I would first like to say how honoured I am to have been appointed as the new President and CEO of the Education Safety Association of Ontario. Since joining ESAO in March 2007 as Director of Prevention Services, I have had the pleasure of meeting many individuals representing our clients across the province, and this will continue to remain a priority for me in my new capacity.
With change come opportunities, and at ESAO, we have already made several changes based on client feedback. One change that I hope is obvious pertains to the new look of our newsletter. The new quarterly ESAO newsletter is shorter, more concise, and provides links to additional information pertaining to articles. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for future editions. Your input is appreciated, as we aspire to produce a product that will assist you.
This is an exciting time for ESAO as we enter into our second decade of service. Our annual health and safety conference in May will highlight this milestone and will focus on the next 10 years and how we can provide improved assistance to our clients. I hope you will attend this event and I welcome the opportunity to meet you and discuss your health and safety needs with you.
Randy Plener
President and CEO
With the annual ESAO conference fast-approaching, we are working to provide delegates with an enjoyable experience at this year’s event. To help you plan your personal itinerary for the conference, the following is a list of updates.
Conference flyer
The final conference flyer is now on the ESAO website. We are pleased to announce that our keynote speakers this year include Dr. Robert Buckman, an expert on interpersonal communication; Bob Gray, who will help you uncover your memory potential; as well as the Honourable Steven Mahoney, Chair of the WSIB. To view the complete flyer, please click here.
A reception to celebrate 10 Years of Service… And the boat cruise is back!
To celebrate ESAO’s 10 Years of Service, a reception will be held in the Dominion Ballroom at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, on Wednesday, May 28th, and will feature a performance by jazz singer Stephanie Martin. This is a great opportunity to network. The conference boat cruise returns on Thursday, May 29th and will feature a sumptuous dinner and dancing, aboard the Empress of Canada cruise ship, while enjoying the views of Toronto’s skyline from Lake Ontario. For more information on these events, please click here.
Information on conference registration, and to purchase extra tickets
The tickets to the ESAO 10th anniversary event and the boat cruise are included in the registration cost when purchasing a three-day conference package. You may also purchase additional tickets for the boat cruise at $80 when registering before April 16th and at $85 when registering after April 16th. This information, along with the registration sheets, may also be also found on the 15th and 16th pages of the conference flyer.
It’s not too late to get an exhibitor’s booth!
Booth space is still available in the Trade Show for May 28th and 29th. Please note that both a one-day and a two-day package are available. To view the Trade Show map and download the exhibitor contract, name badge sheet and other important forms for registration, please click here.
Accommodations and a special rate for conference delegates
To book a room at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel at the special rate reserved for conference delegates, please click here. The ESAO group rate is in effect when booking before May 2nd, subject to availability.
What’s on in Toronto?
When not attending conference sessions or ESAO events, there are events around the city which may be of interest to you. Check the Tourism Toronto website and toronto.com for updates on events.
Message from the Chair of the Board regarding the
appointment of a new President and CEO
The Board of ESAO is pleased to announce the appointment of Randy S. Plener as its President and CEO as of January 1. After an extensive search and interview process, the Board was persuaded that Randy is the best fit for the position.
Randy is familiar with ESAO, having been our Director of Prevention Services for the past year. Before coming to ESAO, he had 25 years of comprehensive experience as a health and safety professional with private sector, government, and health sector employees. He holds a B.A. in Life Sciences and Biology from Queen’s University and a Master of Health Science in Occupational Health and Safety from the University of Toronto. He has been employed in supervisory and management positions by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, ABB Canada, and AMEC Americas. As part of his work with AMEC, Randy was responsible for EHS crisis management leadership in participation with clean-up operations with the World Trade Center and Pentagon after 9-11.
Randy has a proven track record of developing and implementing policies and programs to achieve improved workplace health and safety performance. He has dynamic leadership skills that help him foster a positive work environment and bring people together toward common goals. His strong analytical skills and technical knowledge will stand him in good stead in growing ESAO into a stronger organization that helps its clients develop solutions for their needs
Herman Proper
Trends in OH&S: Amendments to the Industrial Regulations – in effect July 1, 2007
Recent changes to the Noise regulations will provide Ontario workers with greater protection against long-term noise-induced hearing loss.
The new Regulations are based on the equivalent to a standard eight-hour exposure of 85 dB(A), instead of the old 90 dB(A), combined with a change in the doubling criteria that is now 3 dB(A) instead of the previous criteria of 5 dB(A). Research has clearly demonstrated that the 3 dB(A) double is a much better approximation of the hearing damage associated with overexposure to noise. The expectation is that meeting the new exposure limits will reduce the amount of noise-induced hearing loss, decrease the number of claims and cost associated with noise-induced hearing loss, and lead to the enjoyment of a higher quality of life in our later years.
The new regulations don’t set a specific maximum limit.
The old noise exposure limits were based on several specific
limits, and calculated through a “five decibel (A-weighted)
doubling,” often referred to as 5dB(A)-doubling criteria. The 5
dB(A)-doubling meant that for every five decibels (loudness) of
noise reduction, the allowable time of exposure could be
doubled. For example, a decrease in loudness from 95 to 90 dB(A)
allowed the exposure duration to increase from four hours to a
maximum of eight hours. Thinking of this in reverse, every
increase by five decibels required the allowable exposure time
to be reduced by half. Included within the old regulation there
was also a “ceiling limit of 115 dB(A) and a maximum peak value
of 140 dB(A), neither of which are required under the new
regulation.
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The new regulation uses an entirely new calculation (Leq8: read as the Level Equivalent to eight hours of exposure or LEQ8) and is based on a 3 dB(A) doubling criteria. The standard eight-hour exposure is set at 85dB(A), instead of the old 90 dB(A).
If the noise increases by 3 dB to 88 dB(A), the exposure duration is four hours (instead of 95 dB(A) under the old system). A “ceiling exposure” of 115 dB(A) in the old system, calculated as an Leq,8 would result in the total allowable noise exposure for an entire eight-hour day being used up after less than 30 seconds of exposure. The peak value of 140 dB(A) exceeding the eight-hour would be measured in milliseconds.
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Some of the jobs/tasks that may be affected by the new Noise Regulation:
Leq.8 Example Calculation: John works in a shop where the noise has been measured at 85 dB(a) for four hours, 88 dB(A) for two hours and 91dB(A) for an hour and a half. Is John overexposed?
Given 3 dB(A) doubling:
It may appear that John is not overexposed, but the Leq,8 requires that all exposures be considered and added:
John is overexposed (175% of allowable dose). |
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Mould: it's that time again With the start of warmer weather, moisture levels rise, condensation increases and flooding occurs. The increase in moisture levels means there could be an increase in mould in buildings if precautions aren’t taken. Common moulds thrive in a moist and warm environment with any temperature above freezing point, and with any source of nutrition such as paper, dirty carpets, drywall, or almost any other natural organic material. As the moisture levels increase – so will the mould. So what can you do? 1. Keep moisture levels as low as reasonably possible. Vent closed areas; clean up all spills; and contain, eliminate and/or dry leaky areas. 2. Keep dirt and dust to a minimum. 3. Maintain adequate air flows in all parts of a building, and particularly areas near or below ground. If you eliminate or minimize the severity of any of these factors, you can minimize the rate of mould growth. For more suggestions, please see the ESAO Mould Management Resource Book and other ESAO links and resources on our website. Already have mould? Please have a look at these resources: |
Conference at a glance…
What: ESAO 8th Annual Health & Safety Conference, titled Safety: Not Just Compliance; Strengthening Your Safety Culture.
Where: Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, at 123 Queen Street West, Toronto
When: May 28th to May 30th, 2008, with Professional Development sessions offered on May 26th and 27th.
Why: This year’s conference will feature topical presentations and workshops, with up-to-date occupational health and safety information useful for any education sector workplace.
How: Registration information is on our website. You may also use the interactive registration form. The early bird registration rate is effective until April 16th. Full-conference and single-day packages are available.
Update on ESAO’s involvement with shared Prevention System resources
Over the past few years, the prevention system in Ontario has been addressing common workplace health and safety issues by creating shared resources. These initiatives are currently carried out under the mandate of the Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario (OHSCO), made up of senior decision makers from Ontario’s Prevention System for occupational health and safety.
Three projects are currently underway. ESAO is developing information and training materials, for the education sector, related to each of these projects.
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The Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention Program consists of three manuals: Part 1 – MSD Prevention Guideline for Ontario Part 2 – Resource Manual for MSD Prevention Guideline for Ontario Part 3 – MSD Toolboxes (A,B & C), containing guides, checklists and practical components.
Electronic copies of the manuals, posters and other resource materials, are available for download from the WSIB website. Hard copies may be purchased from the Safety Associations (including ESAO). ESAO currently has specific training resources related to MSDs and ergonomics, intended to assist clients in the use of the related OHSCO manuals. Contact your Field Consultant for more information. |
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Controlling Occupational Noise Exposure – A guideline has been developed and is at the final editing stage. This document is expected to be released in the fall of 2008. Information sheets have been developed to assist clients in implementing the contents of the guideline in their workplace. ESAO will release a resource booklet concurrently with the guideline |
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The Disability Prevention/Return to Work project is planned for completion by the end of the year. The planning objectives and details of the project will be presented at the ESAO conference in May. |
One of the first major initiatives of the Prevention System Partners was the Live Safe/Work Smart project that created resource binders of safety resource materials for teachers in secondary schools. Sponsors (Ford Motor, Young Drivers of Canada and Smart Risk) paid to have two large binders of materials, suitable for duplicating, sent to every secondary school in Ontario at the end of the project.
That initial project was followed by a violence video, "The Trouble with Trouble"; two short projects followed: Moulds: Workplace Guidelines for Recognition, Assessment and Control and Mould Remediation Wheel, and The Heat Stress Awareness Guide, with related posters to helps employers and workers learn how to prevent heat stress.
All these materials are available through the individual websites of the members of OHSCO (see the ESAO website for links).
Occupational Health & Safety due diligence update
Click here to read lawyer Landon P. Young's article, Worker Recklessness no Defence to Charge of Failing to Guard a Machine
| GUEST COLUMN |
Young worker safety a lesson in partnership
at the Durham District School Board
Gary Gibson, Manager, Health and Safety
Durham District School Board
We have seen the statistics: too many young people head off to work and don’t return home. We have seen the young worker safety resources – in Ontario alone there are dozens – for young workers, parents and employers. The key to changing the statistics lies in utilizing the resources in a structured and sustainable way. In 2003, a number of community safety partners in Durham Region took on this challenge together and have made great strides on this important and challenging road.
Prior to 2003, workplace health and safety had not yet been embedded in Ontario’s high school curriculum. At this point, a number of schools in Ontario, including some in the Durham District School Board (DDSB), had embraced and adopted the Young Worker Awareness Program (YWAP). The YWAP is an interactive workplace safety program delivered to high school students by volunteers associated with a number of Ontario’s Safe Workplace Associations.
At this point, the Safe Communities of Pickering Ajax (SCOPA) wanted to bring an expanded Young Worker Safety Program to Durham. SCOPA is one of the more than 50 Safe Communities designated by Safe Communities Canada. This national charitable organization is dedicated to helping communities across the country to promote a culture of safety. SCOPA consists of a number of community safety partners including Ontario Power Generation, the Ministry of Labour, the Industrial Accident Prevention Association and the Durham District School Board.
In particular, SCOPA wanted to bring the Passport to Safety Program to our young workers. Passport to Safety supports the vision that everyone returns home from safe workplaces every day. Passport provides young people with an interactive challenge, based on learning outcomes developed by health and safety curriculum experts. Upon the completion of the program, students can demonstrate a basic awareness of on-the-job health and safety and receive a transcript that can be attached to their résumés.
Late in 2003, one high school launched Passport to Safety. In keeping with the Board’s commitment to safety, the DDSB’s Director of Education awarded the successful students with their transcripts. Within one year, the program was expanded to all 23 high schools within the Durham District School Board, including its alternative learning sites. The newly formed SCOPA committee on young worker safety coordinated this rollout.
Although satisfied with this accomplishment, the committee felt that while individual classes were participating, a method of engaging the entire school was required. With the support of Ontario Power Generation and SCOPA, Young Worker Safety Ambassadors became available for large student assemblies. DDSB schools have had visits from Candice Carnahan, Paul Kells and Rob Ellis, who have inspired and moved our students to a greater awareness and appreciation of health and safety issues. To their credit, our students have embraced the program and the opportunity it presents.
Today, the Young Worker Safety Program is still operating in all DDSB high schools. The program has evolved into a three-stage process: an assembly presentation with a safety ambassador; a workplace health and safety ‘primer,’ using the Young Worker Awareness Program; and the Passport to Safety Program. To date, more than 6,000 Durham students have their Passport to Safety transcript, giving them a ‘leg-up (and opened eyes) when looking for a (summer) job.
Above all else, the Durham District School Board’s Young Worker Safety Program and the continued community support from partners and employers will keep our young people from joining unfortunate statistics.
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A clean work area One of the key aspects of workplace safety is to maintain a clean work area. Not only will you remove many hazards from a work area by keeping it clean, but you will also provide a more productive work environment for your students and clients.
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Avoiding slips, trips, and falls Slips, trips and falls occur as a result of too little friction or too much friction. The amount of friction is directly related to the sole of your shoes and the surface you are walking on. Leather-soled dancing shoes on ice, football cleats on grass and hob-nail work boots on carpet all have different slip properties (coefficients of friction). To avoid slips, trips and falls, try to match the proper footwear to your working environment, even if it means changing footwear several times per day.
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