:: rawblogXport ::

:: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 ::

History of worker safety on display - By Andrew A. Duffy, Victoria Times Colonist, BC, Canada
The United Steelworkers union Local 1-80 will be taking a long, hard look at the history of the forest industry April 28 in conjunction with the national Day of Mourning for workers who died on the job.

The Duncan local will open its hall to the public that day for an exhibition of historical photographs, videos and paraphernalia documenting the history of the forest industry on the Island and the evolution of worker safety in the woods.

"It's an extremely important day for us, important to acknowledge the deaths in the industry," said Local 1-80 president Bill Routley.

Routley said the forest industry has come a long way in terms of worker safety, but he suggests there's still miles to go.

Indeed, he said forestry has gone backward in some respects, as the industry basically polices itself on the issue of safety.

"It's a little like having the fox guarding the chickens," he said.

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