= Local 1-207’s Greg McDowell
was 37-years old. mcooweLt FAMILY

Alberta Steelworker killed by
log catcher at Tolko High Level

The union received traumatic
news on June 3 when 37 year-
old Local 1-207 member Greg
McDowell was killed by a log
catcher. Brother McDowell, a
log chaser at the the Tolko
Industries’ mill in High Level,
Alberta, was found on a moving
log belt conveyor. Apparently,
while working to clear a hang-

up, Greg fell on a log belt.

“Our deepest sympathies
go to the family and fellow
workers of Brother
McDowell,” said local union
president Nick Stewart. “This
was a terrible tragedy that
never should have happened.”

In early June, officials from
Alberta Occupational Health
and Safety announced their
investigation was not com-
plete, following an earlier
statement, by Tolko, that the
accident appeared to have
been caused by a lockout vio-
lations. “We don’t think it
should take this long for a full
investigation to take place,”
says Stewart. “Although gov-
ernment officials have made
numerous recommendations,
including installing guardrails,
better training and analysis,
and better communication, the
accident investigation is drag-
ging its feet.”

= Accidents in sawmills and bush operations are climbing and the union demands the B.C.
government take action. iwa arcuives

MOUNTING FOREST INDUSTRY DEATH TOLL SPARKS CALL FROM USW

Action needed on fatalities

MOUNTING FATALITIES in the B.C. for-
est industry have sparked a renewed call
for government-action to stop slaughter
in the industry. On June 24, Steelworkers
Local 1-424 member Manuel da Silva was
ctushed to death by an oil-
loaded tote tank while he was
installing pumps, at the West
Fraser mill in Fraser Lake,
Brother da Silva was 47.
r / Brother da Silva’s death
=, Was the twenty-first fatality
Repeal ca svn involving forest sector work-
ers on the worksite or in-transit to work and
the third fatality at the West Fraser mill in
recent years.

On August 3, 64 year old Willie Salsbury
was killed near Port Alberni when his truck
rolled after being struck by a log. He was a
Local 1-85 member.

On September 14, Local 1-3567 member
Francois Bonin, age 33, was killed while
working as a bucker at Pacific Custom Log
Sort in Coquitlam. Brother Bonin was
struck by a log load which tipped forward,

truck hit a power pole in Prince George.

On October 5, Gerry Beek, a member of
Local 1-2171, was fatally injured when a bull-
dozer he was operating, went over the edge of
a pit near Beaver Cove on Vancouver Island.

Ina letter to B.C. Labour Minister Mike
de Jong, Steelworkers’ District 3 Director
Steve Hunt said the government has to
take immediate steps to stop deaths in the
industry. Brother Hunt requested that de
Jong take action to ensure more timely
investigations of accidents by the
Workers Compensation Board, as those
investigations can no take up to a year to
complete.

IWA Council chairman Norm Rivard
called for automatic coroner's inquests fol-
lowing fatalities in the industry and that
coroners’ recommendations go to an imple-
mentation committee to order immediate

Hunt called for full enforcement of
Bill C-45 (the Westray bill) which man-
dates criminal penalties against employ-
ers that are found criminally responsible
for workplace deaths. “These laws have
to be applied in B.C. That’s what they are
there for,” says Hunt.

16 T DECEMBER 2005 THE ALLIED WORKER