If you do business in Alberta and you have a poor safety record, you’d do well to take steps to improve it, and do so quickly. It seems your days of hiding from it may be numbered.

After a bloody Tuesday last week in which two Edmonton-area workers died at work sites and another was seriously injured in an elevator accident, Alberta Employment Minister Thomas Lukaszuk was livid, and took to the airwaves to vow that this fall would see the public release of the identities of those provincial employers with the worst safety records.

In a radio interview in which he was asked about those recent deaths, Lukaszuk revealed that Albertans will learn the names of the province’s worst safety performers within 3-4 months. The Conservative government had first promised to release such list eight years ago, but at that time the idea was shelved.

Lukaszuk said his staff is working on the list with the help of the Workers Compensation Board (WCB). When the list is complete, anyone will be able to look up the name of a company and see the number of man-work hours they have, see how many accidents they had, and determine how they compare to industry and provincial averages.

If Alberta actually follows through with its promise and releases such a list of poor safety performers, it will become just the second province to do so. Nova Scotia began publishing the names of companies with substandard safety record after their Supreme Court ruled in favour of their release in December 2008.

This type of list could have a negative effect in two ways. The obvious impact will be with prospective employees. How many of the best workers will want to come work for you if you have a lousy safety record? And how many of your customers will take their business to another company that takes the safety of its workers more seriously?

This might be a good time to look at your safety record and look at ways to improve. The impact to your bottom line could be enormous.

The numbers tell the story.

According to a Workers Compensation Board (WCB) report published in 1999, a total of 1,482 work related deaths were reported over a 10 year period. Of those, 519, or 35%, were the result of industrial vehicle accidents. Just as troubling was the WCB calculation that for every work fatality, there were 29 injuries. Statistics also show that every fatality costs an insurance company from $2 to $5 million. Since every extra dollar spent by an insurance company gets passed on as part of a client company’s premiums, fewer fatalities saves everyone money.

It was statistics like those above that motivated Pro-active Safety Systems Technology Inc. (PSST) to develop a truly revolutionary heavy equipment safety system to reverse the numbers and make workers safer.

In 2006, industrial electricians Rick Shervey and John DaSilva heard about a couple of accidents at nearby companies involving loaders within the space of a month, and realized just how ineffective the warning systems were. So, they set about to build a new warning system that would properly alert people when they were in the path of a moving piece of equipment and stop it in the event of an imminent disaster.

The idea they came up with is a system in which every piece of equipment is fitted with a detector, and every worker wears a vest with a RFID (radio frequency identification) tag embedded or attached.  An antenna broadcasts at a 30º angle to the front and back of the machine, and as it moves around, it senses every worker within the critical area, and sends a signal to the unit on the vest. If a worker enters the zone, the machine activates a two-stage warning light system and actually activates the brake.  The range is accurate from 70 cm to 400 m, but the company has targeted the zero to five-meter range as the critical zone for preventing accidents.

This potential benefits from this type of safety system are so great that the National Research Council Canada has provided the company with research-specific grants; and the WorkSafeBC Research Secretariat has provided two Innovation at Work grants; $46,000 in 2007 and $100,000 in 2008. Not only that, but this past January, the device received the Northern British Columbia Business and Technology’s Workplace Health and Safety Award.

And the product has thus far only been used in 22 test cases thus far. The company is preparing to make its first production units available by January 2011. You can read more about this at the PSST website.

Vancouver officials are investigating a building demolition in which two walls and a lamp collapsed onto the street, barely missing a flagperson and several cars.

Unfortunately, the incident, which occurred at 5:30 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon during a demolition being conducted by Global Excavation and Demolition, was caught on video, and several of the videos have gone viral on YouTube, raising questions about the company’s safety procedures.  The company, however, claims the situation was “under control” and suggested that in any demolition, “sometimes things happen that are out of your control.” Karmjeet Singh Panesar, one of the owners of Global Excavation and Demolition,  was apparently operating the crane at the time.

One video (see below), taken from a high angle, shows one wall of 1102 Hornby St. collapsing onto Helmcken Street.  Seemingly undeterred, the operator continued to work, and proceeded to follow that up by knocking down an adjacent wall, part of which fell onto Hornby Street and took out a lamp post.

This is not their first incident. The company has received six compliance orders in the last three years, including one for an excavation. They currently have one other demolition permit for Vancouver, but that has been put on hold while city officials and WorkSafeBC review the company’s safety practices.  The YouTube videos will be used as evidence in the investigation.

The company has promised to pay for replacement of the $4,000 lamp post.

Here is the video of the first collapse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKIZk4qAqKU

And here is the video of the second:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvWRKojULbo

In yet another accident demonstrating the danger of working near overhead power lines, workers at a construction site in Dieppe, New Brunswick had a close call when their dump truck struck some lines. Thankfully, this time no one was hurt.

The accident occurred as two dump trucks were being used as part of a road construction project. The operator of one dump truck situated his truck underneath the power line, and when a hydro line lifted the box of his vehicle, it contacted and snapped the line, and the snapped line  landed on a smaller dump truck, which caught fire.

WorkSafeNB is conducting an investigation into the incident to determine if there were any infractions under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The workers were employees of Cherryfield Contracting Ltd, which was contracted by the City of Dieppe for the construction work.

Despite the fact that there were no injuries, every precaution was taken to put out the fire, so that all workers remained safe. In fact, firefighters refused to put out the fire for about an hour because the power line was still live.

This incident happened less than two weeks after an employee of Ken Miller Excavating in Brockville, Ontario was electrocuted when his boom truck struck the power line at a construction site, as he delivered concrete sections for storm sewers.

Most would agree that one of the most annoying sounds in the world is the ear-piercing sound of the alarm most heavy equipment deploy when backing up. Obviously, a back-up alarm is necessary; it’s become a standard for reducing accidents. But the day of the high-pitched, piercing sound that causes neighbors to complain and induces some operators to find a way to disable it may be coming to an end.

Enter the WhiteSound back-up alarm, by bbs-tek.

Instead of the high-pitched, non-directional scream used in most back-up alarms, the WhiteSound back-up alarm uses a far more pleasant “broadband sound,” or “white sound,” the source of which is instantly locatable and identifiable.  The sound is localized in the danger zone and dissipates rapidly, which reduces complaints of noise pollution and reduces the likelihood that irritated drivers will disconnect the alarm. Because of the directional nature of the sound, those hearing it will immediately turn n the direction of the sound, and less-irritating noise will cause less panic and confusion.

White sound is sound that is composed of all frequencies in the audio spectrum, and its characteristics instantly identifies it with the vehicle emitting the alarm. White sound does not have to rely on a high decibel level  to be heard because, being multi-frequency, competing single frequencies cannot mask it. As a result, a WhiteSound alarm is at least equally as effective at lower decibels than outmoded single-frequency ear-piercing alarms.

Following is a video of the alarm in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMRCSwbkTb4&feature=player_embedded

To find out more about these White Sound alarms, go here…

Two Ontario companies, Ken Miller Excavating and Anchor Concrete Products Ltd, were issued a series of orders following an accident in which the boom of one of their trucks came into contact with overhead power lines and a worker was electrocuted and killed.  The worker was assisting boom trucks delivering concrete sections for storm sewers, but the exact circumstances surrounding the accident are currently under investigation by the Ministry of Labour.

Almost as soon as the worker was taken to Kingston General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Ken Miller Excavating was issued a series of orders requiring the company to provide documents related to: its health and safety policy and program; procedures regarding work done in close proximity to electrical conductors; its emergency plan; and of course, its safety training and workplace safety procedures. A stop work order was also issued on a 10-tonne off-loader, which was to undergo inspection to determine whether it can handle its rated capacity. The Ministry of Labor also issued three orders to Kingston-based Anchor Concrete Products Ltd, requiring documents related to its training and health and safety policy and program. Both companies were also ordered to provide a written report of the circumstances of the occurrence to the ministry and any applicable union.

According to an alert issued last May by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), fatal accidents involving equipment contacting overhead power lines is not uncommon in Ontario, and in fact have accounted for half of all electrocutions in the province over the last eight years.  The ESA recommends that workers follow a few safety precautions when working near overhead power lines:

• Always conduct a hazard assessment and know where a power line is before you start work.
• If it’s at all possible, once you locate a power line, try to work away from it. If this is not possible, stay as far away as possible, and remember; the higher the voltage, the farther away you need to be.
• If possible, call the local electric company and have them cut the power while work is ongoing.
• Mark the areas around the power lines with cones and/or signs to warn other workers of the danger.
• If a vehicle or other piece of equipment contacts a power line, stay in the vehicle and radio for help.

An employee of Farrell’s Excavating, based in Conception Bay South in Newfoundland, was fatally injured after the road construction machine he was operating tipped over and trapped him underneath.

The accident occurred early in the morning of August 24 on the Trans-Canada Highway, 12 kilometres east of Lewisporte. The worker was operating a milling machine, which is used to strip asphalt from the highway. The worker and a co-worker were “setting” the machine to gauge the depth of the pavement before stripping it. The operator was standing on top of the machine, with the other worker standing on the ground, very close by. Before the workers began the task of removing the asphalt, they needed to reverse the milling machine and turn it to the left to travel on the highway, but because of the angle of the tractor tires, the move caused it to tip over into a ditch, where it trapped the worker under water.

By the time ambulance attendants and RCMP members arrived on scene, the worker was already dead. The second worker was not injured.

Milling is often used during pavement maintenance jobs when there is a need to remove a portion of the existing asphalt prior to the application of a new layer. It can also be used to remove ruts created through pavement wear and to reduce or eliminate water “ponding.” Farrell’s Excavating is currently working on about 40 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Government Services is continuing to investigate the incident.

Those workers who operate heavy equipment must do so in all kinds of weather. During the summer, they may have to contend with extreme heat in cabs without air-conditioning. And in winter, ice and snow can make getting in and out of equipment hazardous and lead to slips and falls. And when grips and controls are too cold, they may contribute to arthritic conditions in the hand.

To avoid these problems, employers should be sure that all heavy equipment cabs are equipped with adequate air-conditioning in summer and heat in winter. In winter, operators should allow extra time to clean ice and snow from equipment. And when you’re mounting and dismounting the equipment, take it slowly and be carefully. Always face the vehicle and maintain 3-point contact to avoid slips and falls.

Heavy equipment operators are also exposed to high levels of noise daily, and there is plenty of research to demonstrate that excessive exposure to noise in the workplace may create hearing loss. While noise exposures on construction sites are not regulated in every province, industrial regulations, such as those in Ontario, stipulate a maximum of 90 decibels (dBA) exposure for eight hours. A recent study by CSAO reported that many operators in equipment without cabs or with open doors may be exposed to levels exceeding the maximum. Bulldozer operators, for example, were exposed to 102.4 dBA.

To alleviate the possible problems caused by excessive noise, make sure, whenever possible, cabs are enclosed and temperature controlled to encourage operators to keep the doors closed. Also, maintain the equipment periodically, because well-tuned equipment makes less noise. And implement hearing protection programs, especially in heavy equipment without cabs, that includes training in the proper use of plugs and muffs.

Another hazard to heavy equipment operation comes from exposure to diesel exhaust. According to some studies, such exposure can lead to serious lung problems, up to and including lung cancer, in part because of the soot particles and benzene that makes up the exhaust.

To mitigate the possible negative effects of breathing diesel exhaust, always be sure the equipment is in good working condition and properly maintained, paying special attention to the exhaust pipe and check for any leaks in the system.

Heavy equipment operators are exposed to psychological stress and fatigue as a result of the physical conditions described above, as well as the sheer size and power of the equipment, constantly changing site conditions, and the repetitive nature of hand and foot control operation. Operators often tend to work 4 or 5 hour stretches in virtual isolation, responding only to signals from co-workers. During the peak construction season, it’s not uncommon for operators to work 10 or 12 hour shifts, so fatigue can significantly affect their overall psychological well-being.

Employers and supervisors should always be aware of the physical and psychological stress equipment operators must often work under, and incorporate it into their training, and their daily work routines. They should also be trained to do a pre-work warm-up and take frequent enough stretch breaks to reduce the effects of prolonged sitting and vibration. Exercise programs and active forms of recreation to keep fit can improve mental attitude and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Heavy equipment operation is a difficult and stressful occupation, and employers and supervisors should adopt strategies to reduce common health problems. Any workplace health and safety strategy should include in-depth evaluations of vehicle design and work practices to identify safer, healthier approaches to the work at hand. Training should include methods for preventing musculoskeletal injury, and developing methods for reducing the stress of the job.

In the first incident of its kind at Syncrude Canada Ltd’s Mildred Lake North Mine site, near Fort McMurray, Alberta, one driver has died and another was injured when two heavy hauler trucks collided last week.

There were few details available about the accident, including the type of vehicles involved or how the collision occurred, while both Syncrude and Alberta Employment and Immigration (AEI) conduct their investigations. Among the details released were that one 40-year-old worker was killed, and another suffered a broken ankle, and was transported to Northern Lights Regional Hospital in Fort McMurray for treatment.

Though this is the first such accident to ever involve Syncrude, it’s the second fatality involving a heavy hauler at a northern Alberta mine site in less than two years. On April 26, 2008, a worker was fatally injured at the Muskeg River Mine when the pick-up truck he was driving was run over by a 350-tonne hauler. The worker was driving a pick-up truck from the mine towards an administration building at the end of his shift when he was run over by the heavy hauler.