What's
New
This section
contains the latest safety related information pertaining to the
construction industry. Stay tuned for regular updates!
CSA Occupational Health & Safety Standards Available Online
The Canadian Standards Association, in concert with the federal government, has developed a pilot site for ease of access to the entire CSA standards document referenced in occupational health and safety standards.
The website has been setup to ensure all employers can quickly find regulatory requirements, helping foster compliance with CSA standards across the country.
Registration is free. Click Here
CSAM Office Relocation - 1447 Waverley Street
Effective October 24, 2011, CSAM's head office will be relocating to 1447 Waverley Street in south Winnipeg. Our phone (204-775-3171) and fax (779-3505) number will remain the same.
**NOTE**All classroom training sessions will temporarily take place at The Caboto Centre, 1055 Wilkes Avenue, as of Oct. 1, until renovations to the education centre at the new facility are completed.
Winnipeg School Division Tendering Policy Changes
Effective January 1, 2012, WSD will be adopting the same requirements developed by the Province of Manitoba for tendering of construction projects.
The plan emphasizes the importance of COR™/SECOR™ Certification and apprenticeship training, with bidding companies required to show their involvement in both practices. Click here for more
New Subcontractor Questionnaire
In circumstances where a company conducts their operations as a Project Manager, Residential Home Builder or Prime Contractor, the focus of a COR™/SECOR™ Audit will shift to the implementation of the safety & health management system on the jobsite – which includes ALL contractors that they would be responsible for.
In addition to the usual protocol conducted during a COR™/SECOR™ Audit, an additional questionnaire will now require the auditor to ask a series of questions to the subcontractor regarding the safety and health environment of the jobsite—ensuring they’re being subjected to the necessary safety training and adhering to current industry safety standards. Be prepared!
Click Here to view new questionnaire
Safety Auditor Toolkit Available
This Safety Auditor Toolkit has been designed to assist your company in conducting a COR™ or SECOR™ self audit. It is intended to simplify the audit submission procedure and to help guide you to ensure that your audit is submitted in accordance to CSAM auditing protocol. Cost is $5.
COR™ Incentive Program Gets Boost
The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) announced during February's Manitoba Construction Conference that the Certificate of Recognition™ (COR™) program—which the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba acts as an Authority Having Jurisdiction to grant—has been made permanent and comes with added incentives for companies who get certified.
The announcement made on Jan. 31, 2011 will see the first year reduction rate double to 10 per cent and potentially save companies thousands of dollars.
Companies will then receive a five per cent discount for all subsequent years they maintain their COR™ certification. The program had previously offered a first-year five per cent reduction in WCB assessment rates for construction firms that earned COR™ certification.
Ron Hambley, Executive Vice-President of the Winnipeg Construction Association, told the Winnipeg Free Press that the program is a no-brainer for its members.
"A company that has a good track record on safety and has a million-dollar payroll might be paying $30,000 to $40,000 per year in WCB premiums, so it could be a significant savings,” Hambley says.
"We’re glad that the COR incentive program has been made permanent, because workplace injuries in the construction sector will continue to decrease as more firms take part and remain committed to programs like this,” Hambley adds. “We are committed to our safety programs and training because they help keep workers safe."
COR™ is now frequently used as a pre-qualification and/or condition of contract by public and private project owners across Canada. The program takes about 18 months to complete and requires an independent auditor to sign off on the work to receive the certification. COR™ is valid for three years providing a company maintains the training elements and auditing standards annually (minimum 50 per cent in each element and minimum 80 per cent overall). A Letter of Good Standing is issued annually to validate the COR™ Certificate, and ensure all standards are met.
Read the full WCB press release here
MCC Sells Out Again in 2011!
The 22nd annual Manitoba Construction Conference took over the Winnipeg Convention Centre—and all conference rooms at the neighbouring Delta Winnipeg Hotel for good measure—Feb. 1-2, 2011, once again living up to its billing as Canada’s best construction safety, health and environment conference.
Presented by your two construction-industry-funded safety programs – Construction Safety Association of Manitoba and Manitoba Heavy Construction Association WORKSAFELY – the 2011 MCC introduced 2,095 delegates from Manitoba’s construction industry to the latest education and training on safety and construction management.
"I continue to be impressed with the number of people committed to safety in the construction industry of Manitoba,” says Sean Scott, Executive Director, Construction Safety Association of Manitoba (CSAM) and Manitoba Construction Conference Co-Chair. "The conference provides these individuals with an exceptional forum of quality classes at an affordable price, and every year our goal is to improve on our past successes,” adds Scott. “We take extreme care to ensure that every person who attends - whether a registrant, exhibitor, instructor or guest - has a memorable and rewarding experience.”
2011 saw the introduction of “Safety Professional Development Day” precede the two-day conference on Jan. 31, geared towards those at the forefront of a company-led safety program, including owners, safety managers, coordinators, supervisors and Construction Safety Officers.
The full-day workshop showed registrants how to effectively lead, integrate and apply key elements to ensure the success of a company safety program. Dan Padden (Owner, Construction Safety Solutions Inc.) led the morning session, aptly titled “Simple Safety Solutions,” while Stephen Torrence (Executive Director, Professional Builders Institute of B.C.) followed with “Leading Change in Worker Attitude and Performance” in the afternoon.
“Leading Change in Worker Attitude and Performance was by far the best safety course I have ever taken,” attendee Chris Pedersen says. “Please have [Stephen Torrence] back next year with the next step of this course. Attitude is directly tied in with safety.”
The following two days of conference activity included a trade show component, with over 90 exhibitors coming aboard to market their products and services directly to representatives of the construction industry. The MCC, presented by CSAM and MHCA WORKSAFELY, would not be possible without the continued support of its major partners, including SAFE Work, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, Winnipeg Construction Association, Manitoba Conservation, the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba, Workplace Safety and Health Division, Manitoba Home Builders’ Association, and the Manitoba Building Construction Trades Council.
NEW CSAM T-Shirts
CSAM Shirts are a great way to show off your company's commitment to safety! *Long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts are available.
Long-sleeve: $10
Short-sleeve : $5
(Add company logo: 1 colour - $2; 2 colour - $3)
Contact our office at (204) 775-3171 for details!
  
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?
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.
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