Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine
The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) has filed five charges against a transport company and its supervisor for safety violations in connection with an incident on July 10, 2017 at a worksite on Hwy. 3, south of Yellowknife.
According to a WSCC statement issued on July 10, 2017 LSI Transport NWT Limited and its supervisor, Richard German, were charged with multiple counts under the Northwest Territories Safety Act and the Occupational Health & Safety Regulations.
Contraventions include the failure to provide an effective safeguard to prevent a worker from coming into contact with the dangerous moving part of the machine and ensure that supervisors and workers had completed and approved regulatory familiarization program and safety training respectively. The company was also accused of failing to install sufficient audible alarm systems on machinery with moving parts and ensure that the machine was locked out prior to doing maintenance work.
My opinion
LSI Transport Limited, I believe, was charged un the following sections of the territorial safety regulations:
Section 97
“Machinery and equipment must be equipped with guards that prevent workers from contacting moving parts and from entering a danger area during operation; and
Section 98. (1)
“A guard must be designed, constructed, installed and maintained so it is capable of effectively performing the functions for which it is intended.”
It is important to note that all provinces and territories have sections in their safety regulations concerning machine guarding. In Ontario, for example, there is a large section in the ‘Industrial’ sector regulation 851/90 that covers machine guarding. I have listed sections 24 to 26:
Section 24.
“Where a machine or prime mover or transmission equipment has an exposed moving part that may endanger the safety of any worker, the machine or prime mover or transmission equipment shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the moving part.”
Section 25.
“An in-running nip hazard or any part of a machine, device or thing that may endanger the safety of any worker shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the pinch point.”
Section 26.
“A machine shall be shielded or guarded so that the product, material being processed or waste stock will not endanger the safety of any worker.”
It is just that important!
Ensure that any machinery that is to be engineered MUST have the appropriate machine guarding in place prior to being used. All manufacturers know this but some still avoid the issue or may be do not have the engineering skills to assess all pinch points, nip hazards, and moving parts to properly design guarding.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Canada, “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’, ‘Mschine Guarding’ 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.
Wow, incredible weblog structure!