H.—ls

The number of accidents reported during the year in connection with boilers, cranes, lifts, hoists, and general machinery inspected by the Inspection of Machinery Branch of the Department was 139, of which 7 were fatal. In accordance with the established practice of the Department, every legally notifiable accident was fully investigated as soon as practicable after its occurrence, and steps taken to improve the guards, where possible, to eliminate accident producing hazards. Two of the fatal accidents occurred with circular saws, 2 with transmission machinery, 1 at a log-hauling winch, and lat a glass-bevelling wheel. The remaining accident was at a wood-fired boiler, when a blow back from flue gas burnt the boiler attendant. Twenty-four of the non-fatal were with circular saws, 13 with power planers, and 10 with powerpresses. These machines, as proved by accidents in this and in previous years, are the most hazardous used in New Zealand industry. Particular attention is given to the guarding by the inspecting staff, and freely distributed notices and posters call the attention of owners and operators to their dangers. A poster campaign was fully developed during the year, and twenty-five attractive posters, sufficient for a weekly display for about six months without repetition, were distributed to the leading factories in the Dominion. Many firms have been most co-operative and expressed appreciation of the service given by the Department on this most important matter of safety for machine workers. Circular instructions were issued to the staff in respect of machines, of which the safeguarding, from accident experience, was known to be defective or inadequate. A case in point is the open-bowl dough-mixer. An accident with this type of machine drew attention to the necessity for a proper safeguard around the bowl. A guard was tried out with a Wellington machine, and on proving successful instructions were issued for similar guards to be fitted to all these machines in the Dominion. 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 loading industries in which they are engaged.

Accidents, 1944-45 Industries

General Harbour Regulations The number of accidents to persons engaged in loading or unloading or repairing ships, together with the failures of gear used in loading or discharging ships, notified under Regulation 103 of the General Harbour Regulations was 276, of which 8 were fatal accidents. The number of accidents of the previous year was 270, of which 2 were fatal. Of the 8 fatalities reported during the year 5 were due to falls down holds of ships and 1 to a falling hatch-cover. Another fatality was due to complications arising from a crushed little finger. The remaining fatal accident was due to the failure of guy ropes and derrick when a heavy lift was being discharged from an overseas ship. The accident was fully investigated, and it was found that the primary cause was overloading of the gear and consequent failure of the guy ropes. The following is a classification of the accidents and failures :— Handling goods .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 83 Persons slipping or falling .. .. . . .. .. .. 62 Persons struck by swinging or falling load . . .. .. 62 Persons stepping on or striking fixed objects .. . . .. . . 11 Contact with power-driven machinery . . .. . . .. ~ 3 Failures of gear .. .. .. .. .. • .. 35 Not otherwise classified .. .. .. ~ .. 20 Total ~ ~ .. .. ~ ~ .. 276

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r o S . i » .c £ .5.S . 1 1* Machines. '|j "8 ® | IP -3 •§ jjj S ' ■ £ ta g c h b -S m 3 | 3 J 3 I | |o -J if | JS lS § u § | | .s |w | | « £ $ & ag. t*- .3 .« " (5 S J m 8 p4 o & fr° £ Circular saws .. 23 ; .. .. 3 2 24 26 Wood-planes .. II .. 1 1 ,, 13 13 Shapers and moulders 2 2 2 Power-presses 7 1 2 .. 10 10 Guillotines 2 2 3 .. 7 7 Laundry machinery 1 . , ,. 1 1 Cranes and hoists Lifts .. 2 .. 2 2 Belting .. 2 1 1 2 Shafting . . . . 1 .. 1 2 1 3 4 Gearing . . .. 2 2 2 Mincers .. .. ] 1 X Other .. 5 7 5 5 8 .... 4 1 24 3 56 59 Total accidents 44 7 7 5 17 1 1 4 4 39 7 122 129 (industries)