Increase In Accidents To Young Workers

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30841, 28 August 1965, Page 18

Increase In Accidents To Young Workers

Concern at the increasing number of serious machinery accidents to persons under the age of 21, and particularly to those under 18, was expressed by Mr J. C .Corbishley, chief inspector bf factories at the Department of Labour, in a statement. In each of the four years between 1960 and 1963 more than 16 per cent of all reported industrial accidents happened to persons under 21 years. In the seven years to 1960 the percentage had increased steadily from 11.7 in 1953 to a constant level of more than 16 in the latest four years for which figures are available. This increase, which corresponded to a steady increase in the juvenile labour force, was most disquieting, the statement said.

Ie 1963, the number of reported industrial accidents suffered by workers under 21 was 9010. Of these, 1680, or 18.6 per cent, were caused by machinery, including 89 accidents to persons under 16. As a cause of juvenile industrial injuries, machinery accidents ranked third highest after accidents resulting from handling of objects (26.5 per cent) and those involving hand tools (20.5 per cent). Of the 9010 accidents suffered by juvenile workers, 10 resulted in death and 85 in varying degrees of permanent disability. Though they represented only the third most common cause, machinery accidents tended generally to be more severe than the other two main types, and the chief inspector of factories was disturbed in particular by those involving young persons operating power presses, ■ “Power-press accidents to 11 juveniles during a recent 15-month period resulted in seven youths and girls, under the age of 18 being maimed, and four others scarred, for life,” the statement said. Investigations of the accidents, produced the disturbing information that not only were all the machines either unguarded or ineffectively guarded, but that little, if any, attention had been paid

to adequate training and supervision.” Mr Corbishley said that supervisors and foremen often seemed unaware that safety training and control over accident-producing practices and conditions were essential parts of their job and that they had also the responsibility for setting examples in safe methods of work —a responsibility which was too often neglected. “Accident statistics prove beyond all question that new and inexperienced workers have far more accidents than those who have been on the job for some time, and this is particularly the case with young workers. Since young employees cannot be expected to have the same safety awareness as older workers, their training is of prime importance,” said Mr Corbishley.