Kimber and Tucker Safety Coordinators

NEWSLETTER
Winter, 2024

Date: January 1, 2024

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.

Atlantic Premiers Sign Technical Safety Agreement *

Atlantic Premiers are pleased to announce the signing of an agreement to improve technical safety, the flow of goods and services, and the mobility of tradespeople within Atlantic Canada.

During their June 12, 2023, meeting in Mill River, PEI, Premiers reiterated their commitment to work towards enabling regulated technical tradespeople to work throughout the region as efficiently and effectively as possible. This includes aligning the requirements for training, certification, and licensing, and expediting registration processes for skilled tradespeople, including fuel technicians, power engineers, and elevator mechanics, among others.

The agreement, which came into effect on July 1, 2023, commits Atlantic Provinces to collaborate in:

Seeking opportunities for regulatory alignment for all areas of technical safety across the region.

Working toward harmonization or mutual recognition of safety standards, where appropriate, to remove barriers to operating between provinces.

Building on current efforts to establish timelines to review, assess, and provide a response to completed applications submitted by certified technical safety tradespeople from another province or territory to facilitate labour mobility and support industry,and

Coordinating and sharing information on related issues, opportunities and challenges.

In signing the agreement, the Premiers recognized that maintaining a high standard of technical safety and ensuring public interest remain the focus of the regulatory process. The legislative authority of each Atlantic Province over technical safety will be respected and the unique needs and circumstances of local stakeholders will continue to be recognized. Regulatory bodies and professional associations will continue to hold these professionals to a high standard of technical safety in the province in which they work.

Safety Alert: Preparing for Severe Weather- Crane and Outdoor Worksite Safety **

The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration recently issued a Safety Alert regarding severe weather.

Severe weather has become increasingly apparent throughout Nova Scotia, often including high winds, heavy rains, and other hazardous weather conditions. The Safety Branch would like to emphasize the importance of workplace safety during these events, reminding everyone to plan ahead and take all necessary precautions to secure outdoor worksites.

With knowledge that construction and tower crane sites in the province come with some additional risk during these events, we urge you to be diligent to meet all safety standards and manufacturer’s specifications for preparing for severe weather and prior to resuming work following a weather event. When your tower crane is left unattended, it must be able to turn freely in the wind and align itself with the direction the wind is blowing, thereby reducing the surface area of the structure exposed to the wind. Signage mounted anywhere on the rotating structure should be removed as it could cause interference with wind balancing. Also, any rigging, such as slings or chains, should be removed from the hook and the trolley stowed close to the tower with the block in its highest position.

Safety Bulletin: Hoists That Are Not Commercially Manufactured **

The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration recently issued a Safety Bulletin regarding Hoists.

OH&S Officers have encountered homemade hoists being used in workplaces. The Workplace Health and Safety Regulations require equipment and components to be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. If there are no manufacturer’s specifications, a Professional Engineer’s certification is required.

Hoists are high-risk equipment that can kill or injure workers if they fall. Dropped objects can also result in damage to property and materials. In addition, there may be financial impacts.

Without a proper engineered design and assessment, the requirements for installation, and the safe working load for the hoist are not known. Without this information, the hoisting equipment may be overloaded or inadequately anchored, placing employees at risk.

Employers must obtain a statement of the rated load, or safe working load, from the hoist manufacturer or an engineer. They must also post a legible statement of the rated load of the hoist, where the operator can see it, while operating the hoist. This includes any revised statements of the rated load, as the Regulations require load tests to be completed annually by a competent person, to monitor potential deterioration in the equipment.

The employer must ensure the hoist and rigging equipment is visually inspected by the operator before each use. Formal written inspection reports and statements of rated load should be kept for 2 years. More information can be found on the Nova Safe website.

WorkSafeNB: New Supervisor Assessment Tool for Employers ***

WorkSafeNB is pleased to announce the launch of a practical tool designed to assist employers throughout the province in ensuring the knowledge and competency of their supervisors.

Employers are responsible to make sure their supervisors are competent. To do this, employers must assess supervisors’ knowledge of the OHS Act and Regulations.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (Chapter 38) recently clarified the responsibilities of supervisors. Recognizing the essential role supervisors play in maintaining safe workplaces, WorkSafeNB is there to support employers in meeting this obligation with the introduction of the Supervisor Assessment Tool, which is specifically tailored to help employers identify gaps in supervisors’ knowledge and develop an action plan if needed.

This new assessment tool can be located on the WorkSafeNB website.

WorkSafeNB Launches New Hub for Joint Health and Safety Committees ***

WorkSafeNB recently announced a new online resource for JHSCs. JHSCs are a vital tool in creating and maintaining positive, injury free workplaces in the province. Whether a new committee member, an employer starting a committee, or an experienced member and training provider, the new JHSC Centre includes all necessary information and services to help make New Brunswick’s workplaces healthy and safe.

WorkSafeNB is committed to making New Brunswick the safest place to work. As an essential communication link between workers and employers, JHSCs play a critical role in helping WorkSafeNB achieve its commitment. Upon receiving feedback from clients, the JHSC Centre was developed to help JHSCs keep their information and resources in a central location.

The JHSC Centre offers information and services for:

- Receiving JHSC training and certificates.

- Becoming an improved training provider.

- Legislative requirements.

- Self-evaluations.

- Free consultation services.

WorksafeNB encourages people interested in workplace health and safety to explore the JHSC Centre and its services on the WorkSafeNB website.

WorkSafeNB: Improved JHSC Minutes Template for Committees ***

WorkSafeNB is pleased to share an improved minutes template for New Brunswick JHSCs. The template comes after consultation with JHSCs across the province.

JHSC meeting minutes are a legislative requirement of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. JHSCs must use a template approved by WorkSafeNB and submit the completed minutes to WorkSafeNB after each meeting.

Workplaces can use the template provided by WorkSafeNB or customize the template to their specific needs.

The new template offers:

- Improved clarity for workplace location.

- Clarification for agenda issues.

- Email and phone information for co-chairpersons.

- English and French versions.

- Word and fillable PDF options.

WorkSafeNB now offers one email address for all minute submissions. Fax and mail submission continues to also be available. Visit their website for more information.

Nova Scotia: WCB Work Related Mental Stress Policy ****

During this past November, the Nova Scotia government amended the Worker’ Compensation Act to allow for gradual onset stress to be a compensable injury under the Act. Included in the amendment are the parameters on such claims. This modernization of the Act is important in supporting healthy workplaces.

The amendments will take effect September 1, 2024, allowing time for the Workers’ Compensation board to recruit specialized staff and consult with interested parties on how policies will be developed that will support the implementation of the Gradual Onset Stress legislation.

As these changes will impact all Nova Scotians, WCB has started consultations to inform their policies. This consultation process is open now and will close on February 15, 2024.

WCB of PEI: Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls *****

Slips and trips occur when there is unexpected change in the contact between the feet and the ground or walking surface. The proactive step to take towards preventing slips, trips and falls is good housekeeping.

Statistics show that the majority (67%) of falls happen on the same level resulting from slips and trips. The remaining 30% are falls from a height.

Slips happen where there is too little friction or traction between the footwear and the walking surface. Common causes of slips are:

- Wet or oily surfaces.

- Occasional spills.

- Weather hazards.

- Loose, unanchored rugs or mats.

- Flooring or other walking surfaces that do not have the same degree of traction in all areas.

Trips happen when your foot collides (strikes/hits) an object causing you to lose balance and, eventually fall. Common causes of tripping are:

- Obstructed view.

- Poor lighting.

- Clutter in your way.

- Wrinkled carpeting.

- Uncovered cables.

- Bottom drawers not being closed.

- Uneven walking surfaces.

Both slips and trips result from unintended or unexpected change in the contact between the feet and the ground or walking surface. This fact shows that good housekeeping, quality of walking surfaces, selection of proper footwear, and appropriate pace of walking are critical for preventing fall incidents.

Good housekeeping is the first and the most important level of preventing falls due to slips and trips. It includes:

- Cleaning all spills immediately.

- Marking spills and wet areas.

- Mopping or sweeping debris from floors.

- Removing obstacles from walkways and always keeping walkways free from clutter.

- Always closing file cabinet or storage drawers.

- Covering cables that cross walkways.

- Keeping working areas and walkways well lit.

- Replacing used light bulbs and faulty switches.

Without good housekeeping practices, any other preventative measure such as installation of sophisticated flooring, specialty footwear or training on techniques of walking and safe falling will never be fully effective.

WCB of PEI: Cold Stress at Work *****

On PEI, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation # 42.1 Extremes of Temperature, requires that permissible heat and cold exposure shall conform to Threshold Limit Values published by the American conference of Government Industrial Hygienists.

Where there is a risk of injury or illness from cold the employer is required to “take every reasonable precaution to ensure worker safety.” This means developing a plan to minimize the risk, setting procedures, providing equipment and training workers in preventative measures.

Working in the cold is part of the job for many Prince Edward Islanders. Workers performing tasks outside in winter or working in cold storage areas can be at risk. Cold stress can occur when the body is exposed to excessive cold or wet conditions. The result can be hypothermia or a lowering of core body temperature. Prolonged exposure of the hands, face or feet to cold can cause frostbite.

Hypothermia is a dangerous condition because it can happen so slowly it is unnoticeable, and the victim may not be thinking clearly enough to prevent serious injury. In areas where cold stress is a hazard, a plan must be made to ensure workers are properly trained and equipped to prevent injury and treat victims if necessary.

To reduce the risk of cold stress, the following guidelines should be in place:

Cover your head. 50% of heat can be lost through the head.

Wear layered clothing. Layers trap warm air and help to retain heat. The first layer should be thin and help to keep moisture away from the body. Polypropylene is a good choice. Wool is a good second layer because it stays warm even if it gets wet. Cotton tends to absorb water making it less effective. Keep your clothing loose so it does not compress under layers and keeps the layers of warm air intact. Make the outer layer wind and waterproof.

Pace yourself if you have physically demanding work to do. Fatigue will contribute to hypothermia. To stay dry, reduce perspiration by removing layers or loosening the neck, wrists and waist of clothing.

Protect your hands and feet. Use mittens rather than gloves where possible. Carry extra pairs of felt liners and mittens if they may get wet. Keep skin dry.

Set up shelters to block wind where possible. Schedule work to be done on warmer days or during the warmest part of the day where possible.

Take breaks in a heated building and increase the frequency of breaks where the cold or wind is more intense. Be sure to remove outer layers while you are in the warmer environment.

Drink plenty of warm fluids. Good hydration helps circulation. Caffeinated beverages and alcohol are not a good idea because they cause more blood flow to the surface of the skin. This can expose the blood to more cold and result in a decrease in core body temperature.

Cover metal handles and bars with an insulating material. Use tools and machines that can be operated with mittens.

Monitor the temperature and wind and adjust work and breaks accordingly.

Educate workers about the signs and symptoms of hypothermia as well as its prevention. Set up a buddy system to monitor early signs.

CSNS: Return to Work Policy ******

Beginning January 1, 2024, a Return to Work (RTW) policy and program will be required for COR and WCB Safety Certification.

A RTW program sets up injured employees for success when an injury or illness occurs. It outlines how the employer is prepared to assist the injured employee through their recovery for both physical and mental injuries by providing modified or alternate duties that fit their functional abilities.

When employees become injured or ill at work, a large part of the recovery will be feeling supported by their employer through the process. A well-designed program is key to ensuring that employees feel comfortable returning to work and completing the tasks assigned. The longer a worker is away from work, the less likely they are to return to their pre-injury job. A carefully managed early and safe return to work can be beneficial to all parties.

A RTW program should be written in consultation with the JOHSC committee. The program should also make sure that all injured or ill employees are treated in a fair and consistent manner. The following are some elements that may be considered when developing a program:

RTW Policy statement outlining the employer’s commitment to the program.

Identify the RTW team and their roles and responsibilities.

Complete a job demands analysis and maintain on file for reference.

Create a list of standard precautions including movements to avoid depending on what body part is injured.

Develop a list of modified and alternate duties that may be performed by an injured employee.

Create a general RTW/SAW Plan that can be adapted for the injured or ill employee. This may include an example of the first two weeks of modified or alternate duties the injured employee will complete.

Create a letter template that can be sent with the injured worker to their health care professional advising them of the RTW/SAW program and availability of modified or alternate work.

Determine a method to measure the effectiveness of the program and make any changes to continue to enhance the program.

Employers have a “duty to accommodate” employees with physical or mental disabilities. An accommodation is a modification to rules, policies, practices, or tasks that allows a person to participate fully, without discrimination. Employers must make every reasonable effort, short of undue hardship, to accommodate an employee who may have a permanent or temporary disability (both physical and mental) after an injury. Accommodations should be based on the current mental and physical function abilities of the employee, and cooperation from all parties is crucial throughout the process.

Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations Achieves 10,000 Active COR Certified Firms ******

The Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA) and its members announced a significant milestone in Occupational Health and Safety with the attainment of over 10,000 active Certificate of Recognition (COR) certified firms across the nation.

The COR program, promoted and regulated by the CFCSA, has long been recognized as the national standard for an Occupational Safety & Health Management System in the Canadian construction industry. The achievement of this milestone demonstrates the commitment of employers, employees, and safety professionals across the country to maintaining accredited standard of safety within their organizations.

COR certification involves rigorous evaluations of an organization’s health and safety management system. It encompasses hazard identification, risk management, and effective control measures, ensuring that Canadian firms are equipped to handle the unique challenges of the construction industry. This program provides companies with a competitive edge while fostering a culture of safety and reducing workplace incidents.

A key finding of the CFCSA’s commitment to COR certification is that firms holding this accreditation experience an average of 18% lower injury rates compared to non-certified firms.

The achievement of this milestone underscores the remarkable progress that the Canadian construction industry has made in embracing safety as a core value. It also emphasizes the determination of firms to prioritize the well-being of their workforce. As a result, workplaces across the country have become safer, and the lives and health of workers have been significantly improved.

New Safety Coordinator: Calvin Kirkpatrick

We wish to announce the addition of Calvin Kirkpatrick to our Team of Safety Coordinators. Calvin was with us previously from 2017-2020 and is excited to re-join our group. Calvin has an extensive Safety background and is looking forward to joining your Team. Calvin has nearly 30 years in the construction industry, and holds many safety certifications, including a Certificate in Health, Safety and Environmental Processes from the University of Fredericton. Calvin will be supporting and advancing clients in New Brunswick.

Regards,

Nevin

References

- * Excerpts taken from an article located in a Govt. of PEI News Release - ** Excerpts taken from an article located on the Province of Nova Scotia website. - *** Excerpts taken from an article located on the WorkSafeNB website. - **** Excerpts taken from an article located on the WCBNS website. - ***** Excerpts taken from an article located on the WCBPEI website. - ****** Excerpts taken from an article located on the CSNS website.