May is Construction Safety Month

We cannot believe that May is almost over. This also means that Construction Safety Month is also coming to a close. Our Champions know that Safety is an Every Day Event and not just something that is recognized in May!

OGCA and the LOC have spent the past month focusing on the Safety Week theme Be Present. Be Focused. Be Safe.

We have received so many great photos this month, and we ask that you continue to share your team photos, captions and articles with us.

Please send any items to judith@theloc.ca

During each of the four weeks in May, we focused on one category of the four states of Fitness for Duty: Emotional Health, Physical Health, Mental Health, and, for the last week, Competency.
What does it mean to have Competency or Knowledge?
Does it mean, you’ve seen it on tv, therefore you should be OK with it?
Does it mean that you really need the work and you can fake your way through it until you pick up a few things?

What it actually means is:

• You have received some form of guidance prior to stepping foot onto the construction site.
• You are being coached by a competent person.
• You are not left alone or forgotten about because you’re new.
• Maybe you’re given a mentor that you work with throughout the day to show you the ropes.
• Having your rights as a worker explained to you and understanding you have the right to say no to unsafe work and not lose your job because of it.
• Understanding you have the right to be involved in health and safety meetings and you can have a voice.
• You have the right to know how to operate a piece of equipment or what type of chemical you’re working with.