ACCIDENTS TO WORKERS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28450, 3 December 1957, Page 18

ACCIDENTS TO WORKERS

Two Died Each Week In 1956 “In 1956, accidents permanently disabling workers occurred to nearly four workers every working day, and fatal accidents occurred at the rate of two a week,” says an article on occupational accidents in the November issue of the “Labour and Employment Gazette.” “In spite of the intensified efforts that have been made in recent years to accidents in workplaces, the number of compensable occupational accidents in New Zealand last year again showed a considerable increase,” the article says. “There is a tendency for a greater proportion of injuries to be of a serious nature,” says the article. “For example, in 1953 permanent partial disabilities (loss of an eye, limb, etc.) totalled 779, but in the last three years the figure has not been lower than 944. There was certainly a slight reduction in 1956 but it was achieved at the cost of 34 more fatalities.” The article gives the following occupational accidents in recent years:— 1956, 43,630; 1955, 42,038; 1954. 40,581. Fatal occupational accidents were:— 1956. 97; 1955, 63; -1954, 62. Accidents resulting in permanent total disability were five in 1956, six in 1955. and four in 1954. Accidents resulting in permanent partial disability were 944 in 1956. 976 in 1955, and 957 in 1954. Accidents resulting in temporary disability only were 42.584 in 1956, 40.993 in 1955. and 39.558 in 1954. The average compensation paid an occupational accident was £52.6 in 1956, £47 in 1955, and £46.3 in 1954. “Although there is a great deal more interest in accident prevention than, there was, say, five years ago. it is still limited to a comparatively few progressive managements and unions, and the bulk of emplovers and workers are quite inactive in consciously striving for a higher safety performance.” savs the article. “Wherever the job has been properly tackled accident rates have fallen.”