“Guards Would Make Some Machines Inoperable”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 18

“Guards Would Make Some Machines Inoperable”

If the law on machinery guards were carried out to the letter, the machines would be inoperable in some cases, the secretary of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association and the Canterbury branch of the National Safety Association, Mr R. T. Alston, said yesterday. He was commenting on a statement by Mr F. L. Langley, president of the Canterbury district council of the Federation of Labour. Mr Langley had supported a complaint by the district superintendent of the •Department of Labour, Mr C. P. Collins, that many manufacturers were not taking enough care .to guard their machinery. “I am very interested in Mr Langley's remarks that many employers clamour for maximum production regardless of accident risk, and that they strongly resent protective measures likely to hinder production,” Mr Alston said. “In view of my connexion with the National Safety Association. I should appreciate hav-

ing the names of these companies.” The Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association fully supported the accident prevention campaign and had representatives serving in executive positions on the National Safety Association. “We did, however, object to the statement by Mr Collins that *the day of warning is past’.” Mr Alston said he' would appreciate Mr Langley’s organisation encouraging employees in industry to make full use of safety equipment provided. Many eye accidents, in particular, resulted from the lack of this precaution. The National Safety Association was fnlly appreciative of the work which trade union representatives were doing on their local safety committees. With the manufacturers’ representatives they were going hand in hand in educating employers and workers in accident, prevention.