LECTURE TOURS 



The Department kept in touch with the public through talks 

 to fish and game associations, schools, church groups, serv- 

 ice clubs and youth organizations. Illustrated lectures were 

 given on many aspects of the Department's work. A total of 

 2,810 lectures was given to audiences totalling 177,114 

 during the past fiscal year. The totals included 757 lectures 

 to 80,304 school children and 910 lectures given by Ontario 

 Forestry Association personnel to 26,958 persons. 



ACCIDENT CONTROL SECTION 



The safety program, aimed at reduction in loss of life, per- 

 sonal injury and property damage, is continually develop- 

 ing and through research entering new fields in safety 

 training to improve the safety record of the Department. 



DRIVER TRAINING 



The driver training and testing program, which commenced 

 in Pembroke Forest District on an experimental basis in 

 1970, has proven the need for the program in all districts. 

 The program is being extended as funds and training staff 

 become available. 



In Pembroke District, the accident frequency rate was 

 reduced from 2.28 in the preceding fiscal year to 1.52 dur- 

 ing the past year. 



THE LOGGERS' SAFETY ACT 



Safety education in the logging industry is of prime impor- 

 tance especially among the smaller operators who do not 

 have, or cannot afford, safety programs. Our safety officers 

 give assistance in safety matters where needed when they 

 are making inspections in the course of enforcing the Act. 



During the past year, our officers made more than 3,000 

 inspections under the Act. They advised on safety and issued 

 warnings and stop-work orders for serious infractions of the 

 Act and Regulations. 



During 1970, fatal accidents numbered twelve, a decrease 

 of six from the previous year. 



HUNTER SAFETY TRAINING 



The upgrading of instruction was continued during the past 

 year. All instructors, who wished to continue in the pro- 

 gram, were re-tested in 1970. Qualified instructors now 

 total 1,162. Each instructor is required to conduct at least 

 one class per year to remain on the active list, and each 

 must be re-examined every three years. 



During the year, 15,601 persons received training in safe 

 hunting. 



SAFETY IN PROVINCIAL PARKS 



Field safety officers of the Section make frequent inspections 

 in Provincial Parks and report hazardous or unsafe condi- 

 tions to the appropriate authority for immediate remedial 

 action. (The Section is not responsible for the beach patrol 

 maintained in some parks.) 



Under the sponsorship of the Department, 55 canoeing- 

 camping demonstrations were presented by the Ontario 

 Safety League in seven Provincial Parks, beginning in Algon- 

 quin and extending across the Province to Quetico. The 

 demonstration was expanded last year to include the safe 

 operation of car-top boats and low-powered outboard 

 motors. In addition, demonstrations of first aid and artificial 

 respiration were given by the St. John Ambulance Associa- 

 tion. The park demonstrations received wide publicity on 

 radio and television. 



WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION 



Department costs for Workmen's Compensation in 1970-1 

 were $262,824.53, an increase of $37,504.31 over the pre- 

 ceding fiscal year. The total cost is composed of $102,519.04 

 for pensions, $18,187.01 for administrative costs, and 

 $142,118.48 for medical aid and compensation. 



Compensable claims numbered 915, an increase of 161 

 over the previous year. The average cost per claim was 

 $131.00, a decrease of $17.00. The decrease is misleading as 

 the OSEP program commenced at the beginning of 1971; 

 the majority of the claims were not finalized before the end 

 of March, and their costs will be carried into the next fiscal 

 year. 



Fire control costs totalled $8,882.26 of which $7,062.99 

 went to actual fire fighting. The total cost was 11 per cent 

 above the previous year. 



Junior ranger costs amounted to $14,666.21, a decrease of 

 $3,652.96 on the year although 178 more junior rangers 

 were employed. Junior rangers accounted for $6,192.77 and 

 senior staff for $8,473.44. 



During the year, there was one death for which a pension 

 was established. Two new pensions were established for 

 permanent disability. 



The Injury Frequency Rate was 18.5, an increase of 0.8 over 

 the previous year. The rate is based on lost time in relation 

 to man-days worked. 



The Lands and Forests Safety Trophy was won by Sioux 

 Lookout Forest District with an injury frequency rate of 4.5. 

 During the year, the District had a total of 44,863 man-days 

 worked and two lost-time injuries. 



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