B.C. LUMBER WORKER

fa

IWA MEN WILL WORK
FOR NEW RECORDS

“Our Aim”

The following is a statement
issued by Safety Director, John
T. Atkinson, on behalf. of the
IWA District Safety Council.

TO ALL I.W.A.
MEMBERS:

“Again this year the IWA Dis-
trict.No. 1 (CIO-CCL) had
agreed to participate with B.C.
Lumber and Manufacturers’ As-
sociation and Workmen’s Com-
pensation Board in ‘Sawmill
Safety Week’ which is a very
worthy objective for accident
prevention.

“Qur experience in 1951 has
shown us that gratifying results
can be obtained through joint ef-
fort and co-operation in such a
safety program: by members of
our union. Therefore we encour-
age our members to participate
to the fullest extent to make this
a success. Set out below are a
few suggestions for your guid-
ance and direction.”

1 Work safely at your job at

all-times, and show a good
example to others.

2 Have regard at all times for
the safety of fellow workers.

3, Use your: skill, knowledge,
experience, and influence,
in preventing accidents.

G Use. your protective -equip-
ment when and where neces-
sary, at all times.

5 Inform safety committees of

unsafe practices, and sup-
port their activities.
Contribute your ideas, sug-

gestions and recommenda-
tions for the improvement

of safety.

7 Read, heed and study safety
regulations, posters, bulle-
tins, etc.

@ Interest, yourselves in safe-

ty in the plant, in traffic,
the home and other activi-
ties outside the plant.

Labor and management, assisted by the Workmen’s
Compensation Board, will engage in an all-out effort to
keep the white and green flag of safety flying over all of

the 72 mills ‘within the B.C. Lumber Manufacturers’ |

Association for the entire week of May 12-16. A well-
organized campaign conducted by Mr. W. M. “Scotty”
Allison, BCLMA, is receiving the hearty cooperation of
IWA safety men.

Eight more fatalities were
reported for the month of
March in the B.C. Lumber
industry, in a statement re-.
leased. by the Workmen's
Compensation Board.

‘Time-loss accidents for the
same month were 890.

‘The total number of fatali-
ties for 1952 is now 21 and
time-loss ageidents for the
same period, 2,242.

Confidence is expressed on all
sides that the successful promo-
tion of a Safety Week can be re-
peated this year. In the week of
May 14-18, 1951, 75 out of 78
mills acted in unison to score a
perfect record for the week. Six
of them maintained an accident
free record for the entire calen-
dar year. Only four accidents
marred the record during Safety
Week in 1951.

The purpose of the week's in-|
tensive effort is to accomplish the | men dat r Te en al
complete prevention of all com- types ol vehicle ashen ce Demccrel|
sommes MUN” diving Ave |e ameoreug hah
consecutive days. Many mills / si, met his death, while wearing
have established excellent records | tim), Met his death, vane aed on

: cots, ¥ : |

See none oat at has | the el sheathing on the floor

ha ine | of an ordinary dump truck, caus-

Safety Week is intended to
drive home the fact that 95% of |
all accidents are predictable and}
preventable, and that with safety
education and cooperation the

The jury insisted upon a}

fall beneath the wheels of the

‘As xelated at the inquest, the
deceaséd had changed to his

CORONER BALKS RIDER |

Strong exception has been taken by the IWA safety
men to the attempt made by the Coroner to rule out a
rider to the jury’s verdict with regard to the accidental
death of W. L. Trussler, logger killed in the operation of
Goodwin Johnson, North Vancouver, April 16.

recommendation that another | cayiked boots, and stood up to
dispose of his dress shoes. At
that moment the truck struck a
pothole, and threw him below the |}
duals,

chest.

ing him to lose his balance and | finall , e !
cussions are anticipated with the |}

Attorney General to determine
the powers of a Coroner in all
such instances. |

crushing his head and

The jury’s recommendation was |}
aceepted, but further di

principal causes of accidents can |
be eliminated.
The Record Speaks

Proof of thi: found in the
record

rate for 1951 was lowered by 26 |
points below that of the previous |
year although half a’ million more |
man-hours were worked.

The frequency rate for the As
sociation Mills was 32.07 f
1951, and for the present year it
has again been lowered to 29.65.
The rate for the entire mill sec-
tion of the industry was 55.

In 1951,’ there were 336 less
compensable accidents. Three fa-
tal accidents were reported,
which acesunted for 23% of the
fatal accidents in the sawmilling
industry, whereas the employees
of the Association mills form

jIWA

Council.

Total fatal accidents in_ the
United States were 93,000. Occu-
pational fatal accidents were
160,000, an increase of 3%. Non-
fatal accidents reached the
astounding figure of 2,100,000,
with permanent disablement re-

60% of the total working force. ! sulting for 90,000 persons.

mai
Distri

a

SAFETY EXPERTS plan program for Safety Week, May 12-16, with full co-operation of labor,
agement and Workmen’s Compensation Board. (Left) Arthur Francis, f
ct Safety Director John T. ‘Atkinson, IWA; W. M. “Scotty” Allison, G. Norris, BCLMA.

Chief Inspector, WCB.

DEATH RATE UP
og eter TN US, AND CANADA

Canada suffered a fatal accident toll of over 10,000
| during 1951, according to the latest statistics available to |}
safety men. Injuries totalled more than 800,000.
-|This reveals a substantial increase over the casualty list
of 1950. Total fatalities in the United States also increased
4‘, over the previous year, states the National Safety

appreciably less than the increase
in injuries.

Wage loss, medical expense,
and the overhead cost of insur-
ance for occupational accidents
in 1951° amounted to $1,300,-
000,000. The so-called indirect
costs amounted to an equiva-
lent sum. Total costs were
therefore approximately $2,-
600,000,000. ‘Time loss amount-
ed to 340,000,000 man-days.

The increase in exposure was

A strong Company policy

must be protectediiiy

An organized system of ins;
ment and,job methods, |

|

A searching enquiry into ac

An effective procedure for

]
A record of how when, w’
whom accidents occur. |

‘ |

A set of written rules to
methods.

Injury control by means !
Aid. ‘
An open channel for the

management. ,

A method by which worlar

control.

|
Devices to maintain interes
met |

courage constant vigilan

A feeling of co-operation, ®
tion and a conviction t
realistic, practical and ne

‘

Workmen’s Com
Vane

ADAM BELL, Chairman
F. P. ARCHIBALD, Secretary