[vickyp]

in reply to: With Covid-19 Vaccinations currently ongoing, what rights will employers have with regards to those who refuse the vaccine? (This should probably be an article in itself) #103284

In fact, it is. Several articles in fact. And model policies. Here’s the one I’d start with. https://ohsinsider.com/can-you-require-workers-to-get-the-covid-19-vaccination/ You can find tonnes more by searching “COVID-19 vaccination policy” on the OHSI site. Feel free to loop back with me if you need further help since this is a big deal. glennd@bongarde.com

[vickyp]

in reply to: ab-and-bc-crane-and-mechanical-lifting-certifications-and-requirments #103283

The Alberta requirements are contained in Part 6 of the OHS Code, Sec. 64, https://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/OHS/OHSCode.pdf
Operator requirements
64(1) An employer must ensure that a lifting device is only operated by a competent worker
authorized by the employer to operate the equipment.
64(2) At the employer’s request, an operator, before operating a lifting device, must be able
to demonstrate that the worker is competent in the equipment’s operation and
knowledgeable about load charts and the code of signals for hoisting operations.
64(3) No worker other than the competent worker authorized by the employer may operate
a lifting device.
64(4) Before operating a particular lifting device, the operator must be familiar with all
recent entries in its log book.
The OHS Guidance fleshes out the details  https://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/OHS/OHSCodeExplanationGuide.pdf   starting on page 9
Section 64 Operator requirements
Subsection 64(1)
An employer must ensure that the operator of a lifting device meets two conditions.
First, the worker must be competent. Under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act,
no person may work in the occupation of Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operator
unless that person
 has a recognized trade certificate:
 Alberta Journeyman Certificate
 Alberta Qualification Certificate
 Alberta Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship
 Alberta Certificate of Proficiency
 Certificates of Completion of Apprenticeship issued by another province prior to
May 9, 1996
 Certificates bearing the Interprovincial Standards Program Red Seal
 Effective June 26, 1988, certificates for the Trade issued by Saskatchewan
Apprenticeship; or
 has applied to go into an apprenticeship program; or
 is in an apprenticeship program; or
 is a student in a work‐training program; or
 is otherwise permitted under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act to work in
the trade; or
 has a certificate from another jurisdiction that is not recognized and has applied to
have it recognized and is working under apprentice‐type supervision; or
 is in a recognized training program from another jurisdiction and working under
apprentice‐type supervision; or
 has applied for a certificate and is working under apprentice‐type supervision.
These provisions under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act are limited to
(a) tower cranes;
(b) mobile cranes with a lifting capacity of 15 tons or greater;
(c) stiff boom trucks that have a lifting capacity greater than 5 tons;
(d) articulating boom trucks that have a lifting capacity greater than 5 tons equipped
with a winch or 8 tons if not equipped with a winch; and
(e) wellhead boom trucks.
A journeyman’s certificate, or an equivalent credential recognized by Alberta Advanced
Education, Apprenticeship and Industry Training, is not required under the OHS Act,
Regulation or Code to prove the competency of a worker performing the work of a
particular compulsory trade.
The absence of an Alberta trade certificate alone is insufficient to consider a worker not
competent. The employer is ultimately responsible for ensuring that workers are
Occupational Health and Safety Code 2018 Part 6
Explanation Guide
6-11
adequately qualified, suitably trained and have sufficient experience to perform their
work safely. Employers need to be aware of OHS and other legislation that applies to
their workers.
Subsection 64(2)
An operator must be able to demonstrate competency in operating the device, including,
where relevant
(a) operating the lifting device in a proper, safe, controlled, and smooth manner in
accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications;
(b) reading and understanding lift plans;
(c) maintaining the equipment log book and the operator’s log book;
(d) selecting the appropriate boom, jib and crane configuration to meet lift requirements
and determine the net lifting capacity of this configuration;
(e) determining the number of parts of line required;
(f) thoroughly understanding the information in the operating manual and
understanding the device’s limitations;
(g) knowing, understanding and properly using the load charts;
(h) inspecting the lifting device and performing daily maintenance as required by the
manufacturer’s specifications or by the employer;
(i) checking that all hazards have been identified;
(j) shutting down and securing the device when it is unattended; and
(k) understanding and using hand signals for hoisting operations.
Subsection 64(3)
Any worker who does not meet the requirements of subsection (1) is prohibited from
operating the lifting device.
Subsection 64(4)
To ensure the safest possible lifting operation, the operator of a lifting device must be
familiar with the device’s operating condition. The device’s log book is the record of that
condition at any given time and the operator is required to review recent entries prior to
operating the device.
********
For BC, Sec. 14.34 of the OHS Reg. https://www.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/occupational-health-safety/searchable-ohs-regulation/ohs-regulation/part-14-cranes-and-hoists#SectionNumber:14.34
14.34 Operator qualifications
(1) A crane or hoist must only be operated by a qualified person who has been instructed to operate the equipment.
(2) A person must demonstrate competency, including familiarity with the operating instructions for the crane or hoist and the code of signals for hoisting operations authorized by the Board before operating the equipment.

14.34.1 Operator certification
On and after July 1, 2007, a mobile crane, tower crane or boom truck must be operated only
(a) by a person with a valid operator’s certificate issued by a person acceptable to the Board, and
(b) in accordance with any conditions stipulated on the certificate.
[Enacted by B.C. Reg. 243/2006, effective January 1, 2007.]

WorkSafeBC Guidance  https://www.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/occupational-health-safety/searchable-ohs-regulation/ohs-guidelines/guidelines-part-14#0ABED581C7104F4FA0A39EDD3A887539
G14.34 Operator qualifications and competencies
Issued October 28, 2015
Regulatory excerpt
Section 14.34 of the OHS Regulation (“Regulation”) states:

(1) A crane or hoist must only be operated by a qualified person who has been instructed to operate the equipment.
(2) A person must demonstrate competency, including familiarity with the operating instructions for the crane or hoist and the code of signals for hoisting operations authorized by the Board before operating the equipment.

Purpose of guideline
An operator of a crane or hoist (including an operator of equipment with a different primary design function that is being used in a hoisting or lifting application) needs to be knowledgeable and competent in assembly, set-up, erection, start-up, shutdown, dismantling, maintenance, inspection, and safe operation, as applicable and relevant to the specific equipment being operated.
This guideline outlines the requirement for the operator to be qualified and competent on the various types of equipment covered under section 14.34 of the Regulation.
The guideline also provides an explanation of the minimum qualifications that must be held and competencies that must be demonstrated by a qualified person before the person is permitted to operate the equipment covered under section 14.34.
The requirements in section 14.34 apply to cranes and hoists of a type required to meet a standard specified in section 14.2 and to any other equipment with a different primary design function that is being used in a hoisting or lifting application (refer also to section 14.1.1). This includes logging equipment that uses a load line for lifting. It does not include a front end loader, an excavator, or other earth moving equipment that is being used
(a) In applications consistent with its primary design purpose, or
(b) During a lifting task incidental to its primary design purpose if the manuals and operating instructions of the manufacturer of that equipment provide criteria for that lifting task.
Qualifications
Equipment may only be operated by a person qualified to do so. This means that the person must be knowledgeable of the work being done, the hazards involved, and the means to control the hazards, by reason of education, training, experience, or a combination of these. Also, the person must have been instructed in how to operate the specific equipment being used. This applies to operation of a crane or hoist, and where other equipment is being used in a hoisting or lifting application. For example, a rotating pipe layer or a side boom tractor is used in a hoisting or lifting application when placing pipes into position. The requirements of section 14.34 of the Regulation apply.
For a mobile crane, tower crane, or boom truck, there are additional operator certification requirements under section 14.34.1 of the Regulation.
Competencies for equipment used in hoisting or lifting operations
Before operating a crane, hoist, or other equipment being used in a hoisting or lifting application, an operator must demonstrate competency to do so, as appropriate to the equipment being used and as appropriate to the operator’s responsibilities, including but not limited to the following:
(a) Understanding the information in the equipment manufacturer’s operating manual and safety decals, including emergency procedures; understanding the limitations of the equipment (e.g., slopes, terrain, loads, extensions); understanding the applicable requirements of the Regulation
(b) Ability to recognize worksite potential hazards, including overhead, underground, ground conditions (slope/soil/excavation), other trades in proximity, pedestrians, and mobile traffic
(c) Ability to assemble and disassemble the crane or hoist in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and specifications
(d) Selecting the appropriate boom, jib, track/outrigger extension, parts of load line, and counterweight to meet lift requirements and determine the net lifting capacity of this configuration
(e) Knowing, understanding, and properly using the load charts with respect to actual lifting components installed and the configuration being used
(f) Selecting, configuring, and using the controls and control panel, computer, and limiting device functions with respect to the actual machine components installed
(g) Inspecting the equipment components (e.g., pre-operational checks and regular periodic inspections) and performing minor maintenance as required by, and at intervals required by, the manufacturer’s specifications, applicable Standard, or the employer
(h) Maintaining the equipment log book with respect to pre-shift inspections and safety checks, and entering any observed defects, operating difficulty, or need for maintenance; reporting required repairs immediately to the employer
(i) Operating the equipment in a proper, safe, controlled, and smooth manner in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications; understanding and implementing safe rigging and lifting procedures
(j) Understanding and using hand signals and radio protocol for hoisting operations
(k) Calculating (as necessary) and understanding lift plans
(l) Understanding critical lift definitions, supervision, planning, and meeting the applicable requirements
(m) Shutting down and securing the equipment when it is unattended
If the assessment reveals any gaps in the worker’s knowledge or skills, the employer needs to ensure these gaps are addressed through further training and instruction.
Verification of competence
As part of an inspection by a WorkSafeBC prevention officer, employers may be asked to verify compliance with the requirement that the operator of the crane or hoist is qualified and has demonstrated competence. This verification would entail reviewing records relating to the competency assessment and the qualifications of the operator. The extent of documentation expected would reflect the nature of the crane or hoisting equipment, in particular the size and complexity of the equipment. For example, it is likely to be much simpler to assess competencies of an operator of a small shop crane than it is to assess competencies for an operator of a large warehouse bridge crane.

G14.34.1 Operator certification
Issued January 1, 2007; Editorial Revision May 3, 2007; Revised December 1, 2008; Revised July 9, 2009; Revised March 7, 2011; Revised November 21, 2017
Regulatory excerpt
Section 14.34.1 of the OHS Regulation (“Regulation”) states:

On and after July 1, 2007, a mobile crane, tower crane or boom truck must be operated only
(a) by a person with a valid operator’s certificate issued by a person acceptable to the Board, and
(b) in accordance with any conditions stipulated on the certificate.

Purpose of guideline
The purpose of this guideline is to identify who is considered “a person acceptable to the Board” and has the authority for certifying crane operators in the province of British Columbia, in accordance with section 14.34.1 of the Regulation.
Types of equipment operators covered
Section 14.34.1 applies to operators of all mobile cranes, boom trucks, and tower cranes with a rated capacity equal to or greater than five tons (4.54 tonnes) and/or with a boom length equal to or greater than 25 feet (7.62 meters) based on manufacturer’s specifications. WorkSafeBC considers this equipment to include the following:
Mobile Cranes and Boom Trucks:
As described in

• CSA Standard Z150-1998, Safety Code for Mobile Cranes
• ANSI Standard ANSI/ASME B30.5-2004, Mobile and Locomotive Cranes
• ANSI Standard ANSI/ASME B30.22-2005, Articulating Boom Cranes

Tower Cranes
As described in

• CSA Standard Z248-2004, Code for Tower Cranes
• ANSI Standard ASME B30.4-2003, Portal, Tower, and Pillar Cranes

Crane operator certification
Crane operator certification is administered through the British Columbia Association for Crane Safety (BC Crane Safety). As the administrator, BC Crane Safety is responsible for the certification process; including application, assessment, quality assurance, and maintenance of the certification scheme. BC Crane Safety has the authority to issue crane operator certification in B.C.
Full details on how to become certified as a crane operator are available at http://www.bccranesafety.ca.
Credential recognition — Other jurisdictions
Crane operators from other jurisdictions must have their credentials validated by BC Crane Safety to receive a certificate acceptable to WorkSafeBC.
Enforcement
On inspections at workplaces, a WorkSafeBC prevention officer may require a crane operator to produce a valid BC Crane Operator Certificate. An employer that permits a non-certified operator to operate a crane will be subject to orders from the prevention officer. In some situations, the employer may be subject to administrative penalties. The non-certified operator may also be subject to orders prohibiting the operator from continuing to operate a crane.
****
Hope this helps. Glenn

[vickyp]

in reply to: Private: EHS policy adoption – USA vs Canada #103282

Probably not. Although there’s a lot of overlap between OSHA and Canadian OHS rules, they’re not precisely the same. The more technical the issue, the greater the divergences. Thus, policies for things like fall protection, confined spaces, powered mobile equipment, etc. are really different.
Also keep in mind that the OHS rules WITHIN Canada differ from province to province. Thus, OHS policies that work in BC may not be suitable for Ontario, and vice versa.
The one exception where US policies may also work for Canada are for things for which U.S. OSHA doesn’t have a specific regulation but instead regulates via the general duty clause. That includes workplace violence, ergonomics and working alone or in isolation.
There’s also a lot of overlap between OSHA Haz Com and Canadian WHMIS regulations–WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. The other good news about WHMIS rules is that they differ very little from province to province. Thus, what works in one province should probably work in all of them.
Great question and I hope I helped answer it. Feel free to follow up with me directly at glennd@bongarde.com

[vickyp]

in reply to: Private: legal requirement for uniforms for service technicians #103281

Hi Glen, yes ofcourse. I wanted to confirm as I wasn’t able to get defined rules on the topic from my search. Thanks for the info.

Long story short, “8.31 When required Workers must wear flame resistant clothing appropriate to the risk if working in areas where they may be exposed to flash fires, molten metal, welding and burning or similar hot work hazards.” and it doesn’t specify the level of FR or ANSI cut rating required. 🙂

[vickyp]

in reply to: Private: legal requirement for uniforms for service technicians #103280

Did that help, Vishnu’ I’ll try to work much faster next time.

[vickyp]

in reply to: Private: legal requirement for uniforms for service technicians #103279

OK, let me try again. Here are the relevant OHS regulatory provisions for each jurisdiction. Notice that they’re pretty vague and general. That’s why you need to check the CSA and NFPA standards to flesh them out:
BC:
Sec. 8.31 Workers must wear flame resistant clothing appropriate to the risk if working in areas where they may be exposed to flash fires, molten metal, welding and burning or similar hot work hazards. “flame resistant” in reference to clothing, means made of a material that, due to its inherent properties or as a result of treatment by a flame retardant, will slow, terminate or prevent flaming combustion;
Sec. 8.11
(2) Safety headgear must meet the requirements of one of the following standards
(a) CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.1-05 or CAN/CSA-Z94.1-15, Industrial protective headwear – Performance, selection, care, and use;
(b) ANSI Standard ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2009 or ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014, American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection.
(3) If a worker may be exposed to an electrical hazard the safety headgear must have an appropriate non-conductive rating.
8.22 (2) To determine appropriate footwear under subsection (1), the following factors must be considered: (k) electrical shock

ONTARIO:
CONSTRUCTION:

193. (1) A worker who may be exposed to the hazard of electrical shock or burn while performing work shall use rubber gloves,

(a) that are adequate to protect him or her against electrical shock and burn;
(b) that have been tested and certified in accordance with subsection (2), if applicable; and
(c) that have been air tested and visually inspected for damage and adequacy immediately before each use. O. Reg. 627/05, s. 7.

(2) Rubber gloves rated for use with voltages above 5,000 volts AC shall be tested and certified to ensure that they can withstand the voltages for which they are rated,
(a) at least once every three months, if they are in service;
(b) at least once every six months, if they are not in service. O. Reg. 627/05, s. 7.
(3) Rubber gloves shall be worn with adequate leather protectors and shall not be worn inside out. O. Reg. 627/05, s. 7.
(4) Leather protectors shall be visually inspected for damage and adequacy immediately before each use. O. Reg. 627/05, s. 7.
(5) Rubber gloves or leather protectors that are damaged or not adequate to protect workers from electrical shock and burn shall not be used. O. Reg. 627/05, s. 7.
(6) Workers shall be trained in the proper use, care and storage of rubber gloves and leather protectors.
22. (1) Every worker shall wear protective headwear at all times when on a project. O. Reg. 213/91, s. 22 (1).

(2) Protective headwear shall be a safety hat that,
(a) consists of a shell and suspension that is adequate to protect a person’s head against impact and against flying or falling small objects; and
(b) has a shell which can withstand a dielectric strength test at 20,000 volts phase to ground. O. Reg. 213/91, s. 22 (2).
IND ESTs. Just says PPE and clothing must protect workers from hazards to which they’re exposed without addressing electrical dangers

QUEBEC CONSTRUCTION
2.10.3. Protection of head: Any person on a construction site shall wear a certified safety hat in accordance with CSA Standard Z94.1-M 1977 Industrial Protective Headwear.
2.10.6. Foot protection: Subject to section 2.1.1, every person on a construction site must wear class 1 protective footwear that complies with CAN/CSA Standard Z-195 Protective Footwear.

Hope I finally got it right this time. Thanks. Glenn

8.31 When required Workers must wear flame resistant clothing appropriate to the risk if working in areas where they may be exposed to flash fires, molten metal, welding and burning or similar hot work hazards.

[vickyp]

in reply to: Private: legal requirement for uniforms for service technicians #103278

Hi Glen,

Thanks for sharing the information.

Our question is more about the clothing and PPE required by our service technicians (not electrical work) going to other industries/customer sites to install/service our own packaging equipment [upto 600v].

[vickyp]

in reply to: Private: legal requirement for uniforms for service technicians #103277

I see. So, your question isn’t so much about PPE but how to classify these particular employees. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to the CSA standards but here are relevant OHS regulatory provisions in the 3 jurisdictions you list:
I. BC: There are 2 key limitations for electrical work under Sec. 19 of the OHS Reg. Some tasks must be done by “qualified” workers and others only by “qualified electrical workers.” Here are the WorkSafeBC guidelines explaining how these rules work:
“Qualified electrical worker”
A “qualified electrical worker” must meet all the requirements of the Safety Standards Act and the Electrical Safety Regulation, including a certificate of qualifications.
For the purposes of Part 19 of the Regulation, based upon section 4 of the Electrical Safety Regulation, an individual must not perform regulated work in respect of electrical equipment unless the individual meets at least one of the following criteria:
(a) holds appropriate industry training credentials in respect of electrical work
(b) has successfully completed electrical training recognized by a provincial safety manager under the Safety Standards Act
(c) is employed by an organization that utilizes electrical training programs that are approved by a provincial safety manager under the Safety Standards Act and the individual
(i) has successfully completed the relevant training, and
(ii) does not perform regulated work for any person other than the individual’s employer who provided the training
(d) is the manufacturer’s technical representative, or
(e) is supervised by an individual who
(i) is specifically authorized under the Safety Standards Act to perform that type of electrical work, and
(ii) supervises the individual on site and provides guidance and assistance to the individual as the electrical work is performed
For more information on qualifications for electrical workers, please contact the British Columbia Safety Authority, now operating as Technical Safety BC at Suite 200, 505 – 6th Street, New Westminster, BC V3L 0E1, telephone toll free: 1-866-566-SAFE (7233).
“Qualified workers” and “qualified persons”
Part 19 of the Regulation also refers to “qualified workers” and “qualified persons;” such a reference does not specifically relate to the worker’s electrical qualifications. Section 1.1 of the Regulation states:

“qualified” means being knowledgeable of the work, the hazards involved and the means to control the hazards, by reason of education, training, experience or a combination thereof;

The determination of whether a worker is “qualified” depends upon the particular circumstances of the work to be performed and that worker’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. An evaluation must be performed by the employer to determine whether the worker has sufficient knowledge, skills, and ability to safely perform that particular type of work. If the Regulation reference is to a “qualified worker” and not to “qualified electrical worker” then the worker does not necessarily need to be a “qualified electrical worker,” as defined in the previous portions of this guideline.
A WorkSafeBC prevention officer, while performing an inspection, may assess whether an individual meets the requirements of a “qualified electrical worker,” or a “qualified worker,” as required by the Regulation.
II. ONTARIO: Here are the relevant parts of the OHS Regs for Construction Projects–remember that it’s the nature of the work and not the type of facility or site where it’s performed that determines if it’s “construction.” In other words, construction rules may apply at factories, warehouses, and other sites not thought of as construction sites.
Electrical Hazards

181. (1) Except where otherwise required by this Regulation, electrical work performed on or near electrical transmission or distribution systems shall be performed in accordance with the document entitled “Electrical Utility Safety Rules” published by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association and revised 2019. O. Reg. 627/05, s. 4; O. Reg. 443/09, s. 5; O. Reg. 345/15, s. 22; O. Reg. 327/19, s. 2.

(2) Sections 182, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 and 193 do not apply to electrical work that is performed on or near electrical transmission or distribution systems if the work is performed in accordance with the document referred to in subsection (1). O. Reg. 627/05, s. 4.

182. (1) No worker shall connect, maintain or modify electrical equipment or installations unless,

(a) the worker holds a certificate of qualification issued under the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009, that is not suspended, in the trade of,
(i) electrician — construction and maintenance, or
(ii) electrician — domestic and rural, if the worker is performing work that is limited to the scope of practice for that trade; or
(b) the worker is otherwise permitted to connect, maintain or modify electrical equipment or installations under the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009 or the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000. O. Reg. 627/05, s. 4; O. Reg. 88/13, s. 2.
ONTARIO OHS INDUSTRIAL ESTs. This applies to work involving exposure above 750 volts so may not be relevant to your question:

42.2 Work performed on electrical transmission systems or outdoor distribution systems rated at more than 750 volts shall be performed in accordance with the document entitled “Electrical Utility Safety Rules”, published by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association and revised in 2019. O. Reg. 60/18, s. 3; O. Reg. 186/19, s. 3.

III. QUEBEC OHS Regs don’t include specific eligibility requirements for work on electrical equipment other than the general rule that workers must be competent and properly trained to do any job they do
***
I hope this helps. Feel free to contact me directly at glennd@bongarde.com if you want to follow up.

 

[vickyp]

in reply to: Private: legal requirement for uniforms for service technicians #103276

Hi Glen, We could see charts on PPE CAT vs Arc rating. But unable to define the category wrt scope of our service technicians as per OHSA & CSA

[vickyp]

in reply to: Private: legal requirement for uniforms for service technicians #103275

Vishnu: I haven’t forgotten you. I just didn’t have enough time to research this today. Will get back to you tomorrow. Also, do you have access to the NFPA 70E standard’ That’s the best source of guidance on this. But I’ll dig into the OHS rules tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

[vickyp]

in reply to: Private: The Ethical DilemmaThe Ethical Dilemma #103274

This is a wonderful analysis that I actually found quite educational since I’m in no ways versed in these ethics rules. I would love to get your permission to actually turn this into a story for OHSI. But I also want to help you struggle with these questions. Here are my impressions and personal opinions:
Question 1 sounds more like a rhetorical question. However, it might be worth polling our users to get their own suggestions and experiences.
Question 2: I would think that following BCRSP ethical code would be not merely possible but also mandatory. Isn’t the code meant to be applied in precisely these real world situations in which CRSP holders are plying their certified skills’ Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with the “rules document” and the loopholes or qualifications it may contain.
Question 3: I’d say NO to the extent that internal auditing is an essential function of many people holding CRSP certification. There’s no way the framers would have intended for their Rules to impede CRSPs from exercising these functions. And that suggests to me that they envisioned the corporate pressures exerted on internal auditors as NOT being an intrinsic part of the process. In other words, they must have expected that internal auditors could and would perform the audit objectively without undue interference.
Question 4: There is most certainly the potential for a conflict of interest but I also think it can be avoided as long as the auditor stands his/her ground and insists on doing the job objectively and without undue interference. Failure to do that in the interest of making the client happy WOULD BE an ethical violation in my opinion.
Please feel free to contact me directly at glennd@bongarde.com if you’d like to discuss this further. I’d also be happy to do some further research if we can precisely nail down the issue. Thanks. Glenn

[vickyp]

in reply to: Supervisors Compliance Centre #103273

Doggone. I see the links are broken. Can you please email me at glennd@bongarde.com so I can send you back Word doc attachments’ Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience.

[vickyp]

in reply to: HSE Committee Meetings – Centralized #103272

Interesting. Does the WorkSafeBC guidance, if that’s what it is, pertain to ALL your committees or just the ones in BC’ I’m not sure if they have authority to speak for those other jurisdictions. This is something I would definitely clarify with them. Pls let me know what happens next. This is a novel situation and I want to see how it ends. Thanks.

[vickyp]

in reply to: HSE Committee Meetings – Centralized #103271

Interesting. Does the WorkSafeBC guidance, if that’s what it is, pertain to ALL your committees or just the ones in BC’ I’m not sure if they have authority to speak for those other jurisdictions. This is something I would definitely clarify with them. Pls let me know what happens next. This is a novel situation and I want to see how it ends. Thanks.

[vickyp]

in reply to: HSE Committee Meetings – Centralized #103270

I don’t believe so but I’ve actually never seen anything addressing this issue, i.e., whether one meeting would work for JHSCs in different jurisdictions. Here’s what I can tell you:

1. Each province has its own rules on how often a JHSC must meet, what constitutes a quorum, etc. Any joint meeting would thus have satisfy these rules for AB, BC AND Ontario. Not sure if that’s possible.
2. Each province also has its own rules on whether one JHSC can represent multiple sites. But I haven’t seen anything saying that multiple committees of the same company can get together and hold a joint meeting.
3. Even if you could get all the co chairs of a particular province together for a meeting, I don’t think you could have a single meeting with all the co chairs of committees from the other provinces. Thus, AB co-chairs MAY BE able to meet with other AB co-chairs, but probably not with co-chairs of BC and ON at same time.
4. Having said all this, let me add that the JHSC rules are pretty fluid right now due to the COVID situation and that several jurisdictions are making temporary exceptions and accommodations to avoid the need for physical JHSC meetings. So what I’d do is contact a representative from one of the OHS agencies–WorkSafeBC is usually pretty good–and explain your situation. They’ll probably be able to offer something useful and might even help you coordinate with the regulators in AB and ON

Hope that helps and thanks for the excellent question.

[Author]

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