‘

~ CHANGE

‘Attention is directed to some of the amendments |

made to the Workmen’s Compensation Act which were
assented to on April 14, 1954.

For injuries sustained on and
after April 14, 1954, compensa-
tion is based on 75 percent of
average earnings, but no com-
pensation is payable on any
portion of average earnings
beyond $4,000 per year. This is
an increase from the former
maximum’ benefits of 70 per-
cent on $3,600 per year.

After January 1, 1955 period-
ical payments of compensation to
be made for permanent impair-
ment from injuries sustained
before March 18, 1943 are to be
paid on a workman’s actual aver-
age earnings, but not on less than.
66% percent of $2,000 per annum
and not on more than 66% per-_
cent of $2,500 per annum.

Dependents’ Allowances

Members of the family of the
employer residing with the em-
ployer and being under the age
of twenty-one years and legally
entitled to work are still not auto-
matically protected under Part 1

of the Acf but those residing
elsewhere and those over twenty-
one years of age are automatical-
ly covered by the statute on and
after April 14, 1954 and assess-
ments are payable on their earn-
ings as though they were work-
men unrelated to the employer.
The definition of “workmen” is
enlarged to include a “learner”,
exposed to the hazards of an in-
dustry covered, and a member of
a municipal fire brigade working
with or without remuneration.
Industrial Diseases
Provision is made that when
an industrial disease is of such
a nature that its presence is evi-
denced by specific X-ray appear-
ances, the Board may require an
employer in any industry to
which the disease applies to cause
any or all workmen to be ex-
amined at least once in every
twelve months at the expense of
the employer. Three industrial

oa were added to the sche-
le.

The forty-nine day limit of
time loss formerly fixed by the
Act for uncomplicated hernia was
abolished as well as the require-
ment that an operation be per-
formed within two weeks.

Reports of the Accident Pre-
vention Inspectors are now re-
quired to be posted in a conspic-
uous place at or near the place
of employment.

Assessments may now be levied
upon a “unit of production or in
such manner as the Board may
deem proper”.

Qualified Practitioners

“Qualified Practictioners” is
defined to mean a person regis-
tered under the “Chiropody Act”,
the “Chiropractic Act”, the “Den-
tistry Act”, or the “Naturopathic
Physicians Act”. These practi-
tioners, like those under the
“Medical Act”, are required to
furnish reports to the Board and
to give all necessary information,
advice, and assistance to an in-

toria, B.C.

compensation,

Increased benefits mean
creased accident costs. The only
real control of accident cost is to
prevent accidents.
benefits that can accrue to work-
men, employers and society are
the elimination of accidents, the
prevention of injuries and the
curtailment of damage to goods
and equipment.

jured workman and his depend-
ents in making application for’
din furnishing’
necessary certificates and proofs,
without charge to the workmen.

Provision is made that a “Com-
pensation Counsellor”, meaning
an official of the Department of
Labor appointed by the Lieuten-
ant-Governor in Council, as such,
shall have access at any reason-
able time to the complete files
and records of the Board and
other material pertaining to each
injured workman.

For other amendments, chiefly
of an administrative nature, the
amending Act should be obtained
from the Queen’s Printer, Vic-

in-

The greatest

Thank You, ‘Chris’! |

Mr. George Mitchell,

Secretary,

B.C. District Council, IWA,

45 Kingsway, Vancouver 10, B.C.

Dear Mr. Mitchell:

I note in the May issue of The B.C. Lumber Worker a letter from
the National Safety Council, Chicago, ‘Ill., advising you that your
organization has been voted the National Safety Council's Public
Interest Award for 1953.

I wish to take this opportunity of offering my sincere congratu-
lations to your organization and the industry in what has been
accomplished again In 1953. Receiving this award two years in suc-
cession is certainly something of which you all should be very proud.
It is largely a matter of education, and as we all know, a slow
process and a hard one, but the efforts of your organization and the
employers are obtaining results.

Safety on the job should be the first consideration of all workers,
and undoubtedly they are entitled to those conditions. The main
thing that has been accomplished through this effort is the reduction
in suffering to the injured workmen and relief from anxiety as far a3
the dependents are concerned.

I am sure your organization will continue with its efforts and it
has definitely helped to bring to the attention of other organizations
what can be done when everyone is determined to work under safe
conditions, :

Kindly convey to. your organization my best wishes for continued
success in this good work.

Yours sincerely,
C. W. PRITCHARD, Commissioner,
Workmen's Compensation Board.

Dead eee

OCCUPATION: Signalman
EXPERIENCE: 3 or 4 years
AGE: 24 2

: DATE: July 27, 1953.

Contrary to instructions and unkown to the rest of the crew,
the signalman went on to the cold deck pile and into the bight of
the haul back line.

The signal was given to tight line and when the engineer did
so, the haul back strap tie back line parted. The haul back whipped
in six feet and dragged the signalman ahead about three feet then
threw him back about eighty feet down the pile.

He died instantly of multiple injuries,

AAT ee ea)

Interior Locals
Back Program

In line with District Conyen-
tion instructions, the IWA
Safety Director, John T. At-
kinson, is now working in the
Prince George area for the
purpose of establishing a
Safety Program.

During the last two weeks,
mass meetings have been held to

cooperation

with

which

members participate.

This is virgin territory in re-
gard to Safety and there is no
evidence that accident preven-
tion measures have been given
much attention as the records

arouse enthusiasm amongst the| will show.
lumber workers of Local 1-424.

At the invitation of the Union, Management
Management has been attending Participating

these meetings, to hear first
hand reports from the Safety
Director, regarding the success
of accident prevention in the
Coastal area and the procedure
to follow, in the initial stages
of establishing and promoting a
Safety Program.

Meetings Held

Meetings have been held with
officials of the Northern Interior
Lumbermen’s Association, and
plans have been proposed on a
broad basis for the establish-
ment of a program that if car-
ried out by the member Com-
panies of the Association, will
bring mutual benefits to both
Labor and Management.

The success of this program
will depend on the amount of
sincerity demonstrated by the

gram
area.

concerned.

Ask For Help On a Two-Man
Job. Why Risk a Strained
Back?

WOM CRE

WY GROOM -T0-BE.

ME etiRME MS WEL

CARES — WORK SAFELY /

ee Ce a en ger Oe ee

rules.

employer and its acceptance by.
the Union; and the degree of

IWA

Management has for some
time been greatly concerned with
jinereased compensation and
| medical costs, and welcome this
extension of the Union’s pro-|ff
into the Prince George

The Local union has instructed
its members and job stewards to
extend every cooperation to the
Union’s Safety Director in his
| efforts to establish an honest
and effective program of acci-
dent prevention.

The plan as outlined will be
progressive in nature and is de-
signed to reduce accidents by
Education, Engineering,eand En-
thusiasm, and can be successful
only by the active participation
and cooperation of everyone

Only ‘fools disregard safety

still silence hushed over the
A Everybody was shocked. A
workman, somebody who they > )
somebody whom all had known fo

Andrew Smayda, New Westni,
during the afternoon of May 25th
and work was proceeding as usual{
and happy. He had been doing t¥,
last 12 years. Altogether he had}
job on and off for 17 years,—\
everybody. g

The time was approximately {
worked at the side of Andrew, sf
the reflection of his friend, sudd
touch him. Henri turned around
when he saw his partner sitting d
to the trimsaw table. et |
The shock of seeing his work
Then realizing that something t¢

It was too late. A fatal ac:
The ambulance was called and t
where it arrived at approximate |
dead on arrival by the hospital inj

The inquest was held on Majy
Funeral Parlour, Cloverdale, wit!
attending. |

The surgeon who performed
evidence of fainting, or heart attat}
9 inches long, extending along
front of the ears, to the back of
backwards. Wi

Evidence was also given at tl
Plant first aid man; Mr. B. Walj
Plant Superintendent.

. The jury then retired to m
decision, returned to the courtroo
tioning. This information satisfie
the second time, soon to return wif
no blame attached to anyone.

Bro. Andrew Smayda leaves #

i

APRIL |
DEAD-- ----
INJURED - 779}