Health and Safety Committee for Grand River Transit

Darlene Wilson,
Co-Chair

Welcome to the home of the Health and Safety Committee. This committee will keep you up-to-date on health and safety related material and meeting minutes.

If you have a Health and Safety Concern, please address your concern with a Supervisor.

If you feel the concern is not addressed adequately, please fill out a Health and Safety Concern Form and hand it in to a Supervisor, who will give you a written response within 2 days and forward the concern and response to the Health and Safety Committee.

If you feel you are required to do work that you feel is unsafe and may endanger yourself or a coworker, REFUSE the unsafe work.

NEW INFO ON ELECTRONIC (RADIO) USAGE

Corporate Health and Safety have stepped up to the plate in regards to safety with usage of our hand-held two way radio, in light of recent legislation. While on one hand the Region has banned the use of all electronic devices "for safety reasons", they still condone the regular use of a large, bulky corded device in our buses.

Corporate H&S has introduced a draft policy to the Joint Health and Safety Committee regarding banning the use of all electronice devices, including the two-way radios on our buses. The only exemption that applies to transit within the Regional policy, is:

-- the ability to use the attached 2 way radio for emergency purposes

--the ability to use the 2 way radio for a brief acknowledgement of informantion transitted (e.g. 10-4), when it is not practical to pull the vehicle over.

Note: This policy and exemption applies to On-Road Supervisors as well.

If you have comments or concerns regarding this draft policy that you would like addressed through the Health and Safety Committee, please email Darlene, Co Chair JHSC

What Have You Done for ME LaTeLy?

Your Health and Safety Committee has worked hard to support your health and safety interests, and to foster a safe work environment. Below are some bulleted points of items of accomplishment at the JHSC level:

Electric Bikes- will not be allowed on or in any GRT bus
Requested Job Safety Analysis be completed to identify hazardous procedures in manually calling out bus stop announcements
Involved in ongoing work refusal investigation regarding calling out bus stop announcements
WHMIS system enhanced, all MSDS sheets updated
WHMIS training given to all fleet employees
Hybrid hazards- requested a fix for hybrid buses ‘lurching’ forward while braking
Mould cleaned and removed from driver’s lunchroom
Lug Lock Completion on all buses
Violence Prevention Working group formed to address specific violence related issues
Interlock braking system returned to activate from brake pedal instead of accelerator
Conestoga Mall Signage – some temporary signs were erected, consultations with Mall are ongoing
Scent Free Policy- Workplace has adapted to be scent free on request basis
Enhanced cleaning schedule was implemented at HHM, floors being replaced around toilets
Grinder maintenance- grinders in the fleet area have been tagged, and will be serviced monthly
Job Safety Analysis of the brake machining area was conducted with ergonomic measures implemented
Silent Radio Alarm added to pre-trip inspection forms
Nova buses that were not releasing washer fluid were identified and fixed
Procedures for locking out buses due to fumes exposure reviewed and updated
Convex mirror has been installed on ring road to reduce hazard
Safety enhanced uniforms were provided for service attendants for better visibility in the annex
Yellow wooden beam at Charles St Terminal has been painted for better visibility
Lane ways at Charles St. terminal have been repaired
Confined spaces have been properly identified and assessed at our workplace, awaiting proper signage
Outdated Asbestos work requirements were identified
Safety procedure implemented for drivers leaving the STC late at night
Proper storage containers for compressed gas tanks have been installed as requested
Eyewash stations in the fleet area are now inspected monthly and serviced when required
All annex doors were set to close at the same time interval for continuity purposes
Recycling bins are being implemented at GRT
Flow Charts depicting proper procedures for work refusals have been developed and posted
Hazardous noise exposures have been identified in the fleet area, JHSC is pressuring mgmt to develop engineering controls to stop the noise at the source to avoid hearing protection being required
Enhanced Fleet Management System being developed to better flag repeat defects
Recommendations have been given to mgmt regarding a Violence prevention Program, Safety Program, Acquiring Collision Reports,
Decals notifying of electrical hazard ordered for hybrid buses
Recommended enhanced lock out procedures for fleet area and Job Safety Analysis to be completed on all jobs in fleet department
Emergency Chemical Response Plan developed in fleet department
Directional right-of –way established min the annex for operators coming into the annex for enhanced safety
2400 series lighting program adjusted to allow dimming of lights at night/early am
Raised concern regarding reaching for destination signs, ergonomist requested
Ergonomic request was made for stockroom, chairs, desk and a keyboard tray will be replaced
Speed of back gate opening investigated
Correct procedures for responding to Health and Safety Concern Forms was reviewed
Fire plans were reviewed and updated
Handles were requested and installed on annex doors
Panic button procedures and drills were developed and implemented
Proper sanitization was provided for operators who do not have immediate access to hand washing to comply with health and safety legislation
First Aid room requirements were brought up to required standards

WSIB (Workers Safety Insurance Board) interactive site:

http://www.prevent-it.ca/

Check out this very interesting and informative site. The videos and graphics tell a very important message.

Safety Innovations! see safetyinnovations.ca

Health and Safety

What Have You Done for ME LaTeLy?

WSIB (Workers Safety Insurance Board) interactive site:

For more info on H1N1 check out www.waterlooregionpandemic.ca

Bus Stop Announcements UPDATE

H&S Minutes

2009