Excerpt From the OH&S Magazine — April 2010
The British Columbia operator of a remote copper-gold mine in the Yukon has shut the doors to two bunkhouse units after mold was discovered in their bathrooms.
The mold was identified in mid-February during a joint health and safety committee inspection of the Minto Mine work camp near the Yukon community of Carmacks. Vancouver-based Capstone Mining Corp. Opted to close the units pending completion of an environmental hygiene assessment. When they looked at the washrooms and opened up a couple of walls, there was a significant mold problem.
Workers housed in the two units have been moved to temporary accommodations. Hemmera, an environmental services company in Vancouver, has been hired to do the hygiene assessment, reports Randall Thompson, General Manager of the Minto Mine.
On February 20th, almost four dozen employees and contract workers — employed as part of construction and drilling exploration crews — were bussed from the camp to Carmacks. The camp houses almost 200 beds.
Information from the CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety) located in Hamilton, Ontario, noted that the most commonly reported symptoms after inhaling mold include runny noses or nasal congestion, eye irritation, cough, aggravation of asthma, fatigue, headaches and difficulty concentration.
To prevent mold growth, the CCOHS recommends venting showers and other moisture-generating sources directly to the outside; using exhaust fans when cooking, laundering or cleaning large areas; insulating cold surfaces to prevent condensation on piping, windows, exterior walls, roofs and floors; and not installing carpet around fountains, sinks, showers or on top of concrete floors prone to leak condensation.
My opinion
As a trainer in BCT Level 1 (as well as 2), I enjoyed reading this article showing me that the JHSC program is alive and working well in the Yukon.
The JHSC (Joint Health & Safety Committee) cannot do its job if there is little or no support from both sides of the working world, the management as well as the workers.
Here we see the committee performing their monthly inspection to look for possible occupational hazards. The committee notified the General Manager, Randall Thompson, that an immediate assessment needs to be performed to determine the degree of the contamination so that proper controls can be instituted.
Remember ! The JHSC has one main function; to Recognize, Assess, Control Hazards
Identification of Hazards
– Identifying potential hazards in the workplace
– Identifying the adverse effects that may be associated with these hazards
– Determining whether there is a possibility of people being exposed or affected
Assessment of Hazards
– Covers equipment, processes and work procedures
– Considers which workers, if any, are exposed, or likely to be exposed, to an identified workplace hazard and for how long
Control of Hazards
– The principles of hazard control are often described by the location of the control, ‘at the source’ of the hazard and ‘along the path’ between the hazard and the worker, or ‘at the worker’.
I will be watching this one carefully as I am interested in to what type of control measures are going to be introduced.
Remember — In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Foundation Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.
It is always something good and something bad about it. Nice information, though.
So much excellent information on here. I found it on google.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you very much.
Great article! I just saw this the other day and was impressed. Your review answered all the questions I had.
Hi there bro, sweet web there.
I absolutely adore reading your blog posts, the variety of writing is smashing.This blog as usual was educational, I have had to bookmark your site and subscribe to your feed in ifeed. Your theme looks lovely.
I appreciate your comment, Sheree. It means a lot.
Daniel L. Beal
Great experience, dude! thanks for this great blog.
Thank you for the great information you are providing.
Nicely done.
Nice share, good article, very useful for me. Thank you.
Thank you for the article.
God help me, I put aside a whole afternoon to peruse this out.
Thanks. Just glad to help.
Your answer was just what I needed. It’s made my day!
Nice post. I learn one thing tougher on totally different blogs everyday. Thanks for sharing.
Whoa, things just got a whole lot easier.
You’re the greatest!
This is really good to know.
Nicely done!
These topics are so confusing but this helped me get the job done.
Good for you, man.
Great website!
I want to say thanks.
Kudos for creating content on this particular subject.
Well done for posting on this subject. There is not enough content posted about it (not particularly good anyway). It is pleasing to see it receiving a little bit more coverage. Cheers!
Kudos for creating a blog post on this topic. There is not enough information written about it (not particularly helpful anyway). It is encouraging to see it getting a little bit more coverage. Thanks again!
I see that you’re working with WordPress platforms for your blog site. Well done with the content.
I’m glad to be reading your post. The site style is perfect, the articles are definitely terrific. Good job, cheers.
Good article , thanks and we want extra!
Very fantastic visual appeal on this website , I’d rate it 10.
Greetings, I enjoy looking at your piece of writing, I needed to jot down a touch thoughts to support you and desire that you simply beneficial extension. All of the best for all your current weblog results.
Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
Nice topic.
Nice topic!
Good for you, man.
This is good material.
Thank you ever so for you article post.
I wanted to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
I wanted to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
I cannot thank you enough for the blog post.
Thank you for your post.
Wow, wonderful weblog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
A number of your posts are top-notch!
Fantastic post.
Over the months of research, I did not find a finer site!
Bring it on!
Thanks for the blog. Thanks Again. Fantastic.
Looking forward to reading more. Great blog post.
Hello Web Admin, I noticed that your On-Page SEO is is missing a few factors.
Very interesting points you have observed.
Forgive my stupidity, but I cannot for that life of me locate your sites rss feeds.
Mind directing me to it? Many thanks.
Useful information.
I bookmarked it.
Great job!
Nice blog here! Also your site loads up fast!
Im obliged for the blog.
Major thanks for the blog article.
I truly appreciate this blog article.Thanks Again. Cool.
Hello Web Admin, I noticed that your On-Page SEO is is missing a few factors.
Awesome blog post. Much thanks again.
I just want to tell you that I am new to blogging and site-building and absolutely liked this web blog.
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog!
I will not think twice to suggest your web sites to anybody who needs tips on this area.
World class!
Excellent weblog here!
You have a point!
Good luck!
This is getting a bit more subjective.
Good luck!
I’m likely to bookmark your blog.
Wonderfully written!
Well done!
This really has my attention.
Many thanks!
Good article!
Good luck!
Good luck!
World class!
Thanks for sharing your web site.
You are really good!
Hello, its pleasant piece of writing.
You are one of the best!