CAW Local 4304, Waterloo Region, ON, Canada

Health and Safety

Content by Darlene Wilson

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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


 


purell

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


Updated:
October 28, 2009 14:04


 

flu

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


Bus Stop Announcements UPDATE

The Region has agreed to our request of conducting a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) in conjunction with the Joint Health and Safety Committees (KWSA, CSA), to ensure any procedure we are required to do in accordance with announcing stops is a SAFE procedure. Ultimately, the only appropriate procedure is an Automated System.

What is a JSA? A JSA is a process in which the procedures involved in each task of a specific job are analyzed to determine the hazards associated with each task.

Who will do the JSA? The Region is contracting the services of Human Factors North, a Cognitive Ergonomist to conduct the JSA. The cognitive ergonomist will be analyzing things such as attention/task overload (such as memorizing stops), ergonomic/musculoskeletal hazards, (such as leaning into a microphone) and physical hazards (noise levels, voice misuse).

The JSA will be completed the first week of November, after which time the ergonomist will prepare their report. The report will determine the safety of the proposed procedure, as well as any recommendations to address safety/ergonomic concerns.

For a detailed report of each day of the JSA, compiled by the JHSC members attending the JSA, click here


H&S Minutes

All files are in PDF

2009

Sept, 2009

July/Aug, 2009

June 18, 2009

May 26, 2009

April 24 & 29, 2009

March 19 & 25, 2009

Feb. 19, 2009

Jan. 16, 2009


2008

Nov. 12, 2008

Oct. 8 & 22, 2008

Sept. 4, 2008

June 27, 2008

June 1, 2008

April 29, 2008

Feb. 22, 2008

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