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B.C? LUMBER WORKER

THIS IS MY PLEDGE —

I will conscientiously obey all safety rules that apply to my work,

T will constantly be alert to dangers shat threaten myself or fellow-workers.
T will try 10 compensate for any lack’ of skill or ability by extra caution.
I will not “horseplay? or use undue baste.

I will be tolerant of the shortcomings of my fellow-workers and try to
help shem improve.

T-will be neat and tidy in my person and in my workplace.
I will sake an active part in the safety programme of our operation.

I will, at home, during recreation, and while driving my car, follow all
~ reasonable precautions.

T will, ut all times, be courteous and considerate of others.
‘And by this pledge I hope for a longer and happier life
for my family, for my fellow-man and for myself.

Joe Woodworker.

(Contributed by Arthur Francis)

ATKINSON REVIEWS
COWICHAN OPERATIONS

Praises ‘Outstanding Results’
Of Co-Operation

: By JOHN T.
Safety Director,

ATKINSON
Local 1-80, TWA

QUTSTANDING results in accident prevention achieved by the
safety program of the Cowichan Logging and Sawmill Divi-
sion, B.C. Forest Products Ltd. are worthy of study by all
sections of the lumber industry in British Columbia, as they
exemplify proven methods which can halt needless and heedless
waste of human life in this most hazardous industry.

The joint effort and co-opera-
tion of labor and management in
the Youbou Sawmill Division has
retained, for the mill the reputa-
tion of being the safest sawmill
in British Columbia.

Adverse factors, such as nu-
merous new construction projects,
high labor. turnover, and an addi-
tional shift were encountered.
Despite these additional handi-
caps, the accident frequency rate
has been held down to 13.08.

These gratfying results re-
quired constant vigilance and
consistent effort. Full credit must
be given to management for
direction and enforcement of
safety measures on the job.

Safety Committee

Another important factor was
the work of an active and ener-
getic safety committee which ac-
cepted the responsibility of
promoting safe working habits by
precept and example. This com-
mittee gave consistent encourage-
ment to the use of protective
equipment, and adherence to
safety regulations.

Meetings of the Safety Com-
mittee were held regularly to dis-
cuss thoroughly all safety
problems. Complete inspection
following any accident was car-
ried out, and all new equipment
was tested before being placed
into operation.

Attendance at safety meetings
has been 100 percent, on the part
of both union and management,
for belief in safety co-operation
is now firmly rooted in the minds
of both parties to the contract.

Camp 3 Nitinat

The entire community joined:
with crew members in staging the
biggest and most enjoyable
safety party in the history of
Camp 8 Nitinat, December 9th.

Occasion of the celebration was
the conclusion of a year in which
the accident, frequency rate had
been reduced by over 100 percent.

Gratification of the company
over es ea rex ers was
expressed by Mr. H. Hobson,
Sasaeee of the Cowichan Log-
ging Division, B.C. Forest Pro-
ducts, The IWA was represented
by Safety Director John T. At-
Maes Roca 1-80, IWA, who
congratulated workers and man-

ment on the. results of a
splendid co-operative effort.

The early part of the evening
was devoted to the entertainment
of the younger set. by artists
from Victoria and the awarding
of prizes for a Safety Poster |
Contest. Ingenuity and origi-

nality were shown in depicting
slogans such a8, “I Must Not

Play With Matches”, “I Must Not
Play on Railway Tracks”, “I
Must Stand Clear of Log Trains”,
ete.

The children were dined and
then retired, whereupon the
adults witnessed the awarding of
First Aid Certificates, and danced
the’ evening away, with the
pleasant interlude of a ‘turkey
dinner at midnight.

Camp 6 Cayacuse

Early in 1950, camp members
determined to redeem the pre-
vious bad record of this camp,
and discussed plans for safety
with the management. Good
faith and a co-operative attitude
was demonstrated on both sides
with the result the safety pro-
gram has proved a distinct credit
to all concerned.

The accident frequency rate,
which was 131.06 in 1949 was
lowered in 1950 to 63.00, and may
place this camp in the running
for the WCB award for camps. in
this category.

When the crew was convinced
that the company meant business
about safer conditions they or-
ganized a committee with Cecil
Black, IWA, Chairman, and Val
Peterson, veteran first aider of
the B. C. Forest Products, as Sec-
retary, and set out to do a job.

Committee meetings were held
on the first Tuesday of every
month, and on the second Tues-
day another meeting was held to
which all the workers were in-
vited.

Enthusiasm Stimulated

This innovation was successful
in spreading enthusiasm for
safety throughout the camp.

When accidents did happen
they were immediately investi-
gated and steps taken to prevent
recurrence. Every recommenda-
tion made by the committee was
carried out by the company, and
requests were granted for protec-
tive equipment required.

Every Union meeting in camp
gave a prominent place on the
agenda to safety matters, and
stimulated a great deal of inter-
esting and helpful discussion.

Without hesitation, I must say
that praise should be given
Assistant Superintendent Ken
Holberg and Foreman Ed Peck
as spark-plugs of the safety pro-
gram, and certainly I congratu-
late the IVA members who
worked so faithfully to make the
safety program a success.

The accident problem in Caya-
cuse Camp 6 has been taken care
of in a practical way by practical
men.

SAFETY TALKS
SET FOR
JANUARY 18

The IWA district Safety
Conference which opens in Vic-
toria, January. 18, one day
prior to the District Conven-
tion, will have the advice of
well-known safety experts in
the preparation of recommen-
dations for the 1951 IWA
Safety Program.

Chief Safety Inspector of the
Workmen’s Compensation Board,
Arthur Francis, will be one of
the featured speakers. It is also
expected that the well-known
Pacific Coast safety consulting
engineer, Edward Allen, will also
address the conference, Mr.
| Allen, a former member of the
UMWaA, has won a well-deserved
reputation. for eloquent. presenta-
tion of safety principles in action.

‘The District Safety Conference
will open at 9:00 a.m. and will
continue throughout the day with
an evening session if required.

INTERNATIONAL!
COUNCIL FORMS

Organization of an Inter-
national Safety Council to
promote and co-ordinate an
accident prevention program
for all districts of the IWA in
the United States and Canada
will be the responsibility of
delegates assembling in Port-
land, January 12,

To provide a stimulus for [WA
|Safety activities in all sections
of the lumber industry, and arrest
the appalling death and accident
toll among lumber workers, this
step was ordered by the 1950
International Convention.

An organized campaign to
eliminate needless hazards from
the lumber industry commands
the unqualified support of the en-
tire International Union, declared
President J. E. Fadling when an-
nouncing the date of the organiz-
ing conference, »

Delegates to attend from the
B.C. District, IWA, are Michael
Skuzanski, District Safety Direc-
tor, and John T. Atkinson, Safety
Director, Local 1-80, IWA.

The B.C. delegates are pre-
pared to advocate the form of
organization and techniques that
have reduced accident frequency
rates in this province. End re-
sult of their proposed program is
the organization of alert and
influential safety committees in
every operation.

Disabling injuries occur more
frequently between 10 and 11
o'clock in the morning and be-
tween 8 and 4 in the afternoon
than they do during any other
hours in the day.

Watch Out All the Time.

HANDLING OBJECTS usually
ranks as the main source of in-
dustrial injuries,

|_ KNOW HOW to handle your
job, yourself, and the objects you
| work with.

lt

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