6 B.C. LUMBER WORKER “Smart Guys?” By JOHN T. ATKINSON District Safety Director LAIN speaking is necessary here, as it has been neces- sary in the camps, with regard to the safety and health of fallers and buckers. Our Union is deeply concerned because of the follow- ing undeniable facts. Too many fallers and buckers are meeting with death and accidents. Too many fallers and buckers are prematurely retired from employment be- cause of occupational disease. 2 Every year, more than 500 lumber workers suffer Joss of gainful employment through accidents and occu- pational diseases. Too many fallers and buckers are included in, this number. é What must be said on these matters must be said to men now on the job. We are aware that some may resent the truth. Today they are in the prime of their strength and vigor and feel above advice. Whether they like it or not, unless they face the facts today, they incur the risk of becoming either corpses or cripples tomorrow. - iP "The most priceless asset of a logger is his health and ability to work. The most terrible tragedy that can over- take him is the loss of that ability, causing him to be thrown on the scrap-heap. i i The basic consideration of the Union is to provide the means whereby men may so organize and act as to pre- serve their abilities and opportunities for useful and happy living. In the final analysis, the workers them- selves must decide to act on their own behalf, as a matter of self-preservation. “Smart Guys” We've heard all that the “smart guys” have had to say. We’ve heard the “smart guy”, who said that this talk about safety is so much malarkey. We’ve helped to pick up the “smart guy” — literally in pieces. We’ve visited the “smart guy” in hospital—begging for help to escape the life of a crippled derelict. When they were called to foot the bill for their care- lessness, recklessness or stupidity, they didn’t talk any more about being “smart guys”. ‘ Not any of us are really smart, until we smarten up and work safely, with an eye to‘the safety of all on the crew. Our attitude toward safety must reckon with factors in our work which may tend to cause us to forget safety and health. One such factor is the use of power saws. As every member of every falling crew knows, the use of power saws tremendously increases the hazards for fallers and buckers, unless power saws are used safely. We rely on the good sense of fallers and buckers themselves to work out the proper procedures and work with the Union to ensure the general observance of safe regulations. Another factor we cannot ignore is the system of contract rates. The employers want to maintain the sys- tem of contract rates, because it provides, as they say, an incentive toward greater production. Many of the fallers and buckers desire to maintain the system, because they want a chance at big pay. This invites an argument, which cannot be settled here. What we can settle immediately is our attitude toward the contract rate system, that we do not toss aside health and safety to serve our greed. Our Union speaks for the use of commonsense. Is it commonsense to take crazy short-cuts in order to make a few more bucks a day? Every time we take a chance on a reckless act, we’re betting our lives or ability to work, against increasing odds under the law of ayer- ages. Bragging about it is anything but smart. ‘ ‘Viewing the Body” How many times we have “viewed the body” at an inquest and said to ourselves, what we didn’t dare say out aloud—“How could he have been so damned dumb?” Is it commonsense to scurry up hills with heavy loads, race from tree to tree, crowd the job and punish a good body? We take a look at these smart guys at the end of the day, too exhausted to do anything else but hit the hay as soon as they eat. = i We take a look at these same smart guys in the hos- pitals, gasping with heart conditions, writhing with arthritis, or just plumb “worn out”. '—old men, sick men when they should be in their prime. When we asked the doctors about this at the recent public forum, th TJaughed that men should be so cates not to know that over-exertion, unwisely prolonged, cripples and finally kills, as the heart is abused, and resents abuse. We want our fallers and buckers to sit down and figure these matters out for themselves, and organize themselves into a safe and healthy occupation, with reasonable expectancy of life. We'd like to see men stop driving themselves toward the scrap-heap. It’s legitimate for every man to make all he can, short of risking his health or his life. But what value is a few extra bucks, if gained at the expense of health and safety? Take a tumble, “smart guys”, and get smart, and safe at the same time. Council Urges Action On ‘Gypos’ Full-scale campaign against the alarming accident fre- quency rate in “gypo” logging operations became a possi- bility this week as official consideration was given the recommendation of the IWA District Safety Council that a conference be held under the auspices of the Workmen’s Compensation Board for this purpose. The proposal, which originated in the District Safety Council in quarterly session, August 14, was ratified by the: District Council on the following day. After dis- cussion with representatives of the Workmen’s Compensation Board, the hope was expressed that representatives of the em- ployers’ organizations would join with the IWA District officials in a discussion of ways and means to remedy the situation. Recommendations Eight other major recommen- dations were placed before the senior body by District Safety Director, John T. Atkinson, on behalf of the District Safety Council, and were endorsed at the quarterly District Council ses- sion. In future, Local Unions will receive a report of the attendance record of their delegates at the Safety Council meetings, it was decided. Local Inspection The opportunity will now be provided delegates attending the meetings of the Safety Council to inspect a Vancouver plant, either before or after'the sessions of the Council. Purpose of the inspection will be two-fold—the examination of new safety ‘tech- niques and exchange of views with the plant safety committee. All Local Union Safety Coun- cils were urged to hold regular monthly or quarterly meetings and at least to hold one such meeting one week prior to the quarterly District Safety Council ae z= Accident free days meeting. This procedure, it was contended, would enable the Dis- trict Safety Council to get a “close-up” of the general situa- tion. Shingle Mill Hazards On the recommendation of the Council, the shingle workers’ con- ference will undertake an investi- gation to determine whether ad- ditional accident hazards are likely to arise from the new premium incentive to be inserted in the master agreement with regard to No. 1 shingles. All Local Union Safety Coun- cils were urged to give special attention during, the dry season to fire prevention, and the stor- age of explosives. The use of cameras by business agents engaged in safety promo- tion work was given encourage | ment, that useful illustrations of accident hazards might be pub- lished. “Gypos” Under Fire Inspection of “gypo” operations by theCLocal Union Safety Coun- cils, as frequently as possible, was approved, on the ground that many of these operations at present persistently violate the regulations. James Milmore, Local 1-80, and William Croy, Local 1-217, were named as delegates from the B.C. District to attend the Congress of the National Safe- ty Council in Chicago, later in the year. G. Ingram, Local 1-85, was named as an alter- nate. Co., Nanaimo Lakes. four feet and crushed him, The tree on which he was working ha Pinched between two other small trees, it As he had just completed his cut, o Photographs reproduced on this page }irn bucker William White met his death when CHAMISS BAY Safety Committee members responsible for the fine safety record of that operation. Left to right, N. Markyardsen, Y. Curran, T. Keating, A. MacPhail. A770 KWOWEETICR ..- The upper picture.was taken from th the log and nature of the terrain. The lower picture shows the section pith release him, and also shows the fatal cut 2.WEVER STAWD WW BETHEEW CARS OEW COUPLE 1S MALE... BMAKE SURE AURIS SET UP...