Safety Update

Safety Update: Forklifts and other mobile powered equipment

The Government of Alberta has recently started an inspection campaign for targeted industries and companies using forklifts and other mobile powered equipment. Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk announced the new campaign last Saturday in response to the growing number of injuries and fatalities. Every year, hundreds of incidents involving forklifts are reported to Workplace Health and Safety. In 2009 alone, there was one related death, 219 disabling injuries and 116 incidents involving forklifts or mobile powered equipment that resulted in lost-time claims.

The new inspection process, which started Tuesday, February 22, 2011, will be conducted in addition to regular Workplace Health and Safety inspections by Provincial officers. The current inspection campaign is just one of three planned campaigns for 2011. The next inspection campaigns will focus on young workers and residential construction. These inspections will focus on key factors that include: worker training and competency, supervision, the safe operation of equipment, maintenance and equipment modifications.

In October and November of 2010, provincial officers visited 73 commercial construction sites throughout Alberta. These random visits resulted in 214 serious safety violations and stop work orders that were imposed due to employees working in situations of imminent danger. Some of the most significant hazards included, working at heights without proper fall protection and failure to utilize appropriate safeguards.

Alberta faces one of the highest rates of workplace fatalities in the country with 1285 employees losing their lives during the economic boom; yet Alberta is the least likely Province to prosecute in the event of a safety violation. As a result of these serious issues, Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk has warned that in order to protect workers, the Province will be enforcing the inspection blitz and on the spot fines will be issued to anyone breaking the law. This ticketing system is similar to ticketing systems already being used in other Provincial jurisdictions.

For more information on the upcoming safety inspection campaigns:

• Employment Minister Thomas Lukaszuk wants tickets for violations
• Forklift safety blitz to target workplaces

Brought to you by www.eCompliance.ca - The leading provider of Compliance Management Solutions

LEGAL DISCLAIMER
eCompliance provides information about topical OH&S issues to assist existing and potential customers to cope with their own OH&S needs. It is not intended to be legal information or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a lawyer if you want professional assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.