Health and Safety ReportVolume 4, Issue 4 - April 2006

No matter what you call it - a hazard prevention program, a job safety analysis, or a risk assessment - having a system in place to recognize and control hazards is an important step to making your workplace safer. And as of December 14, 2005, it is also a requirement under Part II of the Canada Labour Code.

Under the new Hazard Prevention Program regulations, employers have a legal responsibility to conduct a risk assessment in their workplace, and to continually review and monitor the program.

Conducting a risk assessment means taking a thorough look at your workplace to identify any objects, situations or processes that may cause harm, particularly to people. Armed with this information, an employer is better equipped to control or eliminate workplace hazards.

A risk assessment allows you to determine what hazards exist in your workplace, who might be at risk, whether or not existing control measures are adequate, which hazards need immediate attention, and how to prevent injury and illness. Here's how to do it:

Identify hazards

Your risk assessment team should include supervisors, as well as workers who are familiar with the work processes. The team's task is to examine all aspects of the work. Have there been any accidents or near misses? Record them. How is the work done or organized? Who is doing the work, and what is their age and level of experience? In case of an emergency, is anything lacking that could mean trouble? Are visitors or the public at risk? Study all aspects of every job, inside and out.

One effective way to identify hazards is through a Job Safety Analysis (JSA). The publication Job Safety Analysis Made Simple, developed by CCOHS and the Labour Program of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada offers guidance on how to do this.

Rank the hazards in order of importance

The severity of a risk depends on several factors, including how many people are exposed to the hazard, how often they will be exposed to it, the degree of harm likely to result, and the probability of harm. Find out everything you can about every hazard.

Have a plan of action

As a team, decide on ways to control the hazards, one at a time. This is an involved but effective process. The four main ways to control a hazard are through elimination or substitution of the hazard, engineering controls, administrative controls, and only as a last resort, personal protective equipment.

Review, monitor and report

The Minister of Labour requires that employers submit a report, at least every three years, of how the risk management program is progressing. Review your program as needed, whenever there is a new project starting, a change in work flow or processes, new equipment, new employees, a new location, new chemicals or other hazardous substances, or new information about a product being used in the workplace. Keep a record of any hazard reviews you conduct. Document any risks you have identified, what control measures are implemented, and how you are monitoring hazards.

Once your risk assessment is underway, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping to greatly improve the safety of workers in your organization. You can also rest assured that you are in compliance with health and safety law.

Read the OSH Answers on risk assessment


More info on the Job Safety Analysis Made Simple publication

A sloppy welding job. Shoes with no traction. A loose-fitting vest. These are the seemingly minor details that recently contributed to two major work-related accidents in British Columbia.

While a young worker in British Columbia was end hauling rock from a blast site, the articulating rock truck he was operating failed to slow down. The brakes failed while the truck was travelling down a steep, newly constructed logging road. The operator attempted to slow the truck down by driving it into a ditch. The truck tipped onto its box, slid down the ditch line, and hit a large outcrop of rock. The driver was ejected and was struck by a large rock that was thrown from the truck's load. The young worker, who had less than a year's experience on the job, was fatally injured.

The cause of the brake failure, according to the investigation, was a rear-axle torque rod that had broken away from the housing at an improperly welded repair.

WorkSafe BC's recommended safe work practices for road construction workers

Train drivers on the safe operation of articulating rock trucks on logging roads and steep grades. Rather than make temporary repairs to defective integral parts, replace them. Any welding should be performed by a qualified person adhering to the appropriate welding standard. Repair and maintain equipment, as recommended by the manufacturer and under any applicable standards. Finally, ensure that operators wear their seat belts.

Another BC worker experienced a close call in the course of his forestry work. During a grapple yarding operation, several twisters had been applied to support a tailhold tree. After yarding was complete, the worker was sent to remove the twisters from the tailhold. While he was releasing the third twister, he slipped and fell on the steep terrain, losing control of the twister. The worker's vest became entangled in the pole as it unwound uncontrollably.

The yarder operator heard his distressed breathing over the radio and alerted a coworker who was nearby. The worker had stopped breathing but his coworker resuscitated him using basic first aid, before the first aid attendant arrived.

WorkSafe BC urges safe work practices to be followed

If possible, use two workers to install and remove twisters. Contact the yarder operator before starting the task. Make sure your footing is secure. When installing the twister cable, use a minimum of two wraps (four-part line). A twister cable, when properly installed, should require only 3 or 4 twists to achieve the correct tension. The twister poles should be as close to right angles with the twister cable as possible, for greater leverage and control. Avoid loose clothing when working with twisters. It is recommended that forestry workers have first aid training above the minimum requirements of the Regulation.

Read the original hazard alerts:

Fatal runaway of truck

Forestry worker entangled in twister

Anytime you feel the need to stick your hand, or any other part of yourself in a dangerous spot on a machine - whether or not the machine is turned off - you run the risk of accidentally activating the machine. No job is worth such a risk.

Lockout is an essential safety procedure that prevents equipment, machines and processes from harming workers. The people who are responsible for maintaining, repairing, cleaning and replacing parts on machinery that is not "locked out" can be seriously injured. Every year in Canada, someone loses a limb or their life because there was no lockout system in place.

The latest e-course from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) provides a basic overview of lockout. It teaches participants how to recognize hazardous situations and know when lockout is required to control electrical or other energized hazards.

The Lockout e-course outlines how to identify and control hazardous energy in a workplace, and explains the importance and purpose of implementing a lockout system. In an easy, user-friendly format, it illustrates the concepts of lockout, with case studies and other examples of real workplace situations. Sample forms, checklists and quizzes throughout the course make it practical and interactive. There's even an exam at the end of the course to measure learning.

Managers, supervisors, workers, facility managers, health and safety committee members, and anyone who needs to know more about controlling hazardous energy in the workplace will benefit from the Lockout e-course. The convenient, web-based format allows participants to learn at their own computers, at their own pace. In just 50 to 60 minutes, they will have a good understanding of hazardous energy and how to control it with lockout procedures. They will also learn how to recognize the importance of workplace health and safety programs, including training.

All courses and information products from CCOHS are reviewed by labour, business and government representatives to ensure accurate and unbiased content.

Pricing and registration information for the Lockout e-course.

What is GHS?

GHS stands for Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. Like WHMIS, GHS is a systematic approach to defining and classifying hazards, and communicating health and safety information on labels and material safety data sheets (called Safety Data Sheets or SDSs in GHS). It was developed with the goal that it would be adopted and used globally. Canada was part of the international team of hazard communication experts who developed GHS.

What is the scope of GHS?

GHS is broader than WHMIS in that it will apply to more than workplaces. It also applies to consumer chemicals and chemicals during transport as well as to chemicals that are currently exempt or partially exempt from WHMIS (e.g. pesticides, pharmaceuticals, explosives and consumer products). The target audiences for GHS include workers, transport workers, emergency responders and consumers.

What is the timeline for GHS implementation in Canada?

The target date for implementation in Canada is 2008. The formal decision by the Canadian government to adopt GHS is expected in late 2006.

What does adoption of GHS into WHMIS mean for your organization?

Each country is free to determine which parts of the GHS system will be used in the different sectors (workplace, transportation, consumers) of their system and Canada is in the process of doing just that. If GHS is adopted for certain hazard classes and categories then the corresponding rules for classification, and labeling information must also be used. There is no direct translation from WHMIS hazard classifications to the GHS hazard classifications. There are more hazard classes under GHS than currently under WHMIS.

Chemical producers will have to classify their products using the new GHS rules for the classes and categories that are being used in Canada. You will need to find and interpret data according to the new classification rules. Your MSDSs will need to be reviewed and modified or rewritten depending on how closely your existing data sheets match the required format and content of the new SDSs. If you are already using the 16-section ANSI format then the changes for GHS will not be as great as if you are still using the 9-section MSDS format. You will need to prepare new labels using the GHS labeling rules. The requirements for GHS labels are different than what is required by WHMIS.

In addition, chemical producers who export their products will need to determine the requirements in the country to which they are exporting. Work is ongoing to try to ensure there is as much consistency amongst trading partners as possible but it is expected that there will be variations from country to country, depending on which classes and categories each country (and sector within the country) chooses to use.

Review and modification of the new SDSs will be a huge undertaking for chemical producers. Chemical users should expect a flood of new SDSs as the new system is implemented. Management of these SDSs will be a major challenge for both chemical producers and chemical users.

Training will be another major undertaking for chemical users and producers. Workers will need to be familiarized with new hazard classes introduced with GHS, the new format of SDSs and trained to understand the information found on new labels and SDSs.

Additional Resources:


CCOHS' OSH Answers

United Nations - Guidance on GHS classification, labels and SDS

Health Canada - Details on the status of GHS within Canada

Wouldn't we all love to feel valued, respected and satisfied in our jobs and work in safe and healthy environments? Studies have reportedly shown that we are more likely to be productive in, and committed to our jobs when we work in environments that can be described as "healthy workplaces". Creating workplaces in which people can be healthy and work safely is the focus of a week long initiative called Safety and Health Week. From April 30 - May 6 communities and businesses throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico work to raise awareness of workplace health and safety issues and help prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.

The theme for Safety and Health Week 2006 is Review. Refresh. Revitalize. It's a prime opportunity for all to take a good look at our workplaces and ensure that policies, procedures and practices are in place to create a culture of health and safety, and identify changes that will help prevent illnesses and injuries. In keeping with the theme, Canada's national resource, the Canadian Centre for Occupation Health and Safety (CCOHS) is offering a selection of free webinars and calling on Canadians to get involved in Safety and Health Week.

Free Webinars

Presentations by CCOHS' expert staff - on a variety of topics - will be run throughout the week. The only equipment you need is a computer with speakers, and Internet access. There are a limited number of "virtual" seats available so early registration is recommended.

Gather your health and safety committee members, managers, supervisors and health and safety professionals around a boardroom table or in a conference room to participate in the session. This could serve as a platform for your own Safety and Health Week event, or at the very least, a basis for further discussion.

The Webinar topic schedule is listed on the CCOHS website. Topics are still being added however the following are confirmed:



OHS Best Practices (1 hour)

For almost a decade there has been a focus on 'best practices' for workplaces - as a means of improving performance in health and safety. CCOHS has undertaken a number of projects over the years to locate Best Practices on various workplace health and safety issues. CCOHS outlines key web resources, strategies to locate practices and how you can share your best practices with other Canadian OH&S professionals.

Orientation Training for Workers in Canada (1 hour)

Health and safety orientation programs are required by law in Canada, and are the best opportunity to provide specific practical training to new workers and workers with new responsibilities. However, many employers in small and medium sized businesses do not have an adequate understanding of exactly what their training should cover and the best means to conduct training. CCOHS reviews the Canadian situation and some strategies to enable your organization to identify health and safety orientation needs systematically as well as how to conduct effective training.

Violence in the Workplace: Awareness (20 Minutes)

CCOHS provides an overview of workplace violence prevention topics and practices. This webinar offers a guided tour of CCOHS' e-course, which in turns helps you promote awareness of this very important issue. Violence in the Workplace: Awareness is a precursor to the other CCOHS Workplace Violence Prevention e-courses: Recognize the Risk and Take Action, and Establish a Prevention Program.

Other Activities

The Canadian launch of Safety and Health Week will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Monday, May 1, 2006.

Safety and Health Week can be a prime time for organizations to enhance their knowledge of workplace safety by holding or participating in a health and safety event - anything from training sessions to contests to community events - designed to raise awareness. The North American Occupational Health and Safety Week website is chock full of ideas and resources that can be downloaded.

Visit the North American Occupational Safety and Health website at www.naosh.ca


Webinar registration and details on the CCOHS website