6 B.C. LUMBER WORKER LOCAL UNION SAFETY COUNCIL, jion, con- siders zone and plant reports, and maps out plans to banish needless accidents in the Vancouver area: Presiding is the Local Union Safety Director, Martha Goddard. On her rightsis Vice-Chairman, Arthur Evans, and on her left is the Secretary, Art Farrell. VICE-CHAIRMAN ARTHUR EVANS, Safety Council, Local 1-217 IWA, uses a blackboard illustration to make his point about an accident prevention problem. System Pays Off By IWA SAFETY REPORTER Complete coverage of all plants certified to the IWA in the Vancouver area, and systematic follow-up on behalf of the Local Union on all problems requiring attention, have contributed to the success of the Local Union Safety Council, 1-217 IWA. The value of this systematic approach to safety was impressed upon me when I attended a recent Sunday morning meeting of the Council. The business of the Council was conducted with crisp effici- ency by the Safety Director, Martha Goddard. It soon became apparent to me that the members of the Council were working to a plan, which enabled them to see the whole picture in the area. This caused me to ask a lot of questions, from behind the scenes, and ‘for which I got some very interesting answers. It struck me, first of all, that those who sneer at the idea of workers having an intelligent and unselfish interest in such mat- ters, should note that those per- sons who form the Council, are workers who are prepared, not only to sacrifice the odd Sunday, but also to give a great deal of their own time through the week to the promotion of a safety pro- gram. The Faithful Few It is this conscientious atten- tion to the endless detail of acci- dent prevention on the part of a faithful nucleus in each plant that builds real safety, for the whole crew. It is brotherhood in action, The foundation feature of the program as promoted by the Local Union is the organization of active job safety committees in every operation, For purposes of the Local Union records, its entire jurisdiction is divided into zones. The zone record indicates all the sawmills, shingle mills, and plywood plants in that sec- tion of the city, and whether a safety. committee is functioning as required. Business. Agent Harry Bards- ley is assigned to the supervision of those records, and initiates prompt measures to reorganize or revitalize the IWA section of any committee that lags in its performance. Minutes Required Every committee is required to forward the minutes of the monthly meetings. Receipt of the minutes is recorded on the zone chart, Failure to forward the minutes is regarded as a danger signal, and appropriate enquiries are immediately made regarding all the circumstances, Possibly the plant is shut down or maybe the committee members have grown lax in their duty. The facts are uncovered. ‘The minutes of the plant safety committees are analyzed by Busi- ness Agent Bardsley, in company with the Zone Captain, and the Local Safety Director. Any seri- ous omission is dealt with by the Local Union. Each and every fatality is closely checked to make sure that every possible step is taken to prevent a recur- rence. Almost the first order of busi- ness at the meeting of the Safety Council was the zone reports. Each captain reported, not only as regards the receipt of the min- utes, but also in respect of the general level of safety activities in his zone as revealed by an analysis of the reports and the records of the Business Agent. In each instance the information gathered by the Business Agent was used to supplement the Cap- tain’s statements, The Plants Report The Council is comprised main- ly of representatives from the various plants. A zone captain often doubles as such a represen- tative, for his own plant. Reports are heard from the plants repre- sented with regard to the day to day problems of each safety com- mittee. A summary of each re- port is made in the minutes of the meeting, which later are dis- tributed to the plant representa- tives. The records of the Local Union office, which are produced at meetings of the Council, are so kept that any officer of the Union can determine very rapidly, the exact state of safety organization in any zone or in any plant. Should any problem of organiza- tion arise, requiring discussion with management at another level, the matter is dealt with through the Local Union Execu- tive Committee and the Plant Committee. Higher Standards Result I do not wish to leave the im- pression that the work of this council is successful simply be- cause they have installed an effi- cient record system, The really important factor, in my opinion, is that it has resulted in com- plete coverage of plants in the area, It is also important to note that this systematic approach has given the Local Union more re- liable channels for the transmis- sion of information to and from the safety committees, and the mechanism for building a higher standard of safety effort through- out the Local’s jurisdiction. The systematic compilation of information on all plants certain- ly enables the members of the safety council to engage in fruit- ful discussions at their meetings. At this point, the most valuable results are gained through the informality of the discussions, See Next Page May Cl the Poys of the Yuletide Seaser "THE greetings inscribed above | d officers and members of ihe the District Safety Conference f —- of safety in industry omes. The ae and brotherhe safety will find its most radiang women who through the year tasks accepted in answer to the | Keeper.” In watching over each other complete security, against the di of accidents. Our Christmas and our Christmas spirit, which after all, simply the outward ea day resolve to serve one another It is not inconsistent with we ber with sympathy those homes, might have been bere, to enjoy C done the job the safe way." Unti us can do to make the job safe, w from any blame that may attach Every Christmas will be mut homes if we dedicate ourselves u work of accident prevention, | Es we have the will, we can do th conditions safe. Back of our Christmas wish | joys of Christmas in full meassire this happiness a greater reality ani from our habits, from our though deadly accident demons, Our forefathers had many’ They were exorcised by sanity, 4 about accidents. These supers) needless accidents, We can exon sane and rational conduct whichi program, Merry Gf HERE...SLIP THIS IN YOUR. SOCK WHILE You'RE AT IT! ME WOULONT WEED A SUFETY EWING - 50 HELL TUT. OW ChesTHAs ARMM!