HUNTER SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAM 



Designed to teach hunters safe and proper gun handling, 

 this program was initiated in the fall of 1957 on a voluntary 

 basis. Game and fish clubs agreed to supply instructors and 

 teach the course to young hunters. In remote areas where 

 there are no clubs, the teaching is the responsibility of the 

 Department. 



Applications for instructors are screened and approved at 

 District offices. Training material is then sent, followed by 

 a brassard from head office. Instructors' workshops are held 

 frequently, where problems can be solved, policy explained 

 and new teaching methods demonstrated. Available to clubs 

 on loan are films, slides, and defective firearms for use in 

 classroom demonstrations. District offices supply instruc- 

 tors with manuals, literature, registration cards, report 

 cards, certificates of competence, safety posters, etc. 

 Instructors are covered by liability insurance for personal 

 and property damage. 



Game and fish clubs instruct approximately 54 per cent of 

 the students, the remainder being instructed in organiza- 

 tions such as Boy Scouts, service clubs, cadet corps, 

 Canadian Legion, etc. 



In 1966, 19,342 students graduated compared to 17,577 in 

 1965, making a total of 121,953 graduates since the program 

 was commenced in 1957. 



Statistics of hunting accidents show a total of 130 (13 fatal, 

 117 non-fatal) for 1966. 

 SAFETY IN PROVINCIAL PARKS 



Accident Control officers make frequent inspections during 

 the season in Provincial Parks reporting on unsafe condi- 

 tions and hazardous objects that might prevail when people 

 congregate. The findings are brought to the attention of the 

 park superintendent or District Forester for remedial 

 action. The safety section is not responsible for the beach 

 patrol maintained by the Parks Branch. 



During the months July to September, the Department 

 sponsored a "Water Safety Demonstration" program pre- 

 sented by the Ontario Safety League. The demonstrations 

 were given in most of the 92 provincial parks and were 

 viewed by more ♦han 150,000 during 1966. 

 WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION 



Workmen's Compensation costs and the number of claims 

 submitted have increased for the fiscal year. The total 

 number of compensable claims was 588, an increase of 21 

 over that for the previous fiscal year. Total cost of Depart- 

 ment claims was $171,315.47, an increase of $26,642,76. 

 Average cost per claim was $159.00, an increase of $41.00 

 per claim. 



Increased costs can be attributed mainly to higher wages 

 being paid in 1966-67, upon which workmen's compensation 

 was computed. Current medical aid and compensation in- 

 creased by $18,928.52. Pensions, and medical aid plus 

 compensation pertaining thereto, increased by $5,567.63. 

 There were 20 high cost claims totalling $43,634.78, account- 

 ing for 53 per cent of the total cost of medical aid and 

 compensation. 



Cost of fire fighting increased by approximately $600.00. 

 A greater number of junior rangers were employed. Injury 

 claims increased by 35, and cost of all junior ranger per- 

 sonnel increased by $6,905.78. 



Average number of employees increased by 461 but .5 per 

 cent fewer employees were injured. 



There was one death in the fiscal year, but the deceased 

 was single and a pension was not required. Three new 

 pensions commenced in the fiscal year and were made 

 retroactive to 1965. 



