HIGH HEELS CAUSE FALLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25851, 23 May 1945, Page 2

HIGH HEELS CAUSE FALLS

INCREASE IN COMPENSATION

CASES (0.c.) SYDNEY, May 8. The New South Wales Workers’ Compensation Commission said in its 1944 report that high heels and bicycles were apparently the greatest menace to men and women on their way to and from work. The number of people injured going to and from work jumped from 1437 in 1942-43 to 2285 in 1943-44. Total number of workers injured in 1944 was 116,605, compared with 82,457 in 1941. In 1942 'it was 97,443; in 1943 122,990, This increase caused a lag of 500 in the number of cases waiting to be heard by the court. From figures in the commission’s report the 500 cases would represent six months’ work for three judges. Approximately 10 per cent, of workers injured last year were women. Main reasons for the increase were given by the commission as: Risk arising out of newly-undertaken hazardous work' influx of inexperienced or "green labour’’ to industry generally: widening scope of type of accident covered in the Compensation Act. including injuries whep journeying to and from work (1942); and injuries to bush fire fighters (1944). More work for the commission this year is a loss ratio scheme to be promulgated within the next six months to fix and control workers’ compensation premiums in New South Wales. There are two permanent and one temporary judges on the commission.