GET COMPLIANT - Safety Meeting Topics

Safety Notices

6/7/2021

These are grim, but important reminders to always work safe.

Type: Struck by Object

Incident Summary:

Two workers were loading concrete blocks onto a flatbed truck for transport using a loader. One worker connected the hoisting chain from the loader’s forks to a concrete block. The second worker was operating the loader and proceeded to lift the concrete block. The concrete block swung, striking the worker who had connected the chains, causing fatal injuries.
Safety Reminders:

Identify existing and potential hazards before work begins.
Ensure workers use tag lines when moving suspended loads so they are removed from the line of fire of the load and the powered mobile equipment.

Safety Resources:

Vehicles as work sites...

5/12/2021

Did you know that your vehicle can be considered a work site?

If and when a vehicle is used on a work site (ex. you used it to deliver materials to a job site), the vehicle becomes categorized as 'work site equipment', and a hazard assessment should be completed to determine appropriate controls.

Secondly, if a worker is dispatched by their employer and it includes driving, OHS classifies that activity as driving for work. Of course driving to and from work is not considered "a work site" and is not included in OHS's jurisdiction.

For more information, or to create a toolbox talk on this subject, please contact us!

start health and safety conversations at work

3/8/2021

Incidents
Below are summaries of selected work-related serious injuries and incidents recently reported to Alberta OHS. Each incident resulted in a worker being admitted to hospital.

Use these incidents as a way to start health and safety conversations in your workplace.

Struck by gate -- A worker was loading cattle through a gate and into a trailer when one of the cows kicked the gate. The gate swung and struck the worker in the head. Agriculture and forestry.
Caught in drill -- A worker was operating a drill when their glove got pulled into the machine, injuring the worker’s hand. Mining and petroleum development.
Ankle injuries -- A worker made contact with the moving track of a skid steer resulting in an injury to their ankle. Construction and construction trades.

Have a great week and keep it safe! Jodi

Working safe during spring thaw

3/2/2021

Everyone welcomes Spring, but it is important to monitor and be aware of unique hazards during Spring, and have programs and controls in place for these hazards.

Hazards include:

- Unpredictable weather. This can include freezing rain or slippery conditions especially in the evenings, overnight or mornings. Outdoor workers should be aware of this and have controls in place to guard against slips and falls.
- Spring thaw and water levels. Work places should guard against standing water hazards, and be prepared especially around entries and exits for staff and visitors.
- Slips, trips and falls. Scan parking lots for fall hazards, ensure entry and exists are clear and not frozen over and those businesses with retail traffic must take extra pre-caution for customers.
- Sun hazards. The sun in April is no safer than the sun July, so have a sun exposure policy in place for outdoor workers, and be sure to practice good hazard control habits such as breaks, water, and shade.

Working in the cold -- reminders

2/5/2021

With extreme temperatures moving into Alberta this week, remind your staff to take precautions working outdoors, even for short periods of time.

Safety reminders:

Wear warm head covering.
Layer clothing to allow sweat to escape and trap heat.
Protect hands and feet. Wear waterproof boots and always wear gloves or mittens.
Pace any vigorous work with scheduled breaks away from the cold. Fatigue is a risk factor in the cold.
Stay hydrated. Limit the amount of coffee or tea and (always) avoid alcohol.
When possible, heat the working environment. For example, heated shelters help protect construction workers from cold and damp environments.

For those companies with trucks and vehicles withe employee drivers, remember as an employer you should:
Develop winter driving safe work procedures and a safety policy
Communicate with workers about winter driving safety
Monitor and evaluate winter driving practices

If you need help with any of these topics please let us know, so we can assist you.

Assess the hazards, address the hazards, and stay safe!

COVID-19 AN ISSUE IN COMMON AREAS AT WORK

1/18/2021

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) incident monitoring shows an increase in COVID-19 exposure with the failure of controls in workplace common areas.

What can you do?
Have your safety representative conduct a hazard assessment and control to consider things like:

the size of the area
the number of people using the area
how people move through the area
high touch surface

When a hazard cannot be eliminated, it needs to be controlled.
Be sure to follow the standardized hierarchy of controls that must be followed:
1. first choice – engineering controls (e.g. plexiglass barriers) 2. second choice – administrative controls (e.g. staggering break times) 3. third choice – personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g. gloves, face shields, respirators).

Don't forget, all employers need to have procedures for rapid response if or when workers show symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.

Alberta declares public state of emergency

11/25/2020

Are you and your business compliant?

Mandatory restriction – Effective Nov. 27
Businesses that are closed for in-person service include:

Banquet halls, conference centres, trade shows, auditoria and concert venues, non-approved/licensed markets, community centres
Children’s play places or indoor playgrounds
All levels of sport (professional, semi-professional, junior, collegiate/universities and amateur). Exemptions may be considered.

EnforcementIf you violate a public health order, you may be subject to a $1,000 fine. Additionally, you can be prosecuted for up to $100,000 for a first offense.

We can help protect you and your business with simple measures to ensure you are comlying with government regulation and standards. OH&S officers are now doing random checks on compliance, so you need to be prepared to show you are doing your part to combat COVID-19 and adhering to the rules.

Stay informed - relaunch guidance

7/23/2020

Masks becoming mandatory...

Stay up-to-date on what you and your business can do to stay safe, and ensure compliance with the recommended best-practices from the Province of Alberta.

COVID-19 can be spread by infected individuals who have not yet, or who may never develop symptoms. Masks, including homemade cloth masks or non-medical face masks, are another way to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 in areas where physical distancing (2 metres distance between individuals) may be challenging or not possible.

For more information, follow the link:
COVID-19 information:guidance for wearing non-medical masks

Respiratory virus and the workplace

7/7/2020

Working alone

7/6/2020

Simply put, working alone is defined by CCOHS as, "when they are on their own; when they cannot be seen or heard by another person."

While working alone isn't always a problem, it can be when high risk activities are being completed. This includes:

At heights.
In confined spaces (such as tanks, grain bins or elevators, culverts, etc.).
With electricity or other forms of hazardous energy.
With hazardous products.
With hazardous equipment such as chainsaws or firearms.
With the public, where there is a potential for violence.

For more information visit:
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/workingalone.html

6 Important Tips to Stay Safe When Working Alone

Wear protective equipment- Hard hats, gloves, goggles, reinforced-toe boots and other equipment may be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time but they exist for a reason: Your protection. When you’re working alone, wear all the protective gear necessary to ensure your safety. If you don’t, you could injure yourself and remember, you’re alone so it could take some time before someone comes to your rescue.
Take note of your surroundings - When you arrive at your destination, especially if it’s somewhere you’ve never been, take stock of what’s around you. Whether you’re visiting a client’s home or heading to an unfamiliar environment, taking note of your surroundings will keep you safe. If there’s something out of the ordinary you’ll be able to stop it right away and remove yourself from danger. Furthermore, you should know where the exits are. Should something happen and you need to get out of harm’s way quickly, knowing where the exits are will save you time and in severe cases, your life.
Do not misuse equipment - If you’re not sure how to use a piece of equipment, don’t try. When you’re working alone and operating heavy machinery and other potentially dangerous equipment, you should know how it works, what it does and how to properly use it. If you don’t, you could risk injury.
Report all on-the-job injuries - Every injury from small cuts and scrapes to broken limbs need to be reported to your employer immediately. You may think a scrape isn’t a big deal but to your employer it means that something is getting in the way of your safety. Remember that you’re alone and this time it’s only a scrape, next time it could be a broken leg.
Keep first-aid materials handy - First aid kids and other life saving materials need to be within your reach when you’re working alone. You should be able to get to them in an emergency, especially since it could be some time before help arrives.
Check in - If your employer has not implemented a check-in system, you should bring this to their attention immediately. Most alarm and protection companies offer check-in systems for lone workers. These check-ins can be done through an app, on the phone, over radio – basically, however you need it to be done and at whatever intervals necessary. Check-ins help your employer know that you are safe when you arrive at a job site, during your workday and that you arrived at home safely after you’re done.