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B.C. LUMBER WORKER

Wicks Forecasts
W.C.B. Changes

More aggressive provincial government leadership in

the field of industrial safety

was forecast by Labor Min-

ister Lyle Wicks during a speech to members of the First

Aid Attendants’ Association
_ Convention, December 28-29,

Mr. Wicks assured his audience

that numerous amendments to}
the’ Workmen’s Compensation |

of B.C..at their 8th Annual
in Vancouver.

Transfer Opposed
Opinion among those experi-

Act would be introduced at the | enced in accident prevention work

next session of the Legislature,
and that thesquestion of a Medi-
cal Appeal Board would have
consideration.

IWA Praised

In his remarks on accident
. prevention, the Minister praised
the pioneer work done by the

IWA, and hinted that a broad}

conference would be summoned
by the government — modelled
somewhat after the Governor's
Safety Conference in the State
of Washington.

Interpretation placed upon his
yemarks has led to an expres-
sion of fear that the Government
is. giving consideration to a-trans-
fer of the functions of the Work-
men’s Compensation Board with
regard to accident prevention to

vision of the Minister.

is generally opposed to any such
move as likely to result in less
effective enforcement of safety
gulations. Such enforcement,
it is contended, should be re-
moved as far as possible, from
exposure, to partisan political
pressures.

Under the Workmen’s Com-
pensation Act, the administration

|

| trusted to a Board, not subject
to ministerial controls, and re-
sponsible directly to the Legisla-
ture with functions expressly de-
fined in the Act.

While it is desirable that the
government should co-ordinate
and expand the work of safety
education, the view is held by
safety men that there should be
no tampering with the present

| prevention.

of all features of the Act is en-|

COMMUNITY_SAFETY

As a safety measure,
Alaska Pine Co. Ltd. has
instituted classes for in-
struction in swiniming and
rescue work, which will be
conducted on,company time
without cost to the 51 boom-
men now participating.

Under arrangements made by
the plant safety supervisor, A.
Larkin, certificates will be issued
at the end of the instruction pe-
riod which will indicate the de-
gree of proficiency in swimming

BOOM MEN GET
SWIM C

LASSES

and lifeguard duty. Instructior
is given by professionals at the
YMCA swimming pool.

It was found that only four out
of the class of 58 were already
able to, swim well. Initial tests
deal with the reactions of th
students when immersed both
clothed and in the nude.

Those who encounter difficulty
in mastering the art will continue
to receive instruction until satis-
factory progress is made. The
tests are not recorded as a basis
for refusal of employment.

A verdic' of accidental death
was returned by a coroner's
jury at the inquest into the
death of head faller Fred James
Hansen, employed at Camp 5,
of MacMillan & Bloedel, who
was instantly killed December
17th, by a falling snag.

At the hearing, attended by B.
|Lidberg and M. Holt on behalf
of Local 1-363, IWA, two falier:
Pete

Esau and G. Ripka, wit

cireumstane:

surrounding

Hansen’s di

SNAG KILLS
FRED HANSEN

| While falling a cedar tree into
| standing timber, the cedar grazed
| 120 ft. balsam snag. The de-
ceased, warning the witnesses to
stand in the cleax, went back for
| the power saw at the precise
moment the snag broke off 45 ft.
| from the ground. A

The top part of the ‘snag then
smashed down on the cedar stump
| breaking into a number of pieces

political independence of the| nesses to the accident, related) one of which hit Hansen, frac-
department under direct super-| Board in the field of accident | the

| turing his skull and inflicting
| other injuries.

MAPLE RIDGE Lions Club officials receiving $460.60 cheque contributed by safety-minded rank and
file members of B.C. Forest Products Ltd., Hammond, B.C., Maple Ridge Lumber Co. Ltd., Haney,
and Whonnock Co. Ltd., Whonnock, to augment the fund started by the Lions to construct a Health
Unit in Haney. From left fo right, G. Molyneux, Treasurer of the Lions Club; Paul Long and Mr.

Layerdeire, members of the LWA; W. Lowrey, President

President of the Lions Club.

of Local

1-367, IWA; and Roy Kleaman,

: Guard Switches!

With the greater use of electrical power in industry,
more thought is required on the type and placement of
switches or buttons that control the machines. It is not
uncommon to find these controls in positions difficult to
reach, and in certain instances workmen have been unable
to stop machines as quickly as required, This has resulted
in damaged machines, materials and even injuries to other

workmen.

Cut Hazards

Even when the switch is near
at hand, it may be diffieult to find
among a battery of switches—
particularly in an emergency
Also, in cold weather, the use of
gloves or mitts can result in sin
lar fumbling with perhaps un-
pleasant results. —

To eliminate as far as possible
the hazards connected with the
operation of electrical equipment,
the control button should be
placed in a convenient position
and clearly marked. Operators
should make certain that when

yepairs or maintenance is being
done on a machine, the starting
switch should be locked out or
tagged.

Under no circumstances must
another workman remove the tag.
If for some reason the tag can-
not be removed by the person
who placed it there, then it is the
responsibility of the supervisor in
charge of the department, after
assuring himself that everything
is in order and everyone in the
clear, to remove the tag and start
the machine, g

REHAB.
WORK
AIDED

| Saskatchewan, New Brunswick
and Manitoba have signed agree-
ments with the federal gove
ment to provide rehabilitation
services for disabled people, La-
|bor Minister Gregg announced
st month, ‘

The agreements, provide that
the provinces contribute at least
on a matching basis to the fed-
eral grant of $15,000 per prov-
ince. The grants will enable
provinces to appoint an officer
responsible for co-ordination of,
rehabilitation services and set up
a comprehensive rehabilitation
scheme. ,

There have been important re-
serves of unused manpower
among handicapped Canadians,
Gregg said. The nation could no
longer afford the luxury of main-
taining in idleness those handi-
capped men and women who were
willing and able to work.

Other provinces were studying
the agreements, said the Labo
Minister,, and it was hoped that
a comprehensive nation-wide re-
habilitation scheme would even-
tually be built up.

4 Prom
for...

The Workmen’s Comp
reaffirms its convictions
that it is the responsibilif
guard his own welfare; tl

to maintain safe premise
dures; that Organized
educate its members in
prevention; and that the B
of the State must rigidly &
plete compliance with the
Compensation Act and
gulations.

It is the determinati
resources, with unselfish
spread among all men thi
conviction that tremendy
in curtailing accident occi

The Board’s purpose

terest and stimulate actio
be universal dissatisfactig
accident-free society.

Workinen’s ¢

ADAM BELL,
F. P. ARCHIB,
CHRIS, W. P|
E. V. ABLETT,)

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