Safety Alert

INCIDENT #1 

Description of Incident: 

While out doing idle riser checks, a service technician broke through a wooden lid on a well. The cover was covered with moss, tall grass and other vegetation so there were no obvious indicators of the danger below.  The well diameter was 30" and proved to be 11' deep.  Had the technician fallen in, there was no possible chance they could have gotten themself out. 

Considerations:

• Be mindful of unforeseen hazards.

• If wells are a potential in your franchise area, look to identify locations and archive for future reference and prevention.

• Review known well locations and possibility for unidentified wells with staff during meetings to spread awareness.

• Request land-owners cap wells effectively if possible.

• Ensure working alone process is in place to allow an effective response.

• This incident highlights the importance of completing meaningful hazard assessments while arriving on site.

INCIDENT #2 

Description of Incident: 

While a Member Utility was responding to a low-pressure gas line strike, a near miss incident occurred.

A homeowner was installing a 2” PE water line to hook up to their cistern. While doing so, the homeowner struck a low-pressure gas line. Upon Member Utility arrival on site, it was observed the trench was approximately 10’ deep with inadequate cutbacks/shoring in place. The Member Utility on site refused to enter the trench until it was deemed safe for entry. While the Member Utility waited for the trench to be made safe, one side of the trench wall collapsed and fell into the trench. It weighed approximately 2000Lbs.  Luckily, no one was in the trench while this occurred. The Member Utility didn’t proceed with the gas line repair until the trench was backfilled to a depth of 3’  in order to complete the gas line repair safely. 

Considerations:

• This incident highlights the importance of completing meaningful hazard assessments while arriving on site.

• Ensure staff are trained and competent in ground disturbance.

• Always exercise the right to refuse unsafe work when “undue hazards” are present.

• Ensure all trenches are adequately cutback/shored as per requirements set out in Part 32 of the OHS Code.

Important Notes: 

INCIDENT #1 

Highlights the importance of having an established working alone process in place.

• In the event the worker was alone and fell into the well, would someone have known?

• If the worker was working alone, was a monitoring employee aware of the workers location and check-in process?

• If the worker was alone and fell into the well, would the monitoring employee be capable of summoning an effective rescue?

• What check-in intervals would be appropriate to the nature of the hazards?

• It is vital that employees understand the hazards of working alone and take all preventative steps that can be reasonably taken to reduce or eliminate potential risks.

Important Notes: 

INCIDENT #1 and #2

Incident #1 and #2  both highlight the importance of completing meaningful hazard assessments at the worksite as per Part 2 of the OHS Code.

It is important to inspect a worksite prior to starting work in effort to identify any unforeseen or hidden hazards.

• All responsible parties are to be vigilant about monitoring daily operations for conditions or procedures that may contribute to risk affecting the workforce, the public, or the environment.

• If the hazard assessment process identifies a hazard, it must be eliminated, isolated or otherwise mitigated by implementing the use of engineering or administrative controls or personal protective equipment.

Engineering Controls

Engineering Controls involve the design of the workplace and its related processes and should be incorporated at the conceptual stage of a project. These controls include such factors as ventilation, isolation, containment and process control.

Administrative Controls

Where the hazard cannot be eliminated and where substitution and engineering controls do not adequately manage the hazard, administrative controls are frequently introduced to lessen the risk. These measures may include changing work procedures or developing and implementing new policies.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment should be considered the control method of last resort and should always be used in combination with other control methods. PPE can be used as a supplement but not as a substitute to other control methods.

Incident Reporting

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) 

Potential Serious Incident (PSI)

• An employer must report “Potential Serious Incidents (PSIs)” to Alberta OHS.

• Potential Serious Incident (PSI): is an incident that had a likelihood of causing a serious injury or illness, and there is reasonable cause to believe that corrective actions may need to be taken to prevent recurrence (OHS Act, Section 33 (5)).

• You may receive a letter/email from Alberta OHS regarding a PSI. If you receive notification from OHS regarding a PSI, you must:

• Review the incident and consider whether it meets the definition of a PSI under the OHS Act, Section 33 (5).

• If an incident is determined to be a PSI, use the OHS Online Incident Reporting service to provide your investigation report.

• Reporting a workplace incident to Alberta OHS and reporting an injury to WCB Alberta are separate processes.

• Alberta OHS receives high-level information on WCB claims from WCB-Alberta.

• PSI investigation reports are used for information and education purposes. Alberta OHS may follow up if there is a current or ongoing serious health and safety concern.

Report Incident to OHS (Click Here)

Incident Reporting

If your worker has been injured and meets the criteria listed below, you are required by law to submit the “Employer Report of Injury” form within 72 hours after becoming aware of the injury or illness.

You need to submit a report to WCB if the accident results in, or is likely to result in:

• Lost time or the need to temporarily or permanently modify work beyond the date of accident,

• Death or permanent disability (amputation, hearing loss, etc.),

• A disabling or potentially disabling disease or condition caused by occupational exposure or activity (such as a mental health concern, poisoning, infection, respiratory disease, dermatitis etc.),

• The need for medical or mental health treatment beyond first aid (assessment by physician, psychologist or mental health provider, physiotherapist, chiropractor, etc.) or

• Incurring medical aid expenses (dental treatment, eyeglass repair or replacement, prescription medications, etc.).

• WCB Alberta shares high-level information on WCB claims to OHS Alberta. 

Report Injury to WCB (Click Here)

External Responsibility System

Alberta - Occupation Health & Safety (OHS)

• Occupation Health and Safety Act, Regulation and Code (Legislation)

• OHS Officers and OHS Investigators (Enforcement)

Role:

• Establish minimum standards for healthy and safe practices in Alberta workplaces.

• Enforce compliance through inspections, investigations, orders, administrative penalties, fines and prosecutions.

Internal Responsibility System

A way of sharing direct and personal responsibility for health and safety between everyone in the workplace as part of their job. Responsibility is shared according to each person’s legal obligations defined in Part 1 of OHS Act (worker, employer, supervisor, etc.)

A company health and safety management system (HSMS) provides the foundation for the IRS System.

Working if Everyone:

• Participates in work site health and safety,

• Health and safety is integrated into all work site activities,

• Efforts are effective in identifying ways to prevent injury and illness and promote worker health.
  

Examples:

• An employer keeping records of worker certifications and training and checking regularly to make sure they are current.

• A supervisor checking, in routine daily activities, whether workers are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment – and making sure they do so, if they were not.

Roles/Responsibilities: 

• Employer: Control activities, OHS policies/procedures, OHS culture.

• Supervisor: Worker activities, Hazard response, Problem solving.

• Worker: Own actions, Immediate correction, Reporting hazards.

Questions to Ask (Self-Assessment):

• Are you familiar with policies, practices and procedures?

• Does everyone hold themselves accountable?

• Are workers given the opportunity to report health and safety concerns?

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Online Course Library

Update:

Since November 2023, Federation Members have:

• Completed 370+ online courses
• Saved over $4700 in online training costs 

Courses include:

• ICS-100
• Ground Disturbance 101, 201
• Defensive Driving
  
• Health & Safety Committees and Representatives, etc.

-Enter discount code fedgas123 at checkout.

-Receive 30% off all courses in library.

OHS e-Learning

OHS - Emergency Response Planning (Click Here)

OHS - Workplace First Aid (Click Here)

OHS - Hazard Assessment & Control (Click Here)

OHS - Ergonomics (Click Here)

OHS - Quizzes (Click Here)

Additional Free Courses:

Safety Knowledge Evaluation (Click Here)

Office Ergonomics (Click Here)

Office Ergonomics Self-Adjustment Tool (Click Here)

Situational Awareness for Material Handling (Click Here)

Infection Prevention and Control (Click Here)

Forklift Pre-Shift Inspections (Click Here)

Skid Steer Loader Pre-Shift Inspections (Click Here)

Telehandler Pre-Shift Inspections (Click Here)

Privacy Legislation (Click Here)

More (Click Here)

Intro to Health & Safety Management Systems Course

Update: 

• New H&S Course is complete and undergoing quality assurance.

• Listed as "highly recommended" course within the Required vs. Recommended training matrix for Members to take.
  

• Intended for Federation Member H&S Representative, H&S Committee Representatives and any staff involved in administering their health and safety program.

• To be offered in 2025 Training Calendar to Members.

Attendees will learn:

1. Awareness of OHS Legislation and loss causation models,

2. Understand main components of a HSMS,

3. Awareness of WCB and return to work programs,

4. Awareness of health and safety roles and responsibilities,

5. Strategies and resources to help administer and maintain a HSMS,

6. Awareness of regulatory reporting requirements (WCB, OHS),

7. Awareness of contractor management programs and requirements,

8. Understand worksite inspection process and requirements,

9. Understand emergency response plan requirements,

10. Awareness of incident investigation process and root cause analysis.

Benefits for Federation Members:

• Deeper understanding of H&S program requirements,
  

• Learn strategies needed to implement and maintain H&S programs,
  

• Obtain resources to aid with implementing and maintaining a H&S program, 

• Increased levels of OHS compliance throughout Membership,

• Reduction in operational OHS risk exposure and 3rd party consulting reliance.

2023 HSMS Manual Available for Download

HSMS Manual has been updated to align with the March 31, 2023 OHS Code update.

Call or email the Federation H&S Specialist if you have any questions relating to the updated sections. 780-220-9351 or bwood@fedgas.com.

Click here to download the HSMS Manual