WATERSIDE ACCIDENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12404, 23 August 1918, Page 4

WATERSIDE ACCIDENTS.

REPORT OF COMMISSION. THIRTY-SIX PROPOSALS FOR SAFETY. (Special to tho “ Star.”) W ELLINGTON, August 23. Tlie Commission presided over by the Hou T. M. W'dlord, Minister of Marine, which investigated the cause and prevention ot waterside accidents, lias completed its report'and recoinmciulations, which arc quite exhaustive in their detail. The Commission was representative of the slopping, waterside workers’ and harbour hoard interests, and it is a satisfactory feature that so many proposals for improving the worntug conditions, to ensure greater safety, should have boon accepted by this mixed tribunal. Twenty-seven recommendations were unanimously agreed to, and there are nine .others to which there is not a unanimous decision, but which the chairman has decided. In summarising tho recommendations, the Hon T. M. Wilford stated, hi an interview with your correspondent, that it came as a surprise to tho Gommisioti to find that inspectors of gear under the Marino Department were not legally authorised to inspect any gear other than that on ships. It was unanimously decided that these inspectors should have their powers extended to include the inspection of all running gear and subsidiary appliances used for discharging and loading coal and cargo either on ships, hulks, or on tho wharves. It was also decided that legislation bo passed giving the Inspector of Machinery power to inspect all machinery used for loading or discharging ships, cither on ships or on tho wharf. Another precaution recommended is that once a year, on the occasion of the annual survey, all winches shall be dismantled and put together again in good working order. The Commission recommends that the staging used when coal is being discharged by means of bull ropes shall be not less than 3ft Gin wide, and firmly fixed. The T iron used in this work must bo securely bolted to the hatch combing, and tho T must be of at least three inches in diameter. Accidents have occurred through men being required to “go out” on hatch beams to unship them, and the Commission considers that the time has come when bridles shall bo shackled to the ends of thwartship beams, in order that they might bo shipped and unshipped without danger to those cn-ga-fted in. the work. “Wc deem it of first importance,’’ reports the Commission, that all timber fore and after hatch beams be shod with iron to minimise wear and ensure safety.” LIGHTERS AND LAUNCHES.

Tho Commission heard evidence from Napier, Wanganui and Gisborne regarding lighters and launches, and decided that the time has arrived when the Government must make it imperative that all lighters and launches engaged in roadstead work shall carry sufficient life-saving appliances in good order, to enable all men to bo furnished with them in case of peril, and that the same precaution shall be applied to hulks when being shifted from Port Chalmers to Dunedin. A NEW HOOK. Serious accidents have occurred through coal baskets coming unhooked, and the Commission is unanimous that a new typo of hook—though its actual design has not been agreed upon—is necessary. SAFE LOADS. Working loads received much attention, and the Commission recommends that tile Marine Department prepare a table of safe loads of wire, flax and manilla ropes, for tho guidance of those using them, and to settle disputes on this point; and that there should ho a regulation requiring rope makers to guarantee by certificate tho ..breaking strain of any rope manufactured or sold m New Zealand. MISCELLANEOUS.

Wherever possible, savs I,ho Commission, electric light should b 0 used m cargo operations carried on at night. Evidence was given showing that men have been “gassed" when fundgating vessels, and the Commission decided that Dr MacLaurin be asked to draft regulations to secure safe methods, and that this should be done quickly. are considered necessary to prevent the turning, without'warning of ships’ propellers while ships are in dry-docs:, for safer staging and irang. yajs, and the locking of discharge pipes while men are working on stages When Cleaning boilers, the tempera! tuve m which men shall work must not exceed 100 degrees, and the stop-valve shall be locked.

Hie time has arrived when someone responsible shall decide the deck-load to be earned on lighters, and the position that such load shall occupy and the Commission agrees that this’ shall bo done by a responsible officer of the Marine. Department. GANGS IN HOLDS.

“ To have arrived at an agreement m regard to the question of who shall decide the number of gangs to work in a hold,” continued the Minister, “i s certainly of interest to the waterfront generally, and to-those who receive or ship cargo. All interested agreed that decision in this important matter

should bo loft to tho Inspector of Gear under tho .Marine Department, whoso finding shall bind all parties,” Mr Wilford also stated that tho s'Joinmission leaves to the decision of tho same olhccr the delicate (jiiostion whether a inan is unfit to work by reason of liquor, and the Inspector of Goar is also to decide whether tho system of loading or unloading cargo for a particular port Is a safe one, having regard to the men working in the hold. There have been many disputes over this question. THE MINISTER DECIDES.

This bnoily summarises tho important points on which _ there was unanimity. There are nine other recommendations on which there was not complete agreement, and the .Minister has given Uie decision ro include them. Probably tho most important is tho following:—That in tho selection of the men to act as Inspectors of Goar (head) experience and fitness for tho position shall be tho tests for appointment. Other proposals in this section are that while men are working on the sides ol ships on staging, tho owner shall have a man stationed on deck to prevent tlie stage fastenings being interfered with, that an extra man be stationed m each stokehold, to safeguard the men engaged inside boilers or tank ends of furnaces, and that when any obstruction prevents tho bull-rope being in full, clear and continuous view of the winclnnan, an extra man shall bo ei, ployed for communication purposes, stationed in full view of winchman and hull-rope man. If “chipping” is going on, which may interfere with the clear hearing of orders in cargo working, the Inspector of Gear is to be empowered to stop it. PREVENTIBLE ACCIDENTS.

“The Commission was set up,” concluded the Mon T. M. Wilford, “not with the idea that it could provide methods of eliminating tho 1 inevitable’ accident which must always be present in every walk of life, but with the idea ot reducing the number of accidents which can bo labelled ‘ preventiblo.’ That such accidents will bo reduced if the recommendations are given effect to by Parliament I have no doubt, and I am also voicing tho opinions of Captain Macarthnr and Messrs Marchhauks, Glover and Roberts when I say that many methods of safeguarding those engaged in waterside work have been found as the result of this searching inquiry. Tho fact that no less than twenty-seven now methods of dealing with waterside work have been .unanimously agreed upon by the shipping representatives, tho Harbour Boards’ representative and the waterside workers’ representative will surely give tho public confidence that something has been accomplished and something done. Ido not need to stress tho interest of the whole Dominion in tho prevention of accident. In the interest of those who suffer accident, and those who depend upon them —in the interest of economic progress, and in the interest of commercial prosperity, tho result, I am sure, will bo worth the price. Tho fact that the watersiders themselves .have been able to take part ns judges in tbo deliberations of the Commission will show tho workers themselves that tho Government has been ready and willing to assist them in the efforts they are making to reduce danger and accident to a minimum.”