Spring Health and Safety Conference Courtenay, B.C. was the site for this year’s Spring National Health and Safety Conference. The biannual event, hosted by Loggers Local 1-71 on April 21 and 22, was attended by more than 65 delegates and guests from Union Locals across Canada. In a keynote address to the Confer- ence, Bob Sass, Instructor of Indus- trial Relations and Organizational Behaviour at the University of Sas- katchewan, urged delegates to step up the fight in the field of Occupa- tional Health and Safety. Sass said that labour must strive for a revival of solidarity, as it has lost some of its traditions. The speaker said that workers are becoming hos- tages between the forces of capital and a healthful work environment. “The area of health and safety is wrought with a conflict of values,” said Sass. He said that contracts between employers and employees often represent a clash of those values. The speaker said that management continually wants to trade off health and safety standards for greater eco- nomic efficiencies. “Health and safety should not be part of a trade off with economic values,” said Sass. He said that the rising influences of neo-conservatism are creating a trade off between indus- trial efficiency and the justice and integrity of workers’ health and safety. IWA-CANADA Occupational Health and Safety Director, Verna Ledger, said in her report that foreign investors with corporate head offices in the US., New Zealand and else- where are not particularly interested in spreading any of their wealth into providing better or safer working con- ditions for Canadian workers. “Tt is in times like these that labour must rely on its political ties to pres- sure for improvements in health and safety through legislation rather than at the bargaining table with absentee landlords,” said Ledger. In her report at the conference, the National Director said that the union has been assured by B.C.’s provincial NDP labour critic Moe Sihota that health and safety will be a key issue in the coming sessions of the legislature. An IWA submission on WCB propos- als has been sent to the Board and to the provincial MLA’s office. Sister Ledger criticized Federal Government cuts to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. The Centre, whose policy and direction is run by a tripartite Board of Governors is in risk of losing its credibility. =a © Keynote speaker Bob Sass. The Federal Treasury Board has suggested that the Centre operate on a “user pay basis”, thus creating fees for workers requesting information on health and safety. In that event lab- our may no longer agree to be a partic- ipant in the program. Delegates were updated on the National’s Health and Safety Depart- ments instruction seminars, since September 1988, which took place in Cranbrook, B.C.; High Level, Alberta; New Westminster (Interfor Manufac- turing Seminar), Campbell River, B.C. (Logging Safety); and Kamloops, B.C. LORAN Navigational System During the Spring Health and Safety Conference, Loggers Local Safety Director Bob Patterson gave an explanation of the Loran Naviga- tional System to delegates in at- tendance. As a result of negotiations for the 1988 Coast Master Agreement, em- ployers in B.C. agreed to implement the system to assist in the evacuation of injured workers. Patterson says that although the system has been put in place in sev- eral logging operations, there are many other areas that have yet to introduce the system. The local Safety Director says more logging operations should use the Loran system as its familiarity increases. The system operates on a variable frequency band. Currently there are four Loran transmission points on the B.C. Coast sending out radio signals which intersect at various points. A portable Loran unit is capable of pinpointing geographical co-ordinates using electronic triangulation. 3 By setting up geographical co-or- dinates in advance, Loran equipped aircraft (i.e. helicopters) can quickly determine the location of the prepared evacuation site. The system will assist pilots not familiar with the terrain. Rapid evacuation of accident. vic- tims in logging can mean the differ- ence between life and death. First Aid Attendants in co-operation with joint safety committee members are en- couraged to establish strategic co- ordinates for different areas in log- ging operations. Having established co-ordinates, an evacuation helicopter can fly directly to the designated site. This minimizes additional trauma to an accident victim since travel over water or rough roads can cause serious addi- tional injury. Established co-ordinates should be dep in company equipment, the first aid room and the logging office. The helicopter rescue office must also keep a current copy of the evacuation co-ordinates. A portable Loran unit in an ambu- lance makes it possible to re-establish co-ordinates in an emergency situa- tion. This gives the first aid team added flexibility in their efforts. Log- ging crew boats should also consider portable Loran units to assist in situ- ations where a medical emergency may occur on route or from a job site. Patterson says that during the plan- ning process, road building engineers should bear in mind that use of the Loran unit is an option. Thus appro- priate design for widened areas along the road should be planned to assist in helicopter evacuation of accident victims. Local Unions report to Safety Conference Host Local 1-71 claimed in the 1988 calendar year that seven local mem- bers lost their lives. One particular fatality of last year involving a death in the helicopter logging sector, prompted a coroner’s inquest. The jury from that inquest made recommendations to the Workers’ Compensation Board that specific guidelines for heli-logging be estab- lished. However, representatives from the Board have said that the jury’s recommendations were not taken seri- ously as “it was based on emotional- ism as opposed to sound logic.” Local 1-71 believes that the IWA should continue to seek Occupational Health and Safety language in its collective agreement. At present the local is also attempting to revitalize the program of ‘rade certification in the loggings or. Local 1-80 Safety Director Ross Davies expressed concern that layoffs by Fletcher Challenge are causing stress because of uncertainties. Acci- dents and unsafe acts have increased significantly where layoff announce- ments have taken place. Henry Nedergard, Director at Port Alberni Local 1-85 reported the W.H.M.LS. training is progressing well in major operations. Employers have, as a result of legislation, been consulting with Sub-local Health and Safety Committees in the develop- ment and implementation of the program. Saskatchewan Local 1-184 reported a fatality free year in 1988. In fact, since 1983 the Prince Albert based local has not suffered a single fatality. Ray Dease, Local Safety Director, and Guest Chairman of the Safety Conference, boasted that in a fiscal year at a MacMillan Bloedel opera- tion, there were no loss time accidents. Vancouver Local 1-217 reported concern over proper mill lockout pro- cedures. Safety Director Jack Ralla reported that Terminal Sawmills was a major culprit of lockout violations, being recently fined $10,000 by the WC.B. of British Columbia. Mike Kotz, Safety Co-chairman from Manitoba Local 1-324 reported that the W.H.M.L.S. programme is in full operation at Manfor. Kotz also expressed concern that the province’s Environment and Workplace Safety and Health Minister Ed Connery may attempt to undermine existing pro- vincial regulations. Connery has said publicly that regulations are becom- ing a disincentive for operations in Manitoba. New Westminster Local 1-357 Safety Director Peter Hayes reported a severe accident to a millwright which could have been prevented had a proper lockout procedure been in place. The company in question has never en- forced an adequate lockout program. In another plant the New Westminster local is working to set up a new safety program at Cantree Plywood. Erik Eriksson from Courtenay Local 1-363 said the safety situation has improved in his local. He also stated that the IWA should evaluate employers for their performance on issues like accident frequency and their efforts in health and safety. Local 1-367 Safety Officer and First Vice-President Barry King said that his local has been involved in holding its own Health and Safety Confer- ence. Members have received lectures by W.B. inspectors and the employee and family assistance program has been popularized. Edith Skiber of Local 1-405 re- ported a fatality in her local due to a faulty lockout procedure. Skiber said a recent decision by the WC.B. to study the effect of cedar dust is a farce since the Board chooses to ignore existing literature. Although Kamloops Local 1-417 reported no fatalities in the past year, its 2,000 members did suffer 225 lost time accidents, averaging 22 working days each. The local is investigating the effects of lead poisoning on saw filers and knife grinders. Nursery workers, according to Safety Director Tom Graham, have suffered side effects from using herbicides and require instruction on their safe handling. Prince George Local 1-424 Safety Director Irene Cleave said that acci- dents are on the increase due to pro- duction speed ups. Sister Cleave reported that her local’s own Health and Safety Council has been success- ful in educating its membership. Although Williams Lake Local 1-425 has not suffered any on the job fatalities, a number of workers have lost their lives in off the job accidents, according to Safety Director Brian Symmes. The local union has become involved in programs which empha- size safety both on and off the job. © Local 1-71 Safety Director Bob Patterson demonstrates LORAN Unit at spring conference. The unit will help aircraft in locating accident evacuation sites. 2 tt]: = Se eee el LUMBERWORKER/JUNE, 1989/7