August 30, 2010

Ontario General Contractors Association adds new member to safety team

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

The Ontario General Contractors Association has bolstered its WSIB and health and safety expertise with the recently announced addition of David Frame to its safety team, says its president.

“The Construction Industry Task Force and the WSIB is an important file that requires time and effort,” said Clive Thurston, president of OGCA. “Getting some additional help was important to us as is also providing additional support to our members.”

Frame was president of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA) from 2002 to 2008 after several years at the WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board).

Upon his departure from COCA the association stated Frame had “made great strides” in helping establish it and finding government support on issues such as WSIB, healthy and safety, experience rating, return to work and independent operators under his tenure.

“David’s expertise with and knowledge of the WSIB and its methods is well respected by many of us in the industry,” said Thurston.

Before joining COCA, Frame was a WSIB provider relations director. During his time at the WSIB, Frame was a strong advocate of its prevention mandate and worked with health and safety associations to help arrange funding and co-ordinate services. This insight, coupled with Frame’s work at COCA, makes him a great resource for the OGCA to call upon for its association members and the construction industry, said Thurston.

“The work of the task force is fairly complicated and specific to a certain area,” said OGCA’s president. “It makes sense to strengthen our knowledge base and improve our ability to participate and provide flexibility in working on that file.”

Among Frame’s early priorities are assisting the OGCA subcommittee that deals with the Tony Dean occupational health and safety review and helping address inquiries from association members about the recently formed Infrastructure Health and Safety Association.

Frame will also participate on the OGCA safety committee that includes administration, support and recruitment for the group. He will also represent OGCA at the construction industry task force, providing support to the task force upon request.

With the addition of Frame to the OGCA fold, Thurston explained that Dan Padden of Construction Safety Solutions will remain with the association, focusing on safety consultation, education and training initiatives.

“Our board believes we need to keep up our training and education on safety due to the recent restructuring of safety associations,” said Thurston. “Dan will be actively involved in creating and providing valuable training to our members.”

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