Page 6

February 15, 1951

Safety
Editorial

‘THE investigation likely to
be held into the circum-
stances leading to the accidental
death of Chokerman Albert
Parmiter, O’Brien Logging Co.,
should be so conducted as to
enable sound conclusions re-
garding safe. working proce-
dures in logging’ operations. .
The verdict of the coroner’s
jury pointed to negligence on
the part of persons responsible
for the observance of the acci-
dent prevention regulations.
Pending the outcome of the
enquiry or prosecution to be
instituted by the Workmen’s
Compensation Board, judgment
must be withheld regarding the

_ degree of blame to be attached

toy any company official or
member of the crew.

‘The evidence before the coro-
ner’s jury indicated clearly
that a number of factors were
involved. A study of the cir-
cumstances by men experienced
in logging may provide the
answers to questions that: must
be dealt with to ensure safe
working conditions.

If a member of the crew is
prosecuted for a violation of
the accident prevention regula-
tions will he be given the op-
portunity to prove that other
breaches of the regulations
contributed to the fatality?

If the company officials are
prosecuted will the desired re-
sults be achieved?

The circumstances call for an
enquiry of a judicial nature,
with power to review all the
evidence, find the exact causes
of the accident, and make suit-
able recommendations as_ to
‘better enforcement of the regu-
lations.

F gross negligence is shown

on the part of any individual
or individuals, prosecution in
the courts can follow. If the
penalty clause of the amended
accident prevention regulations
is invoked against individual
members of a logging crew, the
IWA will be called upon to see
that the accused get justice.

In this instance it is import-
ant to know the extent to
which a block was defective,
and if such defect contributed
to the accident. Why was the
block spot-welded when the
thread on the shaft was strip-
ped? Why was it used by the
hooktender?) Who was respon-
sible for inspection?

What are the responsibilities
of a rigging-slinger? Is his
authority to order safe work-
ing procedures clearly defined
and definitely backed up by his
superiors? Is he’ required to
take greater precautions before
giving certain signals?

Why were two chokermen in
the bight of the line when the
accident happened? No fatality
would have resulted in this in-
stance had they been stationed
near the rigging-slinger when
he gave the signal to move the
rigging.

HY was the victim not

wearing a hard hat. His
fellow crew members hold the
opinion that had he been wear-
ing a hard hat he would have
merely suffered bruises, and
would still be alive.

‘This latter question leads to
another. Is the present design
of hard hat satisfactory? Is it
not true that the shape of the
brim is such that anything
striking the brim, flips it off
the worker’s head? Are there
not better designed hard hats
now on the market which a log-
ger can wear with a greater
degree of comfort, and assur-
ance that it will protect him?

It is commendable that com-
pany officials, [WA officers, and
representatives of the Work-
men’s Compensation Board are
prepared to co-operate in an
enquiry that will focus the at-
tention of the industry on
practices that are unsafe.

Penalties are in the nature
of a deterrent to negligence. It
is of greater importance that

conclusions reached in a thor-*

ough investigation of this acci-
dent will result in the general
adoption of more clearly de-
fined and safer procedures in
all logging operations.

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

JURY CLAIMS NEGLIGENCE
IN PARMITER CASE

| The Workmen’s Compensation Board has been re-
Iquested by the officers of Local 1-71, IWA, to institute a

This action was taken follow-
jing a report on-the inquest, at
‘which the coroner’s jury returned
a verdict of accidental death
caused by negligence in the ob-
|servance of the accident preven-
tion regulations.

In the opinion of the IWA
officials, a number of factors con-
tributed to the fatality, which if
|made the subject of an enquiry
would lead to a clearer definition
of responsibility with regard to
the enforcement of, the regula-
tions.

As the rigging was moving
back, with a coil of straw. line,
the victim, with a fellow choker-
man, was standing in the bight of
the ‘line. The rigging-slinger,
who was stationed outside the
bight on higher ground, gave the
stop signal when the butt rigging
was approximately 25 feet from
the haul-back block.

Evidently the butt rigging
crashed the block, alleged to be
defective, spreading it and re-
leasing the line. The main line
moved in about eight feet, bend-
ing over a sapling which sprung
back. Apparently a flying chunk
of limb or knot struck the de-
ceased, penetrating the skull

It was stated at the inquest
that a number of the accident
prevention regulations had been
violated. -Officers of Local 1-71,
IWA, reserved comment on the

full-scale public enquiry into all the circumstances sur-
Jrounding the accidental death of Albert Parmiter at Camp
“B”, O’Brien Logging Co., February 5. .

|peami ane damana miedo

should be secured in justice to all
concerned.

At time of going to press, it
was believed that the Workmen’s
Compensation Board would take
steps to institute an official en-
quiry.

If a charge is laid against.a
crew member for violation of the
accident prevention regulations,
which now involves a penalty of
a $50 fine, it will be the first test
of the new policy of enforcement,
and will undoubtedly provoke

widespread interest among log- |

gers.

RULE 896

Rule 896 now included in the
amended accident prevention
regulations, and too often over-
looked, reads as follows:

“Safety-hats shall be worn
by -superintendents, foremen,
fallers, buckers, bull-buckers,
sealers, signalmen, rigging
slingers, chokermen, chasers,
hook - tendérs, loaders, rig - up
men, skidders, second hooker,
and back-rigger, and by all
other occupations when there
is danger from being struck
by falling, flying, or thrown
objects.”

A

accident prevention regulations.

applicable to his operation.

any violation be charged.
spread distribution.

of equipment.

bring a dead man back to life.

$50 FINE PROVIDED
IN PREVENTION CODE

By WILLIAM GRAY

RECENT logging fatality attributed to negligence and which
may result in prosecutions, brings forcibly to the attention of
every lumber worker the following clause which now appears in the

“Every person who contravenes any of the following regulations
shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $50.”

The employer has always been subject to penalties for negli-
gence imposed by way of special assessments. For the first-time, we
face the possibility of proceedings against an individual workman.

This makes it necessary that every lumber worker should gain
a working knowledge of the accident prevention regulations as

Ignorance of the law will provide no satisfactory defence should
Copies of these regulations have a wide-

The regulations also provide that in every operation employing
20 or more men, there shall be a joint accident prevention committee,
on which management ‘and the workers are equally represented. The
duties of these committees are clearly defined, and include inspection

Safety committees should not wait for prosecutions to make an
example of men notoriously guilty of negligence.
It is the business of a safety com-
mittee to be on the alert to insist upon safe working procedures,
which will eliminate the causes of accidents.
If a fatality occurs, the safety committee members should con-
duct an immediate investigation and make a careful report to ensure
that no individual workman is singled out for blame unjustly.

A fine will not

1-71 ASKS
COMPLETE.
PROBE

Application for an “imme-
diate and full-scale” investiga-
tion into the accidental death
of A. Parmiter, Camp “B”,
O’Brien Logging Co., by Finan-
cial Secretary Fred Fieber,
Local 1-71, WA, outlined the
objectives in view in a letter to
the Workmen’s Compensation
Board as quoted below.

Mr. Adam Bell,

Chairman,

Workmen’s Compensation Board,
411 Dunsmuir Street;

Vancouver, B.C.
Dear Sir:

The death of Mr. A. *Parmiter,
while employed at Camp “B”,
O'Brien Logging Company, reminds
us once again of the needless
slaughter that is taking place in the
logging industry in British Colum-
bia. The records show quite clearly
that other hazardous industries are
making much more progress in cli-
minating needless accidents, and sav-
ing ‘life and limb”.

From .the information I can get
on the death of Mr. A. Parmiter,
there were flagrant violations of
several Accident Prevention Regula-
tions. I feel there is sufficient evi-
dence to warant an immediate and
full scale investigation into this
man's death, Considering the num-
ber of fatalities in’ the logging in-
dustry every year, I feel that an in-
vestigation of this nature should
have three objectives:

1. Prosecution for failure to com-
ply with Accident Prevention
Regulations.

2, Endeavor to establish the rea-
son Accident Prevention Regu-
lations are so often violated.

3. Altempt to determine responsi-
bility of individuals engaged
a in logging,

If this investigation is granted, I
hope it would not be limited tq
brosecution for failure to comply
with Accident Prevention Regula-
tions, which would merely impose
on individuals the penalties pre-
scribed. I feel it is much more im-
portant to endeavor to investigate
and bring out clearly the reason so
many men are crippled and killed in
the logging industry.

I would suggest a hearing that
would include representatives of the
Workmen's Compensation Board,
management and the Union com-
bined, i

There is every possibility that a
thorough investigation into Mr. A.
Parmiter's death would provide all
persons concerned with a valuable
precedent for safer working condi-
tions and perhaps better understand-
ing of responsibilities.

Yours very truly,

Fred Fieber,
Secretary-Treasurer,
Local 1-71, IWA.

THE SARE

",,. Careful records h
covering all accidents ocei
Province. That the hopes o
tion movement have nq
The virtual elimination 0; ,
over Jong periods has led stude
that the avoidance of accid
upon the development of the aa
plication of the known remedig
to meet new hazards is conside)
movement. The belief is becom,
solution of the whole distressing
on: (1) Selecting the right may
him in the proper methods of
the proper equipment, including
adequate supervision\and et

Accidents can occur from dp
such varying circumstances thal
vidual workman 1s of Pygmaesis
developed to a point ae
avoids danger. The school of exh.
for the workmen and for the
safety vigilance. Just to the
become seized with the “acci
Sacrifice in men and money in

(From the 1929 ’
The control of acci ,
worker's level.

We have had the "kno
When are we going to

“WORKMEN'S COMI

“ADAM BELL, Chalrman
F. P. ARCHIBALD, Secretary

Occupation?
Age:
Experience:
Date:
The scene of the accident
working on a 40’ Balsam log
with 8” to go when the sa¥ ™

saw down and made a do
and when the bucker ste!

bucker went down with

injuries.