Due Diligence requires an employer to:

Due Diligence requires an employer to:

prove it has established a system of procedures intended to ensure a safe workplace and;

ensure that the system is implemented, monitored and enforced internally

Defense of due diligence

What’s in the OHSR?

Part 20: Construction, Excavation and Demolition

OHSR 20.79 Underground Utilities

• (1) Before excavating or drilling with powered tools and equipment, the location of all underground utility services in the area must be accurately determined, and any danger to workers from the services must be controlled.

• (2) Excavation or drilling work in proximity to an underground service must be undertaken in conformity with the requirements of the owner of the service.

OHSR 20.79 (cont.)

Part 20: Construction, Excavation and Demolition

OHSR 20.79 Underground Utilities

• (3) Pointed tools must not be used to probe for underground gas and electrical services.

• (4) Powered equipment used for excavating must be operated so as to avoid damage to underground utility services or danger to workers.

What’s in the OHSR?

Part 4: General Conditions OHSR 4.18 Notification of Utilities An employer whose work activities result in a hit or damage to a pipeline, buried electrical cable or other such utility must notify the owner of the utility without delay.

What’s in the WCAct?

Section 173 – Incidents that must be investigated

• Employers must immediately undertake an investigation into the cause of any accident or incident that had a potential for causing serious injury to a worker.

• Any gas line hit or high voltage contact is likely to fall into this category and an investigation is required.

What’s in the WCAct?

• Employers must also investigate the cause of any accident that involved the major release of a hazardous substance.

• Must consider the seriousness of risk to the health of workers that the release presents.

What is serious risk?

Guideline WCAct Section 173• It was necessary for people to be evacuated from buildings• Gas seeped into sewer or drains• Any person required medical treatment• The gas leak ignited

From OHS Guideline G20.79 Underground Utilities• Situations involving natural gas that should be considered a

“serious risk”

Notification Requirements

Notify Utilities – already covered OHSR 4.18

Section 172 – Immediate notice of certain accidents

An employer must immediately notify the Board of the occurrence of any accident that involved the major release of a hazardous substance.

www.worksafebc.com

Further Information

• Publications

• Hazard Alerts

• Tool box meetings

• Regulations & Guidelines

Questions

?

WorkSafeBC Contacts

• Jeff McKay: Cranbrook - ElkValley • Phone: 250-417-4702• Email: [email protected]

• Mary Salmon: Cranbrook - Invermere• Phone: 250-417-4707• Email: [email protected]