Canadian Safety Reporter

THE WORKPLACE SAFETY SOURCE FOR OHS MANAGERS AND HR PROFESSIONALS Around-the-clock work takes heavy toll on staff Toronto Hydro crews performed 3 months' work in first 5 days following massive ice storm | BY LIZ FOSTER | TORONTO WAS hit by a massive ice storm approval process just because there's in late December that left more than high volume. In fact, when it becomes 300,000 residents without power. higher volume, it becomes even more Toronto Hydro dedicated all available critical that you stick to your existing resources to restore power as quickly as safety procedures." possible. Crews — in colIn addition to always laboration with mutual wearing personal protec"When you're tired, assistance partners flown tive equipment, crews in from out of the provspend upwards of 20 there's a greater ince — worked around minutes establishing a likelihood of an the clock to clear debris safe work zone. They esinjury. You're not and restore power. The tablish a buffer between cleanup efforts ultimately their equipment and trafas alert… we were lasted 13 days. fic — both pedestrian rigorous about the Ben LaPianta, vice and vehicular. Crews 12 hours on, 12 president of distribution plan their walking route grid management for Toto avoid slips, trips and hours off." ronto Hydro, reported falls. Because ice affects Toronto Hydro crews perthe insulation value of formed three months' worth of work in equipment — essentially making evthe first five days following the storm. erything a conductor — crews treat all "That's astounding," LaPianta said. equipment as if it is energized until it "They worked efficiently and they can be definitively tested. worked as quickly as possible while "They don't take any chances," LaPimaintaining safety standards." anta said of the crews. "That takes lonOnly one injury was reported ger but it's a safety precaution that's necthroughout the cleanup effort, with a essary during an ice storm." branch falling and striking a crew memAlong with electrical contact, fatigue ber in the head. Because the employee was one of Toronto Hydro's biggest conwas wearing personal protective equipcerns in the days following the ice storm. ment — which includes a hard hat — Efforts were in place around the clock the injury was minor. Thanks to Toronto to restore power and clear debris followHydro's safety procedures and work aping the storm, but crews were limited to proval process, crews walked out of a coworking strict 12-hour shifts. Shifts were lossal cleanup effort with a safety record limited in anticipation of a long restorathe city can be proud of, LaPianta said,. tion process and in an effort to prevent "During the ice storm... we didn't burnout. change any of our safety procedures," "Past the 12 hour mark, productivity LaPianta explained. "You don't circumContinued on page 11 vent normal safety procedures and work FEBRUARY 2014 IN THIS ISSUE HOW DOES OHS STACK UP AT YOUR FIRM? New IWH study sets out to tackle leading indicators in Ontario. . . . . . . . . .2 INTERNS, FOREIGN WORKERS MAY SEE MORE PROTECTIONS Ontario may expand rights under OHSA, employment standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 MORE CHANGES MADE TO TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKER PROGRAM But critics say reforms water down worker protections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Vancouver bus drivers launch safety awareness campaign Union offers $15,000 reward to public for information on assaults on workers | BY SABRINA NANJI | ROAD RAGE HAS an entirely different meaning for transit operators like Anna Palumbo, who had death threats hurled at her while as she was driving her Vancouver route. As part of a new campaign introduced late last year to help mitigate those types of assaults on transit operators in Vancouver, the union representing drivers is offering a $15,000 reward (previously $2,000) to the public for reporting asContinued on page 5

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