A recent inquest into the death of 72-year-old builder Domenico Ranieri at a Saint John construction site in Saint John points to a number of safety lapses that contributed to the accident.

In October 2008, Ranieri, the owner of East Coast Rental Equipment Ltd, and a co-worker were securing 500-pound roof trusses for a warehouse storage shed being constructed when the trusses gave way after a brace was removed. Ranieri was killed and his co-worker injured after falling approximately 20 feet from the roof.

A WorkSafeNB investigation highlighted a number of concerns, including the fact that the gable was inadequately braced. According to the report, the lumber used for bracing was of insufficient size and length, and was inadequately nailed. Also, the spacing distance between the lines of lateral bracing at the truss top cord was beyond the normal limit. They also noted that neither worker was wearing any personal protective equipment or fall arrest systems.

The accident prompted several recommendations from the coroner’s jury, including a call for building inspectors and field engineers to “obtain basic knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to be able to identify potential violations.” They also recommended that WorkSafeNB’s building inspectors and field officers be given the right to restrict access to a work site which is apparently unoccupied if there is a perceived non-compliance to the building code or OHSA. This restriction applies until they are able to issue a stop work order. Apparently, a WorkSafeNB inspector had been on site earlier that morning, before the accident, but was unable to conduct an inspection because no one was there. Not long after he left, he received the call about the accident.

They also called for copies of building permits for non-residential projects to be sent to WorkSafeNB, so that they could establish a schedule of site visits to ensure compliance with the OHSA as construction progresses. Currently, WorkSafeNB is not notified of building permits issued by the City; instead that information is sent to Service New Brunswick. They also recommended that building permits also be displayed in plain view on every job site.

The presiding coroner also suggested that building designers be required to provide detailed truss erection instructions for all commercial buildings spanning more than 40 feet, seven inches, because the general instructions provided by truss manufacturers “have a little a caveat there that these instructions are good for installations up to 40 feet seven inches.” Any structure beyond that specified dimension requires the consultation of a professional engineer.

Toronto Police and investigators from the Ontario Ministry of Labour are investigating a horrible Christmas Eve accident at a Rexdale apartment complex in which scaffolding collapsed and five workers fell 13 stories to the ground below. Four of the workers died and one survived and was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital with serious head injuries. Another worker on the scaffolding — the job foreman — was able to jump onto the balcony to safety just before the collapse.

The workers had been repairing balconies on the thirteenth floor of the 18-storey high-rise apartments near Kipling Avenue and Steeles Avenue West when the scaffolding snapped in two “for unknown reasons,” although there is speculation that the scaffolding was carrying too much weight, what with six men, tools and the cement they were using to repair the balconies having been loaded onto the platform. Police say all of the men were wearing safety harnesses, but only one was actually attached.

According to witnesses, there were six workers on the scaffolding, with a seventh on the balcony itself. When the scaffolding started to make noise like it was beginning to crack, the foreman jumped onto the balcony to safety, seconds before the scaffolding split in two. The one man who was wearing a safety harness was left dangling in the air after the collapse, but the worker who was on the balcony fell to the ground while trying to pull him up to safety.

It’s been confirmed that at least two of the workers for Metron Construction were hired as contractors, which meant they were responsible for their own insurance and benefits. It is not known if the workers had received adequate training for such work. Criminal charges are also being considered in this case.

Scaffolding work is inherently dangerous. Among the key issues cited by the Ministry of Labour’s Construction Sector Plan for 2008-09, which identifies issues involved in improving health and safety on construction projects, the first item listed was scaffolding. While a single accident that takes so many lives is rare, falls are a leading cause of construction-related accidents, according to the Construction Safety Association of Ontario. In 2008, there were 91 workplace deaths in the construction industry, with 10 dying from falls.

Did you know that about a third of all vehicle crashes on North American roads each year involve a single vehicle? In rural areas, the proportion is even higher. In a large number of single-vehicle accidents, especially those resulting in a fatality, the vehicle left the roadway and either overturned or hit something alongside the road.

To address that problem, Canada’s Transport Ministry has announced that effective August 31, 2011, all vehicle manufacturers must install a safety technology called Electronic Stability Control (ESC) in all passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, trucks and buses weighing 4,536 kilograms or less sold in Canada, in order to help avoid these situations.

ESC technology is designed to help drivers maintain control of their vehicle when making sudden emergency maneuvers or turning on slippery corners, by automatically applying the brakes to certain wheels when a vehicle is skidding and possibly cutting power to the engine when necessary to help the driver maintain proper control. Data from Transport Canada data has shown that vehicles equipped with ESC are involved in fewer severe collisions caused by loss of control, resulting in significantly fewer deaths and injuries compared to those not equipped with ESC.

The proposed regulation was pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on March 14, 2009. A 75–day response period followed and the proposed regulation was well received. The regulation will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on December 23, 2009.

Did you know that repetitive strain injuries or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for as much as 40% of all lost-time claims in Canadian workplaces? Did you know that many of these injuries could be avoided simply by reducing stress in the workplace?

When most safety experts discuss MSDs, they tend to focus on physical hazards like posture, repetition, force, and vibrations, as these injuries are obvious. Less obvious is another crucial element that should be considered when discussing MSDs; the psychosocial environment in the workplace.

While many choose not to think about it, the stress workers feel when worrying about such things as losing their job or being overworked can have an overall negative effect on productivity and affect their physical well-being.

Basically, when a worker is stressed out, it can affect their behaviour and make them less likely to think about safety, which makes them more prone to physical hazards. Psychosocial risk factors can include stress from excessive work demands; lack of support from other workers and/or supervisors; a lack of communication; too much communication, in the form of a supervisor breathing down their necks; and feeling underappreciated on the job.

For example, if a worker feels that a supervisor is on his back, or he feels like he has too much work to do in a short amount of time, he may decide to rest every once in a while. If the worker is thinking about things not related to the job at hand, he may not pay attention to his posture. When a worker is stressed, there is more tension in muscles that may already be negatively affected by the task at hand.

The economy is bad and everyone’s worried these days, so you probably can’t eliminate all stress in the workplace. But there are steps you can take to mitigate stress as much as possible:

Difficult economic times make workers feel stressed and helpless, so you should try to make them feel less so. Put increased emphasis on health and safety, and get the workers involved. Use their input and make problem solving a collaborative effort.
Consider creating a support network where workers can discuss work and personal issues in a constructive way. Being considerate of everyone’s well-being actually also makes it more likely that all workers will continue to follow all health and safety procedures.
Be sure that all communication is proactive. Keep everyone informed of every issue. By communicating everything, workers feel more important and more engaged in the process.
Especially when times are tough, workers appreciate being appreciated. Even something as simple as a “thank you” or a “great job” will brighten their day, and they’ll feel like what they do matters.
Encourage workers to take a break. Taking a few deep breaths and stepping away from a stressful situation is rejuvenating and it’s necessary for preserving everyone’s physical health, especially with regard to repetitive tasks.
Encourage workers to take care of themselves. During stressful times, workers often don’t think much about personal health. It’s important that they take some time for themselves once in a while, whether it’s spending time with the family or playing a game.

There is so much emphasis put on physical health and safety, sometimes we forget that mental stresses can lead to serious physical problems and safety issues. Make sure workers feel good about the job; that will go a long way toward protecting everyone’s physical safety, as well.

Earlier this month, the owner and operator of a Manitoba motor inn was found unconscious and rushed to a Winnipeg hospital, where he died 9 days later; a victim of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Manitoba’s chief medical examiner said carbon monoxide, a tasteless, odourless, and colourless toxic gas, had leaked from a faulty furnace in the inn. As a result, Workplace Safety and Health shut down the furnace and will not turn it back on until it is repaired.

This incident should serve as a reminder that carbon monoxide, often referred to as “the silent killer,” is a huge problem. Such stories are far too common, and many, if not most, can be prevented. Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning spike in winter because, well, it’s cold and windows are closed. There also tend to be more power failures, problems with chimneys that go unnoticed during the spring or summer, and there is a tendency to want to warm up the car inside the garage before embarking on the drive to work.

Because CO is odorless and colorless, emergency officials stress the importance of a functioning carbon monoxide detector in the home, because there is no other way for you to know it’s there.

It’s difficult to find specific statistics for CO poisoning because it often goes undiagnosed. But the B.C. Poison Control Centre reported 121 cases of CO poisoning in 2004, and the Canada Safety Council reports that more than 12,000 calls related to carbon monoxide were received in Ontario alone.

One reason it’s difficult to get accurate statistics on CO poisoning is because many have symptoms and don’t even realize it. CO interferes with the body’s ability to deliver and use oxygen. At low levels of exposure, many people tend to get mild symptoms related to oxygen deficiency, such as a headache, nausea, or just an overall blah feeling. Often, many who suffer from CO poisoning think they have a flu.

But when CO levels reach the toxic stage, it can affect the central nervous system and cause seizures, a coma, or even serious heart problems. At high levels, or even at low levels over a sustained period of time, according to Health Canada, people may experience dizziness, chest pain, tiredness, poor vision and difficulty thinking. And many people die; carbon monoxide one of the major causes of poisoning deaths throughout North America.

If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning may be occurring at a particular site, remain calm. Open windows and ventilate the area with fresh air as quickly as possible. Try to open those windows and doors from the outside, if possible, so that you don’t add to the body count. Then call 911. Don’t try to be a hero and rescue anyone; leave it to the trained professionals.

But please; install CO detectors in your home and in all workplaces, as well. The life you save may well be your own.

Authorities are investigating a horrible accident that killed a worker at Mosaic Co.’s K-2 mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, and the investigation is bringing into question the entire spectrum of mine safety in the province.

The accident happened when a storage bin collapsed and 500 tonnes of potash ore fell onto two workers. One worker was killed, and the other received injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening. Raw ore bins are shaped like round grain bins, but have a cone-shaped bottom and are made from heavy steel. The raw ore bin support structure is usually part of a building. A vibrating feeder draws ore from the bin feeding a belt conveyor similar to what an auger does from a grain bin.

The two workers were rushed to the Regina General Hospital with injuries following the incident, which occurred around 2 a.m. In addition to the RCMP, three inspectors from Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety’s mine safety unit arrived at the mine later that morning and gathered some preliminary information, but they expect the investigation to proceed for some time. Surface crews consisting of about 30 mine workers were sent home as investigators try to determine what caused the bin to collapse.

The last mining fatality in the province was at Lanigan’s Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan mine in September 2008. Officials noted that the injury rate for all Saskatchewan mines is less than one per cent — about a quarter of what it is for all other industries in the province. Mosaic’s Esterhazy underground mines employ about 950 people overall. Their K-1 mine officially began production in June 1962, while the slightly smaller K-2 mine began operations in 1967.

If legislation introduced December 3 is passed, companies will see a major increase in maximum fines for safety violations throughout the province. If you’re not paying close attention to workplace safety, now may be a good time to start.

According to Labour Ministry, the maximum fine under the Workplace Safety and Health Act will go from the current $150,000 to $250,000 for a first offence under the new law, with the maximum fine for subsequent offenses increasing from the current level of $300,000 to a whopping $500,000.

These current levels may seem a bit high, but fines for unsafe work conditions have been unchanged since 1997 and are currently among the lowest in Canada, despite the fact that until recently, Manitoba had one of the highest workplace-injury rates in the country. The higher fines, which were recommended by a government committee of employers, labour and health and safety experts, will bring Manitoba more in line with other provinces, and hopefully improve health and safety to an even greater degree.

Also keep in mind; both companies and individual managers can be convicted for breaches of health and safety regulations under the act, so don’t think it’s just the company that’s at risk.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about Bill 168, The new law places new obligations on employers to address workplace violence and harassment, so it will be necessary to review and assess the risk of such violence, and update your company’s workplace violence and harassment policies to the new standards.

Bill 168 includes broadened definitions of workplace harassment and violence. The law requires that companies have written company policies in place, and that such policies must be posted and employees must be trained to follow them. All workplaces will have to conduct a violence assessment, and a programme must be developed to include measures that control the risks identified. The programme must require that all incidents or threats of workplace violence be reported and establish how the employer investigates and manages reported incidents, complaints or threats. If a worker has reason to believe that he or she might become a victim of workplace violence, that worker may refuse to work in that position until the situation is resolved. Also, all employers who are aware of a situation will be required to take every reasonable precaution to protect workers from domestic violence that would likely cause physical injury to workers in the workplace.

Here is a partial list of steps your company can take to prepare;

Conduct an assessment to determine the level of risk of workplace violence or harassment in all workplaces under your control.
Disclose incidents of workplace violence and harassment and the results of any risk assessments to your workplace joint health and safety committee.
Create or revise written workplace violence and harassment policies to meet the risk assessment, and thoroughly train employees on such policies, and how they are affected.
Create adequate channels for employees to report instances of workplace violence and harassment, and discipline employees who don’t follow the adopted policies or who commit workplace violence or harassment.
Offer a confidential Employee Assistance Program to allow employees subject to workplace violence or harassment, or those with personal problems to seek help.
Create a system for keeping detailed records of any workplace violence or harassment, including every investigation or work refusal.

With Bill 168, the bar will be raised when it comes to intolerance for violence in the workplace. For the first time, all rules will be explicit for both employers and employees. It may be necessary to change your workplace culture, and many behaviors that used to be tolerated might now be against the rules from here on. There may be no room for a “boys will be boys” mentality when it comes to workplace violence. Attitudes in many workplaces will have to change, and that may require a change in workplace culture in some cases. As is the case with all such changes, they’re influenced by the attitudes of those at the top of the company’s leadership chain.

This may seem like a difficult task, but keep in mind; all employees except the occasional bully want to work in respectful workplaces free of harassment, intimidation & discrimination. Engage everyone in the process, including management, staff and hourly and union employees, and necessary changes will be easy to implement.

Labour leaders in Newfoundland and Labrador are calling for the creation of an independent committee of industry, workers, government and contractors to draft new occupational health and safety legislation for the province’s offshore oil industry. And they want that legislation enforced by the provincial government, rather than the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB).

The leaders have begun to question the CNLOPB’s ability to develop and set standards, but they also question their ability to do appropriate inspections because employers know when they’re going offshore. Apparently, inspectors can only get there by helicopter, and must have their permission to do so. There is also considerable concern over the lack of communication between all parties.

New offshore occupational health and safety regulations are considered necessary because the current ones are antiques. They have been in draft form since 1989. In order to come into effect, draft legislation must be passed by both the federal and provincial governments.

Among other recommendations labour leaders are making, is the creation of a heliport, which could be located on a platform, ship or barge, to be stationed midway between St. John’s and furthest oilfield. The heliport could serve as an emergency refueling station for helicopters, and could also be used for training and search and rescue operations.

Canadian Linen and Uniform Service Co. was fined $95,000 , when the company pleaded guilty for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

The accident in question occurred on March 9, 2007, at the company’s Toronto location after an overhead conveyor carrying bags of soiled linen jammed. In order to reach the jammed area, a worker climbed onto the metal netting under the conveyor. As he began to walk across it, he fell through it to the concrete floor, nearly 4 metres below, and sustained broken wrists and head injuries.

Canadian Linen and Uniform Service Co. pleaded guilty to failing, as an employer, to take the reasonable precaution of having a safe procedure to clear jammed overhead conveyors.

The fine was imposed by Justice Brent Knazan, and 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 $118,750 in total because the company did not develop and provide a safe method for a worker to clear a jammed conveyor belt. Once again, it doesn’t cost a company to provide a safe workplace; it pays.