Carbon Monoxide Safety & Compliance Game Plan
The 6 things to do to protect workers from carbon monoxide poisoning. On average, 356 people die of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in Canada each year. Many of these tragedies occur […]
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Standard PPE May Leave Women Workers at Risk of Injury
As an OHS coordinator, you no doubt feel a responsibility to look after each and every one of your workers. Unfortunately, the safety equipment and PPE that you select may […]
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5 Myths About What Defines a Confined Space
Identifying a confined space sounds simple, but there is no single, simple definition of what constitutes a confined space. Confined space safety can be complicated. There are a lot of variables and […]
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2022 Due Diligence Semi-Annual Scorecard Special Report
For nearly 2 decades, OHS Insider has been the only source of data tracking due diligence in OHS cases across Canada. Why do we do it? Technically, “due diligence” is […]
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Canadian Mining Company Underestimates Scale of Catastrophe
A Canadian company, Trevali Mining Corporation owns the Perkoa Mine in Burkina Faso that has been in the spotlight since April 16 when a flood trapped 8 workers underground. It […]
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Are Excavations/Trenches Considered Confined Spaces? – Ask The Expert
Question Do you know if a trench is definitely considered a confined space in BC? Answer It depends. Explanation The OHS Reg. definition of “confined spaces” in Sec. 9.1 lists characteristics but not specific examples. […]
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Trench/Excavation Inspection Checklist
BENEFITS Trenches and excavations pose hazards to both the workers who work inside them and those on the surface. For example, these confined spaces can suffer cave-ins or collapses and trap […]
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Excavations: CNESST Inspector’s Estimate Not Enough to Prove Trench Violation
A CNESST inspector cited a sewer repair contractor for not shoring up the walls of an excavation of more than 1.2 metres. The contractor argued that the trench was less […]
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Carbon Monoxide Safety: How to Protect Your Home, Identify Issues, and Respond to Emergencies
Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless, invisible gas that occurs naturally through combustion, or, the process of burning. Low exposure to carbon monoxide can cause symptoms similar to the flu. […]
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Cement Manufacturer Fined $340,000 for Confined Space Violations
WorkSafeBC inspectors observed workers inside a large container used to process materials during cement manufacturing. So, they asked the employer about its confined spaces safety program. The end result was […]
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Design Center Fined $120,000 for Exposing Workers to Carbon Monoxide
Two workers using gas-powered concrete saws to cut flooring in a retail space for the installation of plumbing systems were exposed to elevated levels of carbon monoxide and had to […]
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The Biggest OHS Fines of 2021 (So Far)
OHS fines keep getting higher. There have already been over a dozen 6-figure reported penalties in the first 6 months of 2021. That’s more than we’d usually see for an […]
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Agricultural Operator Fined $21,600 for Confined Spaces Death
The incident happened in October 2019, when a farm worker was found dead outside a silo. The victim had been working and hadn’t been warned about the dangers of working […]
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Employer Fined $175,000 for Worker’s Confined Space Asphyxiation Death
Two cleaning workers entered a tank trailer used to transport fresh produce but only one came out alive. The survivor can thank the co-worker who noticed that the workers had […]
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Confined Space – Permit Required Quiz
QUESTION What are the ways to control hazards in confined space? ANSWER These include engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment. Engineering controls are designed to remove the hazard while administrative controls […]
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8 Things to Do to Prepare for OHS Compliance in 2021
Preventing COVID will be the primary but not the only objective. As with every other aspect of society in 2020, COVID-19 has become the driving force in OHS compliance. Regrettably, that […]
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9 Things to do to Prevent Confined Space Fatalities and Costly OHS Violations
Confined Spaces Compliance Game Plan Work becomes 150 times more dangerous when it’s carried out inside a confined space. There are roughly 100 confined spaces-related fatalities in Canada each year, more […]
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Confined Spaces Entry Procedure Monthly Review Form
You should review your confined space entry procedure at least once a year and more frequently any time you have reason to believe it’s not providing entrants the necessary safety. […]
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How to Create Confined Spaces Emergency and Rescue Plan
You can’t let workers into confined spaces until you’re sure you can safely get them out. Six of the roughly 100 workers killed inside confined spaces every year are personnel sent […]
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Confined Space Rescue Requirements Across Canada
Confined Space Emergency and Rescue Requirements Six of the roughly 100 workers killed inside confined spaces are personnel sent in to rescue the workers inside. So it’s no coincidence that OHS […]
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Confined Spaces Emergency Evacuation and Rescue Plan
Six of the roughly 100 workers killed inside confined spaces every year are personnel sent in to rescue the workers inside. So, it’s no coincidence that OHS regulations require employers […]
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Compliance Alert: New Federal Confined Spaces Rules Take Effect January 1, 2021
Heads-up federally regulated employers! Major changes to confined spaces rules have taken effect. Here’s a look at the 8 key changes and what you must do to comply with them. Background The […]
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OHS Quiz: Spot the Confined Spaces Violation
Situation Nobody is allowed to enter a confined space unless and until a competent person performs airborne tests confirming that acceptable atmospheric conditions exist. The competent person keeps detailed records of each test […]
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Confined Spaces Entry Policy
BENEFITS If, heaven forbid, one of your workers were to be killed at work, odds are that it will happen inside a confined space like a tank, tunnel, silo or well. […]
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Confined Space Rescue Checklist
BENEFITS Confined spaces are among the most dangerous safety hazards in the workplace. Not only are the workers who work in confined spaces at risk but also would-be rescuers who come […]
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Confined Space Attendant Training Checklist
BENEFITS The OHS laws require employers to take steps to protect workers inside confined spaces. One necessary safeguard is posting a worker outside the confined space to monitor the work, communicate […]
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Spot The Safety Violation: Confined Spaces in Plain Sight
These grain silos pose a serious safety hazard to the workers on this farm. Do you know what it is? March 13-19, 2016 is Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, which is aimed at […]
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Spot The Safety Violation: Avoid 4 Confined Space Mistakes
If workers had to enter this manhole on a barge, what kinds of protections should be in place? Confined spaces, such as tanks, silos, ditches, excavations, etc., are one of the […]
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