Page 6

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

WRONG IMPRESSION CREATED

Safety Chief Francis Affirms
Value Co-operation By TWA

Reports appearing in the daily newspapers recently created the
impression that Chief Safety Inspector Arthur Francis, W.C.B., in bis
evidence before the Sloan Commission, spoke in derogatory terms of the
IWA Safety Program. Mr. Francis was immediately interviewed by the
IWA District Officers, when it was discovered that he had no such
intention, In his statement, which follows, Mr. Francis expresses appre-
ciation of IWA cooperation in accident prevention,

Mr. George H. Mitchell,
Secretary-Treasurer,

IWA, (CIO-CCL),

B.C. District Council No. 1, _ |
45 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C.

Dear Mr. Mitchell:

From recent items in the
newspapers there would ap-
pear to be some misunder-
standing or misinterpretation
of evidence given by myself
before the Royal Commission
inquiring into the administra-
tion of the Workmen’s Com-
pensation Act.

The relations between this
Department and the members
of your organization have been
most congenial and of mutual
advantage. This letter is being
wrilten with the thought that
it is important for us to main-
tain this desirable condition.

As the Chief Inspector for
the Board, and as an indivi-
dual, I trust that their num-
bers will increase and that
their. efforts will be increas-

First of all I wish it under-
stood that any reference made
by the IWA Safety Program in
my evidence was of commend.
able nat I have consi
ableadmiration for those mem-
bers of your Union who are so
sincerely and enthusiastically
working in the interests of
safety.

ingly effective. And I would
not do anything to discourage
their efforts or retard their
progress,

Some of my evidence was in
rebuttal to charges against the
Board made by certain indi-
viduals, including witnesses for
the IWA. These critics may
have been impulsive, over-
enthusiastic or merely unin-
formed. Whatever the reason,
statements were made that had
to be corrected.

It is unfortunate that my
evidence, which was necessary
for the information of the
Commissioner, was used to
misinform the public. I was in-
deed happy to see that the
pages of the B.C. Lumber-
worker contained an accurate
account of a small part of the
four days’ testimony.

I am proud that there exists
between myself and a goodly
number of your members a
strong bond of mutual respect,
friendship, and trust that can
weather any difference of view-
point that might develop as a
result of misunderstanding or
by reason of cach or any of us
following the dictates of his
convictions in the carrying out
of duties.

Yours sincerely,

Arthur Francis,
Chief Inspector.

SAFETY PRINCIPLES

Basic fundamentals of a safety program, to which refer-
ence was made by Chief Inspector Arthur Francis of the Work-
men’s Compensation Board during the hearings of the Sloan
Commission: were those prepared for the Industrial Accident
Prevention Association and are as follows:

ORGANIZATION, through which general policies respect-
ing the accident prevention program are formulated and
executed.

SUPERVISION, through which job instruction is given,
general policies are interpreted and applied and safety rules
and regulations are enforced.

ENGINEERING, through which material, equipment and
physical, surroundings are put in safe condition and are so
maintained.

SAFETY EDUCATION, through which employees are in-
structed ak to job hazards and safe methods of performing
their work.

STATISTICS, through which the specific problems or con-
ditions requiring attention are indicated and by which the pro-
“ress in accident prevention is gauged.

Watch Out?

Make it a habit to watch for
these work hazards:

Defective ladders.

Unguarded floor openings.

Sticks or equipment blocking
aisles.

Loose objects on the floors.

Never stand on machines,
crates, or makeshift supports.

Watch where you're walking
and always report hazards.

And in Glendale, Calif., ex-
City Manager Charles C. McCall
has applied for state compensa-
tion with the claim that he
swivelled so vigorously in his
swivel chair that he hurt his

back. (You lugs who don’t rate
swivel chairs — wipe off that
smile!)

He Left Safety Boots At Home?

SAFETY OFF THE JOB, as well as on the joh is the motto of TWA picknickers at Confederation

e Ai

Park, July 22. Five volunteers from St. John’s Ambulance Association gave first aid to those with

minor injuries sustained during sports contests.

revidence revealed

| “Attention Hunters —

Five Factors
In Logging
Fatalities

Illustrations and descriptions
of 28 fatal logging accidents in
B.C. were presented to the
Sloan Commission in Victoria
recently, with an analysis of
the causes. Factors analyzed
were, unsafe physical condi-
tions, unsafe acts, unsafe per-
sonal factor, and supervisor's
responsibility.

Unsafe Physical Condition

Under the heading, “Unsafe
Physical Condition”, it was indi-
cated that 11 out of the 28 oc-
curred where normal occupa-
tional hazards existed. In 17 in-
stances a hazardous procedure

had been followed or defective
agencies and lack of guards were |
factors present. i

iS

Unsafe Acts

Examination as to whether un- |
safe acts had been evident, it was
found that in 18 fatalities the |
“taking unsafe
position”. In the remaining ten
eases, only one reported no un-
safe uct. The balance revealed
such fuctors as “failure to warn”,

of equipment’, ,
unsafe speed”, “4

, “op=
without authority”, and

crating
“using cquipment unsafely”,

Unsafe Personal Factor *

“improper atti-

po

» numbered |
lack of knowl- |
indicated. “Disregard |
ods” and “taking un- |

were shown in |

Supervisor’s Responsibility

In five instances the supervisor |
had no responsibility, it was

imed. The supervisor had
failed to give proper instructions
or enforee the regulations in 15
deaths. In three instances safe
equipment had not been provided.
Other instances indicated poor
job planning or lack of experi-
ence,

Regulations

The analysis revealed that in
18 out of the,28 fatalities one or
more safety rules had been bro-
ken or disregarded.

The only possible conclusion to
be reached upon consideration of
the analysis is that accidents in
the woods are most frequently

sed by a combination of fuc-
tors. It is also clear that most of
them can be prevented by ade-
quate supervision, instruction, |
safe cquipment, and alertness on
the job.

Sign on a Michigan farm
Plea:
Don’t Shoot Anything On My |
Place That Isn't Moving. It May |

Be My Hired Man!”

» Six more fatalities were
ported for the month of Ju
in the B.C. lumber indust
according to the statement
released by the Workmen’
Compensation Board, ‘Dim

7 Solid Fo
for

ACCIDE

From Page 2 of the Unifo
Canadian Railroads: 2

“Special Notice~—
Safety is of the
discharge of di
Obedience to
Safety...

Compliance with safety rule

sincere form of co-operatio’ a

WORKMEN’S C0

\ADAM BELL, Chairman

F. P. ARCHIBALD, Secretary