2nd Issue,
October, 1961.

WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

Vita
igi

__ _IWA Regional Safety Conference Delegates |

by Regional 3rd Vice-President Jack
MacKenzie, when he said that
despite the progress made, the job
had been only half done. Serious
problems remained for organized
attack by the Union.

He referred to fatalities which had
occurred among firefighters during
the disastrous forest fires of the past
season, and called for action to
secure better protection under the
Workmen’s Compensation regula-
tions. In his opinion, many of the
tragedies could have been averted by
greater forethought.

100% Support Assured

The Regional Council would con-
tinue to give 100% support to efforts
on the job to deal more effectively
with new hazards, he stated. “It
stands to the credit of the IWA that
a substantial reduction has been
made in the accident rate in the in-
dustry.” We must pursue our task

y with a sense of dedication,” he said.
; Recommendations Approved
. The major recommendations
which won the approval of the Re-

, gional Convention:

-.. called for the enforcement of
af the safety regulations by the For-
estry Department for crews fighting
forest fires.

A note of warning was sounded

Conference Demands
Improved WCB Rules

IWA safety men were well represented at the Regional Safety
Conference which preceded the IWA Annual Regional Conven-
tion. Their recommendations which followed a broad discussion
under the chairmanship of Gil Ingram, Local 1-85, gave evidence
of the intention to adapt the Union’s Safety Program to meet new
hazards, and changing conditions in the lumber industry.

... demanded the availability of a
qualified first-aid attendant at all
times for firefighting crews.

- - - emphasized the necessity of
regulations to govern the use of air-
craft in forest fires.

... called for improved organiza-
tion of firefighting crews to elimin-
ate excessive hours and undue
fatigue for members of such crews.

. . » endorsed the principle that
two men should be assigned to jobs
known to have special hazards.

.- . . urged the enforcement of
regulations which require adequate
radio or telephone communication
to secure medical aid in the event of
emergencies.

+ . . approved in principle the re-
vision of sanitary regulations apply-
ing to the lumber industry.

. .. demanded that a member of
the plant safety committee should be
allowed to accompany Workmen’s
Compensation Board officials on
their inspection tours.

. . . laid plans to secure additions
to the safety regulations to provide
for special hazards now presented by
work procedures in plywood plants.

- . . demanded revised safety
regulations to require the full-time
services of first-aid attendants for
crews of fifty or more.

His report stated in part:

“The B.C. Loggers’ Association
reports a 25% reduction in fatalities
and a substantial reduction in fre-
quency in the first half of 1961.
Many of these association camps
with former shocking bad records
are foremost in progress and effort
and prove, beyond any question or
doubt, that a safety record can be
achieved and maintained when it is

for.

Director Informs Union
Accident Rate Declines

Another year of progress in the Union’s continuing campaign
to reduce the industry’s accident frequency rate was acclaimed by
Regional Safety Director, John T. Atkinson, in his annual report
to the Regional Safety Conference and‘ Convention.

B.C.L.M.A. reports one fatality
to date in sawmills, plywood and
shingle, with frequency at the same
low level as 1960. In the mills that
have been visited to date a general
improvement in housekeeping is evi-
dent. Some perfect records of long
periods of freedom from compen-
sable injuries are reported in these
local unions.

Outstanding Achievement

Of outstanding achievement is the
record of Canada ote New
Westminster Division. This plant is
now operating in its fourth year
accident free.

In spite of these desirable results,
some serious accidents have occurred
that resulted in mutilation and am-
putations. These did not happen in
bad record mills, but in good ones
with good programs and active
saféty committees.

Interior Progress
New certifications, large new saw-
mills equipped with modern equip-

Aircratt
Hazards

Checked

Proof that TWA safety men are
alert to the new hazards presented
by modernized methods for fighting
forest fires is found in a resolution
recommended by the Safety Con-
ference and approved by the IWA
Regional Convention.

The resolution was prompted by
tragedies which occurred during the
operation of water bombers last
summer.

The Convention requested the
Workmen’s Compensation Board to
regulate the use of aircraft during
forest fires as follows:

(1) That proper signals be estab-
lished between ground and aircraft.

(2) That no drops be made until
the go ahead is given by the ground
crew.

(3) That drop of bombing area to
be cleared of men before aircraft is
given the go ahead to make a drop.

(4) That organization, preparation,
planning and education with regard
to water bombing be transmitted to
all operations in the region.

ment, automation and new tech-
niques of lumber manufacture are
bringing new problems in industrial
safety to the interior. Organization
and expansion of union effort in the
promotion of safety is reflected in
the vast improvement in safer work-
ing conditions and safety standards
east of the Cascades. Many opera-
tions both sawmill and logging, com-
pare very favorably with the best on
the Coast.

“The appointment of a safety
director for the Southern Interior
has sparked a drive of employer in-
terest that is starting to produce re-
sults. Educating management and
supervisors in safety is a prime
requisite in the promotion of any
safety program.

Aggressive action by the Union in
Prince George to activate and
awaken the N.I.L.A. with regard to
its obligations and responsibilities in
safety has accomplished its objec-
tive. This failing of employer asso-
ciations is not uncommon, and
action by the Union to prevent this
form of industrial hitch-hiking is not
only necessary but mandatory .. .”

Campaign Never Ends

It has been said that the work of
safety will never end, Safety pro-
grams will continue to be plagued
with disappointments and discour-
agement. There will be neither
recognition nor material gain. But
those Safety Committee men, Local
Safety Directors and Union Officials
who work so hard in trying to make
the camps and mills in B.C. safer
and better places to work, can take
deep satisfaction in the progress that
has been made.”

Safety Briefs

Illinois radio listeners are being warned to watch out for the “Go to
Heaven Two-Step.” A current radio safety spot announcement describes the
dance as “dangerously simple. All you do is take one normal stride forward
from a curbstone without looking either to right or to left. Then take another
stride forward. And, there you are. . .”

Were They Midgets?

A Michigan State Highway Department traffic division employee is con-
vinced that the new compact cars are equipped with elastic sides. He says
he counted 13 people in a compact car during a recent traffic survey on
M-60 near Cassopolis.

MXMO
TO ALL
XMPLOYXXS

Xvxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it
works quitx wxil xxexpt for onx of thx kxys. I wishxd -
many timxs that it workxd pxrfxctly. It is trux that
thxrx arx forty-six kxys that function wxll xnough,
but just onx kxy not working makxs thx diffxrxnex.
Somxtimxs it sxxms to mx that our safxty program
is somxwhat likx my typxwritxr — not all thx kxy
pxoplx arx working propxrly. You may say to your-
sxlf, “Wxll, | am only onx pxrson. | won’t makx or
brxak a program.” But it doxs makx a diffxrxnex
bxcausx a safxty program, to bx xffxctivx, nxxds
actiyx participation of xvxry xmployxx. So thx nxxt
timx you think you arx only onx pxrson and that
your xfforts arx not nxxdxd, rxmxmbxr my typxwritxr
and say to yoursxlf, “Il am a kxy pxrson in our safxty
program and I| am nxxdxd vxry much.”

Reprinted in the interest of Safety by the Workmen's
Compensation Board. COURTESY — Safety Letter,
American Hospital Asociation.

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION BOARD
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA