time to time at 
its discretion. 
Section 11. Powers and Duties of Commis- 
sion—It shall also be the duty of the Commis- 
sion, and it shall have the power, jurisdiction 
and authority 
(b) To inquire into and supervise the en- 
forcement, as far as respects relations between 
employer and employee, of the laws relating to 
child labor, laundries, stores, factory inspec- 
9 tion, employment of females, employment 
offices and bureaus, mining, both coal and 
metalliferous, fire escapes and means of egress 
from places of employment and all other laws 
protecting the life, health and safety of em- 
ployees in employments and places of employ- 
ment. 
(c) To investigate, ascertain, declare and 
prescribe safety devices, safeguards or other 
means or method of protection best adapted to 
render safe the employees of every employment 
and place of employment, as may be required 
by law. 
(d) To ascertain and fix such reasonable 
standards and to prescribe, modify and enforce 
such reasonable orders for the adoption of 
safety devices, safeguards and other means or 
methods of protection to be as nearly uniform as 
possible, as may be necessary to carry out all 
laws relative to the protection of the life, health, 
safety and welfare of employees in employ- 
ments and places of employment. 
(e) To ascertain, fix and order such reason- 
able standards, rules or regulations as provided 
by law, for the construction, repair and main- 
tenance of places of employment, as shall ren- 
der them safe. 
(f) To adopt reasonable and proper rules 
and regulations relative to the exercise of its 
powers and authorities and proper rules to 
govern its proceedings and to regulate the 
mode, and manner of investigations and hear- 
ings, and to alter and amend said rules from 
time to time in its discretion; such rules and 
10 regulations, amendments and alterations shall 
be effective ten days after same are adopted 
and posted upon the bulletin board in the 
office of said Commission, in the City of Den- 
ver, Colorado. A copy of such rules and reg- 
ulations shall be mailed or delivered personally 
to any person making application therefor. The 
certificate of the Secretary or any Commis- 
sioner as to the posting of said notice shall be 
sufficient proof thereof in any case. 
CHAPTER I 
In applying the rules and suggestions set forth 
in the remaining pages of this pamphlet it is 
urged that employers and employees alike make 
frequent and careful inspections of their premises. 
Since this Manual is to be the guide for Factory 
Inspectors of the Industrial Commission, it should 
simplify the task of employers and employees in 
correcting unsafe or unpleasant working condi- 
tions. Every rule or suggestion which appears 
has a direct bearing upon the safety and welfare 
of employees and therefore upon the efficient and 
profitable operation of the business in which the 
firm is engaged. If every place of business in the 
State of Colorado would study and follow care- 
fully the rules and suggestions hereinafter set 
forth it would result in a direct saving of mil- 
lions of dollars every year; and in the name of 
humanity it would operate to the end that the 
workman would live to enjoy the fruit of his 
labor; his mother would have the comfort of his 
arm in her old age; his wife would not be an 
untimely widow; his children would have a father 
11 and cripples and hopeless wrecks who were once 
strong men would not longer be a by-product of 
industry. 
Rule 1. 
Every employer should figure the frequency 
and severity rates for all accidents involving 
either personal injury or property damage at 
least once each year. 
The injuries that are suffered by the workers 
in any establishment or occupation constitute a 
measure of its safety. We must however, take 
three things into consideration in order to apply 
this measure. These three things are: 
a. The frequency with which the injuries oc- 
cur, that is the “Frequency Rate”. 
b. The seriousness of these injuries, that is 
the “Severity Rate”. 
c. What injuries to count. 
The following definitions for these three things 
have received national acceptance: 
a. Frequency Rate is the number of lost time 
injuries per million man hours worked. Ex- 
pressed as a formula it is 
F===Nbr. of Accs. X 1,000,000 
Man hours worked 
b. Severity rate is the number of days (in- 
cluding the time charges for permanent 
injuries) lost per thousand hours worked. 
Expressed as a formula it is 
S=Days lost X 1,000 
Man hours worked 
12 c. No matter at what time of day the employee 
is injured if no permanent disability exists 
and if at the beginning of the next calendar 
day he is unable, in the opinion of the doc- 
tor, to perform his ordinary duties or the 
normal duties of some other regularly es- 
tablished job, i.e., a job which is not set 
up solely to avoid counting the case as a 
temporary total disability, the injury shall 
be counted as a temporary total disability, 
i.e., a lost time injury. On the other hand, 
if he is able to perform the normal duties of 
some other regularly established job, the 
injury shall be counted as a temporary par- 
tial disability, and not a lost time injury. 
For every day use the frequency rate affords 
the best measure of performance because each 
accident might easily “but for the Grace of God” 
have been very serious or fatal and therefore the 
constant effort must be to prevent every injury, 
not just the more serious ones. The following 
example is included to show how to figure fre- 
quency. 
During 1938 eighteen lost time injuries oc- 
curred in a certain machine shop. The number 
of man hours worked during the year totaled 
216,000. What was the frequency rate? Sub- 
stituting these numbers in the frequency formula 
we get: 
F=18 X 1,000,000 
216,000 
which gives a frequency of 83 plus. That is the 
men in that shop suffered 83 lost time injuries for 
every million man hours they worked. 
13 If the figure for man hours is not available a 
close enough estimate can usually be made by 
multiplying the average number of workers by 
the hours worked per week, and the number of 
weeks worked. 
SEVERITY RATE: 
Severity rate takes account of the time lost and 
of permanent injuries by making a time charge 
for each injury (as for example the loss of a 
finger or an eye), in addition to the actual num- 
ber of days lost from the job. Suppose in the 
example above the 18 injuries involved a total 
time loss of 360 days. In addition suppose one 
injury cost a man his hand. The standard time 
charge for a hand is 3,000 days so that the total 
time loss to use to figure the severity is 3,360 
days. Substituting this in the formula for sever- 
ity one gets: 
S ==3,360 X 1,000 
216,000 
which gives a severity of 15.5. That is a very 
high rate. It shows the effect a single permanent 
injury can have. Without the permanent disa- 
bility the severity rate would be 1.6 plus. For 
full detailed information on figuring frequency 
and severity rates see American Standards Asso- 
ciation Code Z16.1 entitled “American Standard 
Method of Compiling Industrial Injury Rates.” 
Rule 2. 
Every employer shall investigate or cause to 
be investigated every accident involving personal 
injury or property damage occurring in connec- 
14 tion with the operation of his business and apply 
such remedies as will prevent a recurrence. 
Things to look for in the investigation: 
(a) Nature and extent of injury. 
(b) The accident—exactly what happened. 
(c) Immediate cause of the accident. 
(d) Was there an unsafe mechanical condi- 
tion? 
(e) Was there an unsafe act on the part of the 
employee? 
(f) Action taken to prevent recurrence. 
Rule 3. 
Do not allow materials or objects to remain 
unnecessarily on the floor surface in such places 
that will subject employees to the hazards of falls. 
Rule 4. 
Keep materials and objects that are stored in 
overhead places secure where they will not fall 
and cause injury to persons below. 
Suggestions on Rules 3 and 4—Check the fol- 
lowing : 
(a) Height of piles of lumber, bricks, rails, 
metals, etc. 
(b) Strength of supports. 
(c) Evenness of supports and their continued 
stability. 
(d) Effect of vibration caused by moving ma- 
chinery, trucks, etc. 
(e) Location—does it extend out into aisles or 
passageways? 
15 (f) Are materials of even lengths segregated 
to prevent necessity of sorting or tear 
down piles? 
(g) Danger of cavein. 
Rule 5. 
Where practicable, all traffic aisles in room 
housing operating machinery or benches at which 
persons are at work shall be kept marked with 
distinctive lines. 
Rule 6. 
Where practicable, clearly mark the limits of 
all spaces to be reserved in workroom for in- 
active storage. Do not allow inactive storage 
elsewhere in workrooms. 
Rule 7. 
Provide suitable rack or holders for tools used 
at benches or machinery. 
Rule 8. 
Remove or bend over in such manner as to 
make them harmless, all projecting nails in kegs, 
barrels, boards or boxes allowed to remain about 
the work place. 
Suggestions—Rules 5 to 8 inclusive, deal with 
storage and housekeeping—in your inspection 
check the following: 
(a) Are passageways maintained? 
(b) Projecting nails. 
(c) Objects to slip or stumble on. 
(d) Rubbish—oily waste—other inflammables. 
(e) Scrap or old material which should be dis- 
posed of. 
16 (£) Waste containers, 
(g) Dust accumulations. 
FLOORS 
Rule 9. 
All floor surfaces shall be kept clean and main- 
tained in a smooth and non-slippery condition, 
and free from holes or projections that might 
cause tripping. 
Rule 10. 
No floor or platform shall be so loaded as to 
have a factor of safety of less than four. That is, 
the weight placed upon a floor or platform should 
not exceed one-fourth the total breaking strength 
of the platform or floor. 
Rule 11. 
Floors other than those directly resting on solid 
ground, shall when used for storage or loads of 
persons, equipment or materials under condi- 
tions that might lead to overloading, be clearly 
posted to show the maximum safe loads. 
Rule 12. 
There shall be no fixed obstructions across or 
in an aisle that might cause tripping. 
Suggestions—Rules 9 to 12 inclusive, having to 
do with safe floor maintenance—suggest you 
check for the following in your inspection: 
(a) Holes and depressions. 
(b) Unevenness, loose boards. 
(c) Obstructions such as piping, conduit, 
patches, etc. 
17 (d) Slipperiness from oil, soap, water, dust, 
metal trimmings. 
(e) Worn places, cracks, warping. 
(f) Protruding nails, bolts, splinters. 
STAIRS, LADDERS, PORTABLE STEPS, 
HORSES 
Rule 13. 
Risers in any given stairway shall be uniform 
in height. 
Rule 14. 
Treads in any given stairway shall be uniform 
in width, except in circular stairways or at turns 
in other stairways. 
Rule 15. 
Broken or split treads or treads that are un- 
even from wear of one-half (%") inch or more 
shall be replaced or repaired to put them in safe 
condition. 
Rule 16. 
Slipperiness of treads, landings or stair ap- 
proach shall be promptly corrected by means 
suited to conditions. 
Rule 17. 
Treads shall be firmly secured and sufficiently 
strong and stiff under foot for all reasonable con- 
ditions of use. 
Rule 18. 
Stairs, stair landings and stair approaches shall 
be kept lighted during all times when frequent 
use of stairs may reasonably be expected. The 
18 lighting shall be so arranged as to be free from 
shadows and of such intensity that the stairs 
may be clearly and distinctly visible. 
Rule 19. 
If stairway is closed on both sides at least 
one hand rail shall be provided. If width is 
greater than four feet, handrails to be provided 
on both sides. If width is greater than eight feet, 
handrails are to be provided on both sides of 
stairway and an additional railing in center of 
stairway, except in cases where in the judgment 
of the Inspector, a center railing would be im- 
practicable. 
Rule 20. 
Handrails on stairways shall be not less than 
30 inches in height, measured vertically from 
center of treads and shall be constructed of strong 
and substantial material. 
Rule 21. 
Handrails on stairways shall be so constructed 
as to allow sufficient clearance between railing 
and walls to permit their free use without danger 
of hand injuries. 
Rule 22. 
Where stairways are to be used by females all 
risers are to be built in solidly or the entire under 
side of the stairway enclosed. 
Rule 23. 
Stairways permanently installed, shall not be 
inclined at an angle of greater than 45 degrees. 
19 Suggestions—The following factors should be 
checked in your inspection of stairways: (Rules 
13 to 23 inclusive) 
(a) Uniformity of risers. 
(b) Uniformity of treads. 
(c) Split, worn or uneven treads. 
(d) Slipperiness of treads. 
(e) Worn or broken nosing (the front edge of 
tread). 
(f) Lack of hand clearance at railing. 
(g) Splinters, protruding nails or bolts. 
(h) Railing in need of repairs. 
(i) Insufficient lighting. 
(j) Stairs too steep or too narrow. 
FIXED LADDERS 
Rule 24. 
Rung spacing on a fixed ladder shall be uni- 
form. This includes the space between the 
top rung and the landing measured vertically 
from the top rung. 
Rule 25. 
Rungs of all ladders shall be firmly secured and 
maintained in a sufficiently tight condition to 
prevent turning or other motion. 
Rule 26. 
Bent rungs of metal fixed ladders shall be 
promptly replaced or repaired. 
Rule 27. 
Clearance at back of rungs of fixed ladders 
shall be not less than six and one-half inches 
20  measured horizontally from rung to wall 
or other object. 
Rule 28. 
Fixed ladders shall be secured with sufficient 
firmness and in such manner that they will be 
free from visible motion under normal condi- 
tions of use. 
Rule 29. 
Hand holds shall be provided at the top of 
each fixed ladder and so arranged that a person 
using same can conveniently retain hold with 
either hand when stepping from top rung of lad- 
der to landing place or reverse. 
Rule 30. 
No fixed ladder shall have a slope outward, that 
is from the vertical toward the climber, unless 
such sloping ladder or sloping part thereof be 
properly caged. 
Suggestions—The following factors should be 
checked in your inspection of fixed ladders (Rules 
24 to 30 inclusive) : 
(a) Uneven rung spacing. 
(b) Bent, loose or missing rungs. 
(c) Lack of clearance at back of ladder. 
(d) Ladder loose. 
(e) Lack of hand holds at top of ladder. 
(f) Lack of cage on ladders sloping outward. 
(g) Slippery rungs or rails. 
21 PORTABLE LADDERS 
Rule 31. 
Rungs and rung spacing on portable ladders 
shall be uniform. 
Rule 32. 
Every precaution shall be taken in the use of 
portable ladders to prevent slipping of the feet of 
the ladder. 
Rule 33. 
Stepladders shall be equipped with a spreader 
of the type which will lock and securely hold it in 
the open position when in use. 
Rule 34. 
Portable steps and saw horses shall be of sub- 
stantial construction with parts firmly secured 
and maintained in a safe state of repair. Ladders 
used in electrical construction or repairs should 
be of non-metallic or non-conducting material. 
Suggestions—The following factors should be 
checked in your inspection of portable ladders, 
stepladders, portable steps or saw horses. 
(a) Broken, missing or loose rungs in ladders. 
(b) Unsound or weak material. 
(c) Split or patched rails. 
(d) Lack of proper feet to prevent slipping, 
(e) Cross grained wood. 
(f) Lack of batter (proper slope) on saw 
horses. 
(g) Improper spreader on step ladders. 
(h) Lack of proper cross braces. 
22 Rule 35. 
Provide safe means of access, suited to condi- 
tions, to every overhead point to which employees 
are called upon to go in connection with their 
work. 
Rule 36. 
In addition to the requirement of Rule 35, pro- 
vide a place reasonably safe or with reasonably 
safe guard from or on which the work or service 
in question may be performed. All platforms or 
scaffolding on which work or service is per- 
formed shall be provided with proper toe-boards 
and railings. 
CHAPTER N 
MAINTENANCE OF MACHINERY 
AND HAND TOOLS 
Rule 37. 
In all factories, mills, workshops, laundries, 
machine shops or other places where machinery 
may be used, effective guards shall be supplied 
for all cogs, gearing, belting, pulleys, shaftings, 
couplings, set screws, line rollers, conveyors, 
mangles. All machinery operated by belt drive 
shall be equipped with belt shifters or other me- 
chanical contrivance for the purpose of throwing 
on or off belts or pulleys while running, where 
the same are practical, with due regard to the 
nature and purpose of such belts or pulleys and 
the dangers to employees therefrom. 
Rule 38. 
All band saws, circular saws, rip saws, planers, 
jointers and other power-driven wood working 
23 equipment shall be equipped with approved types 
of guards and such guards will be used at all 
times unless the nature of the work or the shape 
and size of material make it absolutely imprac- 
tical. Whenever such guards are removed tem- 
porarily to permit the handling of large or irregu- 
larly shaped material, they will be promptly re- 
placed as soon as such temporary work is finished. 
Suggestions—The following factors should be 
checked in your inspection under Rules 37 and 38: 
(a) Are guards provided for: 
Belts, chain and rope drives, 
Gears, sprockets, pulleys, 
Shafting, set-screws, collars, clutches, 
Saws, Planers, Jointers, boring machines, 
Grinding wheels, 
Punch presses, automatic hammers, drills. 
(b) Condition of guards : 
Off. 
On. 
Unsatisfactory to operator. 
Can they be removed and replaced hand- 
ily? 
Are they effective as a safe-guard? 
(c) Are persons liable to be caught by: 
Revolving parts. 
Shear points. 
Travel of machine (planer). 
(d) Slippery floor at machine, 
(e) Counterweight dropping if cable breaks. 
(f) All parts safely accessible for oiling. 
24 (g) Emergency stop devices. 
(h) Lighting. 
(i) Ventilation (in case of fumes). 
Rule 39. 
Every employer shall take heed to the safe 
condition of the tools provided by both the em- 
ployer and the employee for the use of his em- 
ployees and make every reasonable effort to in- 
sure that such tools are suited both by safe design 
and construction to do the work to be done. 
Rule 40. 
Each employer shall institute and maintain, 
suited to conditions, a definite system of tool in- 
spection and repair. 
Rule 41 
Tools in disrepair shall not be used. 
Rule 42. 
Portable electric power tools should be 
equipped with ground wires to maintain at all 
times an effective ground on the non-current car- 
rying parts of the tools. 
Suggestions—The following factors should be 
checked in your inspection under Rules 39, 40, 41 
and 42: 
(a) Hand tools: 
Dull. 
Mushroom heads. 
Split or loose handles. 
Are they suitable for the work? 
25 (b) Portable electric hand tools; 
Grounding. 
Insulation, mats, etc. 
Guard or enclosure. 
Switches in good condition. 
Fuses. 
Are cords used in wet or damp places 
waterproofed? 
Are operators familiar with hazards? 
Fire hazard from overheating, sparks. 
Wiring-condition, strung on nails, etc. 
ELEVATORS AND ELEVATOR OPERATORS 
Rule 43. 
In the construction, type, specifications and op- 
eration of freight or passenger elevators, dumb- 
waiters and escalators in places affected by this 
Manual, the provisions of the American Standard 
Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters and Es- 
calators shall apply. In those cities or towns 
within the State of Colorado where local ordi- 
nances have been adopted to govern the con- 
struction, type, specifications and operation of 
elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators, the State 
Inspector, when he finds unsafe conditions in the 
construction or operation of such elevators, dumb- 
waiters or escalators, will report such fact to the 
proper authority within the city or town having 
jurisdiction. 
Rule 44. 
Since this Manual is concerned primarily with 
the proper methods of inspection, the mainten- 
26 ance and operation of elevators rather than their 
construction and installation, particular atten- 
tion is directed to Rules 600, 601, 602 and 603, 
Section 60 and Rules 610, 611 and 612 of Section 
61 of the American Standard Safety Code for 
elevators which reads as follows: 
SECTION 60. RULES FOR INSPECTION 
AND MAINTENANCE 
Rule 600. Responsibility 
a. Responsibility for the care, operation, and 
maintenance should be definitely fixed by stat- 
ute or ordinance. Where not so fixed, it is recom- 
mended that leases for buildings specify such re- 
sponsibility as between owner and lessee. 
Note: It is the unanimous opinion of this com- 
mittee that this responsibility is as follows: 
The Elevator Manufacturer: The responsi- 
bility of the elevator manufacturer for failure of 
the elevator or of any part thereof ceases when 
the elevator has been put in service and has been 
approved by the municipal, state, or other body 
having legal jurisdiction. 
The Owner: The owner or his duly appointed 
agents should be responsible for the safe opera- 
tion and proper maintenance of the elevator after 
it has been put in service and has been approved 
by the municipal, state, or other body having 
legal jurisdiction. 
b. The person responsible for the installation 
or his agent shall make periodic inspections and 
maintain in proper working order all parts of the 
elevator installation. 
27 Rule 601. Inspection 
The following is the schedule of inspections 
recommended: Hoistway doors, car gates, inter- 
locks, cams or equivalent devices for operating 
interlocks, contacts, control apparatus, controller, 
automatic stop, limit stops, car and counterweight 
cables, safeties, guide rails, buffers, elevator ma- 
chines, and the lighting of the car and of the ma- 
chine room, in passenger- and freight-elevator 
installations, shall be thoroughly inspected at 
least quarterly. 
Plunger shoes, by-passes, and piston rods of 
hydraulic elevators shall be exposed, thoroughly 
cleaned, and inspected at least once in three years. 
Pressure and discharge tanks of hydraulic ele- 
vators shall be thoroughly cleaned and internally 
inspected at least once every three years. 
Rule 602. Maintenance 
a. Cables, guides, and all parts of machinery 
shall be kept well lubricated. The oil in bearings 
and gear casings shall be renewed every six 
months. 
b. Pressure tanks of hydraulic elevators shall 
be tested at least once every three years with 
hydrostatic pressure fifty (50) per cent in excess 
of the maximum working pressure. 
Rule 603. Care of Installation 
a. Elevator hoistways and pits shall be kept 
clean. No rubbish shall be allowed to accumu- 
late therein, nor shall any part be used for stor- 
age. 
b. Hatch covers shall not be used for storage 
or similar purposes. 
28 c. No material not a permanent part of the 
elevator equipment shall be permitted on the top 
or cover of an elevator car. 
d. No wire or current-carrying device shall be 
substituted for the proper fuse or circuit-breaker 
in an elevator circuit. 
e. Freight elevators shall have legible signs 
posted in the car and at each landing prohibiting 
unauthorized persons from riding in or on the 
elevator car, 
f. The water level in the pressure tank of a 
hydraulij: elevator should be maintained at about 
two-thirds (%) of the capacity of the tank. 
g. A test should be made of safety and gov- 
ernor following the painting of such equipment. 
It is recommended that a safety test be made 
after the installation of each new governor rope. 
SECTION 61. QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES 
OF OPERATORS 
Rule 610. Qualifications of Operators 
a. Operators shall be not less than sixteen 
(16) years of age. 
b. Operators shall be free from serious physi- 
cal or mental defects and shall be selected with 
consideration for their ability to perform their 
duties in a careful and competent manner. 
Rule 611. Training of Operators 
a. One week’s training under the direction of 
a competent operator shall be required before a 
new (inexperienced) operator is placed in charge 
of a passenger elevator. 
29 b. Two days training under the direction of a 
competent operator shall be required before a 
new (inexperienced) operator is placed in charge 
of a freight elevator. 
Rule 612. Instructions to Operators 
a. Always open the service switch of an elec- 
tric elevator or lock the operating mechanism of 
a hydraulic, steam or belted elevator before clean- 
ing or oiling any part of your machine or regu- 
lator and when placing the elevator out of service. 
b. Be sure the operating mechanism is in the 
“Stop” position before closing the service switch. 
c. Make a trial inspection trip each morning 
before carrying passengers. 
d. Report any defects promptly to the person 
in charge. 
e. Do not attempt to make repairs unless 
competent to do so. 
f. Carry no passengers or freight while inspec- 
tions, repairs, or adjustments are in progress, and 
operate the car only in response to directions 
from the inspector or person in charge. Do not 
move the car when any one is in the pit or on 
top of the car EXCEPT AS THEY MAY 
DIRECT. 
g. See that the locking device and safe-hoist- 
ing attachments are in place before a safe or 
other heavy concentrated load is moved on or 
off the car platform. 
Do not attempt to raise the car more than a 
few inches until the “locking device” has been 
withdrawn. 
h. Do not ride in the elevator nor allow others 
30 to ride while a safe or other heavy object in 
excess of the contract capacity of the elevator 
is being carried. 
i. No hand elevator shall be used for carrying 
safes or other one-piece loads of weight greater 
than the normal rated capacity of the elevator. 
j. Hoistway doors or gates shall always be 
closed and locked before the car is started. The 
car shall be brought to a stop at the landing 
level before the hoistway door or gate is opened. 
k. Keep car gates, if any, closed while car is 
running, and where no car gates are provided, 
keep passengers away from the open edge of 
the car platform. 
l. Limit the number of passengers to the con- 
tract capacity of the car and do not permit crowd- 
ing. . 
m. Do not reverse the operating device sud- 
denly ; stop before reversing. 
n. Move operating device to the “Stop” posi- 
tion on approaching a terminal landing without 
waiting for the terminal stopping devices to 
come into action, 
o. If the power goes off while the car is in 
motion, move the operating device to the “Stop” 
position and start the car in the usual manner 
upon return of the power. 
p. If the car refuses to stop, do not attempt 
to jump off. The car will be stopped by the 
application of the safeties if it attains excessive 
speed of descent or by the automatic terminal 
stops at either end of the hoistway. 
q. If the car should stop suddenly, call for 
31 the person in charge and operate the machine only 
at his direction. 
r. If the car will not start, return the oper- 
ating device to the “Stop” position. If the car 
is apparently overloaded, remove part of the load 
and try the operating device. If the car still will 
not move, return operating device to the “Stop” 
position and notify the engineer or other quali- 
fied person. 
s. Before allowing freight to be loaded or 
unloaded, lock the hand-rope on all rope-operated 
cars. 
t. Familiarize yourself with the emergency 
devices, understand their function, and know 
how to operate them. 
u. Never leave the car in the ordinary course 
of operation nor leave the operating mechanism 
unprotected. When going off duty for any rea- 
son, even for a few minutes, be sure that the 
power is disconnected or that the operating 
mechanism is locked and the hoistway doors are 
closed. When service is suspended for any reason 
during the ordinary operating hours, display a 
“NOT RUNNING” sign at each landing. 
v. Always leave a hydraulic elevator operated 
by a lever at the lower landing with the lever in 
the position for down motion. 
w. Learn these rules thoroughly and keep a 
copy on your person or in the car. 
ELECTRIC WIRING AND SWITCHES 
Under the provisions of Section 16, Chapter VI 
of the Compiled Labor Laws of Colorado, the 
regulations as laid down in the National Electrical 
32 Code and the National Electrical Safety Code 
shall constitute the approved methods of install- 
ing and maintaining electrical wiring and appa- 
ratus in Colorado. 
Rule 45. 
All permanent wiring shall be installed in a 
rigid conduit of approved specifications. This 
shall apply to all wiring including that which is 
run to working level outlets and wiring so situ- 
ated as to be in danger of mechanical injury. 
Rule 46. 
All open wiring shall be properly knobbed, 
spaced, insulated and secured. 
Rule 47. 
Cords, pendants or other extension conductors 
shall not be wrapped around or permitted to come 
in contact with water pipes, steel columns or 
other metal fixtures. 
Suggestions—In your inspection of electrical 
wiring or apparatus, check for the following; 
(a) Wiring not in conduit. 
(b) Wiring which is worn or open. 
(c) Extension cords with broken connec- 
tions. 
(d) Extension cords on damp floors, grease 
soaked or in contact with metal fixtures. 
(e) Are switches or lamps exposed to vapor, 
properly protected. 
SWITCHES AND SWITCH BOARDS 
Rule 48. 
Electric switches shall be of an approved safety 
33 type and shall be so mounted that blades are 
dead when switch is open. Switches controlling 
machine tools should be of a type to lock when 
open. 
Rule 49 
Insulating mats or equivalent insulating floor 
coverings shall be provided at all electrical power 
control boards unless same are of the “dead front” 
type or otherwise so arranged that contact with 
live current-carrying parts is practically impos- 
sible. 
Rule 50. 
Bridging of fuses or other over-load types of 
current interrupters is prohibited. 
Rule 51. 
Goggles or equivalent protection suited to con- 
ditions shall be provided for and used by all 
employees doing work of a nature such that the 
eyes may be endangered. 
Rule 52. 
Special protective equipment suited to condi- 
tions shall be provided for and used by workers 
exposed to harmful rays from welding, cutting 
or burning operations. 
Rule 53. 
Suitable special protective clothing or other 
equipment shall be worn by employees exposed 
to the hazard of bums in handling hot or molten 
metals or substances. 
34 Rule 54. 
Suitable special protective clothing or equip- 
ment shall be worn by employees exposed to 
contact with corrosive or otherwise hazardous 
acids or other chemicals. 
Suggestions—In your inspection of personal 
protective equipment including 
goggles, masks, respirators, 
shoes, hats, gloves, aprons and 
leggings, check for the follow- 
ing; 
(a) Is proper type provided? 
(b) Is it comfortable to wear? 
(c) Is it effective? 
(d) Is it used? 
(e) Is it properly inspected and maintained? 
(f) Do employees wear loose clothing, tom 
clothing or other apparel which might 
endanger them? 
CHAPTER III 
DRINKING AND WASHROOM 
FACILITIES 
Rule 55. 
(a) Adequate drinking facilities shall be pro- 
vided with an abundance of cool, wholesome 
water from an approved source, so dispensed that 
there is a minimum chance of contamination. 
(b) The use of the common drinking cup or 
dipper is prohibited. Paper cups which may be 
immediately destroyed or approved type of drink- 
ing fountain are satisfactory. 
35 Rule 56. 
(a) Adequate dressing room and washroom 
facilities shall be provided to permit employees 
to change clothing before and after work where 
conditions require it and to properly wash them- 
selves before eating meals or at the end of their 
tour of duty. 
(b) Dressing rooms and washrooms shall be 
thoroughly cleaned daily and at all times kept 
in a clean and sanitary condition. 
(c) Washrooms shall be provided with run- 
ning water and plenty of soap. 
(d) In plants where the nature of the work 
requires shower bath facilities, such as foundries, 
mills, exposure to poisonous fumes or acids, such 
shower bath facilities shall be provided. 
(e) In plants where the work is of such a 
nature as to produce foot diseases or irritations, 
proper foot-baths prepared with effective disin- 
fectants shall be provided. 
Suggestions—In your inspection of drinking 
and washroom facilities under 
Rules 55 and 56, check for the 
following: 
(a) Is drinking water from approved source? 
(b) What sort of cups are used. 
(c) If a drinking fountain, has it an ap- 
proved type of mouthpiece. 
(d) Are there sufficient water stations and 
are they properly located? 
(e) Are washrooms well lighted 
Well ventilated 
Kept clean 
Large enough? 
36 (f) Are showers needed? 
Are they provided? 
(g) Are soap and individual towels provided? 
(h) Is a foot-bath provided? 
(i) Are receptacles provided for paper and 
other waste material? 
LUNCH ROOMS 
Rule 57. 
In plants where food is dispensed by means 
of lunch wagons, lunch counters or cafeterias, 
room shall be provided where the workers may 
eat their food. The same shall apply in plants 
where workers carry their lunch with them. 
Rule 58. 
All rooms wherein lunch is stored, served or 
eaten shall be adequately screened to keep out 
flies and other insects. 
TOILET ROOMS 
Rule 59. 
(a) All plants employing both male and female 
workers shall provide separate toilets for each 
sex and such toilets shall be conspicuously 
marked to indicate the sex by which they are 
to be used. 
(b) There shall be provided at least one toilet 
for every fifteen female employees and at least 
one toilet for every twenty male employees. 
(c) Toilet rooms shall be thoroughly scrubbed 
and cleaned daily and shall at all times be kept 
in a clean and sanitary condition. Urinals and 
37 toilet seats shall be cleaned with a deodorizing 
and non-irritant disinfectant. 
LIGHTING 
Efficient lighting decreases eye-strain, prevents 
accidents, increases production and decreases 
spoilage. 
Rule 60. 
All offices, workrooms, passageways, exits, 
stairways, storage rooms and other places where 
people are employed or obliged to go, shall 
be adequately lighted either by natural or artifi- 
cial means so as to eliminate chance of injury 
and to insure sufficient light for working pur- 
poses. The amount of illumination shall be in 
accordance with the standards approved by the 
Society of Illuminating Engineers, full consider- 
ation being given to the fineness of the work or 
the particular operation or process. 
Suggestions—Check lighting facilities closely 
and look for the following: 
(a) Are windows of sufficient size and loca- 
tion and are they kept clean? 
(b) Is the illumination sufficient for the 
work or location? 
(c) Are lights properly placed with respect 
to point of operation? 
(d) Do lights produce glare or shadows? 
(e) Do employees complain of eye strain? 
(f ) Are stairways and passageways properly 
lighted? 
(g) Are light switches conveniently and 
safely located? 
38 SANITATION 
Rule 61. 
The management of every industry shall adopt 
a schedule of clean-up activities suited to its con- 
ditions. The frequency, thoroughness and means 
of cleaning will depend upon the type of plant 
and work performed. In some industries as 
creameries, daily cleaning of the entire plant is 
a necessity. However many fail to realize how 
beneficial the maintenance of a high standard of 
cleanliness in even metal working plants may be. 
The plant that is kept well painted, windows and 
lights clean and free from oil or other spillage, 
waste neatly disposed of and orderliness evident 
in general, produces goods of good quality and 
at low cost. 
Rule 62. 
Adequate screening and rat proofing shall be 
provided against insects and rodents for all such 
services as lunch, toilet, locker, wash and first 
aid rooms. 
HEATING 
Rule 63. 
Offices, workrooms, lunchrooms, toilet rooms, 
dressing and washrooms shall be equipped with 
proper heating facilities to provide a healthful 
temperature and to eliminate sudden or extreme 
changes in temperature. Heating apparatus will 
be of a type and so situated as not to come in 
contact with or cause explosion of combustible 
materials or to cause ignition of inflammable 
material. 
39 Suggestions—In your inspection under Rule 63 
check for the following: 
(a) Is proper heat provided? 
(b) What type is it? 
(c) Is it properly installed? 
(d) Are employees required to work or re- 
main where it is damp, cold or drafty? 
(e) Is there danger of fire or explosion from 
heating apparatus? 
(f) Do employees complain about heating 
facilities? 
VENTILATION 
There is hardly a type of industry in which 
plenty of fresh air does not contribute to the 
safety and health of employees and to the effici- 
ency of production. 
Rule 64. 
Every office, workshop, storeroom, or place of 
public assemblage or other enclosed space where 
people are required to work or remain shall be 
provided with ventilation facilities to furnish a 
supply of fresh uncontaminated air at all times 
and to definitely eliminate the danger of such 
persons being exposed to poisonous or irritating 
fumes, gases, dusts or vapors. 
Rule 65. 
In every place or industry where manufactur- 
ing processes require the presence of or produce 
poisonous or irritating fumes, gases, dusts or 
vapors, there shall be provided ventilation facil- 
ities of a type which will arrest such fumes, gases, 
40 dusts or vapors at the point of their origin and 
exhaust them from the occupied space in such 
manner as to prevent exposure of the employees 
or other persons. 
Suggestions—Under Rules 64 and 65 check for 
the following: 
(a) Is there a supply of fresh air coming in 
and proper exhaust of foul air? 
(b) Is ventilation (windows, transoms, etc.) 
so arranged as to prevent draughts? 
(c) Are people exposed to poisonous gases, 
vapors, or dusts. (Monoxide, lead fumes, 
etc.) ? 
(d) Is mechanical ventilating equipment pro- 
vided? 
(e) Is it effective? 
(f) Does it pick up gases, fumes, dust or 
vapor at point of origin? 
(g) Check health records of employees work- 
ing with poisonous or irritating sub- 
stances. 
FIRE PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY 
EQUIPMENT 
Rule 66. 
All buildings in which people are employed or 
in which public assemblages are held shall be 
provided with more than one means of exit other 
than windows. Such doors or exits shall be 
located sufficiently remote from each other as 
to permit escape from opposite portions of the 
building. 
41 Rule 67 
All doors or exits leading into or from buildings 
where people are employed or public assemblages 
held shall be constructed as to open outward, 
where practicable, and shall not be locked, bolted 
or fastened during hours when such buildings 
are occupied. 
Rule 68. 
Doors or exits leading from buildings used as 
schools, theatres, lodge-rooms, dance halls or 
auditoriums shall be equipped with approved type 
of panic bars which will open such doors when 
pressure is brought against them. 
Rule 69. 
All emergency doors or exits leading from 
buildings in which people are employed or in 
which public assemblages are held shall be clearly 
designated by the words “EMERGENCY EXIT” 
and such designation shall be sufficiently lighted 
as to be visible at all times. 
Rule 70. 
All stairways leading from emergency doors 
or exits which permit egress from a building 
above the ground floor shall be constructed of 
substantial material; shall be provided with 
proper railings and shall be placed at not more 
than a forty-five degree angle. Railings shall 
be of metal and shall be not less than 30 inches 
in height. 
Rule 71. 
In all buildings where fire extinguishers are 
installed such fire extinguishers shall be of a type 
42 approved by the National Board of Fire Under- 
writers for the type of hazard present. Such fire 
extinguishers shall be inspected regularly and 
refilled or recharged at least once every twelve 
months. 
Rule 72. 
Chemical laboratories or cooking rooms in 
schools, shall be equipped with fire blankets for 
use in smothering small fires or extinguishing 
clothing fires. The use of gasoline torches in 
chemical laboratories is prohibited. 
Rule 73. 
The following specifications shall apply to all 
theatres or places of public assemblage: 
SEATS—In theatres or places of public as- 
semblage, seating more than 200 persons, all 
seats shall be securely fastened to the floors. 
Rows of seats between aisles shall have not 
more than 14 seats. Rows of seats opening to 
an aisle at one end only shall have not more 
than 7 seats. 
Seats without dividing arms shall have their 
capacity determined by allowing 18 inches per 
person. 
The spacing of rows of seats from back to 
back shall be not less than 30 inches. There shall 
be a space of not less than 12 inches between 
the back of one seat and the front of the seat im- 
mediately behind it, as measured between plumb 
lines. 
AISLES—Must be not less than 30 inches wide. 
ENTRANCE — Wherever possible, entrance 
43 should be at the grade level without steps, or 
shall have ramps to grade. 
RAMPS—Must be 5% feet wide. Slope of 
same not more than one foot in 12 feet—81/3%. 
PROJECTION BOOTH—Projection appara- 
tus must be enclosed in a fire resistant fixed booth. 
Must have automatic shutters. 
Suggestions—In your inspection for fire haz- 
ards, prevention methods and 
emergency equipment, look for 
the following: 
Hazards— 
1. Stairways, exits blocked with stored ma- 
terial, furniture, rubbish. 
2. Inflammable material stored or left near 
furnaces or other heat. 
3. Exposed electric wiring near inflammable 
materials. 
4. Doors not constructed to open outward; 
not equipped with panic bars. 
5. Ice, snow or water on steps of fire-escape. 
6. Handrails broken or weak. 
7. Papers, rubbish, dust in basement. 
8. Emergency exit not properly marked. 
9. Fire extinguishers of non-effective type. 
10. Fire extinguishers not properly charged. 
11. No fire blankets available, 
12. Paper decorations too close to electric 
light. 
13. Oil, gasoline and paint not properly stored. 
14. Fire drills not held. 
44 CHAPTER IV 
FIRST AID FACILITIES 
First aid equipment should be provided by 
every employer free of expense to his employees 
and promptly available for use in case of injury. 
The facilities needed will depend upon the type 
of hazards and the number of employees. In all 
cases it is important that arrangements be made 
and faithfully maintained such that every injury 
suffered will receive adequate treatment prompt- 
ly. The facilities provided, kit, cabinet, first aid 
room or plant hospital must be conveniently 
located, kept clean and orderly and arranged to 
insure reasonable privacy. 
When a doctor or trained nurse is not on duty 
a specific person or persons always available, 
should be assigned to administer first aid. Such 
persons should receive specific training for such 
duties. 
The following is a suggested list of minimum 
requirements for a first aid kit: 
INSTRUMENTS 
1 pair scissors. 
1 pair thumb forceps. 
1 tourniquet. 
1 graduated medicine glass. 
DRUGS 
2 ounces aromatic spirits of ammonia. 
2 tubes sterile borated petroleum jelly. 
2 ounces powdered boracic acid. 
2 ounces tincture iodine U.S.P. (ampoules pre- 
ferred). 
45 Bicarbonate of sodium tablets, 5 grains. 
3 collapsible tubes of bicarbonate of sodium, 
3 percent. 
2 ounces 1 percent solution of picric acid. 
2 ounces castor oil. 
DRESSINGS 
Wooden tongue depressors. 
1 dozen assorted sizes sterile gauze bandages. 
1 spool adhesive plaster—1 inch by 5 yards. 
3 one-half ounce packages of absorbent cotton. 
3 one-yard packages of sterile gauze. 
Splints of assorted sizes for fractures. 
Ice bag. 
Hot water bottle. 
Soap and nail brush. 
Instantaneous coffee. 
SAFETY ORGANIZATION AND EDUCATION 
The importance of plant organization and edu- 
cation whereby safety mindedness is carried to 
every employee and full employee co-operation 
for safety is secured cannot be overemphasized. 
As previously pointed out safety must begin at 
the top. The management must actively direct 
safety work and give it leadership and executive 
force. Also plant and equipment must be made 
safe which only management can do. But em- 
ployee co-operation must be secured and held. 
The successful promotion of safe practice in any 
establishment requires that it be considered a 
full time job. It must receive its share of each 
day’s effort by the plant executive. 
No definite program for all types and sizes of 
establishments can be laid down. It must be 
46 suited to condition. For instance the employ- 
ment of a full time safety engineer may be justi- 
fied with as few as 50 men in such highly hazard- 
ous work as building demolition, while in a low 
hazard industry a plant of 1,000 employees might 
scarcely require one. However, in every estab- 
lishment a safety committee can be helpful pro- 
vided the following fundamental conditions are 
fully realized by the management: 
a. A safety committee cannot be a substitute 
for executive interest. It is a tool of management 
that will be effective in proportion to the way it 
is fashioned and directed. 
b. Safety committee recommendations must be 
taken seriously and either complied with or 
proved to be not suitable. 
c. It must be so constituted and conducted as 
to merit the support and confidence of the em- 
ployees. 
SHOP SAFETY COMMITTEES: When 
backed by the cooperation of the management, a 
safety committee composed of manager, foreman 
or someone in authority and several representa- 
tives of workers has proved to be a most effective 
method of reducing accidents. The functions of 
such a committee should include the responsi- 
bility for periodic inspections of the plant, review 
and approval of inspection reports, analysis of 
causes of accidents for the purpose of submitting 
recommendations to prevent recurrence of similar 
accidents, instructing new employees or workers 
transferred to unaccustomed tasks as to the 
hazards of their work, and promoting the educa- 
tion of all employees in safety practices. The 
47 committee should meet at least monthly and keep 
a written record of the number and nature of its 
recommendations, the number carried out, the 
number incompleted, and the number not acted 
upon. The members of the committee should be 
selected from the various departments and should 
be changed at regular intervals. 
SAFETY MEETINGS, CONFERENCES 
AND SCHOOLS: Plant safety meetings at- 
tended by all employees of, if practicable, by 
employees of a particular department should be 
held at least semi-annually. The State Inspectors 
will be ready and willing to take full advantage 
of every opportunity to address these meetings. 
Small group safety meetings addressed by the 
foreman are also recommended. The safety pro- 
gram of an individual plant may be supplemented 
effectively by safety conferences and schools 
sponsored by the Industrial Commission, with 
the assistance of other interested official State 
and City agencies, and such agencies as organized 
labor groups, manufacturers’ and trade associa- 
tions, civic clubs and safety organizations. The 
schools may be open to the public as a whole at 
which general messages on safety'are presented, 
or may be restricted to specialized industry or 
occupational groups, open only to “key men,” 
such as the safety men, superintendents and fore- 
men, or may consist of a combination of these 
two plans with a general school open to all 
groups, coordinated with special group confer- 
ence meetings. 
SAFETY CODES OF NATIONAL AC- 
CEPTANCE. The American Standards Associ- 
48 ation with offices at 29 W. 39th St., New York 
City, is a non-profit association of employer- 
employee, technical organization and State and 
Federal agencies having an interest in the de- 
velopment of standards in industry. The pro- 
cedure is such that every group that has an 
interest in any specific activity or subject dealt 
with is represented and practically unanimous 
approval must be secured before the resultant 
standard can be approved. Under this procedure 
a large group of safety codes have been developed. 
The standards specifically recommended for use 
are: 
A9 —Building Exits Code. 
A10 —Manual of Accident Prevention in Con- 
struction. 
All —Code of Lighting Factories, Mills and 
Other Work Places. 
A12 —Safety Code for Floor and Wall Openings, 
Railings and Toe Boards. 
A14 —Safety Code for Construction, Care and 
Use of Ladders. 
A17 —Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters 
and Escalators. 
A17.2—Recommended Practice for the Inspection 
of Elevators. 
A39 —Safety Code for Window Cleaning. 
B7 —Safety Code for the Use, Care and Pro- 
tection of Abrasive Wheels. 
B8 —Safety Code for the Protection of Indus- 
trial Workers in Foundries. 
B9 —Safety Code for Refrigeration. 
49 Bll —Safety Code for Power Presses and Foot 
and Hand Presses. 
B13 —Logging and Sawmill Safety Code. 
B15 —Safety Code for Mechanical Power-Trans- 
mission Apparatus, 
B24 —Safety Code for Forging and Hot Metal 
Stamping. 
B28A—Safety Code for Rubber Mills and Calen- 
ders. 
Cl —Regulations for Electric Wiring and Ap- 
paratus in Relation to Fire Hazard. 
C2 —National Electrical Safety Code. 
Ll —Textile Safety Code. 
Ol —Safety Code for Woodworking Plants. 
PI —Safety Code for Paper and Pulp Mills. 
X2 —Safety Code for the Protection of the 
Heads and Eyes of Industrial Workers. 
Z4 —Safety Code for Industrial Sanitation in 
Manufacturing Establishments. 
Z4.2 —Specifications for Drinking Fountains. 
Z4.3 —Specifications for the Sanitary Privy. 
CONCLUSION 
Accidents arise from three fundamental sources. 
They are: mechanical failure, human errors, 
physical weaknesses. In the foregoing pages the 
way has been pointed to the correction of me- 
chanical failures and physical weaknesses. Human 
errors may never be completely eliminated. We 
can, however, reduce them materially if we will 
50 observe the working habits of the men on the 
job and point out to them the correct and safe 
way of doing their work. 
Here are a few of the things men do to invite 
suffering, loss of time, damaged equipment and 
even death: Employers, inspectors and employees 
are admonished to watch workers who may be in 
the habit of doing any of these: 
Working without goggles, hardhats, safety 
shoes, respirators, safety gloves or other safety 
apparel even though it is provided for them. 
Using worn or partly broken hand tools such 
as hammers, wrenches, chisels, knives, lifting 
jacks, saws, shovels, screwdrivers, pliers and 
tongs. 
Permitting tools, scrap iron, rubbish to ac- 
cumulate and cause falls or cuts. 
Removing guards from saws or machinery 
and failing to replace them before again using 
the equipment. 
Oiling, greasing or repairing machinery while 
it is in motion. 
Jumping on or off of moving cars, trucks, etc., 
Standing between bumpers while coupling 
cars or material trucks. 
Lifting heavy boxes, barrels, bundles with 
back in a bent position. 
Filing material too high. 
Riding material hoists. 
Riding crane loads. 
Placing tools where they may fall on some- 
one below. 
51 Walking across narrow, partially suspended 
beams. 
Failure to clean up their work space. 
Use of ladders which are not safe. 
Interrupting other working men. 
The greatest thing to creating a Life is to 
Save a Life. 
REPORT ALL INJURIES—A SMALL 
SCRATCH MAY LEAD TO INFEC- 
TION, SUFFERING OR EVEN 
DEATH. 
Employers and Employees are penalized 
for failure to report accidents. Sections 
30 and 31, Workmen’s Compensation Act 
of Colorado. 
Published and distributed by— 
THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION 
OF COLORADO 
52