August 4, 2010

Council of Ontario Construction Associations calls for mandatory training for workers, firms

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

Suggestions from mandatory entry-level safety training to a new provincial safety body were among the ideas presented to Ontario’s health and safety review, a sample of industry submissions reveals.

Tony Dean, Chair of the Workplace Safety System Review, guided the review to consultative stops from Thunder Bay to Toronto, hearing from over 100 groups.

The following are highlights from four construction industry submissions made by the Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA), the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, the IBEW Construction Council of Ontario and Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

COCA stated it is not convinced that the Ministry of Labour, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and health and safety associations see themselves as part of a cohesive system “nor do they operate that way”. However, these bodies appear to operate as “independent silos” that operate effectively within their own areas. COCA suggested that the labour ministry should be responsible for the leadership of the system and the WSIB should be limited to insurance.

“We would object vigorously to the creation of a new workplace safety and insurance super agency which would sit atop all of the system with insurance, prevention (training and enforcement) and prosecutions directly responsible to it,” COCA stated.

COCA added that new construction workers be required to complete and pay for a basic entry-level training program before qualifying for work in the construction industry; supervisors be required to complete a mandatory supervisor training program that includes a hazard identification component and a section dealing with Ontario legislation and new contractors be required to complete a mandatory management training program for new contractors made available at no additional charge to the new contractor.

Ontario’s building trades said provincial construction industry is regulated by “a patchwork of bodies and authorities” which highlights a need to better-integrate health and safety into the day-to-day operations of businesses, organizations, and workers.

A new organized body charged with the “specific mandate of taking the lead on prevention in Ontario” should be created to address current problems and shortcomings, stated the building trades. This body would have the mandate to recommend regulations, manage workplace inspections and prosecutions, finance and oversee Health and Safety Agencies (HSAs), and establish standards for Joint Health and Safety Committees.

The building trades also said the introduction of mandatory training for all construction workers, without exception, should be implemented. Completion of a 30 hour mandatory training course, taught by an accredited instructor prior to commencing work on any construction project, would “not only improve workers’ performance, but also help ensure that safety practices are followed”.

IBEW proposed mandatory safety, training and certification programs for all young workers who are exposed to construction workplaces and electrical systems contact, regardless of trade, in addition to current programs.

IBEW also said that the current Experience Rating system has “failed to foster anticipated health and safety culture shift” it was designed to create and that it is a “trailing indicator” which encourages the misrepresentation of compensable and long term injuries to help obtain WSIB rebates.”.

The IBEW also noted that with the continued development of advanced high energy smart grid devices, which operate on very high voltages and amperage, it would like to see legislation created that requires only of certificate of qualification electricians be allowed to connect and repair such devices.

Local 793 asked that the province can improve safety on construction sites by supporting compulsory certification of operators of concrete pumps, bulldozers, tractor-loader-backhoes and excavators.

The building trades also said the introduction of mandatory training for all construction workers, without exception, should be implemented. Completion of a 30 hour mandatory training course, taught by an accredited instructor prior to commencing work on any construction project, would “not only improve workers’ performance, but also help ensure that safety practices are followed”.

IBEW proposed mandatory safety, training and certification programs for all young workers who are exposed to construction workplaces and electrical systems contact, regardless of trade, in addition to current programs.

IBEW also said that the current Experience Rating system has “failed to foster anticipated health and safety culture shift” it was designed to create and that it is a “trailing indicator” which encourages the misrepresentation of compensable and long term injuries to help obtain WSIB rebates.”

The IBEW also noted that with the continued development of advanced high energy smart grid devices, which operate on very high voltages and amperage, it would like to see legislation created that requires only of certificate of qualification electricians be allowed to connect and repair such devices.

Local 793 asked that the province improve safety on construction sites by supporting compulsory certification of operators of concrete pumps, bulldozers, tractor-loader-backhoes and excavators.

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