Workforce Safety Blog
Pedestrian Safety
The Government of Alberta through the office of Traffic Safety, Alberta Transportation and the Traffic Safety Plan Communications Committee have assessed driving topics that may prevent injury and fatalities on our roads. The topic for November is Pedestrian Safety. The following is from Saferoads (http://www.saferoads.com/pdf/Comm_Res_Toolkit_2011.pdf#page=45) website:
Both drivers and pedestrians are responsible for safety. Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks, but pedestrians also have the responsibility to cross safely. From 2005 to 2009, on average each year in Alberta, more than 40 pedestrians were killed and over 1250 were injured.
Facts to Know
- Don’t assume drivers see you and will stop. Always be cautious and watch for vehicles that are not stopping.
- Be visible. More pedestrian collisions occur during months of low light conditions. Wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight!
- Pay attention! Remove headphones; put away cell phones or other electronic devices when crossing the street.
- Walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk off the road, facing traffic, staying as far away from the vehicles as possible.
- Pedestrian injuries are the third leading cause of injury-related death for children under 14 years of age.
- Alcohol is often a factor in serious pedestrian collisions. On average over one-third of pedestrians in fatal crashes and 15 per cent in injury crashes had consumed alcohol prior to the collision.
EnForm’s New MECOR (Medium Employer Certificate of Recognition)
Did You Know: EnForm is making it easier to make the transition from a Small Employer (10 or less employees) to a large employer while still maintaining your Certificate of Recognition and improving your Safety program to meet the needs of a larger workforce. Please see the diagram below for more information on this transition process.
Practice Ladder Safety When Hanging Christmas Lights
Christmas Safety Tip: when hanging Christmas lights this season, use an extension ladder to reach those lofty peaks. Regular ladders perched in the bed of your pick-up truck to gain additional height, for example, are ripe for accidents. Statistics on lost-time injuries list approximately 1,500 accidents per year in Canada involving ladders.
A Reminder to SECOR and COR Certified Companies
Your Recertification Audits (every 3 years) must be completed by the expiry date your certificate. We recommend that the audit is completed with enough time to obtain your new certificate prior to the expiry of the old one. By doing this you will not go out of compliance in any Safety Registry that you are signed up for.
All internal audits must completed prior to December 31 each year and be received by your Certifying Partner within 45 days of the completion date. All COR certificates must be in good standing on December 31 in order for your company to qualify for a PIR rebate for the new year.
PICS – A New Registry for Canadian Contractors
PICS has been around for nearly a decade, but has recently been invited into Canada by Suncor. PICS offers easy access to Safety Professionals (PICS Auditors) who are available or will get back to you concerning your Safety Audit and Concern.
If you have been asked to sign up for PICS Auditing and would like assistance entering your information (from scratch or transferring from another registry), please contact us. We can also assist with any Safety Manual upgrades that may be required to become approved by PICS and the Owner Clients you are working for.
Visit our website to see how we can assist you.
Distracted Driving Legislation
The new Distracted Driving Legislation (Bill 16) has been in force in Alberta for just over 3 weeks now. I have been hearing a bit of confusion about the strictness of the legislation, the following answers were found on the Government of Alberta’s Transportation Website (http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/distracteddriving.htm)
What activities are not allowed while driving?
• talking on a hand-held cell phone
• texting/e-mailing
• using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays and programming portable audio players (e.g., mp3 players)
• manually entering information on GPS units
• reading printed material like a book or a magazine
• writing, printing or sketching
• personal grooming like combing your hair, applying makeup or brushing your teeth
• using a 2-way radio or what is commonly referred to as a CB (Citizen’s Band) radio (some exemptions apply)
What activities are allowed?
We are not talking about penalizing drivers for taking a sip of coffee, chatting with passengers or blowing their nose. We are talking about drivers who decide to put themselves and others at risk by watching movies, browsing for and downloading ‘apps’, applying makeup or shaving all while trying to navigate through traffic.
These activities are not specifically restricted under the law:
• using a cell phone in hands-free mode – this means the device is not held in the driver’s hand and is activated by voice or a single touch to the device
• using an earphone — if it is used in a hands-free or voice-activated manner
• drinking beverages, such as coffee, water or pop
• eating a snack
• smoking
• talking with passengers
• listening to a portable audio player – as long as it is set up before you begin driving
• using the following:
• a GPS navigation system – as long as the system is affixed to the vehicle and programmed before you begin driving or the system is voice activated. You cannot hold the unit or manually enter information while driving
• a collision avoidance system
• a gauge, instrument, device or system that provides information about the vehicle’s systems or the vehicle’s location
• a dispatch system for transporting passengers
• a logistical transportation tracking system that tracks vehicle location, driver status or the delivery of goods for commercial purposes
• calling emergency services, such as 911 with a hand-held cell phone
• using 2-way radios or hand-held radios, such as those commonly referred to as CB (Citizen’s Band) radios, when escorting oversized vehicles, to contact one’s employer, or when participating in search, rescue and emergency management situations.
One additional piece of information I thought was interesting was the answer to Can I park on the shoulder of a highway to make a call? The following is the answer provided by the Province:
On provincial highways, outside of an urban area, section 43 of the Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation applies and vehicles are not permitted to park on the shoulder of a provincial highway except in an emergency. This is also for safety. If you have to make a phone call, do so at a rest area, or when you stop for gas or for a bathroom break. Alternately, have your passenger make the call.
Provincial highways are typically numbered roadways (e.g., Highway 2), but they may also be known by other names (e.g., Queen Elizabeth II or the Trans-Canada Highway). Municipal parking bylaws vary from place to place. You will need to consider the parking bylaws for that area before pulling over.
Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2011: Bringing Attention to a Common Workplace Safety Hazard
The workplace can be home to numerous unknown safety hazards, some of which are known to pose a risk across a number of different occupations and work environments. For most of the 20th century, asbestos was readily used as a common and versatile material in a number of products, especially as a insulator. This material was used in a number of different workplace environments such as military bases, power plants, and many other workplace areas.
Once a link between mesothelioma cancer and asbestos exposure was identified in the late 1900’s, use of these materials started to drop heavily. Still, even with businesses and work environments not using asbestos materials any longer, the disease’s impact would be felt for years to come.
This form of cancer involves tumors within the lining of the abdomen, lungs and heart known as the mesothelium. Perhaps the most frightening aspect of this disease involves its extremely long latency period, as symptoms of mesothelioma arising decades after an original exposure to asbestos. This long gap makes mesothelioma life expectancy very low, often averaging between four and 18 months after diagnosis. With this latency period often lasting up to 50 years, the importance in keeping awareness and knowledge of this disease remains a top priority today.
September 26, 2011 is currently designated as National Mesothelioma Awareness Day and has been set forth to increase both funding and knowledge involved with this deadly form of cancer. With up to 3,000 Americans being diagnosed per year, keeping high amounts of awareness and funding is greatly important in the battle against mesothelioma. Even with use of asbestos being nowhere near where it was in the past, it is estimated that over a million workers could still run the risk of exposure in 2011.
Congress has set aside this day as an opportunity to help the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation for the eighth year. [The Canadian Society of Asbestos Victims (CanSAV) encourages Canadians to contact their local, provincial and federal governments and urges them to recognize Mesothelioma Awareness Day.]
Some of the prime topics tied to this year’s events will include discussion on the aftermath of major events including 9/11, as well as the predicted increase in diagnoses of mesothelioma in the future. Calling attention to this deadly form of cancer will only serve to help people stay more informed on a dangerous hazard that’s had major affect on thousands of workers over the years.
Written by: Rachel Jones
Looking for MSDS Sheets?
You are required maintain a record of all hazardous substances that are used, produced, handled, or stored at the workplace. Each of these substances on the list must have valid material safety data sheet (MSDS) available to workers before and while they are using the product. A MSDS must be prepared for a controlled product produced or made at a work site and obtained for all commercial products used at a work site. The MSDS’s must be in a form that is easy to handle and be readily available at a work site (including mobile work sites) to workers who may be exposed to a controlled product.
All MSDS must be the most up to date copy available, in English & French (where required) and no more than 3 years old. Workers must be trained in the information on the MSDS before initial use of the product; this should be reviewed with the workers periodically.
As a company, if you are creating the hazardous product it is your responsibility to create an MSDS.
If you are purchasing the product, the supplier must supply the MSDS to you… Just ask. If they do not have the MSDS attached to the product, call the supplier and they should be able to email or fax the information immediately.
Compliance with Workplace Hazardous Information Material System (WHMIS) legislation may be inspected/addressed by your Clients or OHS officers at any time.
Safety Registries Keeping Companies Working
Safety registries including ISNetworld®, ComplyWorks, PICS Auditing and CanQual get a fair share of negative press, especially from smaller companies required to maintain all 4 registries. Although as safety consultants we hear how much work these registries can be, we also hear great stories of how small and large companies acquired work contracts after being found on the databases. Workforce Compliance Safety can assist with the daily, monthly, and yearly maintenance of these accounts. And the good news is that if you are on multiple registries it does not cost you anymore for us to stay on top of all the requirements for you.
Free Posters
If a poster sits in one spot on the wall for 5 years do you think your workers are seeing the message? Likely not. People notice new posters, even if they have just been moved around. Safety Posters are a great way to get your workers thinking about safety.
Don’t let Safety Consulting companies SELL you posters you can get for free…
Please go to the following links and print the posters or get them sent to you:
- http://employment.alberta.ca/SFW/262.html
- http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications/StartSafe-Forklifts.asp
- http://www.worksafesask.ca/WorkSafe-Posters
