(Unknown author)

Interest Maintained Through Competition and Prizes, Fostered by Safety Committees

November 1926—For the last two years, all the mining branches of the Phelps Dodge Corporation situated in Arizona, New Mexico, and the northern part of the state of Sonora, Mexico, have been engaged in an intensive campaign of establishing the principles and practices of safety first—and of accident prevention—among their employees. Excellent results have rewarded this campaign, and it has been gratifying to note the intelligence and marked interest in safety displayed by the men employed at the various properties. All injured men, whether seriously maimed or only slightly hurt (that is, from a light scratch—just drawing blood, for instance), are required to report at once to the local hospital. A time-lost accident, however, is considered as being one which prevents the injured party from returning to work the day following the accident.

A careful record of all accidents is kept, and equal attention is given to the prevention of serious and slight accidents. Compilations of the comparative accident statistics from the various corporation branches are sent out to all branches each month from the Douglas office of P. G. Beckett, vice-president, and general manager. These comparative figures are based upon the number of accidents occurring per 1,000 man-shifts worked by all employees. Further to stimulate interest in the safety campaign, competition among the four metal-mining branches of the corporation was announced by Mr. Beckett toward the close of 1925 and to be in effect for the entire calendar year of 1926. Awards (bronze safety trophies) are to be made to each department, such as underground mining, concentrating, smelting, powerhouse, machine shops, and other departments having the best safety record for the year. One grand sweepstakes trophy is also offered, this to take into consideration the entire payroll of the individual branches, to that particular branch which may show the lowest rate of time-lost accidents during the entire year.

For the first ten months of this year, statistics show the combined departments of the Moctezuma Copper Co. (operating at Pilares de Nacozari and Nacozari de Garcia, Sonora, Mexico) to be leading, with the low record of 0.169 time-lost accidents per 1,000 manshifts worked, and a total of only 79 such accidents throughout the period, during which 466,000 man-shifts have been worked. Most of the individual departments of that company are also leading.

June 15, 1926, completed a period of thirty-two consecutive days during which not a single time-lost accident occurred among all of the Pilares employees—this including all underground, shops as well as surface departments at this mine. During this time over 39,000 man-shifts were worked. In recognition of this excellent record, Frank Ayer, manager of the Moctezuma Copper Co., announced a day of fiesta, including an evening dance, a barbecue, and other special features for all Pilares workmen and their families, all expenses of which were borne by the company.

Oct. 20, 1926, completed a period of 120 consecutive days during which not a single time-lost accident occurred among the total number of Nacozari employees, including all workmen at the concentrator, powerhouse, mechanical shops, railway shops, offices, and other departments. During this time practically 145,000 man-shifts had been worked. In recognition of this performance, the Moctezuma Copper Co. again volunteered to bear all expenses of a suitable celebration to include all Nacozari employees and their families. The various safety-first committees of the Nacozari employees were asked to handle all arrangements through a special committee elected and appointed by them. W. T. MacDonald, mill superintendent and secretary of the Moctezuma Copper Co.’s General Safety Committee acted as chairman of the special committee, which was composed of native representatives of the different departmental safety committees.

Much interest was manifested in the celebration, which included an evening dance at the company recreation building and at which not fewer than 1,000 people were present. It so happened that the large Mexican circus of Señor Alberto Fernandi was to be in Nacozari at this time, and arrangements were made whereby a special performance was given entirely for the Nacozari employees and their families. Fifteen hundred tickets were issued to employees.

It may be worth noting, also, that a further period of thirteen consecutive days without a lost-time accident followed this fiesta, thus making a total period of 133 days during which no such accident occurred among the Nacozari employees.

Published in Engineering and Mining Journal
New York, November 27, 1926
Volume 122, Number 22

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