HSE Updates 12 June 2024 RAE, OHS, MHCC

Greetings,

Please review the applicable HSE Updates.

• ERP Drills:
  • All staff are required to review and sign-off the ERP for their branch. See SiteDocs or contact raesafety@raeengineering.ca for details.
• Company Safety Meeting Presentation:   deadline: second Friday of each month for the previous month
  • If you have not already done so by the deadline, please review the attached Company Safety Meeting on SiteDocs to indicate you have reviewed it. If the deadline has passed – you missed it but are still expected to review and sign-off the presentation in SiteDocs.
• H&S Bulletin: Answer due by 8am last Friday of the month
  • See attached: June 2024 Health and Safety Bulletin
• Health and Safety Committee: Next Meeting: usually Thurs before last Fri of the month
  • If you can’t join the HSC meetings,  you can still participate by providing feedback, questions, or concerns to hsc@raeengineering.ca. Please submit feedback prior to the next meeting so it can be brought forward.
  • The HSC meets the last Thursday of each month at 1pm via Teams
  • Previous HSC Meeting Minutes can be found in the Teams Channel
• Safety Rewards Program: Where your commitment to RAE’s Safety Culture is rewarded!
  • April PRC winners: Submit more cards! Be specific in how your coworkers are contributing to safety!
    • $500 Best Card Winner: Santosh Gangadharan
    • $100 Safety PRC Draw: Kevin Floyd
  • If you have any questions or concerns about the Safety Rewards Program, or would like to sign-up to do a presentation, please email hsc@raeengineering.ca.
• Peer Recognitions: Due by Company Safety Meeting each month

OHS

• OHS eNews – June 2024 (issued via email)
  • Occupational hygiene reports: requirements and tips
  • Reporting and investigating a potentially serious incident (webinar)
  • National Indigenous Peoples Day: June 21
    • Resources for OHS Needs of Indigenous workers
  • AB OHS allowance for out-of-province first aid certificates
    • As of May 30, 2024, a new OHS allowance regarding out-of-province first aid certificates is in effect. Under this allowance, out-of-province first aid certificates for workplace first aid training courses recognized by another Canadian province or territory are now accepted as demonstrating proof of approved first aid training, as long as the courses comply with CSA Standard Z1210-17, First aid training for the workplace – Curriculum and quality management for training agencies.
    • Any such out-of-province first aid certificate covered by the allowance will be considered as valid until the certificate expiry date. Work site parties have the flexibility to follow the original first aid course requirements in the OHS Code or to follow the allowance.
    • For more details, visit open.alberta.ca/publications/ohs-directors-order-allowance-out-of-province-workplace-first-aid-training. If you have further questions, email jet.ohsocchealth@gov.ab.ca.
  • Alberta OHS hosting free June 18 webinar for employers: 10am-11:15am via Zoom, register via link
  • Wildfires
    • Alberta OHS provides several occupational health and safety resources related to wildfires, including a wildfire smoke bulletin that explains how to control that workplace hazard. To access these wildfire resources, visit ohs-pubstore.labour.alberta.ca/wildfire.
    • Visit the Alberta Wildfire website to get information about current fire restrictions and fire bans, as well as learn more about wildfire prevention and operations.
    • Alberta’s Wildfire Status Dashboard provides a map of the current locations of wildfires in Alberta, including information on which fires are out of control.
    • A forecast map showing where wildfire smoke is headed is available at firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current.
    • For the latest information on road closures, visit 511 Alberta.
    • Free wildfire-related mobile apps are available, including the Alberta Wildfire Status app, the Alberta Fire Bans app, and the Alberta Emergency Alert app.
  • Upcoming live webinars on employment standards
    • Employment Standards in Alberta – Wages and Overtime: Tuesday, June 11 (1:30 p.m.)
    • Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office – TFW & Employer Rights and Responsibilities: Tuesday, June 18 (1:30 p.m.)
    • Overview of Employment Standards in Alberta: Tuesday, July 16 (1:30 p.m.)
    • Employment Standards in Alberta – Construction Overview: Thursday, August 22 (1:30 p.m.)
  • OHS: Beyond the numbers – Wind-related incidents
    • Strong winds or gusts can be a significant safety hazard. In a matter of seconds, sometimes with little or no warning, high winds or a single strong gust can make objects move suddenly, force doors to swing unexpectedly, or even cause some types of buildings or structures to collapse.
    • From 2019 to 2023, a total of 11 wind-related potentially serious incidents (PSIs) were reported to Alberta OHS. Three workers suffered injuries to the head, shoulder and foot in these PSIs. More than a quarter of the PSIs (27 per cent) involved a structural failure or collapse, while 18 per cent were due to being struck by a swinging door or gate. During the same five-year period, a wind-related injury claim was filed with WCB as well.
    • It’s clear that strong winds can cause injuries and even potentially fatalities. Work site parties must work together to identify and then eliminate or control all hazards, including those posed by high winds. For example, when winds are dangerously high, the hazard they pose could potentially be controlled or eliminated by securing loose items or postponing work tasks. For more details, including information about considering environmental conditions during a hazard assessment, view the hazard assessment and control webinar on the OHS Resource Portal.

Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)

• This latest issue of The Catalyst | Le Vecteur (issued via email)
  • What is It Like Living with Schizophrenia? World Schizophrenia Awareness Day took place on May 24 and is a conversation-starter. Gillian Corsiatto, author, and educator, starts the discussion.
  • Book Club – Lifeline: An Elegy Writing Your Raw Reality: Stephanie Kain’s novel changes the narrative on supporting someone with mental illness.
  • Pride Season Pride Season is a celebration of the wide range of Pride events that take place over the summer (June to September) when 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and allies come together to spotlight the resilience, honour the talent, and recognize the contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
  • How to find a 2SLGBTQIA+ mental health service provider Trying to find a therapist is a lot like dating but let me introduce a new variable – trying to find a therapist – or mental health services at all – as a 2SLGBTQIA+ person. It thins out the dating pool a little bit.