Canadian Occupational Safety (COS) magazine is the premier workplace health and safety publication in Canada. We cover a wide range of topics ranging from office to heavy industry, and from general safety management to specific workplace hazards.
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October 2013 7 Jury makes safety recommendations following inquest into worker's death PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK By Zachary Pedersen A coroner's jury in Thunder Bay, Ont., made nine recommendations for two provincial ministries, the Canadian Standards Association and the con- struction industry after concluding an inquest into the 2011 death of a construction worker. Gustavo Argueta, 24, died when the elevated work platform he was working on overturned. Argueta was inspecting the underside of a new bridge at the time and fell 15 metres to his death, according to reports. The three-day inquest resulted in the following recommendations: ONTARIO MINISTRY OF LABOUR • Develop regulations requiring individuals certi- fi ed on the operation of elevated work platforms be retrained and recertifi ed after a defi ned period of time. • Develop regulations requiring any training pro- gram for elevated work platforms developed by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities be mandatory for workers and direct supervisors. • Develop regulations regarding the documentation of daily inspections for elevated work platforms. • Implement more stringent minimum penalties for altering or disabling safety mechanisms on equipment. ONTARIO MINISTRY OF TRAINING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES • Develop and implement standardized, mandatory training specifi c to elevated work platforms, in col- laboration with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association. The training should include theoretical and practical operation of the classes of machines used in the construction industry, along with train- ing on the specifi c machines used. • Look into the possibility of establishing construc- tion industry mentorship programs for young, inexperienced workers. • Establish training based on existing Canadian Standards Association standards and the manu- facturers' operating procedures and best practices. CANADIAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION • Working with elevated work platform manufac- turers, explore the possibility of implementing interlock technologies that can enhance the safe use of elevated work platform machines. CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY • Hold daily "toolbox" meetings that include discus- sion on daily objectives and the potential for any safety concerns involving those plans. Argueta's employer, Teranorth Construction, pleaded guilty to a charge by the Ministry of Labour for failing to ensure the work platform was used on a fi rm and level surface. The company was fi ned $115,000 as well as a 25 per cent victim surcharge. Yukon introduces new mobile live fi re training unit for fi refi ghters By Zachary Pedersen T he Yukon Fire Mar- shal's Offi ce (FMO) is introducing a mobile live fi re training unit. "The new $765,000 mobile live fi re training unit will provide real- istic fi re training to fi re departments across the territory," said Premier Darrell Pasloski. Some key features of the training unit include a hydraulically powered second fl oor, a smoke generator and confi gurations that allow fi refi ghters to train for fi res in single storey, second storey and basement structures, as well as fi res in kitchens and hazardous materials lockers. The unit can be set to simulate rollover fi res where gases burn overhead of fi refi ghters. The unit has been constructed with numerous systems to safeguard fi refi ghters during training, according to the Yukon government. The training unit is part of the government's recent $1.9 million investment in the Yukon FMO. This funding has resulted in hiring two additional deputy fi re marshals and an increase in the FMO's capacity to deliver education programs, conduct life safety inspections, fi re investiga- tions, fi re prevention and fi refi ghter training. The funding has also supported the FMO's carbon monoxide and home safety awareness campaign, doubled volunteer training from two to four times a month and doubled volunteer fi refi ghters' honoraria, said the Yukon government. The Yukon FMO supports 16 volunteer fi re departments and 225 volunteer fi refi ghters in unincorporated communities and provides life safety leadership across Yukon. The offi ce also undertakes investigations, inspections and works with incorporated community fi re departments to provide training and support. OSHA announces proposed rule to protect workers exposed to crystalline silica By Amanda Silliker T he United States Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a proposed rule aimed at curbing lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pul- monary disease and kidney disease in workers. The proposal seeks to lower worker exposure to crystalline silica, which kills hundreds of workers and sickens thou- sands more each year, said OSHA. "Exposure to silica can be deadly, and limiting that exposure is essential," said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labour for occupational safety and health. "Every year, exposed workers not only lose their ability to work, but also to breathe. This proposal is expected to prevent thousands of deaths from silicosis — an incurable and progressive disease — as well as lung cancer, other respiratory diseases and kidney disease." Once the full effects of the rule are real- ized, OSHA estimates that the proposed rule would result in saving nearly 700 lives per year and prevent 1,600 new cases of silicosis annually. Exposure to airborne silica dust occurs in operations involving cutting, sawing, drilling and crushing of concrete, brick, block and other stone products and in operations using sand products, such as in glass manufacturing, foundries and sand blasting. The proposal is based on extensive review of scientifi c and technical evi- dence, consideration of current industry consensus standards and outreach by OSHA to stakeholders, including public stakeholder meetings, conferences and meetings with employer and employee organizations. "The proposed rule uses common- sense measures that will protect workers' lives and lungs — like keeping the mate- rial wet so dust doesn't become airborne," said Michaels. "It is designed to give employers fl exibility in selecting ways to meet the standard." The proposed rule includes two sepa- rate standards — one for general industry and maritime employment, and one for construction. The agency currently enforces 40-year- old permissible exposure limits (PELs) for crystalline silica in general industry, con- struction and shipyards that are outdated, inconsistent between industries and do not adequately protect worker health. The proposed rule brings protections into the 21st century, said OSHA. The proposed rule includes a new expo- sure limit for respirable crystalline silica and details widely used methods for controlling worker exposure, conducting medical surveillance, training workers about silica-related hazards and record- keeping measures.