H—ll

has decreased somewhat in the last three years the actual increase in the accident rate is probably greater than it appears here.) Just how much time, and therefore production is lost to New Zealand industry by accidents is demonstrated by the following table which compares the number of days per annum lost through industrial accidents with that lost through industrial disputes. It can be seen that other than during exceptional periods, and after making allowance for the fact that column 3 comprises " calendar " days whereas column 4 consists of " working " days, the total time lost through accidents is at least seventeen times that lost through disputes.

The figures are exclusive of mines, sea transport, and farms, for which data on time lost through accidents is not available. The first two of these do, of course, contribute considerably to the total time lost through disputes, but their accident rates are also prolific, there being an average of over 4,000 accidents per annum in mines alone, this being approximately 27 per cent, of the total for all industry. (4) Accident Analysis. —An analysis has been made of the accidents reported by registered factories in the Wellington Industrial District during 1949. Of 2,261 reported accidents (preliminary figures), 1,046 were in respect of the meat freezing and processing industry while woodworking (sawmilling, joining, &c.) accounted for 252 and engineering and metal-working for 429. The parts of the body affected were : eyes, 92 ; head, face, and neck, 72 ; arms, hands, fingers, and wrists, 1,353; back, ribs, and spine, 276 ; legs, 211 ; feet and toes, 193 ; others, 64. Further data on accidents is contained in Appendix Ito the report. Table XYI (c) (Frequency and Severity Rates in Selected Industries) indicates' those branches of industry which could benefit most from prevention activity. Table XVIII (Analysis by Causes), while illustrating the toll of accidents involving machinery, also emphasizes the need for more attention to those matters which are normally regarded as minor—namely, handling of objects, use of hand tools, prevention of falls. Table XYI (a) and (b) gives the industrial and factory accident rates on a basis of hours of work and not merely on the number of workers. As this computation embraces such factors as overtime and part-time work it gives a much more accurate picture of the actual frequency but it is also considerably more difficult to compile and therefore 1947 is the latest year for which figures are available. (5) Fatal Factory Accidents. —The following is a summary of the 9 fatal accidents which during the year 1949 : (i) When the belt on the counter-shaft driving the elevator buckets on a gravel-crusher came off its pulley, an employee who attempted to clear the belt while the motor was still in gear, became entangled in the belting and was fatally injured. (ii) An employee constructing an elevated steel platform in an engineering works was crushed to death by a crane travelling along elevated rails adjacent to the platform. The field of vision in the cab of the crane was insufficient to give the driver an unobstructed view of the victim. (iii) Despite repeated warnings by his employer and provision of a wooden staff suitable for the purpose, an employee continued clearing the feeding-chute and hopper of a lime-crusher with a steel crowbar. The bar came into contact with the high-speed revolving steel pulverizers and was expelled with such force that it was driven right through the worker's body.

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Calendar Year. » Number of Industrial Accidents. Number of " Calendar " Days Lost Through Industrial Accidents.* Number of " Working "Days Lost Through ' Industrial Disputes. 1946 .. .. .. i 1947 1948 11,311 11,932 10,064 950,908 1,056,222 615,229 6,792 38,556 32,290 * In computing these figures and those in all other accident tables in the report an international standard allowance for time lost in the case of fatalities and permanent disability is made.