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Safety Scene Quarterly Newsletter – Summer 2019: Orientation

Actsafe’s new and improved quarterly newsletter Safety Scene is here, and this quarter’s theme is Orientation!

The Summer Edition is filled with articles on how to carry out orientations in your workplace, tips from the orientation experts, and a production who is leading by example. Inside, you will also find a fillable New and Young Worker Orientation form that we hope you will use when giving your next orientation.

To begin reading, click here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here for a quick access PDF for viewing, downloading, and sharing.

Click here for a quick link to the centrefold pullout; the New and Young Worker Orientation checklist.

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We want to hear from you!

We appreciate any feedback you may have. Maybe you’d like to write an article for our next edition? For content and advertising opportunities, please email Jennifer at jenniferlane@actsafe.ca.

We are printing a limited number of quarterly newsletters on Sugar Sheet. If you wish to receive a printed copy, please contact communications@actsafe.ca.

Monthly Updates, June 2019

Actsafe’s June Updates

May was another great month at Actsafe and in British Columbia’s entertainment industry. Discover what we got up to throughout May and what we have coming up in June, including;

  • Actsafe Job Opportunities,
  • Upcoming Courses,
  • Peer Safety Inspection Program,
  • Annual General Meeting,
  • June Events…and more!

We hope that you’re enjoying the new format of how we’re delivering our news. If you have any feedback please reach out to us: communications@actsafe.ca.

On The Road

Don Parman, Manager of Performing Arts Programs and Services, had a 4 day trip in May to 4 venues:

  1. Creekside Theatre, Lake Country, BC
  2. Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre, Vernon, BC
  3. Caravan Farm Theatre, Armstrong, BC
  4. Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna, BC

The 1025 km round trip was very successful as Don certified 26 people in Performing Arts Safety Awareness and 6 people in Joint Health and Safety Committee Fundamentals.

If you would like Don to visit your venue, please email him here.

New Job Openings

Are you passionate about health and safety? Do you want to work in a fast-paced industry alongside a fun, high-calibre team? If yes, Actsafe may have the perfect role for you!

To assist and support the entertainment industry in advising and training, Actsafe is looking to hire two industry safety advisors that will report to the Manager of Performing Arts, Programs & Services and the Manager of Motion Picture, Programs & Services respectively.

Find the full job description and how to apply click here.

Upcoming Courses

 

Peer Safety Inspection Program

Actsafe is looking for live event venues with availability in June and July to participate in our Peer Safety Inspection program.

The program works by having 2 technicians from Venue A do a safety walkthrough of Venue B. The process is reversed and together we review the findings. Actsafe will then advise on how best to solve the issues. This is a great tool for learning how to do inspections, assess risk and network with colleagues. Contact Don Parman, Manager of Performing Arts Programs and Services, for more information: donparman@actsafe.ca.

Thanks to everyone who has already applied – we will be in touch soon.

WorkSafeBC Prevention Conference

Pictured; Don Parman and Jennifer Lane (Actsafe Safety Association)

In May, members of the Actsafe team attended WorkSafeBC’s 2019 Prevention Conference. The team attended many sessions which were filled with great insights and the conference has given us inspiration for the Actsafe Event Safety Conference 2020.

You can find WorkSafeBC’s resources here.

Cone Zone Campaign


WorkSafeBC officially launched the 9th annual Cone Zone Campaign which will run until August 31st.

Between 2009 and 2018, 13 roadside workers were killed and 213 were injured and missed time from work due to being hit by a motor vehicle as they worked roadside. Whether we drive, bike, walk or use transit to get to work we all use the roadways and we all have a part to play to help make them safer for roadside workers.

Notice of AGM

Actsafe Safety Association’s 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Tuesday, June 11th at 9.30am at the Actsafe office.

Also, Actsafe’s Annual Report is now available; it takes a look at 2018’s initiatives, events, outreach, statistics and more.

Click here to view.

 

Road Safety At Work Workshops



Road Safety at Work are holding free half day workshops to help participants begin or improve an occupational road safety program.

Upcoming B.C. dates:

  • Kamloops – June 13th (Building a stronger road safety culture)
  • Cranbrook – June 26th (Building a stronger road safety culture)
  • Nelson – June 27th (Introducing road safety tools and resources for your workplace).

Register here.

 

Our Growth Throughout April

37

New subscribers to our newsletter.

35

New social media followers.

238

New users in our STAR (Safety Training And Records) System.

378

People were trained through Actsafe courses.

6,516

Website visitors.

Sustainability

Actsafe has achieved a Gold Level Sustainable Offices certification from Simon Fraser University. The Certified Sustainable Offices program encourages businesses to adopt practices that improve their ecological, economic and social performance.

To be inspired, see our sustainability efforts here.

 

World Environment Day


June 5th is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. This year’s theme is ‘Air Pollution’.

For information and inspiration to live and work in a more sustainable way, Actsafe has partnered with Reel Green to offer a free Carbon Literacy workshop. Upcoming course dates are June 2nd and June 19th.

For more info and to register, click here.

Need Health & Safety Advice? Connect With Our Advisors

Don Parman

Manager, Performing Arts Programs and Services, Don Parman
E: donparman@actsafe.ca
Direct: 604.495.0034
Office: 604.838.0290

Anand Kanna

Manager, Motion Picture Programs and Services, Anand Kanna
E: anandkanna@actsafe.ca
Direct: 604.495.0028
Office: 604.733.4682 Ext. 120
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Board Treasurer Position Available

 

Board Treasurer Position

About Us:

Actsafe Safety Association Board is seeking a leader with experience and expertise in accounting and finance to join the Board of Directors as Treasurer. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals who would like to share their knowledge and participate in the continued growth of the organization, gaining interesting governance and board experience. The Treasurer provides oversight to the financial accountability of the organization.

Actsafe Safety Association is a health and safety association supporting the entertainment industry in British Columbia by providing occupational health & safety advisory services, resources, training and support as needed to help employers, workers and supervisors to achieve a healthy and safe workplace. Actsafe was established in 1998 and it serves members in the motion picture, television, performing arts, commercial production and live event industries in British Columbia.

Responsibilities:

  • Be an active member of the Actsafe Board
  • Provide guidance and oversight on accounting and financial transactions
  • Working closely with the Executive Director, advises and provides direction on behalf of the board for financial planning and annual budgeting
  • Oversee the development of financial policies and procedures, and review by the board
  • Acts, where necessary, as a signing officer of the Board
  • Oversees annual audit of the financial statements
  • Completes required annual reporting as per the BC Societies Act and Canada Tax Law
  • Oversee and provide input to the financial reports of the organization

The ideal candidate:

We are looking for volunteers who have:

  • Work experience in accounting and finance
  • CPA or any other accounting or finance designation is desirable
  • Good Business Acumen
  • Knowledge of board governance and previous board experience is considered an asset

Time Commitment:

6 board meetings in a year with around 5 hours of work per month.

The board member will receive an honorarium for attending the board meetings.

Kindly forward your resume to resumes@actsafe.ca.

Download the description here.

 

Monthly Updates, May 2019

Actsafe’s May Updates

Course Update

We listened to your feedback following the launch of our online Motion Picture Safety 101 – General Safety Awareness course, and in an effort to remove all glitches we will be uploading an updated version of the course on May 6, 2019. If you are in the process of completing the course or are about to start the course, please ensure that you complete it by May 5, 2019 as to avoid any interruption to your progress.

Advisor Outreach

In April, our Manager of Performing Arts Programs and Services, Don Parman (above, pictured with Janet Sellery, Event Safety Alliance Canada), travelled to Toronto to attend the Event Safety Alliance Canada – Inaugural Conference 2019. While in Toronto, Don also attended the Production Managing the Arts (P.M.Arts) Conference. Both conferences were filled with useful information and inspiration for next year’s Actsafe Event Safety Conference.

 

Actsafe Aspiring Filmmaker Award

Congratulations to Drew Bennett from Walnut Grove Secondary School who won the Actsafe Aspiring Filmmaker Award in this year’s WorkSafeBC Student Safety Video Contest!

Outreach

Here’s a look at where our Manager of Performing Arts Programs and Services, Don Parman, and our Manager of Motion Picture Programs and Services, Anand Kanna, will be this May:

Don Parman:

Manager, Performing Arts Programs and Services, Don Parman
E: donparman@actsafe.ca
Direct: 604.495.0034
Office: 604.838.0290

Anand Kanna:

Manager, Motion Picture Programs and Services, Anand Kanna
E: anandkanna@actsafe.ca
Direct: 604.495.0028
Office: 604.733.4682 Ext. 120

Our Growth Throughout April

33

New subscribers to our newsletter.

53

New social media followers.

318

New users in our STAR (Safety Training And Records) System.

482

People were trained through Actsafe courses, including 39 people in our newly launched Motion Picture Industry Orientation course. We’re offering this newly updated course twice per month, check out our course page for offerings.

6,599

Website visitors.

NAOSH Week 2019

May 5 – 11 2019 is North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The goal during this week is to focus employers, employees, partners and the public on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home, and in the community.

Find more info here.

Day of Mourning

Sunday, April 28th marked the Day of Mourning 2019. Last year, 131 B.C. workers died from a workplace injury or disease. Our Manager of Motion Picture Programs and Services, Anand Kanna, represented Actsafe at the Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver ceremony. We at Actsafe pledge to strive harder to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities in B.C’s entertainment industries.

Welcome to the Actsafe Team!

We are delighted to announce that this month there will be three new members joining the Actsafe team:
L-R
Jennifer Lane – Marketing and Communications Coordinator,
Lisa Wild – Operations Assistant,
Harnak Lalli – Senior Accountant.

Meet the rest of the Actsafe Team here.

 

Victoria Day

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and safe Victoria Day weekend!  The Actsafe office will be closed on Monday, May 20th and will re-open on Tuesday, May 21st at 9.00am.

If you experience a worksite emergency, contact WorkSafeBC. Their Prevention Information Line is 1.888.621.7233.
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Safety Scene – February 2019 Edition

In the February 2019 issue:

  • Actsafe Appoints New Executive Director.
  • New Naloxone Training Launched.
  • Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) Fundamentals Update.
  • Motion Picture Safety Awareness Workshop Outreach.

Also, in this month’s edition, be in with a chance of winning a pass to the Actsafe Event Safety Conference 2019!

View The Actsafe Safety Scene here.

Actsafe Appoints New Executive Director

Nancy Harwood, Chair of the Board of Directors of Actsafe Safety Association, is pleased to announce that Manu (Manobhiram) Nellutla has been selected as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective March 11th, 2019.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of Actsafe, I wish to welcome Manu to his new role and say how much we are looking forward to Actsafe’s future with his leadership. Manu was selected by the Board’s Recruitment Committee from a field of highly qualified candidates after a rigorous search”, stated Ms Harwood. “ We are very impressed with Manu’s experience and successes as a senior executive with another progressive health and safety association, his passion for health and safety, and his proven leadership abilities.”

Manu brings a wealth of expertise from his current position as Chief Operating Officer with the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC (MSABC) to his new role. Actsafe’s entertainment industries will be well served by Manu’s experience of delivering high-quality services and resources to stakeholders and advancing initiatives that lead to successful health and safety outcomes for industry.

Manu has a background in the fields of ergonomics, education, health and safety, and research. He holds a Masters in Physiotherapy with specialization in musculoskeletal and sports, Post Graduate Diploma in Ergonomics, Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education and Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administration.

Before his tenure at MSABC, Manu was a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Rwanda. He has also taught Occupational Health and Safety in MSc Public Health program at Mount Kenya University.

 “I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity to provide leadership at Actsafe,” said Nellutla. “I am looking forward to working with the Actsafe team, industry members and all other stakeholders as we strive towards making British Columbia the safest province to work in the entertainment industry.”

The official announcement can be found here. Welcome Manu!

 

 

Motion Picture Safety Awareness Course Launches Online

Motion Picture Safety Awareness is making the move…to online!

Launching January 7th, you will now be able to complete this free course online, at your leisure.

This interactive, video-game style course takes approximately 5 hours and can be completed in parts, all while collecting both stars and knowledge along the way!

Click here to begin the course!

Happy Holidays from Actsafe!

Season’s Greetings!

From all of us at Actsafe, we wish you happy holidays and a peaceful new year filled with good health, happiness and safety knowledge!

The Actsafe office will be closed from 3pm Friday, December 21st and will re-open on Wednesday, January 2nd at 9.00am.

If you experience a worksite emergency, contact WorkSafeBC, their Prevention Information Line is 1.888.621.7233.

Safety Scene – December 2018 Edition

In the December 2018 issue:

  • Actsafe’s Event Safety Conference 2019.
  • New AEDs available in January.
  • Working in cold weather conditions.
  • Actsafe seeks new Executive Director.

Also, in this month’s edition, be in with a chance of winning one of five $10 Starbucks vouchers by completing our short Newsletter Feedback survey.

View The Actsafe Safety Scene here.

Actsafe Seeks New Executive Director

For the full opportunity description, click here.

The Executive Director is responsible for the effective administration of Actsafe Safety Association, and for achieving the goals of the mission statement and the objectives set by the Board of Directors. Appointed by the Board of Directors and reporting to the Chair, the Executive Director provides leadership in the management of Actsafe, the facilitation of stakeholder input, and directs the staff in the planning and development, administration, finance, management, and mentoring of all Actsafe activities.

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Julian Manchon or Tony Kirschner
LEADERS INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE SEARCH #880—609 Granville Street Vancouver,
BC V7Y 1G5
Phone: (604) 688-8422
Email: vancouver@leadersinternational.com

Actsafe Launches Injury Prevention Initiative

To celebrate Actsafe’s 20th year in the business of helping to keep workers safe we’ve launched a new digital safety initiative, Actsafe Injury Prevention Week (AIP Week).  Each year AIP Week will highlight preventable industry injuries within different sectors of production work. This year’s week long campaign is entitled Back Here, Safety Matters and puts a focus on the leading causes of injury in BC’s motion picture industry and its workers, working on and around trucks.

Actsafe’s inaugural AIP Week begins the week of November 5th. During campaign week, Actsafe will provide productions with additional resources, with an aim to help employers, supervisors and workers address the theme of the campaign. In addition, film studios will feature large art installations drawing attention to, and creating conversations around, the resources necessary to keep a production’s crew safe around trucks.

For further info check out our page dedicated to AIP Week here.

 

 

 

Cannabis Legalization in Canada, October 2018

Recreational marijuana officially became legal in Canada on Oct. 17, 2018.

Impairment from substance use can cause physical and behavioural changes that affect a person’s ability to work safely. Workplace impairment as an occupational health and safety issue is of increasing concern to British Columbia employers, workers, and other stakeholders.

Employers are encouraged to develop policies and procedures that address impairment in the workplace. An impairment policy that takes a fitness-to-work approach to impairment can help you to meet your workplace safety obligations. You should also communicate your impairment policy clearly to workers.

Further resources;

Actsafe’s Executive Director Steps Down

Geoff Teoli has accepted an exciting new position with the City of Vancouver so, unfortunately, this means that his last day with Actsafe will be October 5th, 2018.

Over the past five years Geoff has led Actsafe through significant innovation and growth, enhancing our organization’s delivery of services and support to the motion picture, television, performing arts and live event industries. He will leave a legacy of strong leadership, collaboration and passionate commitment to Actsafe’s health and safety mission.

We would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Actsafe Team, Board of Directors, Standing Committees and our communities at large, to thank him for his support throughout his tenure with Actsafe. Please join us in wishing Geoff tremendous success in his future endeavours.

You can find Actsafe Safety Association’s Board Chair, Nancy Harwood’s, official announcement of this news here. 

Air Quality Advisory – August 2018

If an Air Quality Advisory has been issued because of high concentrations of fine particulate matter due to smoke from wildfires around the region, the following information should be considered;

The Ministry of Environment recommends that strenuous outdoor activities be avoided. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms while working outdoors, contact your First Aid or Craft Services person: difficulty in breathing, chest pain or discomfort, and sudden onset of cough or irritation of airways. Exposure is particularly a concern for workers who have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, and lung or heart disease. People with heart or lung conditions may be more sensitive to the effects of smoke and should watch for any change in symptoms that may be due to smoke exposure. If any symptoms are noted, affected individuals should take steps to reduce their exposure to smoke and should go to their health care provider, walk in clinic or emergency department depending on severity of symptoms.

How to reduce your personal risk when working outdoors.

•Use common sense regarding outdoor physical activity – if your breathing becomes difficult or uncomfortable, stop or reduce the activity.

•You may be able to reduce your exposure to smoke by moving to cleaner air. Conditions can vary dramatically by area and elevation.

•Stay cool and drink plenty of water.

•Take shelter in air-conditioned buildings which have large indoor volumes and limited entry of outdoor air. Smoke levels may be lower indoors. However, elevated levels of smoke particles will still be present. If you stay indoors, be aware of your symptoms.

•Continue to manage medical conditions such as asthma, chronic respiratory disease and heart failure. If symptoms continue to be bothersome, seek medical attention.

Maintaining good overall health is a good way to reduce health risks resulting from short-term exposure to air pollution.

Pay attention to local air quality reports, air quality may be poor even though smoke may not be visible.

For more information on current Air Quality, please visit http://www.bcairquality.ca or Metro Vancouver’s AirMap at www.airmap.ca.

Extreme Hot Weather Ahead

Heat-related health and safety hazards increase when temperatures rise, and workers and employers must take precautions to prevent serious medical distress.

Actsafe has compiled some resources for workers and employers to use when crews are scheduled to work outdoors in extreme hot weather conditions.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety’s Working in Heat infographic packs lots of useful information into a small package to help employers protect workers from heat stress.

 

 

 

 

 

Actsafe’s Safety Bulletin on Working in Extreme Hot Conditions is also a valuable resource for workers and employers alike.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As part of Actsafe’s upcoming Online Safety Awareness Course, we have produced a number of videos dealing with hazards workers may encounter on the worksite.  Click on the image below to watch our video on working in extreme hot conditions to find out what to look for when workers may be in a heat-related emergency, and what to do to protect them and yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WorkSafeBC’s Heat Stress resource page also has information available to help workers and employers deal with working outside in high temperatures. Click on the image below to see what they have to offer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed a great smartphone app that can tell you what the heat index is in your area, what the signs and symptoms of heat stress are, and what first aid treatment should be administered to someone suffering from a heat-related emergency. The downside of this app? Heat indexes are only automatically available for locations in the United States.  If you’re located in Canada, you can manually enter the temperature and humidity (simply check your built-in weather app for these details) without inputting a location. Check out the app, available for iOS and Android devices, by clicking on the image below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bottom line is that working in hot temperatures for an extended period of time can lead to serious medical emergencies.  If you find that you are working outdoors in these conditions, make sure you:

  • Drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty and stay in a cool place.
  • Seek a cool place such as a tree-shaded area or air-conditioned spot like a public building.
  • Take regularly scheduled breaks out of the sun, in a cool place.
  • Notify your supervisor and seek medical assistance if you suspect you may have the symptoms of heat illness.

Mental Health & Addiction Resource

The Calltime Mental Health campaign has been developed to support BC motion picture workers and their families, reduce the stigma related to mental health and substance use concerns, and to ensure that BC motion picture workers are aware of the services and benefits available to them through their Union Health Benefit Plans and broader resources that are available to the public.

Calltime: Mental Health is an initiative created by British Columbia’s motion picture industry unions, driven by their vision statement:

We envision a future where motion picture industry workers come together as a Community of Care to help those with mental illness and substance abuse issues; a culture where everyone feels safe at work; and supported and empowered to ask for and offer help; where union staff and department managers and supervisors have access to training and resources to adequately address issues as they arise; and where impairment at work is seen as an occupational health and safety issue and is neither accepted nor condoned.

Calltimementalhealth.com provides important information such as:

Union resources;
Mental health and addiction resources which are available through the British Columbia motion picture industry unions and guilds. Here you can find information for the appropriate organization for you, your friend or colleague, or your family member.

Publicly available mental health and addiction resources for;

  • General mental health
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Sleep
  • Alcohol and addiction
  • Suicide
  • For youth and young adults
  • Canadian mental health resources

For more information head to the Calltime: Mental Health website here calltimementalhealth.com.

A Message to BC Employers

Employers have an obligation to comply with Occupational Health and Safety Regulations and the Workers Compensation Act of British Columbia. This means that workers have the right to a safe and healthy workplace. They have the right to be properly trained, and the right to refuse unsafe work. But it’s more than a legal obligation. It’s the right thing to do. You owe it to your workers to ensure they go home to their families, friends, and loved ones healthy and safe at the end of the day.

Please see WorkSafeBC’s reminder to employers of their responsibility for the health and safety of their workers here.

Industry acts quickly to certify live performance electrical workers

March 3, 2011

Less than a month after Actsafe launched its new Live Performance Electrical Certificate (LPEC), the organization is getting strong signals that the program will be a success.

“Our goal is for 100% of our eligible techs to hold this certification,” stated Matt Lees, Personnel Director for Riggit Services Inc. “It’s the first step in people understanding the concept of power and shows one’s skill set with regard to an understanding of technology and theory. The certification not only provides the knowledge to ensure safety, but also legitimizes the work.”

The BC Safety Standards Act requires certification of electrical and audio-visual technicians working in theatres, concert halls and other live performance venues.

But until February 1 this year, only the Full Entertainment (FE) and Limited Entertainment (LE) certifications were available. Though the FE and the LE are required for work in film and television, both credentials exceeded the level of expertise needed in the live performance industry.
Industry raised the issue of a certification gap, and in response Actsafe worked with electrical professionals in the areas of live events, concert tours and theatre to develop an online test for the LPEC certification.

Nik von Schulman, Director of Production with Patrick Roberge Productions, is one of five industry specialists who helped develop the test. He confirms that safety and liability were important concerns in the industry.

“When you are tying in to feeder cables with high amperage, people can be injured,” says von Schulman. He credits the live entertainment industry for being “proactive in this area of health and safety.”

Broad implementation of the LPEC is also great news from a community relations perspective: audiences attending a theatre or a special event like a fashion show expect those involved to understand how to do the work safely and prevent accidents.

Dustin Burns, an entertainment industry technician, has taken the test, found the study guide expanded his knowledge of power, and was easy to digest. “Safety being paramount, I really respect the fact that an association like Actsafe can put together a program, for free mind you, to create a baseline skill-set for working around electricity that is potentially fatal,” stated Burns.

Of those who have taken the test, 93% passed on their first attempt. The certification has no expiry or requirement for renewal.

Filming in the Down Town East Side (DTES)

Please Note: it is currently required that an experienced community film liaison with overdose (OD) intervention training be hired when filming on the DTES.

In 2017 the City of Vancouver experienced an overdose crisis largely in the DTES. Fentanyl-laced drugs are commonplace and, therefore, more people are choosing to do drugs in public spaces (streets, alleys) where they are more likely to be noticed and receive life-saving help.

Productions filming in the DTES should:

  • take note of and immediately notify authorities of people in crisis,
  • clear impediments to any volunteer or emergency agency providing assistance to those in crisis and:
  • be aware that witnessing and/or helping with overdoses can potentially be traumatic to production staff. the Director’s Guild of Canada (DGC) will be working with DTES outreach workers to revise training and education material regarding this issue.

This is applicable to filming North of Pender and South of Railway and East of Columbia, West of Princess.

The City of Vancouver and DGC believe these measures are in the best immediate and long-term interests of the industry and the DTES residents and it’s outreach organizations. The DGC location Caucus will help productions connect with providers of liaison services. The City of Vancouver reserves the right to apply this requirement in other adjacent or identified areas at its discretion.

Please contact Sandi Swanigan, Senior Manager of Film and Special Events, sandi.swanigan@vancouver.ca with questions or comments.

Wild Fire Air Quality Advisory

When wildfires burn in the areas surrounding Metro Vancouver, the air quality decreases significantly.

Due to the increase in smoke particulate from these wildfires, the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health may issue an Air Quality Advisory for Metro Vancouver, the Sea-t0-Sky corridor (Howe sound through Squamish, and Whistler to Pemberton) and the Fraser Valley.

We have created this information advisory in hopes that it will give workers and employers some insight on how to deal with working outdoors during the wildfires burning around British Columbia.

Air Quality Advisory 2015 PDF

 

Planting A Seed For A Safer Future

A forum held February 5, 2011 in Vancouver brought together 45 leaders in the Motion Picture industry to discuss how to build a stronger culture of safety. Billed “A Conversation that Matters”, department heads, producers, supervisors and production managers from across the industry identified several themes over the course of the day using a Word Cafe format.

Actsafe brought in Graphic Recording Artist Avril Orloff to produce an illustration of the event.

Browse through our gallery to see photos of the event.

Extended Work Hours DGC Guidelines

Fatigued? Worried about driving home after a long shift? Collective agreement guidelines may provide options to help.

The following guidelines from The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) set forth common sense measures which should be considered when extended work days are necessitated, including how to recognize the danger signs of sleep deprivation, and an understanding of how your supervisor will assist anyone experiencing tiredness.

Extended Work Day Guidelines DGC

Carbon Monoxide Exposure During Film Shoots WorkSafeBC Bulletin

This bulletin discusses the hazards of carbon monoxide exposure during film shoots and how to manage the risks. It outlines what employers must do in planning shoots and training workers and supervisors, as well as maintaining equipment, conducting assessments, and implementing controls. It also outlines the need to coordinate work activities and support the joint health and safety committee.

Download WorkSafeBC’s booklet here.

West Nile Virus Info Sheet

As of August 2009 there have been confirmed contracted infections recorded in the Southern Okanagan. The West Nile Virus is spread to humans and other mammals from mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. While the risks of being infected and becoming seriously ill are low, anyone exposed to mosquitoes in an area that has West Nile Virus could potentially become infected.

West Nile Virus Fact Sheet PDF

Transmission Brake Hazard Alert

Trucks without a designated “park” position indicator on the truck’s transmission-box can be the source of a unique rolling hazard.  Read our 2015 hazard alert poster on trucks with this type of transmission for further details, which includes a checklist for easy reference.

Extra Caution Required for Trucks with no “Park” Position

Incidents involving runaway vehicles have resulted in a worker fatality and other serious “near misses”.

A common factor in these incidents can be traced back to the type of transmission used in some trucks. These trucks utilize a transmission without a designated “Park” position on the gear selector, as pictured to the right.

Trucks with this type of transmission are usually secured from movement by placing the truck in “Neutral”, and applying a mechanical “Parking Brake”. This secures the drivetrain against movement. Occasionally, this braking system may loosen, which results in inadequate braking support, that may cause the truck to roll or move unexpectedly.

Ensure braking systems are properly adjusted and maintained. For short term rental vehicles, confirm the rental vendor has a regular maintenance program and delivers vehicles in safe working order. Also, drivers should be given adequate training and supervision for the vehicles they are operating.

CHECKLIST

  • Maintenance Records Available
  • Pre-Trip Brake Inspection
  • Supervisor Notified of Vehicle Performance Issues (if any).
  • Parking Brake Set
  • Wheels Chocked

WARNING Do not rely solely using the truck’s braking system.

Whenever possible, park trucks on flat terrain. In all circumstances it is recommended that wheels chocks are used to ensure the vehicle does not roll or move unexpectedly. Keep in mind that trucks can roll on even a slight slope. To ensure trucks are secured against inadvertent movement, drivers should not solely rely or depend on the parking brake system functioning properly. A backup safeguard to secure the truck will protect the driver and other workers in the event of a mechanical failure, a deficiency in the brake system, or an unintentional omission of a critical step.

To read the full document, and to print, click here (395 kB). 

Safety Scene – February 2017 Edition

We’ve dedicated the February 2017 issue to the inaugural Actsafe Event Safety Conference.

Plus, in the February 2017 issue:

  • View our complete conference program
  • Complete conference schedule
  • Dancer Transition Resource Centre ‘on the MOVE’ event dates
  • Top 10 most viewed Motion Picture bulletins 2016
  • Full publication of our ‘Recommendations for Fighting Fatigue’ document

and a whole lot more!

View The Actsafe Safety Scene here!

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