“4

a

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

REPORT

IWA

By ANDY SMITH
Regional’ Safety Director

A number of fatalities have
occurred in the logging in-
dustry during the past month.

On October 21 at 11:00
am., Harvey P. Bennet, 2nd
loader, employee of B.C.F-P.
Ltd. Renfrew Logging Divi-
sion, was instantly killed
when struck on the head by
a buckskin pine log 19’ long
by 30” diameter that slid off
the end of a Pre-Load Trailer
after being struck by a hem-
lock log 21’ long by 18” di-
ameter as the hemlock log
was being loaded.

EVIDENCE

From the evidence brought
out at the investigation it was
apparent that the 2nd loader
approached the trailer from
the side away from the grap-
ple and out of sight of the
grapple operator who did not
see him until he fell to the
ground after the log struck
him.

The recommendation from
the investigation was:

No one is to approach a
pre-load trailer being load-
ed, until the load is com-
pleted, unless the loading
machine operator has been
notified of the intention and
signifies it is safe to do so.
This is a procedure that
must be adopted in all load-
ing operations if we are to
stop these wumnecessary
deaths.

HOOKTENDER

The same day at 3:40 p.m.
H. Markle, occupation
er hooktender, em-

‘ON JOB FATALITIES

ployed by MB & PR Copper
Canyon camp, was instantly
killed when crushed between
logs while passing a choker
under them to the choker-
man. Bro. Markle had worked
as skidder hooktender in this
operation for 154% years and
was known as a very safe
and conscientious workman,
who had never had a com-
pensable injury and was very
concerned for the safety of
his crew.

This type of accident in the
woods is all too common and
at the same time it is very
difficult to bring in recom-
mendations to avoid future
accidents, other than to re-
commend that yarding crews
exercise extreme caution
when returning to an area
where the last turn has
broken free.

LOG STAMPER

On October 28, 1965, at
1:06 p.m. Dennis W. Correll,
log stamper, aged 18, with 2
months’ experience, was
killed when crushed between
the counterweight of a log
loader and a pile of pulp logs
at Hillcrest Logging opera-
tion.

Grapple operator was load-
ing a truck and swung loader
to pick up another log, the
stamper was within the swing
area of the loader and the
yarded logs, which were too
close to the loader. Regulation
No. 847 provides that there
must be 2’ clearance in swing
of machine. In this case there
was only 12’ from centre pin
of loader to yarded logs while
the distance from centre pin
to back of counterweight was
13’.

Close attention to work
area, regulations, supervision,
and responsibility of all work-
ers involved are important if

this type of accident is to be
avoided.

Recommendations have
been made that all loading
cease when a turn is brought
into the landing until chokers
are unhooked, logs are
stamped or painted, and
loader operator has been
given clearance from the men
on the landing.

Accidents Cost Lives!

It is well to point out at
this time that in two of the
fatalities, small but most im-
portant steps of safety were
overlooked — in one instance
approaching a danger area
when the machine operator
was unable to-see the work-
man while the machine was
operating. Had he approached
from the side that was visible
to the operator and signalled
a stop this fatality would not
have happened.

In the other case, lack of
safe practice and planning al-
lowed the area to become con-
gested and did not provide a
safe place for men to work.

GRAPPLE LOADER placing logs on
of B.C. Forest Products Limited. Note 2nd loader stands well in the clear and is under

orders not to approach trailer to sta

—— 2?
ee a -
ee yc 4 alee ai

Accident diagram of the Port Renfrew fatality.

It is the small things in
safety which if overlooked or
ignored quickly become the
cause of serious accident. The
big and glaring hazards are
removed or corrected before
great harm is done, but lack
of good housekeeping allows
a condition to become a “de-
layed hazard.” Days and per-

always been in effect at the Pitt Lake camp.

haps even weeks pass until
someone is injured. These
hazards are the resvonsibility
of everyone, not just the fore-
man or charge: hand. Co-
operation in safety at all

levels can and does pay large
dividends for all.

Think Sefety, Work Safely,
and Live Longer.

pre-load trailer at the Pitt Lake logging operation

mp logs until load is completed. This policy has