Ontario recently launched a four-month blitz to ensure students are safe and do not get injured while working on their summer jobs.
Beginning this spring, an enforcement blitz is targeting workplaces where new and young workers are employed. Health and safety inspectors from the Ministry of Labor will check that employers comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.[WCx]
The blitz will ensure young workers:
- Are protected by required safety measures, equipment and procedures to prevent injuries
- Are properly instructed, trained and supervised on jobs
- Meet minimum age requirements.
The inspectors will shut down unsafe work sites when necessary and employers could face fines through the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Protecting young people on the job is part of the McGuinty government's continued commitment to prevent workplace injuries through its Safe at Work Ontario strategy.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He is an editor and contributor to Workers Compensation Management Program: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Editor Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their Workers Compensation costs by 20% – 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. Contact: Mstack@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
WORKERS COMP MANAGEMENT MANUAL: www.WCManual.com
MODIFIED DUTY CALCULATOR: www.LowerWC.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors reports it has approved amendments to Part 4 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, regarding a third option to protect workers assigned to work alone in late night retail premises. The amendments become effective April 15, 2012.
The third option addresses implementation issues and challenges with the existing regulation. The implementation issues were confirmed in three pilot projects and by an independent evaluation. The conclusions were that options one and two in the current regulatory requirement — hiring additional workers or erecting a barrier — are not practicable for all late night retailers. [WCx]
This third option does not replace the existing two options in the late night retail safety regulation; it is an additional option, which provides a prescriptive list of engineering and administrative controls. Employers who choose the third option will be required to implement all of the listed controls. In addition, employers will be required to undertake regular security audits by a qualified and independent person to confirm that all the controls have been implemented.
Roberta Ellis, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs for WorkSafeBC says, “Our priority continues to be protecting late night retail workers from acts of violence.”
WorkSafeBC consulted with employers and worker representatives when considering the amendments to the regulation. A review of independent research, the results of the pilot project assessing barrier options, a report from an independent audit of the project and feedback from public hearings throughout B.C. were also considered.
If an employer chooses the third option, they must implement all of the following controls:
A time lock safe on the premises that cannot be opened during late night hours;
Cash and lottery tickets that are not reasonably required in order to operate during late night hours are stored in the time lock safe;
Good visibility into and out of the premises;
Limited access to the inside of the premises;
The premises must be monitored by video surveillance;
There must be signs on the premises indicating that the safe is a time lock safe that cannot be opened during late night hours, there is a limited amount of accessible cash and lottery tickets on the premises, and the premises are monitored by video surveillance. (WCxKit)
In addition, workers assigned under the third option to work late night hours must be at least 19 years of age and be provided with personal emergency transmitters that are monitored by the employer, a security company, or other person designated by the employer.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
According to a new study from the Center for Construction Research and Training, construction workers in the United States have a large risk of work-related injuries and an increased risk of work-related illness and death.
Researchers peered over data from several national sources and discovered that a construction worker has a 75 percent chance of suffering a disabling injury over a 45-year career, and a 1-in-200 risk of being fatally injured at work. (WCxKit)
Meantime, Hispanic construction workers have a 20 percent greater risk of dying from a work-related injury than whites.
The authors of the study also discovered that people who begin construction work at age 20 have a 15 percent chance of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease over their lifetime and an 11 percent chance of developing dust-related changes to the lung tissue.
"While great strides have been made in reducing construction injuries and illnesses, the numbers are still stubbornly high," Pete Stafford, executive director of CPWR, commented in an APHA news release. (WCxKit)
"Workers and their families suffer the consequences of disabling injuries, and this research shows it's far too common. So we must continue to raise awareness of the problems and hope to see our research findings put to use to reduce construction fatalities, injuries and illnesses," Stafford added.
Nova Scotia Labor Department Charges Employer Following Death
Nova Scotia's Labor Department has laid charges following an 18 month investigation into the death of a 12-year-old boy who was run over by a truck in Cape Breton.
According to information from the NSLD, Dylan LeBlanc of Cheticamp was killed while riding his bicycle near a local inn that was being renovated in August 2010. The boy was hit and run over by a boom truck. (WCxKit)
Labor Department spokesman Brian Taylor reports charges were laid recently against 5823 NWT Ltd., the company that owns Maison Fiset House, and project manager Darren MacPhee.
Taylor says the company has been charged with failing to take every reasonable precaution to ensure the health and safety of people at the workplace and failing to take adequate precautions to ensure pedestrian safety.
He says MacPhee is charged with failing to take reasonable precautions to ensure health and safety at or near the project.
Taylor says a third person who has not been named by officials is also charged, but that person has not been served notice yet. (WCxKit)
Those charged are to appear in provincial court in the spring in Port Hood, N.S
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He is an editor and contributor to Workers Compensation Management Program: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
WORKERS COMP MANAGEMENT MANUAL: www.WCManual.com
VIEW SAMPLES PAGES
MODIFIED DUTY CALCULATOR: www.LowerWC.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
A Pembroke Dock, Wales construction company and its director have been prosecuted after a labourer suffered serious injuries on a construction site, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Karl Kraus, 31, from Pembroke Dock was employed by Preseli Construction & Maintenance Ltd, and was working on the build of a large domestic property at Incline Way, Saundersfoot. (WCxKit)
Haverfordwest Magistrates Court heard that on March 25, 2010, Kraus was instructed to remove a concrete block that had been placed across a doorway. As he proceeded to throw the block, he fell backwards on to the balcony and then seven metres to the ground below.
An HSE investigation found that the three-story house was being built without scaffold or any form of fall prevention.
Preseli Construction & Maintenance Ltd. and its director, Christopher Newell, had failed to ensure that work at height was properly planned and supervised. They also failed to ensure that it was carried out in a safe manner.
Kraus spent six days in Morriston Hospital in Swansea where he underwent surgery to pin the bone in his left heel and was in a plaster cast for approximately ten months. Still in constant pain and unable to walk on uneven ground without risking a fall, he is due to undergo further surgery to prevent any further damage to his foot, but his career in the construction industry is over.
Preseli Construction & Maintenance Ltd. of Waterloo Industrial Estate, Eastern Avenue, Pembroke Dock pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined $7,671.6 and ordered to pay costs of $1,519.37. (WCxKit)
Newell of The Glebe, Narberth Road, Tenby also pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was fined $ 2,557, with costs of $1,519.37. Newell is also disqualified from acting as a company director, managing or in any way controlling a company for at least two years.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He is a contributing author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20-50% www.WCManual.com. Visit at: www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
The Saskatoon (Canada) Health Region (SHR) recently decided to close permanently its central laundry facility following a safety-related incident and the subsequent identification of infrastructure deficiencies at the facility.
According to the Canadian OH&S News, four bags of laundry totaling 1,225 kilograms that were attached to a hoist fell about three meters into laundry transfer carts, stated Linda Walker, a media relations consultant with the SHR. There were no injuries and washing and drying operations at the facility were shut down at the time.
According to Walker, it was determined that a bolt which attaches the mechanical system of cables and pulleys to the hydraulic cylinder came loose and fell off. "We were told the bolt and the shaft threads show no sign of wear or stress point damage from tension of the lifting system," she says. "It is likely that it loosened over time due to vibrations."
An assessment of the facility by VFA Inc identified a number of infrastructure deficiencies, including those related to fire protection, accessibility, asbestos abatement, and ergonomics of the equipment, ventilation, the electrical system and age of the equipment.
"The safety of Saskatoon Health Region employees is more important to us than keeping this facility open," says Bonnie Blakely, vice-president of people strategies with the SHR, in a statement.
Walker noted that the health region is considering a number of long-term solutions. They include building a new facility, remodeling the existing building or expanding nearby facilities to better meet the needs of the 48,000 square foot facility, which serves the three hospitals in Saskatoon and some long-term care homes in the province.
Walker adds that the affected employees – 56 full-time workers, 17 part-time and 27 casual workers – will be redeployed within the health region.
Glennis Bihun, executive director of the occupational health and safety division of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, says that an active investigation into the incident continues. A stop-work order with regards to the lifting device was also issued, she adds.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He recommends the #1 selling cost containment book, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
WorkSafeBC is changing British Columbia's gas-and-dash laws after businesses complained some of the regulations to protect late-night workers were not feasible.
According to information from The Canadian Press WorkSafeBC spokeswoman Roberta Ellis said employers now have a third option to protect workers that doesn't include hiring more employees or erecting barriers. (WCxKit)
Ellis denied the changes are watering down what's become known as Grant's Law, which was brought in after gas station attendant Grant DePatie was dragged to death in a gas-and-dash in March 2005
According to Ellis, the pre-pay gas policy remains, but employers now have the option of taking other safety measures to avoid hiring additional staff or erecting cage-like barriers in late-night stores.
But if employers include the third option, which involves eight safety controls, they are obligated to implement each one and can't pick and choose among them, Ellis said.
The third option steps are: installing a time-lock safe that can't be opened during late night hours, storing most cash and lottery tickets in the time-lock safe, ensuring good visibility inside and outside of store, limiting access to inside of store, monitoring business by video surveillance and erecting signs advising that the safe can't be opened, that there is limited cash and lottery tickets on sight and that the store is monitored by video.
The third option also requires that late-night employees must be at least 19 years old and provided with emergency transmitters monitored by the employer, a security company or another person designated by the employers.
The amendments become effective on April 15, 2012.
The Western Canadian Convenience Store Association, representing 2,400 stores with 25,000 employees, released a statement backing the amendments. (WCxKit)
B.C. Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair noted pressure from the business lobby prompted WorkSafeBC to change some of the best worker-protection regulations in North America.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He is an editor and contributor to Workers Compensation Management Program: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
WORKERS COMP MANAGEMENT MANUAL: www.WCManual.com
VIEW SAMPLES PAGES
MODIFIED DUTY CALCULATOR: www.LowerWC.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
A factory worker in Greater Manchester lost two fingers in a machine used to punch handles in plastic bags, a court has heard, according to a Health and Safety Executive report.
Karen Schoelzel's employer, Arrow Flexible Packaging Ltd, was prosecuted by the HSE after the incident at the plant on Clarence Street in Golborne.(WCxKit)
Trafford Magistrates Court in Sale heard the 53-year-old from Golborne was replacing the rubber insert under a cutting tool on Nov. 23, 2010 when the machine started operating.
The tool came down on her left hand and, as a result, she lost her entire index finger and her middle finger to below the second knuckle. Schoelzel has been unable to return to work nearly a year on.
HSE issued six Improvement Notices and one Prohibition Notice after an inspector visited the site following the incident. The notices required safety improvements to be made to machines at the factory, and prevented a printing press from operating until suitable guards had been installed.
The HSE investigation found suitable guards were not in place to prevent workers gaining access to the cutting tool while the machine was operating, and that it was common practice for employees to change the rubber on the tool without the power to the machine being cut.
The investigation was unable to confirm what caused the machine to start operating when the rubber insert was being replaced, but it found the buttons which operated it were unsuitable and could have been pressed by accident.(WCxKit)
Arrow Flexible Packaging Ltd. pleaded guilty to a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 by failing to prevent access to dangerous machine parts. The company was fined $2,393.1 and was ordered to pay 1,595.7 in prosecution costs on Oct. 28, 2011.
On average, 34 workers are killed and nearly 5,000 suffer major injuries in the manufacturing industry in Great Britain every year. Information on preventing injuries is available at
www.hse.gov.uk/manufacturing.
British Employer Prosecuted after Employee is burned by Metal at Factory
A Staffordshire-based Great Britain aluminum casting company has been prosecuted after a man was burned by molten metal at its Worcester factory.
According to a report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Asim Qureshi, 41, from Worcester, was operating a die cast machine at JVM Castings Ltd's premises in Droitwich Road, when molten metal sprayed from the back of the machine. (WCxKit)
Worcester Magistrates' Court heard the 650 degrees Celsius molten material burned through Qureshi's clothing after landing on him.
He suffered serious burns to his right arm, shoulder, leg and face and was unable to work for two months. He has been left with scarring on his hand and leg. He is still receiving treatment for his burned skin.
A HSE investigation found the rear of the machine was unguarded and, while personal protective equipment is not a substitute for effective guarding, the operators' overalls and eye protection were unsuitable for the amount of molten metal spray.
The court heard there had been three similar previous incidents of molten aluminum blowbacks at the factory, one of which caused serious injuries to another employee seven months before the incident involving Mr Qureshi.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Tariq Khan noted, “Despite three previous incidents, one of which caused serious injuries to another worker, JVM Castings failed to learn from them and did not follow the recommendations of its own investigation.” (WCxKit)
JVM Castings (Worcester) Ltd, of Borman, Apollo, Tamworth, pleaded guilty recently to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £6,000 ($9,300) and ordered to pay £4,000 ($6,200)costs.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
More than 600 inspections of residential construction sites in Alberta lead to close to 400 orders issued, according to a recent report from The Canadian Press.
Occupational Health and Safety did the inspections recently and issued 394 orders, including 83 stop-work orders.(WCxKit)
A lack of fall protection, or a fall protection plan, accounted for 131 orders, approximately one-third of all orders issued.
Dave Hancock, minister of Human Services, responsible for Occupational Health and Safety, noted the province needs to create a culture of workplace health and safety in all Albertans. He reports he wants to assess the impact of all three focused inspection campaigns the province conducted this year.
For the past several months, OHS has carried out a pilot program of evening and weekend inspections, including the recent residential construction campaign.
Hancock states the stepped-up schedule will continue on a regular basis.
''
There are many sectors of our province's workforce that don't clock in from nine to five,'' said Hancock.(WCxKit)
'Revising the working hours of our OHS officers to include weekends and evenings only makes sense. This, along with our ongoing educational efforts and continuing to work with industry and safety associations, will help improve compliance in the workplace,'' he added.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation recently awarded grants to a handful of businesses in an effort to reduce worker injuries.
According to information from the Ohio BWC, more than $217,000 in safety intervention grants was doled out to 10 businesses. (WCxKit)
Private and public employers are eligible for the grants, which provide a 2-to-1 matching amount up to a maximum of $40,000. The BWC conducts follow-up studies to gauge effectiveness and establish best practices.
“Safety grants not only help employers reduce workplace injuries and illnesses, and their related costs, a majority of employers report improved productivity and product quality,” said Stephen Buehrer, BWC administrator/CEO. (WCxKit)
“On the back end, we are able to collect data that helps us focus our efforts in needed areas by determining the effectiveness of interventions and establishing best practices to share with other employers with similar safety concerns.”
West Virginia Workplace Deaths more than double in 2010
Ninety-five workers died in on-the-job incidents in West Virginia in 2010, more than double the 41 workplace deaths that occurred the previous year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported.
The preliminary 2010 total, which includes 29 coal miners who were killed in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine, was the highest since the annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries began 19 years ago. The lowest total was 40 in 2002.
Across the U.S., there were 4,457 workplace fatalities in 2010, a drop from 4,551 the previous year. (WCxKit)
Thirty-three of West Virginia’s fatalities were the result of fires, including the Upper Big Branch deaths. Due to the infrequency of workplace fire deaths, the only other year for which figures are available is 2006, when nine fatalities occurred.
Twenty workers died as a result of fatal injuries in highway incidents, up from 11 in 2009. Eight workers died after being struck by an object or equipment, compared to seven in 2009.
Other causes included exposure to harmful substances or environments, falls and being caught or compressed by equipment or objects. (WCxKit)
The most fatalities took place in the mining industry, which noted 37 deaths. Construction accidents led to 10 fatalities.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Britain's safety watchdog is challenging the construction industry to learn from the London 2012 construction project and improve the safety record of one of the most dangerous occupations in Britain.
A report from the Health and Safety Executive's Leadership and worker involvement on the Olympic Park research, published recently, shows how the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) adopted an inclusive no scapegoating approach to managing risks that could be adapted to any project – irrespective of its size or budget. It is the first in a series of research reports that HSE will publish as part of the London 2012 Learning Legacy. (WCxKit)
HSE started working with the ODA soon after London was awarded the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games and set out very clear targets of what standards were expected, encouraging strong leadership and sharing of good practice. The ODA's top level commitment to health and safety was made clear from the outset and helped create a safe working environment for the thousands of workers on site.
The London 2012 Games construction project has shown that building projects on time and within budget does not mean compromising on the health and safety of your workers. HSE has received reports of only 114 injuries and eight dangerous occurrences that occurred during the 66 million hours of work, as of October 2011.
Stephen Williams, HSE's director for London 2012, noted, "The report shows how strong leadership and worker involvement are key to a safer working environment. The ODA's creation of a no scapegoating culture allowed workers to raise issues without fear of reprisal, learning lessons to apply across the site and reducing the risk in hazardous activities.
"The construction industry has for many years been one of the most dangerous in which to earn a living. London 2012 is important because it shows it doesn't have to be that way. No matter what size your organization, no matter what size your project, small changes in the way you operate can have a huge impact on the health and safety of your workers. (WCxKit)
“I want the rest of the construction industry to follow London's lead.”
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Author Rebecca Shafer
, JD, President of Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. She is the author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20-50% www.WCManual.com.
Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
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