Monday, May 13, 2019

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CLCII COURSE

Our updated workshop, Canada Labour Code II: What Managers & Supervisors Need To Know, offers a more engaging approach to OSH training for managers and supervisors.  Below are details in response to some frequently asked questions.


Why should I take a course on Canada Labour Code II (CLCII)?



 Federal legislation make it mandatory for federally-regulated* employees to protect the health and safety of their employees.  Managers and supervisors, working on behalf of their employer, share this duty.  Participation in an instruction session will help managers, supervisors, and others understand their legal obligations.  Furthermore, CLCII requires that employers instruct their managers and supervisors on occupational safety and health matters.




Why should I take the “Canada Labour Code II: What Managers & Supervisors Need To Know” course?



This engaging workshop will educate and challenge your thinking about occupational safety and health (OSH).  You’ll participate in interesting discussions, group activities, and case law studies in this interactive workshop-style session.  Emphasis is on learning key CLCII obligations of those who direct the work of employees, as well as what’s required to thoroughly exercise due diligence for health and safety.  Your instructor, Chris Jodouin, has over 25 years of experience in various health and safety roles and more than 10 years’ experience leading CLCII workshops for managers, supervisors, and health & safety committees.

What will I take away from this course?


 This course has been designed to enable you to:

  1. Explain key requirements of CLCII and understand the underlying principles upon which this legislation is based.
  2. Understand how to fulfill your legal duties required by OSH legislation.
  3. Describe "due diligence" as used in the context of occupational health & safety.
  4. Exercise due diligence when directing work.
  5. Determine other OSH training required by you and your staff.
  6. Be an active contributor to your organization's safety culture.

You will leave with a participant workbook containing the day’s learning material and resources to access back at work.

*Employers subject to CLCII include these sectors:

Aboriginal/Air Transport/Banking/Bridges and Tunnels/Broadcasting/Communications/Federal Crown Corporations/Public Service Dept.’s/Feed, Flower & Seed Mills/Grain Elevations/Long shoring/Energy and Mining/Pipelines/Postal Contractors/Rail Transport/Interprovincial Road Transport/Water Transport
 
 

Friday, May 3, 2019

IS YOUR WORKFORCE READY TO RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY?

Canadian health & safety programs are designed to prevent injuries, illnesses, and property damage.  However, despite your best efforts, an emergency could occur at any time. Is your workforce ready?

Emergency preparedness ensures that your organization is ready to deal with sudden events.  The development of a written emergency response plan (ERP) is a vital part of the preparedness process - but there’s much more needed to be really ready.  

Here are some suggestions:

1. Make it a group effort.  It takes a lot of work to create a truly effective emergency response capability.  Form    an emergency planning group so that one person isn’t doing all the work.  Draw together participants from a cross-section of departments and levels in your organization.  Solicit support, and participation, from your            senior managers.


2.  Conduct a risk assessment.  Identify possible emergencies that could occur in your workplace.  Do this by touring the workplace and by talking to employees, supervisors and managers.  Then assess both the probability and the severity of each emergency.  You’ll end up with a list of emergencies ranked in order of risk.

3.  Prepare your workplace and your workforce.  Using the risk assessment results, start preparing for the high-risk emergencies first.  The emergency planning group should undertake or oversee preparedness tasks. 

-Write an ERP which describes the chain of command, procedures for initiating and executing emergency response procedures, emergency contact information and details about your workplace (e.g., site plans, chemical inventory lists, emergency exits and assembly areas, locations of firefighting equipment and other supplies). 

-Prepare the equipment, tools and supplies that will be needed in an emergency.  Assign them to dedicated storage locations so they’ll be ready when needed.  Identify external suppliers who can provide additional items during an emergency, and list their contact information in the ERP.

-Train everyone.  Different levels of training may be needed depending on each person’s role (e.g. commander, responder, assembly marshal, site security, evacuee).

-Share your ERP with the public emergency responders and your neighbours.

4.  Practice, practice, practice!  Organize exercises.  They provide practice for your workforce and will help debug your response procedures.  Exercises could entail “what-if” scenarios around the conference table, drills to practice specific response skills, or an all-out mock emergency using all necessary response resources.

5.  Keep everything up to date.  Change is constant.  Update your ERP whenever there are changes to emergency contacts, procedures, the work site, or other factors affecting the way your organization will respond to emergencies.  Back up changes with updated training and exercises.

Emergency preparedness is a critical part of your health & safety program.  Make sure that your workforce is ready to respond.

ERP Resources Available from CHEM Safety – Division of Escalade Services Group Inc. :

  • Emergency Response Planning Guide, Published by Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS), 2004, 150 pages.   Available from CHEM Safety for $15 per copy.

·         “Emergency Response Planning” e-Learning Course

·         “Emergency Preparedness for Workers” e-Learning Course

Contact Us at 1-866-374-1766 or (403) 818-8118

Other Useful Resources:

Thursday, October 11, 2018

CONSTRUCTION HEATER SEASON IS HERE!



CHEM Safety is ready to certify your workers in AB and SK to learn about gas code requirements for propane construction heaters. Classroom training is combined with practical hands-on instruction at your AB./SK. workplace or project site.

3-year certification is provided through the Canadian Propane Association. Contact us (AB./SK./MB.) to arrange your training session.

   

Friday, March 2, 2018


The 3 year transition period to the "New WHMIS" legislation ends December 1, 2018.  Workplaces, suppliers, and manufactures must be fully compliant by this time.  Contact CHEM Safety today for the New WHMIS training courses available.

On February 11, 2015 Canada adopted the new standard for Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS).  The revised WHMIS will now include the internationally recognized standard “Globally Harmonized System (GHS)” for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.  Here are some of the changes companies can expect with the introduction of the New WHMIS:
    ·         Symbols:  Learn more about some of the completely new symbols to be introduced.
    ·         Labels: Learn about the new changes to labels.
    ·         MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) will now be referred to as SDS (Safety Data Sheet).  Since all material will now be standard throughout the world all SDS will need to comply.
    ·         Classification: Suppliers must classify their products using the new GHS-based criteria.  This will be a complex task for many.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Prepare Yourself for Proposed Changes to WHMIS Based on the GHS International Standard

Prepare Yourself for Proposed Changes to WHMIS Based on the GHS International Standard Leadership Summit on May 14 to explain how proposed WHMIS legislation changes and adoption of the “GHS” standard will impact suppliers, distributors, and end users of hazardous products. View this important industry presentation to help you understand how your business may be affected. 
CHEM Safety's Principal Instructor, Chris Jodouin, spoke at the Canadian Propane Association
We're updating our WHMIS Train-the-Trainer course to help you prepare for this new legislation. Learn more about upcoming WHMIS Train-the-Trainer courses and access our online registration page.in-the-Trainer course to help you prepare for this new legislation. Learn more about upcoming WHMIS Train-the-Trainer courses and access our online registration page.