By Alec Caldwell, CARAHS

What are your Policies and Procedures? Specifically, have you given Fall Protection Awareness training to your workers?

The Ontario Ministry of Labour is now investigating the recent fatality at a residential site on Fifeshire Ave in Toronto, where a worker fell to his death from the second storey of a house. As an independent operator, the law states that the general contractor is accountable and must make every effort to provide a safe and healthy workplace. To insure its success, Policies and Procedures must be followed.

Under investigation on the death of this worker caused by falling, a Policy and Procedures document will show if the deceased received Fall Protection Awareness training, as prescribed under law. Every person on a job site, including home renovations job sites, whether the general is using employees or self-employed sub trades, must have completed this required course and show proof of completion. Certificates of completion should then be enclosed within a company’s Policies and Procedure document or binder.

So the question is: Do you have a Policy and Procedures document in place yet? If you don’t, CARAHS can help you, as it’s included with membership. Visit our web site for more details or contact us toll-free now, before it’s too late.

CARAHS is a non profit association delivering Safety, Education & Benefits to Builders, Contractor & Trades. Call CARAHS toll-free at 1-866-366-2930 or visit them at www.carahs.org