Joint Initiative Announced for Construction Industry
The Department of Labour and the Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association (NSCSA) today announced a partnership/leadership initiative to help the construction industry improve its performance in health and safety.
"Accidents in the workplace are preventable, and therefore even one accident is one too many," said Labour Minister Gerald O'Malley.
"The industry has made great strides over the last four years in improving safety in the construction industry," said Bruce Collins, NSCSA general manager. "More than 50,000 people have been trained and we have seen a significant decrease in workplace accidents.
"By assisting the organizations that need the most help, we will continue to enhance the work environment for all Nova Scotians."
The initiative includes identifying and assisting construction firms that have performed poorly in the area of occupational health and safety. Officers from the Department of Labour will visit the firms, review previous accidents, conduct inspections and issue any orders required to obtain compliance and identify potential areas for improvement.
During this visit, Department of Labour officers will also encourage the employer to contact the NSCSA for access to training programs and membership services at no cost. The NSCSA and the department will monitor for three years the accident record of those firms seeking assistance.
In addition, an advertising/promotional campaign with the theme What's Holding You Up? will be launched in time for the spring construction season.
Its purpose will be to heighten awareness of the hazards of falls, particularly in the construction industry, and the responsibility of property and home owners and construction managers to ensure workers on their property work safely.
The number of falls from elevation has decreased over the past three years, to 457 in 1996 from 839 in 1994. However, these types of falls still account for 5.7 per cent of all accidents reported to the Workers' Compensation Board and is the No. 1 cause of workplace deaths.
"This campaign is a proactive measure aimed at reducing the number of falls on construction sites and making everyone aware of their rights and responsibilities," said Mr. O'Malley. "By partnering with organizations such as the NSCSA, we have an even greater chance of helping companies reduce the number of workplace accidents, and that is in everyone's best interests."
"Both of these initiatives will go a long way in reducing the economic and human cost of work-related accidents," said Mr. Collins. "Improved safety means a healthy and more profitable industry for everyone."