H —15

Many of the machines with which accidents occurred were fully guarded, and the accidents can only be attributed to lack of care, inattention to the work in hand, incorrect clothing, and other personal factors which, it is considered, can only be corrected by educational methods. In this connection the safety poster has high educational value and is regarded as one of the most important means, next to mechanical safeguards, that can be adopted for the prevention of accidents. It was decided during the year to proceed with a safety-poster campaign, and for this purpose twenty-five attractive posters, each with a different appeal or lesson, have been printed. It is intended to display one type of poster each week in the larger factories, and the number available will provide a weekly display for about six months without repetition. They will be displayed at selected points most frequented by workers, such as time and pay offices, store and cloak rooms, and canteens, and, in the case of a poster dealing with a special hazard of a machine or process, at or near the machine or process where the work is being carried on. It is considered that by showing one poster for a short period the lesson is reimposed on the mind and more likely to be retained, whereas a number of different posters displayed at the same time is likely to create a muddled impression. The managers of the larger factories have been interviewed and their co-operation sought. The reaction has been very favourable, and it is considered that the safety-poster campaign for the prevention of accidents will prove well worth while. Two of the six fatal accidents of the year were concerned with lifts certificated for the carriage of goods only and not for the carriage of persons. In one case a workman was riding with the load in the lift car and met his death when the load fouled the enclosure and threw him to the side, where he was crushed between the car and the building. One fatal accident occurred when a workman attempted the dangerous practice of putting a belt on running machinery. The other three fatalities occurred with a haulage winch in a shipyard, a dredge screen, and a sawmiliing circular saw. In the latter case the safeguards which were provided had been removed from the saw. The number of non-fatal accidents reported during the year (118), was less than last year and also less than the average for the preceding five years. The number of plants and machines in operation exceed that of other years, and under wartime conditions, when many of the workers are young and inexperienced and many are working long hours under strain, an appreciable increase in the number might be expected. Eighteen of the accidents occurred with circular saws, 12 with planing-machines, and 11 with power-presses. The number of saw and power-press accidents, although a little less than usual, is still high. The safeguarding of these machines receives particular attention, and the hazards connected with them are stressed by the display of safety posters. Thirty-four out of the total of 124 accidents occurred in the woodworking industry. The following table shows the number of accidents, both fatal and non-fatal, which occurred during the year. The various machines at which the majority of the accidents occurred are mentioned, together with the leading industries in which they are engaged.

Accidents, 1943-44 Industries

New Zealand Standards The Department was represented on the Executive Committee of the Standards Council, the Mechanical Engineering Divisional Committee, the Fire-extinguishing Sub-committee, and the Rot Proofing Committee of the New Zealand Standards Institute, and meetings were attended throughout the year. A number of specifications and war emergency specifications were examined and written comments furnished.

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(l i I I It it jj J I I Circular saws .. .. 15 .. 1 ■ .. .. 2 18 Planers.. .. .. 10 1 .. .. 1 12 Shapers and moulders .. 1 .. .. .. 1 Power-presses .. .. 1 .. .. .. 9 .. .. 1 .. .. \\- Guillotines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 2 Laundry machinery .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. .. 2 Cranes and hoists .. .. .. 1 .. 2 .. .. 1 .. 2 6 Lifts .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. 1 4 7 Belting .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 2 Shafting .. .. 2 2 Gearing .. .. .. .. .. 2 2 Mincers.. .. 1 2 3 Other machines .. .. 5 3 5 38 .... 4 3 25 56 J , Total (industries) 34 6 9 3 21 2 2 6 3 38 124