BC Crane Safety Newsletter

Shift into Winter with Road Safety at Work 

Whether you are driving to take your children to school or drive to operate a crane, winter road safety is important for everyone. Shift into winter and brush up on winter driving requirements to keep you and those around you safe. 

Statistics from WorkSafeBC show that nearly one-third of all work-related crashes that result in injury and time loss occur between the months of November and January. 

And for the last ten years, the construction sector has had the fourth highest number of claims for vehicle-related incidents while construction trades helpers and labourers rank sixth among all occupations for the highest number of filed claims. 

Additionally, vehicle-related claims cost an average of more than $56,000 and the average worker claim runs for 91 days. Both averages are higher than those of other types of claims. 

A recent survey of small businesses showed that many small employers aren’t aware of road safety requirements. B.C. law requires employers to take several steps to ensure safety whenever workers drive. 

To help you comply with winter driving safety requirements, Road Safety at Work, a WorkSafeBC initiative, has created resources to help you navigate the challenges of winter driving. 

These resources cover winter driving requirements including employer responsibilities, winter driving safety procedures and training, and vehicle emergency kits: 

Winter Driving: What Employers Need to Know
Winter Driving Policy and Procedures Template
Learn How to Drive in Winter Conditions
Vehicle Emergency Kit Checklist 

To learn more about Road Safety at Work, visit their website at ShiftIntoWinter.ca 

Revisiting Ergonomics for Winter 

Earlier this year, we published an article on Ergonomics Month, a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness and highlighting the importance of ergonomics and human factors when improving workplace safety and efficiency. Now in winter, it’s equally as important to once again consider ergonomics in your workplace. Much like our cranes and other machinery, the operation of our bodies in cold temperatures and difficult weather conditions can require some changes and adaptations. 

Effectively managing ergonomic issues during cold weather for crane operators requires a planned approach. 

Crane operators face unique ergonomic challenges in their cabins. At all times of year, the demand for accuracy and precision during operations can cause significant tension in their necks, shoulders, wrists, and fingers as well as mental strain. Cold conditions can exacerbate musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) due to increased stiffness and reduced flexibility. 

Essential measures to reduce additional stress on the body include ensuring that the operator’s cabin is adequately heated to reduce the physical stiffness that can lead to injuries. Operators should be equipped with appropriate winter gear such as warm, waterproof clothing that doesn’t restrict movement. 

You can use resources such as WorkSafeBC’s MSI Prevention Guidance: Cold Temperature which provides information to help identify, assess and control the risks for workers who are exposed to cold temperatures. 

This past October, Crane and Hoist Canada featured Roberta Sheng-Taylor, BC Crane Safety Director of Certification and Licensing Strategy, in an interview discussing the need for crane operators to handle these challenges strategically with tips and ideas on how to create a solution that works for operators. 

You can read Crane and Hoist Canada Magazine’s article online to learn more about Roberta’s insights on the concept of harmonic ergonomics and its impact on the industry. 

A Look Ahead: Preventive Maintenance 

An effective preventive maintenance program for your equipment is an excellent way to extend the operating life of the machinery, avoid costly downtime, elevate resale value and increase safety. 

Predictive maintenance is a crucial aspect of fleet management. It involves using historical service records to anticipate and address potential equipment issues before they arise. Key steps include maintaining an up-to-date inventory, following OEM guidelines, scheduling preventive maintenance and documenting all actions meticulously.
Getting a program started and sticking to it can be one of the hardest parts of implementing a Preventive Maintenance Program. BC Crane Safety is preparing for a 2025 initiative focusing on Preventive Maintenance, developing resources to assist stakeholders and industry in initiating, overhauling or fine-tuning their programs. Related guidance documents such as Regular Inspection Requirements for Cranes and Level Up – Own Your Lift – Self Planned Inspections: Preventive Maintenance Questions are ready for use in our BC Crane Safety resources. 

For more information and advice on preventive maintenance programs, check out our recent post: Safety Corner: Preventive Maintenance Perfection. 

Refusing Unsafe Work – What is the Process?

In British Columbia workplaces, employees have a protected right to refuse unsafe work. This is not only a right but a responsibility to establish and maintain a safe work environment for everyone. 

While unsafe conditions can be complicated, the process to refuse unsafe work is quite simple: 

Step 1: The unsafe work/task/condition needs to stop immediately and be reported to your supervisor or employer. State your concerns so your supervisor or employer can respond or fix the issue. If your supervisor or employer does not agree the task is unsafe, they must report that back to you and explain why. 

Step 2: If you and your supervisor or employer cannot mutually agree the task is unsafe, an investigation must be started involving one of the following options: 

• A worker representative of the Joint Health and Safety Committee or a worker health and safety representative,  
• A worker selected by your union, or 
• A worker chosen by the person who reported the task or condition as unsafe.  

Step 3: If the matter is still unresolved after the first two steps, WorkSafeBC is to be contacted, and a prevention officer will investigate and initiate any appropriate actions. 

It is important to note in any refusal of unsafe work situations, by law, employers are prohibited from penalizing workers for raising a health and safety issue. 

Changes to WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation regarding the right to refuse unsafe work took effect on August 22, 2022. The OHS Regulatory changes require employers to provide written notice of an unresolved refusal of work to any other worker who is given that task. 

The amendments also require an employer to provide written notice of the reassignment of refused work to the company’s Joint Health and Safety Committee, worker health and safety representative or the union. 

BC Crane Safety has a Toolbox Talk on The Right to Refuse Unsafe Work. You can find more information from WorkSafeBC on Refusing Unsafe Work, and WorkSafeBC’s outline of  Roles, Rights, and Responsibilities for a healthy and safe workplace.