Day 127 - 23 May 95 - Page 63


     
     1
     2   Q.   That is the figure for 199 ----
     3        A.  1994.
     4
     5   Q.   It is one we do not have at the moment in our papers.  Then
     6        again two pages on from that: "Who to interview."  In the
     7        middle of the page in capital letters: ""Remember to
     8        explain it all interviewees that the purpose of the
     9        interview is not to apportion blame but to prevent
    10        recurrence."  Mrs. Barnes, I wonder if I am right, one
    11        reason for that might be that you are likely to get a
    12        fuller account from the interviewee if he thinks he is not
    13        under pressure of disciplinary threat or something like
    14        that?
    15        A.  You are correct.
    16
    17   Q.   Is that right?
    18        A.  Yes.
    19
    20   Q.   Can we turn, please, to 57M in this file which are the
    21        statistics which you have supplied us with.  Can I ask you,
    22        there are three sheets: the first total numbers for 1991,
    23        1992 and 1993, and then there are some two further sheets,
    24        one being place of accident and one dealing with type of
    25        accident?
    26        A.  Yes.
    27
    28   Q.   Something akin to but not obviously identical with what we
    29        saw in the American McDonald's Training Manual?
    30        A.  Well, yes.
    31
    32   Q.   Can we look at the totals: For 1991 we see there were 335
    33        notifiable reportable accidents, right?
    34        A.  Yes.
    35
    36   Q.   1992 there was a small rise to 344, yes?
    37        A.  Yes.
    38
    39   Q.   In the period 1991/1992 did the number of restaurants
    40        increase?
    41        A.  It increased by around about 40.
    42
    43   Q.   Right, so in fact the upward graph for the increase in
    44        restaurants looks as though it outstripped the one for
    45        increasing accidents?
    46        A.  It did that year, yes.
    47
    48   Q.   Now we come to a blip or black spot because there was a
    49        leap of 56 between 1992 and 1993, do you see that?
    50        A.  I do, yes. 
    51 
    52   Q.   What is your explanation for that sudden increase? 
    53        A.  I would like to think it was me really!
    54
    55   Q.   You?
    56        A.  In terms of around about that time I had been in place
    57        a little while and certainly awareness of safety and safety
    58        being talked about had increased.  Any safety professional
    59        would tell you that as safety awareness increases the
    60        apparent number of accidents will increase, whereas really

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