Occupational Disease Health and Safety Day - November 30th 2023

 Register Now!

The Occupational Disease and Research Labour Management Health and Safety Committee invites you to the Occupational Health and Safety Day on November 30, 2023.

This in-person only event will take place at IHSA head office at 21 Voyager Ct South, Etobicoke, ON.

What's on the agenda?

8:30-9:00 am – Register/Coffee/Network

9:00-9:15 am – Welcome

9:15-10:00 am – Diesel Fume in Construction

(Speaker: Victoria Arrandale)  

10-10:45 am – Designated Substances and Hazardous Materials Assessment Guideline (Speaker: Steve Fulford) 

10:45- 11:00 am – Break 

11:00-12:00 pm – Silica Control Tool, with live demo

(Speaker: Shirly Yan)

12:00-1:00 pm – Lunch 

1:00-2:00 pm – Noise in construction, & DEMO of ear-fit from 3M

(Speaker: Shirly Yan, Stephanie Rudolph) 

2:00-2:15 pm - Break

2:15 – 3:00 pm – Updates to the Heat Stress Regulations (Speaker: Marni Tivy) 

3:00 pm – Closing remarks

Register today for $20.

(includes refreshments and lunch)

Register now!

Questions? If you have any questions, or have trouble registering, please contact Jasmine Kalsi at jkalsi@ihsa.ca

Sincerely, Occupational Disease and Research Labour Management Committee.

October is Fire Safety Month

https://www.safetyresources.com/

Fire safety awareness in the workplace should be second nature and should be translated into our personal lives to keep our loved ones safe in the event of a fire as well. Take time this month to have a fire safety talk with your department at work. Review your emergency action plan, communicate supervisory roles, and walk evacuation routes with your team. In times of crisis, it is of human nature to rely on memory created through practice. October is the perfect time to conduct a fire drill before a real-life event occurs. Ensure nobody is left behind and all are in tune with their life safety route!

The safety reminders communicated in the work place can be easily translated to fire safety in the home. Establish a family emergency action plan, discuss escape routes with family members, and locate fire extinguishers in your home. Additionally, conduct a mock fire drill with your family members to ensure you and your loved ones know how to get out safely. During this drill, outline meeting places that are at a safe distance from the home. Designate a neighbor to contact for help in the event of an emergency. Simple exercises such as the aforementioned could mean the difference maker in your family making it out alive in the event of a fire in your home.

Below are key components to ensuring your workplace and home are fireproof:

1. Eliminate Clutter – Exercise good housekeeping. Clutter can easily become a fuel source in the event of a fire, allowing a fire to spread quickly. Furthermore, clutter can restrict access to emergency equipment and exit routes.
2. Designate Smoking Areas – Permit smoking only in designated smoking areas and provides means for extinguishing smoking materials safely.
3. Fire Extinguishers – Maintain the appropriate type and number of fire extinguishers. Conduct monthly and annual extinguisher inspections to ensure they are in good, working condition. Provide training for employees on the correct use of fire extinguishers.
4. Chemical Safety – Use and store chemicals safely. Read hazard warning labels and safety data sheets to determine flammability and other fire hazards. Ensure your chemical storage areas provide adequate ventilation for the storage of chemical or other hazardous substances.
5. Waste Control & Storage – Limit the accumulation of flammable or combustible materials and residues as to prevent the risk for such materials contributing to a fire emergency.
6. Exits – Ensure emergency exit route diagrams are posted and accessible in all areas of the facility for all employees to easily view. Additionally, ensure means of egress are well-lit with regulated exit signs and free from debris or clutter.
7. Contact Information – Employees should have access to a list of emergency contact phone numbers in case of emergency. Remember that human nature is to panic in emergency situations; therefore, basics such as the company address, important phone numbers, and building floor plan should be posted on or with the emergency action plan.

Remember it is always better to be proactive rather than reactive and it is best to alleviate hazards or hiccups in times of peace than in times of chaos. Utilize the above tips to reduce the risk for catastrophe or at least minimize the damage. The reality is that fire emergencies and disaster situations can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere. So, remember, if a fire occurs in your workplace or home, don’t panic, A-C-T.

Autumn Safety Tips for Construction Companies

Source: https://www.unitedrentals.com/

Autumn construction poses safety challenges that can impact project schedules. Reduce the risk of injuries and delays with these fall season safety tips.

Each season brings its own construction hazards, from heat illness in summer to cold temperatures and icy conditions in winter. Autumn is no exception. Whether you’re wrapping up large summer projects or scrambling to get a new build weather-tight before winter, autumn construction poses hazards such as muddy ground, fallen leaves, low light and unpredictable weather. READ MORE.

Don't forget to FALL BACK!

Source: https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/

NOVEMBER 5, 2023 - Remember these safety tips and to-do’s every time you reset your clocks:

• Check and replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Replace any smoke alarms older than ten years. Replace any CO alarms older than five years.
• Prepare or refresh a disaster supply kit for your house (water, food, flashlights, batteries, blankets).
• Make a "winter car-emergency kit" and put it in your vehicle.
• Check home and outbuilding storage areas for hazardous materials. Discard (properly, please) any that are outdated, no longer used, or in poor condition. Move any that are within reach of kids or pets.
• Check and discard expired medications - those dates really DO have meaning - some very common over-the-counter medications can cause serious problems due to change through aging.

Work safe. For life.