Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine
A construction worker was rescued by firefighters after falling about 5 m down the concrete shaft in Calgary, Alberta. On February 20, 2013 the worker was strapped to a stretcher by confined space rescue specialist from the Calgary Fire Department and hoisted up a ladder before being transferred to emergency services personnel.
Occupational Health & Safety officers were investigating the incident, a statement from the fire department says.
My opinion
What was a worker doing working alone in a confined space? Only in Alberta do you say, obviously! In any provincial jurisdiction in Canada, confined space entry is a planned event that deals with such things as:
a) air quality assessments;
b) entrant training;
c) personal protective equipment and the training with the equipment;
d) attendant training;
e) communication equipment; and
f) supervisory leadership, just to name a few.
Alberta has always had a reputation for coming late to the safety dance. The workers in Alberta are always at risk no matter what workplace sector is involved. Healthcare, industrial, construction, mining or the oil industry, matters not to the safety people out there.
Please ensure that your workplace is a safe place! Let us all send a message to the province of Alberta and let them know that safety should always be the number one priority.
Thank you.
P.S. I was amused to hear occupational health and safety officers were investigating. Nothing will ever come out of all this until an independent investigation is initiated and if the proposals from that investigation will be taken seriously. So far, no proposals, fines or other forms of change will ever be forthcoming.
I wonder if the investigators get overtime for doing nothing!
Remember – Alberta Health and Safety – An Oxymoron!
Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Due Diligence’, ‘Confined Space Entry’ and ‘Standard Operating Procedures’. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.