FACTORY RISKS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1719, 9 April 1913, Page 4

FACTORY RISKS.

■ Sir,—With'your permission I would like to draw your readers' attention I-' a matter of some importance so far as the safety ot' workers in factories and sawmills is concerned. It is reported in the press that a young man named Stringer got his sleeve entangled in moving niaeuinery at -Taumarunui, and the material being strong ho was whirled round and round, and hud a most providential escape troiu death. it will be patent to all readers how important it is, ill a caso such as this, tl'at the machinery should be brought tu a standstill as quickly as possible. Fortunately the engine-driver in this caso happened to bo handy, and shut off steam as soon as possible, alter which it was air easy matter for the to pull up the machinery ,by pushing a piece of timber against the revolving saw. If the engine-driver had beeu away from his engine, in all probability the young man would have lost his life; and it is to deal with this aspect of the case that I am now writing. On,several occasions I have paid visits to country sawmills, and have louiul that the engine-driver has had to travel long distances to procure fuel for the boiler. This usually consists of slabs sawn from the ontsido of logs, which are placed in the open air to dry. In one ease I came across recently the driver told mo ho had to go over a. hundred yards from his engine for this purpose, and assuming any workers in tlio mill had met with such an accident as the ono mentioned above, it is not diOicult to prophesy what would be the consequence. The position has been reported to tho Inspection of Machinery Department many tunes, but so far they have not seen lit to block tho practice, which is only resorted to by tho worst class of employers. As it is a matter connected withthe safety of all workers in factories, some months ago I also reported tho matter to t'ho Inspector of Factories, who was in charge of the sawmill district nrouud Ohakuno and Tailinpe. Ho stated in his reply he thought the complaint was a fair one, and would do what' he could to put a stop to it, but on a recent, visit it was going on just as merrily as ever. It is 'time something was done in tho matter, as assuming a man met his death under tho circumstances mentioned, tho-engine-driver would in all probability be called lipon to forfeit his certificate, when owing to circumstances, ho has either got to carry his fuel from a.long distanco or get out. Trusting you will publish this letter,—l am, etc., J. HEAD, ' Secretary, Wellington Engine-Drivers' , Union. Wellington, April 3, 1918.