SAFETY

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COVID-19 Best Practices

H & S Guidelines for Employees in the Construction Industry

Concrete BC has compiled some of the recommendations that health and safety organizations and concrete companies are implementing where the construction sector continues to operate, with the objective of mitigating or minimizing the risk of transmission of the virus to industry personnel.

COVID-19 GUIDANCE
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General Best Practices

Delivering Concrete

Social Distance Sign

Case On-site Procedures

2020 COVID-19 Poster

Required Certification

Concrete Pump Operator Certification (CCPO)

Concrete BC, working together with the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) and WorkSafeBC, enhanced safety in concrete pump operations in the province with the implementation of the Certified Concrete Pump Operator Certification (CCPO). Operators with CCPO have demonstrated theoretical knowledge of concrete pump operations and they have shown they can apply this knowledge by working competently in the field through both Online Testing and In-Person Practical Evaluations.

Effective January 1, 2024, concrete pump operators in BC are required to hold a valid certification for the pump type they currently operate, as per recent changes to BC’s Occupational Health & Safety Regulations. The Certified Concrete Pump Operator (CCPO) certification is a professional accreditation delivered by the BCCSA.

This certification program is a collaboration by industry (Concrete BC) and safety professionals to ensure holders of the certification are operating to a standard of high competence – one of safety, environmental consideration, and value.

The CCPO certification program currently offers certifications in 5 pump types:

  1. Tower Placing Booms,
  2. High-Pressure Line Pumps (over 1,233 psi),
  3. Low-Pressure Line Pumps (1,233 psi & under),
  4. Truck Mounted Boom Pumps – 41 metres and under, and
  5. Truck Mounted Boom Pumps – over 41 metres

You can find more info about CCPO here: https://www.ccpo.ca

ONLINE COURSE REGISTRATION

List of Concrete Pump Operators

With Provisional CCPO Certificates and Fully Certified CCPO Certificates issued by BCCSA

PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE HOLDERS
FULLY CERTIFIED OPERATORS

Safety Training Manual

For Concrete Pump Operators

Produced by Concrete BC, this manual, published in the spring of 2009, and updated in January 2016, sets a basic safety training standard for concrete pump operators in British Columbia. This manual is the foundation for the pump operator safety training workshops delivered by Concrete BC, and a student copy is included for the Pump Operator Safety Training workshop.

The manual sells for $100.00 + tax

For Concrete BC Members: Order your copy of this manual by contacting the Concrete BC office at concrete@concretebc.ca or 604-626-4141.

For Non-Members: the manual is only available with the Concrete Pump Operator Safety Training Online Course.  Please go to http://bconcrete.co/pump to sign up.

Injury Management

Handbook

This handbook contains information that will help supervisors familiarize themselves with key responsibilities within injury management and understand why such involvement is important. Practical tools are also contained in the handbook to assist supervisors in executing their responsibilities.

INJURY MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK

If you have any questions or would like to obtain hard copies of this publication, please contact Alicia Brady, Communications Program Coordinator, Construction Safety Network, at 604-636-3679.


Inclement Weather Guidelines

Safety Awareness

The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure that lightning safety awareness is a priority for employees in all outdoor activities. There is no location outdoors that is 100% safe from lightning strikes, however, being aware of and following proven lightning risk reduction guidelines can lower the risk of injury or death.

Weather conditions should be monitored continuously. Lightning may strike several kilometres away from the parent cloud and precautions should be taken even if the thunderstorm is not directly overhead. Lightning can reach you even if the storm is 16 km away and there’s a clear sky above you.

To judge how close lightning is, count the seconds between the flash and the thunder clap. Each second represents about 300 metres. If you can count less than 30 seconds between the lightning strike and the thunder, the storm is less than 10 km away and there is an 80 percent chance the next strike will happen within that 10 km. If you count less than 30 seconds, take shelter, preferably in a building or all-metal automobile (not a convertible top) or in a low-lying area.

  • Take appropriate shelter when you can count 30 seconds or less between lightning and thunder
  • Remain sheltered for 30 minutes after the last thunder

  • Fully enclosed all metal vehicles
  • Permanent, substantial buildings
  • Don’t go outside unless absolutely necessary
  • Keep away from doors, windows, fireplaces and anything that will conduct electricity such as radiators, stoves, sinks, and metal pipes
  • Keep as many walls as possible between you and the outside
  • Don’t handle electrical equipment or telephones. Use battery operated devices instead.

  • Keep a safe distance from tall objects such as trees, hilltops and telephone poles
  • Avoid projecting above the surrounding landscape. Seek shelter in low-lying areas such as valleys, ditches and depressions but be aware of flooding
  • Stay away from water. Land as quickly as possible if you are on the water and a storm is approaching. Lightning can strike the water and travel some distance from its point of contact.
  • Stay away from objects that conduct electricity such as power poles, fences and gates, metal machinery, electrical equipment, hauling machinery and radio equipment
  • You are safe inside an enclosed rubber-tired vehicle but don’t park near or under trees or other tall objects
  • If you are in a group in the open, spread out, keeping people several meters apart
  • If caught in a level field far from shelter and you feel your hair stand on end, lightning may be about to hit you. Kneel on the ground immediately, with feet together, place your hands on your knees and bend forward. Do not lie flat.

Persons who have been struck by lightning receive an electrical shock but do not carry an electrical charge and can be safely handled. Victims may be suffering from burns or shock and should receive medical attention immediately. If breathing has stopped, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should be administered. If breathing and pulse are absent, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation is required.


Warm or Hot Weather

Working Conditions

As we approach the summer months, working in warm or hot weather must be addressed for all workers.

  1. Your body is always generating heat and passing it to the environment.
  2. The harder your body is working, the more heat it has to lose.
  3. When the environment is hot or humid or has a source of radiant heat (for example, a furnace or the sun),your body must work harder to get rid of its heat.
  4. If the air is moving (for example, from fans) and it is cooler than your body, it is easier for your body to pass heat to the environment.

Heat Stress

  • Heat stress occurs when the body temperature rises to above 38.5C and cannot cool off
  • High temperature, high humidity, heat generated from equipment, and body heat may contribute to heat stress
  • Heat stress can cause disorders ranging from heat cramps to heat stroke
  • Heat stroke is very serious, as it can be fatal

Symptoms

  • Irrational behaviour
  • Hot, dry skin (with no sweating)
  • Loss of consciousness and collapse
  • Co-workers who do not know of the symptoms may think the victim is upset, intoxicated or acting strangely

The following procedures should be considered to prevent heat stress:

  1. Have drinking water available to all workers. Workers should fill water bottles for use when working in the field. Workers should drink approximately one cup of water every 20 minutes.
  2. Workers should salt food well to replenish salts lost through perspiration (check with your doctor if you are on a low salt diet).
  3. Wear clothing that is loose fitting, tightly woven, and light in colour to reflect the sunlight.
  4. Do not consume excessive amounts of alcohol within 24 hours before working in a hot environment.
  5. In extremely hot conditions, workers should take time out of direct sunlight or heat source more often such as sitting in their vehicle, working in the shade, taking break/lunch periods inside.
  6. Workers on medication should check with their doctor before working in extreme temperatures.