The Shaw Group involves employees in safety and recognizes their efforts
The Shaw Group, a proud local developer and manufacturer in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for the past 160 years, has a variety of tools in its safety toolbox for engaging its workers to remain safe on the job. One of which is an internal marketing campaign with a “Safety First” theme.
“We’ve developed ‘Safety First’ posters and placed them throughout our sites that say things like ‘The most dangerous words in Safety – We’ve Always Done it That Way.’ We have a variety of different posters with slogans that we change up month to month,” said Jeff King, health and safety manager for the Lantz, N.S. operations. “We look for those fun, catchy things that can create a positive safety culture.”
Another tool is to encourage employees to look for hazards and report them as hazard IDs or as near misses in conjunction with empowering employees to implement corrective actions, when possible. For example, if there is a broken pallet sitting on the ground with nails protruding, an employee has the ability and is encouraged to take that piece of wood and toss it in the garbage, King explains.
“As employees identify concerns we jump on corrective actions right away,” King said. “This creates a catalyst for change. If employees report concerns and nothing happens, they will then be reluctant to buy in to the safety culture thinking leadership is not paying attention to their concerns.”
NAOSH Week
Yet another tool in the safety toolbox at the Shaw Group is encouraging employee-led health and safety initiatives as part of North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. Last year, an employee spoke about his personal experience after suffering a heart attack. The company thought it was important and approached the employee and gauged his interest to discuss his experience with peers and highlight the warning signs as well as prevention mechanisms to lead a healthy life. The company then handed out key chains that can hold 81mg Aspirin which can be given to someone who is experiencing a heart attack to assist in maintaining blood flow.
“They get tired of me talking day in and day out,” King laughs, “so I try to get employees involved, when possible, to speak in front of their peers as it’s more impactful when it comes from a colleague they work with every day.”
Safety Gotcha
A highly successful program at Shaw Group is called “Safety Gotcha,” which recognizes employees who go above and beyond for health and safety. Just wearing your PPE is not enough — you have to take safety to the next level in order to receive the coveted recognition of being awarded a Tim Hortons gift card.
“We don’t expect the gift card to change the world, but a lot of times our employees like a pat on the back and the recognition in front of their peers,” King said. “It just helps promote the culture and is another catalyst of how things evolve or change for the better.”
The Shaw Group is a big supporter in positive feedback for people doing the right things and recognizing those doing their part for safety. Employees also have the ability to nominate one another as part of the “Safety Gotcha” program when they witness workers who are really stepping up their safety game.
Electronic reporting software
Recently, the Shaw Group adopted a new electronic safety reporting software program from EHS Insight, making it even easier to report hazards in real time. The company anticipates this tool will further increase hazard reporting by allowing for an easier reporting process. The Shaw Group recently reached an impressive achievement in 2022 for a 65 percent overall increase in hazard reporting in just two years (2020 vs. 2022). Employees are no longer required to complete paper reports that can get lost and are difficult to administer and manage.
“Employees can take pictures of the hazard and upload them into a kiosk tablet, or by using a mobile app on their phone,” King explained. “The software has also helped the safety team to accurately track its safety metrics, see trends as well as highlight areas for improvement.”
All these efforts have made a tremendous impact on safety within the company seeing its TRIF rate drop by 50 percent in 2022. The Shaw Group also won the Most Improved Award from Construction Safety Nova Scotia at its AGM in April of last year.
Why COR®?
King says COR® is very important at the Shaw Group because of the external audit that it provides.
“People often put on blinders or get complacent after working at a place for a period of time, the COR® process tests to ensure we are doing everything that we have committed to in our safety manual, as well as compliance to provincial legislation and regulation,” he said.
By holding the COR certification customers know that Shaw Group is a safety conscious company.
“When you decide to work with the Shaw Group, employees and customers can trust they are working with a company that puts the health and safety of their employees first and foremost,” King said.
Safety training
The Shaw Group gets its safety training through Construction Safety Nova Scotia because the content is “exceptional and extremely relevant.”
“CSNS instructors effectively teach our employees the necessary safety content to keep employees safe every day. When not administered properly, training can be cumbersome and employees can easily lose interest, however CSNS maintains engagement with great instruction,” King said.
The Shaw Group is also known to take advantage of on-demand training where a CSNS instructor goes to their facility to conduct various JOHS committee training courses. The company also uses the CSNS online training options, most recently having its entire leadership team complete the online “Leadership in Safety Excellence” course, which provided managers and supervisors with advanced level safety tools to apply in its operations.
Jan. 9, 2023
Will allow for increased mobility for construction safety professionals across the country
DARTMOUTH, NS — Construction Safety Nova Scotia is pleased to announce that it is now offering the National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®) designation. Nova Scotia is the last province to adopt the designation amongst the construction safety associations across Canada, making this a significant milestone in the efforts of harmonizing safety from coast to coast.
“By adopting the designation that is recognized across the country, construction safety professionals can much more easily work across the Atlantic Provinces or as far away as B.C. or the Yukon,” said MJ MacDonald, CEO of Construction Safety Nova Scotia. “We are striving to simplify safety for our members, and this is a big step in that direction.”
The NCSO® seal verifies that a person has met the training, practical application, minimum three years of experience and written performance measurement standards as set out by the members of the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations.
“We’re happy to welcome Nova Scotia to the NCSO® family,” said Sean Scott, chair of the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA). “The designation is an excellent way to jump start your career in construction and it is recognized and sought-after by employers across Canada. Having Nova Scotia on board opens up opportunities across provinces for all designation holders.”
Persons who achieve the NCSO® standing can be a valuable resource to management in the administration and implementation of a company’s health & safety program for the purpose of reducing incidents, injuries, or loss.
All Construction Safety Supervisor (CSS) designation holders can apply via an online application to write the NCSO® exam to earn the designation.
NHSA™
Construction Safety Nova Scotia will also be offering the National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA™) designation for the first time. The program provides formal, entry-level training to individuals who are active in the administration of their company’s health and safety program, but do not currently possess the minimum of three years’ construction field experience that is required to achieve the NCSO® designation.
The NHSA™ designation indicates to employers that the participant has practical and theoretical knowledge in various health and safety management skills and principles.
An NHSA™ provides valuable assistance to employers and their NCSO® in the administration and implementation of the company’s health and safety program. The NHSA™ designation is the first step toward a becoming a leader in the construction safety field.
“Every leader needs a great support system. We wanted to offer the NHSA™ designation to allow those individuals who are just starting out their careers get a leg up and be on the fast track to safety leadership,” said MacDonald.
Construction Safety Nova Scotia is hosting a live stream webinar on Jan. 26 at noon AST to discuss the benefits of the designations, the requirements, and answer any questions that construction safety professionals may have.
Learn more about both designations and the process to achieve them here.
ABOUT CONSTRUCTION SAFETY NOVA SCOTIA
Construction Safety Nova Scotia (CSNS) is an industry funded not-for-profit association focused on improving occupational health and safety in the construction sector. All companies with a current WCB account under the construction industry classification codes 4011-4499 and 3551 are automatically members of the association due to the levies they pay to the WCB. CSNS is a highly regarded leader in occupational health and safety (OHS) services with over 300,000 students trained in health and safety and over 1,150 firms attaining the association’s COR® Safety Certification. Members receive subsidized training and access to free mentorship for all aspects of their OHS programs. The board of directors, trainers, OHS advisors, and CSNS staff work towards a safer construction industry by engaging with its membership to reduce injuries and improve safety culture. https://constructionsafetyns.ca/
Is my Construction Safety Supervisor (CSS) designation still going to be valid?
Yes, there is not an expiry date on your CSS.
I’m a CSS, can I upgrade and what do I need to do?
Yes., you can upgrade your designation by completing the CSS to NCSO® application. If accepted there will be a national exam you are required to successfully complete.
Is my NCSO® transferrable to other provinces?
Yes, but that province may require you to write their provincial exam (most) or require a fee. Please check with the province’s construction safety association directly.
How do I apply for the NCSO® and NHSA™ program?
Complete this application for NCSO® or this application for NHSA™, pay the application fee, include a copy of your résumé and records of employment demonstrating your field experience.
How will I be notified of my application status?
You will be notified via email by the program administrators.
What’s the difference between NCSO® and NHSA™ ? Is the same exam required?
The NCSO® is designed for those with at least three (3) years of onsite/field construction experience. The NHSA™ is designed for office based administrative personnel or those without onsite experience who complete administrator safety functions for their company or for people who are looking to gain the experience and then apply for the NCSO®. The exams are the same for NCSO® and NHSA™. Both require successful completion of both provincial and national exams.
Does formal education in OHS or a skilled trade, count toward onsite construction experience?
Construction field experience is defined as: A construction worker (labourer or skilled construction tradesperson) working directly and actively in the construction field (i.e. residential, commercial, industrial, road building, pipeline construction, mobile equipment operations, etc.); or, an individual who is directly and actively engaged in safety (i.e. Site Safety Coordinator) or responsible for the supervision (i.e. Site Superintendent) the construction worker, who also works directly and actively in the construction field.
Does experience working as a safety practitioner in an office/company setting count toward onsite construction experience?
Generally, no. The NHSA™ is the best pathway for individuals whose work experience is primarily office based; however, each application will be reviewed individually and consideration may be given to other types of field experience.
What courses are required?
View the course requirements on the program page.
Does the NCSO® and NHSA™ expire?
Both designations are valid for three (3) years, then they must be renewed.
What is required to maintain the NCSO® and NHSA™? What is the cost?
Professional development events must be submitted every three (3) years along with a renewal fee of $100 + HST.
I’m an NCSO® and NHSA™ in another province. How do I receive the Nova Scotia NCSO® and NHSA™?
Complete the application process and write the Nova Scotia provincial exam.
I have a NHSA™ and now have the required experience to be a NCSO®. What is the process and is an additional exam required?
Apply using the NCSO® application form. If experience meets requirements, upgrading is possible.
What happens if I let my NCSO® or NHSA™ expire or do not update required training?
You may be required to reapply. Courses without expiry dates will not need to be retaken, but the exams may need to be rewritten depending on the length of the lapse.
A fun recognition program and support for any safety concerns engage employees in safety
Kings Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Ltd. is based in Cambridge, N.S. but serves Halifax through to Digby and the South Shore. Their employees can be found servicing roof top units on commercial buildings and installing heat pumps in remote areas — all while driving on icy or dirt roads — but no matter where they are working, safety is always top of mind. In fact, safety is so strong at this company that many auditors have told them it is one of the best safety programs they have seen in the province.
“Several auditors and safety trainers all have really raved about our safety program,” says Jeanette Joudrey, operations manager and safety supervisor at Kings Refrigeration. “Over the past three years, we have received 99-100 percent on our COR® audits. And from what I hear, that’s unheard of. We put a lot of work into it and it’s nice to see that recognized.”
Joudrey says being COR® certified is important for Kings Refrigeration because it’s a big recognition for the work they have put into their safety program; it also gives them a competitive edge for tender bidding and larger jobs; it is more widely recognized than some other programs out there; and as a bonus, it helps the company attract and retain skilled trades people.
“Employees are interested in an employer who takes their safety seriously. Knowing we have passed everything to become COR® certified really reiterates that,” Joudrey says.
Safety starts with leadership
But how do they achieve such impressive scores? It all starts at the top. Leadership always stresses the importance of safety, and the company has made a considerable financial investment to achieve their safety goals. The staff at Kings have a strong working knowledge of health and safety topics, they complete near-miss and incident reports, and they know the importance of communicating any safety concerns they have. For example, they know they can refuse unsafe work at any time due to the company’s strong policy around this.
“If people refuse work, it is not something that is reprimanded; it is thoroughly investigated, reassessed, and redesigned in order to be safer,” Joudrey says. “Safety comes first with us every time.”
Safety orientation
Right out of the gate, new employees understand the importance of safety at Kings Refrigeration as they undergo a “stringent” safety orientation on day 1. The expectations are outlined for safety, the policies are reviewed, and it is clearly communicated that the company takes safety very seriously.
“We have the same disciplinary process for safety as we do any infraction: Three strikes, you’re out,” Joudrey says. “Safety is no different than how you treat everything else. If you don’t follow the safety policies and procedures we have implemented, then you won’t have a job here long.”
Communication
Communication around safety is very important to Joudrey and she makes sure to involve staff in brainstorming new policies and growing the safety program. This is a great way to combat complacency among long-term staff as it is making safety more interesting. Joudrey is always coming up with new toolbox talks, having guest speakers come in, and has implemented an employee recognition program. The program is a big hit with staff and involves getting stickers for working safely, for coming up with new ways to work safer, and for great teamwork and customer service. At the end of each month, whoever has the most stickers will win a small prize and gains recognition as the Employee of the Month.
“It keeps them interested, involved and rewarded for their good safety behaviour, which is a win-win for employees and the company, ensuring all of our employees safely make it home to their families each day,” says Joudrey.
Working alone
The company has a strong work alone policy due to the remote nature of many of their jobs. The technicians may be in areas without any cellphone service and it’s crucial the company knows they are ok.
“We have tried to do our best to be aware of the safety concerns surrounding solo work, so if an employee is going to be in a no service zone, they need to touch base with our office as soon as they are finished. If we don’t hear from them within the expected amount of time, then that’s when we will send someone out to help,” said Joudrey.
All vans also have emergency supplies such as, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits, and the vans are equipped with GPS tracking as well, so the company can locate them immediately in case of an emergency.
Other accomplishments at Kings include all staff being trained in first aid, as well as a multitude of other safety courses; the introduction of a new asbestos policy and associated procedures; as well as an equality, diversity, and inclusion policy that is currently in the works,” Joudrey says.
“We have such a well-tuned safety program now our main focus is on not only maintaining it but also how we can embellish and enhance it, and what new policies can we introduce to help do so.”
Engagement, communication, and safety ownership are important elements of this general contractor’s safety program
Every Southwest development site has a safety advisor. Having a dedicated advisor on each site has contributed to Southwest’s strong safety culture and low lost-time injury rate. Advisors are on sites every day, ready and available to support Southwest’s subtrades.
“In Nova Scotia there’s a huge labour shortage right now and we want our team healthy and ready for work,” said Jason Comeau, CSS, (pictured above) construction safety manager for Southwest Properties, a real estate developer based in Halifax. “We want every single person to go home healthy each and every day.”
Recently, Southwest’s Cunard site was recognized by the Department of Labour as one of the safest sites in the city. It has a dedicated emergency procedure (D.E.P) box that is lifted by the tower crane and can be placed on almost any level of the building. The box contains a stretcher, harnesses & lanyards, and a first aid kit in it. This box aids the site team in safely rescuing an individual in a timely manner.
“Our procedure is to have a worker safely positioned on the ground before the paramedics arrive at the site,” Comeau said. “We’re one of the only companies in the city that have a D.E.P. system. We hope we never have to use it, but we want to be prepared to effectively handle any situation that we could potentially encounter.”
Common sense approach
Comeau says Southwest takes a safe but common-sense approach to safety standards.
We require subtrade to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) relevant to the job they are working on. The workers are very involved in the process of PPE requirements which helps combat complacency.
“We give the worker the ability to say, ‘These are my hazards, this is what I need to protect myself from, and this is the PPE I need to wear based on the job task and the current surroundings.’ We give them the ability to identify what is required for them to physically do their tasks safely,” Comeau said. “This empowers people to do the right thing because no one wants to get hurt. It also makes them understand that they must do a quick hazard assessment before they start tasks.”
1-on-1 orientation
After sitting through numerous orientations in the construction industry and witnessing the lack of engagement among those in the room, Comeau decided to do the safety orientation a bit differently at Southwest. He sits down one-on-one with each new worker, outlines the expectations, and ensures they understand the company is genuinely concerned about their safety, health, and well-being.
“I am here to help them do their job the most efficiently and in the safest way they possibly can, and in turn everyone has a certain level of responsibility for safety. Everyone on site knows they can call me at any point in time with any questions or concerns.”
Communication, communication, communication
At the end of the orientation, Comeau makes sure each worker understands the importance of asking questions. If they don’t know how to do something safely or are unsure, they need to ask questions to get the correct answers either from their direct supervisor/foreman or the onsite safety advisor.
Comeau also tries to give as much feedback and recognition as possible. He is regularly thanking the trade workers for doing a great job and taking the right steps to avoid injury at work.
He attends the monthly JOHSC meetings which all subtrades are required to attend. Comeau encourages everyone to speak up and if they do have an issue or a concern, he makes sure to act on it in a timely manner.
“We immediately act on those issues or concerns because if you don’t, people feel that they are not being heard,” he said. “The last thing we want is someone to see a hazard and not say anything to anyone. This could potentially result in an injury, all because it wasn’t communicated.”
COR® certification
As a developer, Southwest is always looking for the subcontractors to have a safety program that is at least as good or better than theirs. As a COR® certified company, Comeau says having that certification helps them lead by example and show they are dedicated to safety.
“We want trades working with us to be held to the same standard that we’re trying to achieve. When we have bids come in for projects, while price is important, our weighted criteria for evaluations has a strong focus on quality of work and safety. We will look at their safety program and previous track record,” Comeau said. “COR® ensures you’re thinking about all the angles that could prevent somebody from getting injured. And at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about — preventing people from getting injured when they’re working here on the site.”
Spots still available for December courses but filling up fast!
Nov. 15, 2022 — Construction Safety Nova Scotia is encouraging members to sign up now for December first aid courses. We are seeing an influx of registrants for these courses and spots are filling up fast. Our Basic First Aid curriculum (formerly Emergency First Aid) and Intermediate First Aid (previously Standard First Aid) clearly outlines all regulatory requirements for employers and what is needed today to be in compliance.
As of June of this year, the provincial government updated the Workplace Health and Safety Regulations to include first aid. Our course content reflects the regulatory changes, including:
- Reference to the Regulations and CSA Z1220
- Assisting with Medication
- Workplace first aid kits and equipment requirements
- Effective means of communication
- Reporting and documentation requirements
- Workplace first aider in an OH&S management system
- Workplace Health & Safety Regulations (WHSR) were amended June 13, 2022 to include First Aid (Part 4)
- Mental Health
The changes are being made as part of a Canada-wide initiative to harmonizing first aid training and kit requirements across the country. Businesses that work in multiple jurisdictions will now only have to meet one standard for first aid kits and training, rather than having to meet different regulations for different jurisdictions.
First aid training certificates that were issued before regulatory changes went into effect in June 2022 are valid until they expire. However, first aid kits that meet the current requirements are in compliance only until June 13, 2023.
Click here for a helpful guide from the government.
SIGN UP FOR THE COURSES HERE OR CALL 902-468-6696 (TOLL FREE: 1-800-971-3888)
