Regina North American Occupational Safety and Health Week 2016

naosh week 2016 North American Occupational Safety & Health Week

M o n d a y, M a y 2 , 2 0 1 6

make safety a habit 2016 NAOSH Week urges everyone to make safety part of daily routine

J o nat h a n H a m e l i n

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From snacking to smoking to chewing your fingernails, there are a lot of bad habits out there that people should steer clear of.

Adhering to safe practices in the workplace, on the other hand, is a habit that everyone should adopt for life, according to organizers of the 2016 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week.

The theme of this year’s week, which runs from May 1 to 7, is “Make Safety a Habit for Your Career.”

“Making safety a habit speaks to the concept of changing our behaviour to prevent accidents,” said Patrick Hauser, Canadian Society of Safety Engineers (CSSE) Northern Light Chapter Chair.

“Similar to driving a car or a personal routine, once we make safety part of how we work (and play and do other things in our lives) it becomes natural and we are less likely to deviate from the correct procedure or method of completing a task. We no longer need to think about doing something safely; it is

NAOSH Week luncheons bring people together to learn about workplace safety. p h o to S u p p l i e d

part of our behaviour and thus increases our success and likelihood of having an incident-free day, month, or career.”

NAOSH Week aims to get employers, employees, partners and the public to focus on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and in the community. Saskatchewan has taken part in events since the week launched in 1997. In the province, events are hosted by CSSE, WorkSafe Saskatchewan and other safety associations and individual companies.

One of the main events of the

week is the Steps for Life event, which aims to help support families affected by workplace tragedy and spreads awareness to all Canadians about injury prevention in the workplace. People or corporate teams register for a fun and easy five kilometre walk, with all proceeds going directly to the family support programs and services of the Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support (known as Threads of Life).

The event came to Saskatoon in 2013, followed by Regina in 2015.

Approximately $60,000 has been raised through Threads of Life in the

past three years via the Saskatoon Steps for Life. This year, Regina and Saskatoon kicked off NAOSH by hosting Steps for Life events on Sunday at Wascana Park and the Diefenbaker Centre, respectively.

CSSE will host NAOSH week luncheons today in Regina (Conexus Arts Centre, 11 a.m.) and on Tuesday in Saskatoon (Prairieland Park - Terrace Room, 11 a.m.). The guest speaker for both events is safety leader Kevin Burns.

“Kevin is going to share his message about creating safety leaders.

When employees develop their own personal leadership skills they make different choices, and Kevin will talk about helping employees choose safety as one of their personal values,” Hauser said. “Kevin believes that ‘when you create more safety leaders, you reduce the need for compliance enforcement and you create a stronger team, better communication and greater engagement. You build a strong safety culture.’ ” On Wednesday in Saskatoon, CSSE will be holding a member appreciation night starting at 5:30 p.m. at Winston’s Pub in the Hotel Senator. All local CSSE Northern Light Chapter members, as well as CSSE members from other chap-

ters, are welcome to come out to meet and network with their fellow members in what promises to be an enjoyable evening.

The week winds up with some barbeque lunches across the province.

On Thursday, the Prince Albert Regional Safety Committee and Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association will host a BBQ from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre in P.A.. This event is open to the general public and there is a $5 fee. There will be numerous safety demonstrations performed on site and prizes to be won, with all proceeds going to Threads of Life.

On Friday, CSSE is hosting the annual NAOSH Week BBQ, starting at 11 a.m. at CNH Place in Saskatoon.

The event is open to the general public and there is a $5 fee. The event brings valuable occupational health and safety information, demonstrations and hand-on activities to workers to help raise awareness about actively participating in health and safety programs and initiatives.

For more information regarding events taking place in Saskatchewan and to purchase tickets, visit www.naosh.org/english/events/ saskatchewan.html.

Life-altering injury puts safety at forefront

J o nat h a n H a m e l i n

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culture.

As a safety officer with ILTA Grain, it’s Ocrane’s responsibility to make sure that the company’s contractors are trained and follow the regulations, including fall protection, the proper use of guards and personal protection equipment.

He follows up the training by doing plant inspections and supervising the job sites.

“I have no problem in telling somebody when they’re doing something wrong,” said Ocrane.

“It’s just part of my life now.”

Due to Ocrane’s experiences, he said that National Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week has a significant meaning to him.

Never shy to share his story, Ocrane has worked tirelessly to raise money for worthy causes and generate awareness surrounding the issue.

Ocrane was a major force in bringing the national Steps for Life event to Saskatoon in 2013.

The event expanded to Regina in 2015. The event aims to help support families affected by workplace tragedy and spreads awareness to all Canadians about injury prevention in the workplace. People or corporate teams register for a fun and easy five kilometer walk, with all proceeds going directly to the family support programs and services of the Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support (known as Threads of Life).

This year, Regina and Saskatoon kicked off NAOSH Week by hosting Steps for Life events on Sunday at Wascana Park and the Diefenbaker Centre, respectively.

Even before the events came to Saskatchewan, Ocrane was active in hosting a barbeque to generate awareness and raise funds for the Threads of Life program. see i n j u ry on ne x t page

I have no problem in telling somebody when they’re doing something wrong. It’s just part of my life now. bob ocrane

Bob Ocrane experienced a serious workplace fall in 1997. After recovering from his injuries, he pursued a new career path and is now working as the safety officer for Ilta Grain.

2016 Safe Employer Winner Matrix Solutions Inc.

In life, it’s often said that it’s not about falling, but getting up strong.

It’s something that Bob Ocrane can speak to personally.

In 1997, Ocrane was working for a grain processing company in rural Saskatchewan when he experienced a serious incident. He was tasked with cleaning a six-foot fan that was located 20 feet down a service shaft. After cleaning out the fan, Ocrane climbed back up and was grabbing onto the handrails when he slipped. With no fall protection in place, he fell 20 feet.

“It was very serious. My wife had to meet me at the hospital,” said Ocrane. “I had a broken femur and split pelvis, and I was told that if it wasn’t for the full-face respirator I was wearing, the injuries would have been a lot more severe as there was nothing left of the respirator face shield.” He was transferred to Royal University Hospital and was given heavy pain medication but could remember hearing his 14 year-old son say to his wife, “Is dad going to be okay?”.

Fortunately, Ocrane was able to return to work full-time without many lingering injuries. However, he said the injury altered his life in another way, sending him on a new career path.

“Safety became a very big part of my life,” said Ocrane. “Shortly after I came back to work, I was informed that they were in need of a safety officer. I became that person who helped put the safety program together.”

This started his career in safety and he has gone on to successfully change the safety culture of a second company and is working with a third company to assist their contractors to improve their safety

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Photo: Elaine Mark/D & M Images

below: Steps for Life events have been held in Saskatoon since 2013 and in Regina since 2015 to raise funds to support families impacted by workplace tragedy. ph oto S u ppl i e d

ABOUT THIS CONTENT: NAOSH Week 2016 was produced by Postmedia Content Works as a result of advertisers’ interest in raising awareness about this subject. Postmedia’s editorial departments had no involvement in the creation of this content.

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naosh week 2016

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SAFETY FIRST! Extreme sport cameras help eliminate workplace danger Pau l S i n k ew i c z Postmedia Content Works

A device aimed at extreme sport thrill seekers is helping keep workers in the farm supply industry safer on the job.

When the tiny GoPro digital high definition video cameras came onto the market in 2006, it didn’t take long for surfers and mountain bike racers and skydivers to fall in love with them. Easy to mount and push-button simple to operate, the cameras captured the sights and sounds of real life so well that point-of-view action videography became ubiquitous – be it on a mountain peak or a suburban skatepark. The camera system was also quickly adopted by documentary filmmakers.

BASF Agricultural Specialties in Saskatoon is using GoPro cameras to keep its employees safer.

Worldwide, the firm employs more than 112,000 people. The Saskatoon production and research facility adds 55 to the number.

Its workers produce a biological soil and seed additive that uses rhizobia bacteria to help legume plants take in more nitrogen as they grow.

Like any manufacturing facility, there’s a right way and wrong way to do things.

“We really wanted to ensure our

One of the best spin-offs of this innovation is the participation we’ve had from our employees. They are very engaged. It allows them to demostrate their skills and proficiencies. people had the chance to review Standard Operating Procedures before they went out into the field,” said Jonathan Sherman, EHS Specialist for BASF Saskatoon. “That way, they are better prepared to be on site.”

BASF took its most experienced operators and put a Go-Pro camera on the top of their heads. For every task they did, they were recording the entire operation, step-by-step.

Back in the office, BASF’s own staff members edited the videos and made sure they are a comprehensive visual and audio record of the task at hand.

“Regardless of an employee’s individual learning style, this helps them pick it up really well,” says Sherman. “One of the best spin-offs of this innovation is the participation we’ve had from our employees. About half of our 55 employees have been involved in a video production so far.

“They are very engaged. It allows

them to demonstrate their skills and proficiencies.”

The training videos are not just used in Saskatoon, but are shared with the rest of the huge company and throughout the industry.

“We want to ensure these videos benefit as many people as possible.”

Like many major manufacturers, BASF employs a learning management system for its safety training program, ensuring there is an accurate record of training levels and ensuring compliance.

“Our goal is to ensure everything we do is safe,” says Sherman.

That focus has resulted in replacing manual tasks and heavy lifting with robotics wherever possible, replacing a propane forklift with an electric model to improve the air

BASF shift lead Michael Miller wears a GoPro digital high definition camera to document procedures in the workplace.

Ph otos : BASF Agr icult ur al Spe cialt ies

quality, and being very conscious of ergonomics in the workplace and ensuring in the proper procedure is used in the moving of materials.

BASF also likes to cross-train its employees so it can employ job

above: The GoPro video cameras have also been used by BASF Agricultural Specialties to create training videos for its staff members. below: BASF shift lead D.R. Wingerak trains an operator to use the company’s GoPro video monitoring system.

rotation.

This helps ensure workers avoid repetitive stress injuries.

“The key for any manufacturing facility is to make sure the body is comfortable with the work it is being asked to do.”

Technology like HD cameras and computer management programs are helpful tools, but perhaps the most powerful innovation BASF has adopted has been a shift in philosophy.

Unlike anachronistic top-down training regimens still found in some companies, BASF employs a peer-to-peer safety program that has proven more effective, says Sherman.

Employees and management are all a part of the process of training, recognizing areas for improvement and innovation. That promotes engagement across the board, so that whenever there is an activity like a drill or a training program, it encourages participation.

“I think that’s one of the things that BASF does extremely well, is make sure everyone is extremely engaged in the safety process,” says Sherman.

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Safety should be a part of everyone’s life i n j u ry f r o m p r e v i o u s pa g e

“Being an injured worker, I know how it feels. You get pretty empty when you have no support. For example, an injured employee who is no longer able to work or is forced to take time off work to recover may have difficulty adjusting to losing the social aspect of their job,” said Ocrane.

“I wanted to show people that safety is part of everyone’s life. It doesn’t matter if you’re a nurse or a labourer or a clerk in a grocery store – injures do happen. I have been so grateful for the support of Saskatchewan safety professionals and business leaders, because these events can’t be put on by one person.”

When it comes to workplace safety, Ocrane feels that Saskatchewan has made some very positive steps, but overall he feels there’s still a lot of work to be done. He said that smaller companies, in particular, are flying under the radar.

Ocrane plans to keep spreading his message of safety. After all, as he says, “I fell 20 feet and was lucky to survive. I don`t want that to happen to anyone else under my watch.”

For more information on Steps for Life, visit www.stepsforlife.ca.

naosh week 2016

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Working underground requires extraordinary safety plan W e n dy L i v i n g s t o n e Postmedia Content Works

In an industrial setting, there are many hazards. Precautions must be taken to reduce the risk of working with high-voltage electricity, hazardous substances, industrial machinery and heavy equipment; special care must be taken when working at heights or in confined spaces; and fire can be a danger in any workplace. But, when that workplace is located deep below the surface of the earth in a space that is created by mining into potash ore, safety precautions can become particularly complex.

That is the case with Saskatchewan’s underground potash mines, including Agrium’s operations at Vanscoy, about 35km southwest of Saskatoon. Richard Weishaupt, Agrium’s Manager of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (EHS&S), says that Vanscoy Potash Operations’ (VPO) safety plans not only implement Life Critical Programs – a system that the company engages to make sure that every employee makes it home safely at the end of the shift – they also address the specific concerns of working in an underground potash mine.

In a potash mine, the ore formations are not completely solid, but rather have been created with seams or layers and, if not managed well, could result in the possibility of loose pieces dropping off, potentially injuring workers in the area. “Because you are 1,000 metres below the surface and you are extracting potash, the structure – the strength of that material – requires that you manage it well,” says Weishaupt.

“Things do move under there, so therefore a fall of ground, which would be the risk that you would be exposed to, is managed very diligently, both through engineered controls (how you actually mine the potash) and also through your sounding and scaling and checking it in a very rigorous manner,” he adds.

Sounding and scaling is a process whereby the carved-out walls and ceiling of the room (the room is the area that has been hollowed out through the process of extracting ore) in an underground mine are inspected to detect any instability. “You take a scaling bar and tap it on the back [the ceiling] of the mining room and it makes a specific noise. If it sounds hollow, that room inspection immediately stops. We have a remove-or-secure philosophy,” says Dwayne Biever underground safety supervisor at VPO. If, for some reason, a room is found to be potentially unsafe, the mining operation will be stopped, the operator will call the supervisor, and they will assess the ground.

If possible, the loose ore will be will scaled off by hand using a scaling bar, or it will be mechanically cut out using a specialized piece of machinery with cutting heads. If the ground cannot be stabilized by removing loose ore, six-foot bolts will be put into the roof in a specified pattern to secure the loose ground.

The sounding and scaling process is constantly being carried out throughout a work shift. “It’s just a

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We are focused on having a strong safety culture and this means taking care of ourselves and taking care of each other’s health and safety. richard weishaupt, agrium

When an emergency strikes and workers are deep underground, escaping to a safe place is important, so they seek refuge in mine refuge chambers – sealed enclosures that are used to house and protect workers underground. Agrium’s Vanscoy Potash Operations has 29 such emergency stations. Ph oto: Agr ium

normal, everyday thing that we do for the 12 hours that we’re down there — it happens throughout the whole shift,” says Biever. “You might see some loose ore visually, but, at the start of the shift, you check the whole room, and during the shift you will keep doing the sounding and scaling. You never work under unsafe ground. Ever.”

Technology also plays a role in detecting instability in the ore bed. Borehole cameras are utilized, whereby eight-foot-long holes are drilled into the ore bed and cameras are inserted. “You’ll have a live feed of what the ground is doing above, and you can actually see that seam,” says Biever.

Several geologists and engineers are also onsite, and their expertise is employed to analyze the ore formations. ”Ground penetrating radar (GPR) units are also used to understand the seams above us better as we mine. We are excited about what this technology can do for us in the future as we expand its use,” he adds.

To document the findings of the

room inspections and to relay that and other pertinent information to those who are starting a new shift at the mine, a log book is maintained and supervisors and workers meet during the shift change. The supervisors and workers review any incident reports from the last 24 hours, discuss any near-miss safety incidents, and relay any problems the previous crew had with machinery breakdowns, etc., and what follow-up was done. Biever says, “We have a giant roundtable communication between workers and supervisors. That interaction helps the employees realize what work they have there, what possible problems or hazards that the previous shift had, and [formulate] a plan to go forward.”

Another key component of VPO’s safety plan is a program called Workers Watching Workers Vanscoy Potash Operations (WWW.VPO). This program engages fellow employees in ensuring that the necessary safety precautions are taken by everyone at the worksite. “We are focused on hav-

A PASSION FOR PREVENTION

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ing a strong safety culture and this means taking care of ourselves and taking care for each other’s health and safety,” says Weishaupt.

VPO safety coordinator Patrick Kurtz relays a recent incident where one worker saw a fellow employee working in a confined space and decided to check that all the energy sources were isolated and the proper safety protocol had been followed. He found that the individual had missed one of the required isolations, hence had not fully isolated all sources of energy, which is achieved by placing

his lock on the appropriate lock box(es), designed to ensure that equipment can’t be started while someone is in the confined space.

“So, he took the time to go back and talk to the worker about lockouts, and the possible energy sources that could impact the work area he was working in, along with what the expectations are surrounding lock-out,” says Kurtz. “The worker who had entered the vessel thought he had covered all energy sources, but it didn’t meet our standards – every confined space entry requires that all sources of energy are isolated with a personal lock and verified if there is a possibility that equipment could start up. By watching out for each other, we are helping get everybody home at end of the day.”

He adds, “Most of us are working to enjoy the things that we enjoy most in life. This is about working well and about having great outcomes. There’s no ounce of potash that is worth someone getting hurt. At the end of the day, it’s about demonstrating that you care for the people and that they feel cared for.”

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You stay safe, so you can keep them safe.

Workplace incidents are predictable and preventable. Make a personal commitment to get involved.

Protect yourself and your coworkers by working with your Occupational Health & Safety Committee.

May 1-7 is North American Occupational Health and Safety Week