A British Columbia roofing worker for Weather Tight Supplies died last week after he fell through a skylight at the vacation home of former provincial premier Gordon Campbell.

The worker, Dave Lesko of Sechelt, was working on renovations to the vacant waterfront property in Halfmoon Bay, when the accident occurred around 1 p.m. According to neighbors, at least two fire department trucks and two ambulances arrived quickly, and an air ambulance took the injured worker to a Vancouver hospital, where he died from his injuries the next day.

WorkSafeBC is conducting an investigation, as is Weather Tight Supplies, who is required to conduct its own investigation and report the findings to WorkSafeBC. The twin investigations will focus on determining the nature of his activity, what he was doing and how and why he fell.

Security company Garda was slapped with $92,750 in penalties last week for failing to protect a female guard who was raped by an intruder at an unsecure construction site nearly five years ago.

The fine itself was small; just $5,000 plus a $750 victim fine surcharge. But Alberta provincial court Judge Marlene Graham also assessed the company an $87,000 payment, which will go to the Hazard Assessment Working Alone program at SAIT Polytechnic, a safety training program for lone workers, beginning in September 2012

At the time of the assault, the victim had only lived in Canada for three years and had only been issued her security guard licence by Garda three weeks before the assault.

This is believed to be the first prosecution in Alberta, and possibly the first in Canada, in which a company has been charged under the OHSA after an employee working alone was the victim of a crime.

The court said Garda’s primary negligence was in failing to conduct a specific site assessment. The judge said, “In my view, this was very obviously a dangerous and unsafe site. It was an outdoor site just off Macleod Trail. There was an exit door at the back that was always locked. One wonders why you’d have an exit door if it’s always locked.” She also noted that the front of the site was covered by an unsecured orange tarp flap. The victim had been provided with a chair, but no means of protection from anyone who might venture on to the site.

The judge also noted, “There was a high degree of probability an intruder might enter at night in winter, for warmth or to take construction material … who knows what else. … It was also foreseeable that a criminal act could happen. It was patently unsafe and not addressed by Garda. It showed a high degree of negligence. (The victim) was affected profoundly by the sexual and physical assault. … Garda is not to be prosecuted for the act of the intruder, but for its own negligence.”

Three workers at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa are reportedly okay after inhaling chemical fumes at the facility on the morning of May 27.

According to the mint, chemical vapours were apparently released from the waste water treatment system at the refinery. A spokesman for the mint said the workers, aged 51, 58 and 35 were immediately taken to hospital to be checked out and were released hours later. Two of the men were exposed when they rescued their co-worker by pulling him away from the fumes.

A hazardous materials team determined there was no need to evacuate the entire building, and the area where the fumes were released was isolated and ventilated. An Ottawa fire department spokesman later said there was no danger to the public because the fumes were contained. Normal production continued at the mint in all non-affected areas, including public tours.

Meanwhile, the cause of the incident is under investigation.

Four British Columbia high school students have won awards in WorkSafeBC’s 6th annual student safety video contest.

This year’s contest featured the theme “Overexposed! What you may not see can kill you,” which focused on hidden hazards that can turn out to be deadly. The theme was chosen in order to educate young workers that exposure to some hazards today can have an impact later in life.

In all, the competition featured 42 submissions received from 19 schools and 145 participating students. The contest was open to all high-school students, with a teacher providing project supervision and final approval of the video. The entries were judged based on their impact, their safety message, original creative concept, and technical execution. Judges also considered how well they provided a youth perspective on workplace safety, and how well safety messages targeted young workers and their peer groups.

The first place team in each category will share $500, with their school receiving another $2,000. The second place teams each win $500, and $1,500 for the schools, and the honourable mention team receives $500.

The winners are:

Grades 8–10
First Place: Noise, by Port Moody Secondary School
Second Place: Why endanger your life?, by Ladysmith Secondary School

Grades 11–12
First Place: Open your eyes, by Penticton Secondary School
Second Place: A mouldy surprise, by Chatelech Secondary School (Sechelt)
Honourable Mention: Distraction, by Chatelech Secondary School (Sechelt)

The winning videos can be viewed here. After last year’s contest, more than 10,000 YouTube visitors saw the winning videos.

Many in the province of Alberta are worried about a disturbing trend.

According to figures compiled by Alberta Employment and Immigration, the number of workplace death in the province spiked up by 24% last year, from 110 workplace fatalities in 2009 to 136 in 2010. Though the number is still short of the record 166 deaths in 2008, the spike is still worrisome, especially since the economy is showing signs of recovery, and workplace fatalities tend to go higher during good economic times. Because there are fewer people working in dangerous occupations, the number of fatalities tends to drop during a recession.

Labor leaders have been very vocal about what they feel has been a pattern of inconsistent, or even lax, enforcement, which has led to a pattern of safety practices that can best be called chaotic. As the economy shows signs of recovery, union leaders are worried that even more workers will be forced to pay for uneven safety practices and lax enforcement. Given that the number of worker deaths has already increased 24%, even though the number of workers in the province hasn’t increased by nearly that much, the figure is destined to get even worse.

Among steps labour activists have recommended to provincial officials have included the posting of workplace inspections online, and to make accident reports admissible at trial, which could leader to a greater number of prosecutions. For their part, the Alberta government has announced the addition of 30 new health and safety inspectors over three years to help prevent unsafe practices. They also note that the high number of recorded fatalities includes workers killed in car accidents, as well as those who died from long-term exposure to hazardous materials.

Summer is upon us, and with the summer heat comes heat stress, which can lead to a number of ailments, including (from mildest to most severe) heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Working through hot conditions stresses the body’s cooling system. When the hot summer temperatures combine with such factors as hard physical work, dehydration, fatigue, or other medical conditions, the result can be illness, disability and even death.

While younger and more physically fit workers tend to be less likely to have problems, the fact is, heat stress can lead to problems for anyone of any age, including the physically fittest. Workers with heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes and those taking medications are more likely to experience heat stress problems. In addition, workers who use diet pills, sedatives, tranquilizers can be at higher risk for heat stress. Drinks containing caffeine or alcohol can exacerbate the effects of heat stress, as well.

If you are a supervisor, keep an eye out for symptoms of heat stress among your workers, because the victims of these afflictions are often unaware of the symptoms, and their survival may depend on your ability to identify symptoms and seek immediate medical assistance. The symptoms of every stage of heat stress are as follows:

Condition Symptoms Proper Response:
Heat Cramps Painful muscle spasms and heavier than usual sweating Drink lots of water and rest in the shade or a cooler environment.
Dehydration Marked by a high level of fatigue, and difficulty moving. Drink lots of water (try to stay away from drinks with caffeine and/or sugar) and rest in the shade or a cooler environment.
Heat Exhaustion Marked by pale, clammy skin, heavy sweating, weakness and fatigue, nausea or dizziness. Can also cause blurred vision and/or fainting. The body temperature may also be slightly above normal. Lie down immediately in cool environment, remove any personal protective equipment and loosen clothing. If the symptoms continue, call an ambulance.
Heat Stroke Marked by hot, dry skin because the body stops sweating, red face, and high body temperature. It can also lead to collapse, lack of consciousness, convulsions, confusion or erratic behavior. Immerse worker in water, in the shade, and call for an ambulance immediately, because this is a life threatening condition.
Workers and supervisors have a responsibility to limit the effects of heat stress on the job.

Supervisors should:

• Prepare to allow 2-3 weeks for employees to get used to the summer heat. It often takes that long for a worker to become acclimated to a hot environment.
• If possible, move work around, so that heavier work can be done in the coolest part of the day. If a heat wave is only supposed to last for a couple of days, schedule lighter work for the hottest days.
• Try to reduce the workload by increasing the use of equipment on hot days, in order to reduce physical labor.
• Establish a schedule that allows for work and rest periods during hot days.
• Review with workers how to recognize signs and symptoms of heat stress disorders.
• Make sure you or someone else in the workplace is prepared to administer first aid if necessary.
• Know ahead of time who among your workers are “high risk” employees for hot work environments for extended time periods, and divvy up the work accordingly. Understand that individual workers vary in their tolerance to heat stress conditions.
• If possible, provide cooled rest areas, increase the number and length of rest breaks and provide plenty of cool drinking water near workers.

Workers should:

• Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat stress.
• Be sure to pace your work and take regular rest periods in shade or cooler environment.
• Use fans for ventilation and cooling, especially when wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) or working around equipment that is hot.
• Be sure to wear lightly colored and loose clothing, unless you’re working close to equipment with moving parts.
• Reduce the physical demands of your work by using aides, such as hoists. The less you exert yourself, the better.
• Whenever possible stay shaded from direct heat by wearing a hat, and applying sunscreen.
• Above all, drink plenty of water. Do not wait until you’re thirsty. Drink before you’re thirsty. And be aware that sports drinks are not necessary, plain water works well.

With hot weather now upon us, workplaces have to protect their workers from the effects of heat stress. By doing so, everyone can prevent workplace injury, illness and even death.

Alberta labour officials are calling on the provincial government to step up enforcement of child labour laws, based in part on some disturbing findings contained in a new study by Bob Barnetson, Ph.D, associate professor of labour relations with Athabasca University, suggesting that labour malpractice involving children has become widespread in the province.

The study, entitled “Effectiveness of Complaint-Driven Regulation of Child Labour in Alberta,” was based on data resulting from telephone surveys of 1200 homes, which were conducted by the University of Alberta’s Population Research Laboratory. Also included were data from 20 interviews with parents and children participating in the workforce.

Based on their findings, as many as 6.3% of all children aged 9 to 11 were employed in 2008 and 2009. Of that number, 78% were employed in jobs, such as newspaper delivery and janitorial services, which are prohibited by law for children of that age. The study also found that 19.4% of all children aged 12 to 14 were employed, and 21% of them were working in occupations such as janitorial services and golf courses, both of which are also prohibited by law.

In Alberta, there are strong rules in place that forbid young people under 12 from being employed at all, which is why it surprised researchers when they found so many in that age range employed in a “regular job.” “Regular jobs” do not include such limited jobs as babysitting and raking a lawn, because of the lack of intention to establish an ongoing employment relationship.

The study suggests that one of the biggest problems the province has is its tendency to wait until someone complains to begin enforcing child labour laws. This approach is quite ineffective, since many people who are aware of problems don’t complain, due to a variety of factors, such as a lack of knowledge of worker rights and workplace practices, and fear of potential employer retaliation.

Some labour experts suggest the province has added to the problem with its decision to allow children as young as 12 to work in restaurants. While there are limitations as to
what young workers can do while working in a restaurant, the study found that employers are largely ignoring them. Among the violations found were working too many hours, paying less than minimum wage; working under age; or performing a number of prohibited tasks. Some parents were absolutely shocked to learn that their child “routinely handled box cutters, worked on ladders, lifted heavy boxes and used fryers, slicers and other equipment. Among injuries reported by young workers were burns, cuts and back injuries,” according to the study.

Labour activists would like the Alberta Labour Ministry to stop allowing children as young as 12 to work in restaurants, and also to develop a long-term program to inspect workplaces they know to employ underage workers. They would also like to see more highly visible prosecutions.

The provincial government, for its part, plans to perform focused random inspections aimed at young worker safety, and it has started posting legal actions against inappropriate youth employment on its website.

If you or someone you know experiences a constant buzzing, humming or whistling sound in your ears, you may be suffering from tinnitus. The number of reported cases of tinnitus seems to be climbing, to the point that a number of studies have been conducted to look into the situation.

A recent study conducted by university researchers from Canada and the United States suggests that the “sounds” described by patients who have tinnitus are actually generated by neurons firing in the brain, and not the ear. They found that most cases of tinnitus are triggered by the hearing loss associated with noise exposure or the aging process, but a number of cases are caused by a number of other factors, such as head injury, poor blood circulation or disrupted blood flow.

Basically, tinnitus itself is brought on by changes in the brain caused by hearing loss. Neurons in the brain are designed to receive input from the ear, but when hearing loss causes the brain to basically disconnect from the ear, the brain’s auditory neurons “talk” to each other, in order to compensate for the loss of sound. This “neural synchrony” is what generates the tinnitus sensation.

Like hearing loss, tinnitus typically starts off as a mild ringing and gradually increases in intensity. While tinnitus sufferers usually experience hearing loss in the high-frequency spectrum, many retain fairly normal conversational hearing, because it registers in the low-frequency range. Because of this, most people who suffer tinnitus symptoms often wait five to seven years, on average, before seeking medical attention.

Researchers warn that anyone who is exposed to loud noises is at risk for tinnitus, including those working in construction, transportation, logging, mining, or even the music business. Tinnitus is also a major cause of disability in soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, because of the loud noise exposure.

The danger to workers from tinnitus should be evaluated and considered carefully, as part of the company’s health and safety policies. If workers can’t hear the sounds they need to hear, such as train whistles and truck horns, they could be at greater risk in the workplace. Because the humming associated with chronic tinnitus is usually more intense at night, it can result in lost sleep and greater stress.

There is no cure for tinnitus, but a recent study out of the University of Texas offers hope that a new treatment may be coming. Researchers there noted that pairing sounds with stimulation of the vagus nerve – a cranial nerve with branches to the larynx, throat, windpipe, lungs, heart and most of the digestive system, eliminated tinnitus in rats. The process seems to retrain the brain to ignore the nerve signals that stimulate the ringing, according to that study.

In the meantime, the goal of any workplace should always be to reduce workplace noise, and where noise levels remain necessarily high, protective gear is a must, as is worker compliance. Experts also recommend that a good practice is for workers to undergo audiological assessments every couple of years, according to the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association. They also recommend that people suffering from tinnitus read up on the condition, because knowledge of the symptoms can teach them how to minimize the risk.

After concerns were raised over a water filling station at the city of Whitehorse’s public safety building, The Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board (YWCHSB) decided to investigate and has identified short- and long-term occupational health and safety requirements for the city in an area where water delivery trucks pull up to either side of a filling station and use overhead hoses to dump water into tanks on the top of their trucks.

Currently, there is no area for the drivers to easily access the tanks, so water truck drivers are being forced to climb up their truck’s ladders and then walk along the top of the truck and attach the hose onto the spout on top of the tank, causing them to overstretch. There is no guardrail on the top of the trucks, so if there is any overflow of water and it freezes, there is a significant slipping hazard. YWCHSB is concerned that drivers may fall from the top of the truck.

In early March, while the YWCHSB acknowledged that it might take some time to design engineered control system, they ordered the city to put into place an interim solution in which they put together a basic fall restraint system. The Board hopes to have a timeline in place for a permanent solution very soon.

This was a relatively new issue when it was brought to the Board’s attention. Before the opening of the new Public Safety Building in late January, drivers had been able to pull trucks up to an area and climb stairs to work off a platform with guardrails around it, which greatly reduced the hazard of falling.

The City of Whitehorse has printed signs and notices have been placed at the filling station informing workers of the specific Occupational Health and Safety travel restraint requirements, and they are hoping to announce a long-term solution very soon.

The head of the Canadian Auto Workers, Canada’s largest private sector union, is sending out a warning to everyone that a large number of the country’s youngest workers are being asked to work in unsafe conditions. Not only that, but young workers often have no idea of their rights, including the right to refuse unsafe work, according to CAW president Ken Lewenza.

The warning comes in the wake of a $350,000 fine levied last week against retail grocer Metro Ontario for an Occupational Health and Safety Act violation that caused the death of a 17-year-old worker back in August 2009.

According to a Ministry of Labour investigation, the accident occurred at a Mississauga Metro store on Erin Mills Parkway. The young worker, a CAW member, had only been on the job for about three weeks when he was told to remove a box that had been stored on top of a drop ceiling. When the worker climbed up a ladder and stepped onto the ceiling, he fell through and suffered a fatal head injury.

According to statistics from the government of Ontario, each year more than 10,000 workers under the age of 25 are injured on the job and are unable to return to work the next day.