Small contractor?

Self-employed?
Subcontractor?

Build Safety into

Your Business

Construction Safety Association of Ontario

 Build Safety
into Your Business

Construction Safety Association of Ontario

21 Voyager Court South, Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 5M7
416-674-2726 1-800-781-2726 Fax 416-674-8866
www.csao.org info@csao.org

ii
 YOU’VE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE
You know that health and safety is good for business because accidents
can hurt your bottom line.

You don’t want your workers, other workers, or the public injured.
You don’t want to damage equipment and property.
That’s why you’re reading this book.

You’re interested in safety because you know

it prevents human suffering and financial loss.

YOU HAVE A PARTNER

The Construction Safety Association of
Ontario is your association. The assessments
you pay to the WSIB entitle you to the full
range of products and services available from
CSAO. Most of these products and services
are free.

Make use of the training, consultation, and

other resources you help to pay for and own.
In the past, members of the public have used printed information that was
outdated by subsequent improvements in knowledge and technology. We
therefore make the following statement for their protection in future.
YOU’VE GOT THE EDGE
The information presented here was, to the best of our knowledge, current at
time of printing and is intended for general application. This publication is not Ontario has the best construction health
a definitive guide to government regulations or to practices and procedures and safety record in the world. That record depends on people who
wholly applicable under every circumstance. The appropriate regulations and understand the need for a safe, healthy workplace.
statutes should be consulted. Although the Construction Safety Association of
CSAO has helped to set Ontario’s record. Since 1929 we’ve had years
Ontario cannot guarantee the accuracy of, nor assume liability for, the information
of experience with many different companies. We’d like to help you.
presented here, we are pleased to answer individual requests for counselling
and advice. Each year most construction companies operate without a single
lost-time injury. In fact, out of more than 35,000 registered companies,
fewer than 5,000 will have a lost-time injury this year.
© Construction Safety Association of Ontario, 2003 ISBN 0-919465-90-0
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YOU HAVE CHALLENGES TO MEET How much does an injury cost?
A single workplace injury can have a devastating effect on business.
To benefit from Ontario’s outstanding record, you have to make health Costs include
and safety part of your business.
• pain and suffering for victim and family
The first step is knowing the causes of death and injury in construction. • higher WSIB premiums
• an average cost of $35,000
• time to retrain replacement worker
Major causes of • lower morale
accidental death
• delays and lost production
• falls • equipment and property damage
• reversing vehicles
• possible prosecution by the Ministry of Labour.
• struck by object
• electrocution.

Major causes of injury

• falls
YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES
• overexertion
• struck by object As an employer in Ontario, you have legal responsibilities for the health
• struck against object. and safety of your workers. These responsibilities are spelled out in the
“Green Book”—the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations
for Construction Projects.

Unfortunately small construction You should own the Green Book.

companies have a much higher You can use the index to find the
injury rate than larger companies. health and safety requirements for
That means you’ve got to pay more whatever work you do.
attention to safety.
Buy a copy from CSAO
(1-800-781-2726) or from
Publications Ontario
(416-326-5300).

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 As an employer, you must
• comply with the Act and regulations
• do everything you reasonably can to protect the health
and safety of your workers
• report any injuries requiring health care
• ensure that any required training is delivered.
CSAO has services and products—most of them free—to
help you meet these requirements.
YOU CAN SET AN EXAMPLE
As the owner of a small company, you have to line up jobs, supervise
workers, and sometimes lend a hand yourself. What you do on site
affects the way your employees work.
• Always wear your hardhat and safety boots.
• When the job requires other protective clothing or equipment,
be the first to wear it.
• Don’t take chances.
• Before you start work, explain any problems that might come up
and how to handle them.
• Use the right tools and equipment for the job.
• Tell your employees to report hazards immediately.
YOU CAN SEND A MESSAGE
Explain to your workers what to do and how to do it safely. This is
especially important with new workers who don’t know how to
recognize and control hazards.
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You must provide training in the Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System (WHMIS).
Depending on the work you do, you may also have to explain
• fall protection
• entering and working in confined spaces
• working around live equipment and overhead powerlines
• excavating and working in trenches
• work on swingstages and suspended scaffolds.
You can use CSAO booklets, videotapes, and CDs to cover these and
other topics. CSAO also produces safety talks and safety tips that
you can deliver and distribute to workers. Most of this information is
available to you at no charge.
The best way to manage health and safety on the job is get some
training yourself. Sign up for Basics of Supervising. You can take
this program in the classroom or at home. Visit www.csao.org or
phone 1-800-781-2726 for more information.
YOU CAN BENEFIT
As an employer registered with the
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
(WSIB), your benefits include
√ no-fault insurance
√ protection from lawsuits
√ coverage for lost wages and health care
√ help in returning injured workers to work.
If you hire independent operators, make sure
they meet legal requirements. Otherwise
you may be liable for their injuries or those
of any workers they employ.
If you are an independent Safety Groups
operator and hire someone,
you must register with the The WSIB has a special program for groups of companies that get
WSIB as an employer. together to improve their health and safety performance and receive
rebates as a result.
Remind your workers to tell
you about injuries immediately. Experience with Safety Groups has been very positive.

Where necessary, report the Most groups receive significant rebates for improved performance.
injury to the WSIB to get the Safety Groups undertake activities that would be difficult for single
coverage you’re entitled to. companies to carry out on their own.
The Form 7 is designed for this.
For more information on Safety Groups, contact the WSIB or CSAO at
any of the numbers listed on page 8.

WHY WAIT?
You’re now ready to improve health and safety in your company.
Form 7 You know

If a worker’s injury requires consultation or treatment by a health care
professional, you must
• complete a WSIB Form 7, Employer’s Report of Injury/Disease
• ensure that information in the form is as accurate as possible
• sign the form only after reviewing it carefully (WSIB claims can
be extremely costly to you as an employer)
• forward the form to the WSIB within three (3) days of notification
of the injury
• complete any other WSIB forms required from you and your
employee during the life of the claim.
√ that health and safety is good for business
√ that you can benefit from Ontario’s outstanding record
√ that you have a partner to help you—CSAO
√ that you have responsibilities under the law
√ that CSAO can help you meet those responsibilities
√ that you can profit from Safety Groups.
The following sections of this guide provide tools you can use for better
health and safety performance.

For more information, contact the WSIB at any of the numbers listed
on page 8.

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CONTACT PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP MAKE HEALTH AND SAFETY YOUR POLICY
Fill out and photocopy this policy for your employees.
Construction Safety Association of Ontario (CSAO)
www.csao.org info@csao.org
1-800-781-2726 416-674-2726
Fax: 416-674-8866 Fax: 416-679-4069 It is the policy of this company to perform work in the safest manner
possible and in accordance with the “Green Book”—the Occupational
Health and Safety Act and Regulations for Construction Projects.
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
Protecting employees from workplace injury and disease is our major
www.wsib.on.ca continuing objective.
Hamilton 1-800-263-8488
Kingston 1-800-267-9461 All employees must work in compliance with health and safety legislation
Kitchener 1-800-265-2570 and with the practices and procedures spelled out by this company.
London 1-800-265-4752
North Bay 1-800-461-9521 It is in the best interest of all parties to consider accident prevention in
Ottawa 1-800-267-9601 every activity. Commitment to health and safety must form an integral
Sault Ste. Marie 1-800-461-6005 part of this company.
St. Catharines 1-800-263-2484
Sudbury 1-800-461-3350 Compliance with health and safety procedures will be regularly reviewed.
Thunder Bay 1-800-465-3934 Violations will be recorded and addressed.
Timmins 1-800-461-9856
It is company policy to do everything we can to help each employee
Toronto 1-800-387-0080
enjoy a safe, productive future.
Windsor 1-800-265-7380

Ministry of Labour (MOL)

www.gov.on.ca/lab/main
Toronto 1-800-268-8013 Signed __________________________________________________
Central Region
company owner, president, or chief executive officer
(within Toronto) 416-314-5421
(outside Toronto) 1-800-991-7454
Eastern Region (Ottawa) 1-800-267-1916
Northern Region Date __________________________________________________
(Sudbury) 1-800-461-6325
Western Region
(Hamilton) 1-800-263-6906

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DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR WHAT YOU DO
Whether the job is something you do every day or for the first time
tomorrow, specify the procedures for doing it safely.
The following are two examples: for working at heights and for
trenching/excavating.
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WORKING AT HEIGHTS
Every worker in the crew must have proper safety harness, lanyard,
shock absorber, and rope grab where required
Inspect safety harness and attachments before each use and replace
any damaged components immediately
Check guardrails and covers of floor/roof openings daily to ensure
they are installed properly and are adequate
• Identify fall hazards with the crew for each job
• Identify anchor points to be used and configuration of lifelines or
other systems
Ensure that workers are trained to use the equipment and follow the
procedures specified for the task or project
• Inspect ladders regularly
• Remove damaged ladders from service and provide replacements
Check on prior training and knowledge of new-hires
• Check site for overhead powerlines that may pose hazards
• Keep ladders and materials away from overhead powerlines
Keep debris and materials away from ladders and floor/roof openings
or edges
• Use fall-arrest equipment when guardrails need to be temporarily
removed
• Always replace the guardrail as soon as possible
• Temporarily restrict access to the unguarded area
Report any new fall hazard to employer
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TRENCHING AND EXCAVATING ORDER WHAT YOU NEED TODAY
Arrange locates of underground services (gas, electric, telephone, Use this Quick Start order form.
water, etc.) at least two weeks before job starts. Contact Ontario
One Call at 1-800-400-2255, Fax 1-800-400-8876, or www.on1call.com Item Price Quantity ordered

Personally check that all locates are complete before excavating Occupational Health and Safety Act and $13.50
Regulations for Construction Projects –
Review soils report (if available) to assess need for shoring systems, the “green book,” absolutely essential
trench box, etc.
Construction Health and Safety Manual – N/C*
fully illustrated, comprehensive
Ensure that excavator operator knows the location of all underground
services in the area to be excavated CSAO Training Catalogue – programs and N/C*
courses, including dates, times, and
Comply with any restrictions in the locate report regarding machine locations
excavation near buried utilities
Entry Level Training – CDs covering N/C*
legislation, site safety, PPE, materials
Train workers and operators regarding different soil types and how handling, and back care
trenches must be sloped for each
Basics of Supervising – classroom or N/C*
home-study training in effective supervisory
• Check for overhead powerlines that may pose hazards during excavation.
techniques and health and safety duties
• Never store material or equipment under powerlines.
• Where necessary, arrange for de-energizing or other protection. Products and Services – catalogue of CSAO N/C*
resources to improve your health and safety
Use trench box or shoring system if walls of trench can’t be adequately performance
sloped (depends on soil type - check regulatory requirements for
different soils) Basics of Fall Protection training kit – $24.95
Meet your legal obligation to train your
workers in fall protection and keep records
Ensure that shoring system, trench box, and ladders are in good condition of instruction

Ensure that workers are trained in installation and removal procedures Basics of Fall Protection: User’s Guide – to $19.95
be issued to each worker you train in fall pkg.
for any shoring system that will be used
protection; includes proof-of-training card of 5

Instruct workers not to enter or work in areas of the trench which are not Safety Talks – 70 talks on practical, hands-on N/C*
properly sloped or which are outside the trench box or shoring system topics to deliver to workers on the job

*No charge for employers registered in one or more WSIB construction rate groups
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Company ________________________________________________________

Contact person ___________________________________________________

Mailing address __________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

______________________________ Postal Code________________________

WSIB Firm number _______________________________________________

Phone number ___________________________________________________

Mail or fax your Quick Start order form to

Customer Service
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO
21 Voyager Court South
Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 5M7
Fax: 416-674-8866
Fax: 416-679-4069

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Construction Safety Association of Ontario
21 Voyager Court South
Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 5M7
416-674-2726 1-800-781-2726
Fax 416-674-8866
info@csao.org
www.csao.org ISBN 0-919465-90-0 B043