Loading ...June, 2010
June 29, 1864; The Grand Trunk Railway Disaster
19th century Americans weren’t the only inhabitants of North America with the ambition to build a railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Construction of Canada’s version of the transcontinental railroad, the Grand Trunk Railway, started in 1853. Six years later, it began operations between Ontario and Quebec.
Unfortunately, the great [...]
Using the Lessons of BP to Improve Your Own Accident Response Plan
BP is hardly the first company to face the challenge of accident response. We’ve all had our own “spills.” An avoidable injury, a leaking 55 gallon drum. These things happen all the time and demand an effective response. The only real difference between us and BP is scale—and the fact that [...]
Safety First for Second-hand Products
Garage sales are win-win events. Vendors clear clutter and shoppers find bargains. And everyone gets to enjoy meeting new friends. But think twice about the items you sell or the items you buy at garage sales. A steal-of-a-deal may cause injury or death.
Garage Sale Vendors: Remember Your Responsibilities
When it comes to [...]
Yard Sales and Driving Hazards
Okay, I’m going to confess something here and I hope you won’t think less of me for it: I’m fanatical about garage sales. It’s true. I love them. I try to keep my passion for bright and shiny junk under control, though, and restrict my outings to once a month. Fortunately, my [...]
Can a Dangerous Worker Pose a ‘Recognized Hazard’?
OSHA and OHS laws describe specific hazards that employers are supposed to manage. But just because a hazard isn’t listed in the statutes or regulations doesn’t mean you don’t have to guard against it. OSHA/OHS statutes include what’s known as a “general duty” clause requiring employers to control recognized hazards not listed in the law. [...]
What Exactly Is Safety Law?
Safety professionals constantly talk about “safety law” and “OSHA law.” But did you ever stop and wonder what “safety law” means and where it comes from? Even if you haven’t, I’m going to tell you.
STATUTES
Statutes are pieces of legislation enacted by bodies of lawmakers called legislators. OSHA and Canadian OHS laws are all examples [...]
The Importance of Being Specific
“Hey, let’s be careful out there.”
These words were delivered by fictional Sergeant Phil Esterhaus to his force at the end of each briefing every morning. Those of you who watched the hit TV series Hill Street Blues know that the streets his force patrolled within the unnamed city were filled with [...]
The Tragedy of the Victoria Hall Stampede
On June 16, 1883, excitement and laughter filled Victoria Hall in Sunderland, England. Hundreds of children had been looking forward to this day, and now they gathered in the event center to enjoy the travelling entertainers, Mr and Mrs Fay.
Toward the end of the show, it was announced that children with [...]
Phenomenal Woman
Phenomenal Woman
By Maya Angelou (Selected by Barbara Semeniuk)
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size.
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
“It’s in the reach of my arms,
[...]
Safety Reflections on the Loss of a Friend
There’s a reason we men and women of the safety profession do what we do. Linda Proulx was one of my best friends. On March 8, 2008, Linda and her 11-year-old step daughter, Julia, were killed in a highway accident between Fort McMurray and Edmonton. For more than two years, I’ve been reflecting on [...]
