1. A Message from our New President and CEO
Ontario benefits when we all drive defensively
After a long and rewarding association with the Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario (THSAO) in my capacity as Board member; Management Vice-Chair; Management Co-Chair, and brief tenure as Chief Operating Officer, it is an unqualified pleasure to communicate, for the first time, to the collective members and supporters of the THSAO as the President and CEO. I am gratified to be in my present role and look forward to an even longer association in this current capacity.
At the time I assumed my current responsibility, the senior management of the association and I had taken an assessment of the organization and determined the direction that we wished to pursue. Essentially, the decision was that we would adopt a back to basics philosophy and attempt to place even greater emphasis and resources on our front line activities and direct client interface. I am most pleased with the efforts of the staff to adjust to the shift and, as our stakeholders appear to indicate, we have been achieving some degree of success in meeting our objectives.
It stands to reason that a change in leadership in any organization provides for a change in a number of areas. This newsletter is an excellent example of that. Members of THSAO have no doubt noticed that this publication is substantially different in style, layout, and content than what they have become familiar with. Again, the changes in this respect were incorporated with the same objectives in mind š that of better serving our stakeholders.
We look forward to using the format and flexibility that this newsletter provides to offer some innovative features such as guest contributors; specialized features and a section I look forward to offering - The Stakeholder's Perspective. We are hopeful that you will like what you see and receive from this publication.
In addition to the development of the THSAO News, the association has experienced other significant changes as well. Most notably, the decision was made to merge what had been our Northern Region with the Eastern Region. We have every reason to believe that with the redeployment of existing staff and the increased use of qualified and experienced contract trainers already familiar to THSAO, we will be well placed to offer and provide even better service to those areas of the province as well as system-wide.
The reasons for merging these existing regions were numerous. However, the action was accelerated by the decision by our former Northern Region Manager to retire. After 26 years of loyal and dedicated service to the THSAO the man we affectionately refer to as "Louie" Michael Lepage has elected to take some well-deserved time to himself and his family. While we regret Michael's decision, we certainly understand it and wish him the very best.
Finally, as I conclude what I hope and anticipate will be the first of may opportunities to communicate with you via THSAO News, I can only emphasis the extent to which all of us at THSAO share the objective of assisting our stakeholders in the transportation and related industries to reduce and someday eliminate workplace accidents and illnesses. We consider it to be a great honour and opportunity to pursue such a worthy objective.
We look forward to seeing many of you at our annual conference this May 15th and 16th.
Michael J. Burke
President and CEO
THSAO.
2. Celebrating 60 Years
THSAO takes its responsibility to its industry and stakeholders very seriously. Both on its own, and in conjunction with its other Safe Workplace Association partners, we make every effort to ensure that the health and safety products and services we provide are the most effective and relevant. This is our commitment to the Ontario transportation industry, which over sixty years ago requested that their own industry specific health and safety association be created.
That request by the industry brings us to where we are today, celebrating sixty years of continuous service. This is an achievement we are extremely proud of and intend to highlight at our annual conference this May 15th and 16th.
During those last sixty years, THSAO has been providing its membership with the opportunity to come together with the health and safety community to share ideas and network. In addition, we have consistently provided leading edge training by recognized health and safety professionals, and a wide variety of health and safety education sessions designed to improve your company's safety performance.
This being a special year for THSAO, we are also taking the opportunity to introduce some new elements. While we will continue to ensure that you have the opportunity to avail yourself of recent regulatory changes such as the safe transportation of dangerous goods (see related story), we will for the first time be incorporating a Youth Conference into our annual meeting.
Young workers are important assets. In fact, the workforce is the most important asset of any company and organization. They must be made aware of the importance of health and safety. It is important that those soon to be entering the workforce on a full time basis understand the importance of health and safety and what that understanding, and adopting the appropriate philosophy, can mean to the long-term success and enjoyment of their careers, as well as those of their friends and colleagues. To assist in advancing that objective, THSAO has invited students from the Toronto area to be on hand at the conference to see for themselves the benefits that proactive planning can provide.
In addition to our schedule of events, THSAO is taking a slightly different approach this year, with the selection of our keynote speaker. Our objective was to select someone that could provide us with a motivation to challenge what may have been our traditional way of thinking. In meeting that objective, we are delighted to present Jeff Adams, arguably Canada's best-recognized wheel-chair athlete. In addition to receiving numerous medals at the International Olympics, International Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games, to name a few, Jeff has lent his name and considerable persuasive abilities in such capacities as Chair, Accessibility Committee, Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid Committee and Vice-Chair, Directorate on Accessibility reporting to the Minister of Citizenship.
Jeff will share with us his unique perspective on disabilities overall and their relation to the workplace.
And, as always we plan on having a little fun. This year, we have planned a conference night out at the Woodbine Race Track.
We look forward to seeing many of you there. For more information on the conference and on how you can attend, please see the attached conference program and registration form.
3. Transportation of Dangerous Goods Clear Language Regulations
After several years of deliberation and consultation with industry stakeholders, the clear language revision of the Regulations for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods was published in Part 2 Canada Gazette on August 15, 2001. The new regulations will be effective on August 15, 2002.
Every person or company that offer transport, handles or transports dangerous goods in Canada must still be trained on and abide by the old regulations until August 15, 2002. There are special permits available to allow for some companies to apply some of the new regulation before this date; further information is available from The Transportation Dangerous Goods Directorate, www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/menu.htm
Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario is developing a new TDG program that will cover the required training requirements to meet the new TDG clear language regulations. This course will be available in late April 2002.
A note to employers: at this time the TDG Directorate has not allowed for an education period between the two regulations, which means the old TDG regulations will cease to exist on August 14, 2002 at 12 midnight and the new TDG clear language regulations will be enforced on August 15, 2002. Any person trained under the new regulations cannot apply that training until August 15, 2002. If a person's TDG card expires prior to August 15, 2002, they must be trained in accordance with the current TDG regulations and then retrained to the new TDG clear language regulations before August 15, 2002. THSAO will keep you informed of any changes.
4. Look For THSAO at the Industrial Accident Prevention Convention - April 22 - 24
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building
THSAO is extremely pleased to have the opportunity to partner with other participants within the health and safety and accident prevention communities, and most significantly with our other Safe Workplace Associations. The most visible example of that partnership and effective working relationship is witnessed at the annual Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA) Conference and Trade Show. Again, THSAO, which served on the IAPA Conference Advisory Committee, welcomes the opportunity to be associated with, and be a participant of, what will again be Canada's largest health and safety event. THSAO activities include:
Transportation of Dangerous Goods Certificate Training
Workplace Inspections - Use of the P.I.R.F. System (seminar)
Fatal Distractions (seminar)
High Performance Training-Incorporating Adult Learning Techniques Into Your H&S Training (seminar)
Forktruck Train the Trainer Parts I and II (workshop) and
Road Rage - Taming the Beast (seminar)
In addition, for the second consecutive year, THSAO will be opening the "Link" Youth Forum on the second day of the conference.
THSAO is gratified by the responses received by those attending our seminars, both at our own conference and events and those held in conjunction with organizations such as the IAPA.
This is in large measure due to our efforts to ensure that what we are offering is both relevant and up to date with any legislative or regulatory changes and/or requirements. Moreover, we do not hesitate to alter or amend our presentations, with the objective of delivering a more powerful message.
This was the case at last year's IAPA Conference when our Road Rage seminar was a combined presentation featuring THSAO's Vice President and Joe Edmonds, founder and President of the Jason Edmonds Foundation for Road Safety. Members of THSAO will be aware that Joe's son Jason Edmonds was a victim of road rage, prompting Joe to devote much of this time and efforts to doing what he can to educate others with respect to the danger we all face.
Joe's participation at the seminar put a very personal face on what is a wide spread societal concern and left participants with an extremely powerful message. Allow us to share with you an excerpt from a note Joe received following the presentation at the IAPA last year.
"Two moths later I can't tell you how may times that I've thought about your presentation. It still moves me when I think about it. As difficult as it must be for you, I'm sure that you know that you are doing a very good thing. It has certainly changed my outlook on things...You gave me a real change in perspective. I think of the saying that getting upset and worked up takes time off ones life. Based on that, you've added time to mine. For that I thank you very much. Whenever I'm in my car your...well Jason's story is never far from my mind."
Rob Lauzon, National Research Council of Canada
THSAO is very proud of its work with Joe Edmonds and the Jason Edmonds Foundation for Road Safety.
Note: For additional information on the IAPA conference, please go to www.iapa.on.ca or send an e-mail to: conference@iapa.on.ca
5. TRUCK WORLD
Canada's National Truck Show - September 26, 27, 28, 2002
National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto Canada
Truck World 2002, the truck show produced by the industry for the industry, is the pre-eminent transportation trade show in Canada. Following on the success of its predecessor, the original TRUCK WORLD 2000, TRUCK WORLD 2002 will be held this September 26, 27 and 28th. This year‰s show, with will provide a forum for industry suppliers to showcase their products and services, demonstrate the latest technologies, and gain maximum exposure to their potential customers and stakeholders, promises to be even better.
In addition to the features and exhibits provided at TRUCK WORLD 2000, this year's show will have the added feature of a Maintenance and Technology Conference which will provide fleet maintenance managers, technicians and mechanics with high-quality information sessions and in-depth skills demonstrations.
And, as was the case two years ago, THSAO will be on hand. We look forward to seeing you there.
For more information regarding TRUCK WORLD please see www.truckworld.ca or e-mail info@truckworld.ca
6. Transportation Safety Group - The Results Speak for Themselves
Many THSAO member firms will be aware of an innovative new health and safety incentive program known as Safety Groups. The Safety Group program is something that THSAO has promoted and advertised several times in the recent few years. While we have been able to promote the merits of the program, both from a responsible public policy and sound bottom line perspective, we have been unable, until now, to provide a tangible demonstration of its effectiveness and success.
Those familiar with the program will be aware that this is a rebate program only. Moreover, the potential rebate received from a company that is a member of a safety group is independent of (over and above) the NEER program or any other incentive program. A safety group combines companies from similar industries and by collectively implementing additional health and safety practices and procedures, provides for rebates for the participating companies. A key motivator for participation in, and expand of, the program is the understanding that companies that are not successful and do not reach the higher bar, will not be penalized.
The safety group program, which was conceived by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), is relatively new. In addition, those organizations wishing to sponsor a safety group must apply to the WSIB to do so. THSAO was one of those early participants, and all indications were that the transportation safety group was meeting it objective. However, one can never be certain, until the results are in.
Last December, THSAO had the opportunity to provide those results. Together with the WSIB, THSAO held a safety group rebate ceremony and distributed to its participants their respective rebate cheques. In total $268,159.16 was distributed to 52 company representatives. We are proud of our participating companies and pleased that their hard work and commitment to the program paid off.
With the success of this year's participants, we have been fortunate to expand our group for this current accident year. Consequently, we are already looking forward to an even larger rebate ceremony in December. On behalf of the participating, members and the THSAO staff who administered the program, we would like to express our appreciation to the WSIB for their innovative development of this program and the success it has been in promoting the cause of increased health and safety awareness in the transportation and other Ontario industries.
7. Ontario May be Setting the Health and Safety Example
The most recent edition of the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety News reported on the release of 62 recommendations to the Manitoba government developed by a four member Workplace Safety and Health Review Committee. The overall message delivered was that, under the direction of the government, Manitoba's Workplace Workplace Safety and Health Division, the province's Workers' Compensation Board, provide the resources and direction to develop an effective workplace safety mindset. The 62 recommendations developed by the committee could provide the road map to achieve that objective. Key among them is the recommendation that the above mentioned bodies help establish new, industry-based safety and health associations to provide education, consultation and advise to workplace parties.
From our perspective, we can find little to argue about.
8. Compliance Audit for Employers
The WSIB wants to help you understand your responsibilities under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act and the WSIB policies. They also want to help you find out how well your workplace is meeting those responsibilities.
The Compliance Audit for Employers will allow you to test the strengths of your company's management systems as they relate to your key responsibilities under WSIB legislation and policies.
With this questionnaire, you can assess your company's conformity to requirements regarding
Registration and Coverage
First Aid/Health and Safety
Reporting of Workplace Injuries
Early and Safe Return to Work
Ongoing Revenue Obligations
Closing Your Business
Download a copy of the Compliance Audit for Employers from the WSIB site at www.wsib.on.ca.
Please Note: Use of this questionnaire is voluntary and is intended as a self-help tool only. The WSIB is not requesting, and is not interested in, being made aware of your results with respect to this Compliance Audit.
9. Integrating Safety Into Your Business
THE PRODUCTIVITY AND SAFETY CONNECTION
North American safety professionals publicly advocate that the word productivity should rarely, if ever, be used without the word safe in front of it. Safe productivity is the only acceptable kind. Productivity and safety must be firmly and continually linked. Your goal must be to have zero personal injury accidents and to make this target attainable and sustainable.
Personal injury accidents are direct evidence of operating errors. They are an indicator of a systems failure. To get a company to reach it's full potential you must invest in safety. It means having safety systems in place that ensure your employees can do their job safely, identify hazards, take corrective action, and return home safely everyday.
COMMITMENT FROM THE TOP
To integrate safety into your company you must start with commitment from the CEO and then have all employees actively involved. The company's commitment must be manifested in a safety policy, as governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) posted and distributed to all employees. However it is not enough to simply put things in writing. The commitment goes beyond that and is further evidenced by action in the investment of capital, time, energy and resources in safety programs.
WHAT'S INVOLVED?
Research indicates there are several "must do" initiatives if you are to successfully integrate safety into your business. The major ones are: employee involvement in safety, inspecting the workplace, accident and near miss investigations, communicating safety, motivating, training, and giving your employees a sense of safety ownership.
Empower employees by getting them involved. Your system will only be as good as how well you do this. Examine every job that employees perform and enlist their support in installing safety features that help protect them. Creating policies and procedures, doing a job task analysis, obtaining employee feedback and their suggestions for improvement are a few ways of doing this.
Safety training can take many forms. In class, on-line Internet learning, computer based, on-the-job, mentoring, coaching and formal institutional training are all methods of educating employees. The important point to remember is that employees need to know their legislated safety responsibilities, and the "how" of keeping themselves and their co-workers safe. It is management's responsibility to ensure that safety-training needs are assessed and that safety training is provided.
Regularly inspecting the workplace serves to identify hazards and traps that could lead to a personal injury accident. In this way, you proactively avoid the potential for an accident occurring. Your staff needs to be trained on how to conduct an effective workplace inspection and they need to be encouraged to immediately report and correct unsafe conditions that they discover.
Investigating accidents and near misses that have occurred is an essential part of your ongoing safety program. You must get to the root cause of an accident or you will never stop a similar accident from happening again. To get to the root cause, someone trained in accident investigation must take the lead. Don't miss an opportunity to take corrective action on those near misses or close calls either. Don't wait for something to happen. Close calls are small, red, warning flags that are begging for your attention. These close calls are in reality a wake up call to take corrective action before someone is hurt or property is damaged.
Safety communication is ensuring that a steady and consistent flow of safety information reaches your employees. Regular safety meetings, safety bulletin boards containing safety messages, joint health and safety committee minutes, warning signs, posters and memos further enhance communications. Your Joint health and safety committee is an advisory body on health and safety concerns and can play an integral role in communicating safety themes and encouraging participation in health and safety matters. Make it a point to continually talk about the positive features and benefits of safety. Let employees know what's in it for them. Communicate to motivate.
Don't forget that a full time dedicated safety person is only one resource. You want to turn all your staff into motivated safety resource people. Promote and encourage a safety mindset in your employees.
Ensure all employees are accountable and responsible for always correctly following established health and safety procedures. Never accept chance or risk or you may be accepting tragedy. Supervise new and young workers with extreme diligence. Zero injuries should be your continual goal.
NEED HELP IN GETTING STARTED?
Your Safe Workplace Association is the Transportation Health Safety Association of Ontario (THSAO). We have three Regional offices in the province with dedicated, professional Health and Safety Representatives that can assist you with training and consultations. Call us today and get started with integrating safety into your business.
Realize the full potential of your business by making safety an essential part of it.
Mark Diacur, B.A. M.ED., Certified Training Consultant
Vice President
THSAO
10. "Z" Endorsement Program Changes
The Ontario Air Brake "Z" Endorsement Program began an education period February 1st to allow the phasing in of changes to the Program. However, beginning shortly, all applicants will be expected to be fully conversant with the new program material, and will receive the new written and practical tests only. By now, Recognized "Z" Authorities should already have sent their Signing Authorities to re-certification courses offered during the summer and fall of 2001. You will probably have received several information packages directly from the Ministry of Transportation regarding the program changes taking effect this spring. Recognized Authorities and other authorized program delivery agents are required to begin administering the new 12-hour air brake course and new written and practical tests to their driver applicants on March 1, 2002.
For more information call your Regional Office.
11. The health and safety system coming together
The Health & Safety Way will be back at the Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA) Health & Safety 2002 Conference & Trade Show, April 22-24, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Since its first appearance in 1999, the exhibit has been one of the trade show's most popular attractions. It represents 22 of Ontario's health and safety system partners, including the Ministry of Labour (MOL), the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Health and Safety Associations (HSAs), and other safety organizations.
This year's hot topics are:
Your Ontario Health & Safety System
Youth Safety
Certification Parts One and Two
Workwell
Business Results Through Health & Safety
Safety Groups
The Health & Safety Way is one of many initiatives through which health and safety organizations across Ontario have joined together to provide a more effective and efficient safety system. For more information or to order your free pass call 1-800-263-5016.
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