ATH!

ond reconstruction of what
Jniles an hour, crashes into a

ie

t bimper and chrome ‘‘frosting’”’
rs of steel penetrate the tree tq
ing more.

it rises, smashing into the wind-
eave the ground. The grillwork
2 contact with the tree, forc-
ei the front doors.

)

»f a second, the heavy structural
asaibrake on the terrific forward

ut the driver's body continues
‘sofiginal speed. This means a
dy weighs 3200 pounds. His legs,
:e joints.

nbw off the seat, torso upright,
tht dashboard. The plastic-and-

| bigins to bend under his terrible

have been completely de-
elling at an estimated speed
jody is still travelling at 55.
esjinto the tree. The rear of the
hight enough to scrape bark off

ozin hands bend the steering

ition. The force of gravity
-ellshaft. Jagged steel punctures
lol spurts into his lungs.

)
> d the impact that the driver's
y eed shoes. The brake pedal
h€chassis bends in the middle,
rshead smashes into the wind-
gi i downward fall, spinning
7
bdly of the car is forced out of
Ngbpen. In one last convulsion
thédriver against the cruel steel
bp}ifrom his mouth. Shock has

le second.

Ping of the University of California

ey

BER WORKER

"More adequate machine guards

. ended i rs’ death —

A coroner’s jury returned a verdict of accidental death " ei q ag

at the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death
of Head Sawyer, Orville G. Douglas, killed August 4th, at
the B.C. Manufacturing Company, New Westminster. At-

tached riders recommended; that in future the danger area
around edger machines be sealed off; that adequate warning

signs be conspicuously posted ;

and that all machines be shut

off before attempts are made to clear blockages.

The deceased met his death
when a two inch plank “kicked-
back” from the edger, crushing his
chest, while he was helping the
edgerman.

Inexperienced Operator

According to witnesses the tail
sawyer had not reported for work
that day so the regular edgerman
was assigned to his duties. This
left one of the Plant edgers with-
out an operator so an inexperi-
enced operator, Leo Schulmister,
who had worked around the ma-
chine about two weeks, was told
to take over for the shift.

Douglas, knowing Schulmister
was “green” on the machine, went
over to give him a hand when his
own machine, the head rig was
down due to a conveyer “jam.”

“Kick-back” Danger

Taking a position beside the
transfer chain, Douglas started
sorting out the lumber. Unfor-

tunately his choice of position left
him. exposed to the danger of a
“kick-back” from the edger.

The edgerman meanwhile, in
feeding lumber into the machine,
had two planks of different thick-
ness enter at the same time.

Moyed Lever

In a desperate attempt to stop
the lumber going into the ma-
chine, and not realizing the dan-
ger, he reached over with one
hand to the lumber and with the
other, moved the press roll lever.
Edger saws, as all saw mill men
know, revolve towards the opera-
tor and when Schulmister moved
the press roll lever the lack of
pressure shot the lumber back-
wards out of the machine.

The “kick-back” sent a large
sliver of wood through the arm
of Schulmister and a heavy two
inch plank was hurtled across the
transfer chain striking Douglas in
the chest, fatally injuring him.

CLOSE-UP OF THE EDGER, showing the press roll that the Edgerman tried

to raise prior to the accident.

-

VIEW OF THE COAST EDGER at the B.C. Manufacturing Company, New

Westminster, where Head Sawyer, Orville G. Douglas, was killed August
4th, when struck by-a two inch plonk that kicked back from the machine
when it jammed. Man standing to the left, front, is where Douglas was

working when the accident occurred.

Martha Goddard heads
I-217's safety dept.

Martha Goddard, Safety Dir-
ector of Local 1-217, IWA, Van-
couver, is the only woman
member of the IWA who has
taken and maintained an active
interest in Union affairs,

Born in Vanderhoof, B.C. in
1924, Martha moved to the Coast
in 1935 to complete her educa-
tion. In 1942, she started work
at the B.C. Plywoods Company,
now known as the Vancouver Ply-
wood Division of MacMillan &
Bloedel Ltd.

A year later she joined the Un-
ion but did not become active in
Uni after the split

Job Steward .
In 1949 she was elected Job
Steward in her plant and later in
the same year was elected to the
Local Safety Committee.

Her enthusiasm and active in-
terest in safety for the next few
years so impressed those around
her that they elected her Ist Vice-
Director of the District Safety
Council in 1955. A few months
later she was elected Safety Coun-
cil Director.

During this time ‘Martha had
also attended various Internation-
al and District Conventions, Con-
ventions of the B.C. Federation of
Labour and District Safety Con-

ferences,
Pr aa a