Busy season has begun alongside National Safety Month giving us the perfect opportunity to talk about staying safe at work. Our internal Health and Safety representatives Tanya Goode, Terry MacEwan, and Corey Hiebert stay on top of our monthly walkthroughs to ensure everything is in tip-top shape!
We CARE deeply about the health and well being of our staff and customers which is why routine health and safety practices are SO important. Whether we’re setting up an event, dropping off a long-term rental, or working in the yard, our staff will always be protected in their PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
PPE includes wearing a high visibility vest, steel toe boots, hard hat, coveralls, gloves, and protective eyewear (when needed). In addition to your personal safety, we take extra precautions just in case a piece of debris was to come flying out of nowhere – knock on wood it doesn’t, but accidents do happen. Speaking of accidents – did you know accidents must include a motor vehicle, but an incident is how personal injury is reported? Well, now you do.
To avoid both incidents and accidents we have fire extinguishers at every exit throughout our building, three (3) eyewash stations, WHMIS information, and an AED (Defibrillator). This is just in our building! Every truck is also equipped with a fire extinguisher, eyewash bottle, and any universal PPE (vests, eyewear, etc.).
Our team is on the road a lot making motor vehicle safety just as, if not more, important. Buckle up! And SECURE YOUR LOAD. If you don’t you put yourself at risk as well as those around you. At Pit Stop we have a strict 21-point system to ensure the safety of our drivers. Like demerit points on your license, they accumulate based on unsafe acts. It doesn’t happen often, but if you reach 21 points you risk suspension of your position. Before heading onto the road, we perform routine pre- and post- trip truck and trailer inspections.
SUMMER IS COMING IN HOT! Ensure you stay hydrated and as cool as possible. It is important to drink water. As a starting point, WE should drink about two glasses (1⁄ 2 litre) of water before starting work in a hot environment and one glass every 20 minutes throughout the workday.
DO NOT WAIT until you are thirsty to replace fluids.
Try changing your clothing often when sweating to help reduce your exposure to heat. Clothing suitable for hot conditions and heavy work helps the body to cool itself. Loose-fitting clothes made from fabrics such as cotton and silk under your work garments allow air to pass through. Air passing over the skin will help cool the body by evaporating the sweat.
WORK HARD. PLAY HARD. STAY SAFE.