Poor air quality can be harmful to your health, especially for children, older adults, and those with heart and lung conditions.

When there is an air quality advisory in your area, officials may recommend that you keep your windows closed and stay indoors. When your windows are closed, and the air conditioner is off (or you don’t have one), you will need to take special care to stay cool. Here are a few tips to keep cool indoors:

-Keep the blinds closed while the sun is up.
-Install an air conditioner (recommended with a health efficiency particulate air filter).
-Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic beverages.
-Place a bowl of ice in front of a fan to create a cool breeze.
-Avoid using the oven and instead cook on the stovetop.
-Do any physical activity in the cooler morning or evening hours.
-Spend time in the cooler rooms of your home, like a basement.
-Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
-Take a cool shower or bath.

Staying inside during summer is not ideal, so make the best of it. Take the time to read a book, do some house work, play a board game or enjoy a movie.

Many of the checks that exist in workplace safety culture emphasise the imperative role of supervision in the workplace in ensuring wokers’ safety. However, is the industry doing enough to safeguard the wellbeing of the many employees across the province who work alone? Statistics from international market researcher Berg Insight reveal that 53 million individuals work alone in Canada, the US and Europe.

It is unsurprising that according to research, workers who work night shifts, or shifts completely alone, are at a far greater risk of injury and death. Organisations are required to conduct safety risk assessments to examine potential workplace incidents for lone workers. Risks should then be prioritised based on the likelihood of this risk occurring, and how serious the consequences would be if this risk did occur. It is recommended that employees are involved in identifying the risks associated with their work, and in coming up with plans on how these risks can be mitigated.

Working Alone Plans are mandated in part 28 of the Occupational Health and Safety code in Alberta. Plans should be established between workers and supervisors and should specify tasks which are to be completed and the appropriate PPE for completing these tasks. Furthermore, these plans should ensure that employees have been provided with appropriate training for the tasks being completed, and should schedule and designate check ins during this time. Abiding strictly by scheduled check in times allows for alerts to be raised if a worker fails to check in.

In 2012, there were 977 workplace-related fatalities in Canada. Many of these deaths were caused by motor vehicles and machines. The most dangerous industries in terms of fatalities include construction industries, manufacturing, government services, transportation and storage, mining, quarrying and oil wells. Concerningly these industries, particularly transportation and mining, frequently require not only lone working, but also work with vehicles and machines. This puts these lone workers at a particularly high risk of injury or fatality.

However it’s not just the risk of injury or death which is a concern for those working alone. The risk of stress and emotional trauma must also be considered for these workers. Isolation can be as dangerous as the risks presented by machinery and vehicle use. Social connection has been linked to long-term wellbeing and health indicators, as well as with revenue and productivity in the work place. Furthermore, psychologists have identified that pervasive and ongoing loneliness can have a serious and detrimental effect on individuals’ mental and physical health. Although they are less easily quantified or managed via controls, these insidious and long-term risks should also be considered by employers who require their employees to consistently work alone.

It is evident that this vulnerable portion of our work force needs controls which cater to their specific needs. Employers should involve their workers in a comprehensive examination of workplace conditions to mitigate risks related not only to injury or fatalities in the workplace, but also to safeguard against the dangers of feeling vulnerable, stressed or alone at work.

In a recent conference, I listened to Todd Hirsch speak about “Spiders in Space.” He spoke about how spiders that were brought into space eventually adapted to zero gravity and were able to create a web to catch a fly and survive. He then spoke about people and companies who have seen success by adapting to a changing environment. His session has stuck with me, as I am seeing the health & safety practice go through its largest adaptation in decades: the move from paper to software and mobile based solutions.

If you are a progressive leader who is constantly searching for the next program or process to streamline your Health and Safety Management System, you likely fit the mold of Todd Hirsh’s “Spiders in Space.” As a Health & Safety Auditor, I see technology simplifying and improving Health and Safety Management systems every day. I can easily say that, because when it comes to monitoring all aspects of a management system for the purposes of accountability, tracking & trending, and driving employee participation, technology has revolutionized the practice.

In particular, mobile technologies are proving to enhance a worker’s experience with Health and Safety Management systems. The convenience of submitting an incident report, hazard ID, or inspection on your phone is unparalleled, thereby encouraging further worker participation.

Where does this leave you in the equation? Are you pushing senior management to support a move in this direction? Are you already using a sophisticated software to manage your Health & Safety Management System processes? Or are you a practitioner who refuses to change? I am a heavy supporter of technology in Health and Safety. The positive outcomes of companies who effectively use technology to run their Health & Safety Management Systems are numerous. To name a few:

• Increased ability to supervise, mentor, and coach staff due to time savings and efficiencies,
• Holding management, supervisors and workers accountable to defined responsibilities through KPI reporting,
• Compilation and centralization of outstanding corrective actions resulting from inspections, audits, incidents, hazard reporting, meetings, employee feedback, etc.
• Accountability for corrective action completion, with timely completion of corrective actions as a result,
• Ease of information trending, resulting in ability to proactively act on identified issues,
• Orientation, training, and competency tracking,
• Mobile access to the Health and Safety program information and forms, and
• Ease of participation for all employees.

As technology in the Health and Safety space continues to evolve, the solutions being offered are becoming more robust every year. My “Spider in Space” recommendation to all clients and peers I deal with is: Adapt! Don’t be satisfied with the same old, same old. Explore technology to help your management system evolve, and become a true leader in Health and Safety.

Cam Mitchell, CRSP

As work gets back into full swing after the holidays, it’s important for employers to exercise more vigilant control of their workplace to ensure that it is still safe place to work. Every person is responsible for being alert and creating a safe work environment the minute they step onto the jobsite. If the minds of team members are still on holidays, who is watching out for their safety?

What employers can do:
Start the new year off with a safety stand-down refresher meeting.
Management can set a weekly agenda and make sure all safety topics are covered before the tasks begin.
Be more vigilant to take precautions in the work place, as routine tasks cause the most accidents after a long holiday.
All scaffolds, working platforms, lifting appliances, gas welding and flame cutting operations, confined spaces and excavations should be inspected by competent persons to ensure that they are in safe condition before putting them to use again.
Exercise more vigilant control and supervision of their workplace to make sure that safe work practices are being followed.

What employees can do:
Take a moment to breathe and not get overwhelmed.
Prioritize what needs to get done.
Take a moment to identify known or potential hazards before catching up on tasks.
Set realistic timelines in order to ensure that work isn’t rushed.
Look over all equipment, identify new hazards if they are present, and ensure it is well-maintained and ready to use.

Let’s work together to help employees refresh, refocus, and re-engage back in the job!

All personnel have the right and the obligation to stop unsafe work. If you’re working and you witness a procedure that is not being followed correctly, see a hazard, or if you notice any at risk worker behaviour, the following procedures are to be followed:

1. Intervene/Identify: Stop the unsafe or unhealthy work and/or stop work and identify the hazard,
2. Notify the affected workers, supervisors, and management of the work stoppage,
3. Discuss why the work was stopped and come to an agreement regarding the safe way to proceed. Determine if there are any condition requirements needing alteration, or any behaviour changes that are required prior to starting work again,
4. Correct any of the deficiencies that led to the work stoppage,
5. Resume work, and
6. Follow-up to ensure all workers are working safely, and any mitigation that has been put in place is effective.

An incident report should also be completed to outline the details of the work stoppage, what has been done to remedy the situation, and verification that the job is healthy & safe to move forward.

Executing Stop Work Authority to catch potential unsafe or unhealthy actions/conditions before they become hazardous is not only responsible, but can prevent potential incidents and injuries in the workplace, if acted on in good faith. Stopping work in good faith indicates that the worker is stopping work because they are genuinely unsure of the task, unsure of the steps, scared of the task, see something hazardous that could affect a co-worker or themselves, or feel someone is working in a way that could be hazardous.

All employees should be encouraged to watch for unsafe or unhealthy conditions or acts and when it’s necessary, stop the job until it can be done safely. It is important that employees understand there will be no retribution for stopping unsafe work, if it’s acted on in good faith. Lastly, it is important to remember that you must also consult and follow the client’s policy and procedure when on their sites. Communicate/report to the on-site client rep if you need to stop unsafe work, to ensure you are meeting the expectations of their policy.

There are two types of incidents that fall under the definition of an incident for the purposes of reporting guidelines:

1. An incident that resulted in an injury, illness, equipment damage or environmental damage
2. The second incident is called a Near Miss. A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness or damage, but had the potential to do so. Only a fortunate break in the chain of events prevented an injury, damage or fatality

Why is reporting necessary?

Incident reporting is necessary for several reasons:

1. Reporting enables the correction of the situation and helps prevent similar future occurrences
2. If an incident results in long term leave or lost time and you wish to claim compensation from WCB, the proper documentation is required in order to receive approval
3. For legislative purposes, OH&S requires certain incidents to be immediately reported to them
4. Reporting allows Employers to trend incidents and proactively identify potentially hazardous conditions, keeping the worker safer

When should I report incidents?

It is extremely important to report incidents right away, no matter how minor it may be. Even if the injury is minor or if there is no initial injury and you feel it is not worth reporting, the incident must be documented.
Who should I report to?
When an incident occurs you should report immediately to your Supervisor. Do not fear reporting! It is a necessary aspect of creating a safer workplace and you are protected by the law.

It is become standard that Clients are requesting information from their contractors to prequalify for bids on projects and to access sites. Clients are requesting health and safety information, WCB coverage, insurance certification, verification of training, and to sign off on the Client’s terms and conditions.
This information allows for the Client to ensure that the contractor has performed their due diligence in assuring their company is acceptable to go onsite and work safely.

Some of the benefits of ensuring your Database is up to date with all the latest materials, insurance, WCB, COR holder info and statistics is:
• Clients are willing to offer work – clients can contact you post reviewing information on the database if they have upcoming work that is in your select industry
• Clients can review and access the information quickly – this means the client is not having to go back and forth with the contractor to gain access to what they are interested in and ultimately saves both the Clients time and contractors time
• Clients can view statistics – Statistics are a huge factor in verifying that a contractor is adhering to their health and safety programs, as well as they can see if there is trending up or down.

Clients ultimately want a contractor with the least risk on their sites.
Key benefits for Contractors are important as they are the one paying for the subscription and conducting all the work to be compliant for the client(s) they’d like to work for. Some of the key benefits include:
• Exposure to New clients – your industry selection can play a factor is potentially getting work from new clients. This is beneficial for the contractor to expand their horizons.
• Maintenance of statistics – the database can serve as a resource for your annual statistics, which ticks off one of the items of a COR audit. This also helps with your trending of statistics and can make you more aware of how your company is trending upward or downward.
• Health and Safety program maintenance – although most contractors complete the COR process, OH&S is ever changing and databases take your industry code into account and provide legislation that is specific for your industry. Databases ensure that your health and safety program is compliant with the applicable legislation for your industry.
• Orientations prior to going onsite – Orientations can play a key factor for a contractor being able to access a site as it is a Client expectation of their completion. Completion of an orientation prior to trying to access a site will save time when trying to get onsite.

There are multiple databases that Clients will have their contractors subscribe to. Some examples include ISNetworld, Avetta, Complyworks, and Browz, these are all based on the client’s requirements and expectations that the database requests of their contractors.

While Database maintenance is not a high priority for many contractors, it is ultimately important to continue a relationship with your key clients and it has widely become an industry standard.

Consider Kasa Consulting when you are wanting to ensure you are at a high level of compliance at all times to ensure you never miss out on a job opportunity!

Wearing fall arrest PPE, is a crucial aspect of any derrickman’s day to day routine. Wearing fall arrest equipment without inspecting it can provide a false sense of security. This equipment is subject to tremendous loads during a fall, so unless each component is thoroughly inspected and properly used, it may not save your life. If you were to have a fall, you want to be sure your gear will save your life. Always follow manufacturers’ recommendations when inspecting your equipment. Below are several items to look for:
Belts & Body Harnesses:
• Thoroughly inspect all nylon webbing on belt/body harnesses for frayed edges, broken fibers, burn marks, deterioration or other visible signs of damage. Do the same if the belt or body harness is constructed of other materials. Stitching should be intact and not torn or loose. The belt or harness should be somewhat “soft” and flexible and not stiff from dirt or contaminants.
• Check to see that buckles and “D” rings are not distorted or damaged. Look closely at all components for stress cracks, deformity, gouging, corrosion and sharp edges. Inspect connection points where the buckle or “D” ring is attached to the belt or body harness. Insure that no stitching is pulled and that the buckle or “D” ring is securely attached.
• Inspect all rivets and grommets to be certain they are not deformed, and are securely fastened to the belt or body harness and cannot be pulled loose.
• If you find any of these conditions during the inspection, do not use the equipment.
Lanyards:
• Completely check the entire length of the lanyard, looking for cuts, fraying, deterioration, knots, kinks, burns or visible signs of damage. Stitching should be intact and not torn or loose. Spliced ends must also be carefully examined for damage or deterioration. Check to see that the lanyard is somewhat “soft” and not stiff from dirt or contaminants.
• If using a “shock absorber” type of lanyard, look for the “warning tag” which indicates that the lanyard has been exposed to a fall.
• Snap hooks and eyes should not be distorted or bent. Inspect them for cracks, sharp edges, gouges or corrosion. Check to be sure the locking mechanism is operating properly and that there is no binding of the mechanism.
• If using a self-retracting lanyard (SRL), you must inspect the body of the mechanism for flaws to assure that all nuts, screws and rivets are installed and tight. Also check crimped ends or stitching for damage. Inspect the entire length of the SRL for any visible signs of defects.
• Test the locking mechanism by pulling sharply on the cable end to be sure it locks immediately and firmly.