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Be alert, avoid unnecessary trips

Maker Federal Advisory Committee On Waterfront Accident Prevention

Date1961-1991

Object number00016526

NamePoster

MediumColoured offset lithographic print on paper

DimensionsOverall: 560 x 430 mm

ClassificationsPosters and postcards

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Association of Employers of Waterside Labour

Terms

DescriptionSafety poster reading 'BE ALERT! avoid unneccessary TRIPS'. Issued by the Federal Advisory Committee on Waterfront Accident Prevention, Australia, and used by the Association of Employers of Waterside Labour. Image depicts a worker reading a newspaper while walking in front of a fork lift.HistoryThe poster, one of a larger collection, shows the work of stevedores and the dangers it involved. Most of the posters were produced by the Association of Employers of Waterside Labour. The Association was formed in 1961 by stevedoring companies throughout Australia and at its peak had about 60 companies as members. The original objectives of the Association were to address safety issues within the stevedoring industry. They provided safety training in occupational health and safety, established safety committees in 15 ports and established centralised accident recording. The role expanded to also include skills training. The Association was funded by employers but saw itself having an independent role, including monitoring safety performance. According to the Association, the stevedoring industry had a poor occupational health and safety record when compared to general industry. The record does, however, compare more favourably with those of other heavy industries. The concepts for the posters were developed by staff at the Association and the artwork and printing were produced by contractors. In the 1960s, every berth had a poster box and the posters were produced to a uniform size so they could be exhibited in those boxes. Many posters were issued in response to individual accidents or rises in the number of accidents. Some posters were issued up to seven times while others may have been issued once only.SignificanceIn the 1960s every wharf had a poster box to display safety warnings like this one. Produced by the Shipowners Accident Prevention Organisation, they were graphic evidence of the work of stevedores and the technology and safety hazards which it involved.