H—ll

(2) Accident Prevention. —Significant progress continues to be made in the field of accident prevention, both, in this country and overseas. Internationally, industrial accident prevention has lost none of the momentum gained during and immediately after the war. The most significant event in this field has been the final adoption and publication by the 1.L.0. of its " Model Code of Safety Regulations for Factories " devised to provide international safety standards " for the guidance of states and industries." Some indication of the coverage of the code can be gained from the fact that the draft was prepared over a period of six years. In New Zealand, the Department's post-war accident-prevention programme is, after overcoming the inevitable initial difficulties, at last emerging from the stage of preliminary planning and organization, to that of operational activity. A summary of the more significant developments of the past eighteen months will give an indication of the stage which has been reached. (i) Technical Training of Inspectors and Liaison With the Department of Health : In 1948 and 1949, industrial medical officers were appointed, one to each of the four main centres, under the co-ordinating authority of the Director, Division of Industrial Hygiene, Department of Health. With one exception they are located in this Department's office, thus facilitating the close co-operation necessary to avoid overlapping of activities. This introduction of qualified medical personnel as an immediate associate of the factory inspectorate has proved invaluable both in the practical solution of welfare problems and in the specialized knowledge imparted to the officers of the inspectorate. The liaison between the two Departments has been even further fused by the conducting of annual full-year hygiene courses in which Inspectors from both Departments participate. This course is a prerequisite to the Royal Sanitary Institute Examinations. (ii) Reference Literature and Information Service : The Department's reference library has acquired an extensive range of material on matters relating to accident prevention, and constant additions from overseas sources are being received. (iii) Research and Statistics : Statistical devices are now in operation which enable the early detection of any increased accident rates in industry as a whole, or in particular branches of industries, thus enabling early remedial steps to be taken and, if necessary, the carrying-out of research aimed at preventing future occurrences. (iv) Safety Publicity : It, has been proved conclusively in overseas countries that legislation and enforcement, although useful, are not alone sufficient to bring accident rates down to a minimum. The initiative in safety promotion must come from industry itself, particularly from management and foremen. With this in mind, considerable attention is being given to the development and utilization of all available publicity media aimed at acquainting industry with the cost of accidents, the need for good housekeeping, staff training, and the advantages of safety and works committees. The first articles on industrial safety have already appeared in the Department's Monthly Review. Articles in pamphlet form are also proposed, and in association with the Division of Industrial Hygiene articles have already appeared in various trade publications. It is confidently hoped that these articles, as well as promoting safety consciousness, will draw the attention of industry to the information service on such problems that the Department is able and anxious to make available. (v) Films : For the past two years a number of films on various safety topics have (on occasion by means of mobile projection units) been shown to employer and employee organizations and factory staffs. Such screenings are arranged on request. (vi) Posters and Exhibitions : The first post-war posters on industrial safety for distribution to industry are now being prepared in conjunction with the Division of Industrial Hygiene, while further posters are being procured from overseas. Safety displays and exhibits are featured at industries fairs and on other suitable occasions. (vii) Training Within Industry : Courses which are conducted under this scheme for the guidance of managements and foremen in the problems of personnel management include as an integral part of the syllabus constant emphasis on safety and accidentprevention techniques. (These courses are referred to elsewhere in the report.)

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