The Importance of Reporting Incidents

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No matter how small you may think an incident is, you need to report it. This isn’t you being a “company worker” or a “rat”. This is you looking out for yourself and your coworkers. There is a misconception that you will be fired upon reporting an incident. However, you will be more likely to be let go if your employer finds out later that you hid the incident and didn’t report it. Not only does your employer have a legal obligation to report all injuries (anything more than on site first aid) to the Worker Compensation Board within 72 hours of it happening, but the quicker your case is sent in, the quicker you will see compensation, if you need it. Even if you think it’s something small, and you don’t report it and it turns out to be a serious injury, WCB will not receive claims in Alberta after 24 months. Even then, there has to be certain circumstances that they will allow a claim that long after an injury. So by reporting any injuries, you are covering your own butt and making sure you’re at least covered by WCB if things go sideways. Not to mention, reporting near misses and incidents is how we learn. Sadly people had to fall from heights to make fall protection the standard, workers lost their eyesight to make safety glasses mandatory and so on and so on. So you reporting an incident could ensure an investigation that leads to the problem being solved; thereby, saving the next worker from injury or death. If that’s not looking out for your work buddies, I don’t know what it is.

Safety Training

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Training isn’t just to show you the ropes when it comes to your trade, how to hammer a nail, tighten a bolt, or bend some tubing. Safety is a huge part of your job too.  Safety training provides us with opportunities to learn from the mistakes of others. We all need to learn the safe way to do our daily tasks. You may be the most skilled worker at a specific task, but if you take risks and put yourself or others in danger, those keen skills may never see the light of day. Safety training, safe work procedures, and safety programs are the reason we all get to go home to our families every night. It’s the reason we get to work our entire careers until we retire, instead of trying to make ends meet with disability cheques because of an injury. It’s the reason we know our rights as an employee and what we can expect from our employers. Without proper safety training, situations like this cartoon would be an everyday occurrence. So, I guess what I’m saying is, safety training and programs are increasing the life expectancy of us trades people.  We are living longer than 30, 20 or even 10 years ago. So, let’s make sure we have all the training we need to do our trade safely, keep up-to-date on new innovations, and keep a good attitude when it comes to safety training. And please for love of all things good, do not risk your life for your job. Don’t be Mr. Red Hat. 🙄

Anti Bullying

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Be sure to remain vigilant and report workplace harassment if you see it. No one should be afraid to come to work for fear of bullying from another co-worker.

Spring Melt Down – Part 2

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Potholes are inevitable in these parts of the country. Spring is when all the new ones make their debut. Also, these pesky annoyances usually don’t get repaired until summer, so we need to deal with them for the next few months. It may feel like you’re in a boxing match with all the bobbing and weaving you’ll be doing while trying to avoid them. Sadly, that’s all you really can do. Only avoid them where you can, safely. Yes, I know they cause damage to your car but so does an accident with another vehicle. So be very cautious that you are not swerving into oncoming traffic or sideswiping another vehicle.

This time of year you also want to make sure your vehicle is in tip top shape even if it’s a company vehicle. I’d recommend a good check on your entire vehicle. Our winters are just as harsh on our vehicles as they are on us. Check your tires, brakes, wipers and make sure all your fluids are topped up. I’d also suggest having an extra washer fluid in the trunk. With muddy conditions you can go through washer fluid super fast and definitely don’t want to be driving like Ace Ventura just so you can see.

Now, I know once the roads don’t have snow, lots of us get the urge to crack the window, turn the music up and hit that gas pedal. This is such a bad idea for so many reasons.
1- Speeding causes around a quarter of all traffic fatalities and also according to the Canadian Association of Chief of Police, speed is the cause of 19% of serious injuries.
2- It can cost you a ton of cash and demerits.
3- If you’re in a company vehicle, you may lose your job.
So save your Mario Andretti moves for video games.

By this time every year, we are all over winter and look forward to spring. It seriously can’t come quickly enough. While you enjoy the warmer air and that great smell of spring while driving with your windows finally down, just remember all the hazards you could face and be prepared.

Spring Melt Down – Part 1

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Yay! It’s almost March. That means rain showers, Easter and spring are right around the corner. I know living in these frigid temperatures, covered in snow, it’s hard to image flowers and the Easter bunny but they are on their way… I promise. As magical as spring sounds, a change in the season can come with a lot of hazards especially when it comes to the roads. Most of the time when we think of bad road conditions, we think of winter. However, spring can cause hazards on the roads as well. Things we need to watch out for are pot holes, rain (that can feel like a torrential downpour), black ice, slush, and that  “snow is gone” feeling of wanting to go fast. Here are a few tips to keep you riding smoothly.

Between melting snow and spring downpour, the roads are constantly slushy and wet, making them extremely slippery. So take your time and keep your distance from other vehicles. Even if you are taking all the precautions for slippery roads, don’t forget that huge puddles could have monstrous potholes lurking under them.  Wet roads can also cause hydroplaning. Watch out for slushy ruts too, they can cause steering hazards. So make sure you have good tires and are always paying attention. Even though winter may be coming to an end, it doesn’t mean that black ice is gone too. With all the melting and freezing again, the roads can be covered in it… So beware on those cold days. Come back tomorrow and we’ll dive into the most hated road hazard of all… Potholes!

Rescue Planning

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This cartoon is a great reminder why rescue planning is so important. Some of us work at heights every day and can become complacent. We know our harness is on perfectly, we have calculated our free fall distance and minimum clearance, and tied off to a T. However, without doing frequent rescues and retrievals (thank goodness) we can forget some really important factors that could impede all of our hard work at staying safe. So after days, weeks, months and even years of safely working at heights, we may not do a detailed rescue plan, or one at all. Why is this important if we are working safely anyway? Because things happen, humans make mistakes. Having a co-worker dangling in their harness is not the time to make a rescue plan. According to Alberta’s Guide to the OH&S Code: “the suspended worker may lose consciousness in as few as five minutes”.   OSHA notes in their Safety Bulletin on Suspension Trauma: “Research indicates that suspension in a fall arrest device can result in unconsciousness, followed by death, in less than 30 minutes”.  So when someone falls, the rescue needs to start immediately. You cannot waste time figuring out what to do. The hanging worker could lose limbs or even die if they are left up there too long. No worker should be left alone while working at heights. Even if they have a radio or cell. How would they make that call if they are knocked out? Every rescue is different. Every time your job or task changes so does the rescue plan. These are factors you need to consider with every task at heights. A rescue plan isn’t something you do only when you’re working in unfamiliar territory, it’s something you and your partner or crew do every day. Don’t just copy it from the day before, point out new hazards, talk about the risks. Do your best to be safe but always plan for the worst.

Laser Safety

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Depending on what trade you work and what task you’re working on, lasers can help get the most accurate measurement in half the time. No more dirty caulk covered plum bob, grab a laser, turn it on and presto, you’re good to go. These types of lasers have made our lives so much easier, from measuring to cutting, but they do come with a serious hazard, that no one really talks about. So let’s dive in.

All lasers are an “amplified” light source. This light is so amplified that it can cause permanent vision loss and third degree burns. There are different classes of lasers and you need to know exactly which class you’re working with. Some classes will need extra training. The lowest power lasers are class 1 and 2. These lasers will not harm in normal working conditions. They are not strong enough to burn your skin and your blink reflex will occur before any damage is done to your eye. However, taking a bet on how long you can stare into the laser would definitely not be advised. You will cause damage. The medium powered lasers are class 3R and these ones can cause some serious injuries if focused directly into the eye. Don’t forget that reflections of the laser bouncing into your eye or a co-worker’s eye can still cause damage. The most high powered laser you may come across on site is class 3B and 4. To use these lasers, you will need extra training and a trained laser safety officer to guide the way…..and for good reason! These high powered lasers can cause all sorts of injuries. From permanent vision loss, third-degree burns all the way to actually severing a limb! Yes, you heard that right, some class 4 lasers can cut parts of you clean off.

Always know what class of laser you are working with, the hazards associated with it and have the proper training. Use your JHA’s to identify all the hazards. Post warning signage to alert other workers not to enter when higher powered lasers are in use and of course wear the proper PPE. Lasers can be so helpful, so follow the proper protocol to keep them helpful and not a hazard.

Timing is Everything

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When we think of hazard assessment, we think of JHA’s or FLRA’s. We usually do them in the morning for our days work and then feel done with them for the day. However; that’s not the case. We need to be doing them all day with the change of task or conditions. If you see a hazard, add it to your hazard assessment and take action. Keep your coworkers in the loop. Hazards don’t just stop in the morning when you finish your assessment. So keep your head up and communicate with other workers. No one wants to end up like Mr. Yellow hat. 😬

Happy Family Day

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Happy Family day everyone! We hope you get to enjoy this day with all your loved ones, reminding you of why you work safe every day. Making the decision to take the time and effort to do your tasks safely, doesn’t just make you a great worker, it makes you a great Mom, Dad, son, daughter, brother and sister. Thinking of a life where you couldn’t play catch or dress up with your children, annoy your siblings or make your parents proud is a tough thought and easily avoided by making the right choice to be safe; always. So take this day and enjoy every minute of it! Press the reset button and head back to work tomorrow with a positive outlook on safety and work, not just for you but all your loved ones as well.

Three Points of Contact

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We all know that 3 points of contact must be maintained while climbing a ladder. Yet workers commonly break this basic rule. I mean let’s be honest… I’ve done it. I also lost my footing once while using one of my hands to carry a bucket full of tools (I know right? I was a second year, trying to show off). I almost bit the dust and it scared the bejesus out of me. So this is why we have safety talks, so you can learn from my mistakes. So when we say “Always maintain 3 points of contact”, we mean ALWAYS and we mean feet and hands. If you have a hair touching the ladder… that does not count! You should never be carrying anything up a ladder, not only are you more than likely not able to have your 3 points of contact but you could also drop what you are carrying. Use a pulley system to get your tools up high and always maintain 3 points of contact!