Kimber and Tucker Safety Coordinators

NEWSLETTER
Winter, 2019

Date: January 1, 2019

Attention: Current Safety Clients

Again this season, Kimber and Tucker have a few announcements relating to your Safety program. Please take a few minutes to review the following, initiated as part of our continued commitment to effectively coordinate your current Safety requirements.

Government of N.B. Makes Recommendations To Improve Safety At Construction Sites *Recommendations have been made to improve the safety of people working at height at construction sites. The recommendations follow a coroner’s inquest in Saint John.

A mandatory inquest into the death of a worker who died February 6, 2018, from injuries sustained in a fall from a three meter (10 foot) stepladder during his employment at a construction site in Saint John, was held in November 2018.

The five person jury selected from the community made the following recommendations:

• That, if a trade requires working from a lift and/or ladder, there be a mandatory requirement to have a different style of helmet than a hard hat, such as a  “climbers” style helmet, that is snug and fitted (with a chin strap) and would stay on the head.
• That, where practical, persons required to work at heights should be required to use the most stable form of elevating equipment, for example, man lifts or industrial staging, starting with the most stable, down to the use of a ladder.

The Office of the chief Coroner will forward these recommendations to the appropriate government departments and agencies for consideration and response.

WCB of PEI, WHMIS 2015 Deadline **
The amended Hazardous products Act (HPA) and new Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) became law in Canada in 2015. The amendments established new requirements for labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) under Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS). The HPA and HPR regulate suppliers (importers, manufacturers, distributers) while the Workers Compensation Board of PEI regulates the requirements of WHMIS in Island workplaces.

The transition to the new requirements has been implemented in phases, giving employers and workers time to become familiar with new regulations and hazard symbols, and allowing suppliers and distributors time to deplete their stock of existing labels.
The transition phases came to an end on November 390, 2018. As of December 1, 2019, all workplaces are expected to be in compliance with the new WHMIS requirements.

Information to help with the transition to the new requirements is available for employers through WHMIS.org and wcb.pe.ca/whmis.

New Brunswick Harassment Policy ***
The new regulatory requirements for Workplace Violence and Harassment are to come into effect on April 1, 2019.

WorkSafeNB members are encouraged to become familiar with the new regulations which can be accessed on the WorkSafeNB website (www.worksafenb.ca).

Nova Scotia Workplace Deaths Increased In 2018 ****
In a recent report filed by the WCB of Nova Scotia, there were more than four times the number of “acute deaths” in the first half of 2018 than previous quarters.

According to the report, there were 18 workplace deaths in the first two quarters of 2018, compared to nine workplace deaths in the first two quarters of 2017. Half of those deaths were acute fatalities, where a traumatic incident at work led to a fatal injury. That was more than four times the number of acute deaths in the first half of 2017.

In the second quarter of 2018, there were 1343 time-loss claims reported. Injury causes included falling from heights, burns, smoke inhalation, being pinned between vehicles, falling out of moving vehicles, and cuts from workplace tools.

WCB of Nova Scotia, in partnership with the four Atlantic Workplace Compensation Boards and the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education, has already started their new awareness campaign, which focuses on the repercussions workplace injuries have on home life.

For more information or to view the full report, visit wcb.ns.ca.

CSNS New Online Services Coming Soon *****
Continuously striving to improve upon service delivery methods at Construction Safety Nova Scotia (CSNS) has led to the implementation of a new Learning Management System (LMS).

Members will be able to manage their online profiles, reset passwords, track course completions, print transcripts, and view earned badges. This self-serve capability will make it easier and quicker for users to have greater control over course enrollment and course completions.

The implementation of this new LMS will open opportunities for the association to redefine its business process, provide and integrate more services thru this medium.

Of note also, in the near future, companies certified thru the CSNS will be required to submit their audits on-line.

NBCSA New Website/ New Electronic COR (trademark) Audit Instrument ******
The new NBCSA website can provide a wide range of information, including Current Class Schedules, COR Participants, membership Information, Course Outlines, Step By Step procedures for entering their COR Program, and Program E-Learning. All this and more is available at their new website www.nbcsa.ca.

As of November 30, 2018, the NBCSA has introduced their electronic version of the NBCSA COR Audit Instrument. COR members now have the option to request the electronic version (for Windows PC) when their expiry is coming due.

New WCB PEI Revised Policies *******
As of January 17, 2019, a number of WCB PEI Policies will be revised to reflect amendments to the Workers Compensation Act.

• Return to Work (POL-93) has been updated to reflect the legislative change to exclude the employer of a volunteer firefighter from re-employment obligations.
• Survivor Benefits (POL-12) has been updated to reflect the change in the lump sum payment for the death of a worker.
• Occupational Disease (POL-65) has been updated to reflect claims filed by firefighters and fire inspectors with specific types of cancer.
• Impairment (POL-89) has been revised to reflect the amended definition for impairment.

 

New Safety Coordinator: John Vickers
We wish to announce the addition of John Vickers to our group of Safety Coordinators. John will be advancing and supporting safety programs for clients in Cape Breton.

John has a safety background spanning 10 years. John has worked for several construction firms, in a safety advisory role, in both Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

SiteDocs Safety Management Software Purchase
We at Kimber and Tucker are pleased to announce our recent purchase of SiteDocs Safety Management Software.

SiteDocs is an intuitive and easy to use mobile solution utilizing tablets and smartphones, giving us the ability to provide real time delivery of completed paperwork. This mobile app allows our coordinators to assist with the completion of digital safety forms at your jobsite. All safety forms are stored and organized online for easy access and real time tracking.

SiteDocs will allow us to move your entire safety program from paper, clipboards and filing cabinets to mobile devices and the web. From the jobsite, our coordinators can login to the SiteDocs app from their mobile device and view all safety documentation. The forms they assist with are then instantly uploaded and automatically organized for easy viewing.

Whether on the jobsite or in the office, we will be able to monitor your safety program. Our goal is to help you maintain the highest standard of safety possible, making your safety program more efficient, effective, and significantly enhanced.

 “Terms of Reference” Reminders

Our Terms of Reference document was initiated in early 2015. This document has been well received, and now forms the basis of our relationship with your firm. By better defining our role, we have also better defined the complete package of services we offer.

Within the document is Section F, titled “Roles and Responsibilities of the Client Company”. Articles 1, 5 and 6 read as follows:

• Inform coordinator of all worksite locations and scope of work prior to commencement of project.
• Provide a worker with knowledge of the project to assist with Hazard Assessments.
• Provide a Supervisor/JOHSC Rep for assistance with Site Inspections.

Reminders:

• Our website can be located at www.kimbertuckersafetycoordinators.com.
• We continue to accept Visa/MasterCard payment. Please contact this office if you wish to add your company to the growing list of firms who are taking advantage of this service.

Regards,
Jim and Nevin

References

• *              Excerpts taken from an article in WorkSafeNB website
• **            Excerpts taken from an article in WCBPEI website
• ***          Excerpts taken from an article in NBCSA website.
• ****        Excerpts taken from an article in Chronicle Herald.
• *****      Excerpts taken from an article in CSNS website.
• ******    Excerpts taken from an article in NBCSA website.
• *******  Excerpts taken from an article in WCBPEI website