IWA By ANDY SMITH Regional Safety Director AVING recently com- pleted a tour of Local 1-423, Kelowna, and Local 1-405, Cranbrook, as well as the two Alberta Local Un- ions, Local 1-206, Blairmore, and Local 1-207, Edmonton, I am pleased to report safety conditions in these Locals are not as black as I was led to believe. In my tour I visited thirty- two operations and covered over tour thousand miles. During this time, | met with Union and Management per- sonnel and addressed the crews on the job as time and opportunity permitted. THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER In the main, I was well re- ceived by management, and with the exception of one or two operations, the hope was expressed that a sound safety program could be instituted and the assurance of com- plete cooperation was given. However, it remains to be seen how much cooperation will be forthcoming when a proper joint program is set up by Union and Manage- ment. Many of the mills are fairly new and guarding of hazards is good, but it is quite appar- ent that instruction to the workmen is totally inadequate or completely lacking. Some of the older mills are in a ANDY SMITH SAFETY CONDITIONS NOT “BLACK” deplorable condition from a satety point of view, and to bring them up to a -reason- able standard would require complete renovation. From my observations, one of the major causes ot acci- dents is the lack ot proper in- struction and supervision on the part of the Company. Also lacking is the complete knowl- edge ot our satety committee members in their responsibil- ity and authority. This is a problem that can be overcome through educa- tion and to this end plans are going forward to hold week- end study classes in local unions. 2nd Issue a Aug., 1965 7 a “ i» In my opinion there is real- ly only one way to obtain a satisfactory and successful * safety program, and that is in- struction and training of our £ people. On-the-job training, instruc- tion and supervision is the responsibility of management, and must remain there, but the Union has the responsi- bility of seeing that these” things are carried out. For +? when a worker is trained“, properly, he will avoid the hazards and unsafe practices ¥ that injure so many of our members. z Here’s to more and More and MORE SAFETY. MEET THREE GENERATIONS OF THE PARIS FAMILY A DYNASTY OF SHOE CRAFTSMEN Pierre, founder and