February 23, 2012

Ontario Road Builders’ Association review of 2011 initiatives

KELLY LAPOINTE

staff writer

During the Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA) recent 85th convention Karen Renkema, the association’s director of government relations, reviewed many 2011 highlights for ORBA. Among the initiatives she reported on:

— WSIB

Looking ahead, once the results of the WSIB funding review are released, they will continue to be an important issue for ORBA. Professor Harry Arthurs is currently reviewing the revenue side of WSIB and not examining expenditures, which Renkema said ORBA believes to be the real issue. Last year ORBA joined the construction industry taskforce involved with the review and provided a number of different remarks to the WSIB.

— “Safety is two-way street” public relations campaign.

This continued to be a priority of ORBA’s health and safety committee. ORBA partnered with Local 183 for the campaign, which aims to make drivers aware of slowing down in construction work zones and trying to increase the awareness of construction work zones for drivers.

Renkema said it was successful and they hope to partner with Local 183 again and this year promote is on social media to drive the message home to a younger crowd.

— Workzone Safety

Former MPP David Caplan introduced a piece of legislation to mandate safety cameras in construction workzones.

ORBA worked closely with Caplan to get it introduced, but the bill died because of the fall’s provincial election. Caplan is no longer an MPP, though Renkema said it’s still a focus.

“I think it will continue to be a priority but we have to wait until we find the right champion and the right strategic time.”

— Bill 160

The bill was passed after recommendations from an expert panel, led by Tony Dean, reviewed the province’s occupational health and safety system. One of the changes was the creation of a Chief Prevention Officer, filled by George Gritziotis, who reports to the Minster of Labour.

Another change took the prevention function from WSIB and moved it to the Ministry of Labour.

“What hasn’t been clarified is whether one day you’ll receive and inspector on your site is an enforcement inspector and the next day they’ll have him take off his hat and he’ll be a prevention inspector or vice versa,” said Renkema, adding that it’s a situation ORBA continues to monitor.

— Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7

The book, which provides an understanding of traffic operations and covers a board range of traffic situations encountered in practice, has been looked at for more than a decade and it’s time for a lot of technical changes withinthe industry, said Renkema. It will continue to be an issue this as they look at draft.

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