From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Worker conditions, welfare, and safety at various German factories including Daimler Benz and Bosch.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\3\ scan0247 | |
| Date | 24th June 1937 guessed | |
| (2) With the exception of the Daimler Benz chassis factory we found everywhere extreme cleanliness, excellent planning, and an apparent lack of supervision. The workers appeared to be contented, and there was no evidence anywhere of the lack of food etc. of which we have read in our press. In the Bosch factory loudspeakers are installed and wireless programmes are relayed during the luncheon period, and at Daimler Benz a works band was playing in the grounds to entertain the factory hands at midday. We went into the canteen kitchen at the Bosch plant and the equipment there was ultra modern. The wash rooms provided for the men are equally sumptuous, each man has a lockup steel cupboard for his clothes, which he apparently changes on arriving in the morning and before going in the evening. Shower baths are provided and in one factory one of the washrooms was carried out entirely in polished grey marble, spotlessly clean. The welfare side also appears to be well to the front as exemplified by works bands, football teams, and sports in general. The social side of the summer visit was of course very well organised and the hospitality extended to us was embarassing in its generosity. The Bosch concern gave a banquet followed by a stage entertainment and dance. Opel, and Daimler Benz gave us lunch after visiting their factories. Elektronmetal were equally hospitable and in addition we had Civic receptions and feeds at Cologne, Stuttgart, and Weisbaden. There was in addition a banquet given by the V.D.1 for those who continued the trip to Berlin. A point that was particularly noticeable in all the factories was the almost entire absence of any form of safety guards on the machines. Large coloured posters illustrating in a vivid manner the results of careless handling of machines were displayed in prominent positions in the shops and this method was apparently considered a sufficient safeguard against accidents. | ||