ACCIDENTS IN INDUSTRY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29068, 3 December 1959, Page 28

ACCIDENTS IN INDUSTRY

Still Slight Increase There was still a slight increase in industrial accidents, even allowing for an increased labour force, higher production and more mechanisation, said the District Superintendent of the Labour Department (Mr C. P. Collins), yesterday. Latest statistics show that 334 persons were treated for injuries in industrial accidents by the North Canterbury Hospital Board in October. This is in keeping with the total of accidents normally treated, said Mr Collins. Thirty-nine per cent, of the accidents were hand and finger injuries, 30 per cent, were eye injuries. “But many enterprises, including those in hazardous industries, are showing substantial reductions,” said Mr Collins. “The reason is that these concerns are doing something about it. In them management is giving a lead and the business as a whole has accepted safety as a important factor in .efficiency, “Decisive Policy” ' “With safety, as with any other effective work, there must be a decisive policy on the part of management, and a clear understanding and active participation by foremen and workers, “You may suggest that inspectors dealing with these factors treat them impersonally. This is not so. The inspector does not feel the accident in the same way as the victim, nor does he have the same worry about recovery or being permanently handicapped. HiS business is not disrupted by the occurrence, nor does he directly sustain any financial loss. The inspector’s contact with accidents does make him appreciate what accidents mean to those directly involved, and often he has to say to himself: “It shouldn’t have happened.’ ” The causes of some accidents were so ridiculous they were almost amusing, said Mr Collins. He recalled a case where a man tried to open a tin of fish with a portable power-saw. He lost two fingers. There was also another case where two men climbed a ladder together. The ladder collapsed. Both were slightly injured. “These represent only a small portion of accidents, but industry cannot be expected to eliminate such foolishness,” said Mr Collins.