Bee LUMBER WORKER

ntlemen :—

The “caution” directed to management
n the coast lumber industry, and released
the public on the 4th inst. by officials
f the Accident Prevention Department,
Workmen’s Compensation Board, official-
ly confirms a mounting fatality list which
‘or months has caused this union deep an-
_xiety. It reveals a situation which requires
he utmost frankness.

FATAL ACCIDENT RECORD
1952-58

NUMBER OF FATALS PER MILLION
MAN-HOURS WORKED

1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960

The approach taken by the Accident
Prevention Officials of the Workmen’s
pensation Board is to be deplored. In
‘ect, the Board has publicly announced
attempted evasion of responsibility in
le situation, and in the newly-assumed
of official observer, points the accusing
ger at management, and by implication,
abour. The inescapable fact remains
nat the Accident Prevention Department
‘the WCB is one of the chief offenders
‘recent tragic developments.

e Board’s Accident Prevention offi-
re in a position to state whether
nment, equipment, and working pro-
are safe or unsafe. It is their duty
to the line of safety, and let the
| where they may. The question as
her conditions are safe or unsafe in
articular operation is not properly
for dispute between the parties
e Board’s officials are required
istent supervisors. Prineipal-
finding is required with
cation. There cannot be one

It is unfortunate that the Board’s of-
ficials have failed to state what they must
know, and what we believe, to be the main
causes of the increase in fatalities. We
state these beliefs here, not so much to
point the finger of blame, but rather to

W.CB.
“Caution”
To Management

Fatal accidents in a bread cross
section of industry have reached epi-
demic proportions. Even firms with
a long record of effective action are |
experiencing fatal incidents. |

A trend is seen toward a record
number of industrial fatalties in the
year of 1959 although the number of
non-fatal injuries have ‘not shown
a similar increase.

The specific cause of the threat in
your plant and in your industry
cannot be identified but is associa-
ted with the general hazard. Long
experience shows that such trends can
be reversed by an increase in vigilance
and by an increase in determined and
positive action on any factor which
may have even a remote bearing on
the accident problem.

We recommend for your own pro-
tection and the welfare of your com-
pany that you re-evaluate your safety
activity. Following are eight essential
elements for you to check;

1. Reiterate and 1e-emphasize your
policy, your determnation to stop ac-
cidents, and make sure that your
policy is known and understood.

2. Look at equipment and proced=
wres with a new and critical eye.

3. Investigate any incident which
might be a clue to potential injury.

4. Coordinate the safety activity of
your operation by frequent and in-
formed contact with supervisors, work
leaders and other staff. ‘

5. Stress, as never before, efficient
production as a means to effective
accident prevention.

6. Discuss the safety of your plant
with all your subordinates and .have
them extend this discussion to their
workers,

7. Encourage active assistance
from labour. They have the same in-
terest as you.

8. Seek criticism and advice from
others who are informed on the sub-
ject.

The problem of potential fatalities
is present in your plant. It is possible
that you have not yet found how the

may occur. Recognition of the
is the first step in control.

OPEN LETTER -

to B.C. Coast Lumber Operators and Accident Prevention
Officials, Workmen's Compensation Board

invite thorough investigation on-the part of
top-management.

Policies with regard to accident pre-
vention enunciated by top-management
are not always faithfully executed by sup-
ervisory staff on the job. There has been
evidence of a growing disposition on the
part of junior executives to exert pressure
to secure impressive production results,
while minimizing the consequent rising ac-
cident frequency rate. In any operation
where rising production quotas are de-
manded with complete disregard of safety
yequirements, the necessary cooperation
for safety is effectively sabotaged. Fre-
quently the safety program becomes noth-
ing but a pretence to conceal unwarranted
hazards. In the accident prevention field,
management is represented by too many
men who are making a “career” out of
a safety program which has little relation-
ship to the actual results achieved.

Fewer men are producing more lum- *
ber. While increased productivity, under
proper conditions is desirable, we urge top-
management to probe all those cases where
one man is asked to perform the work for-
merly done by two, although no actual
technological improvement in equipment
has been installed to justify such a de-
mand. Experience in the logging camps,
especially, has demonstrated the deadly
effects of this form of “speed-up.”

We ask for an immediate and thorough
investigation into the numerous complaints
from all sections of the industry to the ef-
fect that a widespread attempt is being
made to “fake” accident statistics by pres-
suring workmen to withhold reports on in-
juries which ordinarily would be treated
as compensable. Apart from the fact that
the injured workmen thereby forfeit com-
pensation rights, the “faking” has a most
demoralizing effect on the observance of
safety requirements throughout the oper-
ation.

.The humanitarian considerations in-
volved should alone be sufficient to spur
both labour and management to engage
immediately in a thorough-going coopera-
tive effort to stamp out fatalities. Apart
from the humanitarian aspects, a rising
fatality list is a certain sign of ineffici-
ency in production, with direct and indi-
rect losses which constitute a considerable
drain on the industry.

For all these reasons we believe that
top-management is just as anxious as the

-» Union to eradicate the causes of fatalities.

This Union stands ready to cooperate
whole-heartedly in a safety program which
defines our respective responsibilities fair-
ly, and which will get the results desired
by all of us. —

Yours sincerely, : *
GrorcE H. MircHeELt,
_ Secretary-Treasurer,