Influenza prevention available by pod cast
October 6, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Take seven minutes and learn nine ways to help prevent the spread of influenza viruses this season by tuning into a free podcast provided by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Just one of several free podcasts offered by CCHOS, “Help Prevent the Spread” describes tips for individuals as well as workplaces to use in promoting virus prevention. The podcast can be downloaded and played on computer or MP3 player, making it ideal for playing at safety meetings or for private listening at anytime.
Changing a tire can be life-changing, evenly deadly
September 16, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
The tragic loss of a worker at Suncor Energy Inc’s Millenium Mine Oil Sands site near Fort McMurray AB provides a graphic reminder of the need to ensure workers are trained to do their work safely, including knowing how to work safely with the equipment they must operate. The worker lost his life on August 28 while attempting to change a tire on a Cat 777 heavy hauler. Initial reports indicate the worker was struck by a piece of the rim when the “tire and wheel assembly experienced a rapid deflation event”, as reported in the Canadian OH&S News.
A stop-work order was issued against the worker’s employer, Cow Harbour Construction Ltd., stating the company was “not allowed to do any tire servicing until they have competent workers to conduct that task.”
Read the complete story in the Canadian OH&S News.
In another incident involving the installation of a tire, a Burlington ON worker was critically injured and both he and his employer were fined for not following the manufacturer’s recommended practices. The worker survived this 2007 incident but was recently fined $7,500. His employer was fined $75,000 plus a 25 percent victim fine surcharge.
Read the complete story in the Hamilton Spectator.
CSA makes games out of worker safety training
September 16, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) will soon release a series of online games targeted at improving worker safety training. The games are intended to help workers handle industrial explosions, train derailments, chemical spills and other emergencies and will be available from the CSA website.
For more information, see the story on CBC.
To determine whether the CSA’s new games fit into an effective overall training strategy, LibraSystem™ subscribers can look to the practice for Evaluating Training Needs for guidance.
Employers cannot delegate away safety
September 3, 2009 by jhislop · Comments Off
Just ask Canadian Natural Resources Limited – it’s facing 53 provincial charges for allegedly allowing unsafe work conditions that led to the April 2007 deaths of two foreign workers and injuries to five others, even though the workers were employed by a subcontractor.
According to an August 25 story in the Financial Post, the subcontractor, SSEC Canada Ltd. and its parent company, Sinopec Shanghai Engineering Co. Ltd. are also charged in the incident in which structures collapsed in two tanks the workers were building at CNRL’s Horizons Oil Sands project. Problems locating a Canadian representative for Sinopec have so far prevented Alberta Occupational Health and Safety from serving notice on Sinopec. In addition, CNRL has provided more than $3 million in trust to the Alberta government to cover wages that were never paid by the Chinese employer to the foreign workers it brought in for the project.
Read the complete story in the Financial Post.
LibraSystem™ subscribers will find guidance for effectively assigning responsibility for safety under the practice for Prime Contractors.
Investing in worker safety much cheaper than paying penalties
September 3, 2009 by jhislop · Comments Off
After being fined more than $80,000 each, companies in Winnipeg MB and Oakville ON have learned first hand how much cheaper it is to provide for worker safety than to pay the penalties for not complying with occupational health and safety requirements.
A Winnipeg-area landscaping company was recently fined $80,550 for “failing to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all [its] workers,” a violation of section 4(1)(a) of the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA). In a 2006 incident, a worker died when he was crushed by the heavy equipment he was operating.
See the complete story in OHS Canada News.
In Oakville, a company that makes edible oil products was recently fined more than $80,000 after pleading guilty to failing to have an adequate system of signals for tanker-trailer drivers. In a 2008 incident, a worker suffered serious arm and leg injuries when he was run over by the tank truck he’d been loading with oil.
See the complete story on CTV.ca.
For a clear understanding of employer responsibilities for protecting workers, LibraSystem™ subscribers should review the practice for Exercising Due Diligence.
Young worker’s death prompts safety bulletin
September 1, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Failure to depressurize oilfield piping following a pressure test resulted in the tragic death of a young worker in BC. Through a new hazard alert, WorkSafe BC reminds industry of the need for written safe work procedures as well as proper orientations, training and supervision of young workers.
Read the complete bulletin on the WorkSafe BC website.
BC contractors not meeting FRC requirements
September 1, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Not all contractors in the drilling and well servicing sector are meeting BC OHS Regulation requirements for providing fire retardant clothing (FRC) to workers. The deficiency was identifed in discussions between employers and WorkSafe BC which has issued an OHS Regulation Compliance Alert to remind industry of the requirements under BC OHS Regulations and the BC Workers Compensation Act.
While workers are required to equip themselves with safety footwear, general purpose gloves, safety headgear and clothing that protects them against natural elements, they are not required to provide their own FRCs. Under BC legislation, responsibility for providing and maintaining FRCs rests with employers.
To read the complete bulletin, check the WorkSafe BC website.
Subscribers to the LibraSystem™ for Health, Safety and Environmental Management will find these requirements highlighted in an upcoming update to our safe work practice for Personal Protective and Safety Equipment.