I can’t believe this post came so early this year but with the recent dump of snow in Alberta and parts is B.C., we should go over winter driving safety. Good Ol’ Canadian weather eh? I know as Canadians we think we are expert winter drivers but sadly that’s not the case. 30% of all car accidents are snow related. Here are a few reminders to keep you and your vehicle in between the mustard and the mayo and out of the ditch.

Always do your walk around. Check your tires, make sure they are compatible with ice and snow and the tread is safe. Fill up washer fluid, clean your windows and head and tail lights. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination, speeding is a no-no, especially on ice and snow. Depending on how bad the roads are, you may need to go slower than the posted speed limit and that’s okay. Speaking of going slow… If someone in front of you is driving slow, don’t ride their tail end. Slippery conditions make slowing or stopping take way longer, meaning they might be annoying you but when you slam into them it’s your fault, not theirs. Keep your cool and try to be patient, everyone has different levels of experience or familiarity behind the wheel during bad weather. For a flurry of more tips, slide on over to part 2.

Hopefully the time never comes where you have to perform first aid on a coworker. But in the event that you do, bloodborne pathogens should be a huge concern. The more you know the less likely you are to make a life altering mistake, so let’s dive in.

First, it’s good to know that the risk of a bloodborne pathogen transmitting is a small one but definitely not worth gambling with. Not following safety protocol while performing First Aid on a coworker could leave you susceptible to contracting Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.  The likelihood of receiving a needle stick on site is highly unlikely, maybe performing first aid and an EpiPen or insulin is administered but other than that the most common way to transmit while administering first-aid would be a splash. The chances of transmitting from a splash to the eyes or lips or mouth is very low. So, just know if it does happen, your chances of contracting anything are very low and also note that the person receiving first aid has to be infected in order to contract it to you. Every bloodborne pathogen has different levels of the virus in the blood. Hepatitis B ranges from 6% to 30% chance of infection with a cut. Whereas HIV has only 0.3%. Dropping even lower with a splash of blood. That being said, let’s take every precaution so that that number is 0%.

Us trades people aren’t known for our healthy lifestyle and this is a big factor in heart health. With heart attacks on the rise and happening to younger and younger victims, we need to be prepared. Know the signs and what to do if you or a co-worker is having a heart attack.

Heart attacks are not always clutching your chest and falling on the ground. The symptoms can include any of the following: chest pain, discomfort in your stomach, back, upper body, neck and jaw. It’s not always your left arm but discomfort in your arms is a symptom too. Women seem to get discomfort in the jaw more frequently than men. Also look out for nausea, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, inability to sleep and some people get cold sweats. If you suspect that you or a co-worker is having a heart attack, jump into action immediately.

The quicker a heart attack is treated the better chances the victim has of making a recovery. Call first responders… Every site has a different emergency response plan. Whether it’s calling site EMS or 911. Know it and use it. Get the victim off their feet and keep them calm. If possible administer aspirin. Your First Aid kit should have some. If the victim stops breathing, start CPR and continue to do so till paramedics arrive.

Knowing the signs and taking swift action could be what saves your life or a coworker’s life. Never ignore the signs or dismiss someone else’s symptoms. And maybe work on having a healthy lifestyle to try and avoid heart attacks all together.

There is a common misconception that using step ladders are much safer than using an extension ladder or the ladder going to the top of the Highline, right? Wrong! Most falls on site are under 6 feet. Yet workers continue to misuse step ladders. Here are a few key points to make sure you’re not a statistic.

Always do your pre-work inspection. I feel like I say this a hundred times a day but I can’t stress this enough. You don’t know what the last worker did to it or how it was stored, etc, etc. Make sure all the feet of the ladder are secure. Get a coworker to hold it in place for you if you can. Use 3 points of contact. Always face the ladder while on it. Don’t walk down it like stairs. Never stand or sit on the top rung of the ladder. Every site has different standards for what height to tie off at. Make sure you know and follow this.

Make sure to follow the same precautions on a step ladder as any other ladder. Just because you’re not 15 meters up, doesn’t mean you’re safe. So stay safe and follow the rules.

Die grinders are a lifesaver for any apprentice welder, I don’t how I would have gotten through my first and second year without it. At one point my foreman asked me if I was a Welder or a “Grinder”? Thank goodness I got the hang of welding, unfortunately there’s no Red Seal program for grinding. Even though these little grinders are lifesavers, they can also be very hazardous. Take note of a few tips to keep die grinding a helper and not a mishap.

Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Do a pre-work inspection before every use. Make sure the rating of the disc or wheel is compatible with the grinder. Never remove or alter factory guards. Have a good stance, feet shoulder width apart and a good grip. Depending on the wheel, these grinders can have a lot of kick back, that usually heads straight for your face. So be cautious, have long hair tied back and make sure you are wearing all the proper PPE. Don’t forget to make sure you’re in a save environment to grind, no flammables or combustibles.

These grinders are little powerhouses, remember that goes for the injuries they can cause too. So always use caution when handling them. The best way to lower your risk… Is get better at welding, no grinder needed.