LOCAL 1-217 REPORT By JACK RALLA Safety Director, Local 1-217 Local 1-217 recently completed a success- ful two day safety seminar held at Langara College. This was a unique seminar as we invited the top representatives of the forest industry to attend and participate with our members to discuss the problems which we facein our workplace. All the locals in this region have tried their darnest to see how we could try to improve on our safety through education of our members and through regular shop steward seminars, etc. Obviously these programs have not been totally adequate as more and more of our members are hurt and maimed at their workplace. So with this in mind, we asked that the industry people at the top who have the authority, to sit down and see what can be done to bring about changes in our safety performance at the plant levels. They are the people who are responsible for the performance of the plant managers who have little or no authority in trying to resolve the problems when they are pres- ented to them by the safety committees, etc. During these two days we feel a better understanding was developed between our members and the industry representatives who we hope shall follow up on some of the questions posed to them. We feel they were very receptive to the problems which they know now exist, and that some type of directive will be sent to the local managers in their individual plants, and we can again get on the right track and try to reduce the injuries at our workplace. Some of the results are starting to come in from the plants as to how they are going to implement some of the procedures which were discussed and others who had no safety program and are now asking for local help in setting up some sort of program. This in itself is a step in the right direc- tion. Itis our job to formulate a program that will protect our members from injury, and if what we did will help to reduce the injuries then we feel we have at least accomplished part of our objective. The overall results will not be known for some time, but if the final results are as encouraging as the initial feedback has been we should utilize this type of joint seminar again in the near future. Ifa similar seminar does prove desirable Iam confident we will have the complete support of the Local officers. _ I am also of the opinion that if the industry sees some benefits of this seminar, they will want to bring in the local manag- ers who after all have toimplement the final decision at the plant level. This is what we have to look for, the end result at the plant level. To be able to act immediately rather than frustrate our members. Give us a commitment, then we know we are both going the right way after all it’s a two way street. JOHN BESE LOCAL 1-357 REPORT By JOHN BESE Safety Director, Local 1-357 In the late 1940’s, Local 1-357 became alarmed and concerned about the increas- ing number and severity of accidents at the workplace. Then, in 1949, a Safety Council was set up to approach the problem and to help the Safety Committees in accident prevention. Function of the Safety Council 1) All Safety Committee members should attend the Safety Council meetings in order to maintain a liaison between the Plant and the Local on safety problems. 2) Speakers or films are featured on safety subjects. 3) Individual Plant safety reports are made which afford the opportunity for an exchange of ideas on safety. 4) Two special safety family evening meetings are held each year to make fami- lies more aware of safety at the workplace. 5) A Local Business Agent and the Local, Safety Director attend all Safety Council meetings to give advice and assistance on plant safety problems. 6) Over the years, Local 1-357 Safety Council has developed many programs such as lockout, fire control and emergency evacuation plans. They have suggested safety programs which can be used in all operations as well as recommended many changes to the W.C.B. Accident Prevention Regulations which have been formulated because of resolutions and briefs submitted by the Safety Council. The Safety Council encourages safety committees to hold safety group discussions which give the workers an opportunity to voice their safety problems and to express their ideas. Safety films and slide presenta- tions are also encouraged at these meetings. I.W.A. members should read safety arti- cles in the local union papers and safety magazines in order to become aware of new fields being studied in safety such as: noise control, dust, effects of vibration, lighting, temperatures, stress and chemicals. Safety awareness not only applies to your job, it also applies at home and on vacation. Recently I had the opportunity of touring the Fraser Mills Plywood Division with B. Elphinstone, T. Fox and three people from Russia who were on an exchange tour. They noted that the new Cut-up and Green End of the Plywood Plant was very highly auto- mated which reduced the physical work- load. They were also impressed with the maintenance workshop area. The Russians asked such questions as: 1) Does a worker have the right to refuse work for safety or health reasons? 2) Is Fraser Mills owned by the govern- ment? 3) They asked if production workers have to go to school to learn their jobs and where they receive their safety training. aS 4) How much money per hour does a lathe operator receive? How much does a labourer receive? 5) Do we have a reforestation program? 6) They asked if we were under any government safety regulations and if we have safety committees in our operations. 7) Also, they wanted to know who supp- lies the necessary equipment. Cedar Dust Inspections Last year, the Safety Council Officers requested that the Hygiene Department of the W.C.B. do dust level monitoring of the 16 cedar mills in the Local. The tests proved to be a complete whitewash job and the union was accused of salting the dust samples. In a few operations, some ventilation recom- mendations were made as well as recom- mendations to fix leaks in the blowpipes. Lower Mainland W.C.B.-I.W.A. Meetings The three Lower Mainland Safety Direc- tors, along with B. Elphinstone and Verna Ledger are holding meetings with officers from the Compensation Board. Many prob- lems have been raised. As a result, a sub- committee has been set up to study all types of cut-off saws for safer guarding. These meetings are also held to help the Board to understand what the union and worker problems are on the job. FED’S ROLE IN SAFETY & HEALTH By KEITH GRAHAM Director, B.C. Federation of Labour Health & Safety In going through past convention pro- ceedings of the B.C. Federation of Labour, it is clear that almost from its inception, the Federation has had a role to play in occupa- tional health and safety. It was at the 6th Annual Convention of the B.C. Federation of Labour in 1961, that the idea of a separate committee to deal with safety and health was debated at some length. Prior to this convention, the legisla- tive committee handled matters pertaining to compensation. I would like to quote from the Chairman of the Safety Committee at that time who was Brother Atkinson from the IWA Local 1-80. “Tt is the opinion of this committee thatan active Federation Safety Committee of seven members be appointed and autho- rized to assist affiliated unions with the SEE ‘FED’S ROLE’ PAGE TEN Lumber Worker/August, 1980/9