Do These Work Practices Look Safe?

by | May 14, 2015 | Health and Safety Minute

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Of course not!

Welcome to the first edition of Armourco’s Health and Safety Minute Newsletter, where we’ll bring critical health and safety information to you so can answer the question” How safe is my contractor”.

As a result of workplace practises such as pictured above and the fact that falls are the number one cause of critical injuries and deaths at construction projects in Ontario (50% of the 21 deaths on construction projects were as a result of falls), the Ministry of Labour made working at heights mandatory for workers in construction as of April 1, 2015

The training requirement standard for working at heights includes the following topics:

  • Rights and responsibilities related to working at heights
  • Hazard identification
  • Ladder safety
  • Proper identification and usage of personal protective equipment

Working at Heights is defined as:

  • falling from a height of more than three metres (approximately 10 feet)
  • falling into operating machinery
  • falling into water or another liquid
  • falling into or onto a hazardous substance or object
  • falling though an opening in a work surface.

Legally the Occupational Health and Safety Act 213/91 states in Sec. 26.2(1) “An employer shall ensure that a worker who may use a fall protection system is adequately trained in it’s use and given adequate oral and written instructions by a competent person” Furthermore Section 79 of the Industrial regulations (which all condominium buildings fall under) requires that “workers required to wear protective equipment such as fall protection equipment shall be instructed and trained in the care and use before wearing such equipment.

For more information please go to https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/topics/heights.php

As part of Armourco’s dynamic Health and Safety training program we completed the training of our workers to the new standard in March 2014, a full year before the law took effect.

Before the start of any project on your property, ask yourself “How safe is my contractor?”

Armourco, your professional, fully health and safety compliant contractor for Townhouse and Highrise painting, high performance coatings and sealants.

Visit Armourco’s Services for project information and a list of all our services

#howsafeisyourcontractor?
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