What's New

This section contains the latest safety related information pertaining to the construction industry. Stay tuned for regular updates!

NEW Online Excavation Notification and Permit System

 The Workplace Safety and Health Division introduced a new online system for employers/contractors to notify WSH Division of the intent to begin excavation work and to obtain a registration number.

As required under the WSH Regulation, Employers must notify the WSH Division, no more than 48 hours before the day the excavation work is scheduled to begin, in order to receive a registration number.  This process applies to excavations that will be more than 1.5 meters deep in which a worker is required or allowed to enter.

The online notification and permit system is now available on the SAFE Manitoba website, or simply click on the following link: ONLINE EXCAVATION PERMIT  

Once all required information has been entered online by the employer, a permit number will be assigned to the excavation and the employer will be able to print the information for their records.

This online system is operational 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Employers may also continue to notify WSHD of their intent to excavate via the current Ex-Fax system or by calling WSH Division in Winnipeg, at (204) 945-3446, or toll-free in Manitoba, at 1-866-888-8186.

Construction Site Sign

The new combined construction site and PPE sign are now available. At the request of many contractors, we have combined our two very popular site signs into one.  The information on the Construction Site Sign is a requirement under WSH Regulation 2.18, with the PPE signage a normal requirement of a company safety program (and good practice).

Any of the three options are available for our standard prices of $5.00 each

New Cell Phone & Electrical Devices Policy

Bill 5 – THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AMENDMENT ACT (PROMOTING SAFER AND HEALTHIER CONDITIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES) has been proclaimed and will be in effect June 1, 2010.

This Bill prohibits drivers from using a cell phone or similar electronic communication device except:

• to make a hands-free telephone call; while pulled over and stopped; or
• to communicate with a police, fire or ambulance service in an emergency.

CSAM Brochure

Pick up your copy today.  Information on CSAM products, events, resources, staff and contact numbers.

REVAMPED Toolbox Talks - Now 68 Topics in total!

CSAM is proud to announce that we have revamped our Toolbox Talks topics and have increased the number of available topics to 68!

Construction Safety Association of Manitoba has developed a series of 15-minute tailgate training presentations, which are available for contractor's use and duplication. This is a proven effective method of conducting training sessions - especially for those who lack the confidence to "teach." Currently, the following individual programs are available (free of charge).

These Toolbox Talks topics are designed to complement CSAM’s existing and future training programs. CSAM’s prime objective through this resource is to provide quality information and generalized practices to construction employers and employees, in order to reduce both human and financial costs in the construction industry.

Guideline for Chemical and Biological Substances in the Workplace

Exposure to chemical or biological substances in the workplace may be harmful to worker safety and health.

This guideline provides information and minimum requirements to help protect workers from exposure to these substances in the workplace.

Under Part 36 of Workplace Safety and Health Regulation 217/2006, employers must ensure the safety and health of their workers who use, produce, store, handle and dispose of chemical or biological substances in the workplace.

Some workplaces have only a few chemical or biological substances to consider and others have hundreds. This guide presents steps and actions that must be taken to meet legal requirements and protect workers from exposure to these substances.

Gold Seal Certification – Automatic Eligibility Changes

On January 1st, 2010 the new requirement for verification of 5 years construction site experience is in effect.  Applicants who possess a current Construction Safety Officer (CSO) designation (or equivalent) and can demonstrate 5 years experience are automatically eligible to write the national examination.  Please note that only CSO designations issued by a provincial/territorial Construction Safety Association qualify for this automatic eligibility.

NOTE:  Provincial/Territorial CSO need only to verify a total of 5 years experience in construction site safety; additional educational components are not required.

EXAMPLE:  A CSO designation verifies a minimum 3 years experience in construction site safety:

• CSO Certificate plus additional 2 years experience from the date of issue or:
• CSO Certificate plus verification of a minimum of 5 years experience

The next Gold Seal Exam is slated for April 16th.  Please visit: www.goldsealcertification.com for further information.   

Fall Protection Trainer & User's Guide

CSAM has developed a Fall Protection Trainer’s & Participant User Guide like the one developed by the Construction Safety Association of Ontario. 

This 60 page Trainer & User Guide will allow Companies to train employees on Fall Protection based on the theory developed within the guide.

For more information on how you can get your Fall Protection Trainer's or User Guide, please contact one of the CSAM offices to receive your copy.  Cost per guide is $5.

Safety H.I.T. List Pocket Books

Your Construction Safety Association of Manitoba has simplified safety into 3 basic steps: Identify, Communicate, and Control Hazards.  This requires completion and collection of numerous forms, checklists and reports.  Compiling and completing this documentation daily/weekly/monthly can be quite time consuming and cumbersome, so CSAM has developed a convenient pocket size multiform to help reduce the number of documents completed by on-site personnel.  Cost is $5 per book.

NEW WCB Industry Assessment Statistics

Industry Assessment stats are now available on our website.  Now you can see how much your competition is paying for their WCB Assessment Rate.  Are you paying less than the average or are you paying more?  Each of the 22 industry codes that CSAM services has its own separate graph to identify the yearly average costs assessed to the employers in that group. 

Compare the average to what YOUR Company is paying for WCB coverage.  How do YOU Measure Up?

New T-Shirts

Purchase these new T-Shirts for your Company and Staff.  Short Sleeved T-Shirts sell for $5 and Long Sleeved T-Shirts are $10.  COR Certified Companies can also arrange to get their logo and the COR Certified logo screened on the Shirt back and along the sleeve.

Safe Job Procedures Depository

Safe job procedures provide specific step-by-step information to employees and outline how to conduct a particular task or operate equipment in a safe manner.  In addition to specific sections of the Workplace Safety & Health Regulation, Part 2.1 requires employers to: 

• Develop and implement procedures for the work that is done at the workplace;
• Train workers in the procedures; and 
• Ensure that workers comply with the developed procedures.

In the interest of maintaining a safe work environment for all employees, the CSAM membership has expressed their interest in acquiring the ability to share safety information with other companies.  In response, the CSAM has created a directory and will act as the ‘depository’ of safe job procedures received from member companies and associates. 

Upon receipt and review of company supplied safe job procedures, the CSAM will provide free access to the entire directory for each company who provides information to be added.