2009 Fleet Safety Council Conference Presentation Materials
Seven Pillars Supporting the Bridge to Safety
(Please click on headings to review presentations)

1. POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES
   Management cannot be everywhere; therefore the creation of written policies, practices and procedures to deal with any hazardous activity in the workplace is paramount. Central to employers meeting their obligations to employees is the provision of the information in the workplace which allows employees to conduct their activities in a safe way.

   This session covers the following Key elements;

• Provides a method to review the activities carried on in their workplace and identify those which are hazardous.
• Provides a guideline for the development of procedures for the safe performance of hazardous activities
• Provides a guiding principle for; keeping procedures, policies and practices up-to-date; making changes and communicating them to employees; and incorporating a mechanism for ongoing reinforcement of these policies and procedures.
• Provides a process to determine the degree of detail a procedure should have relevant to the risk and the complexity of the task involved (e.g. high risk, complex tasks will require very detailed procedures; while low risk, simple tasks will require much less detailed).


2. MONITORING TO ENSURE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
   Once employers have developed the appropriate policies, practices and procedures they must ensure that they are actually followed in the workplace. This involves several elements.

   This session covers the following Key elements;

• Successful and progressive strategies for the routine monitoring in the workplace to ensure that policies, practices and procedures are being complied with
• The appropriate and practical use of the employer’s authority to ensure that in fact employees are complying with the policies, practices and procedures. This may include the use of discipline where necessary in order to ensure compliance


3. COMMUNICATION OF HAZARD INFORMATION
   Because the workplace is not static, management is expected to be vigilant and constantly communicating to employees about hazards as they develop. The existence of policies, practices and procedures does not excuse supervisors or managers from communicating to employees about the changing conditions of the workplace environment which may present a hazard to them.

   This session covers the following Key elements;

   • Practical approach of instructing employees about the existence of and requirements of the policies, practices and procedures
   • Effective techniques to making sure that an employee who has never done a particular task before understands and appreciates the hazards of the task
   • Useful way(s) of properly communicating to employees changes to workplace conditions or equipment.
   
   
4. AUDITING AND OTHER MEANS OF HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
   Management must look at the workplace in a detached way and attempt to foresee where safety hazards may exist. Management is expected to look at the workplace in some depth to identify hazardous conditions. Both management and employees constantly run the risk of not recognizing hazards because they are so familiar.

   This session explores ways to being able to actually “see” the hazards in the workplace, including but not limited to; being constantly alert for hazards that have become familiar and making the mental effort to “step back” and attempt to view the workplace through fresh eyes; inviting management and supervisors from one area of a plant to do reviews or inspections of other areas of a plant; by using outside professionals to perform audits on the employer’s premises for a fresh view of the workplace and the hazards which may exist within it

5. TRAINING
   Employers have an obligation to properly train supervisors and employees. An employer is not meeting their obligations if it is allowing employees to perform work on equipment for which the employee has not received adequate training. Training of both employees and supervisors is an essential element in the workplace.

   This session explores advancements made in the area of training and development. The participants are provided with state of the art training methodologies and techniques which can be incorporated and utilized by them in their respective workplace

6. ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING
   The investigation of incidents and injuries in the workplace should be seen as source of information for improving policies, practices and procedures. Encouraging employees to report near misses and providing for the investigation of near misses will enhance employers’ positions in this regard.

   This session looks at ways to conduct effective investigations, pitfalls that an investigator can get into that will detract from a proper process. In addition the session l provides participants with practical methods and procedures which can be used by them in their respective workplace, in order to determine and correct the root cause and prevent further injury.

7. DOCUMENTATION
   Documentation - The Key to Due Diligence
   Management should ensure that training activities, safety audits, discipline and health and safety meetings are all documented and the documentation is retained. Without proper documentation, it becomes much more difficult for the employer to prove the extent of their efforts.

   This session covers the following Key elements;

   • Provides a guideline for developing a documentation system
   • Provides a guiding principle for; keeping records up-to-date
   • Provides a process to determine the degree of detail records should contain, as well as suggested retention

Transportation Health & Safety Association Fleet Safety Council

Over the past few years various Council members have expressed a desire to have the Transportation Health & Safety Association 'Council of Driver Trainer' name changed to better reflect the changing roles of the 'Driver Trainer' position, as well as to encourage other Health & Safety practitioners to join, who would otherwise feel alienated by the 'Driver Trainer' moniker.

A vote was held at the Council's 2008 Annual Conference in Kingston and the group will now be known as "Transportation Health & Safety Association - Fleet Safety Council" which is more reflective of the intent and makeup of the group.

The Fleet Safety Council is an association of Driver Trainers and safety professionals working in cooperation with the Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario to promote safety within the transportation and transport industry.

Click here to view the latest Fleet Safety Council brochure.

Fleet Safety Council Meeting Schedule (All Chapters)

Chapter meetings are held monthly. Members have the opportunity to learn more about safety within the transportation industry by sharing ideas and information with other companies and individuals.

Members can access the minutes of the meetings here. (Word or PDF Format)
An updated copy of the constitution is also located here.

If you want more input into the way safety is handled within the transportation industry, join us on the Fleet Safety Council.

The Council encourages the improvement of driver behavior through increased awareness and training. Working with Government agencies and private organizations, the Council strives for a uniform system of safety requirements for drivers in Ontario.

Over 350 members form several chapters in Ontario.

The Fleet Safety Council is open to all individuals concerned with promoting safety within the transportation industry. Current members include:

• Driver Trainers
• Directors of Safety
• Labour Safety Personnel
• Individuals concerned with occupational health and safety
• Insurance Companies

Members must be employed in the motor vehicle transportation industry as a safety supervisor, driver trainer, driver supervisor or associated with any government sponsored agency including insurance companies.

Chapters have representation from local, regional and OPP police forces as well as from the Ministry of Transportation.

Please register me as an active member with the THSAO Fleet Safety Council

Name: ________________________________________

Name of Employer: ______________________________

Business Address: _____________________________

City: ___________ Postal Code: ____________________

Telephone: _________________

Business Telephone: ____________ Fax No: ______________

Position: _______________________

On acceptance of this application by the Council Executive, I agree to uphold and assist in the promotion of the aims and objectives provided in the Council's Constitution.

_____________________________________________________________

signature of applicant

Date Paid: _______________________________ Cheque:[ ] Cash:[ ]

Please indicate which Chapter you wish to join:____________________________________

Email: ______________________________________________________

Please send completed form and cheque to Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario head office.