January 17,1952 B.C. LUMBER WORKER AFETY | KILLER NO SECOND CHANCES You probably won't work yourself to death or walk your- self to death. But— Pedestrian accidents account for a large share of the off- the-job death toll. And twice as many workers are killed off the job as are killed in work accidents. You probably won’t work or walk yourself to death, be- cause you are probably sold on the idea that a little extra’ watchfulness and carefulness goes a long way toward long AGGRESSIVE PLANS FOR ’52 District Talks Jan. 28th To Step Up Program IWA Safety Program for the lumber industry of Brit- ish Columbia to be planned at the District Safety Confer- ence, Hotel Vancouver, January 28, will be given more vigorous backing, it is declared by IWA safety men throughout the Union. They have received the statistics of 1951 in a mood of angry determination that 1952 must life. Right? show better results. Scored At safety precautions. Summary made by B.C. Dis- triet Safety Council delegates, John T. Atkinson and Michael A: “Gus” Skunzanski on return indi- cated that lack of uniformity in State compensation regulations and general laxity in enforeement of the safety code in several States made the Union's. task doubly difficult. Detailed statement of plans formulated by the International Safety Council will be placed be- fore the approaching District Safety Conference, January 28, in Vancouver. Canada Ahead Although the Union is grap- pling with a major problem in British Columbia, the general level of safety progress:has now out-stripped the action taken in many important lumbering areas in the United States, it was claimed. Workers in the more dangerous areas are now demand- ing information’ regarding the means by which greater safety has been accomplished elsewhere. “Appalling Neglect” Portland One-day session of the International Safety Council at Portland, January 11, brought to light appalling neglect of accident prevention in many important sections of the lumber industry, and spurred the IWA Safety men to ;Zenewed endeavor to secure adequate enforcement of The International Union is committed to a policy which will make safety enforcement desir- able to all concerned in every op- eration within IWA jurisdiction. Gross Neglect Startling story was told at the conference of a seriously injured logger in an Oregon operation, | whose accident and absence in amp passed unnoticed, and was not discovered until he had lain out in the woods all night. A number of the major opera- tions in the State of California have recorded safety success stor Upon enquiry it was found that they had adopted a program similar to that now ob- served in British Columbia. The principal effort of the IWA in the. United States will be di- |vected to the promotion of alert job organization in order that the workers may gain full benefit of the clauses in the IWA contracts which provide for safe pro- cedures. tion at the recent meeting January 11. the progress made wit! lumber workers of Bri ‘JOHN T’ ACCLAIMED Second term as President of the IWA International Safety Council was tendered J John T. Atkinson by acclama- of the Council in Portland, The B.C. District Safety Director declared in accept- ing the post that he considered his election as a tribute to the IWA Safety Program by the ish Columbia. It is anticipated that a tho- rough- going analysis will be made of the 1951 accident toll to discover where the weakness lies in attempts to prevent needless deaths. Leading officials of the District Safety Council have indicated that the day has passed for gen- eralizations, and that the ap- proach of the Union to this prob- lem in the future must be based on a realistic consideration of known facts gained from. investi- gations of fatalities. : Safety Director’s Duties Considerable emphasis will be placed on the responsibilities of the full-time District Safety Di- rector, and the co-ordinating ac- tivities which will centre around his work. At present the program is be- ing developed on an experimental basis. The Director is answering calls to weak spots in the indus- try, where there may be an ob- vious need to arouse interest in safety. In his visits to camps and plants, the Director has made clear, that no one official can ensure safety in any operation. Attitude Basic The basic requirement for safety is an attitude on the part of the workers and management which reveals in their daily ac- tions an unflagging determina- tion to maintain safe procedures. Prospects are that the District Safety Conference for 1952, will be the most important conference of this nature in the history of the Union, and will be attended by a full quota of delegates from all Local Unions. A resolution to be considered by the Conference will propose the extension of safety activities to the homes and the highways. It is believed that the cultivation of instinctive safety habits must be develeped by vigilance throughout every hour of each day. The contention of the [WA safety men is that it is not sufft- cient to guard one’s safety dur- ing the 40 hours of the work week when under coverage of Workmen’s Compensation. A full safety coverage should extend in- to every department of a person’s ife. Highway sign in Alaska: “The man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is not giv- ing the kiss the attention it de- serves,”” ss # Billboard on the way to Las Vegas, Nev.: “Don’t be a Caress Driver,” Hes ase Winter is not a season: it’s an occupation. Se eee A lecture is an occasion when you numb one end to benefit the other. hag eae When the worm turns, it may be because he got instructions from the back seat. Mo tok 2 To make certain that crime does not pay, the government should take it over and try to run it. Westminster Shook Inspected WESTMINSTER SHOOK SAFETY COMMITTEE is visited by an inspection party organized by Safety Director of Local, 1-357, IWA.