H—ls

Such accidents can be reduced by developing the foresight of machine operators by training them in safe practices. Such training is available and does much good in organized factories, but it is not often available at out-of-the-way isolated plants such as lime and stone crushers, which have been responsible for many fatal accidents to the mechanically unskilled types of men who usually work about such machinery. One fatal accident arose from a fall under a bush tractor; the second from the victim entering a clay-bin and being crushed in the clay-feeding machinery; the third by the attempt of a worker to replace a belt on a running pulley, he being decapitated when caught in the belt; the fourth by a piece of timber which, having fallen from a stack on to a circular saw, was hurled against the saw operator ; the fifth by a reel of paper being unexpectedly released from a hoist and falling on to and crushing a workman ; the sixth by the victim being struck by a public-works locomotive; the seventh by the victim being crushed between an overhead crane and its supporting structure ; the eighth by unskilful operation of a boiler blow-down valve, resulting in the scalding of the deceased ; the ninth by a worker being caught in the belting of a stone-crusher ; and the tenth by a crusher worker being impaled by a crowbar projected with great force from a lime-crusher which he was attempting to clear with a crowbar. The circumstances of every accident, fatal and non-fatal, have been investigated by the Department, and improvements effected in the machine or the guards wherever practicable. Inspectors of Machinery have been furnished during the year with additional valuable information concerning means for ensuring the safer working of drop hammers, guillotines and shears, and power presses. These have long been recognized as some of the most dangerous machines in industry, because accidents from them so often result in severe mutilation. 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 :

Machine and Industry Analysis of Accidents, 1948-49

14

1 Industries. Totals. Description of Machines. Woodworking. Textile. Refrigeration. Printing. Metal-working and Engineering. Laundry. Butchery. Confectionery and Bakery. Boxmaking. Other Industries. Total Accidents (Machinery). 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 13 6 1 11 i ii 1 4 5 2 1 4 O H-f t—' GO 1 1 6 3 1 1 2 4 2 2 3 26 14 6 1 14 3 1 4 4 5 3 4 75 . <N . . . CO 14 6 1 14 3 1 2 4 3 3 4 69 Total accidents 31 12 5 12 20 1 1 6 3 41 134 10 124