In what has become a recurring pattern at high-rise construction sites in downtown Calgary, on May 15th a steelworker on the 45th floor of the Bow Building  failed to tether his two-kilogram spud wrench, and lost his grip on the tool. As a result, it fell with such force that it bounced off the concrete, hit a cement apron in front of Calgary police headquarters across the street and crashed through the station’s front window.  Thankfully, no one was hurt or killed.

For its part, Matthews Development, the steelworker’s employer, acknowledged that the worker had failed to follow strict rules by not securing the wrench to his belt. They filed an incident report immediately, and announced later that the worker had been “professionally disciplined” internally.  The incident has also prompted the company to begin safety re-training of all workers at the site.

OHS is conducting a full investigation, focused on which steps employers can take to make sure such an incident doesn’t happen again. As you can guess based on where the wrench landed, the initial investigation was performed by Calgary police. City of Calgary building inspectors are also looking into the incident, and promising new rules and greater enforcement, as concerns about public safety around high-rise construction sites in the city continue to build.

In August 2009, a three-year-old girl was killed as she walked down the street and was hit by a bundle of steel roofing materials that had been blown from the 22nd storey of a construction site during a wind storm.  Her father and seven-year-old brother were also badly injured in that incident.

Later that month, a large pane of glass fell from a construction site at the Palliser South tower, causing shards of glass to rain on the sidewalk and street below.  A month later, another incident at the Bow Building site saw a small crane nearly fall from the building, with a tether preventing it from falling three stories to the ground below. While the crane didn’t fall, it did drop its load, a large pane of glass, and smashed another window as it angled. Then, within days of that incident, a piece of scaffolding fell from the 19th storey of the Penn West Tower and crashed onto a parkade ramp. Thankfully, no one was injured in any of these incidents, but the potential was there.

Recently, the city, OHS and the Calgary Construction Association formed a task force to study the situation, and make recommendations on improving safety. Their goal is to develop a best practices guide in four areas: 1) materials and equipment on site; 2) hoisting of material; 3) hoarding; and 4)traffic control management.

A supplier and mender of the rolls used in paper-making machines, Xerium Canada, Inc., was fined $60,000 on October 2, 2009, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a worker was injured.

In an incident that occurred on March 19, 2008, workers at Xerium’s North Bay facility were attempting to repair a machine used to mix bonding liquid. The power to the machine was turned off and the protective guards covering the machine’s drive shaft were removed so that they could work. The workers again turned on the machine, but failed to replace the guards immediately. As a result, one of the workers caught his sleeve in the machine’s moving parts.

Xerium Canada Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the machine’s driveshaft and gears were guarded to prevent access to their pinch points.

The $60,000 fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Susan Hilton. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25% victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

That’s $75,000 total off of the company’s bottom line, because workers forgot to do something deceptively simple that would have taken a few seconds, at most. Building a culture of safety, in which workers are trained to consider every detail before they even flip a switch, is worth every bit of the up-front investment your company puts forward.

Apparently, companies running Calgary highrise construction sites are having a difficult time keeping everything in place, and the result seems to be a rash of serious safety problems downtown.

The latest incident happened on September 26, when part of the scaffolding flew off the 19th floor of the Homburg-Harris Centre construction site and landed on a parkade ramp. No one was hurt in this particular incident, but this is the third incident of flying debris from a highrise construction site in downtown Calgary in less than two months. On August 29, vehicles were forced to dodge flying glass, as it broke loose and fell 18 stories. On August 1, a three-year-old pedestrian was killed, and several other family members seriously hurt, when a piece of sheet metal blew from another highrise construction site during a windstorm Aug. 1.

The site of the latest incident, run by Centron Construction Group, saw a tragic accident in May, when rigger Lance James Orr was killed as he assisted a crane operator in moving concrete forms on the 21st floor.

The construction site was immediately placed under a stop-work notice, and provincial and municipal investigators are examining the scaffolding and staff training measures in place, as well as the company’s procedures for erecting and moving scaffolding. They are also looking at whether there is a connection between all of the recent incidents of falling debris at construction sites.

It’s not known whether the Homburg-Harris Centre site was one of 20 in Calgary already under the Occupational Health and Safety review launched last month. All companies involved in these incidents face charges for allowing an unsafe situation, even when no one is hurt, because the companies who run these sites are responsible for them at all times, even when no workers are present.

According to a new report from the Massachusetts Toxic Use Reduction Institute (TURI), entitled “Asthma-Related Chemicals in Massachusetts,” more than 300 substances are known or suspected to cause or exacerbate asthma, and that “[m]uch of the evidence (for identifying these substances) comes from workers exposed in the workplace.”

Asthma is an increasingly common chronic lung disease that kills more than 500 Canadians annually. The most common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, coughing and wheezing.

Based on the report’s findings, workers in a range of occupations may be exposed to ammonia, chlorine, formaldehyde, diesel exhaust or any of the other 300-plus chemicals identified in this report as causing asthma symptoms. Lab workers, woodworkers, construction workers, plumbers, farmers, painters, and those in industries that produce metals, plastics, electronics, rubber and textiles are just a few examples of workers who are at risk. Asthma-causing substances are also commonly found in most cleaning products, including those found in most workplaces and homes.

The Canadian Lung Association reports that three million Canadians are suffering from asthma, and 25% of them have symptoms that are triggered or made worse by exposure in the work environment. That means hundreds of thousands of workers are affected. In addition, they report that up to 15% of new asthma cases are caused by workplace exposures.

There needs to be greater effort on the part of workplaces to either eliminate these substances or minimize worker exposure to them. The TURI report identifies more than 300 different chemicals, and that information should be used to develop strategies for replacing substances with those less harmful, and to isolate those that can’t be replaced, in order to reduce exposure.

In Ontario, occupational health and safety law requires that employers take steps to protect workers from harmful substances, and it gives workers the right to know about hazardous substances through the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). The province’s new Toxics Reduction Act (TRA) may also prove useful in safeguarding workers and the public from harmful substances including those linked with asthma.

The Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) is currently working to develop regulations that effectively implement of the Toxics Reduction Act, and those regulations should be completed this fall. In the meantime, it would be a good idea for supervisors to read . Slated for completion in the fall of 2009, the content and enforcement of these regulations will help determine how effective the legislation will be.

For our part, the Workers Health & Safety Centre has developed information resources and training programs to help workers, joint committee members and others better understand how to identify and eliminate exposure to harmful chemicals including asthma-causing substances.

Supervisors should read the Massachusetts report, as well as the Toxics Reduction Act, and the WHSC asthma fact sheet, in order to prepare for the new regulations coming down the pike. TURI also a database of potential cleaning solution alternatives that could be helpful.

Asthma is an increasingly common disease, and workplaces will have to prepare to stem the tide very soon. It’d be best to prepare now for the changes that are coming.

A Brampton kitchen manufacturer has been fined $75,000 for violating the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA), in an incident that resulted in the death of a worker. In addition, two supervisors from a temporary help agency were each fined $10,000 for their involvement in the same incident.

In August 2006, two workers from temp agency Opportunity Labour Agency Services were told to enter a shipping container to cut banding around a stack of plywood. As one of the workers began to cut the bands, the bundle of plywood fell on him. Ironically, these workers had been assigned this work after the task had already been deemed unsafe by other supervisors.

Neff Kitchen Manufacturers Limited pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the plywood could be removed without endangering the safety of any worker, which is covered under OHSA Industrial Regs., section 45(b)(ii). Two supervisors from Opportunity Labour Agency Services also pleaded guilty for failing to advise the workers of the potential or actual danger posed by this load. As noted, each one was fined $10,000, as well.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Karen Walker. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25% victim fine surcharge on the total, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

There seems to be a lot of fear and trepidation on the part of the average driver when you bring up the subject of roundabouts. But they’re really not that scary, when you know a little about them.

As pretty much anyone who drives would agree, two of the most irritating problems on the roads are traffic congestion and vehicle accidents, especially for those who drive in cities. Traffic flow is a difficult process in many areas, even under the best of circumstances. While they may seem scary because they’re different, roundabouts, which are used at intersections in place of stop signs and traffic signals, are increasingly seen as a solution to the problem. And they actually work quite well.

In those areas where roundabouts have been installed, motor vehicle accidents overall have declined an average of 40%, and accidents involving injuries have been reduced by about 80%. And they are not only safer. Roundabouts create a significant improvement in traffic flow, reducing vehicle delays, as well as fuel consumption and air pollution.

The modern version of the roundabout was developed in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, but they are now widely used all over the world. The modern roundabout in Canada is a circular intersection designed to promote safe and efficient traffic flow by guiding them counter-clockwise around a raised center island, with entering traffic yielding the right of way to those vehicles already in the circle. Rural roundabouts are designed to slow traffic down to about 50 kmh, while urban roundabouts usually feature tighter curves, which are designed to slow traffic to 20-30 kmh. Within the roundabout itself, slower speeds are maintained by the deflection of traffic around the center island and the relatively tight radius, which aids in the smooth movement of vehicles into, around and out of the roundabout. Drivers who approach a roundabout must reduce their speeds, look for possible conflicts with traffic already negotiating the circle, and watch out for approaching pedestrians.

Several roundabout features promote safety. Roundabouts essentially eliminate the most common and potentially most serious types of accidents at traditional intersections with stop signs or traffic signals, such as right-angle, left-turn, and head-on collisions. These types of crashes are virtually impossible because vehicles travel in the same direction, and must slow down to negotiate the turn. Roundabouts also tend to reduce the likelihood of serious rear-end crashes, because there’s no incentive for drivers to speed up for yellow lights, or to stop abruptly at red lights.

Roundabouts are actually quite easy to drive. They seem a bit intimidating at first, because they’re different, but that’s their purpose; they’re designed to keep traffic flowing through an intersection, while slowing it down. There is no reason to be nervous; you just have to be aware.

There are always signs as you approach a roundabout. Watch for them, and note the advisory speed limit for that roundabout. As you approach, slow down and watch for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Continue to the roundabout, look to your left, and be sure to yield to traffic already in the circle. Once you see a gap, enter the circle and proceed to your exit. But as you exit, look for pedestrians.

Once in a while, usually in less densely populated areas, or when there are intersections of more than two streets, you might encounter a two-lane roundabout. For these, you’ll encounter two signs; one to advise you there’s a roundabout ahead, and the second to tell you which lane to choose for which exit. You should be careful to choose a lane before you enter the roundabout. If this sounds difficult, it’s not. Just choose the same lane you would choose if you were approaching a standard intersection. Stay to the right if you plan to either go straight or turn right, and choose the left lane if you want to go straight or turn left. To make a U-Turn, choose the left lane.

For more information, including a couple of good flash movies demonstrating how to use roundabouts, Go to this web site, which has been set up by the province of British Columbia. Don’t be afraid, just be aware and you’ll be fine.

The Public Health Agency of Canada officials have identified yet another new flu virus; a mixture of human and swine influenzas, in two farm workers at a hog barn operation in Saskatchewan. Neither worker who contracted the virus became seriously ill, but authorities are slightly worried, because the strain is not related to the current H1N1 pandemic influenza strain that has killed 429 people worldwide. All workers on the hog farm are being vaccinated.

Since the new H1N1 broke out, officials in Canada, the United States and a few other countries have stepped up testing of both people and swine for flu viruses. People and pigs can swap flu viruses, although it has only rarely been documented.

With this new strain popping up on top of the H1N1 strain, this might be a good time for companies to review steps they can take to minimize exposure, and keep the potential threat to your workers’ health and safety low, thus keeping the company’s productivity high.

First of all, if you start to feel what most people identify as “flu-like symptoms,” be sure to see a doctor right away. If you even think you’ve been exposed to the flu, keep your hands away from your nose and mouth. If you have to sneeze or cough, do so into a sleeve, to keep the germs away from your hands. Keep in mind; your hand touch everything, as do everyone else’s hands. And whether or not you sneeze or cough into them, keep your hands clean, anyway. Wash them with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as often as possible. Also, try to stay at least three feet away from others when practical, whether or not you think you or your co-workers has been exposed to the flu.

If you haven’t already, it’s time for supervisors to develop a plan, to ensure the safety of not only their workers, but the public at large. The workplace should encourage a greater frequency of cleaning and personal hygiene activities, and should actively distribute personal wellness information as it becomes available.

Now there are at least two strains of flu to worry about, so even if a vaccine is found for one, the upcoming flu season could be a long one. Taking a few simple precautions could improve your chances of avoiding the negative effects of illness in the workplace.

According to a new study, entitled It Pays to Hire an Apprentice: Calculating the Return on Training Investment for Employers in Canada, Canadian employers would do well to invest more in apprenticeship training programs.

The Canadian Apprenticeship forum surveyed more than 2,000 employers with journeypersons and/or apprentices in 16 skilled trades. What they found was that, on average, employers receive $1.47 worth of benefit for every $1 invested in apprenticeship training programs. Since a 2006 study showed them receiving $1.38, the relative value of apprenticeship training programs actually increases over time. But that $1.47 figure is the average; many professions saw an even higher return. Employers of heavy equipment mechanics, for example, saw the biggest return, at $1.97 for every $1 invested, although the employers of boilermakers ($1.92 per $1 invested) and machinists ($1.87 per $1 invested) did almost as well.

According to the report, most employers believe that a “homegrown” journeyperson whom they train as an apprentice is nearly 30% more productive, because the highly trained employee is a better fit with the organization, represents a reduced risk of skills shortages to the company. As the net benefit of apprenticeship training and the revenue generated by the apprentice increase each year, the cost in terms of journeyperson time actually declines during the course of the apprenticeship period.

Yes, that’s right; the more specialized training a worker receives in his job, the more valuable he or she is to an employer. Proper training leads to a more valuable employee.

Unfortunately, the report also found a potential shortage of apprentices, with 30% of employers without apprentices indicating they would hire them if they could find some, and 14% of employers who have hired journeypersons but not apprentices indicating they would be willing to hire an apprentice, but few or none had applied to their organization.

Encourage apprenticeship. It’s in everyone’s best interest. If you’d like a copy of the study, it’s available here…

This one belongs in our “no kidding” file. According to a new study by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), when workers and supervisors work together to identify and fix barriers that prevent workers from returning to their jobs, absent workers with low-back pain get back to work earlier than would otherwise be the case.

This stunning conclusion is based on a study involving 196 workers who had been off work with a low-back injury for two to six weeks. This is apparently especially true for older workers and those who have previously been off sick.

The study randomly assigned workers into two groups: those who took part in a workplace intervention, and those receiving the “usual care” involving an occupational health physician only. Those who were assigned to the intervention group took part in a “participatory ergonomics” approach, in which the worker and a supervisor identified possible barriers to returning to work, with assistance from an occupational health physician or ergonomist.

The study found that workers 44 years and older returned to work 2.5 times faster than those of the same age in the usual care group. Furthermore, those who had been sick in the previous year returned to work 2.8 times faster than those who had been sick and received usual care.

It’s amazing, really; workers and supervisors from the same workplace work together to solve problems, and the company gets the worker back faster. Such a radical concept. If you’d like to read the study, you can download a copy here.

In the wake of a seven month demonstration project, British Columbia has unveiled a comprehensive plan to make resource roads safer. The demonstration project was carried out in the Prince George forestry region, as well as the oil and gas fields southeast of Fort St. John.

Among the suggestions in the report was a call to make the best use of new technology. For instance, it was suggested that all light-duty trucks be equipped with electronic stability control, which has been shown to reduce skidding and sliding by up to 30%. Light-duty trucks seem to show the greatest susceptibility to accidents, so they were singled out for immediate modification, but eventually, the plan is to include stability control on all vehicles.

The report also included a recommendation that the province establish road safety management committees, that will enforce a consistent set of rules province-wide throughout all 29 forest districts within the province.

Other aspects of the plan are already in place. In order to operate in B.C.s timber sales program, for example, an operator must become “safe certified,” as a company by January 1, 2010. As of May 2009, 1,949 companies have been certified as such, with another 2,378 in the process of certification. Also, two pilot projects were introduced that attempt to standardize radio protocols throughout the province. Previously, different forest districts were under different radio programs, and communication was difficult.

In addition, Ministry of Forest officials will hand out speeding tickets on forest roads after a judge in Chetwynd upheld their authority to do so after three tickets were challenged in court recently. And $20 million will be allocated to improve sight lines and grades on those resource roads across the province.

The report’s recommendations will be made to WorkSafeBC, Ministry of Forests and Range, and B.C. Forest Safety Council, among others.