eryenerey

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

AL NECESSITY

strial safety movement was
nt the wastage of lives and

and their families of the
35. é

tive is just as great today,
actors which make the pre-
of greater importance to our

he of our population is
livelihood. The standard of
ot only our economy but our
dly geared to our ability to
mum output and efficiency.
)
ne of increased tempo and
bi have been replaced by
M@itions have been accompa-
higher accident rates. Ac-
wasteful and costly and as
ecidents in industry.

ts in Canada is said to be
on-industrial accidents dre
try a great deal more. The
ater recognition of the im-
wentable waste. Intensified
éded. Hach level of govern-
its part in co-operation with
‘efforts of industry. There
safety movement by all the
nimous disapprobation of
if sane and safe practices,
nember of society.

eivation Board

an
ecretary

0, Commissioner
Briones

ANNUAL MEET
PLANS ACTION

Annual District Safety Conference held in the Hotel
Georgia and the Medical-Dental Building, Vancouver, on
February 16, prepared a ec waned to step up acci-

dent prevention activities of the

year.

inion during the ensuing

Approximately 50 delegates representing the Local

Unions,. District, and International bodies devoted a full
day to safety matters, and secured adoption by the Dis-
trict Convention of the recommendations summarized

below.

That all questions of demo-
tion or dismissal of employees
by any Company be dealt with
solely by the Plant or Camp
Grievance Committee in line
with the master contract.

Under no circumstances is
any safety committee to take
part in any such dispute except
as a source of information to
the Grievance Committee.

That conditions be establish-
ed which will enable first aid
attendants to devote themselves
to first aid exclusively where
possible, and when not fully
occupied with first aid duties
their other work be so arrang-
ed as to enable them to keep
themselves clean and sanitary
in readiness for any emergency
call,

That where possible the work
of first aid be combined with
that of accident prevention.

That Local Unions be urged
to submit written reports to
meetings of the District Safety
Council, to be augmented by
the Local Union delegates.

That the Officers of the Dis-
trict Safety Council be required
to meet prior to the quarterly
meetings to consider the
agenda.

That the incoming District
Safety Council Officers we in-
structed to investigate the
question of accidents in rela-
tion to faulty eyesight, and de-
vise ways and means to deal
with the problem.

That a conference be held be-
tween the District Safety
Council Officers, the District
Officers, the Safety Director
and Interior Local Union safety
representatives to study the
problem of accident prevention
in the Interior and lay the
groundwork for a safety pro-
gram in that area.

That the incoming Safety
Council Officers meet with the
Safety Director to lay out a
safety program for the ensuing
year.

That greater attention be
given to the problems of home
and traffic accidents, and that
the attempt be made to insti-
tute safety councils in the com-
munities or to encourage IWA
members to join those already
formed.

That we send two delegates
to the National Safety Council
Congress and recommend that
Local Unions affiliated with the
Council also send a delegate
each.

That the IWA renew its ef-
forts to have safety hats issued
free and if necessary that this
be made a matter of negotia-
tions. In the meantime that
efforts be made to secure a
favorable ruling from the
Workmen’s Compensation
Board.

That every effort be made to
have at least six safety radio
programs during the year.

District Safety
Council President

M. A. SKUZANSKI

Ist Vice-Director

JOHN T. ATKINSON

“OTTO xmouscrreR™

AeA a C0Or”

TMS MAN IS GORTY OF -

1. WEARING LOOSE CLOTHING
AROUND MOVING MACHINERY.

2. OULIMG MACHINERY WHILE
WW MOTION.

3, LEAVING CLURDS OFF MACHWES.

FIVE MEN KILLED

Five more fatal accidents in
the month of January have
been reported by the Work-
men’s Compensation Board for
the B.C. Lumber industry, two
occurring in December, 1952,

and three in January.

Time-loss accidents reported
for the same period were 569.

Total fatalities for 1953 are
five, with 569 injuries.

PLUS &

MINUS —

SCORE TOLD

Valuable information re-
garding the action taken by
the Legislature to imple-
ment the ftecommendations
of Chief Justice Sloan was
furnished the recent IWA
District Convention by Com-
missioner “Chris” Pritchard
during his address to the
assembly. His summary of
what had been done and left
undone was as follows:

Farm Coverage

The Chief Justice recommended
that they be covered. So far, the
Legislature has not made any
change here.

Domestic Servants
The Chief Justice recommended
that they be brought under the
Act. So far, no change there.

Occupational Deafness
This is something which the
Board has included in its Sched-
ule and it did not go before the
Legislature.

Silicosis
The Chief Justice recommended
an amendment to Section 8, sub-
section 6, clause (d), and subsec-
tion 7, and this the Government
has put into effect.

Hernia

Certain amendments to Section
16 covering hernia were recom-
mended by the Chief Justice. So
far there has been no change
made here. This would seem to
be rather important and neces-
sary change, inasmuch as this is
the only place in the Act where
there is a time limit to the com-
pensation that can be paid a
workman—in the case of hernia,
one week before operation and
six weeks after. The change
recommended: by the Chief Jus-
tice is to eliminate that set-up.

Medical Appeal Board
The Chief Justice recommended
this, but so far no change has
taken place.

Percentage Basis
In accordance with the Chief
Justice’s recommendations, the
Act was amended as follows:
Compensation at the rate of
10% from April 1, 1952, on
all accidents occurring on
and after that date.
For workmen injured on and
after April 1, 1952, maximum
earnings increased to $3,600
per year; minimum compen-
sation raised to $15 per week
unless average earnings are
less than $15 per week, in
which case he receives an
amount equal to his average

earnings.
Maximum $3600 - 10%
Daily Rate 6.90
Weekly Rai 48.33
Monthly Rate

(30 days) ..... .- 207.12
Monthly Rate

(31 days) .... .- 214.03

Increased Benefits to
Dependents and

- Widows

The Chief Justice recommended
certain increases in this connec-
tion and the Act has been amend-
ed as follows:

On and after April 1, 1952,

notwithstanding the date of

accident or date of disable-

ment from an industrial

disease, widows to be paid

$75 per month, children $20

per month, children (where

no dependent widow or de-
pendent widow or dependent
invalid widower) $80 per
month,

Funeral allowances increased
from $150 to $250. Hospital
Insurance premiums paid for
dependent widows with or
without children.

Subsistence Allowance

The Chief Justice recommended
an increase in this connection.
This has been put into effect.

Fishermen

An amendment to Section. 25
concerning fishermen was pro-
posed by the Chief Justice. So
far, there has been no change
there.

Student Trainees
The Chief Justice proposed an
amendment to change the defini-
tion of “workmen” as follows:
“and shall include a person
who is a learner although not
under a contract of service or
apprenticeship but who be-
_- comes subject to the hazards
of an industry within the
scope of Part I for the pur-
pose of undergoing training
or probationary work speci-
fied or stipulated by the em-
ployer as a preliminary to
employment.”
There. has been no change there
yet.

Vocational Rehabilitation

At one time the Act only al-
lowed the Board to spend $75,000
in any calendar year. The Chief
Justice recommended that there
should be no ceiling on this; and
also that all workmen injured
since the inception of the Act,
who have a permanent disability,
be entitled to retraining if they
so desire. The Act has been so
amended.

Advocate

The recommendation of the
Chief Justice in this connection
has so far not been carried out.

First Aid

The training of First Aid men
in the administration of blood
plasma, oxygen, etc. was a mat-
ter which the Chief Justice made
recommendations on, and one
which is left up to the Board to
deal with.

District Safety
Council Secretary