Safety switch on petrol tankers

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 18

Safety switch on petrol tankers

Both sides in the dispute over the placing of an electrical switch on petrol tankers claim to be interested in obtaining the safest possible result. The Drivers’ Union holds that the switch should be in one place: the drivers’ employers in the oil industry say that the switch is best in another place The tanker owners’ preference has the sanction of the Chief Inspector of Explosives.

The buyers of petrol who have been put out by the local stoppage in Christchurch—and by the panic buying to meet it—can be forgiven for wondering whether this disagreement is good reason for industrial action, or just a contrivance for industrial disruption. Which scheme should be adopted

appears to be purely a technical question, to be resolved by balancing the pros and cons of the argument. Industrial pressure by either side makes no sense: indeed, failure to reach a rational solution could be disastrous. Experience all over the world can be drawn upon in these technical matters; and it should be drawn upon. Since the drivers and their employers are at odds the best possible authority should be sought. If the union cannot come to this conclusion, the Government should publicly produce the best evidence on which its regulations can be founded. The safety equipment on petrol tankers, of which the disputed switch is part, is of importance to everyone, not just to the drivers.