May 2020
" NCA Health & Safety News" provides you with valuable information and assists in your quest to achieve a world-class safety culture. We believe that developing a safe work ethic is a never-ending process that must be part of every business's professional development.

Please do not hesitate to contact the office with your input, suggestions or safety questions. We value your feedback!
COVID-19 UPDATE TO MEMBERSHIP
The Niagara Construction Association (NCA) is monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and and is ensuring that our members have up-to-date information by communicating through e-blast, social media posts, and our COVID-19 resources webpages CLICK HERE (please navigate the drop-down menu for industry-specific news & announcements, construction site guidelines, webinars, updates, information and links) 

NCA INDUSTRY RESOURCES:
 

 
 





On tario releases more than 60 additional technical sector guidance documents to further support employers and employees during the COVID-19 outbreak

In partnership with the IHSA, PSHSA, WSN and WSPS the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development has released a series of more than 60 technical sector guidance documents to further support employers and employees in remaining safe in the workplace during the COVID-19 outbreak. Click HERE for the full media release and details.


Additional Workpla ces / Sectors

On April 30th the Ontario Government released additional safety guidelines to provide direction to those working in manufacturing, food manufacturing and processing, restaurant and food service, and the agricultural sector. These measures build on more than 60 guidelines developed by Ontario's health and safety associations in response to COVID-19 for various sectors such as retail, health care, construction, transportation, police services, firefighters, and transit employees. 

Additionally, 58 new inspectors will join the hundreds of existing provincial labour inspectors on the ground. The inspectors, which include workers from the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) and the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT), will be tasked with communicating COVID-19 safety guidelines to essential workplaces or enforcing emergency measures, including physical distancing and the closure of non-essential businesses.

Click HERE for the full media release.

The Province's "Construction site health and safety during COVID-19" can be viewed HERE .


Special COVID-19 Edition


This is a special edition of the What’s New e-newsletter released in late April, mainly devoted to workplace issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak to help keep you safe and informed.

Click HERE
Free COVID-19 H&S Webinar for Construction Sector
“Supporting Employees Mental Health during COVID-19”
On Monday, May 4 th  at 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM,
presented by the League of Champions
via Zoom Meeting

This is a difficult time for both businesses and their employees so it’s helpful to take some time to focus on mental health and effectively supporting our employees.

Presenters:

  •  Dr. Katy Kamkar Ph.D. presents “Employees Mental Health Reaction to COVID-19”: Dr. Kamkar a Clinical Psychologist in the Psychological Trauma Program/Work, Stress and Health Program/Mental Health Program at the CAMH. Dr. Kamkar will focus on normal reactions, emotions and thoughts during COVID-19 and will discuss individualized self-care strategies for healthy and proactive coping including self-comparison, and supporting employees.

  •   Julian Toy presents “Fit for Duty/ Mental Health Strategies During a Pandemic”: Julian Toy is a Substance Abuse Professional and Human Services Counselor. Julian’s article on his strategies for COVID 19 - Mental Health / Substance Abuse and the ICI Construction Industry is HERE.
 
For details and to register (before noon May 4th) click HERE .
LOC Webinar Video - Sharing Best Practices COVID19 - April 23, 2020

Featuring:
  • Dan Fleming (NORCAT – GTA) (Moderator)
  • Michael Mancini (Matheson Constructors), Self-Assessment Survey – Pre-Screening
  • Bruno Alves (Stuart Olson), Applying Physical Distancing Protocols
  • Corey Lofft (Pomerleau), Working with Your Subs – Committed Contractor
  • Craig Sparks (Maple Reinders), Thermal Screening Procedure and Facial Fabric Coverings
  • Sobi Ragunathan (4S Consulting), E-learning Module on Construction Protocol

** click the picture below to link to the video **
Briefs and Presentations from
Sherrard Kuzz LLP and Kennaley Law LLP




These free construction industry webinars are currently being offered every Tuesday form 9AM-10AM. Click HERE to register and for all past webinar presentations.

The above are not legal documents and all employers are advised to seek legal advice as part of their overall due diligence process.
Nine Suggestions to Help Navigate Work Refusals

One of the consequences of working in an essential industry during a time of pandemic is a heig htened awareness of risk. It's only human to be concerned for yourself and for others. Could my customer or my co-worker be an asymptomatic transmitter? Am I putting my family at risk?

Employers have an obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to take reasonable care to maintain a safe and healthy workplace at all times, including during a pandemic. At the same time, workers have the right to refuse work if they believe it is likely to endanger themselves or other workers. This right is a pillar of our prevention system.

Click HERE for full article.

Jane Snyder will be sending some advice to our community at no cost/benefit for the next few weeks to try to keep you healthy and reduce stress. If anyone wishes to call her, you can see her number in the attached article . Jane does wellness/nutrition for her company (Snyder Construction) for many years now. She has a diploma and a Masters in Nutrition Education, and have had her own practice for over 12 years, part time. Retired from private practice, she now volunteers her services. 

Courtesy of the OGCA News
Working from home?
6 tips for setting up your workstation

Many of us have recently received the direction to work from home. In some cases, the news was a simple “grab and go” situation, grabbing your laptop and heading home. Some people may be lucky enough to have equipment that can help with a temporary home office set-up, such as a mouse, external keyboard, or monitor. Either way, how can we get comfortable using everyday household objects and basic ergonomic principles? Although the couch may be tempting, try these recommendations instead to set up your temporary home workspace: Clic k HERE for full article

Courtesy of WSPS
Construction Safety Week Postponed
This year's annual May Construction Safety Week has been postponed to this Fall.
Protecting and promoting mental health during COVID-19
As businesses and individuals navigate the current COVID-19 situation, many people in our community are experiencing increased anxiety, stress and isolation. Now, more than ever, it is important to ensure that you are taking steps to promote and protect your own mental health, as well as the mental health of your workforce. Below are some valuable mental health tools and resources to utilize during this time of uncertainty. 

Webinars and videos:

Resources
Free Online First Aid Awareness Course from St. John Ambulance
Until May 31, 2020, St. John Ambulance Ontario is pleased to provide the online course entitled First Aid Awareness , offered free of charge (valued at $14.95). An innovative, web-based delivery method for First Aid, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) theory and evaluation to refresh participants with the knowledge to confidently handle basic emergency situations until medical help arrives. This is not a certification or recertification course but may be used as a training aid to help refresh your First Aid knowledge if you have previously taken a First Aid certification course.

Filing WSIB COVID-19 Claims Online

 

  • If you contracted COVID-19 while at work (you have a diagnosis or symptoms of COVID-19), you may file a claim to determine if you are eligible for WSIB coverage.
 
  • If you believe you were exposed to COVID-19 while at work, but you are not ill at this time (you do not have a diagnosis or symptoms of COVID-19), please do not file a claim. Instead, you can file an exposure incident form through the Program for Exposure Incident Reporting (PEIR) or Construction Exposure Incident Reporting (CEIR) programs. These are voluntary reporting programs and you will be assigned an incident number. If you become ill in the future, the WSIB will be able to process your claim faster.

To report an exposure, please complete and fax the appropriate form below to 1-888-313-7373 or call the WSIB at 1-800-387-0750, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 

 
WSIB Financial Relief Program: click HERE

For additional information, please visit the  WSIB website .
Transportation updates from the MTO

As part of the Ministry of Transportation’s (MTO) efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to help keep people safe, the ministry has extended the validity of the following driver, vehicle, and carrier products, that expired on or after March 1, 2020:
  • Ontario commercial drivers’ licences
  • International Registration Plan (IRP) Cab Cards
  • Ontario licence plate validation stickers
  • Online purchase receipts of validation stickers
  • Ontario Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR) certificates
  • Annual and semi-annual inspections.
The United States Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has granted recognition of expired commercial licences issued by Canadian provinces, including extension of the validity date of medical examinations, certification, and/or validity of the corresponding commercial driver’s licences. This information is valid until June 1, 2020.
 
For any questions regarding the extension of these products, please call 416-235-4376. The complete list of Ontario driver, vehicle, and carrier products impacted by this extension can be found on the  Ontario Government website .
 
To support truck drivers who are working hard to deliver food, equipment, and other essential supplies to Ontario families during the COVID-19 outbreak, Ontario is providing more safe places to stop and rest across the province. These rest areas, along with  truck-friendly restaurants , can now be easily found on  Ontario 511’s interactive map  and  text   reports .


COVID-19:
Worker and Employer Duty to Report

This fast fact provides the basic information that you need to know about Worker and Employer illness reporting duties.

** Click graphic to download **
Safety at Home

Studies have found that more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else. Just like at work, at-home incidents are caused by improper practices and lack of precautions and protection. That’s why safe practices at home are just as important as safety on the job. Click HERE for full article.

Courtesy of the IHSA 2-minute News
Falls Awareness Week

During the first week of May, the Ministry asks workplaces to participate in Ontario’s annual Falls Awareness Week (FAW). FAW aims to bring awareness to the falls hazards that exist in every workplace, through workplace discussion and participation.

How to hold a successful falls safety talk:

1.   Plan ahead. If possible, you may want to designate a coordinator to organize your safety talk. Think about asking owners, managers, subcontractors, supervisors or others associated with your project or workplace to participate.
2.   Review your fall prevention program. Think about what types of falls could happen at your workplace, what needs improvement, and what training and equipment you have provided to your employees. Is there room for improvement?

Click HERE for full article from the Ministry of Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training
and Skills Development

and HERE or the graphic for the Ministry's Fall Hazards in Construction & Inspectors' Enforcement Tools video
H&S Training at the NCA
Safety courses created to enhance health and safety awareness and help prevent injures to workers, e.g. Confined Space Safety Awareness, Pipeline Construction Safety Training and more
New Training Registration Procedure
at the NCA
Are you looking for training schedules or registration for the following courses:
 ·   Working at Heights - Full Course or Refresher
·   Elevated Work Platform - EWP
·   Joint Health and Safety Certification Refresher Training
·   Joint Health and Safety Certification Part 1 & 2
·   First Aid/CPR
Please see the important message regarding training registration procedures on the above courses, click HERE 
register
Online H&S Training
FREE AODA training modules

These cover the requirements for providing employment in ways that are accessible to people with disabilities. Watch it, read it, hear it or present it. Click Here
Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps
The Occupational health and safety awareness training provides a basic understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), and does not replace any sector specific, hazard specific, or competency specific training.

For FREE workbook and online learning module, CLICK HERE
Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness in 5 Steps
The Occupational health and safety awareness training provides a basic understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), and does not replace any sector specific, hazard specific, or competency specific training.

For FREE workbook and online learning module, CLICK HERE
The BuildForce Canada Online Respectful and Inclusive Workplace Toolkit -
See what you can you do to ensure that leaders/managers and supervisors are knowledgeable (and continue to learn) about respectful and inclusive workplaces. Check out the latest blog: Click Here 

Also now available:
  • Confined Space Safety Awareness
  • Pipeline Construction Safety Training

Contact our Office for DETAILS and to register: 905-682-6661
Helpful Information
What's New - COVID-19 SPECIAL ISSUE

Ministry of Labour, Training & Skilled Trades NEWSROOM
Stay up to date with the latest industry safety news and training by clicking here.

*Occupational Health and Safety Links and QR codes -
Check out this valuable resource by clicking here.
Check out this valuable resource by clicking here.
Click Here for WSIB Newsletter

And subscribe to their newsletter !

Compare health and safety statistics for businesses across the province here.

NCA P.A.T.H.S.
PARTNERS ALIGNED TOGETHER FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY

NCA has made safety awareness a primary initiative for our Association. We have recently launched our PATHS initiative, Partners Aligned Together for Health and Safety , formally making a stronger commitment to safety awareness and training.