H—ls

There has been again an increase in the total number of inspections, the increase during 1946-47 being 3,628 over the previous year, including 45 power cranes and 25 lifts inspected for the first time, and the revenue from the machinery-inspection service again shows an increase over that for the year ended 31st March, 1946. Plans of all new boilers, air-receivers, and other unfired pressure vessels and of new cranes and lifts totalling 982 units have been examined and approved during the year ended 31st March, 1947. The design of power-driven cranes in New Zealand is governed by the Department's Rules for Power-driven Cranes issued in 1937. These rules, covering all parts of the machinery structure and fittings of cranes, have afforded during the past ten years a satisfactory and safe code of design and construction under which new cranes manufactured both in New Zealand and overseas have been built. The Power Crane Rules have proved to be of particular assistance to engineering firms in New Zealand during the war and post-war years who were suddenly faced with the urgent, and to them new, problem of manufacturing cranes vital to industry and defence which in pre-war circumstances would have been imported from overseas. Many lifts recently installed in New Zealand multistory buildings include the most modern safety features. It is impracticable to require all old existing lifts to conform in all respects to the latest safety practices, but it is practicable in many of the oldest lifts to improve them by requiring moderate mechanical and electrical alterations to be carried out. The modernization work, where essential to safety, is proceeding under the Department's direction as fast as the post-war shortages of special materials and skilled man-power permit. Accidents to life and limb during the year ended 31st March, 1947, arising from boilers, cranes, lifts, hoists, and general power-driven machinery inspected by the Inspection of Machinery Branch number 114, of which 7 were fatal. These figures repeat the incidence of accident for the previous year ended 31st March, 1946. Of the 7 fatal accidents, 2 of the victims were crushed by cranes, 4, including a child of two years,, lost their lives from the entanglement of their clothing and their limbs with revolving shafting, gearing, or rollers, and 1 through being heavily struck by a moving belt fastener. In the following table is given an analysis of the fatal and non-fatal machinery accidents which occurred during the year, indicating the principal machines and industries concerned :

1946-47 Machine and Industry Analysis of Accidents

16

Description of Machines. Industries. Totals. Woodworking. Textile. Befrigeration. Printing. Metal-working and Engineering. Laundry. Butchery. Confectionery and Bakery. Boxmaking. Other Industries. Total Accidents (Machines). Fatal. Non-fatal. Circular saws Planers Shapers Power press Guillotines Laundry machinery Cranes and hoists Lifts Belting .. .. Shafting Gearing Mincers and other cutting-machines Other Total accidents 23 9 3 1 1 4 1 1 2 6 1 1 3 1 1 8 1 i I 2 2 2 3 i 1 1 2 1 2 4 2 2 2 1 9 25 10 4 16 1 3 3 6 3 5 9 7 22 2 1 1 2 i 25 10 4 16 1 3 1 6 2 4 7 7 21 41 10 2 7 13 3 3 2 10 23 114 7 107