safework news - Volume 2, Issue Two, Fall 2011

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Volume Two, Issue Two - Fall 2011

safeworknews NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

“I am a different person, but I am alive”

MOST ACCIDENTS ARE PREVENTABLE

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Congratulations to the 2011 winners SAFE work NL’s - Who Wants to Save a Life?

Game show finals took place May 19th at the Gander Arts & Culture Centre

This year’s winners include: Clarenville Middle School in the junior high final, and co-winners Templeton Academy (Meadows) and Tricentia Academy (Arnold’s Cove) in the senior high category. Special mention to Menihek High (Labrador City) the runner-up in the junior high competition.

Clarenville Middle School received $5,000 and the students received iPads. Menihek High received $2,500, and the students each received an iPod Touch.

In the senior high final there were three different tie-breaking questions which proved unsuccessful in breaking the tie. Co-winner schools each received $5,000. The students each received $1,000 scholarships.

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safeworknews

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

Bill C-45 Are you in the know?

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Safety First

Fall Protection

Mining Lifestyle Essay

A culture of safety begins at the top

Proper training must be in place by January 1, 2012

Newfoundland and Labrador student wins national scholarship

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Bill C-45

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14 Rescue Rovers

A Perfect Fit

Fulfilling the duty to prevent harm in the workplace

Volunteers working to bring people home safely

Workplace safety and the Royal St. John’s Regatta

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Burn Survivor

No Compromise

How a workplace accident can change your life forever

Combining corporate safety structure with personal responsibility

safeworknews NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

safework news is published three times a year by the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) of Newfoundland and Labrador to educate workers and employers about injury and disease prevention, promote a positive safety culture and provide links to WHSCC resources for safer workplaces.

Editorial Submissions and Inquiries kpeyton@whscc.nl.ca

Editorial Advisor Chris Flanagan Editor Kathy Dicks-Peyton Graphic Design Mark Wessels Marketing Sherry Greene Information Technology Florence Maloney

Contributors Paul Daly Christine Harte-Power David Legge Dee Anne Feltham-Scott Jamie Eddison Jillian Short Kayla Smith Karen Gosse

Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement #40063376, Customer #1324969 No portion of this publication may be reprinted in whole or in part without the written permission of the WHSCC. The WHSCC reserves the right of final approval on all material.

www.whscc.nl.ca Printed in Canada - Copyright 2011 Printer: Transcontinental Print

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Are we too cautious when it comes to addressing risk?

We have all been in situations where we have had to ask ourselves ‘Should I say something?’ It could be when you are a passenger in a vehicle, where the driver is going a little too fast for the conditions of the day. It may be when you see a slippery floor warning sign placed too far from the danger area.

A voice in the back of your head may be telling you to speak up or make a report, but concern over being branded an ‘alarmist’, or a lack of information about who to call can often lead to silence.

Consider when the danger is at work. You may notice people working above three metres without fall protection gear. You may spot a long-term hazard that could, over years, lead to an industrial disease.

In this province we have been doing the right thing when it comes to preventing workplace injuries. The lost-time incidence rate has declined steadily and consistently for 11 years. Over this time the rate has been nearly cut in half, and annually there are now more than 2,500 fewer workplace accidents.

When it comes to the ultimate failure of workplace safety and the devastating occurrence of a workplace fatality, however, we have to do more.

The workplace fatality rate in Newfoundland and Labrador had declined slowly for about a decade. But since 2008, as the economy has taken off, the number of accidental workplace fatalities has started rising again. Last year there were 13 accidental workplace fatalities reported compared to an average of about 10 per year over the previous decade. Occupational disease fatalities have also increased: 19 in 2010 compared to an average of 15 per year over the previous decade.

Sometimes statistics are meaningless to anyone who has lost a loved one. The fact is, each and every workplace fatality represents a devastating loss for family, friends, co-workers and employers. Each and every workplace fatality is also preventable.

Most often, a workplace fatality results from the breakdown of not just one safety step, but a series of safety steps and incidents. We often hear, after the fact, that the tragedy was a “fluke” because so many things had to coincidentally go wrong at the same time. Another way to look at this is that every one of those things that went wrong was an opportunity to prevent the fatality.

Safety Share What does ‘Take Safety with You’ mean?

It means driving defensively, using seatbelts in our vehicles, using firearms safely when hunting and applying safety practices at home, including wearing safety shoes, hearing protection and eye protection, when mowing the lawn; wearing safety eyewear while hammering nails; using lighter fluid to start charcoal grills, not gasoline; turning off a circuit breaker before replacing a light fixture.

We want everyone to develop the habit of thinking about safety during a work shift, on the way home, at home or on vacation. Thus, think about safety before you start any job, when you go to do something that's potentially dangerous (i.e., pulling the trigger on a power tool or jump-starting a vehicle), when putting on safety equipment and by making sure machine guards are in place. Think about safety several times, particularly if you have to change what you are doing.

Ask yourself the following questions at work and at home: - Do I know the safety procedures for this job or task? Are they adequate? Do I understand them?

- What personal protective equipment do I need? Is it in good condition? Is it adequate?

- What tools and other equipment do I need to do the job safely? Are they the correct ones?

Are they in good condition? Do I know how to use them?

We have to ask ourselves: Have the necessary controls been put in place, such as training? Is the safe-work planning and design in place? Has workplace health and safety orientation taken place? Have adverse weather or environmental conditions been taken into account? Is personal protective gear in place? Are all standards and regulations being followed? Did you begin the day and any significant work assignment with a safety talk? Did you do a hazard identification review and a hazard assessment together with the follow-up on recommendations?

- Are there other risks to my safety or the safety of others? What if something happens quickly or unexpectedly? Do I know how to respond to avoid injury?

In Newfoundland and Labrador, we must all start thinking more about the small things that could go wrong. We have to remember that correcting one small thing could be the break in that chain of coincidences that leads to a fatality.

How often should we have thoughts about safety?

Constantly! The human mind is one of the fastest processors of information. To think about all of this you need to only take a few seconds.

Yours in safety,

- What should I do if something goes wrong?

- What mitigation or escape plan is in place?

(Source: Safety Toolbox Talks)

Leslie Galway, CEO Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission

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NewsFlash Good news! PRIME experience is helping employers save money

To learn more about the PRIME experience refund or how to receive monthly PRIME status reports, call: Marlene Parsons at: 709-778-1211, or Jillian Short at: 709-778-1597 or visit: www.whscc.nl.ca/prime.

This year a number of employers received good news when they filed their annual employer payroll statements.

That’s because they qualified for a PRIME experience refund which helped them save money on their assessments.

The PRIME experience component is a financial incentive that recognizes employers who effectively manage their injury claims. Each year, more and more employers are saving money through PRIME experience. In 2011 almost $6.92 million was refunded to employers. This is in addition to $4.85 million in PRIME practice refunds that were also applied.

NLOSHA AWARDS youth scholarship

If you are an employer who would like to save money through the PRIME experience component, here are some important tips to follow: 4

Prevent injuries before they happen

Caitlin Clarke of St. Lawrence, a student at St. Lawrence Academy, is the winner of the 2011 Newfoundland and Labrador Occupational Health and Safety Association’s (NLOSHA) youth scholarship.

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Know and meet all the PRIME practice requirements that apply to your organization

NLOSHA offers the annual scholarship to Level III students throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Answer ALL of the questions in the PRIME Refund Section of your Annual Employer Statements

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Submit your Annual Employer Statements on time – due date is February 28, 2012

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Submit your occupational health and safety committee minutes on time, if required

The winner is chosen based on an essay contest, the topic of which must relate to occupational health and safety within the province, detailing a natural or man-made event, good news story, workplace safety issue, injury prevention initiative or similar focus.

The winner receives $1,000 and an iPod. The school which the winner attends receives $500 and the student council $500.

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Manage claims effectively so that PRIME costs are as low as possible

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Participate in all available early and safe return-to-work options

Clarke’s topic was about the former St. Lawrence fluorspar mine and related past and present health and safety issues associated with the mine site.

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Safety first

By Kathy Dicks-Peyton

amount could be raised, she would dye her dark brown hair platinum blonde! Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of individuals, Bennett’s restaurants surpassed their goal, raising $27,000 – and she was true to her word.

“Welcome to McDonald’s, may I take your order please…”

Cathy Bennett has come a long way since first uttering these words over 25 years ago as an energetic 16-yearold, working part-time in St. John’s.

Bennett’s platinum blonde stage occurred just days before she was to attend a photo shoot as one of the inaugural signatories of the WHSCC’s CEO Leadership Charter for Health and Safety. Luckily she had just enough time to dye her hair back close to its original colour.

Bennett was quick to climb the McDonald’s ladder of success. After working as a crew person, she managed several St. John’s locations before moving to a supervisory position, and then General Manager in charge of all McDonald’s restaurants on the Avalon Peninsula. In 1999 Bennett was approached by McDonald’s Canada to form a joint-venture partnership with them in seven St. John’s restaurants. She took the leap of faith, and in 2007 bought out McDonald’s Canada’s interest. Today Bennett owns eight St. John’s-area restaurants, employing over 340 people. Despite her business and career success, she still considers herself a ‘crew person’ and it is not unusual to see her working on the drive-thru at one of her restaurants.

“Being recognized as a leader in health and safety carries a lot of weight, and reinforces the commitment I’ve had for a long time, that my employees are going to be safe,” she says. “There are very few accidents that are not preventable and as CEOs, we have so much to learn from each other.”

The CEO Leadership Charter is an alliance of business leaders from all industry sectors, including small, medium and large employers. The signatories are ambassadors among their peers, and motivate workers and employers across all industry sectors to make health and safety a priority.

Bennett is in the people business, and it is this people focus which has contributed to her professional and personal success. On McHappy Day in 2007, she wanted to raise $25,000 for Ronald McDonald Charities and issued a public challenge through the media that if this

The CEO Leadership Charter is based on the principle that the effective management of health, safety and wellness is essential to the operation of a successful business. The Charter also emphasizes that health and safety efforts beyond the workplace can be achieved

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by building partnerships that support related initiatives within the community.

Productivity follows...

“Our challenge as CEOs is to make our employees aware of health and safety issues,” she adds. “The majority of people I employ are young workers and for them, there needs to be a baseline understanding of the importance of being safe.

Young people believe accidents can’t happen to them.”

For the safety and security of her employees, Bennett meets with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary on an annual basis to ensure best practices are in place, especially for those working late-night shifts. McDonald’s employees have been attacked, physically injured and killed at restaurant locations in other Canadian jurisdictions.

“I teach my employees that threats of any kind are to be treated seriously,” she says.

Bennett has also taken her communications and safety philosophies to her other business ventures within the Bennett Group. “We also operate a construction company and some of the employees there have told me they had never had the kind of safety training that we provide.”

“It’s sometimes hard to tell young people stories about workplace injuries that help them see the importance of workplace safety practices. We can’t take away their innocence,” Bennett says, “but we have to, because innocence is what could ultimately lead to an accident.

I want all of my employees to return home healthy and safe every day.

Bennett says a culture of safety in any organization has to begin at the top, with a zero tolerance policy. “I am always vigilant of health and safety issues because there is so much to learn and share.”

“There are no varying degrees of health, safety and security expectations, whether you are pumping oil offshore or preparing Big Macs. I am responsible for health, safety and security as an employer and my employees also have a responsibility,” she says.

One of Bennett’s most rewarding health and safety outcomes occurred when a member of her senior management team broke an ankle in a slip and fall.

“I remember thinking, what could I have done to prevent that?” Given the support, knowledge and experience gained through partnering with the WHSCC, Bennett Restaurants worked to devise a return-to-work plan whereby this employee was able to work from home on a laptop, with unlimited access to the organization’s eight restaurants.

Bennett has also created a position within her company which she calls the ‘Manager, People Resources’.

This person co-ordinates health and safety training, monitors the occupational health and safety committees, and reports on the status of health and safety incidents.

Bennett is fully committed to her employees and the growth of her business ventures. It is not unusual for her to be at her desk until midnight checking the Facebook page created for her team, where she offers sound advice and updates her employees.

While sticking to her communications motto: “Praise in public but criticize in private,” the Facebook site has been an instrumental tool for Bennett to get to know her employees and share in their views, queries, personal and career successes.

Cathy Bennett, CEO, Bennett Restaurants

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Bill C-45 Are you in the know?

By Christine Harte-Power Bill C-45, also known as the ‘Westray Bill’, was created as a result of the 1992 Westray coal mining disaster in Nova Scotia, where 26 miners lost their lives after methane gas ignited causing an explosion. The Bill sought to establish new legal duties for workplace health and safety, and imposes serious penalties for violations that result in injuries or death. It also establishes rules for attributing criminal liability to organizations, including corporations, for the acts of their representatives and creates a legal duty for all persons directing work to take ‘reasonable steps’ to ensure the safety of workers and the general public.

onto wooden pallets. It was determined that the main safety device that would have prevented the machine from working when a person stood in its path, was not functioning. The company was fined $110,000.

The second company, a Quebec landscape contractor, was found guilty of criminal negligence causing death after an employee was pinned against a wall by a backhoe. Through investigation it was found that regular maintenance had not been performed on the vehicle since it was first purchased in 1976.

The vehicle had no braking capacity in the front two wheels and didn’t have any brake fluid. Several other infractions were also found that contributed to the equipment’s performance.The defendant received a conditional sentence of imprisonment for two years less a day.

Bill C-45 became law in 2004 under Section 217.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada. This section requires anyone who undertakes, or has the authority to direct how another person does work or performs a task, to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to that person, or any other person, arising from that work or task.

A person can be found criminally negligent if he or she does something, or omits to do something that shows reckless disregard for the lives or safety of others.

While this is Canada’s second conviction under Bill C-45, it marks the first of its kind to proceed to trial. Such cases serve as a reminder to employers that they, and those who direct or supervise work, can be charged and convicted of criminal offences if they fail to fulfill their duty to prevent harm. Companies must be vigilant and implement occupational health and safety programs that continually identify, evaluate and control workplace health and safety risks.

Since the Bill was enacted, two companies have been convicted for fatal occupational health and safety violations.

The first, a Quebec paving stone manufacturer pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal negligence after one of its employees was killed when he was crushed by a machine that was used to stack concrete blocks

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Frequently-asked questions

imposed if they are convicted. The police are not normally involved in this process.

Who does Bill C-45 (S.217.1) affect?

Can a company be charged under a provincial OHS Act and the Criminal Code at the same time?

This section of the Criminal Code affects all organizations and individuals who direct the work of others anywhere in Canada. These organizations include federal, provincial and municipal governments, corporations, private companies, charities and non-governmental organizations.

Yes, it is possible. It is common practice for police and health and safety inspectors to both investigate a serious workplace accident. In most cases, the police and provincial authorities would work together to decide which charges should be laid.

Charges can be laid under both the Criminal Code by the police and the Occupational Health and Safety Act or Regulations by provincial authorities.

Who is responsible for enforcing the Criminal Code?

The police and Crown are responsible for investigating serious accidents and will determine whether any charges should be laid under the Criminal Code. The Criminal Code is a very different set of rules, and should not be confused with regular occupational health and safety laws (OHS) and how they are enforced.

How can I ensure a safe workplace and limit my liability?

Employers can limit their liability and reduce the chances of being charged under the provisions of the Criminal Code by implementing an effective occupational health and safety program.

You will need:

Who is responsible for enforcing occupational health and safety laws?

• An understanding of what your legal obligations are under occupational health and safety laws and standards,

Depending on your jurisdiction, provincial or federal governments or the workers’ compensation board enforce OHS laws. Across Canada each province, territory and the federal government, are responsible for enforcing their own individual set of occupational health and safety laws. Each jurisdiction employs inspectors who visit workplaces to ensure companies are complying with their OHS rules. In the unfortunate event of a serious accident, these inspectors conduct an investigation and determine if a charge should be laid under the appropriate section(s) of the OHS Act or Regulations. An accused individual or company may then need to appear in court where a fine or other penalty could be

• A system of identifying what hazards exist in your workplace, and • The implementation of effective control measures to eliminate or reduce occupational health and safety risk.

You will also want to ensure employees are aware of the company's health and safety program, are informed of any risks, and receive appropriate training and protective equipment.

(Sources: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety and Gowlings.com)

Understanding PRIME experience and PRIME practice PRIME experience

PRIME practice

The experience component compares an employer’s PRIME claim costs to their expected range of injury costs (this is known as the experience incentive range).

The practice component is the completion of up to five workplace health and safety requirements, such as the development of an occupational health and safety policy.

At the end of the year, one of the following results will apply if an employer is eligible for the experience component:

The number of practice requirements required depend on the size of an organization. To determine an employer’s category for the purposes of PRIME, consult:

• If PRIME costs are below the bottom of range, employers will receive an experience refund (they first need to qualify for a PRIME practice refund).

• If PRIME costs are above the top of range, employers may receive an experience charge (even if they do not qualify for a PRIME practice refund).

http://www.whscc.nl.ca/prime/PR_EmployerCategory_Provincial.whscc

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The journey forward

burn survivor opens his eyes to a new day

By Kathy Dicks-Peyton When Pat Stamp looks out his living room window in the picturesque community of St. Vincent’s, he feels peace and tranquility. This is his safe haven, far removed from April 8, 2006, when a workplace accident changed his life forever.

The shuttle tanker Kometik, operated by CanShip Ugland, was anchored in Conception Bay. Stamp, a welder with East Coast Marine Industrial Ltd., and Wayne Dalton, a tanker deckhand, were performing welding repairs in cargo tank No. 5 starboard when an explosive vapour mixture was ignited.

“When we entered the tank that morning, there was a smell of fumes, even though it had been cleaned,” recalls Stamp. “That wasn’t unusual, because when you’re working with oil, there’s no way to get rid of all the smell, no matter how well you clean.”

As they progressed on their zig-zag descent down into the tank, Stamp and Dalton talked about taking a trip to Stamp’s brother-in-law’s cabin. “My brother-in-law and Wayne used to work with the Coast Guard and they became very close friends. Wayne also talked about his son Nicholas and how he was looking forward to celebrating his first birthday.”

When they reached the bottom of the tank, some 60 feet down, there was a lot of sludge near the stairs and Stamp was glad he chose to wear protective rubber boots instead of his regular work boots, and disposable coveralls over his regular coveralls. “We then got our equipment and a fire hose dropped down and walked across the tank to the spot where a bracket had to be repaired.

It was dark. The only light we had was shining down from the opening of the tank above. I spread a fire blanket on the floor, knelt down and cleaned the bracket before starting to weld.”

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All necessary work permits had been issued at an early morning safety meeting, so Stamp had no reason to question his or Dalton’s health and safety while in the tank.

When Stamp struck the arc, he recalls feeling a warm breeze blow across his throat. “I immediately stopped welding, stood up and asked Wayne if he felt anything.

He said, ‘no’.”

“I think this tank has flashed,” I said. “There are fumes in this tank and we have to get out!” Stamp saw a mirage of heat circling the tank. In all his years welding, he says he never had something like this happen and it scared him. “That’s a heat wave, I shouted to Wayne, we got to get out!”

“I’m up too far”. While trying to get out of the tank, Dalton had bypassed a landing where he was supposed to cross over to another ladder that led to the escape hatch. Fortunately for Stamp, he was standing on the landing. He called out for Dalton to climb back down and follow him. The overwhelming heat was whistling so loud it sounded like jet engines. The disposable coveralls Stamp was wearing over his regular welding coveralls had disintegrated and he could feel his flesh burning. When he reached the escape hatch opening, Stamp bumped his shoulders and head, and his body became stuck at his rib cage. “My clothing was hooked on something and to this day, I don’t know on what.”

Stamp screamed for help to a group of men standing on the deck and Dalton shouted that Stamp says it took him a while he was going to go back down. to convince Dalton, and by the time “Those were the last words I he did, the oily sludge in a nearby heard him say.” Stamp kept drain had ignited. “Wayne wanted shouting for help and it seemed to put out the fire and radioed for like no one moved – “it was water three times.” like everyone was frozen in time,” he says. “Then I saw an Still trying to convince Dalton image of my grandson Noah that they had to get out of the Pat Stamp and wife Madonna appear in front of me and I will tank, Stamp screamed, “we have at home in St. Vincent’s never forget it. At that instant got to get out, so come with me!”

I shouted: I’m seeing my Stamp finally got his friend to grandkids grow up”. Using his elbows and arms, Stamp follow. “Halfway up I fell down and Wayne passed me. took a deep breath, and with every ounce of energy he It was very dark and hot, there were lots of pipes and had left, pushed himself as hard as he could, and was we were scuffing our feet along.” thrown out of the escape hatch and on to the deck of the When Stamp reached the escape ladder, there was no Kometik. Behind him burst a flame that shot up into sign of Dalton. He had already climbed up a distance. the sky. Stamp began rolling on the deck. “People In the intense heat, Stamp took a deep breath, closed were telling me my clothes weren’t on fire, but I kept his eyes, and started climbing with every ounce of rolling.” When he realized they were right, Stamp stood energy he could muster. He spent 15 years training up and shouted, “Get Wayne, he’s right behind me!” members of the St. Vincent’s Volunteer Fire Department Dalton’s body was recovered by shore-based volunteer and believes this valuable experience most likely saved firefighters later that afternoon. He died of smoke his life. “About a third of the way up I found Wayne, inhalation. and at that point I thought this is where I’m going to die.

I felt exhausted and was just going to lock my legs into Believing the ship was going to explode, Stamp made the ladder. When I passed out, I would just fall back.” his way to the side of the boat and was going to jump There was no air, just extreme heat and black smoke, overboard. Why weren’t any life boats launched, he Stamp’s throat was burning and the fronts of his welding asked himself? “There was no one to save me, so in my gloves had disintegrated. heart of hearts, I really believed we were all going to blow up right there in Conception Bay.” Some inner surge of strength must have kept Stamp going. The next thing he recalls is hearing Dalton say,

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The next thing Stamp remembers is a white-haired gentleman asking him to go to the First-Aid room.

“I asked him to go get Wayne and he told me the boys would be taking care of that.”

On the way to the First-Aid room, Stamp took off his coveralls and boots. His body was badly burned but he didn’t know the extent of his injuries. The pain in his legs was excruciating, both legs were covered with water blisters about eight to 10 inches long and about four to six inches high. Stamp was also not aware that when he took the deep breath while climbing up the inside of the tank, he had burned 50 per cent of his lungs.

“I asked the boys in the First-Aid room to cut off my clothes, but they hesitated. ‘Cut my damn clothes off will you’, I shouted!” Frustrated, Stamp took a pocket knife out of his pocket, cut the legs of his pants and took them off. Wearing only his underwear, he walked the floor of the First-Aid room for about three hours, at one point looking into a mirror, to see a swollen face turning dark green. The welding cap he was wearing was like a roasted marshmallow charred into his head.

resist infection, and decrease inflammation. Overall, some 35 to 40 per cent of his body was burned.

Stamp’s wife Madonna stayed by his side. For her it was like having a bad dream that she couldn’t wake up from.

During Stamp’s first two weeks in hospital, Madonna’s mother passed away, and a few weeks later, her brother succumbed to cancer. She just couldn’t lose Pat. “I remained surprisingly calm throughout the whole ordeal,” says Madonna Stamp. “You never know how strong you actually are, until you are faced with something like this I’ll never forget the day Pat woke from the coma,” she says. “I came into his room and one of the nurses said to him, ‘Is there something you want to say to Madonna?’ Pat reached up his arms and said, ‘I love you’.”

For Stamp, the road to recovery has been long.

Not only has he dealt with physical healing, he’s also endured constant nightmares, and very painful self-esteem issues. “People stare at me, and it’s uncomfortable,” he says. “There have been times when I’ve felt like the walls around me were closing in and all I wanted to do was to be at home in my own comfort zone. When I’m in St. John’s everyone stares at a disfigured man and I feel like a victim. When I’m in St. Vincent’s I don’t feel like that. I go out and I’m happy.”

Stamp’s next thoughts were for his wife Madonna, who was in the community of Riverhead caring for her dying mother. He got a co-worker from East Coast Marine to get his cell phone. “I reached Madonna and told her there had been an accident, I was hurt, and waiting for a helicopter to come and take me to the hospital.”

See page 12 to read more about the findings of the Transportation Safety Board, Kometik accident report and the Federal Labour Code penalties levied against CanShip Ugland.

When the medical team arrived from St. John’s, Stamp was asked to lie on a stretcher. His body began going into shock and he was administered medication and he was placed in a drug-induced coma that he would not wake up from for seven weeks.

Stamp underwent several medical procedures, including incisions in his arms to help with circulation, skin grafting of his hands and arms, and debridement of his facial burns, a process used to clean dead and contaminated material, to aid in healing, increase the tissue's ability to

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Stamp has found solace in the Phoenix Society, an organization which helps burn survivors and their families cope with and overcome the unimaginable and difficult challenges they encounter following a burn injury.

The group is not meant to take the place of, or to provide counselling, psychotherapy or medical advice, but rather to offer information, direction and support, so burn victims can move forward in their healing process.

Two years ago, with the support of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission, Stamp attended a Phoenix Society conference in New York City. “I felt so comfortable and relaxed,” he recalls. “I saw people with no hands, no legs or eyes – and they were all happy and smiling. It was then that I thought to myself, ‘what’s wrong with me’?”

At the conference Stamp gained the confidence to stand before a microphone and tell his story to an audience of 900 people. “It was like a ton of bricks was lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t feel trapped and I knew I wasn’t alone.”

Stamp says the conference was also a great source of therapy for Madonna. “We’re pretty fortunate we’re still together. When accidents happen like mine, it changes so many things for couples. There were times when I wasn’t a nice person. I built up a lot of anger and

I didn’t like myself.” Stamp says he recalls Madonna saying to him: “Pat, I love you, but I don’t like you.”

It was then that he sought professional help.

Today Pat and Madonna are very happy. “I don’t want to change who I am now,” he says. I’m working on being comfortable with me, and although these past few years have been difficult, Madonna, our children and grandchildren, are still trying to deal with what has happened.”

Stamp accepts that he will never work again, and says, “I lost a lot that awful day – a friend, a livelihood and myself. I had no other option but to accept workers’ compensation and I’m so very thankful for the support I have received from them. My dealings with Workers’ have been nothing but positive, thanks to my very helpful and compassionate case manager.

“I am a different person today, but I am alive and thankful I can open my eyes to a new day,” says Stamp. “I was seriously injured and my friend was killed because safety was overlooked. Most accidents are preventable and I believe what happened to Wayne and I was preventable.”

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The Journey Forward (Kometik fire story) continued from page 11

According to the Transportation Safety Board, while anchored in Conception Bay, the Kometik's senior officers and a shorebased superintendent confirmed that inspections and repairs would be carried out on the Kometik. All 12 storage tanks were cleaned and freed of gas, then tested and inspected before any work took place.

Initial activities were carried out respecting standard procedures (for example, hiring a marine chemist on April 6, to test COT No. 4 port and starboard). As the operations progressed, activities such as the repairs to pipe support brackets in two other tanks (COT No. 5 port and starboard) were added to the operations and carried out using the resources at hand. The Chief Officer tested the atmosphere of all tanks using a hand-held meter prior to tank inspection.

He also used this method for verifying safe entry into tanks requiring internal repairs. However, a marine chemist was not recalled to certify those tanks in which hot work was to be done as "gas free."

The additional work which Pat Stamp and Wayne Dalton were involved in was undertaken without an overall plan for co-ordinating the individual activities; a risk assessment of the overall activity; and an assessment of the work/ crew requirements.

Approaching bad weather added an element of time pressure, with the crew required to complete the work so the vessel could leave the area by Noon on April 9 for its trip to the Hibernia offshore oil platform.

On the morning of April 8, a safety meeting was held and all relevant work permits were issued. Near mid-morning, the two crew members working in tank No. 6 starboard had completed their repairs and requested that the stripping line valve for No. 5 starboard be cycled to bleed air from the newly repaired hydraulic line. The valve was activated from the remote control station on the bridge, and it took 19 seconds to cycle the valve from closed to open to closed again. Ship's records show that this valve was again cycled about a half-hour later, this time taking only 15 seconds.

Following a coffee break, the welding equipment was moved from tank No. 5 port to No. 5 starboard. Although the tank atmosphere was not tested by anyone on the morning of the accident, a crew member and a welder entered that tank.

Neither carried an emergency breathing apparatus, nor was there ongoing gas monitoring as required by the shipboard safety manual. No safety harnesses or recovery safety lines were worn.

When conflicting work items were not identified during pre-planning, the cycling of the tank stripping valves allowed a flammable air/hydrocarbon fuel mixture to form in the tank where hot work was to be performed.

A post-occurrence tank inspection revealed the presence of oil residue that was not present during a visual inspection the day before the occurrence. The presence of residue can be explained by the cycling of the stripping valve for COT No. 5 starboard which is located in the adjoining tank (No. 6 starboard) on the morning of the occurrence. This was demonstrated from April 21 to April 22 when the operating company performed a post-occurrence test by cycling the stripping valve for cargo tank No. 5 starboard - at which point approximately 1.7 cubic metres of water and cargo oil flowed back into the tank's suction well.

The fire therefore likely occurred when combustible vapours from the back-flowing oil/water mixture that had entered that workspace were ignited by the welder's arc.

Dozens of federal labour code charges were laid against the company and some of its crew members, but many were eventually withdrawn in exchange for guilty pleas. CanShip Ugland was ordered to pay a fine of $40,000 and as part of a creative probation was also ordered to pay $100,000 for the development of courses in marine occupational health and safety at Memorial University’s Marine Institute, and contribute $20,000 for the creation of a scholarship for students enrolled in marine transportation programs, including science and engineering. The ship’s Superintendent was ordered to pay a fine of $10,000, plus $30,000 towards the same scholarship endowment as the company. The ship’s Captain was fined $27,500, while the Chief Officer was fined $20,000.

Since the April 2006 Kometik accident, CanShip Ugland has strengthened its health and safety procedures and protocols to ensure that such an incident never happens again. These changes are part of a continual improvement process that will always place workplace safety first and foremost.

Kometik VIOLATIONS cited by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada failure to appoint a marine chemist or other qualified person to verify by test that employees entering the cargo oil tank would not be exposed to airborne hazardous substances failure to ensure each employee was made aware of every known or foreseeable health and safety hazard in the area failure to ensure employees were adequately trained in health and safety failure to ensure that the entry of crude oil or other Photo courtesy of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada hazardous substances in the cargo oil tank had been prevented by a secure means of disconnection failure to ensure all electrical equipment that presented a hazard to entry into the cargo oil tank had been disconnected from its power source and locked out failure to prevent hot work from being performed in a cargo oil tank where an explosive or flammable substance was present. Source: article by Rosie Gillingham, The Telegram

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q

New fall protection training required for work above 3 metres

By Dee Ann Feltham-Scott Effective January 1, 2012, workers who use fall protection equipment will not be permitted to work in Newfoundland and Labrador unless they have completed a fall protection training program approved by the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission, (WHSCC) which has developed a Fall Protection Certification Training Standard.

devices to stop a fall while equipment is in operation.

Several excavation work activities also require the use of fall protection equipment, and floor openings must be properly covered to prevent workers from falling.

Employers are responsible for conducting risk assessments to identify and control all safety and health hazards, including fall hazards. Safe work practices and procedures must be developed as part of a written fall protection plan and workers must be trained to reduce risk. Supervisors must provide proper written instruction and ensure workers use or wear the equipment as indicated in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

Workers are required to report hazards, follow safe work procedures and use equipment and devices in the manner they are trained.

This standard establishes criteria for fall protection training providers and trainers. Training providers develop and submit their curriculum to the WHSCC for approval before delivering training.

Anyone who works at heights of three metres (approximately 10 feet) or more above the nearest safe surface, or above hazardous or dangerous work areas must be protected from falling. Fall protection equipment includes guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets or temporary flooring. Training will provide workers with the knowledge and skills consistent with industry and legislative standards.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has further recognized these responsibilities through revisions to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. Section 139 outlines the importance of having knowledgeable and skilled workers when using fall protection equipment.

Examples of work activities that require fall protection include: working over water, tanks, pits and machinery.

Workers who use ladders, boatswain’s chairs, scaffolds, swing stages, and various types of aerial and powered work platforms at heights of three metres or more must also be provided with and use fall protection equipment. Heavy equipment operators who stand at controls with the cab door open must be provided with approved restraining

Fall protection training is available through a number of providers approved by the WHSCC. For a complete list of approved providers and courses, go to: http://www.whscc.nl.ca/PREV_FallProtection.whscc.

Fall from Heights Facts and Figures

• In the last 12 months more than 125 stop-work orders related to working from heights have been issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch of the Department of Government Services.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Recent fall from heights incidents from across the country

• Since 2004, seven workers in Newfoundland and Labrador have died as a result of falls from heights.

• In 2010, 193 accepted lost-time claims were the result of a ‘fall to a lower level’ and over the last three years 643 accepted claims were the result of such falls.

• A worker cleaning gutters fell six to eight feet from a fully extended "multi-way" aluminum stepladder, suffering a concussion, fractured skull and vertebra.

• A worker installing insulation on corrugated metal roof decking fell through an opening

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and landed on concrete at grade, 18 feet below. The opening had been covered by an unsecured sheet of 3/4-inch plywood.

The worker suffered multiple fractures of the arm and pelvis.

• A carpenter on a bridge construction project was working near an augered hole measuring about 34 feet deep and about 4.5 feet in diameter at the top, tapering to about 2.5 feet at the bottom. The worker fell into the excavation and was rescued by the local fire department. The worker suffered a broken leg.

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Rovers to t

By David Legge When we think about search and rescue, most of us probably think about recent stories we’ve seen on the evening news or heard about on the radio during our drive to work. But we probably don’t think about the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into bringing someone back home safely.

Whether it’s the dead of winter and a snowmobiler has put a machine through the ice, or it’s the middle of summer and a hiker has ventured too far off the edge of a seaside trail, the Rovers Ground Search and Rescue (Rovers) are called into action.

The Rovers are a non-profit, volunteer organization based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Originally founded in 1972 as a part of the provincial Emergency Measures Organization, today the team is comprised of over 75 highly skilled, dedicated professional men and women. For almost 40 years, Rovers have been working with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, St. John's Regional Fire Department and Canadian Coast Guard to provide search and rescue services, community services, and educational services around the Northeast Avalon.

a state-of-the-art mobile command post which provides incident commanders with the necessary technology and communications equipment to assist in any situation.

To ensure they are always prepared, training and professional development for the 75 Rover volunteers is a top priority. Each year members build up hundreds of training hours perfecting their skills in search techniques, First-Aid, navigation, and rescue techniques such as high angle rescue, cold water ice rescue, and helicopter rescue.

The Rovers have built a solid reputation for their expertise and professionalism. The team was recently recognized by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for their contributions to the community with a Certificate of Appreciation for Exemplary Service. In 1992, the Rovers also received a Bronze Cross for Gallantry from Scouts Canada that was presented by the Governor General of Canada.

In an effort to centralize their equipment and to ensure faster response times, the Rovers are currently in the process of building an Emergency Response Facility.

Through donations and corporate sponsorships the Rovers are collecting funds to cover construction costs for a building that will become a vital facility in the Northeast Avalon search and rescue efforts.

Able to assist in any situation

Strong sense of community

“Over the years search and rescue incidents have become more frequent and more complex,” says Harry Blackmore, Team Co-ordinator with the Rovers. “Last year alone, our team logged more than 15,000 hours of service.” To meet increasing demands, the Rovers have acquired a large inventory of equipment, along with

In addition to their involvement in search and rescue, Rovers are active in the communities they serve.

Every member volunteers at Scouting activities, various community events (Christmas parades, festivals and tradeshows) and public awareness initiatives.

Recognizing the importance of incident prevention,

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the rescue Photo courtesy of Rovers Ground Search and Rescue

the Rovers facilitate a number of education programs to the public such as Boating Safety, Pleasure Craft Competency Certification, Hug-A-Tree (child safety awareness), Survive Outside, and Snow Safety.

Outdoor Safety As we venture outdoors to take in the beautiful trails and scenery this province has to offer, the Rovers remind us to proceed safely. “No one ever expects to get into trouble outdoors, but unpredictable weather, unexpected injury, a navigation mistake, or equipment failure can turn a day trip into a crisis,” says David Day, Executive Director with the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada The Rovers recommend that you use the three Ts outlined in the AdventureSmart program to help prepare for the great outdoors. The three Ts include: 1. Trip planning - Trip plans outline your planned activity, the number of people in your party, areas to be visited and expected time of arrival. Completed plans should be left with a responsible person prior to an outdoor adventure. While on your trip, stick to the Plan. In the event that you do not return as scheduled your plan will provide search and rescue organizers with valuable information.

3. Always carry the 10 essentials: 1. Flashlight, spare batteries and bulb 2. Fire making kit – waterproof matches/lighter, fire starter/candle 3. Signaling device – whistle or mirror to signal searchers if you become lost 4. Extra food and water – 1 litre/person 5. Extra clothing (rain, wind, water protection and toque) 6. Navigational/ communication aids (maps, compass, GPS, charts, cellular phone, satellite phone, hand held radio – fully charged battery) – know how to use them 7. First-Aid kit – know what’s inside and how to use it 8. Emergency shelter – orange tarp or large orange garbage bag. These can also be used as signaling devices 9. Pocket knife 10. Sun protection (glasses, sunscreen, hat) While the Rovers provide countless volunteer hours in the community, they recognize that their services would not be possible without the generous support of their sponsors and partners. For more information about the Rovers or to learn more about how you can become involved visit: www.rovers-sar.com. If your company or organization would like to sponsor search and rescue activities or is able to assist the team through the provision of in-kind services, please contact: info@rovers-sar.com.

2. Training - Training allows you to enjoy an activity to its full potential. Obtain the skills and knowledge that you need before you leave home. Before heading out on a kayak trip, for example, it is important to know how to use a kayak safely. Similarly, ensure that you are comfortable with the use of GPS and other technologies that help you navigate through the brush.

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Baker Hughes PPS group combines corporate safety structure with personal responsibility Photos courtesy of Baker Hughes

By Kathy Dicks-Peyton A leading oilfield services company, Baker Hughes, operates in environments that can be harsh and dangerous – particularly in the offshore sector. Among the Baker Hughes teams enduring severe environmental conditions is the Process and Pipeline Services (PPS) group. For the PPS group, and for every Baker Hughes employee, there’s no being lax when it comes to health and safety.

“Health and safety training is critical in our line of work and we are not risk takers,” says Jim Burroughs, Commercial Manager, Process and Pipeline Services – Eastern Canada.

Within the Baker Hughes group, health and safety professionals partner with managers across all departments and business segments to develop programs tailored to meet local needs and corporate goals, regardless of product, service, project or location. “It is a condition of employment that health and safety and environmental protection are priority one,” adds Burroughs.

The PPS group combines products and services formerly part of BJ Services and Baker Petrolite, and has been operating in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore oil and gas sector since 1996. PPS takes considerable pride in having operated with zero lost-time injuries during those 15 years of operation. One of the reasons for this success is a corporate structure that ensures safety experts are involved in every aspect of every project.

In addition, Baker Hughes demands individual responsibility and promotes a culture where ‘Stop Work Authority’ is exercised freely and valued as a proactive process.

“We can’t afford to compromise safety,” says Burroughs.

On a daily basis, Baker Hughes PPS employees are involved in cold and hot nitrogen work, chemical cleaning, hydrostatic testing, nitrogen/helium leak detection, and pipe freezing, as well as pipeline pre-commissioning, testing, cleaning and drying.

Before carrying out any work, Baker Hughes performs a risk assessment to identify hazards and determine appropriate ways to control them. Without exception, they must assess the area where they are going to work to identify situations and processes that may cause harm, particularly to people.

“It is very important that we identify and control risks.

Safety should be second nature and we all need to be aware of our surroundings,” says Burroughs.

All new Baker Hughes employees working in an environment where hazards are expected and must be controlled, are required to undergo intensive ‘greenhand’ health and safety training. This training also teaches employees how to adjust to challenging work environments that may take them away from their homes and families for long periods of time.

“You need a positive attitude when working in a high-risk environment,” says Burroughs. “Hand-in-hand with that you need a good work ethic and the ability to get along with others in a team environment.”

There are about 1,200 Baker Hughes PPS specialists worldwide. All are required to take responsibility for their health, safety and environmental protection within the Baker Hughes organization, a company of more than 53,000 employees. According to Burroughs, this commitment not only protects employees, it protects customers and increases shareholder value.

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The mining lifestyle The following essay by Kayla Smith of Lewisporte, was a winning entry for the 2011 Dick Martin Scholarship offered by the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).

Since 2003, scholarships have been awarded to students enrolled in occupational health and safety-related courses or programs at accredited colleges or universities across Canada.

This year marks the first time a person from Newfoundland and Labrador has been recognized for the award. Kayla is a graduate of the Occupational Health and Safety program at Keyin College.

The Dick Martin Scholarship Award (DMSA) was created in honour of Dick Martin, a former CCOHS Governor. The award recognizes Martin’s contribution to CCOHS; his powerful voice for the rights of workers; his commitment to securing justice for working men and women; and, his work to promote action to protect people’s environments inside and outside the workplace.

Mining is an industrial activity that has many health and safety risks associated with its lifecycle. The mining lifecycle refers to the exploration, development, operation, and decommission of a mine, as well as land rehabilitation.

During each phase, miners may be exposed to physical, chemical, ergonomic or biological hazards.

Research has shown that before occupational health and safety was recognized as a controllable dimension of the industry, the prevalence of injury, illness, death and disease was significantly greater. Implementing appropriate health, safety and environmental controls helps to eliminate or minimize the risks and protect the environment. A review of the mining industry illustrates the evolution of safety equipment and safe work practices. From past to present, many of the hazards remain, but the risks have been minimized. The historical image of miners with picks and shovels has faded due to the training, knowledge, and equipment available today and workers are now protected through developments such as unionized work environments which encourage the practice of workers’ rights.

As a former miner, Dick Martin witnessed many of the unsafe practices and conditions that occurred in mining environments and described them as “appalling”.

For example, before ventilation and personal protective equipment were developed, miners used canaries as a means of gas detection. The animals’ highly sensitive metabolism was able to detect methane gas and carbon monoxide. These gases create the potential for explosion and cause an immediate threat to human life. As a warning to the miners, the canary would sing and then die. This indicated the presence of methane or carbon monoxide gas and signalled the workers to evacuate the mine (Lewis, J., 2011).

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Miners eventually recognized that these types of conditions and safety measures were unreliable and unacceptable, something which led to the Elliott Lake miners’ strike of 1974. These uranium miners went on strike to protest deplorable health and safety condition in their industry, which lead to high rates of lung cancer.

Five years prior to the strike, the Ontario Workman’s Compensation Board stated that 16 out of 20 deaths of Elliott Lake miners were the result of lung cancer. These statistics supported the miners’ strike and confirmed that mining conditions were unacceptable and harmful to the health and safety of the workers. Establishing one of the greatest milestones of mining history, this strike served as a catalyst for the creation of the Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. (Geotsch, D. L., & Ozon, G., 2006) Due to the impact of the Elliott Lake miners’ strike and the unreliability of safety equipment such as canary birds, the magnitude of the benefits of occupational health and safety were recognized and necessary regulations were developed and enhanced in all industries (Geotsch, D. L., & Ozon, G., 2006). Miners today have access to gas testing equipment, sensors that monitor the performance of mining equipment and devices that are capable of detecting rock movement (Udd, J., 2011).

Ventilation systems and respiratory equipment are also available and help to protect the workers from excess inhalation of harmful substances. Through worksite inspections and risk assessments, employers are able to identify hazards and implement appropriate control measures based on the hierarchy of controls. This hierarchy recommends elimination and substitution respectively, followed by engineering, administrative, and housekeeping controls, and finally personal protective equipment as a last resort. These controls are often supplemented with employee training and education.

Continued on page 18

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The mining lifestyle continued from page 17

are appropriately justified and resolved. Unions such as the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) representing over 600,000 members across Canada – are committed to improving the quality of life of workers and have done so through a strong, collective voice in the workplace and in society. As an example, CUPE members from across Ontario held a convention for the striking Sudbury nickel miners and raised $70,000 for the workers and their families (Watson, C., 2010). This type of activism and worker protection was what Dick Martin stood for and helped to achieve.

L to R: Leslie Galway, CEO, WHSCC, Kayla Smith, and Ralph Tucker, Board Chair, WHSCC

Mining industry safety standards continue to improve as a result of technological advances and a more highly skilled and better-educated work force. The industry has evolved from the use of equipment such as a pick and shovel to highly automated equipment that can be controlled remotely from distant locations (Udd, J., 2011). The highly skilled operators that are required for mining operations today are protected through occupational health and safety regulations and techniques, and their skills are maintained through the education and training provided from organizations such as the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Employers and workers now have the option to participate in unionized workplace organizations and this type of environment offers improved pay, benefits, rights and working conditions for workers and companies alike.

Organizations such as the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) provide information, training, education, management systems and solutions that promote and encourage health, safety and wellness programs (Hong, S.L., 2011).

To work safely in mines, workers must be well trained in areas such as First-Aid, lock-out/tag-out, confined space and various equipment operations. With the increased availability of resources such as the CCOHS, employers can be confident in the abilities of their workers, and workers can be self-assured that they have the required skills which inevitably protect their safety.

Although advancements in equipment, work practices and protective equipment have been astronomical, continuous improvements are necessary. Many employers and workers have recognized the importance of strong health and safety practices in the workplace and have adopted a proactive attitude toward preventing injury, illness, death and loss. However, employers and workers do not always agree upon what is safe. Through unionized workplace organizations, activism at work and collective bargaining with the employer, all parties involved with a company are protected, and health and safety issues

Dick Martin’s values and principles reflect the safe, clean, healthy and stress-free environments that are encouraged through health and safety initiatives today.

He was a man of great achievement and was a symbol of health and safety in Canada. He was truly a Canadian pioneer for workplace health and safety and as a result of his years of hard work and dedication, workers and companies are more safety-conscious than they have ever been. s

References Geotsch, D. L., & Ozon, G. (2006). Occupational health and safety for technologists, engineers and managers. Toronto, Ontario: Pearson Canada Inc. Donoghue, A. M. (2004). Occupational health hazards in mining: an overview. Occupational Medicine, 54, 283-289. Retrieved January 20, 2011 from Oxford Journals.

Udd, J. (2011). Mining safety and health. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieve January 20, 2011 from www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com.

Hong, S.L. (2011). About CCOHS. Canadian Center for Occupation Health and Safety. Retrieved January 20, 2011 from www.ccohs.ca.

Watson, C. (2010). CUPE Ontario convention raises $70,000 for striking Sudbury nickel miners. Retrieved January 20, 2011 from www.cupe.ca.

Lewis, J. (2011). The history of canaries. Retrieve January 20, 2011 from www.ehow.com.

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Workplace Health, Safety & The Royal St. John’s Regatta The Regatta is the only major event sponsored by the WHSCC and it’s a perfect fit

By Chris Flanagan The 193rd running of the Royal St. John’s Regatta in 2011 marked one of the most unique festivals in Canada.

It is the oldest sporting event in the country by quite a few decades and the only weather-dependent holiday from coast to coast.

Despite months of training, and comfort in the boat, no one can afford to be complacent. Crews must always do a safety check, ensuring oar locks are tight, seats are properly positioned, feet are secure but not encumbered, and flags indicate conditions are safe.

The weather-dependent nature of the event serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of the environment in any workplace activity. In Newfoundland and Labrador, weather is a major factor when it comes to workplace safety and should always be taken into account before any project is planned or outdoor task commences.

The Commission fields a men’s and a women’s rowing team, and for the first time in 2011, hosted a rest tent amid the hundreds of concessions, rides and games of chance set up around the pond. The rest tent provided a unique opportunity for staff to meet thousands of workers and employers and to hear about workplace safety.

Many workers came forward with their own safety stories, including one landscaper who said he would have lost several toes if he had not been wearing his steel toe boots one slippery day last year. Another man had damaged the ends of his fingers and could relate to the new SAFE Work ad featuring a table saw without a safety guard.

This year at the Regatta cloudy skies, rain and drizzle were not particularly good for spectators. However, winds were low and visibility was good, making it safe for rowers, so the races went ahead. In workplace safety, the impact of weather on workers must always be the main concern. Roofers must check wind conditions, fishers must check marine forecasts, and construction and highway crews must consider soil moisture content.

Fog is a constant concern if you have workers heading out on the highway/water.

The Royal St. John’s Regatta also serves as a great reminder and inspiration for workplace health. Healthy living, including exercise and stretching, is essential for avoiding long-term hazards such as repetitive strain or back pain. It takes months of exercise and conditioning to get your body in shape and months of training to get the entire team in synch.

Team work is also an important component of the Regatta.

As we say, safety is everybody’s responsibility. From the company owner or CEO to the worker in the field, all of us must know and follow required safety practices.

Commission volunteers handed out thousands of mini First-Aid kits, which were greatly appreciated, and in one case came in handy. A boy had cut his ankle and his mother could not stop the bleeding. Luckily a volunteer offered the sterile wipe and large bandage which were put to good use.

As for the rowing teams, not all had a good day. For the first time in more than 35 years, two racing shells collided, sending one crew into the pond and requiring the assistance of the rescue vessel. The incident provides one more Regatta safety message: not only must we plan, train, mitigate and understand risks, we must also have an emergency plan in case something goes wrong.

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Safety awareness and knowledge begins with training When you hear the word ‘safety’ – what comes to mind? Is it a word that applies to everything you do? Effective safety, whether at home at work or play, begins with being aware of potential hazards and knowing how to control them. Awareness and knowledge begin with training.

Last year, 13 people died in Newfoundland and Labrador as the result of workplace accidents. Another 19 succumbed to occupational disease. That’s 32 individuals who left behind families and friends, who shake their heads wondering how these tragedies could have been prevented.

In the workplace, training plays an important role in occupational health and safety and employers must ensure on a day-to-day basis that workers are aware of health and safety responsibilities for themselves, their co-workers, and clients visiting their premises.

Occupational health and safety impacts every worker in every workplace, no matter how long they have been employed.

It is therefore important to engage in ongoing training for seasoned staff, and ensure new hires embrace the importance of building an effective safety culture.

Effective health and safety training can reduce workplace injuries and deaths, property damage, legal liability, illnesses, workers’ compensation claims and missed time from work.

Bottom line - if something looks unsafe - it probably is, and employers who do not provide health and safety training may be putting their workers at risk of injury or even death.

Kathy Dicks-Peyton is the Manager of Communications and Event Planning with the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission

Kathy Dicks-Peyton, Editor

We would like to hear from you...

Give us your insight on safework news content, or topics for discussion relating to employer assessments, workers’ compensation, and workplace health and safety.

Send your comment to: safework news c/o Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission 146-148 Forest Road P.O. Box 9000 St. John’s NL A1A 3B8 or send us an email: kpeyton@whscc.nl.ca

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WHSCC Prevention Services Workshop Series Fall 2011 Programs that give employees the skillsets they need to do their jobs safely.

Safety Awareness Sessions October, November, December, 2011 October – Workplace Inspections (9am – 1pm)

November 15 – Labrador City

connect Get ready, get set...connect whscc.nl.ca Online services for employers Registered connect users can now file their Form 7 - Employer Report of Injury online. Not sure how to do this? Follow our step-by-step tutorial at: www.whscc.nl.ca

October 4 – Corner Brook

November 17 – Happy Valley-Goose Bay

October 5 – Stephenville

November 21 – Gander

October 7 – St. John’s

November 22 – Grand FallsWindsor

Need a clearance letter?

November 24 – Clarenville

Simply go to whscc.nl.ca and follow the link to connect. After you register, your business you will be able to request clearance letters or set up a sub-contractor status list, and be notified nightly of clearance status changes.

October 11 – St. John’s October 13 – Marystown October 17 - Gander October 18 – Grand FallsWindsor

November 29 – Bay Roberts November 30 – St. John’s

October 25 – Labrador City

December – Occupational Health & Safety Committees (9am – 1pm)

October 26 – Happy ValleyGoose Bay

December 1 – Clarenville/St. John’s

October 28 – Bay Roberts

December 2 – Marystown

October 20 – Clarenville

November – Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI) Prevention (9am – 1pm) November 1 – Corner Brook November 2 – Stephenville November 8 – Marystown November 10 – St. John’s

December 6 – Grand FallsWindsor/Labrador City December 7 – Gander/Happy ValleyGoose Bay December 13 – Corner Brook/Bay Roberts December 14 – Stephenville/St. John’s

To register, call Heather King at: 778-2926 or 1-800-563-9000, Fax: 778-1587 or email: workshops@whscc.nl.ca

Wondering about your current balance or last year’s assessment rate?

No need to call or write - account information is also online.

If your business is already registered for connect, simply speak to your on-site connect administrator about using the service, which includes account balances, recent payments, rate history and cost reports.

File your 2011 Annual Employer Statements (AES) online Watch your mail this fall for information on how to file your Annual Employer Statements online.

These statements include: s Occupational Health and Safety Statement(s); s Employer Payroll Statement; and s Employer Contractor Statement.

Registration must be received no later than one week prior the individual session. Sessions may be cancelled due to lack of registered participants.

Notification of cancellation of session will be provided to registered participants one week prior to the scheduled individual session.

safeworknews publication agreement #40063376

For more information on connect services, call: 709-778-2902

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