The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-04-10
Hold Foremen
Annual Safety
Meeting. Tues.
During Past II Years the
]. NeilS Lumber Co. has
Had Efficient Program
ACCIDENTS in 1916
EXCEPTIONALLY LOW

The reasons why the J. Neils
Lumber Company is listed among
the high five lumber and sawmill
companies in the IL Western
States having low accident records
were apparent to all attending the
annual Forman's Safety Meeting
held last Tuesday evening.
The meeting opened at the Presby-
terian Church, where a three course
dinner was served featuring roast
turkey and all the accessories. The
dinner would have added honors
to any festive occasion, both for
the variety and abundance of the
foods. It was served by Circle B
of the Presbyterian church.
Immediately following the dinner
the meeting adjourned to the Mill
Office. where a most interesting and
instructive program followed, with
Walter Neils Vice President of the
J. Neils Lumber Company, presi-
ding. Every accident during 1916
was discussed as to cause and re-
suits. It developed that not one
accident resulted from defective
equipment. There is much friendly
4ANdAAJ OELWGG4 tlAE notwithstanding
department at the mill AMI the log
ging department in the woods as
to which department can turn in
the best safety report. The manu-
featuring department has a larger
force of men working than does the
logging department but the latter's
work is rated as more hazardous
The manufacturing department
turned in an outstanding record
never equalled but once during the
past seven years. The chargeable
loss in man days amounting to 507
as compared with a high in 1889
of over 1000 days. The year l945
saw 1899 days lost. There were 10 (
accidents in 1916 and II in l945. /
The amount of compensation for
such accidents is set by Montana
state law, and in 1946 amounted to
81 1852. as compared with $5,924.- !
IS during 1914
In the logging department. en-
ploying lat men there we're only I
ii accidents in 1915, with a charge /
able loss in man days of 297. Com /
pensation for these accidents a /
mounted to S70O.17 These records, I
like those in the manufacturing de !
partment are among the lowest in /
the company's history. and the total /
loss of man days for both depart /
ments is exceedingly light when il
is realized that SIT employees en-
ployed in these departments had
a total of 962,9l2 hours of exposure.
The accident frequency for l946
in the manufacturing de partment |
was $3.50 and in the logging de-
partment was 1928. The average
in logging departments
the industry is $500 The
accident severity in 1946 amounted
in the manufacturing department to
.906 and in the logging department
the severity was 1913. The fire.
quency rate stated r. r. Veldman,
is the number of reported injuries
by one million and
divided by man hours of exposure.
is determined by total time
ins days multiplied by ], 900 |,
and divided by man hours of ex-
posure. As previously stated, the
J. Eeils Company is consistently
rated among the five best severity
records in the Western States.
There were only three cases of
infection during the past year,
which is less than half the number
of such cases common some 10 years
ago. An interesting comment at
the meeting made by DR.. Cairns, is
to the effect that in late years prac-
tically all infections are of a local
nature. Throughout the entire meet
ing the responsibility of the fore
man for the safety of their men
was stressed. Each foreman is ur-
ged again and again to emphasize
the need of safety to the individual
members of his gang when and
wherever he notes the least care
lessness among his men. or when
any other opportune time presents
itself for impressing the need for
carefulness. Each foreman is made
10 feel that he. personally is re-
sponsible for the safety of his men;
that the company will furnish the
best equipment and safety devices,
but he must see that full advantage
is taken of the same
Dexter Bright, Missoula, Of the 1
Timber Products, Spokane, labor
while addressing the
group, stated the local company is
second 10 none in the industry in
having a good safety record, and :
enjoying pleasant labor relations.
George Itchy, Spokane, secretary {
Of labor relations for Timber Prod
lets, told the gathering that the
Jaw mill industry is on the top five [
occupations suffering high Ere |
auency and Severity He also stated j
hat fe4e saw the highest Severity i
rate In ghe business He highly /
sosnplinesased both The management !
and kne kox~mef IN being able TO (
nat die local Severity rate to
lracka1n % any presiding year.
Axthar 1taEia reported that the .