NOVEMBER 2013
Real-life training important
Continued from page 1
General OHS knowledge
The general OHS knowledge component
of the program normally takes around
two weeks and provides the supervisor
with an extensive overview of OHS legislation, along with best practice standards in the hydro industry.
"We talk about our own internal
management system and how that applies to their role as a supervisor and
how to use it," Chenette says. "Then we
really get into the due diligence and reasonable precaution."
Supervisors are introduced to tools and
personnel that can be used as resources.
"We sort of create an internal network for them, so they're never really
alone in making a decision as they start
their supervisor term," he says.
Safety
communications
Specific projects
Any one of Hydro Ottawa's 89 supervisors may be called upon over the course
of their career to participate in projects,
such as writing a new procedure or
work standard, Chenette says.
"When those opportunities present
themselves, I partner them up with whoever may be tasked with that initiative,"
Chenette says. "For
example, by the
"By the time
time the last supervisor finished up in
the last supervisor finished
September, he was
up... he was working on
working on three
three operational
operational work instructions that directwork instructions that
ly impact his work."
directly impact his work."
Supervisors may be
required to make
OHS presentations
or participate in
safety meetings. So
the new supervisor
is given training to
effectively communicate to others and
conduct meetings.
The supervisor is required to conduct
a meeting as part of the training.
"Afterward, we give them the pros
and the cons of their work because it
becomes their job," he says.
Inspections
Supervisors are exposed to inspections
conducted by safety officers, from spot
inspections to new processes analysis.
"We actually go out and do several
types of inspections," Chenette says. "We
inspect worksites, we inspect equipment,
we inspect substations, we inspect training yards — they're exposed to the entire
operation as much as possible.
The supervisors are then expected
to follow up on their findings, whether
positive or negative.
Incident investigations,
hazard near misses
As much as possible, the new super-
8
visors are introduced to incident investigations by participating in ongoing investigations.
"We work with a safety specialist because they may have ongoing investigations," he says.
Supervisors are taught how to survey
the scene, how to take proper notes and
how to ask questions. They are then expected to assess the situation and make
effective corrective actions or recommendations.
The bigger picture
As a supervisor who has been through
Hydro Ottawa's Safe Supervisor Program, Rob Cameron says he was better
prepared for the job because of the experience.
"It gives us a much bigger picture
on how to keep our people safe by educating our workforce and documenting
that," says Cameron, distribution operations supervisor.
Being trained on how to present effective meetings is something Cameron
is truly grateful for.
"Finding relative topics to discuss and
being able to research them and present them at safety meetings has really
helped," he says. "I also appreciate being
well prepared at safety meetings because
I can cut down on time and have everything well organized for presenting."
The Safe Supervisor Program was
implemented in 2011 and has five graduates. A sixth participant will be beginning later this year.
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