An industrial mechanic explains how he kept warm while working at the top of ski lift towers in extremely cold temperatures. During the past 25 years, Rick Maki has worked far above — and far below — the ground. As a millwright, he installs, repairs, and maintains machinery and heavy equipment. These days, Rick’s work […]
Thank you to B.C.’s roadbuilding crews for working day and night in adverse conditions to repair flood and landslide damage. Praise for B.C.’s roadbuilders echoed through the mountains of our province when the Coquihalla Highway reopened ahead of schedule. It was closed after major damage occurred during the “atmospheric river” storm in mid-November. Initially, the […]
Proper training for new tasks, ongoing communication, and reviewing health and safety plans are some ways to keep remaining staff safe. First off, I send my sympathies and best wishes to everyone sick with COVID-19. The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has spread rapidly, leaving many workers sick and unable to go to work. Let’s look […]
Contamination, structural damage, and asbestos in materials are among the hazards facing restoration contractors during massive flood cleanup. Restoration companies are in high demand in southern B.C., after atmospheric rivers caused flooding that damaged numerous homes and buildings. I read this CBC News story about potential hazards for workers who are helping with restoration. In […]
Keep these holiday safety tips in mind if travelling on the roads, attending a personal gathering, or putting up lights and decorations. Stay safe on the roads with proper snow tires Recently, I overheard some people in a grocery line-up talking about the numerous stores sold out of snow tires. It made me think of […]
An award-winning human resources advisor tells us why finding shared values in your workplace is so beneficial. How do we engage everyone in a multigenerational workplace? By finding our shared values. That’s the message from Tierra Madani, an award-winning human resources advisor who spoke at Make it Safe 2021, hosted by the Manufacturing Safety Alliance […]
Near-miss incidents offer a learning opportunity – if we investigate them. A construction supervisor talks about how they handle near misses at work. Recently I had a conversation about near misses with a friend of mine, a supervisor on a construction site. I asked her about reporting these incidents, after I’d read about falling materials […]
Fatigue at work may not be just from lack of sleep. Workplace elements like tasks, environment, and facility design can also contribute to fatigue. When workers are tired, the risk of incidents and injuries to themselves, other workers, and members of the public increases. Improving sleep (easier for some than others) can help, but that’s […]
Are you prepared for an emergency if you work from home? Be ready with an emergency kit and a plan for evacuation and emergency communication. As I write this post, much of B.C. is experiencing the effects from what some are calling an “atmospheric river.” With unprecedented amounts of rain, we’re seeing mudslides closing roads […]
Learn these five factors and consider them in your workplace to reduce the risk of incidents involving mobile equipment. Workers being struck by vehicles and mobile equipment (also known as “struck-by incidents”) are one of the most common serious injury claims in B.C. (You can see WorkSafeBC serious injury claims by incident type in WorkSafeBC […]
