October 6, 2011

Letter to the Editor

Expansion of compulsory trades not necessary for safety: Ontario General Contractors’ Association

Re: Gavan Howe’s Letter to the Editor, Reader urges Ontario Progressive Conservatives to maintain journeyman to apprentice ratio Sept. 14, 2011

To the Editor:

It was with much interest that I read Gavan Howe’s proposals related to electrical health and safety in the September 14th issue of DCN. In my opinion, the views of Mr. Howe, while well- meaning, will not achieve the goal of worker safety.

In my 20 plus years working in the health and safety field, I can see the real progress that has been accomplished and with the pending implementation of the Tony Dean Expert Advisory Panel Recommendations safety should continue to improve.

Both lost time injuries and traumatic fatalities have steadily decreased in Ontario in the last generation and young workers as a group have made impressive improvements according to WSIB statistics. Despite this, we continue to hear about tragic accidents in the construction industry that are completely avoidable.

I agree with Mr. Howe’s premise that that “safety training is vital to keep young workers alive and healthy” however, I am surprised that he concludes the expansion of compulsory trades is required to achieve it. The Armstrong report that he refers to admits that there is no empirical evidence or research linking certified trades and strong safety performance “there is no empirically accurate, formulaic way in which to come to irrefutable conclusions about the relative merits of compulsion vs. volunteerism in the designations of apprenticeable trades,” Armstrong concluded.

Some in the compulsory trades believe that the quality of safety training provided to their apprentices results in superior safety performance. If this is true, then surely the commonsense response is to provide quality health and safety training to all persons entering the work force in order to achieve safety for all new workers.

The Dean Panel Report embraced this concept. Priority recommendations include creating core awareness training for all workers, mandatory health and safety entry-level training for construction workers and mandatory fall protection training for those working at heights. When implemented, Ontario workers will be the best trained and most knowledgeable on dealing with the challenges to protect themselves and their fellow workers’ health and safety.

I’m convinced this will happen. The government is moving quickly to implement the recommendations. George Gritziotis has been hired as the Chief Prevention Officer responsible for overseeing prevention operations and implementing the Dean recommendations. All members of the legislative assembly voted to support Bill -160 the enabling legislation to make these changes, so no matter who forms the next government, there is unanimous support to move forward.

I must point out that effective training is only one component of health and safety. In my experience, the most essential element is an effective Internal Responsibility System (IRS). The OGCA Safety Group has reduced projected Lost Time Injuries (LTI) by almost two-thirds. It demonstrates that motivated employers with the right tools can create a much safer environment. Programs such as Safety Groups that require employers to meet performance standards are a vital component of success and must be embraced by more employers.

I welcome Mr. Howe’s concern and commitment to worker health and safety. I believe the building blocks that are being put in place will ensure a much safer industry for all apprentices and new workers in Ontario construction workforce.

David Frame

Director Government Relations

Ontario General Contractors Association

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