IWA

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

SAFETY PAGE

IMPROPER “PILING” CAN KILL

By ANDY SMITH Regional Safety Director

Every day, in some opera- tion in the forest industry, an accident occurs. An investiga- tion is held, and eventually the cause is discovered and the facts are recorded.

One particularly serious hazard at this time of year is the piling of lumber in yards. With the wet and sometimes icy conditions that exist this time of the year, improperly piled lumber becomes a double hazard for people un- stacking it or handling it in any way.

The two photos appearing on this page illustrate the dif- ference between operations in stacking lumber. One is a very good example and the other a very poor and dangerous

one. Check your yards and see what conditions exist in them.

In all our operations we are interested in accident preven- tion. Whenever anyone is in- jured, no matter how slightly, the facts are recorded and we take a look at what happened. Has it happened before, and if

so, under what conditions? -

Then we must take steps to rectify the situation. Every- one must help. You should know your work areas better than anyone else in the plant. Recall, are there any unsafe conditions? If you think there may be, report them immedi- ately to the Safety Committee. Clearing up our own condi- tions is step one.

Let’s take another step for- ward for safety. On the

GOOD SAFE PILING

monthly inspection tours, all parts of the operation and all unsafe conditions or unsafe acts ‘should be noted. They can then be presented and dealt with at the regular monthly safety meeting, to en- sure corrective action.

Of course, if a condition ex- ists that may lead to injury if not corrected immediately, immediate action must be taken. We realize that it is impossible for any one ‘indi- vidual to watch all the people all the time and this is where the entire work force must be enlisted to help do a better job in preventing work in- juries in our operations.

What I am saying is that we need everyone involved in our safety program. Through each of you acting as a safety

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observer many of the unsafe acts and unsafe conditions which lead to accidents can be corrected before, not after, someone gets hurt. All too often it is not until after the accident that corrective action is instituted.

The key to good accident prevention is not just a rule book of a program of gim- micks — it is really using common sense and the power: of observation that each of us have. As safety observers you provide a double check, not only for your own work area, but throughout your entire department. Quite often you may notice something in an- other person’s work area which might be overlooked.

We are all too familiar with the saying “familiarity breeds contempt”, and unfortunately this is a truism.

Another basic concept of safety is that we should be our brother’s keeper, but if we each one as individuals look after ourselves, our brother will be quite capable of taking care of himself.

If each and every one can make sure that he as an in- dividual is not going to be involved in an accident, then there will be no more acci- dents. But remember that to be successful, we need every one of you, and everyone can help make our safety program

_a success,

LIGHTER SIDE

A newly established used- car dealer was negotiating his first loan at one of the local banks. The banker, an aus- tere, conservative type, was trying to impress upon him the seriousness of borrowing money to finance a business venture. “This money you wish to borrow from us is money entrusted to us by our depositors,” he said. “Look at this survey. It shows bankers at the top of the list as trust- worthly, responsible and re- spected people. You auto- mobile salesmen are at the bottom of the list.”

The car dealer scanned the survey and nodded. Then he looked the banker square in the eye and retorted, “Be that as it may. However, it seems to me that I read in the Bible that Jesus chased the

* * * A Vancouver machiner y dealer told us that his wife

doesn’t care how good looking his secretary is — just as

long as he’s efficient.

* * * Kamloops Katie says you can’t judge the modern gal

by her clothes — there’s not enough evidence!

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