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WorkSafeBC recognizes construction safety winners
Richmond, B.C., October 31, 2008 — Construction firms in B.C. have been awarded for their innovative efforts in workplace safety as part of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) 20th Annual Awards of Excellence ceremony held last night at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver.
“We congratulate those firms who have helped advance unique programs, processes or techniques to reduce risks and make construction worksites safer,” said Vincent Russell, WorkSafeBC’s Director of Industry and Labour Services who presented the winning companies with their awards.
Ledcor Construction Limited of Vancouver won the gold construction workplace health and safety innovation award for developing the Modular Fencing Delineator Boot addressing a public safety challenge at the Pacific Centre Mall renovation project. For construction site security and protection, modular fencing is often used. Most fence designs have a base plate that protrudes outwards creating a tripping hazard. A common practice is to place traffic cones and delineator posts at each fence base to make the hazard more visible. However delineators may pose an additional tripping hazard or become displaced, thereby failing to provide proper hazard identification and protection.
Ledcor developed a prototype fencing device at the Pacific Centre Mall project that has proven to be far superior in warning foot traffic of a potential tripping hazard by installing delineator boots and bolting down delineators on fence bases. The success of the delineator boot on the mall renovation project has moved Ledcor to institute these devices on its projects throughout North America where modular fencing is utilized.
PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. in Richmond won a silver award for implementing a Supervisor Daily Work Plan helping to improve safety outcomes by providing supervisors with a tool in their daily planning activities. A review of 2007 incidents suggested there was a strong link between worker safety and job planning on the sites. To help meet supervisory responsibility for safe production, a planning worksheet was developed and implemented in the district in early 2008 requiring supervisors to spend approximately one hour a day planning the next day’s activities. Since introducing the process, improvements have been seen in communication between supervisors and their crews, daily planning activities, task productivity, and overall safety.
GT Automation Inc. in Langley also won a silver award for developing the Heavy Tool Support Arm (HTSA), an innovative tool used to support the weight of heavy tools commonly used in construction and other industries. Prior to the development of the HTSA, certain job activities would subject workers to the stress and strain of lifting tools weighing 30 pounds or more over their heads for long periods of time, potentially leading to back and other upper body injuries.
The VRCA Awards of Excellence celebrate and acknowledge achievement and excellence in construction and provides awards in categories such as general, electrical and trade construction as well as safety innovation.
WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves 2.2 million workers and more than 197,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.'s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. The organization is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.
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| Gladys Johnsen |
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