Zurich Citizens News, 1977-03-23, Page 10Page 10
Citizens News, March 23, 1977
By JACK RIDDELL
MPP Huron -Middlesex
Among the Bills granted Royal
Assent during the last session of
the Legislature was the new
"Employees' Health and safety
Act", which brought into force
key recommendations of the
Royal Commission on the Health
and Safety- of Workers in Mines.
The provisions enacted so far
include establishment within a
single ministry — the Ministry of
Labour — of all responsibility for
occupational health and safety
legisla tion.
Further plans are in progress
to extend the application of the
proposals at the core of the report
to include industrial safety and
construction safety, and to
produce in a comprehensive
omnibus bill an occupational
health code for working men and
women throughout Ontario.
In this connection, there has
been considerable discussion as
to whether occupational health
and safety standards for the
agricultural industry should be
established by legislation. The
Minister of Labour spoke on this
matter recently, asking whether
there is a need for occupational
health and safety standards in
the agricultural industry,
whether legislation can fulfill
that need,- and whether
legislation, if introduced, would
be successful in achieving -its
goal.
Workmen's Compensa tion
Board rates 943 and 953, which
cover most segments of
agriculture, indicate the need for
a stronger effort to create a safe
and healthy agricultural work-
place. In these categories, the
number of deaths caused by
accidents increased by 32 percent
from 1975 to 1976 — from 34 to 45.
The primary cause of death is the
tractor roll-over, which caused
one out of three agricultural
fatalities.
Legislated safety standards
alone cannot improve the
situation, and must be combined
with a responsible attitude on the
part of both employees and
employers.
In a brief to the Ministry of
During the Last session
Employees Health and Safety Act
Labour, the Farm Safety
Association indicated that it is
"in accord and agrees with the
initiative and formulation of
occupational safety and health
legislation that would protect
agricultural workers in Ontario".
It is understood, that the leaders
of the Ontario Fruit and
Vegetable Growers Association
also support the concept.
However, both associations have
reservations.
Some people argue that the
agricultural industry is unique
and that standards applicable to
manufacturing, construction or
mining may not be appropriate.
However, standards for mining
are not necessarily appropriate
for the construction industry. The
fact that standards must be set
for each industry, taking into
account the special charac-
teristics of that industry, does not
mean that separate legislation is
required. Agriculture's specific'
problems could be ac-
commodated in a general Act
with appropriate regulations.
Time pressures must be taken
into account with respect to the
agriculture industry, because
delays in harvesting, for any
reason, could result in massive
financial losses. No doubt, there
will be concern lest an entire
harvesting operation might be
disrupted by one or more workers
who believe the workplace to be
unsafe or unhealthy. While no-
one would deny the agricultural
worker a right and responsibility
available to construction, in-
dustrial or mining workers, the
agricultural employer's financial,
investment and right to earn a
fair income must be protected.
As the Minister of Labour has
pointed out, there are a number
of unanswered questions. Should
occupational health and safety
legislation cover the entire
agricultural industry, or only the
22,000 or more employers now
contributing to the W.C.B.?
Should legislation be phased in
over one year, five or ten?
I should be very interested to
hear your views on this subject of
protection for agricultural
workers. There is, of course, a
program to alert people to the
potential hazards of chemicals
and physical agents and to
educate the agricultural worker
about correct use. However,
possibly legislative action should
be considered, and this is a
matter which needs to be
discussed fully by the
agricultural community.
To date the Labour Safety
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Council has been the primary
formal channel through which
the advice of the private sector is
obtained. This Council is to be
reconstituted and expanded to
reflect new responsibilities in the
occupational health field. The
final structure of the new ad-
visory body has, as yet, not been
established.
The Minister of Labour has
indicated that the agricultural
community should have a per-
manent voting delegate on the
advisory body. This represen-
tative would bring to the policy-
making process expert
knowledge of the unique
situations which confront
agricultural worker and em-
ployer.
This entire question of oc-
cupational health and safety is
very important. In the last
analysis, every individual has' a
responsibility in this respect.
However, legislation can do
much to improve health and
safety standards. To what extent
and in what manner this can be
done for the agricultural industry
is a matter of concern to us all.
Program to reduce accidents
By Constable R. W. Wilson
Throughout Ontario, the O.P.P.
have initiated a 'program on a
large scale in an effort to reduce
accidents. The program is
called Selective Traffic Enfor-
cement.
Accidents are a mystery in
some instances, but iiiost are cut
and dried. They occur due to
misjudgment and actual offences
against the Highway Traffic Act
of Ontario which is a Provincial
Statute set up for motorists to
follow in order to prevent ac-
cidents.
In order for us to determine
causes and location of accidents a
team each month from each
detachment, studies accident
reports accumulated from the
past three years for each par-
ticular month that have occurred
in that particular patrol area.
From these reports statistics
are obtained as to how many
accidents occurred, where they
occurred, what time of day they
occurred, and possibly the reason
they happened. A program is set
up for each month indicating a
particular area of highway a
patrol car must patrol, at a
particular time of day and what
particular offence the officer
should be looking for.
From this accident pattern
derived from the study each
month, and the Selective Traffic
Enforcement, we the O.P.P. hope
to prevent accidents.
Barring the "White-out" storm
conditions realized this winter,
the program is working well as
accidents have been reduced.
Many types of resources are
used to stop accidents causing
violations such. as Aircraft, radar
and cruiser patrols.
Obviously radar is used strictly
for speed control and is a very
accurate and effective method.
As speed is involved in most
accidents, and we find that ac-
cidents in general have been
reduced with our 50 M.P.H.
maximum limit it will be en-
forced heavier all the time. The
new moving radar has been in-
troduced in Perth and Grey
Counties and will soon be in this
area. The stationary radar
(sometimes hand held) is in
operation now.
Speeders Beware ---we are out
to try and save your life and the
lives of others around you.
Join us this Sunday in
Mrs.Watkin's Country Kitchen
at the
Full -Course
SMORGASBORD
Now Open 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Includes:
Roast Beef and Gravy, Roast Turkey and Dressing, Sliced
-Ham, Meat Loaf and Gravy, B.B.Q. Spareribs, Sauerkraut,
Mashed Potatoes, Vegetable, Boston Baked Bean, Bread and
" Butter, Coffee or Tea, Dessert. -
Plus ... Huron County's Largest Salad Bar
''" BRING THE FAMILY TO OUR
SUNDAY, APRIL 10
Reserve Now!
482-3644
PANCAKE & SAUSAGE
BREAKFAST: 8 A.M.-11 P.M.
AH You ADULTS3 49 CHILDREN
®UNDER12 1 99
Pre-Schoolers No Charge
Can Eat
Beginning Friday Evening, April 1
The same fine food you've enjoyed each
Sunday at Mrs. Watkin's Country Kitchen...
will be available
7 NIGHTS A WEEK -5 - 10 p.m.
in our newly redecorated restaurant we call
"Sandpiper"
Our special Prices for
children under 12 are in effect
all week long.
Planning a Wedding, Banquet, Party, or perhaps a Business Meeting?
Take advantage of the excellent facilities, superb catering service and
economical prices that await you at
THE VANASTRA SHILLELAGH
CALL MRS. B. WATKINS STEWART CASSILS
CLINTON 482-9541 LUCAN 227-4406
"See You on Sunday"
For Reservations Phone 482-3644