Occupational Health and Safety Saskatchewan

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Occupational Health and Safety - Saskatchewan
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The consequences of accidents and illnesses

• In 2006 Saskatchewan had 338,898 workers covered
  by the WCB.
• 40,922 claims were reported.
• This includes 13,732 lost time accidents.
• There were an additional 22 fatalities.
• Lost Time claim rate 4.05 per 100

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Resulting loss to society

• The social and economic cost to our economy from
  accidents is tremendous. The cost of each
  lost-time injury is about 17,500.
• The cost of each fatality is about 6.8 million
  (all possible costs - including total lost career
  income to the family of the deceased worker, WCB
  support payments to the family, etc.

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Resulting loss to us all

• In 2006 the WCB paid out about 241,100,000 in
  benefits.
• Employers paid 221,200,00 in premiums to the
  WCB.
• These premiums are passed on to us through higher
  prices and/or reduced wages and services.

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None of this really addresses the pain and
suffering of the workers and their friends and
relatives
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These accidents were unnecessary

• Generally, these accidents were preventable by
  the persons on site.
• They were not Acts of God
• Substandard acts and conditions (and combinations
  of the two) were the root cause

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Legislation

• There has to be control over worker health and
  safety
• In Saskatchewan this control starts with the
  rights of workers

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Worker rights

• Saskatchewan was the first to enshrine three
  rights into law for every employee
• The right to know. (ie. WHMIS)
• The right to participate. (ie. OHCs)
• The right to refuse. (Section 23)

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Provincial Legislation

• Saskatchewan passed the first OHS Act in 1972 to
  deal with the social and economic costs of
  workplace accidents and illnesses.
• We set the standard for the country.
• Our framework is one of the most progressive.

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Saskatchewan Legislation

• The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993
• The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations,
  1996
• The Mines Regulations, 1978

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Electrical Fatality

• Installing a new feeder cable into a sub that is
  part of a bank of subs
• Common buss bar

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Guage Cabinet
Live 4160 Feeds
Buss Bar
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Hole for new cable
Guage Connection to 4160
Live 4160 contacts
Cabinet open
Common Buss Bar
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Regulations

• Lockout General regs 139, 464
• Adequate Supervision General Regs 17, Mine
  Regulations 13 19
• No plans General Regs 12

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Lockout

• Single most important safety rule for machines
  driven by electricity.
• Requires isolating the machine from the power
  source.
• Isolation done by shutting off the power and
  locking it out with a physical lock
• Power must be tested at local start switch.

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Electrical Incidents

• Electrician pulling a cable out of a live 600V
  Substation. Similar accidents every year.
• Pipe Wrench on pump incident
• Outdoors shutoff pump breaker and door blew off
  the breaker box hitting victim in face.

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Work Place Responsibility System

• Goal is to get everyone working together to
  identify and control hazards.
• Everyone from the CEO to the newest hire is
  responsible for health and safety.
• Accountability is proportional to responsibility.

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Responsibility

• The OHS Act assigns duties for the control of
  hazards to those directly in control of
• the organization of work.
• the design of the work process.
• the manner and conditions under which work is
  performed.

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Role of the employer

• Employers are directly responsible for the health
  and safety of their workers.
• Provide a healthy and safe workplace.
• Provide safe equipment, a safe working
  environment, competent supervision, arrange
  worker training
• Ensure equipment, materials and protective
  devices are provided, used and maintained as
  required.
• Know and comply with legislation and ensure
  employees comply.

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Role of Supervisors

• Work and act safely - you are a role model.
• Follow the regulations and ensure your workers
  do.
• Represent the employer in the workplace.

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Role of Workers

• Attend use training provided by the employer.
• Follow safe work practices and report hazards.
• Inspect equipment, machinery, etc.
• Comply with legislation.

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Role of OHC

• Help the employer identify and resolve concerns
  before they cause accidents
• Has no managerial authority. Employer is
  responsible for compliance
• The OHCs job is to advise, assist, recommend
• Act as internal auditor or monitor

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Role of Government Inspectors

• Inspect workplaces
• Promote and teach safety
• Enforce when all else fails

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Examples of OHS Problems
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Potash Tanktop Rotten Wood
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Shorted Battery Cable
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A long stick for breaking lumps
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Role of the Engineer

• Be familiar with the relevant legislation.
• Design taking the legislation and worker safety
  into account.
• Plan work including the safety aspects of doing
  the job.

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Electrical Regulations

• General Regs 453 466 to deal with items CEC is
  not adequate for. Ie 460 Portable Electric
  Power plants
• M421 in mines sets standards for mines and
• Says CEC applies in Mines

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Cranes Lifting Devices

• 48 regulations on cranes Sect 200- 247
• Mobile cranes need load cells
• Mobile crane operators need certification
• Table 16 min train requirements
• 100 hrs classroom practical
• 200 hrs practical to lift workers

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Rigging

• 13 regulations on rigging Sect 227-239
• 70 regs including subsections
• Training for workers
• No open hooks
• Loads restricted to 10 for lift people
• Loads restricted 20 materials
• Slings, shackles, clips, rope eye loops

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Aerial Devices/Fall Arrest/Scaffolding

• 31 regulations Sect 168 - 198
• Boom type always req fall arrest
• Fall arrest 5 pt harness and lanyard
• Fall arrest req 5000 lb attachment point
• Scaffolds designed by P.Eng or to a std
  specified in the regulations

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Summary

• First design the workplace to be safe
• Second ensure the workers act in safe manner
• Major component is attitude of front line
  supervision
• Supervision can only do what the CEO will allow