(30) .32 (it) 38 [i Avtomoowe (76) .42 [i ram (70) 46 | (66) .46 [i cuss { (47) 47 I moar scone ests show (107) .49 [sussex o ee (70) .49 MAOUNERY (79) 61 SERVICE (46) .62 i mast (106) .75 SHEET METAL (86) 76 ROM STEEL PRODUCTS; afpote on page ap! coverage in (116) .79 AAtKOAD EQuIAMENT : (59) 79 (179) .81 (187) 64 (67) 87 (93) .69 PULP PAPER (95) L05 FOUNDRY (120) 1.08, PETROLEUM. (278) Los STEEL (62) 109 Woop PRODUCTS 4 (150) 1.20 (66) 1.46 (10) 1.51 cay manus 3} (187) 1.85 Huecrucumumes (422) 1.61 eneNT (131) 2.06 ConstRuCTION (175) 2,62 QUARRY | MBER MING, CORL PRINTING & PoDUSHING on feaaous METAS LRaD ‘ARIE TRANSPORTATION ‘INING OTHER THAN COAL ‘Creed ¥ \ may pursue a long, happy and \ useful life for himself and his family; I believe in safety for my country, because, with a sound jnind and healthy body, free of ¢ ravaging impacts of acci- ents, I can better serve her in ur national desire for peace : pad prosperity. |—Lehigh Valley Safety News The following address was delivered by Mr. Arthur Francis, Chief Inspector of the Workmen's Compensation Board, before the Institute on the Alcohol Problems In Industry, June 15, 1954. It is reproduced here because in this address Mr. Francis touched on some aspects of accident prevention that are frequently glossed over. (Editor.) URING the year 1953 work injuries cost Canadian industries eighty-six and a half million dollars. If to this cost is added the expense of damaged equipment, spoiled materials, decreased production, lowered effici- endy and higher production costs which are always associated with accident occurences, the total bills for industrial accidents in Canada would amount to half a billion dollars. Over five hundred and fifteen thousand workmen were injured and disabled from performing useful work for an average period of approximately one month. In eleven hundred and forty-two cases the injuries were fatal. That is the dreadful story of industrial accidents. What is more dreadful is that the accident rate in our homes is approxim- ately twice the industrial acci- dent ‘rate, and motor vehicles are .|killing and injuring almost three times as many people as industry. Accidents are filling our ceme- teries, crowding our hospitals, and occupying time of the med- ical profession that could much better be used in treating the sick. They Could Be Prevented No disease—polio, T.B., can- cer—causes the distress and suf- fering to our people as much as accidents. No war that has ever been fought has had a casualty list equal to the toll of accidents at home. And the most pitiful part of all is that accidents are not necessary. They could all be prevented. What causes accidents? Indus- try has an internationally stan- dard code for assigning accident causes. Because there is always a chain of events which ultim- ately results in the accident, the code assigns both physical and personal reasons in most in- stances. Under physical causes are list- ed such things as: improperly guarded equipment, defective agencies, hazardous arrangements or procedures, improper illumina- tion or ventilation, or unsafe dress or apparel. Personal Factors The personal factors include: physical defects, lack of know- ledge or skill, and improper at- B.C. LUMBER WORKER PERSONAL FACTORS titude. Codes facilitate the recording of accident data and|_ indicate the preventative pro- cedure that should be taken. It should be recognized, how-|_ ever, that unsafe physical condi- tions do not in themselves cause accidents, but they do provide an opportunity for accidents to oc- cur. Because unsafe physical conditions are subject to en- gineering control, they are not too difficult to deal with. Because the physical elements of industrial operations are ob- servable and workable, there seems to be a human failing to stress the physical factors un- duly and to close the mind to the more difficult aspects of the prob- lem which lie in human mistakes and failings. The Human Element The personal factors of ac- cident causation are not sub- ject to technical control. They are intangible elements that are most difficult to observe, comprehend, and deal with. In the final analysis both the’ proximate and the predisposing causes of -accidents rest upon the know-how and the ability and the willingness to per- form in a safe manner. The know-how and ability to perform work safely can be con- trolled by proper selection, ade- quate training and instruction, and the use of suitable tools, equipment, and processes. But SHOE SAVED HIS FOOT Carl Klint of Sproat Lake good condition the result could Division, MacMillan and havebeena Blocdel, ‘is now walking on This could fe to all of us was standing close to a Jog fect to put the that was in the process of example of the “wwearability” of in connection with, hoes. being bucked. When the cut ‘was completed the log sprang, over and smashed his foot y Klint’s loging, yainst another lor. boots were purchased Inst ‘The result was a smashed boot June and were worn steadily tp until the time of the ac- n cident in January, ly erushed foot, object lesson even with ideal conditions in plant and personnel, there must still be a willingness of the worker to follow prescribed methods and procedures. The major reason for accidents is man’s unwillingness to exert him- self and discipline himself so that his actions are controlled and his mind fully cognizant of the end results of every action he makes. Human Behaviour The real effectiveness of the accident prevention movement lies in the application of know- ledge gained by a study of human morals, human character, human behavior. As a result of the hereditary and environmental in- fluences to which he has been subjected, man is imperfect phy- sically, mentally, and emotional- ly. He is subject to both perman- ent weal and temporary im- pairments which affect his char- acter, his disposition, his Oi aA A. FRANCIS errors, and accidents result from errors. Accidents are a result of his inability to observe and compre- hend, and to foresee the results of his actions. Any thing’ that detracts from a man’s ability: to give full attention to what he is doing, or lowers his physical or mental ability, or upsets his emo- tional stability will produce with- in that man an unsafe state of mind and a dangerous attitude. Intoxication Banned Because alcohol does produce these undesirable effects in workmen, the Workmen’s Com- pensation Board has a Regula- tion which states, “No person shall remain, or be permitted to remain, on the premises of any industrial operation’ while under the influence of intoxicat- ing liquor.” Any person whose co-ordination and ability to concentrate is not maintained at a high degree of effective- ness, is a danger to himself and others, I feel that there is a very great similarity in the underlying causes of the accident problem and the alcohol problem. I am convinced that it is quite prac- ticable to reduce the industrial accident rate to a very small percentage of the existing rate. I am satisfied that we can demonstrate that it would be pro- fitable to expend time, effort, and money to achieve our desired ob- jective in the reduction of ac- cidents.. I am satisfied, too, that both the philosophy and the pro- cedures used to prevent indus- trial accidents could be used to curtail the alcohol problem. Correction Program The correction program must include attention to the im- mediate and individual needs as well as an over-all, long- range attack on the deep-seated and fundamental causes. There must be action on the three levels of individual, industrial, and social responsibilities. In the individual there must be the development of character which will promote acceptance by the individual of a full measure of responsibility as an integral part of society. In industry there must be a demonstration of sin- cere interest in, and a deep con- cern for humanity, that will lead to the promotion of a type of, Jabour-management relations that is so necessary for fullest effec- tiveness of an industrial organ- ization. At the social level there must be the development of a higher moral standard with open public disapprobation of any attitude or behavior that is contrary to the common good. Leaders, and those who as- pire to leadership, must prove by precept and example that they have the essential quali- fication of moral responsibility. The effects of accidents in any walk of life, and the effects of . alcoholism, are a social harm -