ACCIDENTS IN INDUSTRY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28887, 6 May 1959, Page 16

ACCIDENTS IN INDUSTRY

Upward Trend In Canterbury

It was alarming that the Canterbury district figures for industrial accidents showed an upward trend for the six months ending April 30, said the district superintendent of the Labour Department (Mr C. P. Collins) yesterday. He said 846 workers received injuries in their employment during that period which incapacitated them for periods of more than two days. Mr Collins said it was encouraging, however, that the Dominion figures showed that the number of permanent partial disabilities through manufacturing accidents had declined between 1954 and 1957 from 421 to 370.

Of the Canterbury figures for the six months, Mr Collins said it would be safe to say that they could be trebled if all accidents in industry were recorded. Mr Collins’s figures show the handling of goods to be the main cause of accidents. It accounted for 16 per cent, of the figure. He said the reasons for accidents within that group included the failure of management to supply gloves and gauntlets, failure to supply heavy footwear in heavy industry, and over-strain in handling heavy objects—suggesting a lack of mechanical lifting gear.

Apart from the handling of goods, falls accounted for 15 per cent, of accidents, machinery for 12 per cent., foreign bodies in eyes for 11 per cent., lifting for : 9 per cent., and falling objects for 5 per cent. “Most of the hazards could be removed if simple safety rules were implemented and observed and safety devices provided for the protection of workers,” said Mr Collins.

He made a strong appeal to management to make a personal investigation of the hazards peculiar to particular industries.