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Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2019

Multi-Year Partnership Aimed at Initiating a Change in Attitude and a Shift in Culture

REGINA, SK, October 17, 2019 – the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) and the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) are proud to announce that the partnership that was entered into for the 2017-2018 hockey season, and extended for the 2018-2019 season, is now a multi-year agreement that will see safety messaging featured prominently in the SJHL arenas, online and in print.

On Monday, October 7th, 2019, Dr. Paul Demers presented asbestos results from the national Burden of Occupational Cancer in Canada project, results from the surveillance projects identifying groups at highest risk for asbestos-related disease, and trends and projections for mesothelioma, as well as a bit of their other asbestos research.  His presentation also focused  on some of the work with the Institute for Work and Health to assess the economic impact of asbestos exposure. Links to the full presentation are now live on the SCSA YouTube channel.

Throughout August, September and October, WorkSafe Saskatchewan, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA), is conducting a campaign to recognize residential construction workers who are committed to safety on the job site.

Developed in Saskatchewan for the Saskatchewan construction industry, SCOT® is the only safety construction orientation training that references Saskatchewan OHS legislation.

Refusing to perform assigned work is normally an act of insubordination for which a worker can be disciplined. But OHS laws create a special exemption that allows workers to refuse unreasonably dangerous work to protect their own or another person’s safety. Disciplining workers for exercising their refusal rights is a form of reprisal or “discrimination” banned by the law. And the dangerous conditions that prompt the refusal may potentially be serious OHS violations that must be addressed immediately. On the other hand, work refusals can be highly disruptive and are supposed to be used only as a last resort. That’s why refusal rights are subject to strict limitations affecting both the nature of the worker’s safety concern and the process of initiating the refusal. If the limitations aren’t met, the refusal is invalid and the worker may be disciplined for continuing to engage in it. While it may sound simple, responding to a work refusal and assessing its validity is hard to do, especially in the heat and tension of the moment.

As an industry-funded, membership-based, non-profit organization that provides cost-effective, accessible safety training advice to nearly 10,000 employers and their employees in the residential, commercial and industrial construction industry throughout Saskatchewan to reduce the human and financial losses associated with injuries, the SCSA’s mission is constructing safety leadership. The Board of Directors wants to hear member companies' thoughts and ideas on how to best achieve the SCSA's mission and vision - to create the safest construction environment in Canada.

Mention Saskatchewan outside the province and it is often the butt of jokes about its topography (you can watch your dog run away for days), despite the landscape being varied. Cold winters, farming and the Riders are also quick to come to mind in association with the province; however, when the conversation turns its people, words like “gritty”, “resourceful”, “passionate”, “innovative”, and “self-sacrificing” are common.  Saskatchewanians don’t proudly walk tall, the people of Saskatchewan demonstrate that they can “tall walk” through character. Coincidentally, these characteristics are also what differentiates exceptional leaders from good leaders.

The SCSA is inviting expressions of interest from any interested, qualified and experienced business or group related to safety that would be interested in hosting or holding a "construction rescue competition" with special emphasis on events related to working safely from heights.

The Saskatchewan Safety Council and Saskatchewan Building Trades are working together on a joint project. The Building Safer Trades initiative provides free practical safety training and information on union trades for Indigenous youth in Saskatchewan. The project is funded, in part, by the Government of Canada’s Union Training and Innovation Program and the SCSA is proud to be able to provide the Safety Construction Orientation Training (SCOT®) program at no cost to the participants.

“In the construction industry hazard recognition and control usually refers to assessing the risks on a jobsite,” says SCSA President, Collin Pullar, “but business owners and leaders in the industry need to understand that mental health is a safety issue too and it is probably bigger than they realize.” The topic of mental health, and suicide in particular, has been the focus of articles, panel discussions and media across the country since the statistic was released in 2018 that suicide rates in the industry are three times the national average.

Through in-person tool box talks, safety meetings and hand safety demonstrations SCSA Advisors distributed hundreds of cut resistant, co-branded gloves. Other campaign elements - which included a broadcast marketing campaign; a concentrated social media campaign which included regular Twitter and Facebook posts; and some print marketing - expanded the audience reach and engagement to the thousands. The target market of the All Hands In hand protection initiative was business owners; health and safety practitioners; and employees or workers.

What Exactly Does Workplace Violence Mean?

Everybody knows that OHS laws require employers to prevent workplace violence. But what’s far less clear is what exactly “workplace violence” means. In fact, the term doesn’t mean exactly the same thing in each jurisdiction. The three variables: what counts as “violence”; whether prevention duties cover worker-on-worker violence; and what a "workplace" is.

The Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant helps employers train new or existing employees for jobs that need to be filled. This flexible program is designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. Having the right skills helps employees excel and succeed in today’s fast-paced labour market.

#SlowDown in the #OrangeZone and help keep workers safe
Police watching for speeders in work zones this month

It’s summer, and that means it’s construction season. The focus of July’s Traffic Safety Spotlight is work zones. Encountering one of the orange zones may result in a bit of a delay while you’re en route to your next fun summer destination, but SGI is reminding drivers to be mindful of workers while travelling through those construction areas – be patient, slow down and stay alert. Always obey traffic signs and directions from any flag person you see.  

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association has been successful in this years Construction & Engineering Awards proudly hosted by BUILD Magazine. The SCSA has been named: 

Construction Safety Experts of the Year 2019 - Prairie Provinces

Any type of infrastructure construction project requires not only the correct permits from officials, but also a social license to operate in order to acquire community acceptance. With the increase in economic development projects both on and off reserve in Saskatchewan, that means understanding each community’s unique culture, and in some cases, building trust and coming to a common understanding of project impacts and benefits socially, economically and environmentally.

According to Derek Hoffman, a partner at Miller Thomson law firm in Saskatoon, “you have to be aware that what your cultural norms and practices are may not be the same in Aboriginal communities.” In a presentation to business leaders at the Construction Law Conference in April 2018, Hoffman shared his insight on Aboriginal engagement

In partnership with the Canadian Solar Institute, Mo’ Solar Company and George Gordon Developments Ltd. (the business development arm for George Gordon First Nation) are proud to launch a first-of-its-kind program offering in Saskatchewan – #MPoweredByMo.  The program targets First Nation participants to build technical skills and knowledge in renewable energy.

The unique one-week, hands-on program immerses students in the science and technology of solar photovoltaics; electricity basics; proper system sizing, design and installation techniques; commissioning and construction safety.  Strategic delivery partners were also engaged to provide expertise in areas such as renewable energy-specific rules (section 64) of the Canadian Electrical Code, fall protection and the importance of PPE.  Course graduates will emerge as competent and CSA-accredited solar PV design & installation professionals.

Although workplace safety committees are found at work sites across the world, Canada is one of the few places where they’re mandatory. Reason: In most industrialized countries, almost all responsibility for workplace health and safety falls on the employer. But Canadian OHS laws are based on the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) theory in which keeping the workplace safe is a shared responsibility among not only employers but also workers, supervisors and other stakeholders.

Today, the Saskatchewan Safety Council is hosting the second annual ‘Cade Sprackman Safety Day’ at Hudson Bay Community School. Amanda LePine, Community Relations Coordinator, at the Saskatchewan Safety Council is grateful that the Sprackman Family is sharing their story. She comments that “Cade Sprackman had a vision and dreams to do what he loved. Parents, youth and employers need to hear his story and work to promote safety for youth while at work."

The SCSA is proud to congratulate Jamie Sawatsky, Administrative Clerk, on achieving her Health and Safety Administrator (HSA) certification. Last year, the SCSA issued 32 HSA certifications and there are currently 155 participants registered in the program. 

This spring, James Donnelly, owner of Over the Top Roofing and Exteriors, and Brendan Lowndes, owner of Brendan’s Roof Repair, were among the first companies to achieve Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR®) certification under the SCSA’s new SECOR program requirements.

The SCSA recently released its Spring 2019 Safety Advocate publication, which highlights all of the achievements of the SCSA and its dedicated members in constructing safety leadership.

There are two ways of achieving a successful outcome at trial if charged with an OHS violation. The first is by demonstrating that there was no violation; and the second is by using the due diligence defence. Most due diligence litigation is about what “reasonable steps” were taken. A business owner is not required to prevent all incidents, injuries and violations, only the ones that should have reasonably been foreseen. Following are seven common arguments that almost never work at trial. 

National Construction Safety Officers (NCSO™) certified prior to August 30, 2017 wishing to write the NCSO National Exam have until August 31, 2019 to have their experience criteria grandfathered and achieve certification. After this date, those wishing to write the exam will have to re-apply to the program and submit their experience letters for acceptance based on the new NCSO National Standard requirements. 

A case can be made for hands being ranked as the most valuable and widely used tools in the workplace. Hands are relied on to perform some of the simplest and even the most difficult of tasks. They are used every day to get dressed, drive, type, text, and even play with kids and pets. The temporary and permanent inability to use one or both hands can make day-to-day activities more challenging. May has been designated Hand Protection Month. 

The Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) has released its AGM dates in Regina and Saskatoon as well as its 2018 Annual Report.

The Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) recently announced that Phil Germain, their VP of Prevention and Employer Services, has been appointed as the new CEO of the Sask WCB and will officially take on CEO duties on May 31, 2019.

The Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board's (WCB) 2018 Annual Report was tabled at the provincial legislature on April 16, 2019. 

The SCSA was honoured to be recognized as a 2019 Regina & District Chamber of Commerce (R&DCC) Paragon Award finalist in the category of Customer Service Excellence.

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) proudly recognized several safety leaders for their outstanding contributions to the SCSA’s mission of Constructing Safety Leadership at a special awards ceremony held in conjunction with the SCSA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 21, 2019 at the Travelodge Hotel in Saskatoon.

The SCSA Constructing Safety Leadership Conference program is taking shape with two industry panels and a number of industry experts speaking on topics ranging from Construction Law, Financial Services, Labour Supply, to Safe Working Culture, Inclusion, and Productivity.

The Government of Saskatchewan is seeking input on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 in the area of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as part of a larger interest in identifying areas for harmonization of key standards and with a goal of simplifying regulatory requirements for organizations that work across jurisdictions.

Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2019

It’s Our Reality: the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) Announces First of Its Kind Hazard ID VR Available

REGINA, SK, March 28, 2019 – After months of planning, development and testing, the SCSA is proud to announce that the Hazard ID VR training tool developed in partnership with White Rabbit VR, a division of Twisted Pair Productions, is being made available to member companies through demonstrations and in the classroom. SCSA members and students now have the opportunity to be enveloped in a realistic, 360 degree alternate reality for workplace training. This training tool allows users to spot hazards more effectively and in a variety of scenarios that wouldn’t be as readily available within the confines of traditional classroom training. The Hazard ID VR is one of the first of its kind for the Saskatchewan construction industry.

Saskatoon, SK: Today, WorkSafe Saskatchewan presented the 2019 Safe Worker and Safe Employer Awards in Saskatoon as part of the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board’s annual Compensation Institute.

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) is excited to announce a new partnership with Saskatchewan Polytechnic to offer increased National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO™) exam opportunities in more locations throughout the province to NCSO registrants looking to complete their certification.

The SCSA would like to extend a very special thank-you to Flynn Group of Companies for sponsoring the SCSA's 2019 Health and Safety Administrator (HSA) of the Year Award, and to Graham Construction, for sponsoring the 2019 National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO™) of the Year Award. By shining a spotlight on these individuals, the SCSA and the sponsoring companies are able to share the successes of these safety advocates with other industry leaders and celebrate their efforts in advancing the SCSA's mission of Constructing Safety Leadership and vision of the Safest Construction Environment in Canada.

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) is excited to announce that its messages around constructing safety leadership are reaching more communities throughout the province in Cree, Dene, and English, over the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Radio Network.

The Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) released its 2018 injury rates today, March 14, 2019. The workplace Total injury rate for 2018 was 5.44 per 100 workers, a 3.5 per cent increase from 2017. 

The SCSA has been named a 2018 All Star Award winner by Constant Contact, an Endurance International Group company and a leader in small business marketing solutions. The annual award recognizes the most successful 10 percent of Constant Contact’s customer base, based on their significant achievements using email marketing to engage their customer base and drive results for their organization during the prior year.

To stay current on SCSA governance in advance of the 2019 Annual General Meeting, please watch for notices on the SCSA Governance Committee page

SCSA 2018 financial statements are now available

As of February 25, 2019, the SCSA will be offering Safety Auditor Re-Certification Training online.

SCSA Safety Advisors will be performing safety demos for the several months at the Regina Trades and Skills Centre for students in the Commercial/Industrial Roofing, Electrical, and High School Carpentry Apprenticeship Program (HCAP) training programs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REGINA, SK, February 13, 2019 – First published in 2006, Saskatchewan's Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers. This special designation recognizes the Saskatchewan employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. From high-technology to mining, traditional public services, and non-profits, the companies and organizations that made the 2019 list of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers are as diverse as the province’s people and the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) is proud to announce that it has made this year’s list.

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) kick-started 2019 with special recognition from the Canadian Forces Liaison Council (CFLC) for demonstrating exceptional support for Reservist employees. 

“The SCSA is honoured to support the efforts of employees who help to ensure the safety of the people in our country and other countries abroad,” said SCSA Advisory Services Manager, Loy Levesque. 

National Construction Safety Officers (NCSO™) certified prior to August 30, 2017 wishing to write the NCSO National Exam will now have until August 30, 2019 to have the required experience criteria grandfathered.  After this date, those wishing to write the exam will have to re-apply to the program and submit their experience letters for acceptance based on the new NCSO National Standard requirements.  

The SCSA was a proud sponsor of the Regina and Region Home Builders' Association's (RRHBA) Safety Award, presented to the winner, Daytona Homes Regina Ltd. at the Master Awards Gala that took place at the Delta Hotel in Regina on January 26, 2019.

Take the latest Tool Box Talk: Contractor/ Prime Contractor Duties to your next safety meeting!

Watch Riley, an SCSA Safety Advisor, show you the ins and outs of the SCSA's Guide to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Legislation mobile app.

Check out the latest Tool Box Talk: Isolated Work Environment. 

Join the SCSA mission of Constructing Safety Leadership in Saskatchewan.  Check out the latest SCSA e-Newsletter and be sure to subscribe at www.scsaonline.ca/e-news to receive this in your inbox each month. 

The SCSA Business Development Unit is gathering member input in order to evaluate the current and future state of the SCSA's Guide to OHS Legislation mobile app. Please take a few minutes to answer this brief six-question survey. 

Do you know a National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO™) or a certified Health and Safety Administrator (HSA) that goes above and beyond their role in creating safety excellence? Nominate them for the 2019 NCSO or HSA of the Year Award! The Winners will receive a scholarship to further their safety training. Deadline for submission is February 28, 2019. 

A call for Expressions of Interest is addressed to members of the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA). All members who are interested in serving on the 2019 SCSA Board of Directors are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest. Closing date for receipt of Expressions of Interest is: 12:00 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2019

Every year, the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) is proud to honour individuals, companies, and committees, for their commitment to promoting effective health and safety management systems in the residential and commercial building construction industry in Saskatchewan. The SCSA presents these awards at its Annual General Meeting. As a point of clarification, one winner and two runners up will be selected for both the Corporate Leadership in Safety Award and the Safety Practitioner Award.

As homeowners and contractors prepare to begin renovation projects in the new year, WorkSafe Saskatchewan is continuing to educate the public on the risks of asbestos exposure in residential and commercial properties. Asbestos-related diseases are the leading cause of workplace deaths in Saskatchewan, causing 25 per cent of all workplace-related deaths over the last 10 years.

Watch this conversation between SCSA President, Collin Pullar and Rawlco Radio Advertising Consultant, Kevin Capewell, for a recap of what the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) has achieved this past year, and hopes to continue in 2019.

The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) approved the premium rates for 2019 on December 11, 2018. For the “B” Building Construction Rate Code, preliminary rates have increased in the B11 Construction Trades and B12 Residential Construction sub-codes and have decreased for the B13 Commercial, Industrial Construction code. 

Average premium rate decreases by 1.7%

The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has approved the 2019 average employer premium rate of $1.17 per hundred dollars of payroll, a decrease of 1.7 per cent from the 2018 rate of $1.19. The 2019 rate marks the 12th consecutive year the rate has dropped, making it the lowest rate in more than 30 years. The 2019 average rate is 42.9 per cent below the 16-year high of $2.05 in 2004.

2018 was a year of significant change and advancement for the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) and its members. The year began with a celebration of the late 2017 announcement from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Central Services regarding new safety standards.  It was announced that as of April 1, 2019, Certificate of Recognition (COR®) certification will be required for all construction contracts expected to exceed $1M in value.  This was an exciting development for all members that have made significant investments in their safety management systems.

The Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant helps employers increase their training budget to ensure they can provide their workers with the training they require to meet workforce demands. The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) is proud to be recognized as an eligible third-party training institution under the Grant. Applications for training with start dates before March 31, 2019 will be accepted pending available funding. Take advantage of this valuable business opportunity by considering SCSA training programs offered by the SCSA year-round at its training centres in Regina and Saskatoon.

The quarterly Regional Safety Committee (RSC) held at Industrial Cafe in Regina on November 15th featured a presentation from guest speaker, Jeff Matity, a consultant of safety awareness and promotion at SaskPower. The presentation, "Staying Safe Around Electricity," included videos of powerful stories shared by those who have experienced close calls with electricity.

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) is proud to announce its classrooms are going paperless. A pilot project was launched at its Regina office today to replace all paper course manuals in its classrooms with internet-connected tablet computers. 

Do you know a worker who leads safety in the workplace, or an employer who makes safety a core company value? Each year, WorkSafe Saskatchewan recognizes workers and employers who strive to make Mission: Zero a reality in the province through the Safe Worker Award and Safe Employer Award. This year’s nomination deadline for both awards is November 17.

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) unveiled its SJHL campaign on November 1, 2018. Over the course of the 2018-2019 season, the SCSA will be running a series of safety messages on the digital displays in each of the 12 communities that host SJHL teams. These safety messages focus on preventing head injuries, eye injuries, hand injuries and the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on the jobsite and on the ice. It is estimated that preventable injuries cost the provincial economy $1.1 billion each year. 

MEDIA RELEASE

REGINA, SK, November 1, 2018 – The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, is generally credited with saying, “a good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” The partnership that was formed in 2017 with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) helped to not only put the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) in the rural communities where their members are, but also where those business owners, and the people who they employ in the construction industry, spend their time during the winter months . . . in the local hockey arena.

As part of ongoing efforts to reduce injuries and fatalities in the province, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) is undertaking steps to strengthen ties between researchers and Saskatchewan’s primary injury prevention partners – WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety (LRWS), research institutions, and industry safety associations. As WorkSafe works to build safety research capacity in Saskatchewan, Dr. Sean Tucker has joined WorkSafe as the Associate Director of Research.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has released a free awareness e-Course, Nanotechnology and Health, to help workers identify and safely control sources and products containing nanomaterials in their workplaces. Nanomaterials are used in the manufacturing industry to produce products, such as computer hard drives, clothing, and glare-reducing coatings for eyeglasses and cars. These miniscule materials come with some potentially big health hazards for workers who may be exposed through inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion, especially for those who use nanotechnology in research or production processes.

The SCSA was a proud safety sponsor of the 2018 Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce's ABEX Awards presented by Conexus Credit Union at TCU Place in Saskatoon on October 20, 2018. The ABEX awards highlight pivotal business elements of provincial prosperity and brings together the leading figures from the business community to showcase the quality of private enterprise in Saskatchewan. The SCSA would like to congratulate all of the 2018 ABEX Award winners for the positive impact they have had on the business community in our province. 

Each year WorkSafe Saskatchewan formally recognizes a worker and an employer who are committed to injury prevention and safety leadership through their Safe Worker and Safe Employer awards program. In 2018, these awards were presented to:  Safe Worker – Justin Ellis, Humboldt Electric, Saskatoon, SK; Safe Employer – R.M. of Wilton, Marshall, SK. We applaud both Justin and the R.M. of Wilton for helping move Saskatchewan closer to Mission: Zero.

The SCSA will be hosting its second annual Constructing Safety Leadership Conference at TCU place in Saskatoon on April 10, 2019. A panel of industry experts, moderated by SCSA President, Collin Pullar, will be discussing how to make Saskatchewan's construction industry the safest construction environment in Canada. Join us in person or watch a live streaming to find out more about what the experts are saying about  constructing safety leadership in our province.

Please note that the Fall 2018 Safety Advocate publication that was recently mailed out to all members incorrectly stated that the 2019 SCSA Safety Leadership Conference will be held in Regina. The conference will be held at TCU place in Saskatoon on April 10, 2019. 

The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board released data today documenting a rise in the number of workplace fatalities in the province during the first eight months of 2018.  From Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 of 2018, there were 37 workplace fatalities.  

As part of ongoing efforts to help prepare workplaces for the legalization of cannabis, WorkSafe Saskatchewan has added some additional resources for employers to its website and launched an awareness campaign targeting Saskatchewan workers. 

As part of building injury prevention research capacity in the province, WorkSafe Saskatchewan is hosting an event featuring Dr. Lynda Robson, a scientist at the Institute for Work and Health and professor in the School of Occupational and Public Health at Ryerson University.

The SCSA would like to congratulate the Top 100 Saskatchewan Companies of 2018 recently announced in SaskBusiness magazine. Several of these top businesses are accredited by the nationally-recognized Certificate of Recognition (COR®) program, which verifies that a company has a fully implemented health and safety management system.

The Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) has announced the retirement of CEO, Peter Federko, effective May 31, 2019. Since 1994, Peter has played a critical role in the development and growth of the organization: successfully leading initiatives such as the provincial adoption of Mission: Zero and the creation of Safe Saskatchewan while seeing the provincial injury rate decrease; leading the organization towards greater financial stability, and stewarding through significant legislative changes and financial downturns. 

MEDIA RELEASE 

REGINA, SK, October 2, 2018 – The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) is pleased to announce the addition of a Hazard Assessment Tool, now available on the latest version of its ‘Guide to OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) Legislation’ mobile app. Thousands of safety professionals have taken advantage of the SCSA’s free app – downloading it from either the Apple or Google stores – since its release in September of 2017.

“Many of our members in the construction industry have asked us to develop modern tools and resources to help them achieve their safety and business goals,” said Collin Pullar, president of the SCSA.

Every year, the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) is proud to honour individuals, companies, and committees, for their commitment to promoting effective health and safety management systems in the residential and commercial building construction industry in Saskatchewan. The SCSA presents these awards at its Annual General Meeting. All award recipients also receive recognition in various SCSA online and offline publications and promotions, including the SCSA Safety Advocate and Saskatchewan Business magazine.

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) held a very special evening on September 5, 2018, recognizing the contributions of its past board members who have generously volunteered their time to carry on the legacy of the organization. The Honourable Don Morgan, Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace safety; also responsible for Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), brought opening greetings along with His Worship, Michael Fougere, Mayor of Regina.

With the expected legalization of recreational cannabis on October 17, 2018, employers may be left wondering what impact recreational cannabis may have on zero-tolerance policies, especially as they relate to pre-employment testing, prior to hire, or pre-access testing. Essentially, the contest in every alcohol and drug testing case is between the employer’s right and obligation to take reasonably necessary steps to maintain a safe workplace and the individual’s right to privacy.

A number of recommendations came out of a review of the Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR®) program that will serve to strengthen SECOR and provide it with the same integrity as COR. The SECOR program will be held to a very similar standard and allow SECOR companies to smoothly transition to the COR program as required or requested.

Given the approaching legalization of recreational cannabis on October 17, the Government of Saskatchewan sought input from various stakeholders on possible legislative changes to Part III (Occupational Health and Safety) of The Saskatchewan Employment Act (the “Act”) and/or The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 (the “Regulations”) to address impairment in the workplace. In light of the government’s request for input, the SCSA gathered feedback from its members on issues related to cannabis legalization and workplace impairment. 

On August 23rd, 2018, the SCSA and White Rabbit VR –  a division of Sask-based media company, Twisted Pair – began the production phase of the highly-anticipated Virtual Reality (VR) construction safety training tool.

SCSA members and students will have the opportunity to be enveloped in a realistic 360 degree alternate reality for workplace training. This training tool allows users to spot hazards more effectively and in a variety of scenarios that wouldn’t be as readily available within the confines of traditional classroom training.  

Partnership provides School of Construction students with free safety training

MEDIA RELEASE

August 22, 2018 – Starting this September, the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) is providing Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s School of Construction students with Safety Construction Orientation Training (SCOT®) at no cost. SCOT is recognized throughout the Saskatchewan construction industry as a base safety orientation in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

On behalf of the SCSA Board of Directors, I would like to welcome Karen Low of Merit Contractors Association of Saskatchewan and Aaron Yohnke of PCL Construction Management Inc. to the Board.  – Ryan Smotra, SCSA Board Chair

The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) is getting ready to launch a new, client-facing IT system that will provide SATCC clients, including Saskatchewan apprentices, employers and training providers, with faster, more efficient service.

Apprentices will be able to self-register for training and employers will be able to easily monitor and track their apprentices’ training status. In other words, users of the apprenticeship system will be able to interact with the SATCC and access their information online, rather than having to request information directly from an SATCC staff member.

The Summer 2018 edition of the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship newsletter – Apprenticeship in Action – is now available. Read about Cassandra Lasko, Journeyperson Carpenter and recipient of the 2017 Wendy Davis Memorial Scholarship – the scholarship the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) awards to the female in a traditionally male trade who achieved the highest mark on the Journeyperson exam.

When Valerie Overend started working towards her carpentry apprenticeship, at that time, she was the only woman in the province enrolled in the program. She attained her red seal carpentry papers in 1989 and by that time, there were fewer than 10 women in the carpentry trade across the whole province. It was also during this time in her life that she became involved in the Girls Entering Trades and Technology (GETT) camp. Her goal was to teach women how to get into the trades. First she focussed on carpentry, then she expanded later into other trades.

Given the approaching legalization of recreational cannabis, the Government of Saskatchewan is looking for input on possible legislative changes to the occupational health and safety portions of The Saskatchewan Employment Act  and/or The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 to address impairment in the workplace.  The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association is considering preparing and submitting a document that outlines its members' concerns around impairment in the workplace. 

In 2017 SCSA Safety Advisors conducted just under 1,000 demos in 500 companies in the construction industry, reaching about 10,000 workers and youth. If you have the expertise to help us rebuild/refresh our demos, respond to our RFP visit - www.scsaonline.ca/about-us/request-for-proposals

Andrew Hann was on his way to a promising career when a workplace accident took his life in 2013 — he was just 25 years old.

Hann was a scaffolder working at a mine southwest of Saskatoon when he fell. On that day, Hann had gone for lunch but when he returned he didn’t have his fall protection gear with him. No one will know why he felt safe enough to continue with his work because Andrew Hann fell through an open hole in the scaffold and died.

The ninth annual Saskatchewan Health & Safety Leadership Charter event was held on June 13, 2018 with more than 260 people from a diverse array of industry sectors in attendance.

The Yorkton Chamber of Commerce announces that nominations are now open for the 2018 Celebrate Success Business Awards.  Awards will be presented in eleven categories including safety plus the Small and Large Business of the Year Awards.

Cannabis is set to be legalized this summer in Canada, and it’s opening a new realm of questions for employers and staff. How might an employer respond if he or she is approached by an employee and asked, “Can I bring cannabis to the company party?”

“When it becomes legal, we might not have a huge spike of people showing up to work impaired, but there might be a shift in societal expectation of cannabis use,” explained Jon Danyliw, an associate for Miller Thomson law firm in Saskatoon.

Danyliw spoke about cannabis in the workplace at the Construction Law Conference in Saskatoon in April. The message: It’s a good time to implement a policy if there isn’t one in place. Better yet, it’s time to review the current policy.

REGINA, SK, May 10, 2018 – Today the SCSA is proud to make two announcements. First, in response to member feedback, five additional topics have been added to the Guide to OHS Legislation app that was released last September – Harassment; Working Alone; First Aid; Duties of the Employer, Supervisor, Contractor and Prime Contractor; and Protection for Electrical Workers. Thousands have taken advantage of this free app, downloading it from either the Apple or Google stores.

Second, the SCSA is excited to announce a new partnership with White Rabbit VR, a division of Twisted Pair Productions to develop 360 degree Virtual Reality experiences for the safety training environment in Saskatchewan.

As of April 1, 2019, a Certificate of Recognition (COR®) or Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR®) certification – or equivalent acknowledged by the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) – will be a requirement in all construction contracts exceeding $1 million in value.

Starting next year, safety will become an even bigger priority on major construction sites in Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Central Services has announced that as of April 1, 2019, a policy will be in place that will see Certificate of Recognition (COR®) or Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR®) certification – or equivalent acknowledged by the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) – as a requirement in all construction contracts expected to exceed $1 million in value.

As SCSA president Collin Pullar explains, the SCSA has been assisting the Ministry of Central Services with this policy development for some time and supported their consultations with other representatives in the industry. He said the policy change is a breath of fresh air.

WCB Annual General Meeting

· Total injury rate dropped to 5.25 (per 100 workers)

· Time loss injury rate remained the same at 1.86 (per 100 workers)

· 88 per cent of Saskatchewan employers achieved Mission: Zero