Decrease In Accidents Pleases Safety Officer

Press, Volume C, Issue 29466, 18 March 1961, Page 10

Decrease In Accidents Pleases Safety Officer

A drop in the number of industrial accidents treated at casualty stations in Christchurch during January as compared with the previous January has been followed by a similar fall in February compared with February, 1960. Mr <r, V Williams, field officer of the Canterbury branch of the National Safety Association in reporting these figures, said they were most encouraging, particularly in view of the estimated 5 per cent, increase in the city’s labour force over the year. The figures for January and February were 238 and 385 respectively, compared with 295 and 404 for January and February. 1960 The figures for January, he explained, always tended to be lower than in other months, since many workers were on holiday for the first part of the month. “Over the two months, there has therefore been a decrease of about 11 per cent compared with the previous year.” Mr Williams said. “One of the most pleasing features of last month’s figures is that finger and hand injuries, while again heading the list, dropped from 179 in February. 1960 to 163 this time Eye injuries also decreased, from 96 to 71. Unfortunately, however, foot. head, and arm injuries each show rises, substantial in the case of foot

injuries, which rose from 47 to 62. Head injuries went up from 15 to 20, and arm injuries from 20 to 32. “A welcome trend has been a slight drop in the proportion of injured workers who were In the 15-24 age class, although this is still the largest group with about 35 per cent of all accidents There was a substantial drop in the proportion of casualties who came from the 25-34 age-group. the percentage falling from 29.7 to 26.5.”