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CSA Standard on Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace on the Way

Posted in: Industry Legislation

In June 2011, the Mental Health Commission of Canada announced that it was working with the Bureau de normalisation du Québec and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to develop the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. A draft standard was released on Nov. 1, 2011 and the public comment period ended on Jan. 6, 2012. It’s expected that the final standard will be released Read More

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NFPA Standards Update

Posted in: Industry Legislation
NFPA Standards Update

Although not due to go into effect until 2013, you still have a voice and should stay informed. Link relates to upcoming changes to NFPA 1981 - Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Emergency Services and NFPA 1982 - Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS). http://www.box.com/s/vgd0eam97ehas2vt0bir

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IBM Files Patent for Putting Fire Extinguisher in a Computer

Posted in: Industry Happenings
IBM Files Patent for Putting Fire Extinguisher in a Computer

We recently stumbled across this article by Wolfgang Gruener, sourced from USPTO: A patent filed in May 2010 describes a system that includes a cartridge of extinguishing agents comprised of carbon dioxide and halon, which will be released on the processor and certain portions on the mainboard while the power supply is disabled at the same time. The system also includes an infrared light-based flame detector. IBM said that computers, which we are Read More

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A Major Milestone at #BrucePower

Posted in: Industry Happenings
A Major Milestone at #BrucePower

Bruce Power has commenced loading fuel bundles into Unit 1 at the Bruce A generating station following approval by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). This achievement comes four months after fuel was safely and successfully loaded in Unit 2, and marks another milestone in the Restart project. Loading fuel in Unit 1 marks the final commissioning phase of the Bruce A Restart project. “Following the successful completion of fuel load in Read More

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Xstrata gives workers a safety time out

Posted in: Industry Happenings, Opinions
Xstrata gives workers a safety time out

Hundreds of employees at Xstrata Nickel's Fraser and Nickel Rim South mines were sent home from the job Monday for what the company is calling a "short safety pause" after an increase in safety-related incidents at the two operations. Mine Mill Local 598/CAW president Richard Paquin said about 300 workers at Fraser Mine have been told to think about safety for an "indefinite" period of time while the company devises a Read More

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Business owner fined $17K for non-compliance

Posted in: Industry Happenings
Business owner fined $17K for non-compliance

Waldemar Kozuchowski, sole proprietor of Infinity Marble of Canada, a synthetic marble and granite manufacturing company, was fined $17,000 for failing to comply with inspectors' orders. On May 22, 2009, Ministry of Labour inspectors visited Kozuchowski's business in Carleton Place, Ont. They noticed several health and safety violations and issued Kozuchowski orders to comply with the legislation. Inspectors made several follow up visits but the violations remained and the inspectors had Read More

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Radiation doses of 1,769 health care workers under-reported for four years

Posted in: Industry Happenings
Radiation doses of 1,769 health care workers under-reported for four years

A system used by 1,769 health care and research workers to measure their workplace radiation exposure may have under-reported radiation levels since 2008, says the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. The commission says a “calculation error” in the management system used by the devices is responsible for the low readings. The errors led to potential under-reporting of radiation doses by 25 to 40 per cent, the commission says in a letter to HealthCanada. HealthCanadaoperates Read More

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How Ontario safety law changes affect construction firms

Posted in: Industry Happenings, Industry Legislation
How Ontario safety law changes affect construction firms

  Companies in the construction industry are facing an increase in applications for union certification and the recent Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act changes underscore the importance of responding to safety recommendations from employees, according to speakers at an employment law conference Tuesday in Toronto. The Ontario government recently passed Bill 160, which made several changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. That act was the result of a report from the Read More

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MOL focuses on Racking and Storage Safety in November 2011

Posted in: Industry Happenings, Industry Legislation
MOL focuses on Racking and Storage Safety in November 2011

Workplaces with racking and storage facilities may contain potentially serious hazards. The improper use, selection and installation, or maintenance of racking and storage systems may put workers at risk of injury. Throughout November 2011, the Ministry of Labour will focus on racking and storage facilities used by workers at industrial workplaces across Ontario. The stepped-up enforcement is part of the ministry's Safe At Work Ontario strategy, launched in June 2008. Ministry of Labour inspectors Read More

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One third of Alberta orders issued for fall protection failures

Posted in: Industry Happenings, Industry Legislation
One third of Alberta orders issued for fall protection failures

More than 600 inspections of residential construction sites in Alberta resulted in close to 400 orders issued. Occupational Health and Safety did the inspections from Sept. 12 to Oct. 11 and issued 394 orders, including 83 stop-work orders. A lack of fall protection, or a fall protection plan, accounted for 131 orders, about one-third of all orders issued. Dave Hancock, minister of Human Services, responsible for Occupational Health and Safety, says the province Read More

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