B.C. LUMBER WORKER 2nd Issue, September — SAFETY WEEK AT COAST 3-Way Cooperation Urged By ARTHUR FRANCIS Chief Inspector, W.C.B. In forty years’ experience working for a living, in a wide variety of jobs in two provinces and two states, I have never seen anything like the concerted effort and integrated programme that is being planned by Labor, Management and Government for Safety Week in the lumbering industry. The splendid spirit of co-operation and the unselfish giving of time and effort to a common cause indicates a maturity of mind and an intellectual understanding of basic human elements that will have 2 powerful influence in raising to a still higher level the fine industrial rela- tions existing in the industry. Accidents are a needless waste that are a threat to the prosperity of industry. They must be eliminated. A thriv- ing lumbering industry is not only essential to those who secure their living from it but is of vital importance to the entire population of our Province. The legions of lumber workers who have suffered, been maimed or killed by accidents were unfortunate victims of an unlightened past. Even today the long list of injured workmen is proof that igne: i ‘erence and: greed are still prevalent. This, i f the fact that the greater part of the industry has demonstrated in a positive and convincing manner that co-operative safety efforts are effective. The number of accidents that will be prevented in Safety Week is important, but more significant will be the immeasurable growth of faith in safety efforts, of improv- ed attitude towards personal responsibilities, and of inter- est in taking action to make safety an integral part of our daily lives. FLAG STILL | ALOFT At least one mill in the proy- ince kept the Green Flag fly- ing since Safety Week last year, but thereby hangs a tale. When all the facts were bar- ed, safety men unanimously agreed that the crew of the Norwood Lumber Co. Ltd., North Vancouver, had earned the right proclaimed to the world by the tattered and torn remnant of a flag now seen on the flagpole over the company’s offices. The plant employees main- tained an accident-free period from Safety Week, 1952, on- ward, until fire struck the ad- joining premises of the L. & K. Lumber Co. The crew from the Norwood Lumber Co. turn- ed out to fight the fire, and plied a hose from the roof of their own plant. At that time Cy McKellar, a Norwood Lumber Co. em- ployee, fell from the roof and seriously injured his back."The accident was charged against the s2fety record of the Nor- wood lumber plant, although incurred because of fire in the neighboring plant. The protests of the safety committee could not be heeded by the Work- COMMITTEES SET PACE Safety, Committees in all Coast camps and mills were men’s Compensation Board un- der the rules. - It was then found that some- one had removed the line and shackle by which the flag had been hoisted, and had nailed - the flag to the mast. Consequently the flag has re- mained aloft, and all crew members swear that it has been properly flown, for no other accident has been permitted on the premises since Safety Week 1952. “Scotty” Allison, BCLMA, has presented the crew with a new flag to replace the battered. rag which now clings to the flagpole. In his book, he de- clares, no plant in the province has more richly deserved the right to fly the flag continu- ously, this week busily preparing their plans to make “Safety Week”, September 28 to Octo- ber 3, a complete one-week triumph over all accidents, and keep the Green Cross Flag fly- ing over the operation for the longest possible period. rounds to spur efforts toward a new high in safety performance all reported that the general enthusiasm is greater than on any former occasion. Both management and labor have taken extraordinary pains to demonstrate that for at least one week, safety is realizable. On all sides there is evidence of a growing confidence that mills and camps can be made safe places in which to work. Safety officials making the By “SCOTTY” ALLISON Safety Director, BCLMA As the paper goes to press, approximately one-third of the Special Safety Committee meetings making plans for Safety Week have been held. The enthusiasm displayed by these committees is very encouraging. When this enthusiasm is transmitted to the entire sawmill crews by the Safety Committees, we need have no doubts about the success of Safety Week. i With this demonstration of the awareness to the acci- dent prevention problem, we, I believe, can look forward to a marked decrease in accidents which result in pain and suffering to sawmill employees in the weeks and months to come. What is left to be done now, must be doné by the men in the industry themselves with, of course, the whole- hearted support of the Workmen’s Compensation Board and the B. C. Lumber Manufacturers’ Association. UNION BACKS PLAN SAYS ‘JOHN T.’ TO ALL WOODWORKERS: I am authorized on behalf of the IWA, to state that the promotion of ‘SAFETY WEEK”, September 28th to October 3rd, has the wholehearted endorsation and co- operation of our Union. We urge all woodworkers to participate in these plans to make one full week “accident free” in this section of the industry. No one will benefit more than the workers themselves by keeping the green cross flag flying over every operation continuously, commencing September 28th. The experience gained in previous years has demon- strated that an intensive cooperative effort for at least one week highlights and stimulates the work of accident pre- vention for every one of the remaining days in the year. Let us all, during Safety Week, give our full attention to safe working procedures and habits ... THINK SAFELY — ACT SAFELY — BE SAFE. Fraternally yours, JOHN T. ATKINSON, Safety Director, B.C. District Council No. 1. 4 7 (0 MATTER WHAT THE JOB YOU bO- AttoW YoUR COMMON SENSE 70 TELL YOU THAT THE RIGHT WAY (5 YOUR ACCIDENT DEFEWCE/ TODAY IS NO THERE IS TIN CONSIDERAT!