There is something in this picture….but there should be a person attached to it??

And this picture is an easyone…..I know…it was hot…and you can’t make them wear it….can you?

CITY IS FINED
$100,000 FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATION
A City was fined $100,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in serious foot injuries to an employee in Parks and Recreation.

A summer student was using a lawn mower to cut grass in a park when the mower got stuck in a rut. To get the mower out of the rut, the young worker pulled it from the front while a second student pushed the mower from behind. The mower’s blades continued to turn as they worked to free the machine. When the mower came out of the rut, it lurched forward and jumped up. Its exposed moving blades came in contact with the first student’s left foot. The blades cut through the student’s safety shoe causing severe lacerations to the foot, damaging tendons and nerves and breaking three toes. A Ministry of Labour investigation found a safety device known as the “dead man’s switch” on the mower had been tied down by white plastic ties resulting in the switch being disabled. If the switch had not been tied down, the blades would have stopped moving within about three seconds when the mower was not in use.

The City pleaded guilty to failing, as an employer, to provide training to the injured worker on the mower’s “dead man’s switch.” This was contrary to Section 25(2)(a) of the act.
In addition, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act.
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I met with a Health and Safety Rep of a large organization. During our meeting they explained that their organization had a very good training plan. They even mentioned that they work very closely with the Ministry of Labour rep for their area. When I asked one employee a question regarding the training they had received on the specific piece of equipment they were operating they said the only formal training they had received was from a person who operated it last year. The operator also said that they had wished they had received some guidance in the specific area of use on uneven terrain;

1. I witnessed several safety infractions, in a matter of minutes, and all within one specific location; and

2. I had a Supervisor tell me that they provide their staff with PP & E but they can’t make them wear it.

Is it true that once you have told your employees to wear their PP&E that if they choose not to use it that it is out of your hands????

Why take chances? Ask us about how we can help you develop new training programs focused on your specific requirements, or we can simply review your existing programs in order to ensure your staff is receiving the proper training from qualified instructors.

Check us out at:

www.groundforcetraining.com