During the last two years there has been an epidemic of accidents
caused by defective grate-shaking rigging and defective shoveling
sheets on engines, especially of the former. A few years ago they were
practically unknown. Now they come so often as to create no remark.
The following cases will demonstrate the necessity either of some
different apparatus for shaking grates of engines, of greater care in
using the apparatus, or of some better method of inspection and repair:
A. G. Kenly, fireman, injured near Windermere; caused by the
shovel which he was using catching on the shoveling sheet of
engine No. 418.
James Cooney, fireman, injured June 19, in Caster yard, was
shaking grates on engine No. 917, and connecting rod broke,
catching his hand between shaker rod and quadrant.
H. D. Porter, fireman, injured near Mansfield, May 10; caused by
grate rod breaking as he was shaking the grates on engine No. 1280.
Next we come to a class of accidents which is also on the increase and
which is of comparatively recent origin, and which, I believe, could
and should be absolutely prevented by the exercise of a little
mechanical ingenuity or which, even under present conditions of engine
construction, would be avoided by greater care on the part of the
engineman. And some day when an injector breaks or a blow-off cock is
opened as some mechanical superintendent is passing an engine, and his
legs are scalded, I will bet my next month's salary against an 1899
bird nest that they will find a way to prevent such injuries, which
are as painful as they are unnecessary and expensive, either by
putting the blow-off cocks under or on top of the engines, instead of
having them project from the side.
W. P. Willard, engineman, injured July 22, 4 miles west of
Janesville; injector on engine No. 4618 broke, and Willard was
scalded about face and head.
Henry Jennings, conductor, injured October 1, at 5:55 p.m., north
of Rathburn; was walking by engine, engineman started the injector
and threw hot water on Jennings.
Edward Sterns, night engine inspector, injured at Granby
roundhouse, January 12, at 8:45 p.m.; he told engine dispatcher to
open valve to see if sand was running properly; dispatcher opened
the blow-off cock instead of sand valve, and steam and hot water
scalded Sterns' right hand and leg.
Every year a number of accidents occur to employees caused by defects
in engines and appliances furnished enginemen, nearly all of which
could and should be avoided if there was a more thorough inspection,
greater care taken in repairs and, what is just as necessary, more
care taken by enginemen in reporting defects; and when you report
defects, and repairs are not made, call the attention of your master
mechanic or division roundhouse foreman to the matter and I doubt not
that not only will the defects be repaired but greater pains will be
taken in the future to see that your engine is kept in good condition.
William Curbin, stripper, injured at Elmwood shops on the 10th of
March, was taking boiler front off engine No. 3461; removed all
bolts except one, and while waiting for crane to be attached to
the door to lift it away, the door fell on Curbin's leg, who was
standing on the pilot beam of engine. Investigation showed that
the bolt which had not been removed, and which had been left to
hold door, was a "dummy."
G. M. Cramer, fireman, injured, September 9, at Huntingdon, was
climbing up on cab of engine No. 784, to get coal chute down, when
brake released, and on account of leaky throttle, engine started
back, and caught his leg between cab of engine and chute.
J. B. Olsen, fireman, overcome by heat on engine No. 941; caused
by absence of lagging on side of engine.
M. H. Woodrow, engineman, and Douglas Evans, fireman, injured half
mile east of Peverly, June 19, caused by whistle valve on engine
No. 2605 becoming stuck, they being unable to fix it, and they
were almost deafened by the continuous whistling. Whistle had been
reported on the trip before by the engineman, but was not
repaired.
Henry Winterson, a boiler washer, injured on May 15, at Kendrick,
was using a 4-ft. nozzle to wash out boiler of an engine, when the
collar of nozzle came off, and he was thrown against cab of
engine, injuring his back.
The thought has often occurred to me that if the master mechanic or
some one other than the foreman, whose duty it is to inspect and
repair, would check up the work slips Form No. 141 and inspection
records to see that the repairs called for on them were made, we would
not have so many engine failures or accidents of this kind.
Before leaving the subject of engines I want to say a few words about
accidents caused by the breaking of lubricator glasses and water
gauges; they grow more frequent every year and until somebody invents
something to take the place of glass--possibly the celluloid glass now
used on automobiles may be available--which will not burst, as you
value your eyesight, which becomes more necessary every day as the
number, speed of trains, and signals increase, carry the shields,
which the company has provided for your, not its, protection, over the
glass, not in your seat box as many enginemen do now, and then when
the glass breaks, and no one can tell when it will do so, there is
little danger of your vision being impaired or lost by your eyes being
struck by flying particles of glass.