HEALTH & SAFETY AT THE AGGREGATE PIT

DATE: December 30, 2016.

SUMMARY

Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act protects workers through three basic rights: the right to know about hazards, participate in safety, and refuse unsafe work. Addressing workplace hazards, like those in aggregate pits, requires eliminating both unsafe conditions through equipment maintenance and unsafe acts through proper training and Job Safety Analysis (JSA) procedures. Ultimately, maintaining a safe workplace relies on management oversight, clear safety protocols, and individual worker accountability.

Occupational hazards may occur at any job. Proper education and training should be provided, and precautionary measures should be taken in order to avoid workplace hazards. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is Ontario’s cornerstone legislation for workplace health and safety. The main purpose of the Act is to protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job. It lays out duties for all workplace parties and rights for workers. It lists procedures for dealing with workplace hazards and provides for enforcement of the law where compliance has not been achieved voluntarily. 
 
OHSA is built on 3 basic rights:
  1. The right to know about hazards.
  2. The right to participate in health & safety.
  3. The right to refuse unsafe work.

Heinrich's Domino Theory

At an aggregate pit, workers are exposed to a number of hazards: machinery failure, obstacles in the way, noise and dust, uneven ground, slips/trips/falls, and more. As an aggregate manufacturer with several operating pits throughout southern Ontario, Brock Aggregates treats safety with utmost importance. According to the Heinrich’s Domino Theory, accidents arise from a chain of sequential events, and the two primary causes of accidents are unsafe conditions and unsafe acts. 

Unsafe conditions at an aggregate pit may include defective machinery, overhead hazards, uneven ground, and poor visibility. Unsafe acts may include not using personal protective equipment (PPE) and bypassing safety procedures. Unsafe conditions can be eliminated by having regular inspections of the work site and preventative maintenance of the machinery. 

Unsafe acts can be eliminated by having proper instruction, training, and enforcement of the safety rules. Workers and management should work together to identify and control hazards. It is important to always be aware of the consequences of unsafe acts, and to have a “think safe – be safe” mentality.

 

Skid Loader

 

Completing the Job Safety Analysis can help the worker be more aware of potential workplace hazards and know how to avoid them. Job Safety Analysis consists of the following steps:
  1. Describe the task at hand
  2. List all possible dangers and risks
  3. Come up with preventative measures to avoid the hazards
 
For example, a Job Safety Analysis for a Skid Loader would look like this:
  1. The task is to travel within a pit on a skid loader.
  2. Possible hazards include pedestrians and vehicles in the way, other heavy equipment in the way, poor visibility.
  3. Preventative measures include following a designated travel route; obeying the speed limits; steering clear of obstacles.

 
Proper signage should be clearly displayed at a pit (safety rules, speed limits, etc.) to remind the workers to think safe and be safe. 
 
Brock Aggregates’ Pit Manager, David Horton, has over 35 years of experience in the aggregate manufacturing industry. Working together with G&L Group’s Health & Safety Manager, the team ensures a safe workplace through regular safety training and diligent equipment maintenance. Juel Group and Brock Aggregates are committed and dedicated to preventing workplace injuries, but remember, safety starts with you!

HAVE A QUESTION?

Have a project in mind or need help finding the right aggregate? Our team is here to support you. Whether you know exactly what you’re looking for or need guidance choosing the best material for your job, Brock Aggregates is ready to assist. 

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