Lecture 4: Site Superintendent Responsibilities (PDF)

# Lecture 4 ## Jawad Butt M.Eng. Civil (UOT), PMP [email protected] ## Lecture Topics - Site Superintendent & The Site Health & Safety Environment On A Construction Site - Highlighting The Site Superintendent's Health And Safety Responsibilities On A Construction Site - Site Superintendent & E...

# Lecture 4 ## Jawad Butt M.Eng. Civil (UOT), PMP [email protected] ## Lecture Topics - Site Superintendent & The Site Health & Safety Environment On A Construction Site - Highlighting The Site Superintendent's Health And Safety Responsibilities On A Construction Site - Site Superintendent & Emergency Response Procedures ## Site Superintendent & The Site Health & Safety Environment On A Construction Site - The site superintendent is the primary responsibility holder to keep the work area and its immediate vicinity safe, at all times during and after work for: - Workers - Suppliers - Anyone entering or passing by the site. - If an accident occurs on the site, many direct and indirect costs as well as other factors come into play such as: - Direct costs - Medical treatment costs - Wages of injured worker - Higher WSIB premiums for future - Indirect costs - Lost time by injured workers or other workers affected by the accident - Training of new or temporary substitute workers - Efficiency costs associated with breaking up and reforming crews - Intangible costs - Include such things as worker morale and - Loss of company's (read site superintendent's) reputation. - Research has shown that $1 invested on a construction site to implement effective health & safety measures results in savings of $4 to $6 on the site in the long run, all factors considered. ## Health & Safety Responsibilities of a Site Superintendent - Site superintendent's responsibilities under Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) - Health & Safety Policy & Program - Rights & Responsibilities of Employers, Supervisors & Workers - Health & Safety Reps / JHSC - Posting of WSIB Form 82 & OHSA Inside The Site Trailer - Informing Workers About Site-specific Sources Of Hazards - WHMIS Implementation - Investigation & Reporting of Incidents, Accidents & Critical Injuries - Site Superintendent's responsibilities under WSIB Regulations - Site Superintendent's responsibilities under Westray Bill C-45 - Get a copy of the respective health and safety programs from all the trades (before they are allowed to start work on site) and ensure complete implementation. - Provide health & safety orientation to all new workers before they begin work on the site. - Hold regular "tool-box talks" or "tailgate talks" (on-site meetings with all trades' Foremen and their workers) with the objective of: - Reinforcing jobsite hazards related to their job and consequences of unsafe actions. - Providing workers an opportunity to discuss needed safety corrections. - Warning about strict disciplinary action if safety measures not implemented. - If the project has a H&S representative and/or a JHSC, then as per OHSA, the site superintendent must conduct regular project safety meetings / interact with them for all health and safety matters on the site. - Perform daily project tours, noting and responding immediately to any potential hazards (slips, trips or falls, etc.) or unsafe work practices by site workers and take corrective measures and disciplinary action immediately as required. - Make sure that all workers and visitors to site follow the health and safety protocols and are always wearing PPE (personal protective equipment). - Accompany federal and/or provincial labor authorities (ie. Ministry of Labor) during inspections and forward copies of all MOL inspection reports to the JHSC / Site Safety Coordinator. - The site superintendent must designate, ensure availability of and notify to everyone on site, regarding the following: - List of emergency response personnel (the Response Team) and their responsibilities in case of an emergency. - List of emergency response vehicles and equipment and their location on site. - Evacuation area where a headcount may be carried out in case of an emergency - Be thoroughly familiar with all emergency response procedures. - Perform thorough investigation and submit report to the Regulatory Authority (if required) for all incidents & accidents, that involve: - Lost time - Injury and/or - Property damage - Establish and maintain a system for documentation of health and safety related documents, such as: - MOL reports - Incident reports - Accident reports - MOL contractor registration forms and other documents. ## 1) Site Superintendent's Responsibilities Under The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) ### Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) **(Reference: Ministry Of Labor website)** - OHSA is a Provincial legislation that applies to all workplaces (including construction sites) in Ontario. - OHSA sets out the rights and responsibilities of each party at the workplace and if we talk about a construction site, OHSA would apply to: - Employer - Supervisor - Workers - OHSA is enforced and administered through the Ministry Of Labor to ensure a safe and healthy workplace environment and to provide guidelines to deal with workplace hazards. - OHSA gives authority to the MOL to enforce necessary measures (penalties, site closure, etc.) where non-compliance by any workplace related party is noted. ### Employer Responsibilities As Per OHSA - Under the Ontario's Occupational Health & Safety Act, all employers have a responsibility to: - Have a company health and safety policy and health and safety program (review of sample document uploaded to D2L) - Keep a safe and well-maintained workplace; to take all reasonable precautions to protect their workers from illness and/or injury - Provide information to the workers about the potential hazards at the workplace, provide proper training and safety equipment as well as competent supervision. - Have worker representation for health and safety (as per criteria given on the next slide) so as to act in an advisory capacity and to liaison with the employer for identification of potential health and safety concerns for the workers on the site and to be kept informed by the employer of all health and safety related developments on the workplace. #### Criteria for Health & Safety Representative / JHSC | No. of Workers | Legislative requirement | |:---:|:---:| | 1 to 5 | You are not required to have a JHSC or a Health and Safety Representative unless your workplace uses designated substances. | | 6 to 19 | You are required to have one Health and Safety Representative who is selected by the workers they represent. If your workplace uses designated substances, you are required to have a JHSC. | | 20 to 49 | You are required to have a JHSC. The committee must have at least two (2) members. | | 50 plus | You are required to have a JHSC. The committee must have at least four (4) members. | - Post the WSIB's Form 82 "In Case of Injury at Work" poster and to follow proper procedures in case of injury - Post the latest version of the Occupational Health & Safety Act in your workplace ### Worker Rights As Per OHSA - The right to know/ be informed about hazards in their work and to get information, supervision and instructions for protecting their health and safety on the job. - The right to participate, through safety representative/ joint health and safety committee, in identifying and solving health and safety problems. - The right to refuse work that they believe is dangerous to their health and safety or that of any other worker in the workplace. #### Work Refusal Flow Chart [Flowchart describing worker refusal to work, progressing from initial refusal through investigation, decision making and return to work with possible corrective action] ### Worker Responsibilities As Per OHSA - To use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and clothing as directed by employer. - To report workplace hazards and dangers - To work in accordance with OHSA rules and regulations. - Informing Workers About Site-specific Sources Of Hazards - 36% of traumatic fatalities on sites are due to trips, slips & falls from heights. - 51% of fatal occupational disease claims are for Mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive form of cancer caused by exposure to hazardous materials (such as asbestos, etc.). - 53% of non-fatal occupational disease claims are associated with noise-induced hearing loss. - Common Sources of Hazards On Construction Sites - Trips, Slips & Falls - People can fall in trenches, if left unprotected. - Workers may slip and fall as they climb on and off equipment. - [Diagram showing typical slips, trips, falls on a construction site] - Improper Handling of Materials & Equipment - Materials or equipment can fall into the trench if they are too close to the edge. - [Diagram of trench with warning to move spoil pile farther back for deep trenches] - MMH (Manual Material Handling) means lifting, lowering into the trench, pushing, pulling, carrying, holding or restraining materials such as pipes, frames/covers for manholes and catch basins, etc. - Improper MMH or improper use of safety gear during MMH can cause serious lower back injuries. - Hazardous Materials - WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) is a comprehensive plan to ensure the safe use and handling of hazardous materials on the site as improper interaction with hazardous materials on the site can lead to serious injuries. - Ontario's WHMIS legislation applies to all workplaces covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, with the exception of farms. - WHMIS is also a Federal law and The Ministry of Labor (MOL), Ontario is responsible for the enforcement of both the federal and provincial Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) legislation. - WHMIS has certain requirements that must be met and include: - Posting a list of all designated hazardous materials present on the site to inform the site workers - Proper labeling of all hazardous materials on the site (on the basis of the chemical, health and/or environmental risks associated with that material). - Providing MSDS (material safety data sheets) to the work force for all hazardous materials to ensure: - Safe handling and use of that material - Understanding of associated potential hazards and risks associated with that material - Proper storage, disposal & spill handling procedures, etc. - Providing education and training programs to the workers for safe use and handling of all hazardous materials. - Cave-Ins - Injury during work in trenches due to cave-ins/trench collapse can result in death/injury due to suffocation or crushing of workers. - The three basic methods of protecting workers against trench cave-ins are: - Sloping - Shoring - Trench boxes - Unless the walls are solid rock, workers should never enter a trench deeper than 1.2 meters (4 feet) if it is not properly sloped, shored, or protected by a trench box. - Protection Against Cave-Ins (Sloping) - Sloping means providing slope to the trench walls to reduce chances of cave-in. The more chances the soil has of a cave-in, the greater the slope provided to the sides of the trench. - Sloping is commonly used with shoring or trench boxes to cut back any soil above the protected zone. - [Diagram of sloping used in conjunction with shoring] - Protection Against Cave-Ins (Shoring) - Shoring is a system which "shores" up or gives support to the trench walls and prevents cave-ins. - Components of shoring include: - Sheathing - Posts - Wales - Struts - [Diagram showing how shoring components are assembled, noting types of wood used] - Protection Against Cave-Ins (Trench Boxes) - Trench boxes are designed by structural engineers to withstand known maximum lateral loads at given depths in particular soil conditions. - Trench boxes are placed in an excavated trench to provide a safe working area for the workers but give little or no support to trench walls. - [Diagram showing trench with trench boxes installed] - Improper Ergonomics - Sustained and improper work environment which can result in an injury to musculoskeletal system of the worker due to: - Awkward postures - Repetitive and forceful movements - Repeated Vibrations - Extreme temperatures - Extreme Noise - [Diagram displaying a worker in an awkward position on a construction site] ## Site Superintendent's Investigation & Reporting Requirements Under OHSA - Incidents: - As per OHSA, incidents are occurrences on a site that may result in some lost time on site but fortunately do not result in a serious injury or property damage. - Incidents are considered as a 'near miss', meaning that the incident could easily have resulted in serious injury or property damage. - The Site Superintendent must have all the incidents thoroughly investigated to avoid future recurrence and report such incidences to the Ministry of Labor. - Accidents: - As per OHSA, an accident is an occurrence on the site that results in: - A serious/critical injury requiring medical treatment and or a fatality. - Lost time on site. - Property damage on the site >$500. - Fire, explosion or hazardous material release on the site. - Any worker's fall is arrested by means of a fall arrest system - Critical Injury is defined as an injury that: - Places life in jeopardy - Produces unconsciousness - Results in substantial loss of blood - Involves the fracture or amputation of a leg, arm, hand or foot - Consists of burns to a major portion of the body - Causes the loss of sight in an eye - In case of an accident on the site, the site superintendent must secure the accident area to ensure no evidence is removed and carry out a joint investigation alongside the health and safety representative / JHSC (if applicable) and prepare the accident report. Copies of this report are to be distributed: - Senior Management - Ministry of Labor - Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) - Police (if applicable) ## 2) Site Superintendent's Responsibilities Under WSIB Regulations ### Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) - WSIB is an organization which provides work related injury insurance coverage to the workers on a site. - WSIB is governed by a Board of Directors made up of representatives of workers, employers and some Government nominated members. - WSIB is mostly funded by the premiums paid by the employers of Ontario, for workplace insurance of their workers. - Employers (contractors) need to register with the WSIB within 10 days of hiring the first worker. - Benefit for workers under this system is that: - WSIB provides loss of earnings & benefits - Health care coverage - Helps get workers back on the job safely. - Benefit for employers is that under this system, workers give up the right to sue as a result of their work-related injuries, in return for guaranteed compensation and benefits for accepted claims. Thus, employers are protected from lawsuits. - WSIB Regulation 1101 requires that for all construction sites, the site superintendent must: - Post a valid certificate of a first aider, at a conspicuous place on the site - Keep available a first aid kit on the site which should be adequate for the number of employees working on the site - Inspect the first aid kit every 3 months to ensure adequate supplies and maintain the inspection record. - [WSIB Red logo with "First Aid Requirements" and "Regulation 1101" underneath] - WSIB regulations require that in case of critical injuries, the site superintendent is obligated to contact: - The Police immediately - The Ministry of Labor (MOL) within 48 hours - WSIB within 3 days ## 3) Site Superintendent's Responsibilities Under Westray Bill C-45 ### Bill C45 (Westray Bill) **(Reference Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)** - Bill C45 (Westray Bill) is: - A Federal Regulation which came in effect on March 31, 2004 and regulates all workplaces in Ontario and imposes criminal liability on employers for negligent acts of its representatives (supervisors). - Enforced by Police and Crown Attorney. - Created as result of 1992 Westray coal mining disaster in Nova Scotia where 26 miners were killed due to methane gas explosion. - Despite serious safety concerns that had been raised by workers, union officials and government inspectors, no preventive action had been taken by the employer and disaster occurred. - After the disaster the Police and the Government failed to win a conviction against the site managers due to absence of required Legislation. - A Commission was constituted in 1998 which gave recommendations that eventually led to Bill C45. - Bill C-45 added a new Section to the Criminal Code, as follows: > "Everyone who undertakes, or has the authority, to direct how another person does work or performs a task is under a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to that person, or any other person, arising from that work or task". ## 11) Site Superintendent & Emergency Response Procedure ### Immediate Priorities Of A Site Superintendent In Case Of An Accident On Site - Provide Immediate First Aid & Call Emergency Services (911) - In case of any accident, the site superintendent must ensure immediate medical aid to the injured worker, with priorities in the following order: - Saving a life - Saving a limb - Relieve suffering and make the injured comfortable and - Maintaining an essential service or utility - Preventing damage to equipment or property (without risk of injury) ### Generic Emergency Response Procedure - Approach the injured person carefully and check their condition. - If trench or height is involved, workers attempting rescue must wear harnesses connected to manned ropes. - Remove casualty by stretcher (tarps and/or ladder may be used) - If conscious: Ask about any pain or injury. - If unconscious or unable to move: Avoid moving the person unless they are in immediate danger (e.g., exposed to falling debris or other hazards). - Administer first aid based on the situation: - Calling Emergency Services (911) - Provide clear information to the emergency dispatcher: - The location of the accident (specific address, entry points). - The type of accident and condition of the injured person. - Whether there are life-threatening injuries. - The number of people injured. - Ensure Scene Safety - Immediately assess the situation for any hazards that could further harm to the injured person or others. - If the area is unsafe (e.g., due to ongoing work, machinery, unstable structures, fire, spill, etc.), stop all activities in the immediate vicinity and evacuate everyone to prevent further accidents. - Alert workers to an emergency evacuation by using an aerosol powered air horn blown 3 times, followed by 5 seconds of silence and 3 more horn blasts. - Meet at the designated evacuation area so that each contractor conducts a head count to ensure all employees are present - In case of loss of power on the site all equipment on the project must be turned off immediately. - In case of spill, evacuate area of spill and surrounding area. Consult MSDS for emergency precautions for spilled chemical. - In case of fire, attempt to extinguish fire if possible and if too large, call the Fire Department. - In case of severe weather, ask workers to take cover in any available solid, stable shelter that removes them from the hazard and perform a tally to ensure that all are present. - Notify all concerned. - Secure the Area and Preserve Evidence - Secure the accident area to prevent access by unauthorized personnel. - Ensure that any equipment, tools, or materials involved in the incident are left undisturbed for investigation purposes. - Document the Incident & Conduct an Accident Investigation (With the Safety Rep / Committee) - Take detailed notes about the incident, including: - Date, time, and location of the accident. - Names of witnesses or people involved. - Conditions of the site (e.g., wet surfaces, debris, poor lighting). - Initial actions taken, including first aid provided and emergency services called. - Photos of the accident scene if possible. - Investigate the root cause of the accident - Identify any contributing factors (e.g., site conditions, human error, lack of signage, or equipment failure). - Implement corrective actions to prevent future accidents, such as improved signage, additional training, or changes to site procedures. - Distribute copy of the report to all concerned. ## Review of a Construction Company's Health & Safety Policy & Program